We’re going strong even though the end is in sight… With me today is the lovely ANNA JAMES to talk about her Bradford Sisters Trilogy.
SHR: What makes this particular series your favorite?
AJ: I have always enjoyed reading books in a series. I love the fact the characters appear in more than one story and you get to see where they are and how they’ve progressed from when you originally met them—be it bad or good. Family is also important to me and I find family dynamics fascinating; thus, the birth of The Bradford Sisters Trilogy. These are three of my favorite novellas because I was able to incorporate all the elements I love in a romance (passion, desire and romance) three times over and I hope my readers will enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them.
SHR: Who published it? When?
AJ: All three novellas were published by Sugar and Spice Press:
Guilty As Charged – Bradford Sisters Trilogy #1 was released in April 2011
Shattered Dreams – Bradford Sisters Trilogy #2 was released in November 2011
Shattered Illusions – Bradford Sisters Trilogy #3 was released in June 2012
SHR: Tell us a little about what you went through to get it published.
AJ: They say the road to publication is littered with rejection letters or emails as the case may be. Well I can certainly attest to that. Although I’ve been writing for many years I was only recently published. Isabella’s Dilemma, my debut novella, was released by Sugar and Spice Press in July 2010 (www.sugarnspicepress.com). Since then I have released 2 category length contemporary romance novels (Coming Home – April 2011 and To Love and Trust Again – January 2012 both from Melange Books www.melange-books.com), 4 additional contemporary romance novellas, all with Sugar and Spice Press (Guilty As Charged – April 2011, Visions – June 2011, Shattered Dreams – November 2011 and Shattered Illusions June 2012) and 1 short which was included in a Christmas anthology (Christmas Collectibles: A Picture Perfect Christmas – November 2010 Melange Books).
SHR: On writing in general: What’s the hardest part for you? Why?
AJ: The hardest part of writing for me is creating the love scenes in my stories. Why? Because I want them to convey emotion and sensuality as well as passion. It takes a lot of revisions before I’m satisfied with the final result.
SHR: Unrelated: What’s your favorite color?
AJ: I don’t have just one but I do like blue, green and red.
ABOUT THE BRADFORD SISTERS TRILOGY:
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GENRE:
Paranormal Romantic Comedy
BLURB:
Bradford Sisters Trilogy Book 1: Guilty As Charged – Nicole’s story
Passion ignites between Nicole Bradford and Max Paradis the second they lay eyes on each other. Nicole seems to be everything that Max is looking for in a woman. She’s sweet and loving and incredibly sexy. But looks can be deceiving. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way? Nicole is crazy for Max. He is sensitive, caring, and his kisses are to die for. But when secrets from her past are revealed will she be found innocent, or is she guilty as charged?
Bradford Sisters Trilogy Book 2: Shattered Dreams – Natalie’s story
Natalie and Reed seemed so happy when they got married just a few short months ago, but an unexpected pregnancy and a subsequent miscarriage throw their marriage into turmoil. Natalie deals with the loss by burying herself in work. Reed is supportive but doesn’t understand why she is spending so much after-hours time with her handsome, sexy boss. And what about their dream of having a family? How can that happen when with each passing day Natalie becomes more distant? Will Reed and Natalie find a way to work things out, or will all their dreams be shattered?
Bradford Sisters Trilogy Book 3: Shattered Illusions – Kate’s story
Two years ago Kate Bradford met Raffaello D’Onofrio while attending a semester abroad. Rafe ran the family vineyard in the Lazio region of Italy but the thing that attracted her to him most, besides his ruggedly handsome good looks, fathomless deep blue eyes and well-toned body, was his love of art. It was a passion they shared together. He had been the perfect man as far as she was concerned and in a few short months she fell deeply in love. She had thought that love was returned. Then she found Annalisa De Luca in his apartment wearing nothing but the shirt Rafe had been wearing the evening before. All her illusions were shattered. Distraught and wanting to escape the pain of Rafe’s betrayal, she returned to her home in Chicago, IL. Now Rafe is back in her life and much to her chagrin, she is still attracted to him. How can just one look from those sexy blue eyes affect her so deeply and what is she going to do about it? Rafe D’Onofrio has just agreed to allow the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art to display his unique art collection – a collection he had always kept private until now. This after learning the museum’s new assistant curator was none other than Kate Bradford. Once he had thought himself in love with her but after her abrupt departure from his life with no explanation he convinced himself it was just an illusion. So why, after all this time, can the mere mention of her name still send his pulse rate soaring? And what is he going to do about it? Will Rafe and Kate shatter the illusions of the past and find love again? Or are they too much to overcome?
From Guilty as Charged…
Nicole put down the file she was reading and rubbed her bleary eyes. She hadn’t gotten off work until two o’clock this morning and it had been another hour after that before she’d gotten home and crawled into bed.
As she’d expected, Natalie hadn’t come home last evening. There was a message on the machine saying that she was spending the night at Reed’s place and that she had big news to share with the family in the morning.
She hadn’t been able to sleep right away so it had been almost four o’clock before her eyes finally closed. She woke at ten and remembered the work she had to do at the office. After showering, she dressed quickly then left a note for Katie and headed off to work.
There’s no one here, she noted as she got out of the car and made her way to the lobby door, although she hadn’t really expected anyone to be. She held her employee badge to the scanner. There was a buzzing sound and a click indicating the door was now unlocked. After retrieving the files from her office, she went to the conference room. There was a large table in there, which had plenty of room for her to spread out the information she needed to look at.
Several hours passed by and her stomach began to growl. It’s one-thirty now, she noted after a quick glance at her watch. It’s time for something to eat. Standing, she stretched from side to side, then walked down the hall to get the lunch she’d thrown together hastily before leaving this morning. A piece of leftover lasagna from Thursday’s dinner and the rest of the salad they’d had. She stopped at the microwave to heat the lasagna, then went back to the conference room to eat. Her eyes rounded when she noticed someone sitting at the table, his back facing her.
“Excuse me, can I help you?” The man turned around and gave her a brilliant smile. She frowned. “M-Max? But how? I thought you were out of the country?”
“Not any more,” he drawled.
She had recognized him from the picture in Reed’s office, but he probably had no idea who she was. “I’m sorry, I’m N—”
Rising to his feet he said, “I know who you are. Reed told me all about you on the phone last night. But how did you recognize me? We’ve never met.”
Nicole blushed. “Oh, um, I’ve seen pictures—on Reed’s desk.”
“I see.”
“I don’t understand what you’re doing here. I thought you were calling from Saudi Arabia last night?”
“I was on the plane heading home, actually. When Reed told me about the engagement, I told him I would meet you here today.”
“But why? I don’t understand. Reed never said anything.”
He walked slowly to where she was standing, never once dropping his gaze from her. “You know, my brother didn’t do you justice when he described you. You’re not just beautiful—you’re gorgeous.”
Her eyes widened in astonishment. She didn’t quite know how to respond to a statement like that. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. She lowered her lashes and murmured hesitantly, “Thank you.”
She had always thought that Max was good-looking, but to see him in person, he was spectacular. He was taller than Reed—who was just under six feet—by about three or four inches. His eyes were a deep blue and mesmerizing, which drew her eyes back to his. His hair was thick, luxuriant and midnight black. She itched to run her fingers through it.
He tucked a stray lock of her own rich, chestnut hair behind her ear. The small gesture made her realize just how close he was to her; close enough that she could smell a hint of the expensive cologne he was wearing. She inhaled deeply. His head lowered to hers. He’s going to kiss me, she acknowledged inwardly. And I’m not going to try and stop him because I want him to. From the first moment she’d seen him in the picture on Reed’s desk, she’d wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him. His lips met hers and she closed her eyes and gave herself up to pure bliss. She lifted her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer. He’s an incredible kisser, she acknowledged dizzily, and that was the last coherent thought she had as he deepened the kiss.
WHERE TO GET IT:
GUILTY AS CHARGED | SHATTERED DREAMS | SHATTERED ILLUSIONS
MORE ON ANNA:
And be sure to check out SUGAR & SPICE PRESS!
Romance Author Siobhan Kinkade 
Thanks Siobhan for interviewing me today!
Anna
Nice interview, Anna. Your books seem like great reads.