As the only daughter of an Italian family living in America, Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants.

Her freedom.

At 27 she decides that it’s now or never and takes drastic steps to reclaim her life. Leaving her family behind she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the world. Whilst there she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from Alexandra’s past surfaces in Gabriel’s life, threatening to reveal what she has tried so hard to hide.

Will their relationship be worth fighting for, or will the truth tear them apart? Will a relationship forged in a moment of panic spark a love that will conquer all?

This story will take you through a myriad of emotions. From the heart-warming tenderness of new love, through the pain and sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, to the anger of not being in control, and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others. You will be drawn into the characters of this book and devour their lives as they take you through their story of light and shade, love and life. A story told from both sides.

It’s romance fiction, right?
Erotic Romance Fiction.

So tell us about Alexandra and Gabriel.
Alexandra Natalia Dinapoli. Well educated 27 year old with long chocolate coloured hair and a passion for good food. Loves her grandparents, loves her younger brother and mother but very unsure about her older brother and father. She loves horses, has an MSc in Equine behaviour and wants to eventually work with horses full time. When she first moves to New York, she takes a job working in a bar and hides the fact that she has any family.

Gabriel William Harland. Chief Assistant District Attorney in the city of New York. His parents are both family court judges, his elder sister is a teacher. His brother in law is a lieutenant in the police. His sister has a child called Nathaniel, who Gabriel nicknamed ‘Peanut’. Gabriel is 34 and wants love but as much as he wants it, there’s something stopping him from getting it. He hasn’t just had his heart broken, he’s had it ripped from his chest and stomped on! He’s not as close to the female members of his family as any outsider would think.

You said there is someone from Alexandra’s past?
Greg Evans. Well, you will just have to read the book …

Fair enough. Who is this book aimed at?
Ladies over 18 who appreciate a good story with a smidgen of erotica that does not include added ‘extras’.

Have you written any other books that we should read next?
I wrote a book called Willing And Able, A True Story Of Adoption.

This tells the story of how my husband and I adopted our two children. Non-fiction, as it happened.

Non-fiction – all the way from erotic romance. That’s quite a jump. What’s next – zombies?
So far I have written true life and erotic romance. The third fiction book planned is a bit of a thriller/whodunit and right now, I’m not saying never to the zombie thing …

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a 40 year old lady. I have a 32yr old married stepdaughter who I brought up after her mother died. Another stepdaughter (who’s mother is still alive) who loves the fact that she made me a Nanna before my 40th birthday. I have a 15 year old adopted daughter and an 11 year old adopted son who think I am strict, horrible and unfair but also a lovely and best mum in the word (when they get what they want) who writes. I have an eclectic taste in music ranging from James Oldrini to Lippy Kid, Dido to The sounds of nature and Music from the Movies. I am very creative with sewing, I run a cross stitch club at a local primary school. I love walking on the beach, I love stormy weather and I love my cat, Pepper.

I’m also a bit mad and can get very frustrated with my writing. There are times when I just have to walk away for an hour, otherwise I would end up doing serious damage to my laptop.

And I’m a Gemini.

Do you have a website where we can keep up with your work?
Yes I do: www.elainechissick.wix.com/chissickchat.

My Twitter name is @elainerchissick

Facebook is www.facebook.com/elainerchissick.

What’s next?
Next … I am halfway through the next fiction book called Ties That Harm. This follows on from Ties That Bind with the same characters plus a few new ones. However, Ties That Bind does not end on a cliff-hanger and so both books can in fact, be read as stand-alone books.

I have the title and a very brief description/outline for a third fiction (not part of a trilogy) that is sat waiting in the wings and I have begun research into something for a second true life book which centres around adoptive fathers.