KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

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SECOND CHANCES
Contemporary Romance
BY LUCY APPADOO

Blurb

A time for nostalgia, a time for growth, and the opportunity to rewrite a difficult past: this high school reunion won’t soon be forgotten.

For 27-year-old Angie Regio, high school was a nightmare and Enrico De Lucci was part of that nightmare. Now paired together on the reunion planning committee, the time for reconciliation and reflection has come, whether they like it or not.

As a policeman, Enrico has sworn an oath to serve and protect, but Angie’s icy cold treatment of him challenges Enrico’s patience as strongly as her passion captivates his heart. As she begins to finally warm to him, the hurts of the past bleed into Angie and Enrico’s very real present.

Enrico’s old friend and fellow bully of Angie, Jake, has reappeared to further complicate the matter.

Old wounds rend open, and Angie questions whether she can forgive Enrico and give in to her feelings for him. Will Angie and Enrico overcome their doubts to find that their love can truly bloom?

What is the Romance Genre?
By Lucy Appadoo

Romance stories involve a central love story between characters with (mostly) a happily ever after ending.

What are the sub-genres of romance?

Romantic Suspense

A story where the protagonists need to solve a problem, and is filled with action, suspense or mystery and the central love story.

Contemporary Romance

A general love story at the time of writing or in current times. The focus is on the internal romantic struggle between two main characters.

Historical Romance

The novel occurs prior to the 1950s.

Erotic Romance

The intimacy is integral to the growth and progression of the romantic relationship, and not having this would destroy the plot.

Fantasy Romance

This sub-genre features fantastical, magical, supernatural and/or science fiction elements that are central to the plotline, characters, and setting.

These elements could include warlocks, fairies, witches, or fantastical story elements: time travel.

The setting usually occurs in a different world or alternative universe, but a few fantasy romance stories can also occur in the contemporary world.

Paranormal Romance

This sub-genre focuses on paranormal phenomena and paranormal characters, featuring vampires, ghosts, angels, pixies, shapeshifters, psychics, werewolves, demons or zombies.

Romantic Comedy

Humour and romantic connection are the focus to the progression of the plotline with a happily ever after ending to the story.

Sports Romance

The central focus is on some area of the sports world. Normally, the main characters are athletes, coaches, owners, agents, and so on.

Young Adult Romance

The age group in this romance sub-genre would cater to readers from the ages of 12-18 years.

In summary, romance is a broad area that spans many sub-genres and offers a lot of choice and variety for readers. Which is your favourite?

SECOND CHANCES
Contemporary Romance
BY LUCY APPADOO

Excerpt

Enrico looked a little older but hadn’t changed much with his short, black glossy hair, striking bright blue eyes, a strong jawline, and shaped eyebrows. His attractiveness was never in question, but behind that chiselled physique hid a viper—a bully who thought he was God’s gift to women. Angie doubted ten years could change someone that much. Once a bully, always a bully.

Angie scanned the room for Maddy and found her still busy with the customer. Enrico turned in her direction but didn’t look surprised to see her. With a hesitant step, he approached her and lowered his gaze. “Hello, Angie.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and her arms fell loosely to the sides. “Enrico. What are you doing here?” Angie took a deep breath and fought off the images of her past, which still troubled her.

Enrico cleared his throat, hesitating. “I need a book about wood carving. Would you have something?” He averted his eyes and stared out into the distance.

She nodded, wishing she didn’t have to be the ever professional and could tell him to get lost. “Over here.” Angie slid her fingers across the middle row of a range of handyman and craft books and pulled one out. She promptly deposited it into his hand. “Here. There are a few others on this shelf. Feel free to browse.”

Angie’s throat was dry, and her legs unsteady. She made her way back to the counter without looking back, trying to calm her nerves. Quickly, she assisted another customer while gazing briefly at Enrico, who flicked through the book and intermittently eyed her with curiosity. Why was the bastard here? Had he come to push the knife deeper into her chest? He acted as if he’d done nothing to her all those years ago. The nerve of him coming into her place of business.

He eventually made his way to the counter. She quickly entered his purchases, the wood carving book she had given him and a thriller novel. She grabbed his credit card, their fingers brushing. She ignored the tingle and the way his eyes scanned her face as she handed him his receipt. “Enjoy the books.”

Enrico stood frozen in his spot without any customers behind him. “So this is your new bookshop?” His eyes roamed. “Interesting.”

She scoffed. “You’re very observant, but yes. Some of us can achieve things in spite of our past. If you’ll excuse me.” Angie rushed away into the staff room at the back of the shop. Her face sweated and her breathing accelerated, the room stifling her. She couldn’t stop shaking. Why did he have to come in here and ruin her day?

Meet Author Lucy Appadoo…

Lucy Appadoo is a prolific reader and author of the Friends In Crisis and Women Of Strength Series. After a childhood spent reading and imagining escapist worlds, Lucy has put her imagination into stories. Her work as a rehabilitation counsellor, and former work as a counsellor in private practice, have led to an interest in writing inspirational stories about authentic, driven women who manage adversity with strength and heart. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense/thrillers with significant life themes and contemporary romance.

Lucy’s interests include researching crime stories and news to inspire her work, watching crime thrillers and suspenseful movies, travel, exercising, reading for entertainment or knowledge, meditation, and spending time with friends and family. She also appreciates her Italian background and culture, which has inspired her to write imaginative stories about her parents’ childhoods, leading to The Italian Family Series novels.

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Links to Lucy’s website, blog, books, etc.

If you are interested in exploring her romantic works, exclusively on Amazon and in the Kindle Unlimited Program, here are the purchase links:

Second Chances – http://mybook.to/Secondchances

A Tuscan Dream – https://mybook.to/ATuscanDream

Check out Lucy’s website and sign up for a FREE suspenseful novel here: www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyappadoo22

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009234984607

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyappadoo/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14186931.Lucy_Appadoo

Bookbub: 
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-appadoo

Linked In: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-appadoo-ba986ab5/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyAppadoo

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Thanks, Lucy, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!