Now out! Secrets in the Shadows

The latest bestselling romantic suspense novel

By Lucy Appadoo

Kim parked nearby and breathed in the fresh, clear air. A smaller car was parked in front of the villa, so she assumed Ricardo was home on a Saturday. She swallowed, taking a deep breath as her hands shook beside her. She lifted her posture to fake confidence. What was she doing here? Was this the right thing to do? She might not get a warm welcome while Ricardo was still grieving.

Shaking away the thoughts, she steeled herself as she walked up a steep hilly path, the feeling of bumps underneath her sandals as she took in the view of tall ferns, lower brush, and wildflowers on either side of the ground. She climbed steps to reach the front door, the sounds of birds and passers-by in the distance giving the place a tranquil feel.

Her heart beat fast as she clenched her right hand and knocked on the old black timber door. She wondered what Ricardo was like and whether he had any physical resemblance to Manuel.

With hands sweating as she waited in trepidation, the mild wind feathered the side of her neck. Fiddling with her bag strap, she cleared her throat and found her heart accelerating as soon as the door swung open. She hadn’t anticipated his attractive appearance, with chocolate-coloured eyes, a square jaw, subtle outlines of a moustache and beard, short brown hair with blonde highlights and a fringe flicked to the side. She put aside butterflies in her stomach and focused on her mission.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked and Kim’s face flushed.

The man angled his head. “Can I help you?”

Kim nodded. “Hi…hello, my name is Kim Mai.” She ignored her dry throat, realising how challenging it was to bring him up. Was she truly doing this? “I knew Manuel, your brother.”

Ricardo’s eyes darkened as he looked briefly into his hands and tilted his head again.

After a minute, he opened the door wider. “Come inside.”

She smiled and stepped into the villa, finding an open foyer which appeared more modern on the inside than the outside. Stone floors, smooth painted walls, and tilt-and-turn windows gave the room a contemporary look. He led her to the living room, which led to the view of glass sliding doors, showcasing a patio and a view of the green and brown landscape with an umbrella situated in the centre of a mahogany timber table. On one side of the living room was a solid wooden staircase. “Take a seat.”

The living room held a two-seat brown suede sofa opposite a fireplace with a bookshelf and large TV, and a glass-topped coffee table. She sat on the sofa and waited until he sat on the other end.

“This is a beautiful place.”

He smiled. “Thank you. I love my peace and quiet, as you can see.” He rubbed his hands, then rested them on his tight-fitting jeans which showed off his muscular, toned legs. He wore a skin-tight white t-shirt, and his biceps proved he worked out. His tanned skin and slight lines around his eyes appeared as if he’d often exposed himself to sunlight. “I know you’re not here for the peace and quiet.”

Kim pushed down her red cotton dress, which sat awkwardly above the knees. “I don’t know if you heard from the police…”

Secrets in the Shadows

Would you leave home to get justice for a gruesome crime in the drug cartel?

Kim Mai, a 27-year old yoga teacher visits regional Madrid to deliver a letter to her murdered exboyfriend’s brother, Ricardo Perez. But Kim never expected to fall for Ricardo, a former detective turned hotel manager who vows to find the killer at any cost.

As Kim and Ricardo set out on a journey to discover his brother’s murderer in the South American cartel, a series of incidences brings them closer to deceit and danger. The bodies soon pile up.

No one can be trusted, and the final showdown will prove deadly, while Ricardo fights his feelings for Kim in order to keep her safe.

If you enjoy stories of romance, high action, and deadly villains, you’ll enjoy Lucy Appadoo’s third book, Secrets in the Shadows in the Women of Strength Series.

Buy it from Amazon today!

Lucy Appadoo

is a prolific reader and author of the Friends In Crisis 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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