What do you think?
Rate this book
Twisted Obsession
Will a twisted obsession from the past smother the flames of new love before it starts?Liz Randiza, a dedicated social worker, has hardly recovered from an abusive relationship when she meets Matthew, the handsome brother of her client. While all her instincts tell her to stay away from him, there’s something in Matthew she just can’t resist, and she falls for him. A mistake she will soon regret.The real nightmare begins when Liz’s ex-boyfriend is released from prison and the unresolved issues in their relationship begin haunting her. She is pulled deep into a web of terror and anxiety. Soon, her worst nightmare becomes reality and everyone in her inner circle, including Matthew, may be in danger. People around her begin dying, and Liz realises that she and Matthew will be next.Twisted Obsession is the story of a helper who becomes a victim. It’s the story of a past that never leaves you alone. And the only question remains is whether Liz and Matthew live long enough to get their happy ending.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2020
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Appadoo
36 books58 followersLucy Appadoo is a prolific author who writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels about strong women who manage adversity with strength and heart.
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 struggle with a new love interest or stalker.
Lucy enjoys plotting the next love story, travelling for fun and inspiration, researching crime stories and news to inspire her work, watching romance and suspenseful movies, reading, meditating, and spending time with friends and family. She also appreciates her Italian background, which has inspired her to write imaginative stories about her parents’ childhoods that have led to The Italian Family Series novels.
Check out Lucy’s website and sign up for a free exclusive suspenseful novella with romantic elements: https://www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au
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 struggle with a new love interest or stalker.
Lucy enjoys plotting the next love story, travelling for fun and inspiration, researching crime stories and news to inspire her work, watching romance and suspenseful movies, reading, meditating, and spending time with friends and family. She also appreciates her Italian background, which has inspired her to write imaginative stories about her parents’ childhoods that have led to The Italian Family Series novels.
Check out Lucy’s website and sign up for a free exclusive suspenseful novella with romantic elements: https://www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 9, 2021
This is the second book in the Friends In Crisis Series and is Liz's story. She is a social worker who goes the extra mile for her clients and in turn becomes the victim. Her past never really goes away as her ex comes to torment her after he is released from prison. She has an attraction for Matthew the brother of one of her clients but that puts him in danger. This romantic thriller is full of fast action, suspense and danger. A good book but it moves a little slow in the beginning. The characters are good and the story line keeps you guessing. I read a free book via the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
July 12, 2021
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Twisted Obsession
Subtitle: (Friends In Crisis Book 2)
Author: Lucy Appadoo
Genre: Crime/Thriller/Suspense
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 2
Best read after earlier books in series? Can be read as stand-alone
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
I read this series out of the usual order as I read the third book first. Fortunately, this series allows you to do so as the books are stand-alone within the series. The earlier books are, however, referenced within the next ones, so I benefitted from reading the first book before this one.
In this book, we meet Liz, a young social worker. Although she had a great upbringing, she ended up in an abusive relationship ten years earlier. Now, her abuser is set free from prison. Who is stalking Liz? Is it her previous boyfriend or someone else? Will the stalker get to her?
What I liked about the book:
The book was action-packed and I couldn’t put it down.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
The unexpected twists and turns.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the second book in the Friends in Crisis series. Although I read the third book before the first and second, I couldn’t stop myself from returning to the third again after and re-reading it again. It was as good the second time around as the first.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This is a great thriller with romance mixed in. It’s not quite in the same league as the Karen Rose books, but it isn’t far off.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Possibly
Adult Yes
If you like suspense, crime and romance, this book may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Will a twisted obsession from the past smother the flames of new love before it starts?
Liz Randiza, a dedicated social worker, has hardly recovered from an abusive relationship when she meets Matthew, the handsome brother of her client. While all her instincts tell her to stay away from him, there’s something in Matthew she just can’t resist, and she falls for him. A mistake she will soon regret.
The real nightmare begins when Liz’s ex-boyfriend is released from prison and the unresolved issues in their relationship begin haunting her. She is pulled deep into a web of terror and anxiety. Soon, her worst nightmare becomes reality and everyone in her inner circle, including Matthew, may be in danger. People around her begin dying, and Liz realises that she and Matthew will be next.
Twisted Obsession is the story of a helper who becomes a victim. It’s the story of a past that never leaves you alone. And the only question remains is whether Liz and Matthew live long enough to get their happy ending.
About the Author:
Lucy is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Check out more about Lucy at her website: www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au
If interested in her holistic health and well-being blog, coaching services, and non-fiction books, check out her website: www.holisticallylucy.com
Basic Details:
Book Title: Twisted Obsession
Subtitle: (Friends In Crisis Book 2)
Author: Lucy Appadoo
Genre: Crime/Thriller/Suspense
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 2
Best read after earlier books in series? Can be read as stand-alone
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
I read this series out of the usual order as I read the third book first. Fortunately, this series allows you to do so as the books are stand-alone within the series. The earlier books are, however, referenced within the next ones, so I benefitted from reading the first book before this one.
In this book, we meet Liz, a young social worker. Although she had a great upbringing, she ended up in an abusive relationship ten years earlier. Now, her abuser is set free from prison. Who is stalking Liz? Is it her previous boyfriend or someone else? Will the stalker get to her?
What I liked about the book:
The book was action-packed and I couldn’t put it down.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
The unexpected twists and turns.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the second book in the Friends in Crisis series. Although I read the third book before the first and second, I couldn’t stop myself from returning to the third again after and re-reading it again. It was as good the second time around as the first.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This is a great thriller with romance mixed in. It’s not quite in the same league as the Karen Rose books, but it isn’t far off.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Possibly
Adult Yes
If you like suspense, crime and romance, this book may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Will a twisted obsession from the past smother the flames of new love before it starts?
Liz Randiza, a dedicated social worker, has hardly recovered from an abusive relationship when she meets Matthew, the handsome brother of her client. While all her instincts tell her to stay away from him, there’s something in Matthew she just can’t resist, and she falls for him. A mistake she will soon regret.
The real nightmare begins when Liz’s ex-boyfriend is released from prison and the unresolved issues in their relationship begin haunting her. She is pulled deep into a web of terror and anxiety. Soon, her worst nightmare becomes reality and everyone in her inner circle, including Matthew, may be in danger. People around her begin dying, and Liz realises that she and Matthew will be next.
Twisted Obsession is the story of a helper who becomes a victim. It’s the story of a past that never leaves you alone. And the only question remains is whether Liz and Matthew live long enough to get their happy ending.
About the Author:
Lucy is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Check out more about Lucy at her website: www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au
If interested in her holistic health and well-being blog, coaching services, and non-fiction books, check out her website: www.holisticallylucy.com
November 21, 2023
‘Storm clouds are brewing’
No matter how safe ya think ya are after escaping, it’s never a fully sunshiny unicorn-type of day.
Abuse of all kinds affects kids, even into adulthood. We’ve got abandonment issues, boundary problems (setting, enforcing, respecting), dopamine addiction, gambling, hypersexuality, mental illnesses, promiscuity, risk aversion or risk highs, substance abuse, trust issues, etc.
There is hope to eventually ‘feel at peace with [your] past’:
Therapy, self-defense classes, giving back to the abused community. Find what works for you and find your self again!
Before we improve the laws that offer protection and get more resources for healing, we need to normalize the conversation around abuses. This topic is so horrific that people who haven’t experienced or witnessed it simply cannot see it. It’s up to us to open their eyes – this series and others by this author are a perfect vehicle for that. Thank you.
‘This book is dedicated to victims of family and domestic violence.’
Next in series is ‘Web of Lies’, but I have the new release ‘Fatal Designs’ (already started).
No matter how safe ya think ya are after escaping, it’s never a fully sunshiny unicorn-type of day.
Abuse of all kinds affects kids, even into adulthood. We’ve got abandonment issues, boundary problems (setting, enforcing, respecting), dopamine addiction, gambling, hypersexuality, mental illnesses, promiscuity, risk aversion or risk highs, substance abuse, trust issues, etc.
There is hope to eventually ‘feel at peace with [your] past’:
Therapy, self-defense classes, giving back to the abused community. Find what works for you and find your self again!
Before we improve the laws that offer protection and get more resources for healing, we need to normalize the conversation around abuses. This topic is so horrific that people who haven’t experienced or witnessed it simply cannot see it. It’s up to us to open their eyes – this series and others by this author are a perfect vehicle for that. Thank you.
‘This book is dedicated to victims of family and domestic violence.’
Next in series is ‘Web of Lies’, but I have the new release ‘Fatal Designs’ (already started).
October 10, 2020
Liz is a social worker who learned that her abusive ex-boyfriend was released from prison. Her fear would be that he would find her. One day, she gets a visit from a woman claiming to be the ex’s daughter and warns her that he was coming for Liz. It was starting all over again.
This had an interesting premise with a nice build-up, but dawdles every now and then. It keeps a rather consistent pace with dry banalities that don’t really add to the plot.
It turns out the daughter was a victim just like Liz and offers to help her out with a case involving an addict mother looking to get custody. It felt mostly concentrated on this aspect. In fact, the ex doesn’t make an appearance until chapter 11. You’d think it be more exciting after that, even though his cordial pleasantries in the scene were much too saturated and were fooling no one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fully develop from there. I expected to see how the case of the “twisted ex” would develop; I expected more of a chilling thrill. I mean, the writing was okay, but the story was just “eh.”
This had an interesting premise with a nice build-up, but dawdles every now and then. It keeps a rather consistent pace with dry banalities that don’t really add to the plot.
It turns out the daughter was a victim just like Liz and offers to help her out with a case involving an addict mother looking to get custody. It felt mostly concentrated on this aspect. In fact, the ex doesn’t make an appearance until chapter 11. You’d think it be more exciting after that, even though his cordial pleasantries in the scene were much too saturated and were fooling no one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fully develop from there. I expected to see how the case of the “twisted ex” would develop; I expected more of a chilling thrill. I mean, the writing was okay, but the story was just “eh.”
October 10, 2024
Twisted Obsession by Lucy Appadoo is a gripping adult romantic suspense thriller, the second installment in the Friends in Crisis series. The story follows Liz Randiza, a dedicated social worker who is haunted by a traumatic past relationship with an abusive partner. When her dangerous ex is released from prison and a mysterious stalker emerges, Liz's life is thrown into turmoil. Will the shadows of her past snuff out the possibility of new love? With its intricate plot and suspenseful twists, this book will keep you engrossed until the very end.
January 16, 2025
This author is fairly new to me but I have really enjoyed the books of hers that I have read and that includes this one. Great plot! Will the past never leave you alone or will it surface again? When Liz's toxic ex boyfriend is released from prison it could endanger the relationship that Liz and Matthew have tried to start.
April 24, 2021
I don't know if intense would remotely describe this read! But it is a word to be used for it. Well put together. As I like to read series in order, I read this as a stand alone just fine. This book is just one of them that you can't put down. And a highly recommended one at that!
August 8, 2020
A really intense read! Complex and interesting characters. Lots of twists and turns. Death and mayhem. I could not put this book down! A must read!
January 24, 2023
A suspenseful story that will keep you reading. Liz’s ex is a dangerous man and he’s out of prison. Now she has to stay safe, if it’s possible. Well written.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews