L'amore: The Luminara Series

by SJ Molloy

  Cameron Robertson: Lexi’s older brother, fire arms agent in the special forces. Roguish, handsome, and talented.

  Hazel Scott: Lexi’s best friend, fitness instructor, extravert with a quirky sense of humour.

  Dominic: Hazel’s Fiancé.

  Ted Carlin: Lexi’s next door neighbour, retired pensioner, wise and grumpy.

  Franco: Lucca’s nonno (grandfather), owner of Villa di Tartufi (Villa of truffles) Tuscan cook school and hotel.

  Sofia: Lucca’s nonna (grandmother), co-owner of Villa di Tartufi (Villa of truffles) Tuscan cook school and hotel.

  Marco: Lucca’s friend and right hand man.

  Antonio Caruso: Lucca’s papa (father), owner of Casa sulla Collina (House on the hill) Tuscan cook school and hotel. Sister property to Villa di tartufi.

  Marissa Caruso: Lucca’s mamma (mother), co-owner of Casa sulla Collina (House on the hill) Tuscan cook school and hotel. Sister property to Villa di tartufi (Villa of truffles.)

  Orianna Caruso (Anna): Lucca’s younger sister, marketing director for Osurac Industries.

  Francesca (Fran): Lucca’s ex-fiancée, fashion designer.

  Tertiary Characters

  Casey Huddersfield: Lucca and Lexi’s therapist at the private M. Martha Clinic.

  Terence: Casey’s husband. Friend of Lucca’s.

  Doris: Lexi’s German gun dog.

  Rose: Lucca’s house keeper.

  Peter: Lucca’s groundsman and landscaper. Takes Care of his Scottish home.

  Eleanor Carlin: Mr. Carlin’s deceased wife. Neighbour and dear friend to Lexi.

  Michael Parks: Lexi’s Australian half-brother. Evil, sinister, sadistic, and corrupt. A disturbing memory from Lexi’s past. He was her abuser, recently released from prison and tracking her down.

  Simon Parks: Deceased Australian father to Lexi, Cameron, and Michael. Unstable, psychotic, sociopath that abducted Grace, Lexi’s mum. Held them captive for fourteen years in a tragic case of Stockholm syndrome. Tortured and abused Grace mentally and physically.

  Mary (Scary Mary): Simon’s Australian wife, Michael’s mother. Worked at the local hospital. Drug user, bi-polar, evil, and vindictive.

  Kyle Saunders: Fake identity used by Michael Parks for car hire and flights.

  Uuka Benadi: Fake identity used by Michael Parks disguising himself as a South African immigrant working as a groundsman at Cathy’s church in Grantown-on-Spey.

  Damien Thomson: Private Investigator helping Michael Parks obtain details on Grace Robertson and her family and providing him with resources.

  Vladimir: – Russian drug dealer and assassin who killed Damien Thomson for Michael Parks.

  Mark: Physiotherapist, Lexi’s business partner at their private clinic within Club di Energia.

  Jane: Physiotherapist, Lexi’s work colleague.

  Kenny: Jane’s partner.

  Rena: Chef within Club di Energia.

  Lucy: Lexi’s friend. Beautiful single, and besotted with Cameron, Lexi’s brother.

  Jessica: Lexi’s friend. Caring, sincere, and optimistic.

  Steve: Jessica’s partner.

  Samantha: Lexi’s friend. Smart, sharp, and intelligent. Marketing manager.

  Justin: Samantha’s partner.

  Carrie: Lexi’s friend. Pragmatic, sensible, and mature. A & E nurse in Glasgow hospital.

  Nicole: Carrie’s partner.

  Rachel: Cameron’s on/off girlfriend. Young, sweet, and loves to travel.

  Maurizio: Head chef at Villa di tartufi.

  Rafaello: Franco’s twin brother, owner of a chain of Italian restaurants in the UK.

  Savio: Lucca’s brother, owner of his parents’ former restaurant in Carluke, Scotland.

  Kate: Savio’s wife, co-owner of his parents’ former restaurant in Carluke, Scotland.

  Armando: Lucca’s brother, manager at Rafaello’s Glasgow restaurant branch.

  Sarah: Armando’s wife, stay-at-home mum.

  Roberta: Lucca’s niece. Savio and Kate’s daughter.

  Emilio: Lucca’s nephew. Savio and Kate’s son.

  A-Jay: Lucca’s nephew. Armando and Sarah’s son.

  Antonia: Lucca’s niece. Armando and Sarah’s daughter.

  Suzanne Myers: Lucca’s personal assistant, sister of Casey Huddersfield.

  Jonathon Myers: Suzanne’s husband.

  Kimberley Franks: Suzanne’s assistant. Troublemaker, blackmailer, and ex-conquest of Lucca’s.

  Jackson: Cameron’s friend. Footballer/local celebrity and is attracted to Lexi.

  Shawna: Jackson’s girlfriend.

  Adam: Footballer, Cameron’s friend.

  Jordan: Footballer, Cameron’s friend.

  Ben: Footballer, Cameron’s friend.

  Ethan: Footballer, Cameron’s friend.

  Tyler: Footballer, Cameron’s friend.

  Lloyd: Lexi’s security guard. Men in Black.

  Devon: Lexi’s security guard. Men in Black. Irish.

  Nate: Grace’s security guard. Men in Black.

  Julie: Mr. Carlin’s new home help aide.

  Terry: Mr. Carlin’s previous home help aide.

  Fiona: Mr. Carlin’s previous home help aide.

  Dr. Harvey: Lexi’s doctor.

  The young Doctor: Inserts Lexi’s implant at the family planning clinic.

  Omari Farid: Lucca’s best friend and solicitor.

  Chris McCarron: Lucca’s best friend and accountant.

  Lyle Graham: Lucca’s head contractor.

  Andy Johnson: Lucca’s Project Manager.

  Giorgio: Lucca’s business partner at The Luminara nightclub chain.

  Leila: Blonde, scantily clad female who broke into Lucca’s house. Ex-conquest of Lucca’s.

  Cathy: Local minister in Grantown-on-Spey. Friend of Lexi’s grandparents.

  Aunt Eva (Evangeline): Grace’s sister. Lexi’s aunt.

  Uncle Jim: Eva’s husband. Lexi’s uncle.

  Hayden: Eva and Jim’s son. Lexi’s eighteen-year-old cousin.

  Hayley: Eva and Jim’s daughter. Twin sister to Hayden. Lexi’s eighteen-year-old cousin.

  Ruby: Lexi’s grandparents’ King Charles Spaniel dog.

  Tosh: Lexi’s grandparents’ West Highland Terrier dog.

  Angel: Black Friesian horse, Lexi used to ride.

  Jambo: Dutch Warmblood horse, Cameron used to ride.

  Hamish: English Thoroughbred horse, Lexi’s grandpa used to ride.

  Ms. Morrison: Local minister at Lexi’s local church. Cathy’s friend.

  Mr. Carmichael: Retired groundsman at the church in Grantown-On-Spey

  Ms. Saunders: Lexi’s childhood Ballet teacher.

  David: American, Mystery Man, owner of Tasa, upmarket bar and nightclub in Firenze city. Rival and a threat to Lucca, attracted to Lexi.

  Adorna: Art history tour guide within the Uffizi gallery, Firenze. Previous conquest of Lucca’s.

  Gina: Tour guide and representative at Castello di Brolio (Brolio Castle), winery of the Ricasoli family Chianti classic wines. Previous conquest of Lucca.

  Giovanni Costanzo: Famous Italian photographer, wealthy, smooth, and sophisticated. Infatuated with Lexi’s beauty, offers to photograph her.

  Melissa: Roberta’s four year old friend.

  Millie: Roberta’s four year old friend.

  Dana: The beauty therapist hired by Lucca for Lexi’s pamper night.

  Mack: Cocktail waiter, works at the Luminara nightclub. Hired by Lucca for Lexi’s pamper night.

  Harriett: Lexi’s hairdresser in Scotland.

  The Murdocks: Neighbours of Alexander and Elizabeth Robertson and owners of the stables.

  Detective one: Female detective working for the CID. Visits Lexi’s grandparents’ house.

  Detective two: Male detective working for the CID. Visits Lexi’s grandparents’ house.

  Claude: Pilot of Lucca’s private jet.

  Eric: Co-pilot of Lucca’s private jet.

  Bethany: Flight attendant on Lucc
a’s private jet.

  Acknowledgements

  I truly am eternally grateful for all the love support and encouragement I have received. I have so many gratefuls I’d like to share with you, and every day I feel blessed and am thankful for these gifts of the day. I’m going to keep it quite short as I said most of my gratefuls in Lussuria.

  T, A & A – My wonderful husband and two daughters.

  Thank you to the moon and back for being patient, supportive, and encouraging me to get through another crazy hectic few months. I know it’s not been easy on any of you because of the time I have had to commit to my writing and all the changes I’ve had to make.

  I didn’t think it could possibly get any more time consuming than it already was. I was wrong. When I decided to go back and work on the developmental edits for Lussuria and re-publish, I was juggling between three books at one point and things were a little hectic and intense to say the least and it affected us all. Thank you for taking my worries, stress, and mixed emotions in your stride and still loving me through it all.

  I’m sorry if I ignored you on many occasions, but you knew I had to see it through by re-writing some of Lussuria and lots of L’amore. Just when you thought you were getting your mum and wife back even for a little bit, I crossed over into the world of developmental editing and sold my soul for a crazy few weeks, and boy, it was challenging getting there.

  You come in from work and school with a smile on your face when dinner often isn’t ready, the washing isn’t done, and the chores are piling up, and you never judge or complain. You accept that that’s how we are rolling just now, our own little chapter of chaos. You stay upbeat and positive, and on the days when I am thoroughly exhausted but refuse to stop, you leave me to it. Then when I do stop to breathe, you pull me back into normal family life, your light. This has always given me focus and a sense of warmth because it reminds me why I do this and it touches my heart. I might be spending a lot of my time in world of The Luminara, but you always bring me home to you and will have my heart first and foremost.

  I promise things will get easier, and a promise is a promise.

  I love you all. Xxx

  Joanne Carlin Sinadinovic – Design Divaz.

  Again, thank you to Joanne from Design Divaz, for providing an impressive professional design package for me. I am absolutely thrilled with the amazing graphics, personalised designs, logos, and images you have created for my cover art, website, Facebook page, and of course marketing and all the swag for my branding.

  You never fail to impress me and know exactly what I’m envisaging, even when I go off on a tangent, and your results are always amazing.

  Thank you for the new re-branding and the covers for Lussuria and L’amore. We got there in the end and the results are amazing. I absolutely love the iconic symbolism, vibrancy, sharpness, and prettiness of your design. I have even had readers ask for the image of the blue orchid as they would like it as a tattoo x.

  Vera.

  You know I don’t need to elaborate. I said it all in Lussuria. Thank you always for being a great support and always being there and being the best ‘go to’ anyone could ask for. Thank you for loving, protecting, and encouraging me. Thank you for knowing me so well. You have an uncanny sense of knowing when and how to rein me in, motivate me, know what’s best for me, and ultimately steer me in the right direction. Always.

  You never complain when I’m Skyping, messaging, and emailing you at all hours looking for advice and for that I am always entirely grateful x.

  Evelyn. My Assistant Eve.

  Eve, my little book gem. Thank you for being my organiser, my diary, my consultant, my assistant, and advisor. Thank you for helping with my admin, giveaways, and for looking after my social media when I’m out of action or not around. You are a little gem and I’m very grateful to have your help. Thank you Eve, a million times over x.

  Maxann – The Polished Pen.

  Max, I don’t know where to start. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you again. Your professionalism, efficiency, productiveness, and excellent guidance have been outstanding once again. You aren’t just teaching me valuable lessons and skills throughout this editorial process, but you’ve set me up with the best footing possible for the rest of the series. You’ve shaped Lussuria and L’amore into an overall flawless, consistent, and sharper read. I love that I’m learning so much from you throughout this process.

  Without your expertise and insight, these books wouldn’t be what they are. I’m extremely grateful for everything you’ve helped with and that you noticed something in this series and wanted to make it the best it can be. Thank you for offering me solutions, alternatives, and accommodating date changes, answering my questions, and teaching me valuable skills. I can’t thank you enough and I look forward to working with you on the rest of this series.

  Also thank you for polishing L’amore off and making it so much better x.

  James Ramsey.

  James, thank you once again for helping me shape this novel into what it is. It wouldn’t be L’amore without all your honest critique, advice, and help, and I have you to thank for that. You have a skilful knack for planting the seed to let my ideas grow into so much more, and to expand and develop on your own ideas.

  I think now you are getting me and my made up words that drive you crazy, and I am getting you and your bazillion comments. Which of course, makes me want to scream, cry, and hibernate in my tartan pj’s with a large glass of merlot until I pull myself together. Eventually when I get over the shock and get focused, it’s these comments that make me smile and keep me sane. When I come to the sections that make you want to throw your laptop, I know we are getting somewhere, and these are the sections of the novels that do particularly need more depth and reasoning.

  It goes without saying, that often I want to mentally kick your ass sometimes, actually a lot of the time, because you give me so much work. With that said, everything you suggest is for the best, and I know you want to help me do these novels justice so it’s with all your good intentions.

  We finally got there, after the blood, sweat and tears and I’m so thankful to have you on-board keeping me on my toes. Thank you James for everything, I look forward to more torture while working on the developmental edits of Luminoso, I say rolling my eyes and dreading it already x.

  K Bromberg.

  Kristy, I have you to thank for setting me up with Max and James and it has been a breath of fresh air having them both work on this series. It’s truly made these books by having such professional help and direction, so thank you for being insightful, kind, and understanding x.

  My wonderful Readers.

  I wrote this acknowledgment in Lussuria, but I want to share it with you again because you are so important and keep me going. You remain supportive and you have been exceptionally patient during all my dates changes and delays while I went back to re-write. And after finally publishing L’amore, you are still as loyal as ever and continue to follow and read my work. Thank you everyone.

  It goes without saying that this book is for you and would not be anyway near as successful as it has been without the continual support, appraisal, interest, and passion for The Luminara Series I have received from you all. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are falling in love with Lexi and Lucca as much as I am on their romantic anecdote of Lust, Love, and Light.

  I’m absolutely astounded and overwhelmed, albeit delighted, with the positive response you have shown me and my debut Adult Romance Suspense series. I started writing with the mind-set that it was something that I always wanted to do, and I was doing this for my family. With that said, I never anticipated I’d be launching them publicly. It would have been be way too selfish for me not to publish. I decided to bring this series to light by sharing it with you all and I am ecstatic I did and hope you are too.

  Obviously I was nervous sharing this, and to be honest I still am. It’s a very nerve-racking experience, and I never know how my writi
ng will be received and reviewed. I try to stay positive and have faith in my characters and my unravelling storyline. I prayed that you all fall in love with it as much as I have to give me a solid foundation to work on.

  When you were receptive and showing positive enthusiasm with good feedback, I began to relax and enjoy the writing experience even more and found I couldn’t stop even if I tried. I then knew I was making the right choice sharing it with all my readers.

  The love and support you show makes this experience completely fulfilling and worthwhile. It’s because of the readers’ enthusiasm and support that I’m able to write with complete passion and conviction to give you the best emotional and romantic story I can.

  From the bottom of my heart, it’s a privilege to be able to share this with you and I hope you all continue your support by following Lexi and Lucca through their intense, impassioned, and complicated relationship which will unravel throughout the coming series.

  Readers, you’re the reason I’ve made so many compromises in my life to do this because like you, I’m also an avid, self-confessed book junkie and lover of romantic fiction novels. I have been blessed to read so many wonderful creations from magnificent, talented authors out there and I wanted to give something back—to you—and hope it’s every piece as wonderful. For you readers, I am eternally grateful x.

  Dolcezza’s – My Street Team.

  Ladies, thank you to the moon and back for all your ongoing pimping, support, advice, comments, and sharing. I’m very lucky to have backup and support from such a lovely, wonderful group of women who share my passion for all things lust, love, and light. For you all, I’m very grateful x.

  My Darlin’s.

  Girls, thank you once again for being my shoulder to cry on, my biggest cheerleaders, and for listening to several months of my book chat. Thank you for putting me to bed when I’m tipsy, for the DBB’S, for making me laugh, showering me in your infectious positivity and affection, cuddling me and distracting me in the best possible way. You are a wonderful group of friends and I want you know I love you all dearly x.