All of us roadies here will always recommend a road bike. Several reasons but mainly because if you are road riding- they work better eventually for most riders.

The worrying thing about a road bike is those drop handlebars. Most newcomers do not like riding with their head betwen their knees so don't even contemplate a road bike.But there are several positions on a road bike to put your hands- in the drops- on the hoods(The brake levers) and on the flat bit of the bar at the top. The drops is an awkward position for some to ride in but practice makes it a very convenient position when headwinds are battled against, and if you want an alternative riding position.

But the only thing to do is test ride. I would recommend a road bike OR a hybrid. And that comes from someone that only recently changed to road from mountain bike.