Cherished Witness: New Orleans Detectives Book One
Melanie AtkinsRomantic suspense
Available from Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-936000-42-5
September 2009
| After testifying against her husband, Antonio Pastral, Teresa enters the Witsec program as Karen Watson. Now living and working as a waitress in Snake Bayou, Mississippi, she spots Yuri Calamondo, Antonio's hit man, in Romano's. When he tries to run her down, J. T. Romano, former cop and temporary manager, takes her to a cabin in the bayou. But their safety is short-lived when they're found by a second man posing as a Witsec agent. When Kelly discovers J.T., who wants Calamondo for his own reasons, was responsible for him finding her, she turns away from J.T. The fake agent finds them, shoots J.T. and takes Kelly to Antonio's brother in Chicago. The action heats up as J.T. and his former partner arrive to rescue not only Kelly, but her father as well. With his former partner wounded, perhaps dying, will J.T. succeed in rescuing Karen (Kelly) and her father from the powerful mob boss?
I loved this book. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the end. It has edge-of-your-seat action with each attempt on their lives becoming increasingly serious, especially when the second man, posing as a Witsec agent, enters the fray. The characters are great. I love J.T. and Karen, and love to hate the bad guys. The love between the main characters is beautiful and believable, the sex scenes both sensitive and sensuous. It is heart-wrenching when a misunderstanding tears them apart. The plot thickens and while we know two men are pursuing her, we're not sure of the second man's motives. He's supposed to bring her back to Chicago for Victor, Antonio's brother, who intends to marry her, but his actions do not match what he says. Gradually, what appears to be concern changes into something we can only term as deadly. Every chapter has the reader desperate for more. Both J.T. and Karen endure more than anyone should, but they keep on fighting, determined to come out on top. This is one of the best romantic suspense books I've ever read and I will certainly look for this author's next book.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Jaye Leyel |
