BETRAYING MIKKI
JUDE ATKINS
ISBN# 978-1-41991-190-3
January 2008
Cerridwen Press
www.cerridwenpress.com
E Book
$5.95
123 pages
Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4 cups

Singer Mikki Benson is naive, unmarried, and just discovered she's pregnant. Her smooth-talking music mogul boyfriend, Alex Wyatt, is rich and married. On the evening Mikki breaks the news to Alex about her pregnancy, she fully expects Alex will ask his estranged wife for a divorce. To her dismay, he wants Mikki to have an abortion. She races from the restaurant where they've had a very public disagreement, declaring she intends to keep the baby and never wants to see him again.

Mikki's aunt, Stella, has heard rumors that Alex Wyatt is a lecherous heartbreaker. Concerned for her niece's well-being, she asks her good friend, Ft. Worth detective-turned-private investigator, Kelly McWinter, to do a background check on him. When Alex is found bludgeoned to death less than twenty-four hours later, Mikki is arrested for the murder, and Kelly's job takes on a heightened sense of urgency.

Kelly's journey weaves through twists, lies and deception that end up nearly destroying him. During his quest to find Alex's real killer, it seems as if almost everyone has something to hide. In an intriguing turn of events, Alex's not-so-grieving widow hires Kelly to find the person blackmailing her. He reluctantly agrees, simultaneously working for Mikki's freedom. There are few coincidences in life, and Kelly soon realizes the two cases he is working are inextricably related. With the help of trusted friends, he lays a trap for the killer/blackmailer and eventually solves both cases.

Although slow-moving and laden with a myriad of characters, I found the main characters in this contemporary murder mystery artfully created and surprisingly colorful. Kelly is relentlessness personified and his sweet, Texan manners made him very endearing to this reader. Stella is a sassy firecracker, fun to follow. I am quite sure that reading the first book in the series would behoove someone wanting a full appreciation of the characters and their back story. And, having read this offering, the third book will be much anticipated. A realistic and immensely satisfying story!

Heather
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More