New Orleans Police Department Detective Nick Marconi is tormented by memories of the death of his parents, sisters, and most recently his partner. He put his sister Jasmine’s killer behind bars, so he thought, until murders with the same MO keep showing up. That’s not the only similarity the cases have in common, he is the key to finding the killer.

Sexy blue eyed, black haired Marconi is about to be taken off the force if he doesn’t see the departments shrink to deal with his feelings. Since that shrink is on duty in Iraq he is sent to green eyed beauty Gracie Simmons. Simmons has a few problems of her own…her father turned out to be a bad cop. Can Gracie see past Nick’s hard shell and get to the heart of his wounds? Gracie thinks she can, but will womanly emotions for Nick get in the way of her professionalism? Will Nick’s involvement with Gracie put her in danger?

Blood Rite is one of the best suspense novels I have read all year. I love the ‘tortured’ cop, Nick, and of course Gracie has her own issues to deal with. The story and characters are developed well with descriptions that make you feel the emotions of the characters, as well as the creepy feeling that comes along whenever there is a murder. Melanie Atkins leaves the reader guessing at the suspect’s identity, which I love about suspense, and yet creates Nick’s and Gracie’s relationship in perfect timing, not too fast and not too slowly. I would recommend Blood Rite to any fan suspense or romantic fiction!

Reviewed by: Tracey