This is the 2nd novella in the Widow's Island series. This book is a a good as the first. I really am liking the characters in this series. This is another mystery to be solved with a little romance. I like how these books are more focused on the mystery and less on the romance because the novellas are so short. The romance develops over the series. I can't wait to read more as I never seem to guess who the killer is.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Oh my goodness this book ended to quickly! This was book 2 of the Widows Island series and I just can’t get enough!!! I read both books today (and got none of my chores done :(). So worth it!!! Where book 1 focused more on Cate’s struggles, this book focused more on Tessa’s struggles. All the characters from book 1 are there but we get to get to really get to understand Tessa and meet Cate’s brother Logan.

Just like the first book this story revolves around a murder on widows island. Tessa and Logan work together to solve the horrific case. Along the way they have to deal with personal issues and family. I really enjoyed where this series has started and now that I have read both books I can’t wait for more! I need to know more about Cate, Henry, Tessa, and Logan, as well as what happened to Sam. This book in true Melinda Leigh fashion is the perfect blend of suspense, twisted murder, with a hint of romance.

Do I recommend? Oh heck yeah!!! Don’t wait and start this series now!

A good mystery novella by Leigh. I enjoyed the fast paced story. Good characters and interesting location. Looking forward to more.

A BONE TO PICK focuses on another mystery murder and features Tessa Black, the best friend of book one's heroine Cate Wilde, and Cate's brother Logan. I think this book is mainly to introduce the heroine and her romantic partner, because while the mystery is solved here, the series arc (which was introduced in the first book) didn't advance at all. Again, the romance is understated, and though Logan believed that the connection between him and Tessa is "solid" (they were childhood friends who reconnected ten years later), I didn't feel the connection at all at the time that he had that thought.

Nevertheless, this is an entertaining, enjoyable story. I just wish the next two books (there are two more coming in 2019) would be longer (like maybe full-length?) and that there would be more romantic development (and I don't mean sex).

The second book in the Widow's Island novella series, written by Melinda Leigh, meshes perfectly with book one, written by Kendra Elliot. As a writing team, alternating books in a series, you can't get better that this dynamic duo. I mention in all of my reviews that dialogue and character development are critical for my enjoyment of a story, and these two authors never disappoint. Crisp dialogue and well rounded characters are a specialty of wordsmith Melinda Leigh, making for a riveting read.

Book two finds Tessa struggling with both a murder and a mom whose failing health has brought her home to Widow's Island after spending her career as an officer with the Seattle PD. Investigating the death of a man found harpooned to a sign in the local state park, Tessa teams with her best friend Cate, a Special Agent with the FBI, and Logan Wilde, a man who came home to Widow's Island with de4mons of his own to face. Can they solve the mystery of who he really was? And will anyone else be targeted by the killer?

Totally enjoyable read!!

Fantastic read! I love when these authors write a series together. Great story, fantastic characters with interesting mystery. Always with a bit of romance sprinkled in. So looking forward to more!

The second story in what is turning out to be a very good series. This story focuses mostly on Tessa and Logan. Logan is the brother of Tessa’s best friend Cate who is an FBI agent. Tessa works for the sheriffs dept on widows island. 15 years ago, their other best friend Samantha, disappeared one night and the two woman somehow both ended up in law enforcement and now both live back in the island and want to reopen the case. There is a gruesome murder on the island. The painter in town who hasn’t been there long, has been found harpooned on the beach. Many twists and turns happen in the story of who committed this gruesome crime. It was a very intriguing and gripping story that you can’t finish until you know who did it! I enjoy stories that have twists and turns, and do not take forever to end. I can’t wait until the next story.

There hasn't been a book I have read by Melinda Leigh that I haven't absolutely loved. Suspense, a bit of romance and a lot of mystery all wrapped into this great novella. 2nd book in this exciting Widow's Island novella series begins with a murder..again! Starting from the first chapters Tessa and Logan are on the hunt! A surprising ending which I didn't see coming leads you into the next novella which we hopefully soon find out with happened to Samantha. Look forward to the next two books in the series. Loved!

Melinda Leigh has written a grown up Nancy Drew and I can't get enough of it!

To answer the question YES I have read all of Melinda Leigh's books and Yes I am a fan girl! Very few authors am I fan girl for I can count a total of 4.

This novella starts off with a scream and doesn't stop until the killer is caught. Murder, Mystery and one Nancy Drew all grown up makes A Bone to Pick a can't out down story that readers will be able to finish in a day.

The characters are brought into the world in book one of Widows Island but now we really get to know them to the point we feel Deputy Tessa Black frustration, kindness and fear from page one to the end.

Nothing will keep me away from this series of Novella I can't wait for more. Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh are at the top of their game with each new book or series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Montlake Romance for the advance copy of Melinda Leigh A Bone to Pick.

A Bone to Pick is the continuation of the Widows Island novella series. Just like the first story, it grabs you from the beginning and does not let go. I read this one right after reading the first, and still want more!

This story focuses on Tessa investigating a man harpooned to death. We get a better look at how Tessa lives, and the struggles she faces everyday. We also meet Cate’s brother Logan, a park ranger.

Do yourself a favor and read these novella’s today!

Absolutely brilliant. So sensitively written too. I loved the fast pace which ensures you're gripped from start to finish. I would give anything to actually live there. Brilliant to have gotten to know the people in Closer To The Bone By Kendra Elliot. It was like reading about friends. I absolutely can't wait for the next one. Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book.

Former Seattle police officer Tessa Black has returned home to care for her Mother. She is not working for the local police department on the island. There’s not much crime in this peaceful island community until Tessa discovers a local resident harpooned to a sign.

This is the 2nd book in the Widows Island series. It is a novella so it is a fast read. There is a mystery and a romance in this book. I look forward to reading more stories about the people in this series. Melinda and Kendra make a great writing team. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

A Bone to Pick by Melinda Leigh is the second novella in the Widow’s Island mystery suspense series written with author Kendra Elliot. We are back on Widow’s Island and this time the focus is on Deputy Tessa Black. When an artistic newcomer is found dead, Tessa along with the help of Park Ranger Logan Wilde search for a murderer on the island. I now see why the Rogue novella series were so popular. This writing duo has created an interesting series I cannot wait to revisit. Fans of small-town romantic suspense, mystery series will want to scoop up A Bone to Pick and the other books in the Widow’s Island series. Full review to post October 30th at Caffeinated Reviewer.

I’m a huge fan of Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot and when they come together to produce their novellas you know you are in for a treat! A Bone To Pick is set on Widow’s Island where Deputy Tessa Black has returned home to look after her mother who isn’t well and she gets a call from an islander to say they heard a scream and when herself and the park ranger Logan go to investigate they come across a particularly gruesome murder! I absolutely loved A Bone To Pick and I read it in almost 1 sitting I love the whole island theme and the way everyone knows everyone and they come together to help each other in times of trouble and I love the characters can’t recommend these novellas highly enough and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Melinda Leigh for the ARC of A Bone To Pick my review in honest and totally unbiased.

The second novella in the series, and I'm already hooked!
Tessa isn't just trying to solve a murder, she's trying to care for her Mom who has Alzheimers. Such a good story line, and so well written. The mystery surrounding Samantha's disappearance is still weighing heavily on Tessa and Cate's minds, and they are working towards figuring out what really happened that fateful night.
You'll fall in love with the island inhabitants and that small town caring for each other.
Melinda and Kendra are a fantastic writing pair. Can't wait to see what happens in the next novella.

Full review to be published online in late October.

A BONE TO PICK is the second book in writing duo Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh's new "Widows Island" series. Deputy Tessa Black moved back home to take care of her mother; and she and FBI Agent Cate Wilde are working together to find another killer terrorizing their home town. Unfortunately, there are secrets that the town is reluctant to give up. There is also a secondary plotline about the long ago disappearance of another childhood friend named Samantha. Added to the mix in this second book is Park Ranger Logan Wilde, Cate's brother, who has been drawn into the mystery and investigation.

Good plotline and suspense. This looks to be a great New RS series by Elliot and Leigh.

The dynamic writing duo is back with a new series that takes place on remote Pacific Northwest island. I just devoured both of these books loving the setting, getting to know the new characters along with the suspense in addition to an overarching plot mystery I am sure will take the whole series to solve.

This second part of the series has Deputy Tessa Black getting a call that ends up leading her to find a man murdered in a most unusual way. I was very happy to see that her love interest was going to be Logan Wilde who is Cate's brother. Logan returned to islands after leaving the Army and took a job as park ranger and gets wrapped up in the murder investigation with Tessa.

Along with all the secondary characters we met in the first book we are introduced to Tessa's mom who has early onset Alzheimer's and what its like for Tessa to try and balance her job, raising her younger sister and taking care of her mom.

These first two books in the series were great and I can't wait for the next installment in the series.