The second book in this series...A short story - very quick read. It all all the elements of a good story, but fees a little rushed. The fast pace is kind of nice, but at the same time leaves a few questions and a wish for a few more details and a little more suspense.

Ah, I love mysteries but didn't love this one... writing was not great and the plot was predictable. I wish I had more to say and wanted to find another mystery writer I could love... I did not.

A Bone to Pick is a quick, fun read, perfect when you need an easy, gripping mystery story for entertainment. Deputy Tessa Black responds to an evening call from Mrs. Driver who heard a blood curdling scream. With the other two deputies otherwise occupied, Tessa enlists the help of park ranger Logan Wild. Together, they find the body of artist and newcomer Dante Moreno harpooned against a warning sign on beach within the state park. Searching Dante’s house, they found $100,000 in cash--and a stash of portraits of nude women. With the limited resources of a small town and distracted by her mother’s Alzheimer's and her caretaking responsibilities, Tessa must figure out who killed Dante before anyone else--including herself--is put at risk.

Set on Widow’s Island, an isolated community in the Pacific Northwest, the novella is populated with quirky characters like Jerry, the aging hippy and owner of the local head shop, and Herb Lawson who played the oboe at the local bar every Thursday night. One of my favorite aspects was the Widow’s Knitting and Activist group led by Logan’s grandmother, Jane Sutton. Not only did the group know everything happening on the island and manage to solve most problems, they were the driving force for good in the community.

The Pacific Northwest offers a beautiful setting, and the isolation of the island heightens the suspense. The possible role of the nude portraits as a motive for the killing was an unusual and interesting touch. Additionally, the book emphasized the necessity of interconnection among residents when living in a rather hostile environment.

While I liked the mystery element, I wasn’t thrilled when it ended by having Tessa wrap up the loose ends through a recap provided to her friend, FBI agent Cate Wild, Logan’s sister. The romance subplot also rang a little hollow. Although the second in a series of novellas, I had not read the first and had no trouble understanding the characters or plot. However, I enjoyed A Bone to Pick enough that I preordered Close to the Bone, the first novella in the series, and will probably read #3 and 4, too.

Deputy Tessa Black, former Seattle P.D. detective, takes the lead in this the second novella in the Widow’s Island series. Tessa is called to a home, near the state park, when a woman reports hearing screams during the night. Tessa calls for backup from Logan Wilde, former army ranger and now the park ranger. Logan is also the older brother of her good friend, Cate, who is an FBI Agent (from the first book by Kendra Elliot). When Tessa and Logan search they find a man, harpooned to a sign. The murdered man was an artist that had been living on the island for the past year…why would someone want him dead? When a search of his home yields several leads, Tessa and Logan have more questions than answers. Tessa is stretched to the limit, investigating the murder while taking care of her teenage sister and dealing with her mother’s dementia. In addition, she and Cate have decided to read the case file on their missing friend, Samantha, who disappeared twenty years ago. This is a must-read series by these two extremely talented authors. I can’t wait to read the next two installments, but I guess I will have to as they won’t be published until October of 2019 (darn!). I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Book #2 in the Widow’s Island series, A Bone to Pick was an easy read, an enjoyable novella. I am looking forward to reading the next 2 books in the series.

Second book in the series. The story although short manages to pack a lot in. Widow's Island is a fabulous setting, the characterisation is fantastic. There is a solid plot line with a murder to solve and plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested.
Although the killer is caught a lot of avenues are left open for more to come in the series.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next one.

The ongoing saga of these characters is interesting and makes you feel like they are friends. The writers of these novellas are so well matched that you don't notice a difference in the writing from story to story, they have great continuation! There is a great mystery with plenty of surprises in each individual story, while the big mystery surrounding Samantha is delved into a little more with each one. I can't wait for the next edition!

Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to the rest of the series. Well worth the read. Hope its in print sometime.

The next novella in the Widow’s Island series ‘A Bone To Pick’ is about Tessa Black who has returned to the island to work for the sheriffs department and care for her ailing mother.
Taking place a few weeks after ‘Close To The Bone’ Tessa is called in to investigate a suspicious scream coming from the state national park. Along with Logan Wilde, a park ranger, they discover a grisly murder scene and must investigate residents of the island.
A good second book in the series, can’t wait to read more novellas about Widow’s Island.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2
A Bone to Pick is the second book in the Widow’s Island novella series. In a Bone to Pick starts off with another murder on the small island. Deputy Tessa gets called about a man screaming in the park. When she gets there Park Ranger Logan is there to help. What they find is very disturbing. A man with a harpoon through his chest. But who would do this to this man.

While Tessa tries to solve this latest murder the unknown of what happened to Samantha still haunts her. Will the ever find out what happened to her?

Another great installment in Melinda & Kendra’s latest series!! I enjoy when these two team up! I am already excited for book 3 & 4 in this series!


Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Montlake Romance
in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Melinda Leigh takes over from Kendra Elliott to pen the 2nd Widow’s Island novella in this four book series.
Again it is a stand alone story drawing on the characters we have mostly been introduced to in the first episode.
Another investigation following the murder of a local artist. The enquiry is in the domain of the Sheriffs’ Dept and led by Tessa and as the body was found within the State Park, Forest Ranger, Logan helps out.
An interesting story unravels and a number of suspects emerge but the worst case scenario no-one wants to believe is that an islander did the deed.
Of course romance is also in the air, Cate’s grandmother, Jane is back to her matchmaking ways.
Of course the Widow’s Island Knitting and Activist Group are also at work behind the scenes.
I again enjoyed the scope of the storytelling and the contrast of a vicious crime against the goodness apparent in neighbours and friends. More hints about a shortage of widowers compared to the number of older women. They seem to thrive while their partners die at a early age. Not my idea of paradise. However, a serious issue is addressed as Tessa’s mum is struggling with Alzheimer’s as if Tessa did not have enough to manage already.
A gentle tale with serious incidents that stretches the resources of this proud community. It is interesting that amid such beauty and tranquility black hearts and evil actions can surface.
Another well written adventure with thrills and stolen kisses to satisfy the romantic crime mystery fans. Less heart melting and more heart stopping moments for me please before I loose all credibility, but if I’m honest I liked this one a little too much.

This is actually my first Melinda Leigh novel and I am a big fan! I can't wait to delve into readying more of this author's work.

I was excited NetGalley allowed me to read and review the second novella in the Widow's Island series.

Once again, intrigue, mystery and suspense fill this island. I love their laid back way of life and yet obvious connection to ways of the world with the crime and violence of this series.

Tessa is leading the investigation into a truly horrible murder of a local artist. Obviously with the manner of death, someone had a major bone to pick with the decedent. This who done it is absolutely shocking from what I expected and was totally great. I loved Melinda Leigh's writing. She and Elliot make a perfect duo.

I can't wait for the other novellas in this series.

Tessa Black has left her job with the Seattle police department and taken a job as a deputy on Widow's Island. She needs to take care of her mother who suffers from dementia. She answers a call from a woman who hears screaming in the nearby forest. Because the other deputy's are off the island or already on duty, she calls local park ranger Logan Wilde to go with her. He's her best friends older brother and the object of her childhood crush. Logan has left the Army Special Forces to take this job because he couldn't deal with the situations he was forced to handle anymore. He's hoping that Widow's Island will be a quiet healing place for him.

Together, they discover the body of a young local artist who has been harpooned. He's only been on the island for about a year and no one knows him well. Almost the first thing that they discover is that he is living under a false identity. Tessa is attacked by a stranger when she goes to investigate the artist's house, but she also discovers a dufflebag with about $100,000 which is much more money than an artist painting landscapes for tourists should have and four nude portraits of older women. More searching also discovers a portrait of Tessa's mother.

Tessa and Logan investigate wondering if the killer is someone from the artist's past or perhaps one of the husbands of the women the artist painted. Meanwhile, Tessa's mother has taken to wandering away. One time, Tessa's friend Cate finds her and brings her back. Another time it takes an organized search before she is found. Tessa doesn't know what she is going to do, but the local Widow's Knitting and Activist group and Logan come up with a plan that will work for now.

The story was suspenseful and fast-paced. The mystery in this episode was solved. The larger mystery begun in the first book of this quartet takes the backburner here. FBI files about their friend's disappearance are located and are surprisingly thin.

The second novella in the the Widow's series tells the story of Tessa Black, one of the island's police deputies, and Logan WIlde, a park ranger, who discover the body of a local artist who's been harpooned.
Apparently, Damien, the artist, had a lucrative business painting local women of a certain age and social status -- in the nude. The suspect list of who could have killed him is vast, and includes not only the women models, but their jealous husbands as well.
Intertwined in the murder investigation is the decades old case of Tessa's childhood friend, Samantha who went missing when they were teenagers, and the fact that Tessa is now grappling with her mother's alzheimers disease. When Logan Wilde comes into her life, he's one more distraction that Tessa tries to fight, but can't.

This was a good addition to the first book and I enjoyed it immensely. I can't wait for more collaborations between Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for an arc of the story for an honest opinion of the work.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and the author, Melinda Leigh, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of A Bone To Pick in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and written. It was a good quick read that keeps you turning those pages until you reach the climactic end.
Definitely well worth a read.

Thanks to #NetGalley for this ARC of #CloseToTheBone

Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh are reliable. Readers can always count on quality writing. This novella is the second in the Widow’s Island series. It can be read alone, as there is enough background provided to support the characters.

When Sheriff’s Deputy, Tessa Black, responds to a routine noise complaint, the last thing she expects to find in the State Park is a man impaled by a harpoon. With the help of her childhood friend, Park Ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa sets out in a murder investigation on their small island. As they hunt for the murder, Tessa and Logan are drawn together. Logan ultimately helps her close the investigation but more importantly steps up to help Tessa in ways she never expected.

While I really wanted to love this, it was not one of my favorite by the duo. As I was reading I felt engaged in the story and found it interesting but the ending was anticlimactic. I also found that the level of suspense and romance is not what I’ve come to expect from this author. 3 stars.

A Bone to Pick was as mysterious, engaging and interesting as the first novella Close to the Bone. Only this time Tessa was the central character and investigator, and I liked that change. Plus, I enjoyed the introduction of Logan and the simmering romance between him and Tessa. Not to mention the storyline easily held my interest and I'm looking forward to reading more from this series of novellas in the future.

Yes, happy place. Book 2 from the writing duo of Kendra and Melinda. This one is all Melinda Leigh. I love that it started off with a scream and ended HEA I love the fact that I did not figure out who the killer was and that Melinda brings up real life issues and gently touches on them to make us, the reader aware. Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Murder, HEA, has it all. The underlying thread is their missing friend, Samantha. I am ready for book 3. I am ready for anything Melinda Leigh writes. Go ahead and treat yourself. Read this book.

Back to Widow’s Island to follow the deputy, tessa, as she investigates the murder of a local artist living there. Logan, her friend’s brother and the local Park Ranger offers to help. Can they solve the murder while Tessa also deals with her mother’s illness and the attention she needs.

I am a huge fan of Melinda’s books and this was no exception . Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second instalment of the Widow's Island novella series written by Melinda Leigh. The heroine is Tessa Black, a Seattle detective who is now a local deputy having returned to the island to look after her mother. Once again there is a complete murder story along with a little more information on the disappearance of her friend Samantha. All the main characters from the first book appear again  and are fleshed out a little more. The addition of Cate Wilder's brother Logan brings the promise of a second romance and he is my favourite so far.

These short stories are brilliant and make a great full length novel when complete. I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to Netgalley and enjoyed it as much as the first book. Now I just have to wait patiently for the next two instalments.