I just realized that I read this story before it come out in 2020 and never completed my review.
But I feel that I need to do a reread of this story to do this review justice. I plan to reread this series and will update my review as I go.

I do know that I enjoyed this story very much. I love both Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh and the world that these two have created. I am looking forward to jumping back into this story and rereading it.

Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh just have that chemistry that any novels they release just mesh perfectly! Love getting into a new series with some familiar faces! Fast paced and suspenseful! Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for ARC!

Usually not a fan of novellas but come on author Kendra Elliot, knew it would be good and wasn't wrong. Great characters lots of mystery and action. Win. Win. Start at the beginning of this series and you won't be sorry. Thanks net galley for the advanced copy.

I would definitely read the other Widow’s Island books before reading this to give the story more context. This is a novella and did not take me long to read at all. Cate has suffered a traumatic event in her past as an FBI agent and is looking for a quieter lifestyle so moves home to Widow’s Island. The last 4 novellas ended with a lifelong mystery being solved so things are pretty quiet until remains are found on a surrounding island that seem to tie back to an old case Cate worked on. An old colleague comes to the island to assist local law enforcement and Cate find the killer. I don’t know if it was.because it was a novella, but everything seemed to resolve very quickly. Personally I prefer a full length novel with a bit more going on, but this was enjoyable short read.

I have read all of Kendra Eliot’s standalone books and all of the novellas she has written to date with Melinda Leigh they are an amazing duo!
Below The Bones is #6 in the Widows Island series. Former FBI agent Cate retired from the force and now owns bakery and bookshop on the island and is in a relationship with Henry the Island’s doctor/Coroner. Her idyllic lofe however is about to come to an end after human bones are discovered and they find that they are linked to a case Cate solved years ago. This all makes for thrilling suspenseful read that kept me on my toes the whole way through !!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Kendra Elliot for the ARC of Below The Bones my review is honest and unbiased.

This short novella has everything readers expect from Kendra Elliot suspense, mystery and action. Cate Wilde is Nancy Drew all grown up and readers will not be able to get enough of the Widow Island Novella series. Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the advance copy of Below The Bones by Kendra Elliot.
5 stars

When you have a story that has a dog bring back a bone that is human, get ready for a suspenseful ride. Former FBI agent Cate Wilde is on sabbatical and is owner of a bakery and bookstore, A. Very quiet life that somehow fits, but the findings of three more bodies that have a eerie connection, drag Cate back into the life she struggled with. The twists and turns of this story are very well written and had me guessing throughout the book. That is why I enjoyed this story so much, it’s not predictable, a little bit of romance and characters that have real struggles. You won’t be disappointed in this story, it truly had me reading more quickly to find out the answers. Thanks to net gallery in an exchange for a real honest review. I truly enjoyed this story.

I was so excited for the next Widow's Island book, and this one did not disappoint!

When a body is found in a remote area of Widow's Island, it brings back memories of a killer that Cate Wilde helped put away years ago. Now on leave from her job as an FBI special agent, she struggles with the transition to small town life, and this case stirs her investigative instincts. Working together with a former colleague, Cate, along with her boyfriend, the island doctor and de facto coroner, looks into whether this is the wok of the man she put away, or a copy cat.

With a slick plot, and great eye for details, Elliot has woven a tight knit story that will pull you in and keep you guessing.

Another fantastic read! The series she does with Melinda Leigh are so good! No way could I pick which I like the best.... every one that comes out is my favorite.

This fifth book in the Widow's Island series is an intriguing murder mystery with some nice romance mixed in. Former FBI agent, Cate Wilde, is settled in her new life as a bakery & bookstore owner, but things change when a grave is found that has ties to a case she thought was solved long ago. I loved how this fast-paced story is not only a suspenseful murder investigation but also explores psychological manipulation, trauma, personal conflicts and commitment. The characters in this story are fascinating, the plot intriguing and the development of Cate and Henry’s relationship is excellent. For a short novella, the author manages to give this book the same substance and depth normally found in a much longer novel. It is an entertaining story and I look forward to reading more in this series. I received an early copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley with no obligation to review. This in no way influenced my review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

An amazing novella filled with all the best components of a romantic suspense! A page turner at its best - we get to meet Cate and love the intrigue and mysteries of widows Island. Awesome job!

I enjoyed revisiting with former Special Agent Cate Wilde, new owner of the bakery and bookstore. Widow’s island seems like an interesting place to visit. I liked how Cate helped with the murders but chose to stand by her decision. And I’m a big fan of Henry.

Former FBI agent Cate Wilde is living a quiet life as owner of a bakery and a bookstore with a new boyfriend. When buried bodies are found that could connect to a serial killer Cate helped catch she is pulled back in. This book is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone. It is a novella so it is a quick read. There is mystery and romance alone with a good story that kept me interested. Thank you tonet galley for an advanced readers copy.

Old murders, danger and a lot of suspense. Another winning novella that keeps you turning pages. Definitely a 5 star read. I loved my journey with Cate.

Below the Bones it the fifth novella in Kendra Elliot’s and Melinda Leigh’s Widow’s Island Series. I’m one those readers who has been counting down the months, weeks, and days for the next two novellas in this series. I enjoy reading this series by two of my favorite authors.

Storyline: In the series, Kendra Elliot’s novella features POVs from former FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde and her doctor boyfriend, Henry Powers. Cate is retired from the FBI after what happened to her and her former partner. She’s enjoying her life on Widow’s Island, being a bakery and bookstore owner. Unfortunately, when skeletal remains are found on Widow’s Island and the MO is similar to a killer that she helped put away, she finds herself involved in the case. It’s up to Tessa, Cate, Bruce, Henry, and Mike (FBI) to determine who could be behind the skeletal remains.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed every bit of this novella. It was full of twists and turns on who was behind the skeletal remains on the Island. The characters thought they had it all figured out until something happened. I love it when Kendra Elliot throws in those kinds of twists in her stories. This is why I can’t get enough of her books/novellas. The same goes for Melinda Leigh and her books/novellas. I love the characters in the story too. Cate Wilde is a heroine who experienced something that no one should experience as an FBI Special Agent. She’s trying to handle it, but she does have moments of flashbacks, especially in this novella. Henry Powers is there for her along the way to help her. I love their connection with each other. I also love the other characters that get their POVs in Melinda Leigh’s novellas in the series.

Series/Standalone: Part of series and I would recommend reading in order.

Would I recommend this novella/series? Yes. This novella receives 5-stars from me, and I highly recommend it to Romantic Suspense/Mystery readers. If you’ve read the previous books in the series, you will not be disappointed with the fifth installment. If you have not read this series, then I recommend you do it soon. You should check out Kendra Elliot’s full-length novels too.

I can’t wait to dive into the sixth Widow’s Island novella, written by Melinda Leigh.

Another great Widow's Island novella .Just love the flow of these novella's they are great quick reads !! Looking forward to the next in the series. Love following Cate and Tessa!

Sigh, I am home :) I love this series and the fact that they are novellas means you can grab your coffee, tea, and go inside Widows Island, It was awesome to be back, to see Cate, Tessa and Suzanne. Pick up their lives and feel like your talking with your neighbors. Jerry Hooper, is walking off after effects of a new marijuana blend with his dog Rocky. Rocky comes back with a bone and we are off. This is a well done novella can be read and shared with multiple ages. I love when a man and women are confident in their relations ship, Cate and Henry show embody that. As Tessa, Bruce. Cate. Henry and MIke (FBI) work the case we are treated to a well done mystery with some twists and a flat out surprise "who dun it" I love a book that entertains and makes my mind seek resolution of the mystery. Thank you Kendra Elliot, Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved that this book can be read as part of the series or on it's own. Once I started it I struggled to put the book down.

The story focuses on Cate and whether she wants to leave the FBI and stay on the island. After a body is found Cate is in the unique position of helping the investigation, whilst being on sabbatical and this makes her think about what she really wants.

From a selfish point of view I would have preferred it if the book was longer, so that I didn't finish reading it so soon. I love that the series is written by two different authors and they both develop the characters. I can't wait to read the next books and see how Cate's character is developed further.

Novella's, Novella's, Novella's I'm really not a fan of them since you just get into them and all of a sudden your done, but if they are written by Melinda and Kendra I have to read them.

This is the fifth book in the Widow's Island series and just like the 4 before it - I LOVED IT!!! I am a fan of revisiting some of my favorite characters and their family / friends!!!

#5 is full of Great characters, great plot, great setting, quick paced, page turner, non stop action, and of course, answers the who dun-it very quickly.

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this series or any of Melinda Leigh's or Kendra Elliot's books you just don't know what your missing. I highly recommend you fix that.

#Widow'sIsland #NetGalley #Montlake #5 #GreatCharacters #LovedIt

When a body is found on the shore of Widow's Island, the MO of the murder is eerily familiar to a serial killer case Cate worked years ago when she was a FBI Agent. Even though this does peak Cate's interest to get back into the investigation side of things her ongoing struggle with her PTSD and her enjoying the peace of being a bakery and bookstore owner now along with being in a healthy relationship with Dr. Henry Powers has her struggling emotionally.

Even though this was a short story the murder investigation was contained to this book, no crossing over into Melinda's. At this stage of the series I really enjoyed that. Kendra is excellent at giving us a good suspense with fascinating killers. The twist was nice also.