Unearthed

by Katie S. Scofield

Annastasia Adkins has not been back to her hometown since the traumatic loss of her father when she was sixteen years old. However, unforeseen circumstances have her traveling back to the mountains of West Virginia, when the construction crew she hired to renovate the land she inherited discovers human remains. As if that isn't bad enough she soon finds out the lead deputy on the investigation is Bobby Payne, her childhood best friend and teenage dream guy.



Will the ghosts of her past remain buried or will it all be unearthed?

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2026

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author, Katie S. Scofield, and the ARC Community Wings and Words for sending me the ePub of this book!

I have a new auto-buy author!! I can’t wait to see what Katie has in store for us next. Unearthed is a delicious contemporary romance filled with mystery, crime, and some tantalizing romance. It’s the perfect blend of a thrilling small-town mystery and a protective, "he falls first" romance.

The story follows Anna and her unexpected return to her childhood home. I’d like to say her return was caused by something happy, but that is not the case. Instead, she was called at 3 a.m. saying bones were found on the property she is developing!

Once she arrives in town, who is waiting for her? Could it possibly be a certain deputy police officer who has it bad for her? Bobby Payne, my oh my, that man is heaven on legs. He will do anything for Anna, they a have so much history, and their chemistry is amazing.

The rest of the Payne brothers are just as intriguing; let us hope we get an Operation Penguin for each of them at some point! I'm already desperate for the next brother's book.

Fav Quote: "Maybe it should, but it doesn't. You want to protect me. You've always wanted to slay my Dragons" I think back to the days running though the woods with sticks as swords.

[Michelle Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Wings and Words and the author for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.

When an unexpected discovery interrupts the construction on her land, Annastasia returns to her childhood home to face the people in her life that she once left behind. I was sold immediately on the mention of human remains in the blurb and was hooked on the mysterious past of our FMC in this contemporary romance.

A story of found family, second chances and small town charm - I loved it. We passed the Bechdel Test with flying colours, credit to Katie for portraying healthy female friendships. The ending of the book me absolutely gripped and I would absolutely recommend adding to your tbr.

[Chanelle Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing I want to say thank you to the author Katie S.Scofield and the wings and words community for allowing me the pleasure of reading this book. This book was that fabulous that it pulled me straight out of a long hard reading slump interesting me right from the beginning. The part of this story I enjoyed most was the unique mental health representation, that was written in a realistic, engaging and respectful way. I loved the mmc gentleman qualities and his character. I loved the strong and caring mfc. Most of the side characters were amazing and entertaining. I loved the mmc whole family and we all need a best friend like the fmc was lucky enough to have in this story. I loved every single minute of reading this book.

[Laura Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! How I love the Payne brothers. This is such a lovely read. Second chance, small town romance. Loved the anxiety and PTSD rep! My heart literally broke for Anna and the life she endured and the stigma afterwards. But Bobby was there for her every step of the way. I found myself not wanting the book to end.

I need more Katie! I can’t wait to see what you write next!

[Frankie Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 & 🌶️🌶️.5

Five mischievous brothers (sorry, no why choose gals) - tick
Small town antics - tick
Mental health representation done well - tick
Bucket list fulfilment - tick
Heartwarming epilogue - tick

Adored the nods to the book community of tropes, infamous books and the characters' self awareness of romantic books.

I hope that all the Payne brothers find their penguin to give their rock to.

Gorgeous read with a really enjoyable balance of character building, description, dialogue and plot.

Ch 24 🌶️🌶️
Ch 25 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Ch 28 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Katie for gifting me this ARC and also to the Wings & Words for making me aware of such a fantastic book! This review has been given voluntarily.

[Lauren Brodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect mix of small town romance, second chance, well handled and written trauma, mystery, plot and spice!

I really hope that we’re getting Joanies story next as honestly I would love more from her!

The side characters of the brothers and friends were spot on and felt massively relatable.

I was so invested for the happy ending and this book was happy to deliver from page one all the way to 304.

Thank you to Katie for allowing me the opportunity to read this as an arc, you have smashed this one out the park.

[Caitie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review! So glad I got the opportunity to read this early thanks wings & words for the chance!

Bobby the man that he is. Saving the bucket list after all those years? Adorable. His relationship with his brothers is amazing. And don’t get me started on the Payne boys, you will swoon for all of them.

I love a good childhood friends to lovers story and this book captures it so well. It also has a nice mystery aspect along the way.

Johnny is my favorite Payne brother. His love of penguins. His snark. We need his book like yesterday 😉

I’m excited to see where this series goes! Hopefully we will get Joanie and Caroline’s stories and all the Payne boys as well!

[Shannon's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a girls girl, and i loved Anna. She was authentic and she was just unapologetically her. There is so many layers to this story, it really was jam packed but not in an overwhelming way.. loved it.

[T || · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 star rating

This review will contain spoilers no doubt.
Thanks to Katie & Wings & Words for this ARC Read. Unearthed by Katie S Scofield is a Contemporary Romance, with second chance trope. It also features mental health (PTSD), and other triggers, such as:
Discovering human remains
Open police investigation
Mentions of parental death (in the past) Mentions of child abuse and neglect (in the past) Mentions of abandonment
Dealing with a parent’s alcoholism
Mentions of characters dealing with PTSD and anxiety
Talks of therapy Violence (not between the main love interests) On-page explicit intimacy
I loved the dedication "Grief and loss have no concept of time.” Never a truer word spoken.
Unearthed begins with the Prequel featuring Anastasia the FMC, in what you instantly assume is a past memory due to the (12 years ago) under 'Prologue', and with the descriptions of the FMC surroundings etc, you are instantly pulled into the story, I love when a story can do that from the first page.
It really didnt take long for the shiteth to hiteth the fan 👀🤣 Holy fucknuts. Also the first meeting with Jones in the Bobby chapter - he seems like abit of a Dingbat haha!! * yay we no spoiler no spoiler no spoiler ** like..bruh lol. Zero to be hyped about 👀🤣. But I did take an instant like to Bobby! 🤞 Joanie overall seemed protective of Anastasia which is what best friends are for obviously.
I think, maybe I like Johnny too, his little snapback to Bobby had me cackle “Nah, I’m just a hopeless romantic. It runs in the family.” 🤣🤣🤣
I loved how Katie Entwined the dedication into the story coming from Leah, “Grief and loss have no concept of time,” it is so true!
I love the extent of detail Katie went to with regards to PTSD/anxiety grounding exercises, if only they worked for everyone!❤️
All bow to Diane what a Queen!!! Totally love her.
The diner scene with Bobby and the brothers for operation penguin had me in fits of laughter 🤣 i reread it so much losing where I was it was like a circle (and so much fun🤣🤣🤣).
I seriously hated the bunch of 'mean girls' - i dont even want to name them 👀🤣🤣 like bitch, you are a grown ass woman stop acting like you're still in high-school, gezz. Also Ryan is a complete dickwod and was from the start! Ugh boundaries dude!!

After that scene and helping out the “Sucks to suck" from Anna to Tommy had me cackle kicking my feet 👀🤣🤣🤣 the banter in this book between them all and their dynamic is amazing 🤣🤣. Omgggggg they doing itttt, oh you got me all teary and excited and stuffs!!!!

I also absolutely love the fact that all the brothers are kind of all assholes in some way or another, but always hold respect for their momma. Soooo sweet ❤️.

Omg Anna is amazing! I cackle laughed so hard "Okay, new kink unlocked. I am learning lots of new things today. Didn’t realize praise was my thing." Im dead 😭🤣🤣🤣🤣 The depiction of the Cave system was incredibly how Katie explained it all, you really felt like you were a part of it (low key jealous of that cave)...

Holy hotness, Katie you have emotionally destroyed me like, ...... just... yeah. Fml? Wtf. Gezzz.. erm...I get it now because Anna is my woman as surely as I am her man, even if she doesn’t know it yet, and “I only joined up for you. To be worthy of you—it was all for you.” AND “Let’s not waste another moment then.” holy guacamoly 👀😭😭😭...men be like Bobby..damn..PS, that camping scene 👍👌👌👌👌👀‼️.. and Bobby's momma Lucy, omg ❤️.. OKAYYYYY KATIE, WHO'S CUTTING THE ONIONS...WHY AM I CRYING.....(YES THIS IS A REAL LIFE MOMENT REACTION THATS MAKING THE REVIEW)...You have me crying like a baby right now!!!😭😭 "A sense of belonging I have not felt besides when I am with Joanie washes over me. Family. This feels like family, and I am lucky enough to be a part of it." Fuck me, i guess?😭 like what...okay -gone back to my book. Okay, I'm back, LADY, we need to talk. Do you enjoy having me a bubbling mess 👀, this whole dinner scene has me an emotional mess, you're killing me 😭😭😮‍💨 "The corners of my mouth tip in a smile I can’t hide as a comfortable warmth settles over me." Like.. lady, all Anna's has wanted is love and a family. Stop making me emosh!!! I love the whole family dynamic and how they always feel she has been family anyways, just ugh, you’ve hit me RIGHT in the feels, its after midnight and I cant go to bed now until I'm finished.
My heart when that happened to Anna, omg, poor Anna 😭😮‍💨, can we like d!smember Leanne or something I really fucking hate that woman.
Anyways, yup, overall 7* rating. Loved it, I'm hoping we get more about these 2 in the future because omggg do I need more of them.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down! This story was a refreshing & unique romance- I’ve never read anything like this before. If you normally love contemporary romance, you will absolutely enjoy Unearthed. But even if romance isn’t your normal go-to genre, hear me out! This story is also a murder mystery with some crime and suspense. So do not pass this up!

MC Anastasia has a past full of ghosts. She experienced trauma and hardship at a young age with her mother’s disappearance and her father’s abusive nature. After his sudden, tragic death pushed her past her breaking point, Anastasia decides to put distance between anyone left she cares about, eventually starting a new life in Vegas. She was certain she left her small, West Virginia hometown past long behind her.

…Until a phone call changed everything, catapulting her back. Bodies- human remains- have been found on the property she grew up on. Anastasia has no idea who they are and how they ended up there… and furthermore, could SHE be a suspect??

With her best friend in tow, she plans to go back, hopefully deal with the police situation quickly, and get out without any attention… Except she finds out the investigation is being headed by one of her past ghosts, Bobby. A friend that had been a little "more" than just a friend- a first love that never even got a chance. Now that she can't avoid him, things are about to get complicated.

She has to finally confront heartache and past relationships where tension are a bit high, revisit difficult memories, open the old wounds of her mother’s mysterious disappearance, and now deal with a potentially new problem as the police investigate these bodies that have just been discovered.

After all these years, will Bobby and Anastasia have another chance? Will they mend their past and pick up where they left off? Unfortunately, there are more than just these mysterious dead bodies in their way.

This book followed the story from multiple characters pov and perfectly intertwines mysteries of their past with problems of the present.

Not all romance books are page turners like this, but this one definitely had me invested from start to finish! The romance and mystery were incorporated so well. I 💯 loved reading this.

Many thanks to Wings & Words and the author for an arc copy of this book. I was so excited to read it the minute I first heard about it, and it was seriously so good! This was Katie’s debut novel and I am grateful to have received an early copy. I hope to see more by her in the future- I loved her writing style and this book was fantastic.

This review has been given voluntarily.

[Emma Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anastasia Adkins had it hard growing up in a small mountain town in West Virginia. Her mother left when she was young and left her with a drunk of a father. She had a best friend Bobby Payne who also had a crush on her and on the night of Homecoming her father is killed by a wolf, stopping their relationship from progressing. She spends the next 2 years in a psychiatric therapy school. Then heads off to college in Las Vegas where she meets her best friend Joanie. Bobby meanwhile enrolls in the army and despite writing to her she never opens or reads the letters.

Now Anna is grown up and has to go back home due to body parts being found on her property. And Bobby Payne is back as a deputy at the Boremanton Police Department. While there she rekindles her friendships and starts going on dates with Bobby after his brothers initiate Operation Penguin. He takes the bucket list they made in high school and takes her on the dates doing things on the list.

Then things heat up between the 2 of them and while out camping she confesses to the beatings that her father had given her growing up that she’d never spoken of belt lashings and cigarette burns all covered up by beautiful tattoos. She tells him that she needs him, needs him to touch her despite those things.

The day after she is called to the police station where she is told the body parts found were taken from a body farm and she is cleared of any suspicion. They are dropping the case from a murder case to theft and she has an airtight alibi so no longer considered a suspect. She is free to return to Vegas……but will she?

Read the book and find out where this portion of the story ends.


This book had me scrambling to get to the end to find out which path Anna will take.

I would like to thank the author and the wings and words community for the opportunity to read and review this before release.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Wings and Words ARC community and the author for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for a voluntary, honest review. 

The author's note included information on how to access support for PTSD which I thought was very considerate considering the nature of the book.

Mental health was dealt with in this book in such a realistic way that I had to remind myself that this was fiction. Everyone was very open about it and that was really impressive as it often feels like mental health is used as a plot device in books whereas here it was logical for them to have issues with their mental health but they were also at a stage in their journey where they knew how to identify issues and deal with them in a healthy way.

Now to the plot. I'm quite a fan of a second chance and small town story, so greatly enjoyed this. The characters were very well developed and I liked most of them. Joanie and Bobby's brothers must have been my favourites. The ones I didn't like were the ones I believe I wasn't supposed to like anyway. 

This sort of feels like it will be a series and when I checked Amazon, they actually have this listed as "finding home 1," so hopefully there will be more books. 

[Denise O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna returns to her home town when a body is uncovered in her property a place she hadn’t lived in a while. She left that place years ago, trying to bury the ghosts of her past.

She runs into Bobby, her childhood crush who was everything to her, she’d left him without saying goodbye. When Bobby sees Anna again he carries past regret for what he had said to her before she left, he never stopped thinking of her.

They both carry past trauma but also the guilt of what could have been between them but never got a chance. But now a second chance has been given to them, they are not going to waste anymore time, they lost so much already💕

This was such a beautifully written story, the emotional depth between Anna and Booby you can just feel the regrets they have for all the time that passed between them, the heartbreak but as the story goes on we can see the joy that Bobby brings back into Anna life, she was the only woman he wanted 💕

Thank you Katie and Wings and Words Pr for the ARC copy

[Louise Smalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank the author and Beth from wings and words book arc community for this chance in reading this emotional yet enjoyable book a gripping story that perfectly balances small-town secrets, past trauma, and a slow-burn romance, Unearthed by Katie S. Scofield needs to be next on your reading list. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. a woman who hasn't set foot in her West Virginia hometown since she was sixteen, fleeing the painful, traumatic loss of her father. She thinks she’s finally ready to deal with her past when she hires a crew to renovate the land she inherited. But the past has a terrifying way of digging itself back up—quite literally I won’t say no more as I honestly suggest you read this book

[Wings & Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

That book was wonderful. I usually shy away from 2nd chance but I was soooo on board with this!

There was found family, second chance, mental health rep, grief rep, small town, suspense and much more.

I felt all the feelings and was there with Anastasia and Bobby for every moment. Operation Penguin for the win. I loved everything about when they were camping. I loved the small beauty and the beast reference. I loved the one mug situation. I loved it all!

0 complaints! I need more from Katie, like, yesterday!

[Simplymetaramarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So freaking well done. I have no words to truly express my feelings about this read. Read it.

Katie, I'm so glad this in only book one because I need me some more Payne Boys! What an amazing journey through grief and healing for both Bobby and Annastasia. The mental health representations 💋. The positive view on healing and maintaining. Penguins 🐧 and wolves 🐺 are now my favorite animals. We need more Paynes.

*found family
*second chance at a first chance
*small town romance
*found family
*childhood friends to lovers
*wooing

[T.M. Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for the readers who want a little ache with their MF second chance romance. The ones who find love sweeter when it’s earned and you have to wade through skeletons to get there. The ones who crave PTSD rep and finding the person who loves you despite your scars. It’s got Sweet Home Alabama vibes with all the emotions that come from returning to your home town to face your trauma. It’s a sweet MMC who brings her flowers but also has a dirty mouth. And it’s slow burn spice mixed with ‘it was always you’ moments.

[Ali Evers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being called in to deal with bodies on your property is never a great way to start the day. But that spiraling into a murder mystery and exercise in grief, forgiveness, and trauma is a whole different thing. This book was so refreshing in a world of shadowy daddy's. It's raw, emotional, grounded in real life, with real consequences. Every character has texture; no one is perfect. I can't recommend more!!

[Stephanie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review - I loved this contemporary romance. Dual POV. Time jumps. Set in a small town in WV with mystery and suspense which I loved. Page turner. Very slow burn but the spice was hot once you got to it. Spice 4/5. Please review this trigger warnings.

Favorite quote - “grief and loss have no concept of time”

“I want you and I want you to know it like you know how to breathe. “

Troupes - second chance romance. Slow burn.

[Heather Deffley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, what a emotional rollercoaster this was, I loved every second of it. Bobby oh Bobby, what a guy, he is everything a MMC should be and I loved him so much! Anastasia also has a piece of my heart, that girl went through so much and I wanted to give her the biggest hug.

You need to read this book, it is an amazing read and you wont be disappointed.

Thank you to Wings and Words and Katie for sending me this as an ARC. This is my honest review of this book.

[Ninosleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really fun read with some dark back storys that really brought the story alive from her fun best friend who was so freaking adorable her broody but hot ex and the worries about what had happened to the body found on her property this book had a really fast paced energy that kept me reading all night to find out what happened 5*****

[Meg Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unearthed — Katie Scofield
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was hooked by this story and really loved the childhood sweethearts aspect of it. The characters and storyline kept me invested, although I did find the middle a little slower paced. But that ending… wow. It completely pulled everything together and left a lasting impression. 📖✨

[Christina Bunner]

A love story with real people

I was expecting a story that bordered on mystery with love mixed in. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a beautiful story of two people who have come back to each other broken by life but finding their second self in each other. It has twists and lots of spice but I can't wait for the next one.

[Rhiannon Sharples · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the combination of intrigue, mystery, crime and romance in this read. I genuinely loved the second chance romance and the characters in this read and can't wait to read more of Katie's writing!!

[Glynne Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I really enjoyed this book! For a first time author it was really well written, a great storyline and really relatable characters that had depth and some hot spice thrown in there as well. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Sarah Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down.

[Teri Peña · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how this story has a strong mental health rep. The author included not only the characters triggers but how they have been through therapy to help them know what they are. Her FMC has panic attacks but understands when and what they are so she can use tools to help her get through them. This was amazing to read related to that. The mystery behind figuring out the human remains was also intriguing and had me trying to figure out the secret the entire time.

I love the Payne brothers and Joanie! All of the characters banter was so much fun to read. It had me laughing out loud!

Can’t wait to read more books by this author!