Bone Deep

Widow's Island #9

by Kendra Elliot

When two men kidnap former FBI agent Cate Wilde’s fiancé, the boldness of the crime rattles the community. Desperate to find the man she loves, Cate joins forces with the FBI and the local sheriff’s department to launch an investigation and bring Dr. Henry Powers home.

Cate soon learns that a brotherhood of bank robbers abducted Henry in the hopes that he might be able to save their youngest brother, who had been shot during a robbery. But this man is beyond saving, which spells life-threatening danger for Henry.

While Henry plots his escape, Cate uses her investigative skills and experience to track down her fiancé. Can she get to him in time, or will Widow’s Island live up to its name?

Genres: Mystery, Novella, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Romance, Thriller, Crime

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 14 Million books and been on the WSJ best seller more than a dozen times.

She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives, but spends most of the time in the high desert in flip flops.

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone Deep is the ninth novella in Widow Island series written by Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. If you have been following the series, you know how the stories from the two authors (Melinda Leigh wrote books 2,3, 6,7, and 10, Kendra Elliot -1,4,5,8, and 9) intertwine and merge.
Kendra Elliot's novellas are told from the point of view of Cate Wilde, a former FBI agent who left her extremely dangerous and highly stressful job to come back to her tiny home island in the Pacific Northwest and become a baker and bookstore owner. Her feelings towards her decision to leave FBI are still mixed, but she seems to have found real happiness in her close-knit community of Widow's Island.

If you're a newcomer to the series, don't worry- you won't be lost. It's amazing how the authors provide crucial recap details without overloading the narrative structure. Still, it is definitely better to read the series from the beginning and in order to keep up with the developments in the recurring characters' lives. Plus, we get to know the island itself, how it got its name, and little snippets on its history. This time we learn about Jane/Cate and Logan's ancestors and learn about one of the most long-standing feuds on the island.

The plot is based around the kidnapping of Cate's fiance Dr Henry Powers and we are thrown into action from the first page. Two masked men threaten Henry's assistant's life and lead him away at a gunpoint. all he knows he will have to take care of someone who's been shot, but for some reason can't (or won't) go to hospital. Needless to say, Henry's feelings are complex- he is terrified, he is trying to figure out who his kidnappers are and whether they will let him live, but he's also going to do his best to save 'his patient'. In the meantime Cate is going to do everything possible and possible to find him. We see how easy it is for her to slip back into the old role. We also see how much she has changed and how unlikely it is that she will ever go back to her old job.

As in all novellas in this series the pace is excellent. There's a great balance of action and slower, more private, intimate moments of reflection (and Cate is dealing with a huge change in her life which she still hasn't processed). Cate isn't just a tourist on the island- her roots are here as well as the most important people in her life- her childhood friends, including indomitable Tessa, her family and her community all come through in this moment of need.

Given the fact that these novellas are really short, it isn't surprising that action takes precedence over character development and this is a good reason why I urge anyone interested in picking up the series to start from the beginning. You will see that the characters are well-differentiated- Cate may be missing the intellectual stimulation of being an FBI agent, but she also has few regrets and few doubts she is better suited to this calmer stage in her life. Henry may have got a bit more than he bargained for when he took up his job on Widow's Island, but he's not a person who run away from a challenge. Tough Tessa has a lot to deal with at home, but she also appreciates her mother, her sister and Logan- she has a soft side and we see it clearly when she is helping Cate. Once again I was amazed at how well Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh merged their stories.

I am a bit sad that the series is coming to an end, but it was a great journey, and I am looking forward to finding out more about the authors' new projects!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone Deep was another excellent addition to the Widow's Island series following Cate as she searches for Henry after he is kidnapped.

Dr. Henry Powers is finishing up for the day at his clinic on Widow's Island when two armed men enter and kidnap him to force him to save their injured brother. Former FBI agent Cate Wilde knows something is wrong when her fiancé Henry doesn't come home after his shift. Desperate to find the man she loves, Cate teams up with the FBI and the local sheriff's office to find Henry. When all signs point to his abductors being a trio of brothers who robbed a bank, one of whom was shot in the process, Cate knows time is running out to find Henry alive. While Henry plots his escape, Cate uses every resource at her disposal to find him in time.

The plot in this one sounded interesting and jumps straight into the action with Henry being kidnapped in the first chapter. Once the group arrives at the location where the injured man is stashed, it doesn't take long for Henry to realize the men have no intention of letting him go. Cate's search for Henry picks up only hours after he is taken when she goes to check on him at the clinic after he doesn't come home. The local sheriff's office and the FBI quickly join the case giving Henry the best odds of being found. The investigation goes in a few different directions and I enjoyed following the group as they narrowed down leads. As we get closer to the end the suspense really starts to pick up and the final confrontation with the bad guys is very well done.

Cate continues to be my favorite character in this series and I've enjoyed how far she's come since Close to the Bone. Cate left the FBI after she could no longer mentally handle the toll the job took and she has been happily running a bookstore/bakery since. With Henry's kidnapping, Cate jumps headfirst into helping with the investigation which does give her a few bad moments but I liked that she was able to work through them. We don't get to spend a lot of time with Cate and Henry together due to the plot but I liked the moments we did get. I thought the ending was quite fitting for them as a couple and I really enjoyed the journey of their romance.

Overall Bone Deep was a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the series, The Wrong Bones, soon.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read several books in the Widow's Island Series, but I lost track and now I need to see if I can pick it back up. I've always felt that the sign of a great author, when there is a long running series, is if a newbie reader can pick up in the middle of the series and not be lost. I'm happy to report that that is most defiantly the case with Kendra Elliot and the Widow's Island Series. I slipped right back into Widow's Island and picked right up with the characters. While I wouldn't go so far as to say "Bone Deep" is a standalone, it is sure close. It is an action-packed suspense from the beginning to the end and I loved it.

It's been a long day for Dr. Henry Powers, and he is looking forward to nothing more than dinner with his beautiful fiancée, former FBI Agent Cate Wilde, and some down time. Then two gunmen burst into his clinic on Widow's Island and take him. Henry has no idea where they are going, but he does know that his life is in danger.

Cate believes that Henry is stuck at the clinic, so she takes him dinner only to discover his nurse tied up and Henry gone. Cate goes into action and with the help of her best friend, the sheriff, and her former FBI colleagues out of Seattle, she soon discovers who the kidnapers are and that they have nothing to lose, which is bad for Henry, very bad.

Cate must trust that Henry can survive and that she can find him where there are literally hundreds of islands with places to hide.

My thanks to the Publisher and author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Bone Deep, two men kidnap Dr. Henry Powers, former FBI agent Cate Wilde’s fiancé. This was an intense story for both Cate and Henry. In fact, I devoured it in one sitting as there was no place to really stop. I needed to know the outcome.

Elliot quickly pulled me in as Henry finds himself abducted by two masked men. Apparently a third man has been injured. Henry’s life is in peril if he doesn’t save the third man.

The story gives us both Henry and Cate’s perspectives as he tries to save a life and his own. Meanwhile. Cat is relying on her agent skills to track their movements and find Henry.

Tessa and Logan will lend their aid. Along the way Cate makes a startling discovery, one that will forever change their lives. I loved every nail-biting moment.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, Bone Deep was another success! I wasn't expecting the main conflict to be so personal and connected to one of the main characters? But I loved it! It added so much tension to the novella and it was so entertaining reading about the situation as it developed. I also really enjoyed the sweet reveal regarding Cate and how this story wrapped up.

*

#1 Close to the Bone: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 A Bone to Pick: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 Whisper of Bones: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#4 Bred in the Bone: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#5 Below the Bones: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#6 A Broken Bone: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#7 A Buried Bones: ★★☆☆☆ | 2 stars
#8 The Lost Bones: ★★★★★ | 5 stars

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the best of this series.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a high octane adventure! This was pure excitement from beginning to end. This was by far the best of the series. I could not look away from the page as Henry is in a dangerous situation and Cate is left to solve the problem before it’s too late. This went beyond drama and danger. This was definitely one of the most emotional stories of them all and will be one I won’t soon forget.



Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama;
Triggers no apparent triggers
Steam 0 /5; no steam; nothing on page

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to Widow’s Island, Bone Deep, the ninth of the series, finds Henry taken from his clinic at the point of a gun by two desperate men and threatened with his life if he doesn’t save their gunshot partner.

Cate Wilde thought her years of intense, heart-pounding FBI work would be over when she bought the bakery back home on Widow’s Island and became engaged to wonderful doctor, Henry Powers, who also sought escape from the trauma of a big city hospital emergency room. But, now she is faced with losing Henry on the eve of their wedding and she joins the desperate hunt to get him back before it is too late.

Bone Deep leaped into action from page one and didn’t stop until that sweet and tender ending full of swoons and sighs. I loved the surprise at the start and how the author kept up the pace and suspense through the end and I’ve long been in love with the characters and setting. More please, more!

I rec’d an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.


My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Oct 18th.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is packed with action from the get go. I felt for Henry, he was in a no win situation from the start. Protect his nurse, go with the bad guys. Help the man he knows will never get better and even help him along a bit. I thought Henry did the only thing he could with each choice.

I felt for Cate, on the sidelines, knowing very bad men have Henry and learning something she has been yearning for. No good choices all around.

I liked how this one ended, that the bad guys got theirs, that Cate and Henry were together again and how they decided not to let anything stop them for their HEA.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight up action from the get go. This 118 page novella #9 flies by way too fast. 5 stars loved it. Can't wait for Cate/Henry and Logan/Tessa's next Widow's Islnd adventure.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Henry, Cate's fiancé, is kidnapped straight out of the medical clinic. 2 men walk in, put a gun to his head, and tells him that he is going with them. Hooded and with his hands taped together, Henry is taken to one of the other islands and is forced to try and save the 3rd man who had been gut shot. When Henry arrives, he discovers that infection has set in and there is no chance for this guy to survive without going to a hospital. The kidnappers don't want to hear this and tell Henry if the guy dies, then they will kill him too. Now Henry must figure out a way to stay alive knowing full well that the gut shot guy doesn't have very long.

This was another 5 star read in this series. I really like Henry's character. He will try and help anyone who is in trouble medically regardless of who they are or what they may have done. He struggles some with what he does in this story, but deep down he knows he did all that he could do.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The further this series goes, the more exciting and gripping the stories are. In Bone Deep, the 9th book in the Widow's Island series, Doctor Henry Powers is kidnapped from his clinic to tend to a man with a gunshot wound. Henry is warned that if the young man dies, so does he. Henry knows he won't be able to save him unless he can get him to a hospital, but he is told no. Trying his best, he is unable to save the youngest of the three brothers, who had recently robbed more than one bank. Cate quickly gears up and with the help of her best friend and deputy, Tessa, they are able to figure out who has Henry and eventually where he is being held. Once the victim dies, Henry knows that he must escape to save himself. Will Cate and Tessa find them in time? Who will survive?

This story once again starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. I love how Cate gets back in her FBI persona and is able to put the clues together to figure out what is happening. Tessa helps her a lot in this story, and I loved seeing them work together again. Henry is such a wonderful character and Kendra Elliot has developed the perfect doctor character in Henry. While he was trying to save the shooting victim, as well as save himself while hiding on the island, I was on the edge of my seat, rooting for him. There are many dangerous moments in this one that added to the tenseness and suspense. A wonderful addition to this series. This audiobook is back to having Christine Williams narrate the story. I was fine with that, as I had listened to her narrate previous books. It is frustrating that they keep switching narrators though.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid installment of the series. There was lot of action, a simple plot, and sweet conclusion. For a shorter length work, I'd rate this a 4, but being that this is being rated alongside 1,000 page novels, I'd give this 3 stars. On to the next installment...

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book in this series but I had heard a lot of good things from this author. Really enjoyed it and will definitely look for more.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nail bitting as always. :)

[İlkim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ninth book in the series was a good read like the others. Henry is kidnapped by the bank robbers and Cate has to find him before it's too late. It was a quick and gripping read. I'm little sad that the series is coming to an end. I'm looking forward to the last Tessa book.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had my heart racing right from the start. Wonderful, thrilling, and guaranteed to leave a smile on your lips.

[Read All About It · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one non stop adventure.

Henry is kidnapped by two men and it’s a race to find him before he ends up dead.

“We’ll bring Henry back,” Tessa said. “I promise.”

Cate is frantically trying to hold it together while they search for who took him and where they are hold up.

This was a super fantastic short story. I couldn’t put it down.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first page we were in the thick of it. Fast paced quick read that made me smile at the end. I love Henry & Cate! Another great read from this dynamic duo. Diving into the last book next!

[LindaPf · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Bone Deep” is Widow’s Island #9 —a series of novellas: 5 written by Kendra Elliot and 5 written by Melinda Leigh (who are not the same author, just partners in the Widow’s Island series). This book belongs to Kendra Elliot and will be published a week before #10, “The Wrong Bones” by Leigh.

In this installment, Henry, the island’s only doctor, is kidnapped to presumably treat one member of a trio of bank robbers who was shot as they were fleeing from Seattle to Widow’s Island. In pursuit is Tessa, the island’s deputy sheriff and Cate, his retired FBI fiancée, who now owns a bakery and bookstore. The islanders are a tight group (Tessa is engaged to Cate’s brother, Logan, the local forest ranger). The FBI informs Tessa that these guys are stone cold killers, so the search for Henry is desperate and action-packed since it seems he might be still on the island, trying to treat a lost cause.

This is a quick and satisfying read as all the Widow's Island novellas are. There are definite good guys and bad guys and suspenseful moments that have you worrying about the ultimate outcomes. But like all the Elliot/Leigh chapters in this series, it can be a standalone thriller and it’s a great one! 4 stars! Be ready for the 10th novella that going to be released a week after “Bone Deep”!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Some dark and vacant eyes, but no green ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s the Pacific Northwest and the island is mostly a dark green forest with tall grasses

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bone Deep” is one of the most intense reads in the series. This installment focuses on Cate and her fiancée, Henry. At the end of a work day Henry was looking forward to having dinner with Cate. Unfortunately, two masked men show up at the urgent care clinic he owns and takes him hostage and leaving his office manager tied to a chair.

After Henry is late coming home Cate decides to go to the clinic and bring him dinner. What she finds sets her on a course to get Henry back no matter what it takes. It’s seems that the FBI is also searching for these men and now they join forces with Tessa and Cate to recover Henry. The island folk once again tally together to help one of their own. The question is whether or not they will be able to get to Henry in time to save his life.

The is another fast pace read with an intense plot as well as some surprises along the way. No, I will not reveal what they are. You will have to read this for yourself to know more. I don’t know how many more books are in this series; but, I plan to enjoy each and every one.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

The abduction of Cate's fiancé Henry takes centre stage in the latest Widow's Island novella that continues to be fast paced and entertaining. Although short they always seem to move the character development along at a steady pace, especially in this one as Cate and Henry get some unexpected news (as well as being in mortal peril).

The plot is also pretty good. I think the atmosphere and tension have definitely ramped up again in the last few books, with the focus returning to the main characters rather than a random murder victim we only meet for a short time. I'm actually pretty sad this series is coming to an end, as I've started to rely on the novellas as a quick read that always delivers on action. The writing isn't amazing, but if you want a cosy crime series that consistently does a good job of slowly building character development without compromising on pace, this does a great job.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone Deep returns readers to Widow's Island in another well paced and enjoyable instalment in this series.

Which sees island doctor and coroner Henry Powers abducted from his office so that he can save the life of a bank robber gravely injured in their latest heist.

However, his fiancé retired FBI Agent Cate Wilde, her brother park ranger Logan and best friend Deputy Tessa Black are determined to find him and bring him home in one piece.

But with hours passing by and so many uninhabited islands to hide time is quickly running out and as his patients health deteriorates rapidly Henry's situation soon becomes much worse than anyone could've imagined.

**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good novella in this series of ten books and this one, number nine, will be published 18th October 2022. It's well written with lots of suspense. Our hero, doctor and medical examiner Henry, is kidnapped from his surgery by armed men so he can save their friend who has been shot. There's a mad rush on Widow's Island by the local police, his fiancee Cate and the FBI to find him, before his time runs out. Any background re characters is briefly explained as the story goes along, so it could be read as a stand alone, though I'd advise to read from the beginning because the series is worth doing so. My thanks go to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the eARC in return for my opinion. An excellent story packed in a shorter package.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone Deep is the ninth novella in the Widow Island Series. It is shared between Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. Both authors tell the story from different points of view yet can intertwine the story lines in such a way as to provide a continuous narrative. Even if you have not read the preceding books, you will not be lost as both authors provide background information. However, I would strongly recommend reading them for the simple reason that they are worth the time and effort. This is a quick but satisfying read, and although it is short in pages, there is plenty of action to keep you turning the pages. Looking forward to reading the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Olga Rudnitska · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Kendra Elliot's book. I knew nothing about this series. I didn't even know it was a novella. So please keep it in mind. Nevertheless, it's one disappointment you will get during reading this book.
The pace, the situation, the characters, emotions. Everything was great. It was good reading. Haven't read short detective stories before. And now I appreciate the short form. I sympathized Cate and Henry. But even the bad guys in this story shouldn't end like this.

I clearly see the Widow's Island. And I want to read other books.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast read mystery thriller for sure! Starts out with a bang and keeps going.
Strong female lead characters
Kidnapping
Bank robbers
Drama
Romance
Can be read as a standalone even though it is part of a series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my ow

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this novella series. Henry is able to stay calm during an intense kidnapping situation and wait for help. I like how recurring characters keep appearing; Cate’s friend Tessa, her brother, Jane and Oliver to name a few. This one ends with a confirmed pregnancy and wedding. Happy ending. Looking forward to book 10.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrown right into suspense when right off the bat Dr. Henry Powers is kidnapped right from his office by two gunman. Kate who is living a quieter life these days (or tries to) after retiring from the FBI is at her whit's end with worry about her fiancé Henry. Cate makes sure she is involved in the investigation along with best friend Deputy Tessa Black and the FBI.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this brilliant novella

when two men take a doctor hostage and leave behind a nurse tied up the hunt is on

being on an island makes it more difficult to hide and its not long before evidence turns up when a boat is reported missing....

with reports coming in that bank robbers had killed several people could these two men be responsible for kidnapping dr henry

with limited resources the hunt is on...

never a big fan of short stories but these novellas are something else...action adventure and tension all rolled into this pint size story

cant wait for the next one