Digging Up Bones: Book TwoCloister Witte and his K-9 partner, Bourneville, find the lost and bring them home. But the job doesn’t always end there. Janet Morrow, a young trans woman, lies in a coma after wandering away from her car during a storm. But just because Cloister found the young tourist doesn’t mean she’s home. What brought her to Plenty, California… and who didn’t want her to leave? … didn’t want her to leave?
With the help of Special Agent Javi Merlo, who continues to deny his growing feelings for the rough-edged deputy, Cloister unearths a ten-year-old conspiracy of silence that taps into Plenty’s history of corruption.
Janet Morrow’s old secrets aren’t the only ones coming to light. Javi has tried to put his past behind him, but some people seem determined to pull his skeletons out of the closet. His dark history with a senior agent in Phoenix complicates not just the investigation but his relationship with Cloister.
And since when has he cared about that?
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The overreaching storyline hinted at in the first book continues in this one. The hints of Witt and Merlo’s respective personal mysteries are expanded a little bit, and they affect the main mystery of this book in subtle ways. I am so very invested in this series, and I hope it continues because I really enjoy the thought provoking mystery set in the Southern California background. The author does an amazing job of capturing the SoCal feel.
The story had some interesting insights into how law enforcement procedure affects the outcome of case. Labeling a case a hate crime, police corruption, interaction between local and federal law enforcement, and interaction between law enforcement of different countries all play a part in how this case is resolved.
The narrator was different for this series, and his performance was decent, but his perpetual pauses didn’t seem natural.
Overall a very entertaining story that I will listen to or read more than once.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first. It has all the markings of a wonderful story: two conflicted MCs, a murder that unravels long buried secrets, angst and deep emotions and cute loyal dog Bon. The difference between this book and the first is that it focuses more on the relationship between two men, well sort of relationship they have, and also gives more voice to Javi than Cloister.
While the investigation dragged a tiny bit in the first part of the book, it definitely picked up closer to the end, and I liked how Cloister and Javi brainstormed together. The who and the why of it was interesting. The relationship they have is strained and at times tense with both men walking on eggshells around each other. There were glimpses of tender regard but very few and far between, and I would have liked more of them. Considering what both Javi and Cloister reveal in snippets about their past and what shaped them, it’s no wonder theirs is a relationship that might not even fully develop due to their fears and, in Javi’s case, pure a$$holery. But I enjoyed the gentle moments they did have.
All in all, this was a good book with diverse ever changing characters, the mystery that was complicated and well written, and departmental intrigue and posturing that I found quite fascinating. It was angsty, steamy and suspenseful. I enjoyed it.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/skin-and-bone-t-a-moore/
When I finished the first book, I was scared that the saga was cancelled. Two years between the first and the second book is not something normal in Romance. In that genre you can even find authors who publish a book every two weeks. Although I would bet the quality in those stories is not as high as in the books of the Digging up bones saga.
We obviously follow again the adventures of Cloister, Javi and the K-9 unit called Bourneville. This time, a trans woman is attacked in Plenty and Cloister saves her life just in time. It’s up to him and Javi to discover who is behind the attack. Meanwhile, they must also discover what the hell is that thing brewing between them.
As in the previous book, the mystery takes a huge chunk of the story, what makes the book feels special. I think it would be a perfect story to introduce someone to the genre, because is not heavy in the romance and the suspense part is developed with enough care to entertain a mystery lover. But it has a tiny problem. It is a bit hard to follow. At least for me. There are too many names and important events being mention and mixed at all times. So many leads that collide with each other… It makes me wish to have taken a notebook to draw a schema of the case, because more than once I was lost. It doesn’t make the book less enoyable, but days after finishing it I still have some questions about what really happened.
The love part is infuriatingly slow. Don’t get me wrong, that is what makes it greater than other love stories. Since the first moment, the author lets the reader know that Javi and Cloister are perfect for each other. But, at the same time, doesn’t allow the characters to acknowledge it. We have to witness an endless string of excuses and half-hearted fights among them. I found myself yelling at them more than once. Usually a classic: Kiss already, you idiots!!! It was really unnerving sometimes (sweet unnerving, though). When I ship so hard for a couple that means they are giving me what I enjoy most in the Romance genre: slow brewed love. These guys are following all the steps one by one in order to make sure they have something real and durable. I wouldn’t mind if they speed thing up just a little bit and stop being so stubborn, though. Maybe in the third book they will finally hold hands or something equally cute.
The cuteness of this book is hoarded by none other than Bourneville, the partner of Cloister and eerily amart dog. I know Cloister keeps reminding us that Bon is not a pet. That cuddling her is not really a good idea, but she keeps being cute and melting hearts everywhere. It comes to my mind the time she was pretending being asleep to avoid being kicked from the couch. Or her adorably crush on cats. How in the Hell can anyone stop petting her in those situations? Sometimes I think Cloister wants her all by himself. That’s not cool, man!!
Will we have to wait another two years for the third book? I hope not, but I’m already loyal, so I will wait no matter what. So far, I’m enjoying this couple and I wish this format were more common in the genre. I mean, the same couple for several books instead of a different couple in every book. Which is also great, but the scales are much more favourable to the later, so…
Gritty and raw is how I would describe this crime drama/mystery. It’s the second installment and this time we get more Javi which is awesome. He was stiff and kinda jerky in the first book and we learn bits and pieces of the why.
I really like Cloister and his need to get answers and bring the lost ones home. He and Javi are at the “are we or aren’t we” stage in their relationship and struggle with their needs. It’s complicated and very realistic because both men have something to lose. They don’t get a HEA, more like a HFN so I hope there are more books coming because they need to get there!
I was totally thrown by the plot because wow – complications and plot twists galore. TA really did a great job with this sequel.
* Advanced copy provided for an honest review.
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book.
This is book TWO in the Digging Up Bones series, and you really SHOULD read book one, Bone To Pick, before you read this one. You’ll need it to get a feel for Javi and Cloister before this book.
I’m not gonna write a blurby bit, cos if I’m honest (and I’m ALL about the honest!) I got a bit lost with the Janet Morrow storyline, and once I decided I would just read those bits, and not pay much attention, I liked this a lot better. Also being honest, this is highly likely to be ME (since I’m a bit of a mess at the moment) rather than this book, because I really did LOVE catching up with Javi, Cloister and Bournville!
They are such damaged, broken men, and it really is a pleasure watching them fall. Because they HAVE fallen, they just can’t admit, not even to themselves, how much the other man means to him. Javi nearly does, but he shuts that thought down right quick! Cloister does admit he LIKES Javi, but I read far more into that, than was actually said.
It’s the little things that tell a lot, you know? Like how Javi looks after Clositer when he gets hit by the truck. Like how Cloister tells Javi not to get shot. The random thoughts that make you giggle how they come out of nowhere, about they think about the other, about how they feel. They DO admit to feeling, at least to themselves, sorta, kinds, and it’s those out of nowhere things I LOVE about these two! There is no way to predict where the comments and thoughts will come from. Love being kept on my toes.
We get more of Cloister’s history, about his family and some of my questions (that I had after book one) are answered here. We get why Javi was sent to town, to work, after what happened in Phoenix.
I hope there is at least one more book, I really do! These guys NEED to be happy, like REALLY happy with each other and at the moment, while . . . . . content . . . .they aren’t really happy. And you know, we don’t know what’s going to happen to Javi when his replacement comes to twon, a woman who does NOT have happy thoughts about Javi! And there is something going on in Javi’s head about higher ups in the food chain, so I need to know about that!
So, thank you, Ms Moore, for my copy, I’m sorry I got a bit lost, but I’m still giving it the rating it deserves.
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
4.5 Although I spoiled the ending for myself b/c I figured out the culprit early in the book, it still held me intrigued until the end; mostly b/c of the constant tension between Witte & Javi. These two just make me want to bang my head against the wall…or theirs, it’s a toss up. But it’s sort of hard to feel frustrated about the qualms they have about their relationship being who they are and the emotional baggage they each carry. Happy to read this ARC, and I look forward to what W & J get up to next.
**Arc received in exchange for review.**
Grateful for the opportunity. Ms. T.A., thanks fort this great follow up to the series.
I love that this book is extremely story, mystery, investigation driven. While still developing the relationship between Cloister and Javi. Bon is still the star of the show however. I do love her. I do hope book three brings Cloister some of the respect he’s due, and both men some resolution with the past. The end leaves these guys navigating a relationship, I hope it’s not too long before we see where they’ve gone with it.
This is hands down one of the best MM mystery suspense series I’ve read in years and considering this is my favorite trope that says a lot. When I started the first book Bone to pick I was sold before I even finished page one. This is the second book in the series and it didn’t disappoint. The writing is captivating and the characher development is excellent including side characters. It doesn’t fit in the romance genre per se, but that’s OK. A lots of heat, but no hearts and roses. The attraction between MC’s is instant and undeniable and they act on it, but both, especially Javi, are having trouble to admit, or even accept, it could be something more. Both men come from different backgrounds and their lifestyle is worlds apart. They both carry heavy baggage from their pasts so they are very guarded considering their feelings, Javi to a point of being a total a**hole to everyone including and especially Cloister. Forced to work together they develop mutual respect and slowly learn to take care of each other. Baby steps. Bourneville (the dog) is definitely the third MC in this series. It wouldn’t be the same without her.
My recommendation is that you should definitely start with book one for better understanding of the charachters. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I hope it’s coming up soon.
Although it was not necessary for fully understanding this book, I really wish I had read the first book in this series before I read this one. The points necessary for the plot of this story are covered by memories and such, but I enjoyed this book so much that I want to see where it all began.
This was a great suspense novel. It’s not very often that it takes me until the great reveal to know what or who is behind the mayhem in a book. This story kept me guessing until the MCs figured everything out, or at least just up to that point.
The romance is a little trickier to explain. Cloister is obviously more emotionally involved, but he still holds back because of his own traumatic past and insecurities. Javi tries to remain cool and aloof, and appears to be able to pull it off with everyone except for Cloister. Cloister is slowly working his way into Javi’s damaged heart, but Javi is doing everything he can think of to be sure Cloister does not get attached.
The other MC in this story is Bon, Cloister’s K-9 work companion. Bon steals the show at times, and is one of the heroes at the climax of the action. It would take a harder heart than mine not to fall in love with Cloister’s one and only truly devoted friend.
I cannot wait to go back and devour the first book of this series. I’m also going to be impatiently waiting for the next installment to see what happens next with these two damaged souls. I don’t care how many books it takes; I will (hopefully) see them work out their issues and make each other happy. This is not a cliffhanger, but it’s obvious that there will be more to the story.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book. *
This is a mystery book and I loved it. Cloister and Bourneville are looking for a woman who went missing and Cloister ends up getting hurt. Javi is investigating the case and therefore him and Cloister
ends up investigating together. Neither men are willing to admit to their feelings because of their past, but the sexual tension between them is there. The suspense in this book is great and will have you on the edge of your seat. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to the next book in this series
This is book two in the Digging up Bones Series. I think you could read it as a stand-alone but you would have a better understanding of Javi and Cloister if you read in order.
I really loved the first book in this series – Bone to Pick and have been waiting impatiently for this one. It is not your run of the mill romance. It really isn’t a romance at all but good suspense with …I am not sure what to call what Cloister and Javi has except hot.
This story starts a lot like the first. With lots of action that draws you in. Cloister is tracking a missing woman. There are shocking turns in the first chapter that had me nearly jumping. I did shout out “Holy Crap” scared my husband as it was late and we are in bed both of us reading. Cloister is a K-9 cop and his dog Bourneville is as much part of the story as is Javi and himself. I think that is so cool.
There are lots of cool things about this book. The main secondary character never has a speaking part. She is in a coma throughout this story and yet T.A. Moore makes her relatable, likable and I wanted to know more and more. There are so many twists and turns, lots of action and suspense, The story is page-turning, riveting, intriguing and hot.
My only issue is it ends abruptly and I wanted more. I am hoping it is open for another book in the series and we get much much more Javi and Cloister.
If you like a good mystery/suspense with some hot man-sex and cute working dogs, this is for you.
Skin and Bone by TA Moore is the second installment of the Digging up Bones series and was given to me for an honest review. My favorite genre is mystery and suspense and I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of twists and turns and gasps as well as a push and pull dance between Cloister and Javi on whether they are dating or just friends with benefits. I am rooting for them to become more to each other than they think they deserve. The mystery of who Janet was is so compelling and just when you think you know who she is it is like oops sorry you are wrong. This book was the perfect suspense with an awesome dog who almost stole the show. I cannot was for the next installment.
Skin and Bone by TA Moore is the second in this series and it is even better than the first if that is possible. The continuing adventures of Cloister and Javier keep you on the edge of your seat and up way too late because you just can’t put the book down. Add in the scene stealing fabulousness that is Bourneville, the world’s best K9 partner, and off the charts hot love scenes and WOW. This is a gritty police/FBI story. Moore puts the main characters in some extreme and difficult circumstances. The chemistry between Javi and Cloister is so well written. These tough guys have such hidden vulnerabilities. It would probably be easier to fight their feelings for each other if they could just stop getting in such life threatening situations. But with one being a detective and the other an FBI agent, and with dark clouds of their pasts haunting their every step, it doesn’t look like the road to any kind of happily ever after is going to be an easy one. And I don’t care how long it takes them to get there if it means I keep getting to read books like this one.
This review is based on an Advanced Review Copy received in return for an honest review.