Mortal Remains (Skeleton Island 1) by Kaylea Cross-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 27, 2026
Welcome to Skeleton Island, where dangerous secrets lie hidden on its rugged, windswept shores. But even the darkest secrets can be unearthed…and some residents will go to any length to make sure they remain buried.
Tragedy ripped her world apart.
Willow has come back to Skeleton Island ready to heal old wounds and make a new life for herself in her childhood haven. The last thing she expects is to discover the man linked to her loss has also returned to the island. Tripp is forever changed by what happened, but the fire between them burns hotter than ever. When a mysterious threat sets her on a collision course with a dangerous entity operating on the island, she turns to him, putting her heart on the line along with her life.
He’s tortured by the past he can’t escape.
Former military contractor Tripp has secretly loved Willow since he was sixteen. He knows he should keep his distance but he can’t stay away—even though they’ll both wind up getting burned in the end. And when the long-buried desire between them finally ignites, someone targets Willow. He steps in to protect her, but even as they confront the deadly threat, his darkest secret is revealed, threatening to tear them apart forever.
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REVIEW:MORTAL REMAINS is the first instalment in Kaylea Cross’ contemporary, adult SKELETON ISLAND erotic, romantic suspense series. This is former military contractor and woodworker Tripp Rawlings, and library archivist Willow Carlson’s story line.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Willow and Tripp MORTAL REMAINS follows the return of Willow Carlson to Skeleton Island. Willow’s late grandmother left the home to our story line heroine, but Willow’s arrival sets into motion a series of events that will reveal a dark secret buried in and around Skeleton Island. Willow struggles with the memories of what was and what will never be including coming face to face with the man who broke her heart. Tripp Rawlings keeps to himself since the disastrous fall-out of his last tour in the middle East, a tour that scarred him both inside and out but when Skeleton Island begins to reveal its secrets, Tripp and Willow find themselves a target of an unknown source.
The world building focuses on several interesting pathways including the unearthing of Skeleton Island’s secrets, and an organization that is working behind the scenes to take control.
The relationship between Willow and Tripp is one of second chances, of a sort. Tripp has been in love with Willow for as long as he can remember but Tripp has a secret that once revealed may end any chance of a happily after for our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the to, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and charismatic. We are introduced to Sheriff Rafe Torres, Willow’s friend Bronwyn; neighbor Mae, and several questionable locals who may or may not be hiding dangerous secrets.
MORTAL REMAINS is a story of secrets and lies, grief and guilt, power and control, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and edgy; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are determined and dynamic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards and has been nominated for both the Daphne du Maurier and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.
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