The Secret, Book & Scone Society

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is supposed to be a place of healing. People flock to the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and a renowned spa. But when none of the usual treatments help, they land at Miracle Books. With a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House, they tell Nora Pennington their troubles. Nora can always find the perfect book to help them in ways other treatments can’t.

When a visiting businessman speaks with Nora while sitting on a park bench, she knows exactly which novels will help him. Unfortunately, before he can keep the appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Nora doesn’t believe it was an accident, so she forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society to prove it. Four women with issues of their own gain trust and confidence in each other by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret, the truth that brought them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

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Series: Secret, Book & Scone Society – Book #1
Author: Ellery Adams
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Book Club
Publisher: Kensington Books

Rating:

The Secret, Book & Scone Society is a story of women determined to uncover the truth. What’s behind the murder of a stranger. Perhaps the answer can bring a form of redemption or salvation to the women’s lives. Ellery Adams writes as though she fully understands what the women have gone through and how they each hide what they feel from the world. The story is realistic on many levels. All people have something they do not tell others, and most will do their best to hide the things that hurt them the most.

Nora is not a perfect person; she is scarred physically and emotionally. Nevertheless, she moved to Miracle Springs to start over. To bury the past and prevent her heart from ever being broken again. The character is a study of the human condition. Unwilling to get involved with others, afraid to let them in on her secrets, Nora nonetheless cares about people and tries to help in the only way she thinks she can.

The other characters, Estella, Hester, and June, are unique in their own way. They have secrets of their own and do not judge each other based on their past. It is interesting to read each chapter and watch the characters develop into primarily happy people who have taken responsibility for their wellbeing. Having friends is something they did not anticipate or ever consider but becomes something they don’t want to give up. They are willing to risk their secrets to have friends and help when a friend is in trouble.

The other characters in this book are well-rounded and believable. They enhance the story and make it a challenge to figure out who the killer is. Even the “bad” characters make the story a bit more interesting. The reader cheers for revenge and justice, hoping that the killer will pay the ultimate price for their crimes.

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, does not exist, but wouldn’t it be great if it did? To know there is a place where a person can go to help ease their worries or heal their pain is a place everyone would visit. More description of the town, shops, and owners would be interesting. Hopefully, this will evolve as the series progresses.

Overall The Secret, Book & Scone Society is a well-written book with memorable characters and a plot that, although somewhat convoluted, plays well in today’s society. This book is highly recommended for those who love intricate plots and character storylines to keep them guessing and turning the page.