The Secret, Book & Scone Society (A Secret, Book and Scone Society Novel)

I'm only 14percent into the book and I have to take a break. The characters are extremely cliche (the White characters are young, successful business owners, while the only Black character is middle aged, poor, overweight, and works as an entry level employee) and the writing is a bit ambitious in its attempt to convey information to the reader.So far, I have felt absolutely no connection to the victim. There is an attempt to create a sense of urgency in finding out whodunnit, but I don't really care! Also, there's far too much dialog between characters who are just sitting around talking.Also, how is everyone extremely perceptive? The baker intuitively knows what treat to concoct, and the bookseller divines what book to recommend for healing her customers? All by perception? This sounds a bit too close to Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries (which I HIGHLY recommend), where the main character recommends clothing based on vibes she gets from her customers.It feels that the author inconsistently copied and pasted writing styles from Juliet Blackwell and Rhys Bowen. The result is a random hodgepodge of detail and dialogue.I read Ms. Adams' Church series and found the characters unlikeable but I thought I'd give this a shot. Since I spent $10 for this, I'm going to reluctantly see it through.

The Secret Book And Scone Society is the first book in a wonderful new series by author Ellery Adams. This book is absolutely the best book I have read all year. I was unable to part with it until it was finished and I cried when it ended. This is mystery magic ! . Ellery Adams has a talent for transporting the reader and as you read this book you are transported to Miracle Springs, a place of healing that will touch your heart. Nora has come here to live and run a bookstore called "Miracle Books." She is a "Biblotherapist" ( a admirable vocation for a cozy series protagonist! ) with a innate talent for finding books a person needs when they visit her bookstore. She is also a victim of a fire and has secrets she does not share surrounding her previous life. She is a loner who keeps to herself and happily runs her business. She lives in a renovated train car near her bookstore which was delightful to experience through her eyes. She longs for friendship and a normal life but accepts due to her outward scars and inward trauma she is fine alone. However this is Miracle springs and her life is soon to take a turn with the best miracle of all, friendship.Miracle Springs is also the home to three other independent very damaged women in town. Hester who is a baker of comforting scones that when eaten revel deepest secrets. . Estelle runs the hair salon and June is a manager of a healing waters spa. They are drawn together by a death that occurs in their town that involves Nora and decide to come together to form a fast friendship as they attempt to solve the murder. They agree to share their secrets and in doing so become fast friends and form their secret club, The Secret Book And Scone Society. As they told their individual stories I found myself very touched . These women are people all would hope to have as friends. They are all of us damaged by life. They band together to solve the crime and help each other as their friendship grows.As they begin to investigate they find a terrible underlying crime occurring between the local bank and the Sheriff. They soon join forces and are a unstoppable force against the evil that threatens their lovely town. They are brave, smart and take many risk together to stop the killer.This book will make you believe in the healing power of books. Ms. Adams has well crafted all the right cozy elements with a fantastic mystery and finely tuned conclusion that will leave you breathless and wanting to read the second in series immediately.Throughout the book and at the beginning of each chapter are marvelous book quotes and delicious scones. The town is delightful and the rich details place you in this beautiful village. This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. I await the next in series and appreciate the ARC by the author which did not influence my review. I read this book cover to cover unable to put it down. At Chapter 3 the author has a quote by Maya Angelou that says "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. " A perfect quote for this book and for The Secret Book And Scone Society.This book is a masterful buildup of suspense, great characterization and a exciting conclusion that make this my favorite book of the year. ,

I'm a big fan of Author Ellery Adams work, so the moment I saw her announce her new series, I pre-ordered the book. I sure wasn't disappointed!The Secret, Book and Scone Society takes you to Miracle Springs, NC where four independent women - Nora, June, Estella, and Hester - become friends while trying to solve a murder that's tearing their town apart.While the women move towards solving the murder, you learn that the bookseller, spa manager, beautician, and baker aren't quite what they seem: they each have a secret. One by one, they reveal their secrets to each other as they get closer to discovering the murder.The Secret, Book and Scone Society has well-developed and quite flawed characters that beg you to turn the page to get to know more about them, especially those secrets they've kept for years. Despite the cozy genre, there is an edge or reality and darker themes to this series, which I personally like.Filled with a delightful town, those characters you can't help loving, and lots of twists and turns, The Secret, Book and Scone Society will leave readers both satisfied - and ready for the next adventure with Nora and friends.(Note: I received a copy from the Publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own)

This is the first book in a new series by Ellery Adams. It was just as enchanting to read as is looking at the cover of the book.We get to meet four powerful, and damaged women living in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. A town known where people travel to for healing.When a man is found dead these four women decide to search for answers and the truth.I have read Ellery Adams other series and love them, but this to me is her best.A story how very different individuals can form friendships.I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Ellery Adams has done it again. She's shown women that they are stronger than they think they are. Her mysteries always have some kind of message at least to me and this one is no different. Nora has a bookstore and a gift. She can pick the right book for what a person needs in their life at that minute. When a man who came to her store and was killed, Nora doesn't believe it was suicide. She enlists some other shop owners and these women form their own sleuthing club. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Von diesem Titel hatte ich mir viel erhofft - mysteriös, düsterer als die üblichen Cozies, und der Anfang las sich auch ganz gut.Leider gleitet das ganze dann irgendwie ab. Finstere Geheimnisse werden aufgedeckt, sind dann aber zum Teil zwar tragisch, aber nur semi-finster. Der geheimnisvolle Super-Buchladen bleibt blass, vor allem traut sich die Autorin - verständlicherweise - nicht wirklich, die Idee, Bücher zur Heilung psychischen Leidens zu vertiefen. So bleibt das ganze schmerzhaft oberflächlich.Der Fall ist extrem schwach, er dient im Grunde nur als Folie, als Vorwand warum die Geschichte überhaupt erzählt wird. Auch sind die Figuren - bis auf den Sanitäter ;) - irgendwie blass. Ich könnte jetzt, wenige Monate später, kaum etwas über die Protagonistin, und praktisch nichts über die Nebenfiguren erzählen. Auch die Welt, der Ort in dem der Cozy spielt, werden kaum greifbar.Als Kriminalroman funktioniert der Band im Grunde nicht, als "Sob Story" oder meinetwegen als Roman über Frauen die sich über ihre Geheimnisse einander annähern dann schon eher. Dem kommt dann aber wiederum die schwache Krimihandlung in die Quere.Die Vorschau auf Band 2, die enthalten ist, zeigt, dass auch dieser sich in erster Linie um das Geheimnis einer - neuen - Stadtbewohnerin dreht, die in der Buchhandlung auftaucht und offensichtlich Hilfe benötigt. Das reizt mich, insbesondere nach Band 1, überhaupt nicht.

When I heard that Ellery Adams had a new series starting, I had to try the first one. I was not disappointed! This series is a bit different from her others but is intriguing in its own right. The main characters are four women in small-town Miracle Springs. They are all not what they seem, as they are all hiding a secret. They are drawn toward each other by circumstances and gradually reveal their true stories to each other. When a man who had met two of the women is murdered, they spring into action. As amateur sleuths, they unravel the details of a real estate scam and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. They do things that are slightly illegal that the police department can not do to find the necessary evidence.I was not sure how I would relate to the mystical component of the story but have discovered that it lends an air of mystery. So perhaps I was meant to read these books after all.I enjoyed meeting these strong, yet flawed, women and will eagerly await their further adventures.

The book started slowly, featuring a group of women who had endured great pain - both emotional and physical. At first I wasn't certain that I even liked them, but I continued reading despite this negative feeling. As they became friends, then trusting friends I found that my opinions slowly changed. By the end of the book I was hooked. A thoughtful book about flawed, but strong women - read it, it is much more than a mystery.

I am a great fan of Ellery Adams, and so was extremely interested when I saw that she had a new series starting.I was not disappointed. I loved this book. The four main characters who make up the Secret,Book & Scone Society are interesting in that they each have a secret from their past which makes them vulnerable and unwilling to reveal much of themselves. As they realise that they share the same problem, they begin to form a frienship and to trust each other. The trust is such that one by one they give up their secret and realise that they are strong enough to face a more clement future.Their club in Miracle Dprings is there to help people like thamselves who have been damaged by life, and each has a special gift to aid the healing.And.....of course there's a murder or two to solve.

Another great book from Ellery Adams, I'll be interested to see how this series plays out. The characters are well fleshed out and it keeps you wanting to find out more about them. Good mystery!