The Secret, Book & Scone Society Audio CD – MP3 Audio, November 9, 2017

I read a lot of mystery novels for easy distraction, but this one affected me more deeply because of the combination of characters each of whom had to overcome a personal tragedy or difficult history to continue with their journeys. The story reminds us that we all make mistakes in our youthful years and to move beyond them, we need to reach out to help others in whatever ways our talents allow. Being a a book lovers, I also appreciated all the quotes Ellery Adams included at the start of chapters and throughout the book. Oh, how I would love to visit Miracle Books and browse the shelves!!

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve only read one other book from this author. It sort of reminded me of a combination between a romance novel and a mystery suspense book. I wouldn’t put it in my opinion as a cozy read but more of a regular suspense mystery with romance included. When I first started reading I didn’t like Estelle much. She really threw me for a loop. I was put off by her. Nora, June, and Hester I loved. But once I got into the book and started reading and getting to know them, it made me wish I was friend with them also. It made me want to find these ladies and ask if I could join their secret book club. Good read. Can’t wait to start the second book in this series.

This wasn't my normal genre of books, but I took a chance on it and was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put it down and then I ended up buying the remaining series to see what happens to the 4 main characters.It's a series that I will have in my collection of books to reread again.I highly recommend if you are looking to try something new from your normal genre.

I liked the plot, but the characters still need some more development. I do like how they shared their secrets and how it is currently affecting them.

Nora runs a bookstore in Miracle Springs, NC, after running from her previous life, which left not only emotional, but physical burn scars on the right side of her face and arm. The bookstore is in the old train station and her tiny home is a former caboose. Nora has kept everyone at literal arm's length, and books are her only friends.Until Nora happens upon a newcomer to Miracle Springs, who has come to town as part of a property development plan; he regrets his participation in the development -- but dies before he can make amends. Nora feels bad that she could not help the gentleman w/ her "bibliotherapy" skills - a bit of "magical realism" in these stories. I honestly don't see Nora's skills in recommending books to folks to help them w their emotional issues as "magical realism," but more as the skills of a very well-read woman. Anyway, Nora enlists the help of fellow female business owners in Miracle Springs to solve what happened to the dead gentleman. Hester runs a fabulous bakery and makes "comfort scones," which remind a person of a very happy day in their lives, helping them heal from their emotional wounds. (More magical realism.) Estella is a stereotypical trashy hair stylist, but did her past make her that way? June works at the hotel containing the hot springs which brings tourists to the town. She has also run away from a trauma in her past.These ladies form the Secret (they all have 'em), Book, & Scone Society. At first they are a loose collection trying to solve the gentleman's death, which extends into investigating the property development scheme. Was the man murdered? Is the property development firm actually building houses in Miracle Springs, or are they just taking writing mortgages that folks will never be able to pay?So we have two investigations, a couple of budding romances (Nora and a local paramedic, and Hester and a town deputy), and hare-brained schemes concocted by the ladies. The denouement is really riveting (as in, I could not put the story down!), even though I was pretty sure of the identity of the murderer(s) before told.All in all, a really unusual cozy mystery (coarser language than usual cozies, HOT romantic scenes) and a good start to a series. I loved the book quotes to start each chapter, and ALL the references to books. 4+ stars, rounded down to 4.

An intriguing mystery solved by four women who are strong now after having had sadness to rock their lives. They get stronger thru trust and friendships, surrounded by books of all types in Nora’s small town bookstore. Together they solve a murder, a mortgage scam that includes several local leaders, and build deeper relationships, with a touch of romance, too. Sadly, I was hoping for the scone recipe, but I’ll have to find my own! A fun and fast-paced read.

Ellery Adams has a way of weaving a group of small town friends into Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson! What a pleasant read! Easy and enjoyable!

I lìkèd the book. It was sound real insightful. It had really truth, strength, and heart. Characters became rrra and have heart.

The main stars of the book seem definitely to be the scones. Nothing wrong with that, but I would have liked some actual suspense in there as well. The characters love to over explain, are not particularly believable and the “love interest” crumbs are clunky. I feel the author would have done better with self help books. Since it is so gentle and non threatening (hard to find that nowadays) I may get more from the series in a weak moment, but it won’t be top of my list.

What a fantastic book, a really good read and I'm excited to read the rest of the series.Nora relocated to Miracle Springs after a major life event left her literally scarred for life, and unable to trust anyone.A librarian by career she opens a bookshop and helps people solve their problems by recommending books which will help them.She bumps into a man in the park, obviously in torment she asks him to come to her shop. When he doesn't show up, and is found dead, the Sheriff seems it a suicide. Nora and 3 ladies who live in the town, each with their own secrets are determined to find out who murdered him.This is a great book and I've already downloaded the next book. I'll be reading more by this author for sure.

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.

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.

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.