A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nora Patterson moved to Miracle Springs, NC to heal, both physically and emotionally. She leads a lonely life but believes that she can shield herself from pain if she doesn't let anyone close. However, she also practices bibliotherapy, where she recommends books from her bookshop to help customers come to grips with their own problems. When a new customer is pushed in front of a train, she won't accept the sheriff's finding of suicide and is determined to find out who killed him.

With this new determination to seek justice comes new friends, Hester, Jane, and Estella, all of whom are hiding their own secrets, and all of whom will have to learn to trust each other if they hope to solve the mystery.

I really liked this beginning entry into this new series. The characters were interesting, and I became vested in their stories quickly. The mystery wasn't too hard to figure out, but it felt realistic. I look forward to more of this series.

This book is the first in a new mystery series and it is different from the author's other series. I enjoyed the setting, the town of Miracle is a place where people travel to help heal from physical or mental scars. The four main characters all have hidden secrets and trust issues but become friends to try and solve the mystery. Since this is the first in the series much of the book deals with the background of the characters and the mystery is rather weak. The mystery was easy to solve but there were a few twists. It was not a who did but more of a why and how they did it. The background of the characters was interesting. I found the book to be darker than the usual cozies I read. It was a very quick read and since it ended with a cliff hanger I look for word to reading the next one. This is a series that should be read in order.

This is an interesting concept for a story. People come to Miracle Springs for the spas, food, and hot springs to help them with their illnesses. If that doesn't do it, there is Miracle Book and a "comfort" scone and talk with Nora Pennington, the owner, will carefully chose a book just for them. Then a visiting businessman doesn't make his appointment with Nora and it found dead on the train tracks. This really upsets Nora, and that is when she comes up with the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to earn redemption by helping others. To join, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place. This society is on a mission to find out exactly what was the businessman doing there and why and who killed him. There is much more that goes on in this book, that I won't go into here. You need to read it. Very interesting and well written.

Engaging, cosy mystery with a book club at its heart. Well developed characters who all need a helping hand in life. Evocative sense of location. The mystery develops well and kept me reading in one sitting. Most enjoyable.

I actually listened to this as an audiobook, and really enjoyed this mystery. The protagonist is a bookstore owner who lives in a refurbished rail car. That was enough to grab my interest. But, she ends up forming this "Secret, Book & Scone Society" with women she meets in her adopted town: a hair salon owner, a bakery owner, and a masseuse. All with their own secrets, and a desire to make things right. I enjoyed learning each of these women's stories. I hope to see more mysteries in this series!

The Secret, Book and Scone Society is the first in a brand new cozy mystery series from Ellery Adams. We were introduced to the beautiful setting of Miracle Springs, a charming small town as well as a group of four women who become friends while trying to solve a murder. When a newcomer to town is pushed in front of a train, the women all want to see justice served, thus The Secret Book and Scone Society is born.

Nora Pennington was badly injured with extensive burns, She never tells anyone what happened and prefers to be left alone. She came to Miracle Springs for healing of her spirit more than anything. She opens a bookstore and uses what she learned from a nurse in the hospital to become a "book psychologist". When she meets three other women in this small town who also have their own secrets, they begin to trust and depend on one another. Nora, Estella, June and Hester start out as unlikely friends but they soon become a strong group and a force to reckon with. The mystery involves real estate fraud, infidelity and murder to prevent discovery. It moved quickly yet there was a lot of detail to get to know the woman in this first book in the series. I loved the characters of the women and the EMS personnel that begins to develop feelings for Nora. Maybe she will heal after all. A different type of cozy, but enjoyable nonetheless. I will definitely read the next one in this series.

This novel is a little bit of mystery and a lot of fun. Four woman living in Miracle Springs each have a secret to hide and have come to the little village to escape from their past. A murder draws them together and, while solving it, they let go of their past and become friends. The novel references many books, so it's a treat for lovers of literature. I came away with a list of books I will be reading next! The story includes some very diverse people, but not in a trite way. Each person's diverse background is presented in a genuine way and I felt as if I was meeting a real person. It was also very interesting to read a story about a scarred female protagonist, which is unusual and compelling. I am used to stories with scarred men who are attractive and mysterious despite their scars, and my reactions to this switch were revealing. I'm a little superficial it turns out. But I got over it, and the main character of this story, Nora, turned out to be a wonderful hero.
This book is an entertaining read and I will pick up a copy of the rest of the series for sure.

This is the first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the next. This mystery was good and the characters were well developed. I liked that they formed a book club as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This is the great start to a new series by Ms. Adams. There was so much I enjoyed about this one. The characters are immediately likable, it's set in a great location and most importantly, it is a great mystery. It's well-written and easy to read. I stayed up too late reading this one as I did not put it down. I can't wait to visit Miracle Springs again!

I would not label this as a cozy but it was a great mystery. We learn of four women in Miracle Springs, North Carolina that have connected and as a result grown. I enjoyed getting to know the women. An added bonus was the mystery. Great start to a series. This series is going on my reading list.

Interesting characters with a variety of backstories look into a mysterious death that occurs in their small southern mountain town. This was a very enjoyable cozy--the main characters are well-drawn, the villains are suitably dastardly, the setting pleasantly atmospheric, and the mystery is more or less believable. As a librarian, I naturally loved the emphasis on books--even got a few book recommendations for myself. I know a lot of patrons at my library who will enjoy this book.

One of the best cozy mysteries I've ever read. Four women become friends over the unlikeliest of circumstances and work together to solve a murder. Forming a book club is just a bonus for them as they create beautiful friendships, and learn to trust each other in the process. They each have special gifts.

This is the first book in a new series. I loved it from the start! These are strong women who don't trust easily and have secrets. Getting to know these women was wonderful. The author created a great whodunit with fleshed-out characters who cozy fans will adore. The ending was awesome and has me clamoring for book two already.

This was a quick and easy to read cozy featuring Nora Pennington, a bakery owner who has the gift of prescribing the perfect novel to ease the reader's deepest pain. A man who reaches out to her is found dead before he can read the books she prescribes. Nora forms a group or support that becomes determined to solve the murder. As they work on solving the murder, they discover a strength and purpose and bonds that will carry them through the difficult times.

Enjoyable characters, an appealing setting, and an engaging storyline make this a really good start to a series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Confusing plot, characters without character, The best part about the book was the scones. Not recommended at all.

Reviewed on Goodreads. ** spoiler alert ** This book has a hint of magical realism with doses of mystery, chic lit, and romance. The overall theme is damaged people healing. The lovely fantasy of a small town with a wonderful bakery, spa, bookstore, and salon speaks love and relaxation to most readers. Four women in this town become friends and formulate their group to share their personal tragedies, solve a murder mystery, discuss books, and eat wonderful treats. They do all of this and two even find romantic partners while bonding the group tighter. The story moved along smartly, descriptions were thorough, but not overwrought. I especially liked the description of the way time slowed down for Nora when Jed (really not a great name) held her as he helped her into her friend's vehicle. Nice cozy with a bit more meat to it than some.

This is a tale about 4 women living in a quaint town named Miracle Springs. These 4 ladies all have hidden secrets. They form a group to fight deceit and solve murders. These 4 women go about this in a most unusual way.

I had a hard time getting through this book. Perhaps it was my own bias - I seem to gravitate towards “dark” plots, twisted characters, and tight suspense. This book didn't hold that for me.
While there is a murder indeed, I just didn’t buy into the way these 4 women inter-acted. While well written, and absolutely not a thing wrong with the book, it was just a little too “cute” for me.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital copy!!!

While I generally am a fan of Ellery Adams, this book just didn't grab me and pull in. Nora has secrets; she lives in a town where many have come to hide. There is something special that happens when visitors come to town, looking for a way to start over or keep going. Nora is able to choose a book that helps them, and others in town can do similar things with their wares. When a man is murdered, Nora finally opens up enough to join forces with the women who will become the Book & Scone Society as they work to save one of their own and to solve the crime. A good read, but just not as engaging as I had hoped.

An enjoyable cosy read but not overly taxing. A group of disparate, lonely women with secrets in their pasts are brought together by the death of a visitor to their town. Corruption at the heart of the town drives the the mystery as the 4 women try to unravel the secret. However this is not without dangers to themselves and it is only by beginning to trust their new friends with the stories from their past may they come out on the other side of the this mystery. It is the start of a new series and it will be interesting to see where the author goes with it. Recipes for magical scones, book recommendations (always good!) and relaxation and health techniques pepper the story.
A good holiday read!

I hover between 3-stars and 4-stars for this book. It is placed in the cozy mystery genre, but it doesn't fit well. There are cozy elements - setting in a small town said to help in people heal, a bakery with almost magical scones and a book store with an owner that seems to magically match people with books to help them heal. But then there are the raw elements - the secrets the four main characters hide, the murders and how far the villain will go in the end to escape consequences.
Nora, Estella, Hester and June make up the Secret, Book and Scone Society. I was put off by Estella's secrets but the others secrets were really just sad.
Nora is rather stiff as a character. I suppose it may be fear that keeps her from interacting well with others.
I like that the secret, book and scone society will continue to meet and that maybe they will do good for those needing help in Miracle Springs.
I am glad to have finished the book but I will have to give some thought as to whether to continue the series or not. I wonder if the author will shift perspective in future books to other members of the society.