I am not a big fan of this series. There is something too simple about Nora Pennington of Miracle Springs and her healing way with the right book for the right ailment. Granted, I do love the titles and authors that she mentions, which bring back memories of when I too had read them, but for the most part, the ladies of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are not memorable.

When Abilene shows up in Miracle Springs wearing a hospital gown and no other identification, the ladies take her under their wing. When it is discovered that this mystery girl also has ties to a recently deceased woman with a valuable book collection, the ladies try to put all the pieces together only to discover that too many people have secrets and ulterior motives and only a set of keys can truly reveal who Abilene is and why she was kept hidden for most of her life.

Not everyone is who they pretend to be. The adage of hiding in plain sight comes to mind, and Nora is faced with this reality when her own life is held in the balance by a person that she had discounted and learned almost too late was the real mastermind behind the deaths and the reasons for manipulating those in this trusting town.

The Whispered Word is more than a good cozy with a good mystery. The characters have heart and depth as the damaged souls find a way to bond with friendship and care for others Nora Pennington owns a bookstore in Miracle Springs, NC and befriends a traumatized young woman who comes into the store and becomes implicated in a suspicious death. Highly recommended!

After reading the first book in this series, The Secret, Book & Scone Society, I was enamored by the characters and the setting of Miracle Springs. I wished that this was a place that I could visit in real life. While that is not possible, I was able to visit in this second book in the series and it was just as wonderful as the first time! I was immediately drawn into the story and was reluctant to put it down. I love all the references to other books that are mentioned and the book quotes at the top of each chapter and have added many of the titles to my TBR list. Ellery Adams is a very talented writer and I can't wait for the next book in this series. You should read this book, and this series, as soon as you can!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Secret, Book, and Scone Society Members

Nora, the owner of Miracle Books, tries to heal people woes with a unique set of books she personally selects for them.

Hester runs the Gingerbread House bakery. Customers tell her a little bit about their lives and what brought them to Miracle Springs. Then she bakes them up a “comfort scone”.

June works at the hot springs spa where people come to rejuvenate themselves.

Estella is a beautician who tries to help her clients find their true selves.

Working together they try to help people, like Abilene, a young woman that has found her way to Nora’s shop wearing a dress that is way to big for her, a hospital ID bracelet and visible bruises. The ladies try to take her under their wing by offering a job and finding her a place to stay. Abilene has secrets and she is nowhere close to being reading to share them. Nora has a feeling one of her secrets connects her to a woman found dead from an apparent suicide.

There is also a new business in Miracle Springs. A business that helps customers sell their collectibles and other goods online. The grand opening had people lined up and down the street. The shop seems to be on the up and up but Nora is keeping an eye on the place. She doesn’t have a lot of confidence in the new sheriff, and she has no trouble barging into any of his investigations, especially after another body is found.

As in the first book another victim of an apparent suicide until The Secret, Book, and Scone Society digs deeper. Until my son took his life I never realized how many deaths in mysteries are first categorized as probable suicides. Each time I come across this now in a book I have to pause and tell myself that 99% of the time, that is not the case and to keep reading. I don’t want to spoil anything but the woman did not take her own life. In fact, what unfolds is a well-plotted mystery that tangles around and around and around again before the real culprit becomes clear. And again, like in the first book, the wonderful core characters of The Secret, Book, and Scone Society grow and learn more about themselves in the process.

I love the compassion these women have for almost everyone they meet. People in Miracle Springs are struggling due to the poor economy and immediately they try to do something to help. They have come up with a nice little idea to help some folks a bit. Also, the way they opened their hearts to a complete stranger in Abilene was so telling and heartwarming. These are flawed characters, with their own issues, yet they can set them aside for others in need.

Miracle Springs sounds like a perfect place to visit. A town based on healing the body, soul, and mind. It also a perfect place to set a cozy mystery series because there is always a new batch of people coming to town. Our family’s best vacation ever was to North Carolina, days spent by the ocean had their own healing effect, so I can totally understand why Ms. Adams has chosen this locale for this story and others.

Another great read from this author. It can be read all on its own too!

“The Whispered Word” the second book in The Secret Book and Scone Society was another winner for me. Nora happily runs Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina and her friends Hester, June and Estella all own or run other local businesses. When they discover a sickly looking girl with bruises, wearing clothes that clearly did not belong to her and a medical I.D. bracelet hiding amongst the shelves in Miracle Books, the group quickly come to the girl’s aid. They are trying to find out more about her, when a local woman is found dead in the pond on her property. Is there a connection between this newcomer, Abilene, and the murdered woman?

Although this series is a cozy mystery one, there is a lot more to it than just a mystery to solve. I love the setting of Miracle Springs. The characters in the story have all ended up in Miracle Springs looking for healing. They all have very emotional pasts with stories that have not all been told. We learn a bit more of Nora's story as well as the paramedic who is becoming special to Nora. Abilene also has a very sad past and when she finally shared it with the ladies, I had a tough time not crying along with the characters. Ellery Adams weaves a tale so realistic, you will feel like you are in Miracle Springs. Along with the healing theme of the books, I enjoyed the setting of Nora's bookstore, the customers she helped and the various references to books that I have loved. As I said at the beginning this is a cozy mystery, but it is very unique and one that I would definitely recommend. The publisher, Kensington Publishing, generously provided me with a copy of this book. The rating, opinions and ideas shared are my own.

This was a fun cozy mystery! I enjoyed delving back into this story and getting to join the amazing cast of characters in solving the mystery!

I received this ARC via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This is the 2nd book of the Secret, Book and Scone Society and the first one I read, so it works as a stand-alone introduction to the series. I recommend this book; the author does an excellent job of incorporating two significant events and the associated murder. Nora, the protagonist, is at her bookstore, Miracle Books, and encounters Abilene who appears in overlarge clothes, flip flops and a hospital bracelet. Nora believes in nurturing the body and the soul, so takes Abilene in and attempts to help her move forward. At the same time, Nora and her three good friends meet to make care packages for neighbors impacted by the closing of the town bank. When they take their anonymous care package to Amanda Frye, avid reader and town curmudgeon, they find Amanda's body they find her body. Also new to the town, are Griffin and Tamera, who open a new consignment shop called 'Virtual Genie'. The new consignment shop appears too good to be true for the town's residents, causing concern for Nora as she watches her neighbors interact with Griffin and Tamera. Another death occurs as Nora grows more involved with determining how Amanda died and what brought Abilene to her, in the state she arrived. It's a well-crafted story and I recommend it. I'll be reading the first book and look forward to more from this author.

Abilene is a mysterious stranger who arrives in the small mountain town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina just as Amanda dies in what is initially thought to be a drug overdose--perhaps accidental or maybe suicide. In the prior book, many locals were scammed out of their life savings and are selling personal items to supplement what little they have. There is a new business in town who may be taking advantage of these unsuspecting residents and the ladies of the Society are determined to uncover the truth of these mysteries.

I liked the first book in the series and this second did not disappoint. The characters continue to develop, both as individuals and as a group. They are growing to trust themselves and each other as they navigate their new "normal".

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an advance digital review copy of this book. My review is voluntary,

This is a great followup to The Secret, Book, and Scone Society. I really enjoyed getting to know the main group of characters better, and found the new additions interesting and fitting for the mystery that was fully engaging. I also love that the author mentions so many other books throughout the story - my TBR was longer by the time I finished and I loved coming across favorite books and authors as I was reading. I am looking forward to the next mystery in Miracle Springs!

I think the best description for this book would be a mixture of mystery and romance with self-help. The Whispered Word is as good for the soul as the fictional town of Miracle Springs is said to be. Nora, Estella, June and Hester provide help to people hurt in the events of the first book and take on a new project in the form of a scared girl who calls herself Abilene.
There is warmth in the story. There is suspense and evil.
I like this statement from the book “She didn’t need anyone else to save her. Like most people she needed love, support and understanding.” I like the personal power that is represented by that statement. Hard subjects are part of the composition of this story but there is comfort in the resolution.
This is the second book in the series. Too really understand how and why the four main women react you will need to read the first book before reading this one.

Ellery Adams probably has to be one of my favorite cozy mystery authors; I have read just about everything she has written. "The Whispered Word" is a great addition to The Secret, Book, and Scone Society series.

The Whispered Word is the second book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. Released 27th Nov 2018 by Kensington, it's 224 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

This is a comfortable cozy mystery series set in a fictitious small town in North Carolina. The town is renowned for its therapeutic healing, both physical and mental. There is a very slightly magical 'vibe' to the healing, with sort-of magical baked & knitted goods and book therapy as an integral part of the deal.

The book is sweetly written and the secret society spends a fair bit of time making anonymous gifts to distribute to sad/lonely/needy people they know. As they're delivering one of these "secret kindness tote bags" to a local woman, they discover her face down in a pond. That's the first murder. There are a few more in the course of the book.

As my late grandmother would've said, 'There's nothing here to shock a parson'... There is very mild language (a 'sh*t' and a couple of 'd*mn's). There is also some mild sexual content (straight, and consensual). All of the above are in context in the story and not gratuitous.

There is a fair bit of description integral to the plot of (non-sexual) abuse of a child and imprisonment. I found it somewhat difficult to read in places. It's -not- specifically graphic, but it is there and it is quite distressing.

The story as presented is self contained and any necessary back story and characterizations are included in the narrative, so it works well as a standalone novel. I hadn't read the first book, and I had no trouble following the plot or keeping the characters separate.

It's a good, warm, comfortable, cozy series with a mostly female cast and a good denouement.

Four stars, recommended to fans of very lightly paranormal cozy mysteries. It would make a good book-club read and in fact, there is an included reader's question guide to help along a discussion group.

This is the 2nd installment of the Secret, Book and Scone Society. In this book, there are a couple of stories going on. One is the story of Abilene who shows up at Miracle Books in overlarge cloths, flip flops and a hospital bracelet. Clearly she is on the run and the ladies take in her in. Specifically Nora let stays at the store the first night and then with her for a little bit. In addtion, Nora and her friends (Estella, June and Hester) have been working to put together care packages for some of their neighbors that have been impacted by the closing of the bank (book1). One of the recipients picked is Amanda Frye who is an avid reader but rude and sour to everyone. When they get to Amanda's house they find her laying down in a pond outside her house. She is dead and the police initially think is an apparent suicide. Nora does not think so. Abilene begins to also work at Hester's bakery as she is a great cook. New to town also is a couple Griffin and Tamera who are opening a new consignment shop Virtual Genie. Abilene begins to work there as well as she has taken the apartment above the store. Lots of suspicions around the new store, Abilene, and Amanda's death and then her son comes to down and he dies as well. Lots going on. This is a story that will grip you from the beginning and deals with some heavy subjects as abuse very well. Looking forward to many more in this series.

This was an excellent mystery and a great book. Very much enjoyed it. The characters were very likeable and the story line was fantastic.

A cross between a cozy mystery and bilbio-therapy. When Nora Pennington discovers a sleeping teenager in her shop, Miracle Books, her world turns upside down. Add a dead body or two and mystery is abounds in the sleepy retreat town known as Miracle Springs. The second book in Ellery Adam's newest series, I wanted to curl up within its pages, have a cup of the infamous Agatha ChrisTEA and have Nora recommend a few titles to fix all my problems. Alas, this fictional achievement is not in my future, but I shall eagerly await the next installment.

The Secret, Book and Scone society use their strengths to rescue a young woman who shows up under mysterious conditions in the bookstore. Why is she so well read, an amazing baker and skilled at watch repair? Who is murdering folk in the town, and why? The 4 women of the society solve another mystery in town by using their special talents and listening... A fun read. Now on to read the first in the series

There's a lot to like in Ellery Adams' The Whispered Word - it's a cozy mystery set in a bookshop with a diverse cast of characters all trying to find their place in the world.

Nora Pennington is a small-town bookshop owner who believes in the healing power of books (don't we all!) and knows that sometimes people need to keep secrets in order to survive in the world. Such is the case when she takes in a young woman with a hospital bracelet, signs of abuse and some unlikely talents. Determined to help the mystery woman get back on her feet, Nora and her friends help the young woman find a place to stay and work.

All the while a death shocks the small town, one that Nora and her friends are first on the scene to discover, and the mystery becomes entwined with the young woman with secrets and a new-to-town auction business that causes a stir.

The Whispered Word, as a cozy mystery, didn't grab my attention as much as some of the others I've read. It's a much slower-paced book and the characters - while great, well-rounded characters - didn't leap off the page for me. Everything unfolds at its pace, which is fine, but it was a book I could put down and had to remind myself to pick it up again later.

I did really enjoy the setting - a town that's in economic strife due to a banking crisis (perhaps in the first book) and that really sets the tone for the characters. Everyone is struggling, and everyone is under the pump, which is why the new online auction business appears to be such a welcome asset to the town.

I also loved the premise of the healing power of books, and the way that Nora uses her bookstore, Miracle Books, to help others in their time of need. She's clearly very knowledgable and dispenses book recommendations constantly throughout the book - which as a book lover I have to admit I enjoyed.

So, while The Whispered Word may not have been precisely my cup of tea, I can't deny it was well-written and atmospheric and the mystery had a twist I didn't see coming. If you enjoy mysteries with a healthy side of book love, it's worth checking out.

I actually think I liked this, book two in this series, more than the series starter. Now that the main characters' secrets have all been shared, the story focuses solidly on the current mystery (so while it's generally fine to read cozy series out of order, it is probably worth reading book one first in this series to establish the characters' backgrounds). Miracle Springs is growing on me, and the characters are too. Nora is a bit prickly based on her background and desire to be alone, but Ellery Adams lets her grow quite a bit in this one.
I'm wondering where exactly this series is going to go from here, as the end of this book was a much more "wrap it all up" style ending than I typically expect in a cozy. It's good news for those who don't like the loose ends sometimes left by books that are part of a planned series, but it felt like a very definitive end.

The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams is the 2nd book in Secret, Book & Scone Society mystery series, and it was great. Wow this book was so gripping for a cozy mystery. Looking forward to the next book in the series. The secret, book and scone society is make up of several women who bonded together because of their difficult pasts. Nora, owner of Miracle books finds a very thin girl in her store, with a hospital ID and healing bruises on her. The girl does not want to talk, but shares her name, Abilene. When the society discovers a dead body and try to help this girl, there are so many unanswered questions they must get to the bottom of. There are so many twists and turns in the book, I could not stop reading it. I strongly recommend this book/ series if you enjoy a well written suspenseful cozy mystery.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Fantastic second offering in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series from Ellery Adams. Solid character growth and a compelling story-line. I really enjoyed reading this book!