I wouldn't call 'The Book of Candlelight' a cozy mystery. It is richer and more complex, and perhaps less fun. That being said the latest in Ellery Adam's Secret, Book and Scone Society Novel series is wonderful, and stays with you. There are personal surprises and growth, new and delightful characters and a difficult mystery which stretches over generations. I do recommend reading the previous books in the series, otherwise it might be hard to understand what is going on. You will be richly rewarded if you do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The spring rains in Miracle Springs, North Carolina have been relentless. But all this wet weather has been good for business bringing stranded travelers to town. Among them, Miracle Books owner Nora Pennington meets the sixtysomething Sheldon, who starts helping out at the store. Nora goes to the flea market and buys a unique bowl from potter Cherokee Danny. She thinks it will be a great gift for her EMT boyfriend Jed but it's damaged during a fall from her bike. The deluge continues and eventually the Miracle River overflows its banks. Nora is shocked to find a body within the churning water and it's Danny.

Nora and her friends that form the Secret, Book, and Scone Society spring into action to help Danny's pregnant widow Marie. When Nora finds several of Danny's pottery pieces at the Inn of Mist and Roses, she is puzzled that the new owners, Lou and Patty, claim to have never met him. An old diary hidden within the walls of the inn leads to the story of Rose Lattimer, wife of the original owner of the inn and her secret romance with a Cherokee man known as Red Bird.

When another guest at the inn is killed, Nora is convinced the motive lies behind Rose and Danny's hidden connections.

The identity of the killers was a bit of a surprise.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Kensington with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

When you have the ability to read people and determine what is bothering them, then recommend books for them to read, it's a good thing you are bookstore owner. In The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams, Nora Pennington has just such an ability. With the constant flow of visitors to her shop during the rainy season in western North Carolina, her book store is busy.

When a body is found in the swollen river, Nora is unsure if was a tragic accident or something more. When odd events keep happening around her, she rounds up her Secret, Book & Scone Society friends to figure out what is going on in town.

I enjoy this series for the camaraderie among the women and for the stories themselves.

Not only is there the central mystery to solve, but Adams adds quite a bit more themes to her story. Tying friendship, romance, history, ancestry, emotional family ties into an engrossing tale of murder seems to be what Adams does well. Very well. I've become a big fan and cannot wait for the next installment.

Miracle Springs has had a LOT of rain, which is good for the bottom line of Nora's bookstore, as well as many of the other businesses in town. But when the Miracle River overflows its banks, a body is found among the wreckage of a failed footbridge. When it becomes clear that the death was not accidental, Nora and the rest of the Secret, Book and Scone Society decide to figure out what happened … and why.

This is the third book in this series, and I enjoyed this book even more than the previous two. Miracle Springs sounds like a place I would love to visit, and I certainly would like to spend a day – or more – in Nora's bookstore and Hester's bakery. I have loved watching the relationships between the characters grow as they learn to trust each other, and the way they support on another, despite things that have happened in the past. It's also nice to have a story where, for a change, the men in town are just as supportive as the women. Some new characters were introduced, so there were plenty of suspects. Although I had a few suspicions as to the identity of the villain, I wasn't certain about it – or the motive – until just before it was revealed in the story. I look forward to a return visit to Miracle Springs when the next book is released.

Summary from Goodreads:
In the new Secret, Book, and Scone Society novel from New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams, the rain in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, has been relentless—and a flood of trouble is about to be unleashed . . .
As the owner of Miracle Books, Nora Pennington figures all the wet weather this spring is at least good for business. The local inns are packed with stranded travelers, and among them Nora finds both new customers and a new friend, the sixtysomething Sheldon, who starts helping out at the store.
Since a little rain never hurt anyone, Nora rides her bike over to the flea market one sodden day and buys a bowl from Danny, a Cherokee potter. It’ll make a great present for Nora’s EMT boyfriend, but the next day, a little rain turns into a lot of rain, and the Miracle River overflows it banks. Amid the wreckage of a collapsed footbridge, a body lies within the churning water.
Nora and the sheriff both doubt the ruling of accidental drowning, and Nora decides it’s time for the Secret, Book, and Scone Society to spring into action. When another body turns up, it becomes clearer that Danny’s death can’t be blamed on a natural disaster. A crucial clue may lie within the stone walls of the Inn of Mist and Roses: a diary, over a century old and spattered with candle wax, that leads Nora and her friends through a maze of intrigue—and onto the trail of a murderer . . .
I adore these books and have already pre-ordered my eBook copy since finishing the eARC. The series just keeps getting better! Nora and her ecclectic crew a just such a sweet and heartwarming cast of characters. Every time I open one of the books in this series it feels like going back to a well known community. Like in Adam's other series, Books by the Bay, each chapter is headed with a literary quote that has some significance to the chapter.
There were some new characters in this book, and I really loved them. My favorite was Sheldon. I liked how he accepted everything that he was, knew his limitations, but still insisted on doing everything he liked. He has a lot of charm and spunk, plus he brought something new to the group of friends. I think fans are going to love him! For me, this is a five star book!
On the adult content scale, there's language, violence and some sexual content as well as talk of living with an addiction. None of it's too over the top... I would say, maybe, 16 and older? Let's give it a five.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

This third installment in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series from Ellery Adams is another outstanding mystery from her. I've read all of the books in several of her series and have never been disappointed with any of them. Always interest

In this instance, Nora, a bibliotherapist and the owner of Miracle Books, and the other members of the Society look at events in the past to help solve some present-day murders.

The supporting cast, which has gotten even better, is truly one of the best supporting casts I've seen in any cozy.

The books in this series are meant to be savored and I'm eager to read future installments in this series.

Very highly recommended!!

Miracle Springs has been overwhelmed with rain but because of it, business has been booming for Nora Pennington and she has need of some assistance. A kind elderly man, Sheldon, enters her store and they immediately take to each other. She hires Sheldon part-time to help and his insights to customers and marketing are tremendous. Nora is also upset not just by the weather but the death of a craftsman she met at the local flea market. Her instincts tell her that his death was not an accidental drowning but something more sinister and so she calls a meeting of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society to not just help the widow but also look into the death. Sheldon would fit in well with the society because he has secrets of his own.but where he's living,the Inn of Mist and Roses, proves to have vital clues as well.

Love this series because everyone has secrets that to them are reasons why others would avoid the4m but which when shown the light of day are not that horrible.:

I am absolutely smitten with this series! Cozy mysteries with a bite. Nora and her friends, fellow business owners/managers, form The Secret Book and Scone society. Honestly, I wish the name they chose was stronger but...it is was t is. These ladies are strong! Kind, caring, compassionate, smart, spunky, and "Bad ass"! I love the twists and turns this story takes and I can't wait to see what happens next in Miracle Springs!

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams is the third book in the cozy Secret, Book, & Scone Society series. Each book of this series will contain it’s own mystery that is solved so they can each be read as a standalone or in any order. However, those that follow from the beginning will notice some character development carries over from book to book.

The Secret, Book, & Scone Society mystery series takes place in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, a small town that is known to be a place of healing. Not only is there a natural hot springs and renowned spa available but many of the shopkeepers in town have their own signature way of healing visitors. Nora Pennington is one of those shopkeepers being the owner of Miracle Books where she considers herself a bit of a bibliotherapist being able to talk with a customer and sense which book would help them with their own problems.

Now in The Book of Candlelight the town has been dealing with a storm that just doesn’t want to leave giving them a lot of flooding. As Nora is making her way around town and through the storms she passes by Miracle River and sees what looks to be a body by the footbridge. After the law arrives Nora discovers she knows the victim, Danny, a Cherokee potter Nora had just made a purchase from so Nora can’t help but bring her Secret, Book, & Scone Society ladies the news and have them help her figure out who could have done such a thing to Danny.

Having read this series from the beginning what immediately stood out to me as a reader was the fact the author has to be an avid reader herself with making Nora a bibliotherapist with her own knowledge of so many different books which makes it fun to see them all mentioned. Then, the next unique thing was all of the characters have their own flaws and pasts that have put them together in this healing town making this one quite the touching and emotional story. Add in a solid mystery and it’s a nice combination.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I enjoyed reading this next edition of the secret, book, and scone society cozy mysteries! I had never read one before and found it very easy to jump into. The world of Miracle Books is one I look forward to jumping into again.

A return to a rainy Miracle Springs, North Carolina where bookstore owner Nora Pennington has a chance meeting with a charming gentleman named Sheldon and later discovers the body of a local floating in the Miracle River.

Ellery Adams throws in multiple storylines with this book, and since it is number three in the series, the usual make or break number for cozy mysteries, I wasn’t sure if she was trying to tie up all her loose ends of if she was spreading seeds for upcoming installments.

The ladies, and now gentlemen, of Miracle Springs, are a delightful bunch that tends to come to each other’s aid with a helping hand or a baked good, whichever is currently needed. They are the type of support system each need and in their caring, tend to open themselves up to all sorts of troubles and secrets.

As one mystery is solved, Ellery Adams introduces another and by the end of the book, everything is sorted. That is until Nora picks up on something and the next rabbit hole appears.

Fast paced. Captivating. The book left me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

In this installment we are back in Miracle Spring when the rain just would not give up but neither would the tourists. There were so many new people in town that the books and shelf enhancers were just flying off Nora’s bookshelves. Of course, she needed to go to the flea market to try to replenish her store’s shelves and that is where she will meet someone who she will not soon forget…especially since she finds their dead body a few days later.

Obviously, I do not want to give much away about the book since it just came out but yes there is a murder…and Nora is determined to help find out the truth. That is what I love about this series, Nora doesn’t get involved in solving these murders because she wants to be an amateur PI, she does it because she genuinely cares. Her friends are the same way too. They put care packages together for families that they know are struggling or for the young widow. These women are the reason that I love this series so much. I wish they were real. But enough of that…back to the book!

In this book we get to meet a new group of characters, so it is not surprising that some of them become suspects. And thanks to these characters another mystery was added on top of that of the murder…the mystery of a secret diary found in the town’s inn. It might sound like there are a couple of weird things going on but Adams tied them together seamlessly. With every page you are given clue after clue tying everything together, but just when you think you solved the murder bam! something else pops up. Questions like who is white t shirt guy, what is red bird, and is the inn tied into it really just leave you guessing. The answers to each of these questions lead to a wonderful conclusion!

Overall, it kept me guessing, introduced us to new friends (Sheldon is amazing), and gave you an ending that was very surprising and sweet. Plus, it gave Miracle Books a new face lift and hope for more books to come. If you are looking for a mystery that will leave you guessing, this is the book for you!

There is nothing more thrilling for this book lover's heart than a trip back to Miracle Springs. Nora and the gang never fail to disappoint with their witty banter and true friendship. Ellery outdid herself this time, Sheldon is the representation most people with disabilities can only hope for. He is such a wonderful addition to Miracle Springs and I hope we get to see more of him in the next book. As always, I loved the literary references sprinkled throughout the book. Ellery is obviously a book nerd and I enjoy the small glimpses of which books really strike her through the year.

In The Book of Candlelight, a Cherokee man named Danny is murdered not long after Nora purchases pottery from him. Further, several of Nora's friends are the victims of crime, making them question if there is any correlation between that violence and the murder.

I appreciate that the author included a major character with chronic illnesses who was fleshed-out, kind, and imperfect in the way all humans are. Sheldon is a new employee at Nora's bookstore so he should be in future books as well.

Nora is a survivor of a fire and lives with burn scars from an event that occurred prior to the events in this book. To understand the character backgrounds and motivations of all the recurring main characters (Nora and her three best friends) I think it would be best to read the series in order.

The marginalization of Native American's in the past was addressed but continuing issues were not. I wish there had been living Native American characters in the story, particularly enrolled Cherokee tribal members, because the story revolves around Danny's death.

The author did a good job showing the terror racism creates and it's lasting effects. I was surprised that SPOILER the victim's son was responsible for the slur; it felt like that made it a family issue rather than a community issue. END SPOILER

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #TheBookOfCandlelight #mystery

There were elements of this story that I truly loved. I would love to go to the Miracle Book Shop, eat a scone, sip on a hot coffee, and peruse the shelves in real life. I liked the characters, the double murder mystery was interesting. Truly a lot to love here but I just felt like there was a lot going on with this book, a lot of little tidbits to keep track of that took away from the plot. I did not read the first two titles so I’m sure I’m missing something. I want to go back to the beginning of the series though. I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Jan 28, 2020

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my fair and honest review.

The 3rd book in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series, The Book of Candlelight was an awesome addition to the second book in the series I still need to read the first book. I hope there are many more books coming in this series, I absolutely love Nora and her friends. I found it hard to put this book down, this author is able to pull you in and not let go. I certainly would recommend this series to those that enjoy cozy mysteries.

With book #3, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society series has absolutely hit its stride. The tightly knit title group of women and the town they live in are so inviting that I want pack a bag and board a plane immediately.

At time the book may be just a bit more “touchy-feely” than some readers would like, but Ellery Adams has created more than a simple cozy mystery series: she has blended chic lit., self-help, spiritual healing, and a hint of magic realism into a well-written collection of relaxing, peaceful getaways for the soul.

The connections that were formed among the residents of Miracle Springs continue to strengthen through this installment, and the introduction of new characters leaves the door wide open for book #4. I am absolutely invested and look forward to it and many more to follow.

Loved this book! This is one of the cozy series I greatly enjoy reading and this latest entry is no exception. I especially enjoy when all the characters grow and are better fleshed out and I’m loving the evolution of Nora and her gals!

Of the three, so far, in this wonderful series, this is my new favorite. First off, this series is best read in order so the reader gets to know the ladies of the secret, book and scone society. Each carries a deep secret inside, one they don't ever want to share. That is, until they meet each other thanks to Nora and her bookstore, Miracle Books, housed in a converted train station. As the women - June, Estella and Hester. Each woman has a gift and Nora's gift is bibliotherapy, her ability to match books with people in need of healing. Each has shared their secret with the others and their bond is strong. They have each others backs. They support each other any way possible and this time it's a really rough go for one of them.
Helping others has stretched Nora a bit thin but help turns up in the form of Sheldon, my new favorite character. I hereby declare that he must be in every future book. He's a real keeper. Not only is he a very comforting person, the thought of his Cuban coffee and Cuban sandwiches make my mouth water. He comes to work part time for Nora and they make an awesome team.
There is much sadness when two very likable young men are murdered, one leaving his young widow just as they find out she is pregnant. What do the two men have in common? Who is targeting Nora, June, Estella and Hester with acts of vandalism and why? Most importantly, what ties all of these current events to Rose, a beautiful woman from the Civil War? It will take the combined efforts of these clever ladies to untangle the various threads that will lead them to a killer. As for the ending - I won't give anything away but I turned the last page with a sigh of satisfaction. I can't wait to read book #4.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.