Community Reviews
In a sleepy remote town called Miracle Springs, one can go there to start over a new life. When you go there, you'll find friendly people but also people who have secrets. Secrets they're ashamed of, or want to hide or not caring and perpetuate a falsehood about oneself. It's where the lonely hearts can go to get lost. It’s a ripe place where murder and mystery can take place without anyone noticing, unless you are part of the Secret, Book & Scone Society. A group of 4 women from different parts of the country coming together because two of them can read your aura.
Nothing fosters friendship and bonding within a book club more than a good old fashion murder, arrest of one of it’s members. That and incredible, savory edibles and good cheap wine!
It starts us off with Nora Pennington (the protagonist) who is quietly running a bookshop. SHe keeps to herself and she has a secret. She ran away from the person she used to be and came to Miracle Springs, North Carolina, to restart her life. Nobody in town really knows much about her other than her visible burn marks throughout the left parts of body. She is considered to be a bibliotherapist by the townspeople. She frequents a bakery shop, owned by Hester Winthrop who can show you your fondest memories by eating one of her scones. The town also has a Miracle springs Thermal Pools with June Dixon managing the heated pools who can hear the latest gossip. No town would be complete without a town tart with a heart and that dubious honor goes to Estella Sadler. She is beautiful, moves like a cat and eats men up without putting out. She is the most interesting to me, because she has the unsavory reputation of being loose and other women don’t like her because they are afraid she will steal their man. Yet that doesn’t stop them from frequenting her hair salon, Magnolia Salon and she can make you look like your best version. They all lived different lives, each with a secret past and they all didn’t know each other. They know about each other but that is not the same.
A man who was supposed to go to Nora’s bookstore for a reading so that she could recommend books to help him with a horrible secret is first directed to the Gingerbread House, owned by Hester for a scone to help him begin to spiritually heal him by giving him a warm, safe memory. From there he was instructed by Nora to eat the scone as he walked over to Nora’s cozy bookstore, Miracle Books. The only problem was a) he was late and b) he never showed up…
Estelle, the resident town harlot was over at Miracle Books perusing for her next book to read when she was telling Nora the latest gossip about a murder or suidcide of a traveling businessman. Nora’s ears suddenly perked up and inquired more about the unknown dead man. Nora couldn’t stop the coincidence and went to the scene of the crime. Turns out he is the one she had sent to the Gingerbread House, for a scone before he was to meet up with her. Think of it as tenderizing him before his session with her bibliotherapy session. She finds out he was seen eating a scone walking towards Nora’s bookstore. Nobody is sure when he decided to instead, walk over to the train tracks and let a train run him down.
She traces the man’s last stop before his demise at the train station and sure enough, Hester confirms he was at her bakery. She gave him a cinnamon scone laced with vanilla and walnuts and the introverted sullen man suddenly started to cry with tears of melancholy stating his grandma used to make these for him when he was younger. How he had missed her and how he’s glad to not be able to see how he’s ripping people off. He also mentioned he was at the natural hot springs and spa and it was there that he had spoken to his company indicating several of his colleagues will be coming to Miracle Springs to further discuss things with him. He let it slip that they were not too happy with him. Nora and Hester, together go over to June’s spa and inquire what she heard. Estelle not wanting to be left out had joined them on their journey to the spa. THe game is afoot!
The four of them collectively realized several things:
~The man was murdered because he was making plans. Therefore, he didn’t commit suicide.
~They already knew but were in agreeance was their resident town sheriff was as crooked as a bent nail.
~His partners were upset with him “going to do the right thing.”
They couldn’t figure out where they could all gather safely to share their conspiracy theories until Nora offers to let them use her bookstore. Something she is not used to. She is literally allowing people inside her inner sanctum outside of business hours. To make herself feel better, she decides to have it like a book club where they will come and talk about their findings and feelings but also discuss their love of books and which ones are their favorites.
I love the emotional healing/friendship portion of the plot. I also much enjoyed the mystery as it helps each of them peel off a layer that burdened them and helps them heal from the past trauma. I especially adore how the ladies hear Estelle’s back story and learn, rumors of her being the town harlot are all baseless and greatly exaggerated by men who objectified her and women’s insecurity needed someone to blame. She embodied the strength but had so long gave up the idea of ever being friends with a woman. Now she has three people who will always be her friend and her book club mate as she is a voracious reader!
Together, they not only solved the case of the missing dead man but the twist and turns of the plot was more fun than the Runaway Train at Great Adventures.
It was a sweet read but not the very best. This is the first in the series and I would like to continue reading the series because I have a feeling this book serves as the foundation and from here, the mysteries will only get more intriguing.
Nothing fosters friendship and bonding within a book club more than a good old fashion murder, arrest of one of it’s members. That and incredible, savory edibles and good cheap wine!
It starts us off with Nora Pennington (the protagonist) who is quietly running a bookshop. SHe keeps to herself and she has a secret. She ran away from the person she used to be and came to Miracle Springs, North Carolina, to restart her life. Nobody in town really knows much about her other than her visible burn marks throughout the left parts of body. She is considered to be a bibliotherapist by the townspeople. She frequents a bakery shop, owned by Hester Winthrop who can show you your fondest memories by eating one of her scones. The town also has a Miracle springs Thermal Pools with June Dixon managing the heated pools who can hear the latest gossip. No town would be complete without a town tart with a heart and that dubious honor goes to Estella Sadler. She is beautiful, moves like a cat and eats men up without putting out. She is the most interesting to me, because she has the unsavory reputation of being loose and other women don’t like her because they are afraid she will steal their man. Yet that doesn’t stop them from frequenting her hair salon, Magnolia Salon and she can make you look like your best version. They all lived different lives, each with a secret past and they all didn’t know each other. They know about each other but that is not the same.
A man who was supposed to go to Nora’s bookstore for a reading so that she could recommend books to help him with a horrible secret is first directed to the Gingerbread House, owned by Hester for a scone to help him begin to spiritually heal him by giving him a warm, safe memory. From there he was instructed by Nora to eat the scone as he walked over to Nora’s cozy bookstore, Miracle Books. The only problem was a) he was late and b) he never showed up…
Estelle, the resident town harlot was over at Miracle Books perusing for her next book to read when she was telling Nora the latest gossip about a murder or suidcide of a traveling businessman. Nora’s ears suddenly perked up and inquired more about the unknown dead man. Nora couldn’t stop the coincidence and went to the scene of the crime. Turns out he is the one she had sent to the Gingerbread House, for a scone before he was to meet up with her. Think of it as tenderizing him before his session with her bibliotherapy session. She finds out he was seen eating a scone walking towards Nora’s bookstore. Nobody is sure when he decided to instead, walk over to the train tracks and let a train run him down.
She traces the man’s last stop before his demise at the train station and sure enough, Hester confirms he was at her bakery. She gave him a cinnamon scone laced with vanilla and walnuts and the introverted sullen man suddenly started to cry with tears of melancholy stating his grandma used to make these for him when he was younger. How he had missed her and how he’s glad to not be able to see how he’s ripping people off. He also mentioned he was at the natural hot springs and spa and it was there that he had spoken to his company indicating several of his colleagues will be coming to Miracle Springs to further discuss things with him. He let it slip that they were not too happy with him. Nora and Hester, together go over to June’s spa and inquire what she heard. Estelle not wanting to be left out had joined them on their journey to the spa. THe game is afoot!
The four of them collectively realized several things:
~The man was murdered because he was making plans. Therefore, he didn’t commit suicide.
~They already knew but were in agreeance was their resident town sheriff was as crooked as a bent nail.
~His partners were upset with him “going to do the right thing.”
They couldn’t figure out where they could all gather safely to share their conspiracy theories until Nora offers to let them use her bookstore. Something she is not used to. She is literally allowing people inside her inner sanctum outside of business hours. To make herself feel better, she decides to have it like a book club where they will come and talk about their findings and feelings but also discuss their love of books and which ones are their favorites.
I love the emotional healing/friendship portion of the plot. I also much enjoyed the mystery as it helps each of them peel off a layer that burdened them and helps them heal from the past trauma. I especially adore how the ladies hear Estelle’s back story and learn, rumors of her being the town harlot are all baseless and greatly exaggerated by men who objectified her and women’s insecurity needed someone to blame. She embodied the strength but had so long gave up the idea of ever being friends with a woman. Now she has three people who will always be her friend and her book club mate as she is a voracious reader!
Together, they not only solved the case of the missing dead man but the twist and turns of the plot was more fun than the Runaway Train at Great Adventures.
It was a sweet read but not the very best. This is the first in the series and I would like to continue reading the series because I have a feeling this book serves as the foundation and from here, the mysteries will only get more intriguing.
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