A solid mystery but for some reason this series doesn't quite grab me the way Adams' others have. Through multiple murders we meet quite a few new characters and the killer was unexpected, which is a bonus. I just haven't really felt a good connection with any of the main characters to feel all that strongly about them. I'm not sure if missing the first in this series has left me without a full back story or if they just don't jive with me. Bottom line, if you like Adams' work, especially the first two in this series, I'd think you'll like this one as well.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

s 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 sixty-something 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 investigate. When another body turns up, it becomes clearer that Danny’s death and the new death are somehow related. 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 on the trail of a murderer.

I am a huge fan of Ellery Adams. I have read her Books by the Bay series and her Book Retreat series and have read the first two in this series. When I saw this newest book on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. I like how the author develops her characters over the course of her series. In this series Nora and her friends continue to grow in their friendship and depend on each other for help and support.

This series grabbed my attention from the beginning and still hasn't let go and is impossible to put down until the end. Very touching and interesting story line.

Wow! Read this in one day. Impossible to put down. Loved, loved, loved this story! I loved all the aspects of racism and drug addiction that were woven into the story. Made for a very interesting book.

This is only the third book in the series, but I already want it to continue forever. So, it’s obvious that I have been highly anticipating this book since I came to know the release date, and have since been stalking Netgalley for the ARC. I was ecstatic when I got approved and I knew I had to read it immediately.

This is the kind of book where I know what I’m going to get and that’s exactly why I read it. The writing is fast paced and things keep happening all the time, the mystery is actually pretty interesting and I couldn’t guess anything at all, and it has the beautiful setting of Miracle Springs. I’ve probably mentioned it before on the blog, but the main character’s bookstore called Miracle Books is my favorite fictional bookstore ever and I would give anything to just go and spend a whole day there. Whenever I read this series, I always wish it was a real place. The author creates this soothing atmosphere which is full of books, knickknacks, book lovers and just overall friendly people - so it just feels nice to be back in this world. This time around though, the author managed to show a bit more of the gloomy side of the town and how bad weather can wreak havoc on the lives of the people, and I felt that she captured everyone’s frustrations very well.

This series has one of my most supportive group of women I’ve ever met and I loved being back with them. Everyone is dealing with their own problems, which even leads to some tensions between them - but when tragedy strikes, they are always there for each other. Even all the men in the book, including the sheriff and his deputies are wonderful and I just love it that we have an ensemble cast who are so nice to be around with.

There are also a new group of characters introduced, so it’s natural that some of them end up being suspects but I thought they were all written very well, with clear motivations and backstories. My favorite though would have to be Sheldon, who becomes this instant grandfatherly figure helping out Nora at the bookstore and advising the others too. The changes that he brought to the Miracle Books window displays felt magical (I’m really trying not to spoil them) and I really hope he becomes a permanent fixture in the series going forward.

To conclude, I just want to say that if you love the cozy mystery genre, you can’t miss this series. It has a beautiful small town setting, a wonderful bookstore you’ll wish were real, lots of talk about baked goods that’ll make you hungry, an amazing group of women and an interesting mystery - and last but not the least, lots and lots of book recommendations. The MC calls herself a bibliotherapist, and this book(series) is exactly that for a cold and gloomy winter day.

I stayed up reading this book late into the night. Every time I read a book by this author, I’m transported to a time and a place that seems perfect right at that moment. All the ladies in the society have their own personal stories, have overcome their own tragedies, yet leave a place in their heart to help others.
Nora, owner of miracle books, is still dealing with her own personal demons, yet becomes involved in a mystery that will take the reader back in time.
Her best friends, Estella, June and Hester, the other ladies in their unique society, are quick to become involved, knowing that they could put themselves in harm’s way.
The Book of Candlelight will make you laugh and cry, it will make you angry and sad, but most of all it will make you hopeful.
It will show you how friendship can get you through the toughest times and how new friends can be the best medicine.
Each time I pick up a book by the wonderful Ms. Adams, by the end of the story, I find myself striving to be a better person.
It doesn’t matter what genre of book you prefer, it will touch your heart in the most unexpected ways.

The Secret, Book, and Scone Society series is one of my favorites written by Ellery Adams, and The Book of Candlelight may be my fave in this series. i like that these women are all smart, strong and supportive of one another. That they each have a strong sense of community. They are interesting and far from the simpering sort of amateur sleuths you some times encounter in cozies. Can't wait for the next in the series.

Okay. Wow. Thank you Netgalley thank you thank you and thank you wonderful publishing house Kensington books

There has always been something that attracted me to the secret, book and scone society but I never committed to buying it cause with that name I thought how good can that book really be.

I just bought the book!!! This book - the boom of candlelight that I received as an ARC was great. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I love all the ladies. I love Nora and June and Hester and Estella. They are all perfectly flawed, strong, amazing women that help and support each other and their community. Their characters are amazing, Together the ladies solve mysteries - and each has their super power . I would love to meet them if they were real.

In this book Nora and the gal pals help solve the murder of Cherokee Danny and Micah and prevent another murder all while helping heal wounds and bring families together We also learn about the inn of mist and rose and of rose Lattimer - I loved how they wove in that story and made it a focal point of the story

I so enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read all the books in the series.

I highly recommend this series

I received a free copy of THE BOOK OF CANDLELIGHT (Book 3 of the Secret, Book, & Scone Society Series) by Ellery Adams in exchange for an honest review. It’s raining, it’s pouring, and Nora Pennington’s book & coffee shop business is booming. Nora finds herself so busy that her book, shelf enhancer, and coffee supplies are running low. When Nora ventures through the foul weather to the local flea market to restock her supply of whatnots, she purchases a pottery bowl from “Cherokee Danny” and his young wife. The following day, Nora discovers Danny’s battered corpse amongst the churning flood debris in the swollen local river. Feeling compassion for Danny’s young widow and questioning the circumstances surrounding Danny’s death, Nora persistently works to find answers both for herself and for Danny’s wife. The wet weather and Nora’s need for a shop assistant brings Nora several new friends from the Mist of Roses Inn. As Nora gets better acquainted with her new friends, Nora develops a new worry; her investigation into the murder indicates her new friends may be involved. Meanwhile, someone is terrorizing Nora and her other friends, and one member of the Secret, Book, & Scone Society is struggling to keep her business above water.

I liked this book and enjoy this series. The theme of secrets persists. I recommend this book to fans of the series, to fans of Ellery Adams, and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring resort towns, small business owners, secrets, books, and small kindnesses.

#TheBookofCandlelight #NetGalley

Nora Pennington owns the local book store, Miracle Books, and also has a small book club of close friends that call themselves the Secret Book & Scone Society. The society members know each other’s darkest secrets and they also secretly help people in their community who need some support…oh and they help solve local murders. So it’s not any surprise that Nora asks the group to help a young widow who has lost her husband and is newly pregnant. Little did the society know that it would turn into a murder investigation as well.

I won’t recap the story as you can read what the publisher has shared. What really made an impression on me is that the author touched on several topics that we don’t often want to address, or at least not in politely company. One was a racial slur word painted on one of the women’s house. The way the author had the characters address it showed the hurt not only for the victim, but her friends and local law enforcement as well. None of them was going to just paint it over and let it go. But the one that really warmed my heart was how she addressed the chronic illness of Sheldon, a new character who has Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. Having both of these condition myself, I know just how painful they can be and the characters not only showed empathy, but strove to understand how it impacts Sheldon’s day to day life. Bravo!

Ellery Adams is one of my go to authors and I never miss a new release from her. As with Sheldon, I read a few books as well, “Books push my pain into the background.” I hope Sheldon is here to stay because he gives me hope and a voice.

This book is so good I read it all in one day! Nora Pennington owns The Miracle Bookstore, and has a knack for knowing exactly the books a person should read for their circumstances. She also has a knack for finding dead bodies and tracking down their killers. In this book she solves the murder long before I did! This a book from Ms Adams’ Secret Book & Scone Society series. The book regroup members are friends, support each other, and share a love of books. This is a great short mystery anyone will like. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Author Ellery Adams knows just how to keep you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages to get to the end of her book! This is the first I've read of her work and this novel is the third book in a series. I can't wait to read more.
"Bookstores remind me that there are good things in this world."
Set in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, the rain has been persistent and with it, trouble is coming for this quaint little town. With the rain not letting up it has brought people to the bed and breakfast there. People are ready for the rain to stop, so they can get out and about. Owner of Miracle Books, Nora Pennington who also has a book club of her closest friends. They secretly help people in the community who are in need. The characters in this book are wonderful! Sheldon is new to the town and is fabulous! "Sheldon tapped his temple. I know what you're thinking. Who is this marvelous Mr. Miyagi? This glam Gandalf? This winsome Obi-Wan? This dreamy Dumbledore?"
And there is more of his funny ways!
There is murder that has affected everyone and they are trying to find out why.
You won't regret getting this book!

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

This is a really enjoyable book. I really liked the characters. The story line is really touching, whether about Danny's murder and the aftermath with his wife, the book club's support for each other or the story about Rose and the history of the inn. I enjoyed every minute of this book. #TheBookofCandlelight #NetGalley

When I first began reading, I didn't quite know what to think. The mood and tone of the story was quite dark and menacing. Some of the characters were using strong prose that I didn't recall from previous books. I wondered if Adams has been experiencing a difficult time and was infusing that into her story. The mood began to lighten halfway through the book and I began to recognize the cadence and rhythm from the precious books in the series. I liked the diary aspect and the family line that followed. I do feel this book doesn't match the caliber of the other books, but it's still a good read.