In the sixth installment of Adams’ Secret, Book, and Scone Society series, we get a glimpse into our main character, Nora Pennington’s life prior to her relocating to Miracle Springs, North Carolina and opening up a bookshop/coffee shop. And it truly is eye opening!

Presently, some of the group has each gone through personal changes in their lives. Nora is now dating the sheriff, Grant McCabe, Estrella’s father, Gus is getting out of prison and looking for a job and Hester is trying to figure out her personal life.

So, when Nora meets a woman, Kelly and her son Tucker who has Aspergers Syndrome at the newly opened shop, Tea Flowers, she feels quite uncomfortable. The slight woman cannot take her eyes of her. What she soon discovers is Kelly is dying and she was the mistress who broke up Nora’s marriage. Even more shocking, it looks as if Tucker is her ex’s son! Kelly wants to make amends with Nora. Nora does not and pushes her away.

Then there is a knock at Nora’s door. She is the prime suspect for the MURDER of Kelly! She is taken in and the sheriff must stay out of the interviewing process due to their relationship. Unfortunately, there is a new officer in town who has made it known to Nora that she does not particularly like her and is making her life miserable. She has no idea why.

It becomes Nora’s job to try and get herself out of this mess with very little help from those she has always trusted. But unfortunately, someone is trying to frame her. She begins to relive her twisted past and her not so healthy relationship with her ex-husband, who seems to still be the jerk he was all those years ago.

But there is more than just one mystery in this riveting story. Nora’s ex-mother-in-law seems to have left a set of books to her grandson, Tucker. Why would she do that? Are the two mysteries tied together in some way?

And with all this going on there is discussion going on to open a casino. One hopefully to be open by the Cherokee and the other privately. There is never a dull moment in this small town!

Paper Cuts is another wonderful Ellery Adams cozy, with characters who we seem to know so well, and the reader is quite vested in. And as usual, Nora is always giving her clients of the bookstore recommendations of what books to read next, which means we get a wonderful list of books to read! Note: Always have a pencil and paper handy for those gems!

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ElleryAdams #PaperCuts for the advanced copy.

This is the sixth book in the Secret, Book , and Scone Society series and the first one that I have read. I do not think my enjoyment of the book was affected in any way by not reading the earlier ones first, although I enjoyed this one enough to make me want to go back and read the others!

Our main character is Nora Pennington who owns a bookshop in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. She has a group of friends who each has a secret in their past and this story explores Nora's. A murder occurs, Nora is the main suspect, and she has to work to clear herself.

I enjoyed the mystery which was involved but carefully worked out with all the loose ends tied up. The characters were well drawn and behaved realistically. I especially liked the young neurodivergent boy with his special talents on the one hand and his huge meltdowns on the other.

Altogether a well written and entertaining story, well worth reading.

I enjoyed the small-town feel of this book about friends and neighbors helping each other, books, and coffee. I recommend this book to all mystery lovers. Thanks to author Ellery Adams, Kensington Books, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I love love love this series. If I could ask Nora for a job in her shop I would in a heartbeat. I love the friendships in the society and the close knit feeling of the town, and the bibliotherapy and memory scones make me smile every single time. This book is cozy comfort to me and Adams always ties the plot back to the women in significant ways. It's also nice to read about a group of older women of different backgrounds. This was an easy five stars for me, I read it in one sitting. I hope this series has many more books to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for a digital ARC of this book.

#PaperCuts #NetGalley

Our second book of the day is also about making big changes in your life. In this book Nora changes EVERYTHING to distance herself from her ex and the chaos he made of their life. So when the woman he left her for walks into her life, she knows it's more than a little trouble coming her way, To find out that not only is the other woman there, but also her child, brings even more heartache to Nora. But there's no time to overthink the situation, as she end up as suspect #1 when the Kelly is killed. Not only does she have to save herself, she has to find grace for the life she left behind, and help the town of Miracle Springs fight against her past that is now their future. This book is a real pageturner and a great 6th book in the series!

I will admit this started slowly for me and I could not get into it. It wasn’t the story; it was me so I put it down to fully savor it later and I’m glad I did. I picked it up again yesterday and finished it all in one shot. I got drawn in right away to the story and didn’t want it let it go. We learn more about Nora’s past and see more of her vulnerabilities when she always seems so strong. I loved the addition of Gus to the mix and all the hints of what’s to come in the future. This is such a feel-good series with wonderful characters and heartwarming stories.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and Ellery Adams for the E ARC of this book. This book is published on the 25th of April 2023.
This is book 6 if the Secret, Scone and Book Society series. We meet up with Nora and her friends again in Maple Springs, North Carolina. All is quiet until one day Kelly and her son Tucker walk through the door of the bookshop. Nora doesn’t recognise her but Kelly knows who she is and she wants to ask Nora’s forgiveness. Kelly is the lady that Nora’s husband left her for. Unfortunately, after Nora and Kelly talk, Kelly is found dead and Nora is the prime suspect.
Whilst the 4 friends do all they can to clear Nora, they are dealt another blow when something belonging to Nora’s Ex Mother-in-Law is stolen and turns up with Nora’s prints on it. How did they get there? Also, what is her Ex-husband doing back in town. Add to this Estelle’s dad is released from prison and gets a job but his past comes back to haunt him.
Can the friends clear Nora’s name and help Estelle’s Dad settle down in their small town?
I really enjoyed this book. I love the characters Nora is so nice and she cares so deeply about her friends. I love that she can also help people choose the right book for them. Her friends are really supportive and do all they can for each other. I also liked hearing about the town and all the different events it has, where all the shop owners take part.
If you like cosy mysteries this one is for you.

I don't recall if this series takes turns focusing on a different character in each book, but this one focuses on Nora. We do learn about a new event or two in the lives of most of the others. This isn't the kind of mystery the reader can solve following clues, we have to wait like Nora to find out the whole situation. We can suspect who, if not the motive, given the very short list of suspects.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Nora Pennington runs a bookstore in a small town in North Carolina as an escape from her past, a cheating husband and a car accident that left her badly burned. But the past has a way of showing up again. After Nora has an altercation with the woman her ex husband left her for, the woman turns up dead and Nora is the obvious suspect.

Nora and her group of friends are well are well written three dimensional characters. Part women’s fiction and part mystery this book does what very few do - it makes me wish this was a real town that I could visit. And the mystery was involved enough to keep me guessing.

Overall I thought this book was super cute! I loved that this could be read as a stand alone or as part of a series. It also had a lot of depth then a standard cozy mystery. That being said I wish the story wasn't as fast paced especially the ending. It felt almost too perfect how things were wrapped up. I loved hearing about the main characters past but I also feel like it was dwelled on a bit too much. Would have loved to hear more about how she got to the place she ended up and focus more on her past and current healing. The mystery I thought was good but a bit predictable and agin just a touch too perfect.

The Secret, Book and Scone Society does it again. This time it's personal though. Nora's past comes to the present and it is very unsettling for her. I really enjoyed this latest installment of this series and felt that the stories that were told for each of the characters gives a bit more information about who they are. For fans of her other books, this one is a must read.

Nora Pennington befriends a terminally ill woman named Kelly & her autistic son Tucker when they enter her Miracle Books store. Nora is shocked to learn Kelly is the woman her ex-husband Lawrence had an affair with & is searching for forgiveness. But when Kelly is murdered, several people including Kelly's brother claims he saw Nora arguing with her that evening.

Meanwhile, Estella’s father Gus returns to Miracle Springs after spending 20 years in prison to start a new life. The Secret, Book & Scone Society members try to help Gus & Nora solve their problems.
This well-written book has Nora facing her tragic past mistakes and having to confront fraught relationships in order to save herself.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books. All opinions are my own.

This is the sixth in A Secret, Book, and Scone Society series. It is the first I have read and it worked well as a standalone.

Nora Pennington is a bookshop owner in the small town of Miracle Springs, NC, so named because of the legendary healing power of its waters. She is also romantically linked with the local sheriff. When the woman her husband left her for years ago shows up in town and is later found murdered, suspicion falls on Nora. With support from the three other women in A Secret, Book, and Scone Society (they all have a secret in their pasts), and some newcomers in town, she uncovers a mystery that will help solve that murder and another related one, as well as thwart her ex husband’s shady business plans.

The wrongly accused is not my favorite storyline, but this one was tolerable.
This is a cozy mystery; lots of tea, flowers, baked goods, and bookish references. Beyond that, it has decent plot development, some charming characters, strong female models, some humor. And, kudos for featuring and demonstrating some understanding of a neurodiverse child.

Fans of Ellery Adams’ writing are sure to enjoy this latest addition to her body of works; cozy mystery aficionados who have not read her yet should seek her out.

Thanks to #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for the ARC.

This is the first book in the series that I have read and I plan to read the first 5. I loved the diverse characters, all women, who drive the plot. And, who doesn't love a book about books and bookstores?

CONTENT WARNING: grief, suicide, racism, stereotypes about Indigenous people (challenged), cancer, murder, ableism, harmful language about neurodivergent people, violence

I read the first 5 books in this series as audiobooks, so this was the first one in the series that I read in digital format. It was just as enjoyable as the previous ones, if not more so. The fact that this series just seems to be getting stronger as it goes on was a pleasant surprise.

To start with, I’m even more invested in the primary characters in the story. Having seen Nora and her little crew of women come together through good times and bad has only made me feel like I care about them even more than I did initially. And there’s definitely an emotional component to this story.

The past comes back for some more of the characters in this story—namely Nora and Estella. Which makes sense, since both June and Hester had their turns in previous books. In this case, Kelly, the woman that Nora’s ex-husband left her for shows up in Miracle Springs. She’s terminally ill and has a young son who has Asperger’s, and her presence turns Nora’s life upside down, especially when she shows up dead after an argument with Nora. This lands Nora in hot water with the law, and she has no choice but to do a little investigating on her own (with the help of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society) to clear her name. As for Estella? Her long-imprisoned father is getting out and staying in Miracle Springs.

I loved the way the mystery came together. There were little clues throughout the story, and I picked up on a lot of them, but struggled to put them all together. That’s one of the best parts of this series, since the mystery isn’t easy to figure out until all the pieces are laid out for us. I also enjoy how there’s a real small-town feel to Miracle Springs, with people coming together to help each other when someone is in need.

This book is a little more emotional for Nora, since the past she’s worked so hard to escape comes to smack her in the face, and she can’t do anything to get away from it, and one of her main supports isn’t available to her. But she unexpectedly finds a new support, and unfortunately, a new adversary. It also deals really well with the addition of a neurodiverse kid in the cast of characters, and I loved the fact that the author includes a list of books mentioned throughout the story in the back of the book. This story makes me look forward to more books in the series, since this one was probably my favorite out of all of them.

As always I really enjoy the books of this series. I really enjoy the group of friends and the other characters in the town. It is the perfect small town vibes that I love in a cozy mystery. I also always really enjoy the focus on the bookstore and all book recommendations that Nora gives.
The plot of this book revolves around Nora. We get some more insight into her past. It was also interesting to have her be under scrutiny. Though because she was under investigation she wasn’t allowed to really see Grant, who is the sheriff and her boyfriend. I missed some of cute romance but I did enjoy the little bits we did get.
The mystery was super enjoyable. There were several twists and turns that I didn’t find myself expecting. I enjoyed the several new characters that have been introduced to the town and I can’t wait to come back to this series in the future. I would recommend

Once again, I loved my visit to Miracle Springs. Nora and her friends have the tight-knit group that I many women would love to have. They are there for each others just like sisters. This is a series that I anticipate because I want to know about the characters as well as a new mystery.
This was well-written and an easy read with just enough twists and turns. I'm already waiting for the next one!

This is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. The story is nicely detailed, and I enjoyed the female-driven storyline. It was fun to sleuth along with the characters. Themes include forgiveness and second chances. I'd recommend this to booklovers and those who enjoy cozy mysteries.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read an advance copy of Paper cuts by Ellery Adams. This is the 6th book in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series and I couldn't put it down! This is my favourite series of all her cozy mystery series. Paper cuts fills in Nora's story, as well as the other women in the bookclub. Each of the four women have a secret which let them bond as friends. Nora uses Biblotherapy to help the customers who come in to her book store -- finding out what they need and then recommending both fiction and non-fiction books. She has a real knack for it. These titles are included at the end of the book in case readers are interested. I totally recommend not only this book, but the entire series!

Thank you to the author, Ellery Adams, and publishers Kensington Cozies and Kensington Books, for the advance digital copy of PAPER CUTS.

Nora lives in a small town in North Carolina known for healing, and she herself operates a small bookstore which she runs on the the premise of bibliotherapy-- recommending the right books for people's needs, to help them heal, if necessary. (This is a real thing, bibliotherapy; my psychiatrist and therapist both have practiced this with me and it is very effective in my treatments.) Nora is also a secret collector and keeper, as is natural in the course of her efforts, which makes her useful in strange situations-- like when one of her customers turns up murdered. She naturally must help with the investigation; she can't resist. But she also looks like a target-- to the people who have something to hide, and to the people looking for an explanation, and dating the Sheriff does her no favors. How will she clear her name and protect herself and the other people at risk?

I decided to request this book from NetGalley because I read another of Adams's books and didn't favor it, as such. But I really believe in giving authors second chances! And I'm so glad I did here, this was a fun, exciting, bemusing mystery. The tone and narrative voice were just right, eager and bookish, but still serious. Not quite as "cozy" as the other book I read! I really enjoyed this book.

I thought the climax needed a little more, since it was simply delivered in a conversation between two protagonists. The denouement was more exciting than the climax, but it was still fun; the pacing was just a little off.

My favorite thing about PAPER CUTS is the character Gus, who is an ex-offender. I love when writers use their platforms to draw attention to important issues, and the challenges faced by ex-offenders to find work and restart their lives, and even how often they are roped into scams, is worthy of page space. Thank you Ms. Adams for writing Gus's story.

PAPER CUTS is technically the 6th book in the "A Secret, Book, and Scone Society" series, but it stood well on its own. I look forward to reading more from this series!

Rating: 🥐🥐🥐🥐.5 / 5 baked goods
Recommend? Absolutely
Finished: March 4 2023
Read this if you like:
📖 Bookish books
🔍 Amateur detectives
🕵‍♀️ Cozy mysteries
🏘 Small towns