I love this series so much, and this latest installment is definitely my new favorite. It's a treat to dive back into this world with these characters, and I already can't wait for the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

I loved this 6th installment in the Secret, Book & Scone Society series. These cozy mysteries take place in a wonderful, healing town in NC, and encompass the stories of a group of women that I'd love to be friends with. They are portrayed as real people with real histories and problems and day to day highs and lows. I especially liked the story in this book, as we encounter more of Nora's past, and really experience how her friends rally around her when they are needed. I also loved the inclusion of a neurodivergent child, and all of the information included about relating to him. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series! Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the advance digital copy!

This is six amazing books in the making. I have been waiting for this book since I read the first one and it did not disappoint. I adore the friendships and relationships that are weaved into the perfect cozy mystery. I love how real each character has been and this book was no exception. It is so great to see people from all walks of life and struggles be represented. I take great pleasure in being able to gather clues throughout the book, but still not quite figuring out the ending until it happened. I had such high hopes for this book and it exceeded all my expectations.

Bibliophile/Culinary Cozy
Ms. Adams’ Secret, Book & Scone series is a delight. The characters are well detailed and intriguing. She gives us enough details to easily imagine the tale, but not so many to over whelm.
Nora and her book group try to solve murders Nora’s suspected of, even while she herself is in danger. The plot moves quickly along as you are drawn in deep.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC and offer my opinion freely.

Nora Pennington loves her life as a bookstore owner in the small town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina. After a devastating accident she has rebuilt her life, made lasting friendships, and fallen in love with the local sheriff, so has no interest in reconnecting with anything or anyone from her previous life. Unfortunately, as a new customer to her store introduces themselves as someone with strong links to the worst time in her life, it seems as if Nora's past is successfully infiltrating the present leaving her shaken and unsure how to react.

When a body is found and witnesses report an argument with Nora just a little earlier the Sheriff's Department have no option other than to consider her a person of interest. With her emotions in turmoil and her lover unable to help she turns to her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society but nothing can prepare Nora for the next assault on her new life or the danger she finds herself in.

This is the sixth book of the series and is absolutely brilliant. The way Nora's emotions and vulnerabilities are described and explored really hit home and the strengths and resourcefulness of friendships and families fill the book with hope amongst the darkness. Cozies are, by their very nature, a slightly gentler crime story and this is still that but the author lifts it to the next level with her understanding and explanation of the damage done in some relationships and how they can be overcome.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent page turner and highly recommended.

This is the best book I have read this year. Okay, it is only January, but I have read 27 books, to date, and I have enjoyed most of them. This is a cut above them all for me. No pun intended. In this latest in the series, the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are faced with several challenges but none so pressing as the one threatening Nora. It is a puzzling mystery that seems to include elements of the past and present that could profoundly impact the future. The women of the Society are at once fierce, tender, humorous, and as Ellery Adams so eloquently puts it, "Kick-a_ _ women with hearts of gold," and those qualities are in full view, with the added beauty of mature love that withstands whatever comes.

A page turning next installment well worth waiting for.

I’m not going to beat around the bush. Ellery Adams is one of my favorite authors. And The “Secret, Book and Scone” series is my favorite series of hers to date. I had to practically hold my breath waiting for the next installment. It was worth turning blue from waiting!

The characterization of this foursome of women is what drew me to the series, and their friendship and commitment is what keeps me going, as well as their flaws, making them all the more genuine. This adventure is superb and refreshing, and fills in some gaps about the central character Nora’s past that I always wondered about.

The plot was engaging and creative and effortless to fall into. But what resonated with me most about this book was the theme that books are a delightful and much needed escape from the reader’s realities. This couldn’t be more true that right now in my life.

Adams really understands book lovers, and avid readers, and her words touched my heart more than anything.

𝑰𝒇 𝑰'𝒎 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍-𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰𝒇 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒐.

The sixth installment of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society was just a great addition to this charming series that isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects. Before I begin my review, I feel the need to say that I really dislike cozies being referred to as "palate cleansers". I have read dozens of series over the years, and while by definition they lack the blood and gore of thrillers, the mysteries are often intricately plotted and the characters are so perfectly created that the reader is usually invested by the end of the first book.

Nora Pennington is still finding happiness in Miracle Springs, surrounded by friends, her partner, and her bookstore. She still bears the physical scars of the past she left behind a decade ago, but her past collides with her present the day Kelly Walsh walks into the bookstore with her son. After finding out Kelly is the woman Nora's ex-husband left her for and fathered a child with, Nora lashes out at the woman, who only approached Nora to ask for forgiveness because she is dying from cancer. When Kelly turns up dead, and not from cancer, Nora is the prime suspect.

I love everything about this series, and this installment embodies the theme of your past coming back to haunt you, and not just for Nora. The secondary characters are going through their own trials, and I can't wait to see where some of the storylines go. What I found most endearing was the author's representation of Kelly's neurodivergent child and the heartfelt dedication to parents of these remarkable children. PAPER CUTS will release April 25, 2023. I thank NetGalley and Kensington for my early copy.

I’m new to books by Ellery Adams, the concept of a Book Club and a group of girl friends is always appealing!
The storyline centres around Nora and her book shop, a meeting place for a catch-up, particularly with her close friends.
There’s a murder to solve, Nora’s friends help her face her past as the investigation becomes personal!
I enjoyed the character’s wonderful sense of humour and compassion, their closeness is a wonderful part of the story!

Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Secret, Book and Scone society is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I anticipate every new book with joyous excitement, and this sixth installment was just as good as the previous stories! I love everything about Miracle Springs and the "society" gals.

This story is about Nora Pennington and her close friends Hester, June and Estella. They are amateur sleuths when something happens in their small town of Miracle Springs, NC. Tourists flock to the town for the healing waters of Miracle Springs. Estella works at the spa there, Nora runs a bookstore and Hester runs the bakery next door. The ladies are such close friends with complicated backgrounds. This book brings up the history of Nora's past and it was very interesting to see how things played out.

I love the character development; however I don't think the books need to be read in order to be enjoyable. I love them all the more because I feel like the Secret, Book and Scone society members are my people. I imagine myself as part of the crew. I celebrate their success and their setbacks make me sad, too. This is just one of the best cozy series around and I am so glad the books keep coming! No spoilers, here. Just a great mystery full of wonderful characters that you'll love.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book. The opinions are 100% mine. I highly recommend this series!

Ten years ago Nora divorced her unfaithful husband and fled the aftermath of a serious accident for which she was responsible. She settled in Miracle Springs, opened a bookshop and began to rebuild her life with the help of a group of supportive friends and The Secret, Book and Scone Society emerged.
Business is good and Nora's romance with the local sheriff is going well. Her full, happy life comes to a screeching halt when people from her past show up in Miracle Springs. All the sadness and guilt return too.
When the mother of her ex husband's ten year-old son is murdered Nora is the prime suspect. She along with her friends, try to piece together a series of complicated happenings involving multiple characters.
This is the sixth book in the series and the characters and setting are still engaging but the plot is convoluted and the real reason for the murder isn't revealed until quite late in the book. A couple new characters are introduced and I'm sure they'll reappear in the next title in the series.

I can't believe this is the sixth in The Secret, Book, and Scone Society Series and Ellery keeps it fresh every time!

This time, Nora's past follows her to Miracle Springs, a place she ran to with her 'secret': An unfaithful husband and an unfortunate accident that she caused and still carries the guilt and scars from. The supporting cast of friends and side characters make light the tough times after Nora is arrested for murder.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest reivew!

Want a cozy mystery involving a bookshop owner? Look no further! Weaving between the plot of the mystery, the dream of owning a bookshop, and incorporating the realities of being neurodivergent, Ellery has written a beautiful story. One that I immediately wanted to read again as soon as I finished it.

Nora has everything she’s worked her whole life for. The bookshop of her dreams, a close knit group of friends, and a guy who puts her first. One day her world is turned around as characters from her past appear into the new life she has created for herself. Amongst these characters is Tucker, a young child with Asperger‘s. While Nora learns to connect with Tucker over a love of paper, she also investigates the murder of someone close to him. Paper butterflies, flower arrangements, and treasure maps all make appearances in this delightful read.

So grab a copy, a warm cup of tea, and settle into that comfy chair. You’ll read it in one sitting.

Nora Pennington often finds herself in some tough situations, but she has great friends, her bookstore, and a boyfriend. However her past she though she left behind a decade before has caught up with her. After a shock of her life, a body is found and she is the prime suspect. She has to prove her innocence.

This book is probably my favorite so far. We discover so much more about Nora’s past. We also get to know a few new characters. One of the new characters could be a new favorite secondary character and another one is one you will love to hate. All the characters are relatable in some way. The mystery is well plotted with plenty of surprises. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

While I enjoyed the mystery of this one as it kept me on my toes. I however haven't warmed up to the characters in this one. Including the heroine. So I don't think I will be reading anymore in this series.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PAPER CUTS (Book 6 of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society mysteries), by Ellery Adams, in exchange for an honest review. Kelly Walsh, the woman Nora Pennington's husband left her for, arrives in Miracle Springs along with her son. When Kelly approaches Nora and asks for her forgiveness, Nora reacts publicly and poorly. So, when Kelly is murdered, Nora becomes the prime suspect in Kelly's murder. This time, the SBS Society must find the real killer to exonerate Nora.

I like this book and enjoy the series. I'm a fan of Ellery Adams's series. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, secrets, bookstores, tiny homes, and damaged people seeking peace and redemption.

#PaperCuts #NetGalley

Nora Pennington owns Miracle Books—a warm and cozy store to go and sip on a cuppa while you browse for books, or have a chat with Nora about the best books for you to read.. The members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society—Nora, Hester, Estella, June and Sheldon—also meet for book club discussions, and more, as the five are very close friends. When Nora helps a female cancer patient and her young child find some origami books, she’s unknowingly meeting someone from her bitter past. When she realizes the identity of this woman, Nora tells her to stay away from her! Unfortunately, the next morning, the woman is dead, and Nora is a person of interest in her murder. Deputy Grant McCabe loves Nora. Of course, he believes she’s innocent; however, the badge he wears means they have to stay separated during the investigation.

This mystery has books galore, compassionate friends, and humor! I always enjoy the sayings on the coffee cups Nora and Sheldon use to serve customers. The central characters who make this story come alive are well fleshed out making them comfortable to mingle with as you read the story. If you’ve read previous stories, you know these characters history and that you’d enjoy being friends with them.

Author Ellery Adams has a few surprises up her sleeves for readers’ enjoyment in this sixth installment. All the bad people receive justice at the end. I highly recommend “Paper Cuts”.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Seriously, you can not go wrong with an Ellery Adams cozy mystery!

Her main characters are delightful, quirky, and endearing.

Her mysteries are always interesting and intelligent.

There's comedy and drama, and best of all - happy endings and promises of more stories to come!

Best of all, you can jump into any series whenever you want! They don't need to be read in order to be enjoyed!

amateur-sleuth, bookseller, cozy-mystery, family, family-dynamics, friendship, language-of-flowers, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, North Carolina, post-prison-life, read, scars, second-chance, secrets, series, small-business, small-town, sound-advice, support-system, suspense, tiny-house, women's-fiction *****

The bookstore/coffee shop in Miracle Springs.
The series and the publisher's blurb were enough for me to covet this book! The characters are even better than the story and it ends as a feel-good. I plan to buy one for the library and one for a friend who lives away.
I was gifted a pot for flower tea some years ago.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!

Set in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, this is book 6 in the ‘The Secret, Book and Scone Society’ and features bookstore owner and bibliotherapist, Nora Pennington.

When the bell jingles above the door and a woman and her son enter, Nora Pennington’s life changes. The peace she thought she’d achieved is suddenly disrupted as she’s brought face to face with her past. Before long, chaos ensues and a body is discovered.

Thankfully, Nora has besties June, Hester and Estella, who help her to make sense of the chaos and offer support. The foursome is a force to be reckoned with and it made me smile as I read about how they depend on each other for strength. Individually, they are battle fatigued and scarred but together they face the world fuelled by their compassion and kindness for other hurting souls. Can the fearsome foursome battle all this crime before cracks start appearing in their armour?

You’ll love the vivid descriptions of the setting as much as the female-driven story, and before long, you’ll get caught up in the murder mystery. Although I came late to this series, I had no trouble getting comfortable with the characters and felt like I’d been in Miracle Springs for ages. I can see why this series is getting rave reviews. The author’s exploration of forgiveness, gossip and second chances is uplifting.

I was gifted this copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.