The Secret, Book and Scone Society

The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First in the series.

I am a big Ellery Adams fan, so I wanted to love this book. It was a good start to a new series, and I liked it, but I didn't love it. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, Nora. She was quite stand offish at first (for good reason, but still...) and yet intriguing. I wanted to know more about how she ended up in Miracle Springs. I loved the premise that Nora could help people by finding them the right books to read and a scone to eat.

I liked Nora's character growth as she hooked up with three other women, all with secrets of their own. They all had to learn to trust as they formed true friendships and solved a murder. It was very emotional and real.

After I got a few chapters in, it was a quick read and I finished it in a day.

But... I think this book tried too hard to be too many things. Is it a cozy? Chick lit? Magical, like a Sarah Addison Allen book? Romance? As a result it felt a little scattered.

That said, I am looking forward to the next book.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*


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Wynn in Doubt, by Emily Hemmer

Wynn in Doubt by Emily Hemmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See what you did Maanika?? A chance post by a friend on Facebook, a look at Amazon and suddenly the afternoon was gone! I had to read it in one sitting. My poor neglected husband came home from work while I was still reading and never said a word when I told him we were scrounging dinner, as I finished my fried eggs and sausage links and then wandered back in to the bedroom with my Kindle, haha. In my defense, I did make Toll House Cookie bars before I got sucked into the book! So there was that, at least...

By the time I wandered back out my eyes were puffy from bawling my eyes out, which made him look at me and immediately ask, "Are you okay?" and be all worried 'til I told him it was just my latest book, haha.

Honestly, with this book you get two stories for the price of one, a story within a story, so to speak. There's not exactly the HEA I wanted for both stories, but I can live with that ;) It was definitely a mixture of happy and sad tears.

It took me a bit of time to get into, but once the Kentucky trip happened, I was hooked and I really did read it straight through to the end. I totally related to Wynn, when she couldn't stop reading the diary, and went out in to the hallway to read so as not to disturb Oliver, haha.


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The Sweet Potato Queens'

1st Big-Ass Novel.

I have to say, this wouldn't have been on my usual reading list. I was wandering through the library and the title caught my eye. It was quirky enough to make me pick the book up and read the blurb on the jacket. On to my stack of books to take home it went.

I started reading Nora Roberts' The Search when I got home. By mid-afternoon I had put it down and picked up the queens. I stayed up until 1 AM to finish it.

The characters all matched the title, quirky and fun. It was a story of friendships and life. It was a light, fun read (if you're looking for something deep, look elsewhere).

I shall be searching out more books by Jill Conner Browne.

And maybe now I can go back and finish The Search...