Happy Book Release Day! Cut to the Chaise by Karen Rose Smith, The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams, The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn, The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis, Eggs on Ice by Laura Childs, How to Knit a Murder by Sally Goldenbaum and Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley are some of the new books out today. I will be sharing my review of each book soon.
The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams is the second A Secret, Book and Scone Society Novel. Nora Pennington owns Miracle Books in Miracle
Springs, North Carolina. A thin young
woman with a hospital bracelet on her wrist, bruises on her body and in ill-fitting
clothes was found hiding in the store after closing, and she later falls asleep
on a mound of bubble wrap in the back room. Abilene (doubt it is her real name)
is keeping her secrets to herself. Nora,
Hester, Estella and June offer Abilene a place to live, work and assure her
that they are willing to listen. The
four women are making and delivering kindness tote bags to those in need and
their first stop is Amanda Frye.
Unfortunately, Amanda is no longer in need because they find her floating
in the algae filled pond near her home. It
appears to be a suicide, but Nora has her doubts. Virtual Genie is the new shop in town run by Griffin
Kinsley and his associate, Tamara Beacham.
They buy peoples belongings for cash which is just what some people need
during the current economic downturn. When
rumors begin to circulate about Virtual Genie, Nora finds herself looking into
their business practices. Nora soon
finds clues that link her three mysteries.
Nora needs Abilene to open up so she can fill in the missing blanks. When a second person is found dead, Nora and
her friends must work quickly to identify the killer before he strikes again.
The Whispered Word can be read as
a standalone if you have not picked up The Secret, Book and Scone Society. Everything a reader needs to know about Nora
and her friends is included (but you are missing out on a good cozy mystery). I thought The Whispered Word was well-written. My attention was captured right away and was
held throughout the book. The pacing is
gentle as the story unfolds and picks up near the ends. The story is rich in
details that allowed me to visualize the scenes. I like Nora who operates Miracle Books in an
old train station and lives in a tiny home constructed from a train
caboose. I like how the four women have
grown since The Secret, Book and Scone Society.
They have shared their secrets and it has drawn them closer
together. Their friendship will be
tested, though, in The Whispered Word when Nora pressures Abilene for answers
and one of the ladies feels protective. The
mystery is complex and multilayered. It
is woven masterfully throughout the story with twists that will surprise
readers (I always love a good twist). I
like how Nora’s one finger tingles at just the right moment. The Whispered Word is not a light cozy
mystery. It deals with some disturbing
issues, but the author addresses them carefully and respectfully. I was surprised at how Nora approached
Abilene with her questions. Knowing that
Abilene has suffered, I thought she could have handled it differently (a
gentler approach). There is also some
foul language. Nora’s romance with Jedediah
Craig is progressing nicely. He cares
for her and wants to protect her. While
I do not feel that Jedediah is the right man for Nora, it is a step forward for
her. I would like to see Nora end up
with Sheriff Grant McCabe. I am giving
The Whispered Word 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The Whispered Word contains humor, romance,
secrets, good characters, a charming small town, mysteries, book
recommendations, and delectable baked goods.
Thank you for visiting today. I am featuring The Amish Midwife's Secret by Rachel J. Good tomorrow. It is the second book in the Love & Promises series. I hope you have a fulfilling day. Take care and Happy Reading!Kris
The Avid Reader
No comments:
Post a Comment