Book Review: The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

 

The Book of Candlelight

Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel: Book 3

by Ellery Adams

 

I really enjoyed this book, it is everything I want in a cozy mystery.

The western North Carolina resort town of Miracle Springs is known for its healing waters, but the really special thing about this book is the characters.

Nora Pennington owns a small bookshop, Miracle Books, housed in a renovated train station and lives in a renovated caboose. She offers books, shelf enhancing little collectible antiques, and a coffee bar. (The coffee bar also offers book pastries made by her friend, Hester, from the Gingerbread House bakery.)

Nora is known for her bibliotherapy, recommending books to help people with their problems, just as June works at the therapeutic springs, Hester makes baked goods that bring people special memories, and Estella offers beauty treatments that make people feel good about themselves.

The many titles Nora recommends to different people for different issues are offered here along with the explanation of why she chose them, as well as books just recommended for enjoyable reading. (I recognized about half to three-quarters.)

At the beginning of this book the town is deluged by rain which bring with it a mess of problems, from Nora’s accident on her bike to a body found in flood waters, and a mysterious stranger committing petty but scary crimes against Nora and her friends.

Nora and friends rally around Marie, the pregnant young widow of the man found in the flood waters, to help her handle her grief and keep her putting one foot in front of another. Nora, of course, can't help trying to solve the mystery of his death too.

There’s a new character that Nora hires on to help with the book store, and new people in town, as well as old favorites like the sheriff. They bring conflict, strife, and sometimes dead bodies to the town, which is what a murder mystery is all about.

I adored the new character of Sheldon Vega, who wears a pink bowtie, a sweater vest, and a fedora at their first meeting.

“Don’t you get tired of that noise?” asked a doppelganger for Colonel Sanders. He removed a gray fedora and shook it out, his gaze moving from Nora’s face to her torn pants. “Honey, you’re a hot mess. What can Sheldon do to help you?”

Just like all the characters, he has his flaws and problems, which bring depth to the story. They feel pretty well-rounded for a cozy mystery.

Sheldon brings Nora into contact with the women running the old guest house where he is staying, and the mysteries that surface there as they renovate the old place. 

Not every little mystery connects in this book, but enough do and in logical ways to make it a great read.

There’s also a romance between Nora and handsome paramedic, Jed, which adds complications to the story very nicely.

I’m really loving this series. The first one was a 4 star for me, but this one I’d give a 5 star to. I’ll be going back to read book 2 now and I’m looking forward to book 4 coming out in a month or so.