Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted each week by Rose City Reader. It’s a chance to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading this week. You can check out others’ book beginnings here. I’m also going to link up with Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week’s beginning:

Synopsis:
Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is famed for its healing springs. But bookstore owner Nora Pennington has a tendency to land in a different kind of hot water. Though she loves to practice bibliotherapy by finding the perfect books for her customers while listening to their secrets, she also likes to bury her nose in the occasional local crime . . .
Nora escaped her past a decade ago. So it feels like a visit from another world when Kelly Walsh—the woman her ex-husband left her for—walks through the door of Miracle Books along with her son, a sweet, serious boy with a talent for origami. Kelly hasn’t come to gloat, though. As it turns out, she’s been dumped too. She’s also terribly ill, and all she wants from Nora is forgiveness.
Shockingly, however, this woman who’s been the victim of so much misfortune is about to become a murder victim. Who would do such a thing? Certainly not Nora, but that doesn’t stop the gossip and suspicion—especially after Kelly’s brother claims that he saw the two women arguing.
In seeking justice for Kelly, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society joins forces with the sheriff’s department, but they’ve barely begun their probe when life throws another wrench. After serving a twenty-year sentence, Estella’s father returns to Miracle Springs. And when his past comes back to haunt him, it might be more than the four friends can handle.
“I loved this book.” Hester Winthrop stroked the paperback on her lap as if it were a cat.
Does that keep you reading? I think Ellery Adams could start this book with a listing from the phone book (oooh, I’m dating myself here – are phone books even a thing anymore?) and I’d keep reading. That’s because I adore this series, and I have been waiting for this book!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. It starts each Friday and runs through the following Thursday. Each week, there’s a new prompt featuring a book-related question. It’s designed to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, make new blogging friends, and gain followers. See what others have to say on this topic and link up your own post here.

In 2022, how many books did you read?
(submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
As of right now, my Goodreads challenge says I’ve read 123 books. So I’m going with that!

How many books have you read this year? Leave me a comment!
Happy Friday, and Happy New Year!
Congrats on all the reading and wishing you more reading happiness next year!
Here’s my BBH: https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2022/12/30/book-blogger-hop-how-many-books-did-you-read-in-2022-bookbloggerhop/
Sounds like a good book about books story. Here’s me:
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/friday-memes-7
Looks like a good book and series, and congrats on all the books read in 2022! Happy New Year!
I love the opening line! Haha! I’ve probably done that to a great book too. 🙂
Congratulations on exceeding your Goodreads goal!
That’s a terrific opening line. Thanks for sharing it on BBOF!
I’ve read 112 books in 2022 and plan to finish one more before Sunday. That’s a few more than is typical for me, but in the range.
I think this author’s books sound good, but I haven’t read any of them. Does she have cursing her books? I have read about 210 books this year. Happy New Year!!!
I don’t recall cursing being a major thing in Adams’ books. There may be a word here and there, but if so, it’s not so much that I think, wow, that’s really sweary.
Congrats on the 210 books!
I definitely FELT that opening line! Congrats on 123 books and thank you for stopping by and commenting on Colletta’s Kitchen Sink 🙂
Colletta
Love that first line. I really need to read this series. Happy New Year! 🙂
This one sounds really good! Thanks for sharing, Lisa!