"Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, believes that a well-chosen novel can bring healing and hope. But she and the other members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society know that sometimes, practical help is needed too. Such is the case with the reed-thin girl hiding in the fiction section of Nora's store, wearing a hospital ID and a patchwork of faded bruises. She calls herself Abilene, and though Nora and her friends offer work, shelter, and...

Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Bookstore owner Nora Pennington loves to practice bibliotherapy by finding the perfect books for her customers while listening to their secrets. When Kelly Walsh-- the woman her ex-husband left her for-- walks into the bookstore with her son, Nora finds out Kelly has been dumped too. All she wants from Nora is forgiveness. When Kelly is murdered, Nora is the focus of gossip and suspicion--- especially after Kelly's...

"As the owner of Miracle Books, Nora Pennington figures all the wet weather this spring is at least good for business. The local inns are packed with stranded travelers, and among them Nora finds both new customers and a new friend, the sixtysomething Sheldon, who starts helping out at the store. Since a little rain never hurt anyone, Nora rides her bike over to the flea market one sodden day and buys a bowl from Danny, a Cherokee potter. It'll make...

Welcome to Storyton Hall, Virginia, where book lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the singular comforts of the Agatha Christie Tea Room, where they can discuss the merits of their favorite authors no matter how deadly the topic . . . With her twins, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, back in school, Jane Steward can finally focus on her work again-managing Storyton Hall, and breaking ground on the resort's latest attraction: a luxurious, relaxing spa...

Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a paradise for book lovers who come from all over for literary getaways. But manager Jane Steward is temporarily leaving for another renowned resort-in hopes of solving a twist-filled mystery . . . Jane's boyfriend is missing, and she thinks she may find him at North Carolina's historic Biltmore Estate. Officially, she's there to learn about luxury hotel management, but she's also prowling around the breathtaking buildings...

Virginia is for lovers-and Storyton Hall is its best vacation spot for lovers of books. The big event this summer at Jane Steward's resort is A Bookish Cook-Off. It's a blend of the literary and the culinary-but someone's headed for the mortuary . . . Six chefs are preparing to compete in an outdoor tent at Storyton Hall for prizes that will boost their careers-but is there someone who can't stand the heat? It looks that way when one of the contestants...

While organizing a week of activities for love story fans at her book-themed resort, Jane finds herself investigating the murder of the most celebrated author in attendance.