Originally published in 2016, The View from Prince Street is the second book in Mary Ellen Taylor’s Alexandria series, and picks up shortly after At the Corner of King Street. While each book tells a self-contained story, this one is best read in order—especially to fully appreciate the generational threads and returning characters that weave the books together.

This story follows two women, Rae and Lisa, both shaped by the same tragedy but in very different ways. Their paths cross again in their shared hometown, where old pain resurfaces and deeper family secrets begin to unravel.

Taylor explores themes of trauma, addiction, motherhood, forgiveness, and identity with care. Lisa’s battle with alcoholism is particularly well-drawn, portrayed with empathy. Rae’s emotional distance and struggle to move forward is equally affecting.

Woven through this contemporary drama is a thread of historical mystery, continuing the storyline of Faith Morgan, an ancestor with a witchy legacy that continues to haunt the present.

Some of the familial relationships and ancestral ties are a bit hard to keep track of—a family tree would have helped—but I loved how the theme of "one baby, two mothers" recurs in different forms across the generations.

While the story is often serious, the presence of characters like Margaret helps to lighten the mood at key moments, offering warmth and humor where needed.
Overall, The View from Prince Street is a poignant, emotionally satisfying read that blends past and present, grief and hope. It will likely appeal to fans of Deborah Smith —readers who enjoy emotional, family-driven fiction with a touch of mystery and a strong sense of place.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

We gather up new characters and meet treasured old ones in this next part in the series. And I'm so glad to be back with Mary and her wonderful writing. Another heartwarming and sometimes heart tugging read. Such emotional moments filled with family, history,memory's,grief and ultimately healing and moving forward.
This one involved an age old possible magical connection to yet more characters and what that has meant for certain families. Could they be connected?
Our new characters get a brilliant write and the story and past pains are in need of big hugs. Meeting Addie again was such a pleasing thought she truly had my heart from the previous book. This time Lisa and Rae also need to contest with some of their own demons. So are these woman more connected than they think. And what does it take to heal from things that they've carried for so long?
A heartwarming and brilliant story that got me right back and involved with them all.

Having read this author before, I was thrilled to be able to read this new book. Spanning centuries, the reader meets characters who begin a legacy of three different families. Mix all those descendants and one gets an enthralling story to read (including one character who is supposed to be a witch). I had a difficult time in the beginning of the book but I am glad that I stuck with it. Fascinating read!

The View from Prince Street by Mary Ellen Taylor was such an entertaining story!
I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging. 
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style. 
The characters were all very well developed . 
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

The View from Prince Street is book two in the Alexandria duology and was just as emotionally charged as the first novel. It picks up right where At the Corner of King Street left off and smoothly transitions into the lives of Rae McDonald, Lisa Smyth, and their family histories. Both women have suffered tremendous trauma, and it was heartbreaking to relive that pain with them. I choked up multiple times and just wanted to cry. This was such a good story, but it didn't wrap up nicely for me. There were so many plot points and not all of them were resolved. What about Addie's old key? I thought for sure that it would be important, but it was never mentioned again after the first book. I finally have all my answers about Faith but am seriously confused on trying to connect everyone. I wish that the author portrayed Margaret's lecture, providing us with a more detailed familial connection. The mystery is what drove this storyline, yet it wasn't explained very well. Despite my confusion, I really did enjoy this book for the drama more than the mystery. The duology is definitely worth the read.

Thank you to Montlake for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This is the second book in the Alexandria series. This first book in the series is called At the Corner of King Street.
I recently read these two books one after the other.
There were a lot of characters in this story from both of the timelines involved and I found it hard to keep track of them all and how they fitted together.
I enjoyed the story, the history and the genealogy aspect where they were trying to make a family tree.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy Mary Ellen Taylor books. Her latest, The View from Prince Street, was a great read. It’s available soon.

The View from Prince Street by Mary Ellen Taylor is book two in the Alexandria duet, published by Montlake.
Addie's story continues. Together with characters from the previous book as well as new characters, she and her loved ones are up for the next great adventure.
This story spans centuries, is exquisitely written, had me in suspense from start til the last page. A fantastic read, 5 stars.