Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
I enjoyed this second book in the Alexandria series. I liked that she tied the letters into the story more than the first novel.


Rae McDonald was fifteen when a car accident took her sister’s life and threw her own into reckless turmoil. When she got pregnant a year later, she found a loving couple to adopt the child. Since then, she’s buried her grief and guilt under a heart of stone.

Lisa Smyth survived the fateful crash, but never told the truth about what happened. And when a family obligation draws her back to Alexandria, the weight of Lisa’s guilt grows heavier by the day.
As both women confront a past refusing to be forgotten, long-buried artifacts are discovered by the Shire Architectural Salvage Company that point to a shared history between families. Now, Rae and Lisa must finally ask themselves if denying the past is worth sacrificing the future.

Thank you brilliance audio and NetGalley for the audio arc

4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

The audio was great. Narrator great. It flowed great.

I really love this series. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one but still it was great. I love how Mary Ellen Taylor’s books all have a strong family and community feel. Great series. Highly recommed.

The second installment of Taylor’s Alexandria series beautifully concludes the narrative initiated in the first book. The characters from the Union Street Bakery series enrich the storyline, adding layers of depth. Core themes such as family, the process of moving on from the past, and taking responsibility for one's actions infuse the tale with both life and emotional resonance.

Rae McDonald has built a successful career as a therapist, overcoming personal tragedies and previous missteps. While she has become somewhat of a matchmaker, Rae resists the label, believing she simply helps others identify their compatible partners. Lisa Smyth, who was involved in a tragic car accident with Rae’s sister, has struggled with alcoholism in the aftermath. As these two women reconnect over a series of intriguing artifacts, they must confront their pasts and navigate their paths toward healing and wholeness.