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Union Street Bakery #1
The Union Street Bakery
From the bestselling author of
The Brighter the Light
comes a bittersweet and hopeful story about how one woman’s journey into her family’s past helps her embrace her future.
Daisy McCrae’s life got off to a rocky start. Abandoned by a mother she never really knew, she was adopted into a family she’s never truly felt a part of. Thirty years later, her life is just as rocky. Between losing her job and her boyfriend, she’s lost all sense of self.
Now Daisy is back where it all the Union Street Bakery. She’s resigned to living in the bakery’s attic, learning the family business, and saving it if she can. But patching up the holes in her relationship with her sisters is another story.
So, too, is the century-old journal she inherits. Written by an enslaved girl named Susie, the weathered pages offer Daisy a glimpse into a past that has everything to do with her present.
As Daisy learns more about Susie, the town, and her family, she starts to see who she’s been and who she wants to be—and realizes that maybe, no matter how much you’ve lost, there’s always something more to find.
Revised This edition of The Union Street Bakery includes editorial revisions.
Daisy McCrae’s life got off to a rocky start. Abandoned by a mother she never really knew, she was adopted into a family she’s never truly felt a part of. Thirty years later, her life is just as rocky. Between losing her job and her boyfriend, she’s lost all sense of self.
Now Daisy is back where it all the Union Street Bakery. She’s resigned to living in the bakery’s attic, learning the family business, and saving it if she can. But patching up the holes in her relationship with her sisters is another story.
So, too, is the century-old journal she inherits. Written by an enslaved girl named Susie, the weathered pages offer Daisy a glimpse into a past that has everything to do with her present.
As Daisy learns more about Susie, the town, and her family, she starts to see who she’s been and who she wants to be—and realizes that maybe, no matter how much you’ve lost, there’s always something more to find.
Revised This edition of The Union Street Bakery includes editorial revisions.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2013
3910 people are currently reading
11255 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ellen Taylor
16 books1,873 followersA southerner by birth, Mary Ellen Taylor’s love of her home state of Virginia and its past is evident in her contemporary women's fiction novels, from her first THE UNION STREET BAKERY to her latest, THE WORDS WE WHISPER, which debuts July 20, 2021. Her novels explore issues of family, home and belonging and entwine the past and present.
Richmond born, Mary Ellen has lived there most of her life. Alongside writing, cooking and baking are important creative outlets for Mary Ellen, who's been known to name recipes in honor of her characters. Just a few years ago, she earned her Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond's Culinary Arts Program. "In some ways, I liken baking to my efforts as a writer. You need to learn the basic tools of the trade before you can push the limits and create a distinctive sweet dessert or savory novel.”
Mary Ellen is also known nationally as New York Times and USA Today bestselling suspense novelist Mary Burton. Together, they have published forty-five novels, with Mary Burton’s latest, NEAR YOU, debuting April 13, 2021.
When not traveling or holed up writing, she and her husband spend time alternately enjoying their empty nest and spoiling their miniature dachshunds, Buddy, Bella and Tiki.
Richmond born, Mary Ellen has lived there most of her life. Alongside writing, cooking and baking are important creative outlets for Mary Ellen, who's been known to name recipes in honor of her characters. Just a few years ago, she earned her Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond's Culinary Arts Program. "In some ways, I liken baking to my efforts as a writer. You need to learn the basic tools of the trade before you can push the limits and create a distinctive sweet dessert or savory novel.”
Mary Ellen is also known nationally as New York Times and USA Today bestselling suspense novelist Mary Burton. Together, they have published forty-five novels, with Mary Burton’s latest, NEAR YOU, debuting April 13, 2021.
When not traveling or holed up writing, she and her husband spend time alternately enjoying their empty nest and spoiling their miniature dachshunds, Buddy, Bella and Tiki.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 852 reviews
July 1, 2025
This was charming! It's the first book of a 2 book series originally published in 2013 and now updated and re-issued in print and audio by a new publisher. I listened to the audio and was thoroughly entertained. Great narration!
Daisy McCrae has lost her job in the financial world in DC. Her family bakery in Alexandria is struggling and she goes back to help. She's a little lost in the world and has always felt a little out of place with her Irish family. She's adopted. There's a story to her adoption and when one day an elderly customer and long standing Alexandria resident passes away she leaves a journal for Daisy. What could it mean for her? Perhaps finally she will have some questions answered about her heritage.
I enjoyed every bit of this story and could easily see it turned into a tv series. It has a little bit of everything. Some history, mystery, hint of romance, and a loving family. One of the best parts - at the end there are recipes included! The Union Street Bakery sugar cookies, carrot cake cupcakes, biscuits and chocolate espresso torte. I've copied the recipes and the first one I'll make will be the sugar cookies! Mmm can't wait! 👩🍳
Published June 24, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy.
Daisy McCrae has lost her job in the financial world in DC. Her family bakery in Alexandria is struggling and she goes back to help. She's a little lost in the world and has always felt a little out of place with her Irish family. She's adopted. There's a story to her adoption and when one day an elderly customer and long standing Alexandria resident passes away she leaves a journal for Daisy. What could it mean for her? Perhaps finally she will have some questions answered about her heritage.
I enjoyed every bit of this story and could easily see it turned into a tv series. It has a little bit of everything. Some history, mystery, hint of romance, and a loving family. One of the best parts - at the end there are recipes included! The Union Street Bakery sugar cookies, carrot cake cupcakes, biscuits and chocolate espresso torte. I've copied the recipes and the first one I'll make will be the sugar cookies! Mmm can't wait! 👩🍳
Published June 24, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy.
July 25, 2024
Catching up…
As a donation to my Little Free Library Shed it was such a treat when both Book #1 and #2 were dropped off for me to re-read, so that I could bring my reviews to Goodreads.
How does one describe this story? Is it a ghost story? Or a book about finding oneself? Or, a story about connecting dreams to reality? Or a story about family, love and life?
Or, maybe it is about a run-down-business that deserves a second chance of life, too?
When Daisy finds herself moving back home and living in the attic above, The Union Street Bakery, her family’s business, little did she realize that this may be what she really needed to recover from her disappointments of losing her job and boyfriend. Even though it seemed like starting over felt like going backwards (home again). Something about being home was going to open doors in a whole new different way, including introducing her to a past she didn’t realize existed.
And, even though this story will give readers a lot of back story into Daisy’s beginnings (how she was adopted), it will also give readers a taste of history, mystery, and…maybe a bit of haunting, too that leads to book #2, “Sweet Expectations,” which my review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
As a donation to my Little Free Library Shed it was such a treat when both Book #1 and #2 were dropped off for me to re-read, so that I could bring my reviews to Goodreads.
How does one describe this story? Is it a ghost story? Or a book about finding oneself? Or, a story about connecting dreams to reality? Or a story about family, love and life?
Or, maybe it is about a run-down-business that deserves a second chance of life, too?
When Daisy finds herself moving back home and living in the attic above, The Union Street Bakery, her family’s business, little did she realize that this may be what she really needed to recover from her disappointments of losing her job and boyfriend. Even though it seemed like starting over felt like going backwards (home again). Something about being home was going to open doors in a whole new different way, including introducing her to a past she didn’t realize existed.
And, even though this story will give readers a lot of back story into Daisy’s beginnings (how she was adopted), it will also give readers a taste of history, mystery, and…maybe a bit of haunting, too that leads to book #2, “Sweet Expectations,” which my review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
February 4, 2013
This was an interesting story idea, and the author obviously knows a great deal about the bakery business. The emotions that Daisy, the main character, experienced as a result of being an adult who was adopted as a child, such as rejection, not fitting in, etc., seem very well done. I have an adult daughter who was adopted, and that part of Daisy's character seemed very realistic. I also felt the history and genealogy that the author used as a part of the plot were very interesting. One part of the book was a disappointment to me, and almost caused me to rate it even lower. The author used a great deal of cursing throughout the story, and, in my opinion, it simply didn't fit the characters and was not at all necessary. Perhaps it is the area of the country I am from, but the majority of educated professionals in my acquaintance do not use cursing as a big part of their everyday speech, and I feel if they did they might have a difficult time turning it off at work and seem very unprofessional. That is simply my opinion, and it might not bother others at all.
(This review is for an uncorrected proof that I received free for an honest review from the goodreads first-reads giveaway program.)
(This review is for an uncorrected proof that I received free for an honest review from the goodreads first-reads giveaway program.)
September 3, 2013
The story seemed promising, but I had two main issues. One, I didn't see the need for the casual profanity. It didn't really fit with what I thought the characters would actually say. Two, the story got complicated when they began to trace their lineage and was difficult to follow (making me care about their search less). Also, I really didn't understand why she threw in some ghosts... seemed unnecessary.
November 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was intrigued right from the beginning, loved the story and the incredible characters.
I was intrigued right from the beginning, loved the story and the incredible characters.
June 24, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
I enjoyed this title well enough. Our fmc Daisy is relatable and likeable, we are given her character arc fairly early in and it was nice to see her growth throughout. I enjoyed the relationships with her sisters and even the bakery itself it was really nice to see a character settle into a role that was less than their dreams yet fit them so well. I enjoyed the mystery that carried through the story and the little snippets of paranormal activity were fun.
I note this seems to be a third time publication, which obviously means old reviews, from the old reviews I see lots of comments about strong language, I’m not offended by profanity so it could be that I missed some of it, but it seemed there were only a handful of swear words so I’m making the assumption that the language has been cleaned up a little for this release, which made me even more baffled about one line in particular along the lines of some days Rachel loves her children, other days she’d happily sell them to the Gypsy’s, this is far more offensive than any strong language, it’s a racist statement that I’d strongly recommend be removed or replaced. I’d like to give the author the benefit of the doubt in that perhaps it’s a saying she’s heard, I’ve heard it myself. I just feel strongly that if the book is being cleaned up this should be part of the process 2.5 🌟 rounded up only for this reason.
Nice audio narration.
Thanks to Brilliance publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
I enjoyed this title well enough. Our fmc Daisy is relatable and likeable, we are given her character arc fairly early in and it was nice to see her growth throughout. I enjoyed the relationships with her sisters and even the bakery itself it was really nice to see a character settle into a role that was less than their dreams yet fit them so well. I enjoyed the mystery that carried through the story and the little snippets of paranormal activity were fun.
I note this seems to be a third time publication, which obviously means old reviews, from the old reviews I see lots of comments about strong language, I’m not offended by profanity so it could be that I missed some of it, but it seemed there were only a handful of swear words so I’m making the assumption that the language has been cleaned up a little for this release, which made me even more baffled about one line in particular along the lines of some days Rachel loves her children, other days she’d happily sell them to the Gypsy’s, this is far more offensive than any strong language, it’s a racist statement that I’d strongly recommend be removed or replaced. I’d like to give the author the benefit of the doubt in that perhaps it’s a saying she’s heard, I’ve heard it myself. I just feel strongly that if the book is being cleaned up this should be part of the process 2.5 🌟 rounded up only for this reason.
Nice audio narration.
Thanks to Brilliance publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
April 3, 2018
I love stories about family coming together in rough times. This book is a good example of realizing what’s really important and finding happiness in the mundane things of life.
December 16, 2015
Union Street Bakery was my first book by Mary Ellen Taylor and it was divine! I have already purchased Sweet Expectations (#2 in the series).
First, the covers are a huge draw –you find yourself smelling the heavenly aromas of the bakery and the desire to stroll the quaint shops and tree lined streets. If you enjoy historical fiction, drama, ghosts, little mystery, family, and romance – this read is for you!
An intriguing and interesting fast-paced story of sisters, family, careers, betrayal, and hidden family secrets. You fall in love with the characters –Daisy love her) who was left at a bakery when she was 3 yrs. old and adopted by the owners of the bakery who are a close knit family.
Daisy has kept all her relationships at arm’s length to protect her heart and buries herself in her work with large investment firm. When her job ends, she finds herself back living above the bakery (where she swore she would never return). Haven’t we all been there – city girl comes home.
However, she finds her family needs her and her finance expertise to manage the bakery business which is going downhill fast. Her older two sisters (one a widow with two young girls) is a baker, and Margaret who also is working part time (an archaeologist and historian)--all ban together to save the family business.
In the midst trying to survive the bakery business, a local elderly woman dies and leaves a journal for Daisy. Margaret and Daisy begin to uncover hidden secrets from the past as well as the mother who left her in the bakery 30 yrs. ago, combined with Gordon (her ex-finance) who has left the corporate business and sets up a bike cycle shop down the street.
You will fall in love with the McCrae family and a book you cannot easily put down – a wonderful family story with some great recipes as well! I look forward to reading more from this author.
First, the covers are a huge draw –you find yourself smelling the heavenly aromas of the bakery and the desire to stroll the quaint shops and tree lined streets. If you enjoy historical fiction, drama, ghosts, little mystery, family, and romance – this read is for you!
An intriguing and interesting fast-paced story of sisters, family, careers, betrayal, and hidden family secrets. You fall in love with the characters –Daisy love her) who was left at a bakery when she was 3 yrs. old and adopted by the owners of the bakery who are a close knit family.
Daisy has kept all her relationships at arm’s length to protect her heart and buries herself in her work with large investment firm. When her job ends, she finds herself back living above the bakery (where she swore she would never return). Haven’t we all been there – city girl comes home.
However, she finds her family needs her and her finance expertise to manage the bakery business which is going downhill fast. Her older two sisters (one a widow with two young girls) is a baker, and Margaret who also is working part time (an archaeologist and historian)--all ban together to save the family business.
In the midst trying to survive the bakery business, a local elderly woman dies and leaves a journal for Daisy. Margaret and Daisy begin to uncover hidden secrets from the past as well as the mother who left her in the bakery 30 yrs. ago, combined with Gordon (her ex-finance) who has left the corporate business and sets up a bike cycle shop down the street.
You will fall in love with the McCrae family and a book you cannot easily put down – a wonderful family story with some great recipes as well! I look forward to reading more from this author.
September 4, 2017
On the front of the book you can read "The life you want might not be the life you need...". Just that sentence interested me to try this book and it was worth it. Mary Ellen Taylor takes a family and makes one care about them. And even better this wasn't a perfect family...a certain amount snarkiness sneaks in making this a realistic family.
Thrown in with the history, glimpses into the past, mystery and hints of hauntings--for me a wonderful escape. I am planning on buying the next book in the series Sweet Expectations.
Thrown in with the history, glimpses into the past, mystery and hints of hauntings--for me a wonderful escape. I am planning on buying the next book in the series Sweet Expectations.
July 21, 2025
I'm at loss for words to describe how much I endured listening to that book. It was a mess.
The main character is a three-year-old girl left by her mum at the bakery that somehow acquired a body of 30-somenthing year old woman (for clarification: Daisy behaved like a kid when it came to her real mother). She lost her job and relationship and now back at her parents house (not biological parents, remember about 'left at the bakery' bit). With her two sisters and French immigrant they somehow manage the bakery while also trying not to go bankrupt and doing detective work of figuring out the diary that old woman gave to Daisy before dying and finding her biological mother and trying to be friendly to a man she dumped and trying to figure out whether she wants to go back to corporate job, and we get a story of slavery trading and family history and… Did I mention it was a mess?
The story felt unengaging and so random at times, focusing on the story was hard. Some chapters were an info dump, others didn't hold any importance in the story at all. The plot didn’t have a clear direction, the characters lacked motivation, and I couldn't empathize with them.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, the author, and the audiobook narrator for giving me this opportunity. It turned out not to be the best one, but I am thankful nevertheless.
The main character is a three-year-old girl left by her mum at the bakery that somehow acquired a body of 30-somenthing year old woman (for clarification: Daisy behaved like a kid when it came to her real mother). She lost her job and relationship and now back at her parents house (not biological parents, remember about 'left at the bakery' bit). With her two sisters and French immigrant they somehow manage the bakery while also trying not to go bankrupt and doing detective work of figuring out the diary that old woman gave to Daisy before dying and finding her biological mother and trying to be friendly to a man she dumped and trying to figure out whether she wants to go back to corporate job, and we get a story of slavery trading and family history and… Did I mention it was a mess?
The story felt unengaging and so random at times, focusing on the story was hard. Some chapters were an info dump, others didn't hold any importance in the story at all. The plot didn’t have a clear direction, the characters lacked motivation, and I couldn't empathize with them.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, the author, and the audiobook narrator for giving me this opportunity. It turned out not to be the best one, but I am thankful nevertheless.
June 22, 2025
This charming read spotlighted second chances and finding oneself in the present with a unique introduction of a character from the past.
I immediately empathized with Daisy and the troubled road she’d travelled. I appreciated her willingness to return to the past to seek healing. I’ve often said ‘never’ to a perceived unwelcome experience, but Daisy showed me the benefits of being flexible where personal growth and healing is possible.
With a focus on where we come from and what direction we are headed, this is a great start to what I believe will be an interesting series. Originally published in 2013, this series has been updated and offered by a new publisher.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I immediately empathized with Daisy and the troubled road she’d travelled. I appreciated her willingness to return to the past to seek healing. I’ve often said ‘never’ to a perceived unwelcome experience, but Daisy showed me the benefits of being flexible where personal growth and healing is possible.
With a focus on where we come from and what direction we are headed, this is a great start to what I believe will be an interesting series. Originally published in 2013, this series has been updated and offered by a new publisher.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 2, 2013
The back of the book had me sold. A woman going back to her family's business after her career ended. Then you add in she was engaged, unknown to her family, she is adopted and there is a slave girl journal. I think the author wasn't sure where to go with the main character. A lot of it seem to get lost in order for her to come to terms with her mother leaving her at the bakery at such a young age. I just was expecting a bit more, knowing that yes the woman has gone through a lot but it seem in order for her to move forward she needed to come to grips with her birth mother. I just didn't care so much for the main character. There was also not much development around her family either. We seem to get repetitive information that did not tell anything new throughout the whole book. Her dad lived for the business, the one sister loved history and the other lost her husband. Overall, it was a decent read just wanted more development and a concise plot that stayed throughout.
May 23, 2019
I got the second book for review and had to go back and read the first one because that's how I am. Interesting story, can't wait to see where it goes.
September 5, 2025
4.5
This story is so interesting, a family tree, a bakery, job loss and searching for the truth. A mystery but not mysterious if you will?
This story is so interesting, a family tree, a bakery, job loss and searching for the truth. A mystery but not mysterious if you will?
November 22, 2014
Four and a half stars.
Daisy McRae is finding life hard. She has lost her well-paying job and her boyfriend Gordon and moved back to the attic above her family’s bakery to help out since the family business is in trouble. Add to this, Daisy’s own feelings about having been abandoned at the bakery as a three year old by her birth mother before being adopted by the McRaes.
Though she loves both her parents, she never quite feels she belongs and her relationship with her sisters, Rachel and Margaret is fraught with tension. Mabel, an elderly customer dies and leaves Daisy a journal dating back to the 1850s. It concerns a slave named Susie. Daisy cannot understand why Mabel left it to her rather than Margaret who is the historian.
I always seem to be drawn to stories of people who have been adopted. Not sure what that says about me. I really liked Daisy as a character and it was easy to empathise with her and understand why she feels the need to keep people at a distance. Her parents are also well drawn and so are Rachel and Margaret. I enjoyed the setting and all the business about the bakery, though perhaps with all the bread and cake descriptions, it’s not a good book to read when you are hungry. For those inclined there are a few cookie and cake recipes at the end of the book. This is a story about loss, sisters, rejection, what makes a family, and family secrets. There is a bit of language that to me didn’t fit comfortably with these characters. Apart from that quibble, I loved this novel which I read quickly because I cared about the characters and their story.
Daisy McRae is finding life hard. She has lost her well-paying job and her boyfriend Gordon and moved back to the attic above her family’s bakery to help out since the family business is in trouble. Add to this, Daisy’s own feelings about having been abandoned at the bakery as a three year old by her birth mother before being adopted by the McRaes.
Though she loves both her parents, she never quite feels she belongs and her relationship with her sisters, Rachel and Margaret is fraught with tension. Mabel, an elderly customer dies and leaves Daisy a journal dating back to the 1850s. It concerns a slave named Susie. Daisy cannot understand why Mabel left it to her rather than Margaret who is the historian.
I always seem to be drawn to stories of people who have been adopted. Not sure what that says about me. I really liked Daisy as a character and it was easy to empathise with her and understand why she feels the need to keep people at a distance. Her parents are also well drawn and so are Rachel and Margaret. I enjoyed the setting and all the business about the bakery, though perhaps with all the bread and cake descriptions, it’s not a good book to read when you are hungry. For those inclined there are a few cookie and cake recipes at the end of the book. This is a story about loss, sisters, rejection, what makes a family, and family secrets. There is a bit of language that to me didn’t fit comfortably with these characters. Apart from that quibble, I loved this novel which I read quickly because I cared about the characters and their story.
August 6, 2013
The Union Street Bakery in Old Town, Virginia has been in the McCrae family for 150 years.And it is teetering on the brink of financial ruin when Daisy McCrae comes back home from Washington D.C. Her life is a shambling mix of lost job,lost love and a conviction that nothing good lasts forever. But she loves her family and squares off with a mountain of bills,cranky equipment and even a ghost to bring the family business back into the black.
There is a historical mystery in the mix as well. When an elderly customer passes away, leaving a 150 year old journal to Daisy, she is first dismissive, then intrigued with the bequest.There are more questions than answers at first.But as she and her sister dig ever deeper in to the journal and the history behind it,she discovers insight and answers to many questions that have plagued her through her life.
I really enjoyed this book.Interesting family dynamics,historical mystery all set against the backdrop of the bakery made for a quick lovely read.
There is a historical mystery in the mix as well. When an elderly customer passes away, leaving a 150 year old journal to Daisy, she is first dismissive, then intrigued with the bequest.There are more questions than answers at first.But as she and her sister dig ever deeper in to the journal and the history behind it,she discovers insight and answers to many questions that have plagued her through her life.
I really enjoyed this book.Interesting family dynamics,historical mystery all set against the backdrop of the bakery made for a quick lovely read.
November 3, 2013
The old diary belonging to Susie who wrote it around 1852 and that Daisy receives from the 99-year old Mabel was the best part of this book. Other than that, it was a rather average contemporary tale about a 30-something woman who reconnects with her family and tries to find her path in life. The Union Street Bakery itself is a compelling setting. I loved to hear about the hard work of bakers. All in all, it was an okay read.
I’ll write more when I have more time - and if the story lingers....
I’ll write more when I have more time - and if the story lingers....
September 12, 2014
Enjoyed the intricate plot and setting and the historical info on slavery in Virginia. The author creates realistic characters and her prose is very readable.
November 10, 2015
2.5 stars
June 23, 2021
3.5 ⭐
O carte bunicica, o poveste frumoasa, dar care nu exceleaza la nici un capitol, ca un film de pe Hallmark, la care ea te uiti pentru a-ti trece timpul intr-un mod relaxant. Povestea are potential, dar personajele sunt in toate directiile, nu ai timp si nici motive sa te atasezi prea tare de nici unul dintre ei.
O carte bunicica, o poveste frumoasa, dar care nu exceleaza la nici un capitol, ca un film de pe Hallmark, la care ea te uiti pentru a-ti trece timpul intr-un mod relaxant. Povestea are potential, dar personajele sunt in toate directiile, nu ai timp si nici motive sa te atasezi prea tare de nici unul dintre ei.
January 25, 2013
Originally published at www.apatchworkofbooks.com
As I was cozied up on the couch yesterday, feeling incredibly sorry for myself, I read The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor. It was a great choice to take my mind off the queasiness in my stomach! It takes place in Old Town Alexandria, where I worked up until November when I decided to stay home with my little guy. It's such a beautiful town, with a truly old fashioned feel, which made for an excellent setting for a story.
The main character, Daisy, loses her job in finance and is forced to move back home to help run her family's failing bakery on Union Street. In the family for generations, everyone expects Daisy to save the place, though she's not even sure she can. She doesn't really want to be there, doesn't get along with her sisters who also assist in the running of the business, and on her first day back is approached by a crazy old lady who insists she knows Daisy's birth mother who left her at the bakery when she was only three years old.
There's a bit of a ghost story, a slave's journal, and plenty of baking deliciousness all thrown into the story. It was a quick read, complete with amazing recipes that I cannot wait to try, and characters that were easy to like.
Even in my stomach flu haze, I did feel like there was a lot going on in the story, but it didn't make me stop reading. I think the ghost portion could have been left out and it would have made for a better flow of plot. The setting, however, was spot on and really fun to read about being a frequent visitor to Old Town.
As I was cozied up on the couch yesterday, feeling incredibly sorry for myself, I read The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor. It was a great choice to take my mind off the queasiness in my stomach! It takes place in Old Town Alexandria, where I worked up until November when I decided to stay home with my little guy. It's such a beautiful town, with a truly old fashioned feel, which made for an excellent setting for a story.
The main character, Daisy, loses her job in finance and is forced to move back home to help run her family's failing bakery on Union Street. In the family for generations, everyone expects Daisy to save the place, though she's not even sure she can. She doesn't really want to be there, doesn't get along with her sisters who also assist in the running of the business, and on her first day back is approached by a crazy old lady who insists she knows Daisy's birth mother who left her at the bakery when she was only three years old.
There's a bit of a ghost story, a slave's journal, and plenty of baking deliciousness all thrown into the story. It was a quick read, complete with amazing recipes that I cannot wait to try, and characters that were easy to like.
Even in my stomach flu haze, I did feel like there was a lot going on in the story, but it didn't make me stop reading. I think the ghost portion could have been left out and it would have made for a better flow of plot. The setting, however, was spot on and really fun to read about being a frequent visitor to Old Town.
September 26, 2013
I liked the story of Daisy McCrae come to save the family bakery and find herself in the process. I liked the history and genealogy woven thoughout. (Like another reviewer said though, the story would have been helped by the addition of a map and a printed genealogy.) I liked the recipes at the end and want to try the carrot cake.
I was however annoyed by the poor editing. (It was not an advanced reader's copy that I read. It was a published version that I checked out from my public library.)
Daisy is given an old diary by an elderly customer of the bakery. When Mabel and her housekeeper find the book it is described on p.64 as "a book wrapped in faded blue calico fabric," but on p.76 when Daisy goes to unwrap it she "gently peeled back the red fabric." This only one of the many inconsistencies I stumbled across as I read.
The genealogy had me scratching my head; I tried to go back through the story and plot it out on a family tree. Mabel was born in 1914 and her grandmother in 1840, which would have made her 74 when Mabel was born. Not impossible, but given the time period and how young people married in those days, slightly improbable. And Mabel's husband was the grandson of Mabel's great-grandfather. We're off a generation. And it turned out that Daisy's grandfather was Mabel's nephew. To me, it would have made more sense if her grandfather had been one of Mabel's brothers.
Apparently this is the first of a series. I look forward to reading the next one, especially if it is more carefully edited than the first one.
I was however annoyed by the poor editing. (It was not an advanced reader's copy that I read. It was a published version that I checked out from my public library.)
Daisy is given an old diary by an elderly customer of the bakery. When Mabel and her housekeeper find the book it is described on p.64 as "a book wrapped in faded blue calico fabric," but on p.76 when Daisy goes to unwrap it she "gently peeled back the red fabric." This only one of the many inconsistencies I stumbled across as I read.
The genealogy had me scratching my head; I tried to go back through the story and plot it out on a family tree. Mabel was born in 1914 and her grandmother in 1840, which would have made her 74 when Mabel was born. Not impossible, but given the time period and how young people married in those days, slightly improbable. And Mabel's husband was the grandson of Mabel's great-grandfather. We're off a generation. And it turned out that Daisy's grandfather was Mabel's nephew. To me, it would have made more sense if her grandfather had been one of Mabel's brothers.
Apparently this is the first of a series. I look forward to reading the next one, especially if it is more carefully edited than the first one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2023
When I first saw this book, I thought "Wow, this looks like a super cute and cozy read", then I actually started reading it. The main characters cuss so much in the first part of the book that I almost stopped reading. Then it kind of mellowed out. There is definitely some other cussing in here too, so if that bothers you, don't read the book. There are also some sexual innuendos a few places that aren't super graphic, but definitely there.
This all being said, if the cussing and innuendos weren't in here, this would have been even closer to a 5 star read for me. I thought the historical letter storyline addition was amazing. The story itself around the bakery is super cozy and I really did love it. I'm glad I didn't stop reading. I'm interested to see where the next book in the series will take the story.
This all being said, if the cussing and innuendos weren't in here, this would have been even closer to a 5 star read for me. I thought the historical letter storyline addition was amazing. The story itself around the bakery is super cozy and I really did love it. I'm glad I didn't stop reading. I'm interested to see where the next book in the series will take the story.
March 3, 2014
The book should have been really good. It was ok. Another story about someone who doesn't feel loved and so, despite all reassurances from her adoptive family (for 30 years) her ex-boyfriend, she does some whining. She's lost her fast-track job and has to go back to her family's bakery. And an old neighbor, on her death, leaves the young woman a diary from the Civil War period. Her oldest adopted sister is a history buff, and together they discover just how the diary is linked to their family--it does get a bit confusing at times.
August 3, 2015
Actually, the story line was fine but, is there such a thing as gratuitous cursing? I'm not a prude by any means, and when I read Stephen King I get tons of cursing, but the cursing in the book turned me off; it seemed like it was added just to make the protagonist seem cool. If it had been a male, the author could maybe have gotten away with it, but more than one female swearing like sailors? No thanks. It honestly didn't make the lead characters very likable for me.
August 4, 2025
4.5 stars
I loved this tale of family, second chances and yummy baked goods. The characters were well written and all likable. There was a paranormal historical twist that was a fun little puzzle to explore. This would make a great movie
I loved this tale of family, second chances and yummy baked goods. The characters were well written and all likable. There was a paranormal historical twist that was a fun little puzzle to explore. This would make a great movie
April 25, 2018
4.5 stars! Loved this family story. The mix of history and discovery of who you are and your ancestors is fascinating. I really couldn't put it down, I had to know! Also loved learning about the bakery business.
March 18, 2013
Story Description:
Berkley Trade|February 5, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-425-25969-6
Life can turn on a dime. It’s a common cliché, and I’d heard it often enough. People die or move away. Investments go south. Affairs end. Loved ones betray us…Stuff happens.
Daisy McCrae’s life is in tatters. She’s lost her job, broken up with her boyfriend, and has been reduced to living in the attic above her family’s store, the Union Street Bakery, while learning the business. Unfortunately, the bakery is in serious hardship. Making things worse is the constant feeling of not being a “real” McCrae since she was adopted as a child and has a less-than-perfect relationship with her two sisters.
Then a long-standing elderly customer passes away, and for some reason bequeaths Daisy a journal dating back to the 1850’s, written by a slave girl named Susie. As she reads, Daisy learns more about her family, and her own heritage, than she ever dreamed. Haunted by dreams of the young Susie, who beckons Daisy to “find her”, she is compelled to look further into the past of the town and her family.
What she finds are the answers she has longed for her entire life, and a chance to begin again with the courage, and desire she thought she lost for good.
My Review:
The Union Street Bakery has been owned by a McCrae since 1852. First was, Shaun McCrae, an Irishman who lost his wife in the potato famine in 1842. He found work in a slave auction house but over time lost his taste for trading human flesh. For a few years, no record of Shaun surfaced but then in 1851, the City of Alexandria records mentioned that Shaun McCrae was the new proprietor of the McCrae Bakery, later to be known as the Union Street Bakery. His specialty was sea biscuits or ship’s bread, a hardy cracker that fed sailors who labored on the barges, schooners, and other ships docked in Alexandria’s thriving harbor. In 1865, Shaun married his second wife, Sally Good, and they passed the business to their eldest son, and he did the same when he retired. Ever since, a McCrae has operated the business. And now Daisy herself has returned to the city to what so many of her family did before her: bake bread.
Daisy’s birth mother abandoned her outside the Union Street Bakery when she was just 3 years old. As she sat eating a cookie her mother told her to “Be a good girl. I will be back soon.” It was Sheila McCrae who had 2 daughters of her own at ages 5 and 3 who took her in after an extensive police search and a few rounds with social workers. The McCrae family legally adopted Daisy.
A long-time 99-year-old customer of the bakery, Mabel Woodrow, was searching through her old wooden trunk for a journal that had been packed away in newspaper dating back to 1922. When she finally located it she could barely contain her excitement. Underneath the newspaper it was wrapped in blue calico fabric. Her own grandmother had given it to her and told her to put it away someplace safe until the time was right. Mabel passed away and left strict instructions with her nurse of 40 years to make sure that Daisy McCrae received the journal. The following morning the nurse appeared at the bakery and handed over the ancient journal to Daisy explaining that Mabel had left the strictest of instructions that she receive this journal. Of course, Daisy, had no idea why but accepted it with a grateful heart.
Inside, Daisy found the words written by a slave girl named, Susie, written over 150 years ago and she had no idea what this journal was going to end up meaning to her.
The next morning, Daisy awoke at 3:30 to get ready to head downstairs to the basement to begin the process of baking bread, buns, cookies, cakes and pies for the 7:00am opening. However, this morning, her attic room had very distinct chills and cool breezes as she moved about the room. Then suddenly she saw him – the hair on the back of her neck tingled. She had a sense that someone was lurking there in the shadows staring at her. The sensation burrowed down to her bones. She stood for several seconds, her heart thumped and then at the edge of darkness she saw the outline of a man. His hair was combed back and accentuated dark and expressive eyes. His partial grin revealed crooked, small teeth. His dark suit appeared hand tailored as did his shirt and vest. He shook his head, she shook hers and said: “Do I know you?” He stared as if assessing her and she sensed she came up short in his book. “What’s this about?” she asked. He eased toward her, assessing. “This is about the journal?” Daisy inquired. He nodded. “I didn’t read it last night, I was too tired and annoyed. I suppose you’re here to tell me not to read it.” The man’s expression darkened and the shadows around them thickened. The walls undulated ad moaned and suddenly the air in the room smelled of rotting eggs.
Fear dug into Daisy’s gut and triggered a set of worries she never had considered. She’d never been afraid of any bump or squeak in the night in the attic room, but now she was. “Just leave”, she said. For seconds, maybe minutes, they stood staring at each other and in the next instant he was gone. Daisy’s heart thumped and her breathing quickened. She felt confined and afraid. Several books piled high on the table tumbled to the floor, making her jump. This presence wanted her to leave. And that ticked her off. She told the ghost to leave, to get the hell out of her room. Seconds ticked as watching eyes stared at her. “Beat it”, she said. The air thickened and then in a blink cleared. Whatever it was had gone. She’d never felt unwelcomed in this house but she did now.
What on earth was she going to find in this journal about a slave girl and what did it have to do with her that she now had ghosts visiting her?
This was a well-written and extremely interesting story that kept me turning page after page and provided me with both chills and thrills. I never expected what Daisy was soon to find out. The Union Street Bakery is highly recommendable.
Berkley Trade|February 5, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-425-25969-6
Life can turn on a dime. It’s a common cliché, and I’d heard it often enough. People die or move away. Investments go south. Affairs end. Loved ones betray us…Stuff happens.
Daisy McCrae’s life is in tatters. She’s lost her job, broken up with her boyfriend, and has been reduced to living in the attic above her family’s store, the Union Street Bakery, while learning the business. Unfortunately, the bakery is in serious hardship. Making things worse is the constant feeling of not being a “real” McCrae since she was adopted as a child and has a less-than-perfect relationship with her two sisters.
Then a long-standing elderly customer passes away, and for some reason bequeaths Daisy a journal dating back to the 1850’s, written by a slave girl named Susie. As she reads, Daisy learns more about her family, and her own heritage, than she ever dreamed. Haunted by dreams of the young Susie, who beckons Daisy to “find her”, she is compelled to look further into the past of the town and her family.
What she finds are the answers she has longed for her entire life, and a chance to begin again with the courage, and desire she thought she lost for good.
My Review:
The Union Street Bakery has been owned by a McCrae since 1852. First was, Shaun McCrae, an Irishman who lost his wife in the potato famine in 1842. He found work in a slave auction house but over time lost his taste for trading human flesh. For a few years, no record of Shaun surfaced but then in 1851, the City of Alexandria records mentioned that Shaun McCrae was the new proprietor of the McCrae Bakery, later to be known as the Union Street Bakery. His specialty was sea biscuits or ship’s bread, a hardy cracker that fed sailors who labored on the barges, schooners, and other ships docked in Alexandria’s thriving harbor. In 1865, Shaun married his second wife, Sally Good, and they passed the business to their eldest son, and he did the same when he retired. Ever since, a McCrae has operated the business. And now Daisy herself has returned to the city to what so many of her family did before her: bake bread.
Daisy’s birth mother abandoned her outside the Union Street Bakery when she was just 3 years old. As she sat eating a cookie her mother told her to “Be a good girl. I will be back soon.” It was Sheila McCrae who had 2 daughters of her own at ages 5 and 3 who took her in after an extensive police search and a few rounds with social workers. The McCrae family legally adopted Daisy.
A long-time 99-year-old customer of the bakery, Mabel Woodrow, was searching through her old wooden trunk for a journal that had been packed away in newspaper dating back to 1922. When she finally located it she could barely contain her excitement. Underneath the newspaper it was wrapped in blue calico fabric. Her own grandmother had given it to her and told her to put it away someplace safe until the time was right. Mabel passed away and left strict instructions with her nurse of 40 years to make sure that Daisy McCrae received the journal. The following morning the nurse appeared at the bakery and handed over the ancient journal to Daisy explaining that Mabel had left the strictest of instructions that she receive this journal. Of course, Daisy, had no idea why but accepted it with a grateful heart.
Inside, Daisy found the words written by a slave girl named, Susie, written over 150 years ago and she had no idea what this journal was going to end up meaning to her.
The next morning, Daisy awoke at 3:30 to get ready to head downstairs to the basement to begin the process of baking bread, buns, cookies, cakes and pies for the 7:00am opening. However, this morning, her attic room had very distinct chills and cool breezes as she moved about the room. Then suddenly she saw him – the hair on the back of her neck tingled. She had a sense that someone was lurking there in the shadows staring at her. The sensation burrowed down to her bones. She stood for several seconds, her heart thumped and then at the edge of darkness she saw the outline of a man. His hair was combed back and accentuated dark and expressive eyes. His partial grin revealed crooked, small teeth. His dark suit appeared hand tailored as did his shirt and vest. He shook his head, she shook hers and said: “Do I know you?” He stared as if assessing her and she sensed she came up short in his book. “What’s this about?” she asked. He eased toward her, assessing. “This is about the journal?” Daisy inquired. He nodded. “I didn’t read it last night, I was too tired and annoyed. I suppose you’re here to tell me not to read it.” The man’s expression darkened and the shadows around them thickened. The walls undulated ad moaned and suddenly the air in the room smelled of rotting eggs.
Fear dug into Daisy’s gut and triggered a set of worries she never had considered. She’d never been afraid of any bump or squeak in the night in the attic room, but now she was. “Just leave”, she said. For seconds, maybe minutes, they stood staring at each other and in the next instant he was gone. Daisy’s heart thumped and her breathing quickened. She felt confined and afraid. Several books piled high on the table tumbled to the floor, making her jump. This presence wanted her to leave. And that ticked her off. She told the ghost to leave, to get the hell out of her room. Seconds ticked as watching eyes stared at her. “Beat it”, she said. The air thickened and then in a blink cleared. Whatever it was had gone. She’d never felt unwelcomed in this house but she did now.
What on earth was she going to find in this journal about a slave girl and what did it have to do with her that she now had ghosts visiting her?
This was a well-written and extremely interesting story that kept me turning page after page and provided me with both chills and thrills. I never expected what Daisy was soon to find out. The Union Street Bakery is highly recommendable.
December 24, 2017
A pleasant read about family --what defines a family? Is it biology or facts? I could identify with Daisy about not being thrilled to work in a family business, though it wasn't a bakery and I wasn't downsized. In the end, I am glad I made the choice to help when it was needed.
It is set in Alexandria, Virginia and also contains fascinating history elements. I thought that story was more interesting than what the reader may first think the book is about.
It is set in Alexandria, Virginia and also contains fascinating history elements. I thought that story was more interesting than what the reader may first think the book is about.
Read
September 29, 2020DNF at page 94. I just didn't like the heroine. She was too difficult with too many chips on her shoulder. I could see where it was going and it wasn't anywhere I wanted to be led.
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