Alexa Gordon, aka Lexie, is trying to pick up her life after the unexpected death of her beloved brother, Jamie. She's back in her hometown of Hailesbank and tries to help her family and the family business. However, what Lexie loves most is to paint; it has always been her dream to have her own show at a gallery, but due to everything that has happened, this dream remains just that - a dream. Until one day an elderly lady named Edith climbs in through the Gordon family's kitchen window. Edith is looking for something and this something helps Lexie to start a new project, a project in which she is finally able to express her passion for painting but also a project that will change both her and her family's lives. It took me a bit of time to really get into the novel, but the characters and storyline managed to draw me in after a few chapters. From there, the story is captivating and beautifully written, filled with emotion, and the characters are well-drawn and fascinating. I quickly warmed to Lexie and was really curious to see whether she would be able to get on with her life after her brother's death and which choices she would make. A big focus lies on Lexie's love life, with appearances by her exes Cameron and Patrick, and I loved the fact that the story included this romance element, but also focused on other characters and the relationships between them, such as Lexie and her best friend, Molly. This novel has some great in-depth characters at its core including Edith, and the local eccentric shop owner Pavel, who really managed to steal my heart. I want to applaud the author for coming up with this emotional and wonderful tale about healing, overcoming things and going on with your life with a smile on your face. (JoH)
