A novel with a dual story line
With the "Memory House", published by Thomas Nelson, New York best-selling author Rachel Hauck presents a book with two story lines. One story line starts in 1953, the other after 9/11. In 1953 Everleigh Applegate lives in Waco, Texas, where she loses everything through a tornado. Childless and widowed, she carries a secret in her heart when she meets Don Callahan while living with her mother. The marriage with Don changes her life.
Beck Holiday is a tough and angry cop in Manhattan, NY, who gets suspended from work because of her anger issues while hiding her pregnancy from the father who is her married boss. She has blocked out a lot of memories as a result of her father's death in the north tower at 9/11. She is the sole beneficiary of Everleigh Callaghan, a woman whom she does not remember, inheriting Everleigh's house in Florida.
Bruno Endicott lives in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He is the survivor of broken promises, a top sports agent, and the former neighbor of Mrs. Everleigh. He is also the childhood friend of Beck although she has no memory of him. He allows Beck to feel safe and as a result she opens up to him.
The Victorian Memory House place a big part in the healing through faith and love for Everleigh and Beck. The story presents interesting and unique characters with various challenges and pains. There are surprising twists in the story line, but the story is realistic and intriguing. I highly recommend the book to readers who love well-written Christian romance novels.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheMemoryHouse #NetGalley

'Beauty from ashes' is the phrase that best describes the stories of Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday. Both women had experienced great loss and grief. Both traveled an unexpected road to healing after years of living mostly within themselves. Allowing oneself to love and experience being loved is often difficult when trying to shield oneself from the pain of loosing another loved one. The Memory House is a story of God's provision and the patient love of two men who wanted these women to truly love again. It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.

If you are seeking a poignant love story with places that bring a huge smile to your face, The Memory House is a good pick for you . I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Definitely A Keeper!

Rachel Hauck has provided us with a touching, uplifting story of tragedy and recovery, failure and forgiveness in The Memory House. I love the depth of characters, the intertwining of the past and present, the love that flows throughout the stories of Everleigh and Don, and Beck and Bruno. Though each of these characters has been damaged in some way, they all find happiness and forgiveness through faith. This richly layered book has earned a place on my Keeper Shelf.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson for providing an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review of The Memory House.

I loved this book and it quickly turned into a quick page turner, and a sense of loss when the last page was turned, and how appropriate is the title!
The author draws us in with two strong main characters, both woman, and both willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Disasters are what make them similar, and great men who loved them to the end.
We span decades and yet things are the same but different, and find a home in a quiet town in Florida to be catalyst to healing.
Warning once you start this one, you will not want to put it down.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

The hero’s world is all about football, and the author knew the ins and outs of sports agenting activities and lingo. Great research.

The heroine is a cop with a complication. Sometimes she came across like an officer, sometimes she didn’t.

As usual with Rachel’s novels, we have the time slip element, which I love. And it’s always fun to find Jesus in the story. Her descriptions of prayer and God’s presence are delicious and so relatable. I’m glad she includes them! It’s rare to see that element in fiction.

One of the themes that captured my attention was that of enjoying gifts we feel unworthy of. Such a humbling activity—receiving. Another theme was the advice to “stop believing in the words of broken, wounded” people. The main theme, though, is memory. Memories lost. Memories desired. Making them. Living with them. Righting them. Readers will look at their own memories in a new way.
I recommend this out-of-the-box story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this story by Hauck. She is one of my favorite Christian romance authors. I think that this story was so good because of the cast of characters. While some books can not get away with more than two POV's, Hauck writes from four in this book and does so well with it. I liked getting to see how the relationships were forming in the different time periods and getting a glimpse into the woman and man's thoughts when it came to new relationships. 

I like how in this book, it was a house that connected the characters. I think that it sounded beautiful, and showed how one thing could create a bond between people that is everlasting. When Beck inherits the house, she can't even remember the woman that gave her the house. I like how the exploration of her character and memory loss is done in this place. 

This is a story about loss, but it also shows so much gain. I think that the situations the characters are placed in helped me connect with them and root for their success.

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is a well plotted novel that I enjoyed from start to finish. I had not read the back cover. Rachel is one of those authors I will read without the need to read the book description. So I was not prepared for Everleigh’s disaster as others may have been. I loved her character and connected with her through her struggles to live again. Don was perfect for her. “Perfect love drives out fear”.

Beck was a NY copy with serious issues. I really was not sure how Rachel was going to work through all of Beck’s issues. She gets suspended from her job. She has a major situation in her personal life to deal with. On top of all of that, she cannot remember anything regarding her dad after he died on 9/11. She inherits the house on Memory Lane and meets Bruno from her childhood. She and Bruno are a very cute couple. He has memories of them from when they were kids hanging out every summer at Ms Everleigh’s house. He wanted to marry her when he was 14.

Rachel is a master storyteller and excels at blending two stories together. Everleigh and Beck’s stories were stories of overcoming their pasts and being willing to love again. Rachel adds small details that flow between the stories that make them so special; for example the Studebaker. I highly recommend The Memory House.
Sexual content – no details but you are aware that someone had sex outside of marriage.
Violence – her dad dies in 9/11 and she hits a suspect

I received this book from publisher/author and was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Rachel Hauck does not disappoint! I really enjoyed her story of loss, faith and redemption. It’s refreshing to read fiction that has a Christian storyline. Her characters are real and I cared about what was happening to them. Just an all around great book. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced readers copy.

I absolutely loved Rachel Hauck's latest book, The Memory House. This is a tale you will not be able to put down!

On the opening pages of this book, you will meet NYPD cop, Beck Holiday, as she is chasing down a drug dealer. After Beck takes out her frustration on the perpetrator, she is placed on a month-long leave, with no pay!

Beck's life is further complicated when she receives news that she has been given an inheritance from Everleigh Applegate, a woman she does not even remember!

As you learn more details about Beck's life, including the fact that she has struggled with memory loss ever since her father's death on 911, you will also learn more about Everleigh Applegate's own life struggles.

As you bounce between present day and the 1950s, you will be surprised by all of the facts that tie these two women together. This is definitely a tale you will not want to miss!

I am a latecomer to the Rachel Hauck party, but I am definitely a fan. Last year I read "Love Letter" and gave it 5 stars. "The Memory House" is even more beautifully woven together and it shows in the higher combined rating so far. The book combines the storylines of Everleigh (beginning in 1953) and Beck (present day) and weaves them together into a narrative filled with grief and loss, tragedy, hope and love. This book will make you laugh and cry so have your tissues handy. God's providence is clear and Romans 8:28 comes to mind as I write this annotation. Great for fans of Susan Meissner.

A big thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this inspiring work in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful dual timeline story. The story starts with Beck, a NYPD cop in modern day New York. After an arrest goes bad, she is suspended for a month. At the same time she learns that she has inherited a house in Florida, so she goes down to check it out while she is off from work. Also, in the modern day is Bruno, who is a down on his luck sports agent who is working on building his own business after his former boss fired him for no good reason. They knew each other as kids, but Beck cannot remember parts of her life from before 9/11 when her father died and Bruno is one of those parts. They reconnect after Beck goes to Florida and she rediscovers their friendship.

Everleigh's story line starts 1953 as a happily married and newly pregnant young woman. A natural disaster completely changes her life and her story is interwoven through the book and is a nice juxtaposition to the modern story.

There is just the right touch of God throughout the story for most people to feel comfortable reading it. It adds to the story without overwhelming it.

I highly recommend this book. I am not one to reread books, but I am tempted to do so with this one.

I received an eARC copy of this book to review.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beck Holiday doesn't know how she keeps getting herself into messes. First she's pregnant by her superior due to one night of pleasure and now she's suspended from her job. What is going on with her? Everything changes when she receives a letter from an old family friend giving her the old house she used to visit every summer before her father's death. And before she lost her memories. A fresh start is just what Beck needs but she's about to discover more than one she hoped for.

Years ago, Everleigh lost the only man she ever loved. Now she finds herself clinging to her memories, and not living life. Until Don comes along and she must choose between a life of new beginnings or a life stuck in the past.

As much as I don't enjoy split time romances, this one I actually liked. The characters were very realistic and the situations were believable. I am a fan of Rachel Hauck and will always continue to be.

I recommend this book for ages 16+ for mature content involving an affair.

The Memory House. Rachel Hauck


I loved the way this book is written and how to flows.  The writing of the past along side the present tells the story from different points of view gives a unique insight into the characters.  It is the story of two strong women who have survived tragedy.  The characters are well defined and relatable. The story touched my emotions and grabbed me from the start. 
I chose to read this book because the title was compelling and I was not disappointed. It is perfect for this story.
This my first book by Rachel Hauck and it won’t be my last.  I highly recommend this book.  It is such a great read.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #Thomas Nelson for approving my request. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

We meet Beck Holiday, a NYPD sergeant, on a pursuit in NYC with a secret, hidden pregnancy; back living in her mom & stepdad's house; angry; hormonal and can't remember her past with her late dad. Her dad died in the 9/11 tragedy and due to a form of amnesia all her memories of him are wiped out.
The story moves to Bruno Endicott, a solo sports agent on the brink of disaster. Haunted by his late dad's words that he is "a nothing".
Then Beck receives a letter informing her of an inheritance in Florida - from someone she can't even remember, Everleigh Callahan - who happens to live across the road from Bruno's childhood home, where his mom still lives.
The story flashes back in time to 1953 and we meet Everleigh and start following her story. She lost almost all her family to a twister and feeling duty bound she moves home to her mother - both of them widowed - and they fall into a routine of living together. She doesn't realise she is "stuck" in the memories until a chance encounter with Don Callahan changes her life altogether.

Separated by the decades, the two couples paths almost mirror each other in parts:
Beck and Bruno
Everleigh and Don
Traversing through paths of remembering; forgiveness; acceptance; cherishing your memories; finding your place.
And "The Memory House" sits firmly in the centre of it all - connecting everyone with invisible strings.

And Mr Joshua Christian? Words can't describe this man. A lovely character - so minor, but oh so important.

How the house got its name is truly special.
This is a beautifully written story with so many aspects to it, it brings home certain Biblical truths without being "preachy". It really tugs on the tear ducts.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was excited to receive Rachel Hauck’s newest book, The Memory House! I enjoy dual-time stories and I love this author’s writer voice. She pulls readers in quickly with interesting and unique storylines. With a great title, nice cover art, and captivating characters, I can’t think of a single con to this book. I don’t know why, but I’m always drawn to stories that center around a homeplace, whether it’s a house, inn, or land. I suppose it’s because it encompasses the feeling of a soft place to fall.

It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite between the two storylines. Both couples (Beck and Bruno, and Everleigh and Don) hold a special place with stories (and backstories) that feel authentic. The stories lace together nicely.

One of my favorite aspects of fiction is when a story stays with you after you’ve closed the book. And when those memories impact you, changing your view of the world—no matter how small. This book does that. There are parts that confused me a bit, and some parts moved at a leisure pace, but I enjoyed these aspects.

#TheMemoryHouse

Author: Rachel Hauck
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 384
First Line: She was never afraid of the dark.
Source: I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) from BookLook and NetGalley.

The Memory House is a lovely dual timeline story that tells the story of two women whose life is torn by loss and despair to the point of some amnesia to overcome the pain. Their lives cross and both are impacted.
Everleigh Novak Applegate and her husband, married for eight months, are madly in love. expecting their first child and planning their first home. But a tornado swept through Waco, Texas, killing her husband, in-laws and her father. Depressed and in deep sorrow, she lost her memory for a while.
She and her mother live together in an arrangement that works for them. Everleigh works to support them while her mother keeps the house. Don Callahan, a friend of her older brother, comes into her life several years later and wants to date her. Everleigh wants to protect the memory of her husband and isn't interested at first. Don gets a job in Fernandina Beach, Florida and asked her to marry him. Eventually after another possible tragic event, she decides that she cares for him.
Beck Halliday is an NYPD Sergeant but is put on leave without pay for a month after getting abusive with a perp. At a same time, she received a letter informing her that she has inherited a home in Fernandina Beach from Everleigh Callahan. Her father was killed in the North Tower on 9/11 and she has blocked out her father and any memory of him, including most of her childhood. She doesn't know who Everleigh was until her mother tells her that they used to go visit when she was young and her father alive. So she goes to Florida to get away and try to get her head on straight. She make a bad decision one night while intoxicated and is now pregnant, dealing with anger and frustration over her situation along with hormones. Bruno Endicott, a sports agent, recognized her at the memorial service for Everleigh but she doesn't know him. Bruno and Beck were close as children and shared their first kiss. His feelings for her are still there but she isn't interested. At first.
Everleigh and Beck both had tragic events in their life that has hindered their ability to seek happiness. Don and Bruno both have dreams of what they want to do in their careers but have issues getting to that point.
This story is one of love, tragedy, forgiveness and faith in the face of obstacles that seem so large to overcome. It is about second chances at happiness, realizing what is important and who we are to God. Truly special story as Rachel Hauck is so very great at writing.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley to read and give an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only.

I read the first chapter of The Memory House and got a glimpse of what the story is going to be about I have an idea of where it is going and look forward to reading the whole book. In this first chapter, NYPD Sergeant Beck Holiday and her partner and former boss/mentor, Hogan, are working a shift in Manhattan on New Year's Eve. They are chasing a young man who has been arrested several times by Beck because of drug possession. When they catch him, he has drugs but also a little dog in bad shape that Beck thinks has been used to swallow the bag of drugs to get rid of them. Beck has a meltdown because of the mistreatment of the dog and leaves Hogan with the prisoner to take in for booking while she tries to get help for the dog. It is apparent that something is bothering Beck and this was the final straw. Now, we have to wait and see what is going on with her.
I received a complimentary ARC of the this first chapter from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley to read and give an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only.

I love Rachel Hauck's books! 
She writes the stories my heart longs to hear. You know the kind where the people are real. They have the same problems we do, they have the same flaws, the same hopes and desires. Characters we hope find their happily ever after.
That is what The Memory House is about....two women who find a way to move past their fear and live the life that God intended for them. Both women do this in the house on Memory Lane
.I loved the characters in this book! I love when I can feel the characters struggles and see their inner turmoil. This book does that for me. I hope you decide to pick up a copy of this book. It will be out April 2nd and is available for preorder now. I will include a link to the book at the end of this review.
If you do pick up a copy of the book I'd love to hear your thoughts on an interesting character in the book, Joshua Christian
.Enjoy!
Disclaimer:I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors including NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, only to give my honest opinion of the book.

This may be my favorite book that I have read by this author.

From the first page I was captivated by the characters and story line. It switches effortlessly between POV characters, and I loved the message. I loved the memory house concept and how it all wound up.

Just a great, light story.

I received a digital advance copy from the publisher through Net Galley. Opinions expressed are my own.

The Memory House is the most recent novel by Rachel Hauck. This book explores the similar paths traveled by 1950s Everleigh Applegate, and 2010s Beck Holiday. Everleigh was a young rancher’s wife who lost everything on a very dark spring day when a tornado blazed through Waco, Texas. Beck lost her father in the collapse of the twin towers, and then risks losing her job as a NYC police officer after roughly arresting the drug running son of a wealthy New Yorker.

It is when Beck is put on administrative leave for the incident that she receives a letter from Everleigh’s attorney stating that she is the main beneficiary of Everleigh’s estate. As she has nothing else to do for the next six weeks, she packs up her little rescue dog and flies to Fernandino Beach to accept her inheritance.

Beck has no recollection of things associated with her father as part of her survivor trauma. She does not remember the lady whose beneficiary she becomes or the six week summer vacations spent in this home. Neither does she recall Bruno Endicott who was her summertime best friend and first love.

The lessons Beck and Bruno learn together, the memories that are restored, and the readers’ discovery of the parallels between Everleigh’s and Beck’s lives, are the basis for a meaningful human story. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

Rachel Hauck's The Memory House is a unique time-slip novel featuring a couple from the 1960's and the present. Time-slip novels have become a popular genre novel lately. Hauck has written a number of them. The Memory House is a wonderful story that captured my attention from the first chapter and kept me spellbound as I flipped through the different characters story. Hauck made both heroines lose their memories in some form and had me glued to the pages to find out what happened that made them lose their memory. Of the two heroes, I enjoyed watching Don Callahan try to win . . .'s affection. It was sweet and romantic. The writing was topnotch and Hauck proves why she is at the top of her game when it comes to writing time-slip novels. I believe fans of Hauck's other stories would enjoy this novel. If you enjoy Lauren K. Denton or Heidi Chiavaroli, then this might be the story for you.

I received a complimentary copy of The Memory House by Rachel Hauck from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.