I enjoyed the dual storylines in this novel as well as the characters. I haven't read anything by this author previously so this was a pleasant reading surprise. Being from Florida, and from Florida State University specifically, I especially enjoyed this storyline.
In glancing through some of the other reviews, I noticed that most of the reviewers are longtime readers and fans of Rachel Hauck. Coming into this fresh, without a prior experience with this author gave me a different take than most. I would say that although I liked this reading experience, it is a good story, there were some aspects that seemed contrived and too obvious as plot points for my taste. Other than that, I enjoyed the plot of each storyline and the setting/environment. I would consider reading other books by this author.

#TheMemoryHouse #NetGalley

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

From the first page to the last, this was an interesting book. The two stories – one from the 50s/60s and one in the aftermath of 9/11 were intertwined and played out beautifully at the end. The stories of both women are connected through a lovely house in Florida. I liked Everleigh and her story better. Both she and Beck (the modern-day heroine) had lives of tragic loss, yet eventually were victorious.

I just recently finished Rachel Hauck‘s “The Memory House.” Now, I am a fan of the author, but I like to think I provide unbiased reviews. She hit this one out of the park. As I mentioned on Instagram, it’s “…a sweet book to read… Parallel stories in different eras and filled with grace and hope. Loved it!”

This is a novel of romance (*sigh*), adversity, second-chances, hope, and redemption. It’s sweet, it’s occasionally funny, and it’s told from different character’s perspectives in different eras – without being a confusing mess! (I loved Everleigh’s story… absolutely loved it.)

The characters are flawed and struggle with life, faith, family, what have you… but they persevere. They break. They mend. They find their way again and stumble upon love and acceptance while they’re at it. They’re far from perfect – their humanity was refreshing – but they don’t let their weakness or loss completely define them even as it refines them.

This descriptive, heartwarming fiction blends historical and contemporary intertwining tales in the sweetest way. I had a hard time putting it down because of the “heart” invested in the read. Bonus points for the beautifully-depicted home central to the plot.
This tale gave me “all the feels.”

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

Publisher by Thomas Nelson. Publication date: April 2, 2019

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is the most delightful dual timeline novel set in 1953 and present day. Rachel Hauck has done it again – and created a wonderful novel that will ignite the reader’s heart and soul.
The characters are warm and welcoming and realistic with their fears and failures. They are easy to identify with.
Prayer is important. “He suspected Mom’s prayers had a hand in this.” Prayer is powerful and how wonderful to think that our prayers can influence lives for the better.
Sometimes we have a day that defines us. There is a ‘then’ and a ‘now’. This is the case for the two lead females. Their stories run parallel but sixty years apart. Their crucial decisions are similar but different.
Memories are at the heart of the novel. Memories make us who we are. They may keep us warm at night or they may fill us with terror. Memories may trap us in the past but we need to face them and move forwards.
There is the theme of forgiveness. When we cannot forgive in our own strength we need to call on God. “It took prayer, lots of prayer to forgive him.”
There is the theme of mothers. There are several mothers in the novel with different ideas about parenting but the one thing that unites them is their love for their offspring. Without a selfish thought these mothers make what they consider to be the best decision for their children.
We all have priorities. If our priorities are not tied up in people we have the wrong set. “He thought he had time. Thought his career was more important.” There is nothing wrong with having a career unless it is at the expense of people.
Everyone is searching for something to fill the God-shaped hole inside that nothing and no one else can fill. I loved this idea “I went seeking, and about halfway down the road, Jesus waited for me.” Wow! Jesus waits for us. That is mind blowing.
Some characters embody Jesus. “She pointed the way to Jesus every day.” What a powerful legacy to leave behind.
Within the tale is a gorgeous little dog who needed rescuing. This is a motif for us and Jesus – When we were dirty and trapped in our sinful lives, Jesus bent down and rescued us, cleaning us up, holding us close and redeeming us with His love.
Rachel Hauck always writes such wonderful books that I cannot wait to sink into. Her stories are deeply rooted in God with characters who speak to the heart.
Thank you Rachel Hauck for another fabulous story in The Memory House.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

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

After being in a reading slump for a few weeks, I decided to focus and start on The Memory House. This is the first book I have read by Rachel Hauck - an author whose name I recognised as frequently popping up on the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction facebook page.

Initially, I was a little thrown off by the sports reference, but soon found myself wrapped in the story. It didn't take long before The Memory House became an interesting, cant-get-enough-of page-turner. It is written from the POV's of four characters in a time slip scenario. I was equally interested in each of the four POV's. A story of love, loss and forgiveness. Beautifully written and highly recommended.

I'm terrible at keeping secrets...so all I'm going to say right now is that this book is super-long, and is one of those reads you're going to have to stick with all the way to the end, but is SO WORTH IT because of the surprise twists at the end! (No peeking ahead. It wouldn't make sense without the story anyway.) Anywho - there are four perspectives here, but they're not difficult to keep straight, told from present-day and the 1960s. People are drawn to this house to overcome tragedies, and it works...they heal and find happiness. The house plays a role in the healing, and faith is an underlying factor here, in a subtle way, as it shows how God's plan always works out his way. I've read one other book by the author, and surprise twists at the end seem to be her thing...it works!

Don’t know if this is kosher or not, but a reviewer named Jeanne T. Summed it up beautifully. I don’t think I could improve upon her review.

This is such a great book, as are all of Rachel Hauck’s books! I loved the parallels between Everleigh’s and Beck’s loves and losses. It’s amazing how God works in their lives when they finally gives up their fears.

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

The Memory House has assemble hopes and dreams and has blended them into a heartwarming life of many. Among the different points of view, each life gives a part, which lends itself to the others making, thank you for this ARC

3 stars
I excepted so much from this book and it was just average. I couldn't connect with the characters who just seemed trite and predictable. The book just fell flat for me. I usually love this author, but this book just isn'tup to her typical brilliance. This is not a book I would recommend or read again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I was blessed with an advanced copy of this book. Here is a link to my review on goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/40589790-the-memory-house

I loved The Writing Desk and The Love Letter and was really looking forward to Rachel Hauck's new book. However, The Memory House got off to a bit of a rough start for me. Beck is a hard-nosed NYC cop chasing down a drug runner who is using and abusing a dog to move those drugs. I was repulsed by the drug runner's taunt,
"He's a mutt. A stinking, nobody-wants-him mutt. I was planning on barbecuing him for dinner."

And then there's these lines when Beck realizes she's pregnant after attending a party where she had gotten drunk and had sex with her married boss, and he calls to check on her,

"So what are you saying? You're going to tell your wife and make us a threesome?"
"No, no, I don't know, but I don't want to be left out completely. Do you need anything?"
"Hunter, you were left out the moment you hooked up with a woman not your wife in a broom closet."

Talking about a threesome? In Christian fiction? This is the "heroine" of the story?
I'll admit these lines left me speechless and crossed the line of acceptability for me.

I tried my best to set these shockers aside and read on, but honestly I found it difficult to connect with Beck's sharp edges, and then Everleigh's living life with one foot in the grave, "because that's where my husband is!" Both women were intent on rejecting the love offered them and they kind of wore me out with it all. I liked how Don put it,
"Everleigh, I never met a woman who tried so hard not to love or be loved."

It took me well into the second half of the book for the story to get interesting. The "I need God" inspirational moments don't happen until well past the 300 page mark. When it did happen, the story got really good, but it wasn't soon enough to counteract the other issues I had with the story. This is a hard book to rate, I'll just go middle of the road and go with 3 stars.

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

I’ve never read anything by Rachel Hauck, but several people have recommended her books. Best recommendation! The Memory House is a must for your TBR list.

Set in two time periods, and from four different perspectives, The Memory House follows Beck Holiday as she struggles with her job and her life, years after her father perished in 9/11. She discovers a strange inheritance from someone she doesn't remember in Florida and along with it she finds long lost memories from her childhood.

The characters in Memory House are so dynamic and real, you'll want to hug them. Through trials, Everleigh and Beck both break down walls they've each spent years building. Beck realizes how to love after closing herself off after her father died. She discovers courage she didn't know she had. And Everleigh makes a decision to live her life and risk her heart in the wake of losing everything. Both stories are interwoven to create a rich, satisfying story. Memory House is a heart-warming, well written story that you won't want to put down.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Rachel Hauck has done it again! This dual time-line of tragedy, grief and second chances grabbed me and and did not let go. Both Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday, decades apart, find healing through the power of love and the joy of faith in the same beautiful Victorian home lovingly called The Memory House in Florida near the ocean. Rachel Hauck writes beautiful stories. I highly recommend The Memory House so you can see for yourself how two women overcome devastating events in their lives, and how they choose to live again. One of my favorite quotes is "That's when Beck knew. Family is whoever fits into your heart. And these people were her family."

The galley was so badly formatted, I couldn't read the book. The content may be good, but I couldn't tell. My rating is based strictly on format not content.

4 1/2.

This is a beautiful story of finding love after tragedy.

The narrative is told from 4 POVs, Everleigh and Don from the 1960s, and Beck and Bruno from the present. I don't usually like that many POVs in a romance, but I quickly got pulled into their problems and pain.
Everleigh and Beck resist Don and Bruno, respectively, and one point we wonder if they'll be able to accept the love the men have for them.

The house and address played an important role in helping them heal their wounds and find happiness.

It's not a quick read but it's a worthwhile one.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book tells the tale of two women, separated by time, but connected by the loss and trials in their lives. Current day, Beck is a New York City cop whose life suddenly turns upside down when she is suspended for four weeks. She decides to spend her time in Florida where she has suddenly and strangely inherited a house.

Over fifty years earlier, Everleigh is living in Texas, her life in shreds. She keeps one foot firmly planted in the past, finding that she can’t let go of the things she has lost. Her mindset, her mistakes, and her misfortunes are crippling her from having a happy future.

I love books that have an interesting plot, provide an escape from daily life, yet also teach me something along the way. And this book had all of that and more. I walked away a bit sad at the fact that the story was over. So that in and of itself illustrates what a compelling book this was. But I also found myself thinking about how the events of our lives mold us.

This book was truly a joy to read. The author pulled me into the story from the first page. Every step of the journey, there were unexpected turns. I love the way the author intertwines these two ladies’ stories. They both have experienced tragedy and tough times. But the question remains, will they find healing?

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

“Who said love had to be easy?”
A dual timeline story with unique characters, complex relationships and hope beyond tragedy.
Love triumphs in the end in the broken lives of Everleigh and Beck, through the power of forgiveness and faith..
This story brings forth the truth that, "God has a way of taking the worst situation and turning it for good.”
Hope from the prayers and encouragement of others brings help and healing to both main characters' stories. Bruno's life also illustrates this when he reaches out to a young man in need of a hand up.
"Just think how the world would be if everyone gave a hand up to someone else."

Everleigh's story was heartbreaking, yet I enjoyed her character the most. She had the most to overcome it seemed, and though her faith was weak at times, it remained constant throughout her life, and became a source of help for others, with an enduring legacy. I found her story the most interesting and inspiring; it kept me reading on to figure out all of the connections. She learned to love others well.
"Funny thing about love, real love— it filled every soul with courage."

Readers who enjoy stories with flawed characters, elements of faith and romance will probably like this book.

This book! Wow. I’m almost speechless, and so deeply moved by this story. This book is a profoundly moving piece of Christian fiction, with a strong, clear message of faith. So for that reason alone, it won’t be for everyone. Though I love that the author speaks words of truth with boldness, insight, compassion, and without fear or hesitation. The Memory House does have a few issues with the occasional abrupt jump in plot transitions that could have been fleshed out a bit more. Also, the changes of points of view between the four major characters, could be a bit confusing at times. But I also love that we get the various points of view. I think it really adds depth and dimension to the story. Even with these minor issues, this story is incredibly moving and powerful. It draws you in from the very beginning and is so comforting and compelling, it’s hard to set down, and yet I wanted to take my time with this story and savor it as long as possible. The rich, tragic, but moving histories of each of the characters, two from the past and two from the present, in typical Rachel Hauck style, are diverse and the author blends them together seamlessly. Each character has a unique story to tell. I was so invested in their lives that I was sorry to see it end, though the author wrapped it up beautifully. This novel was poignant, thought-provoking, emotional, well-told, and now one of my favorites.

A very special thanks to NetGalley for my free digital copy of this story for an honest review.

The Memory House tells of 4 people, Beck, Everliegh, Bruno, and Don. Each tells their story of how they came to be at the Memory house. Beck and Bruno are the modern day while Everliegh and Don are from the past. I seriously thought I had this story figured out but it wasn't until the end which obviously made sense. Both Everliegh and Beck have lost someone of great importance to them and how they heal is through Don and Bruno. This book kept me guessing throughout the storyline and wanted to know how each character connected. This is a definite tug at your heartstrings kind of read. Clean content.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.