The Memory House

“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 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.

Rachel Hauck has done it again. The Memory House intrigued me from the opening pages. Can a person remember the things her mind is determined to block? In this dual-timeline novel, Hauck beautifully weaves two stories and two women’s lives together through the Memory House. When New York City cop Beck Holliday receives a mysterious letter telling her of she’s inherited a house on the northern coast of Florida, she begins a journey that takes her into the past she forgot after her father died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

While in Florida, Beck meets her childhood friend, Bruno Endicott, of whom she has no memory. But he remembers her. As they spend time together, she is brusque at first. But something about Bruno allows her to feel safe and to open up. As she moves into the home she inherited, the Memory House, and begins to explore, she discovers its previous owner—Everliegh Callahan—had pictures from her life hanging on the walls, and and somehow Beck is in some of them.

Everleigh Applegate loses her young husband in a storm and lives with her widowed mother. Her story is one of learning how to trust, how to look beyond the safe life and open her heart up to the possible. I loved her story and how she grew as a character. Hauck did a beautiful job of painting the setting realistically for the time period.

An intriguing dual timeline story, The Memory House touches on timeless issues women deal with. Difficult decisions that must be made, and their resulting ramifications. This story spoke to some of the struggles I’ve had personally, and they were conveyed with gentleness and truth and not with pat, easy answers.

I resonated with the characters’ individual stories, as well as the book as a whole. The premise is an original one. Hauck’s choice of characters is unique and interesting, in their jobs and personalities.

The Memory House kept me turning pages because I simply had to know how some of the bigger story problems would turn out (you’ll have to read to discover what these are). I loved how the characters had to face their fears to learn how to live in freedom. The themes of working through regrets and redemption stood out to me.

This story is ideal for readers who enjoy dual timeline stories with out-of-the-box characters and a unique storyline. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story that makes them think and love a satisfying ending.

**I received an advanced e-copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A first read for me from this author. This book was very well written and I loved the dual timeline. This book tells the tale of two generations. Of love,loss, and life. The characters were amazing and felt like family! This heartfelt book is a must read! So thankful for my ARC from Netgalley for my honest review! I promise you will not be able to put this book down!

The feelings evoked by Rachel Hauck's masterful writing will stay with me for a long time. 'The Memory House' is a story of love in the most difficult of circumstances in life - loss and death. As a young widow myself I thought it might be too painful once I got into the story, but it was filled with beauty and light and I learned much about the characters and myself as I read. The story is split between two time periods which are intertwined by the connections of the characters, which continue to be revealed. I could gush on about this for hours, but just know it is deep and lovely.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.