My Review:

Genre: Historical/Contemporary, romance, Christian fiction.

My Rating: 5 stars.

My Recommendation: 16 up for romance and warnings below.

My Favorite Character/s: Hmm, for the contemporary side of the story my favorite character was likely Bruno, he was interesting to read about. I’ve never read a story with a sports agent as a lead character and it was cool seeing what he did.

My Verse for Bruno is Mark 9:23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (King James Version.)

For the historical part of the book, my favorite character was, Everleigh, I enjoyed seeing how she changed through the story. From a newlywed young woman to a matured widow, learning to love and trust while still keeping her heart safe.

My Verse for Everleigh is Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (King James Version.)

My Thoughts: This book started differently than I expected … I’m not sure what I expected honestly. But this? It was higher than my expectations! I’ve never yet had the pleasure of reading a book by Rachal Hauck until this one landed in my hands. I saw a review on one of Hauck’s other works but I never got around to check it out … now I wish I had since this is one of the best books I’ve read.

Warnings: An unwed pregnancy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program as well as the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

While looking for a good audiobook recently, I decided to check this book out. I haven’t read any Rachel Hauck books before, and it looked like one that might be interesting. To my delight, this was an intriguing dual-timeline story!

I especially enjoyed the historical portion of this book. While both the historical and modern parts of this story were interesting, I enjoyed the historical side more. I haven’t read many books set in the ‘50s and ‘60s, so it was interesting to get a bit of a glimpse into what the world may have looked like when my grandparents were relatively close to my age.

I did struggle with this story some, too; the faith element fell a little flat for me, and it contained more romance than I was hoping for. I also was disappointed by how predictable the plot became, and felt that some characters’ reactions and decisions (like the policeman’s wife) were unrealistic—perhaps what we would wish for, as Christians, but not what typically would happen due to human nature.

This wasn’t a standout read for me, despite some elements that I really enjoyed. I loved the thought of an older lady doing her best to pour into children who needed a grandmother. The amnesia element was intriguing, and the romance was sweet. Overall, this wasn’t a great book; it also wasn’t terrible. I doubt I’d ever read it again, but I’m not sorry I read it once. ( )

Find my (really positive) review here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/kelleymathews/2019/04/read-this-book-the-memory-ho...

4.5 stars.

Featuring dual storylines, The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is a marvelous novel of healing, faith and love.

In the present, NYPD Sergeant Beck Holiday is suspended when she cannot control her anger toward a suspect who is abusing a dog. The suspension coincides with a complication in her personal life and an unexpected inheritance from a woman in Beck's past. She has not seen Everleigh Applegate in eighteen years and due to her selective amnesia, her memories of her time spent in Florida are lost. At a bit of a crossroads, Beck travels to Florida to figure out her future.

Beck is rough around the edges, angry and lost. Having made a horrible decision months earlier, she has to try to decide what to do about the repercussions from this mistake in judgment. Undecided about what to do with her unanticipated inheritance, Beck is pleasantly surprised to reconnect with her childhood friend, Bruno, soon after her arrival in Florida.

Bruno is a sports agent who is struggling to get his fledgling business off the ground. He is not sure whether he will succeed since his vindictive former employer undercuts him at every turn. Although she does not remember him, Bruno is absolutely delighted to see Beck again. The passage of time has not dimmed his feelings for her and he is hopeful their friendship will deepen into romance.

In the past, Everleigh's life is forever changed following a devastating tornado in Waco, TX. Seven years later, she is working at a local florist and lives with her mom. But after her brother's childhood friend Don Callahan re-enters her life, Everleigh has to decide whether or not she is willing to risk her heart again.

The Memory House is a poignant novel that is quite compelling. Both Beck and Everleigh are emotionally shattered yet they deal with their losses in very different ways. Everleigh clings tightly to her memories whereas Beck cannot remember anything before her father's tragic death. Rachel Hauck weaves these two storylines into a heartwarming story that will resonant with readers. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this charming and realistic Christian romance. ( )

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck
Source: NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing
Rating: 4/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I’ve read several Rachel Hauck books and had I not done so, I likely would have given up on this read way too soon. The beginning of The Memory House is a bit of a rough ride but riding it out is well worth the lumps and bumps. As The Memory House unfolds, it alternates between the present and Beck Holiday’s life and the past and Everleigh Applegate’s life and legacy. By all standards, I found Everleigh’s story to be the most interesting of the two and as her past wove into Beck’s present, Beck became a far more interesting and likeable character. Everleigh’s kindness, her generosity, her foresight, made her the perfect person, even posthumously, to help Beck sort out the mess that is both her past and her present. Ultimately, The Memory House is exactly what I have come to expect and appreciate from Rachel Hauck, a story about love, friendship, faith, listening to your heart, and accepting God’s presence in your life. This positive outlook, triumph over adversity, and emphasis on faith is exactly why I love Hauck’s books and keep coming back to them again and again. ( )