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.

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

I asked, through netgalley.com, to read and review this book. I was granted an ebook to do that and this is my own review.

I do not give a synopsis of the book, you can read that on the cover, etc. I will tell you what I thought about the book. First, it was an interesting concept, but not executed in the best manner. I enjoyed reading the book but it was not the kind that you "can't put down". It jumped back and forth between one group in the late 50s and early 60s to another group in the early 2000s. That was ok, but there were some things I felt could have been left out.

The characters were quite well developed and were interesting in general. The story in part was believable but other parts were hard to believe.

What brought my rating down was the need for more editing. There were several times that the words were wrong or mixed up. It is harder for me to enjoy a book that has so many errors. I double checked and it did not say it was an advanced readers copy. If it had not been finalized I probably wouldn't mention this.

Overall, I give it 3 stars out of 5. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a novel. It is a Christian book, but not at all preachy. It does have some Bible verses but the characters in the book are not all Christians. It is a good, clean read.

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

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't up 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.

A ply written story set in several timelines. Of love, loss and hope. A page turning story that you will love immediately! Highly recommend!

I enjoy books told over time meaning part of the story is now and part of the story is in the past and the author links them. I really enjoy them and I enjoy Rachel's writing style. The content isn't something I normally read but it is part of the way the world is and we are not in a perfect world. People sin and there are consequences to be dealt with. I admire the author for tackling that. I also found the amnesia part of the story very compelling and incredibly sad. Rachel did not disappoint me with her newest book and I can't wait for her next one.

I hate to admit it but I wasn't sure it could be done. I wasn't sure an author could tell a story from multiple points of view and hold my attention. Usually with those types of stories I get so confused or lost I end up tossing the book aside. But not this one. This one not only manged to grab and hold my attention but it had me staying up late just to finish. I found myself gasping out loud in some parts because the author threw me a curve I didn't see coming. This book went far beyond anything I was expecting and I know you will love it. Ms. Hauck writes in a such a way that the reader gets drawn into the book and becomes part of the story. You feel their pain and can see yourself setting right beside them on some of their wildest adventures. I loved The Memory House and I hope you give it a try!

* I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love all of Rachel Hauck’s books, and this one was again top-notch! What a wonderful story of God’s love woven throughout the fairy-tale-like story of these endearing characters. It’s actually two stories in one, and the connection between them is the memory house. I found the characters immediately relatable and real. Both humble, yet strong, they’ll leave a place in your heart long after finishing the book. Everleigh, oh what a delightful yet broken woman she was, so afraid of giving up her past and moving forward. The childhood relationship between Beck, a strong yet not so strong NYPD cop, and Bruno, the sometimes insecure sports agent, is allowed to mature only through their individual confrontations with their pasts. And Beetle-Boo – he’ll warm your heart!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.

"I'm just saying God has a way of taking the worst situation and turning it for good." Although I won't quote which character said this, I will say that it came at the perfect time in this breathtaking novel from Rachel Hauck. I have yet to meet a book of hers that I don't love, but this book is something different. I don't know if it's the characters, the setting, the plot, or the two time periods, but this book left me hanging on every single word I read. I read it slowly so that I could savor every page, every chapter. And it was well worth it.

Hauck is a master of time slip novels. She easily provides two completely different storylines, but somehow manages to blend them seamlessly together at the end in a way you didn't always see coming (most of it I could, but there were a few pleasant surprises). The worlds that she creates in this novel are inviting, welcoming, and just somewhere that I want to jump into. I want to sit on the porch on this beautiful house, sipping coffee and reading a new book (by Hauck perhaps!). I want to befriend Beck and learn about her past right along with her. Or talk with Everleigh about taking care of her mother, and how she needs to get out more. You cannot help but feel connected to these characters as you continue to read this story.

Something else Hauck is great at? Telling us something important. That quote I mentioned earlier is really the founding message of this book in my opinion. Bad things happen, but God can turn them to good in many wonderful, beautiful ways. Bruno had to start over, and it certainly wasn't easy for him after losing his job. Beck had little to no memories of her childhood, and had to struggle to figure out why. Everleigh lost two very important people in her life, and yet had to figure out how to keep living in spite of them being gone. Now I won't say what wonderful things happened, because you'll obviously need to read the book, but Hauck proves in this book that God knows exactly what He's doing. Even when things seem rough, there is a reason. Even when it seems like there is absolutely no hope, there is. Our hope is in the Lord, and He alone can help us.

The Memory House is a creative story that I can see myself reading over and over again. The stunning setting and relatable characters make it a warm and inviting place that I don't want to leave. I can see this on my favorite lists this year! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.