About the Book
Book: The Memory House
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Christian Romance
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Embracing the future means remembering the past . . .
When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also
lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York
City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and
struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile a mysterious letter
arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern
coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever.
Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into
handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the
connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that,
either. Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady,
uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through
Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs
into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for
change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered
by a secret she can never share. Fifty years separate the women but
through the power of love and miracle of faith, they each find healing
in a beautiful Victorian known affectionately as The Memory House.
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About the Author
Rachel
Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY
bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named
Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA
finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and
writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com;
Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauc
Excerpt from The Memory House
When
Mama Applegate spoke as if Everleigh were a guest rather than a family
member, she embraced it with grace. Because at the end of the day, she
was Rhett’s wife. She alone shared his dreams, his heart, his life.
And at night, when she couldn’t sleep, his soft breathing was her lullaby.
“Listen, mister, I have to get back to work or I won’t make it home
in time for our dinner.” She tugged at his shirt collar. “So are you
going to tell me why you’re here?”
“I was going to wait until tonight, but I got so excited . . .” Rhett
stepped over to the desk in front of Everleigh’s and retrieved a long
white canister. “Here. Open it. I feel like a kid at Christmas.”
“Rhett, what have you done?” She pried away the cap and slipped out a set of drawings.
“Here, let me.” Rhett unrolled a rendering of a cozy house with a
wraparound porch nestled between two cottonwoods. “Our house, Ev. I took
those sketches you made after we were married and gave
them to the architect. What do you think?”
“Th-this is our house?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against his thick arm as she studied the drawing.
“It’s our house, darling.”
Everleigh studied the drawing. It was just like she imagined. “Are
you sure?” She gazed up at her husband. “I didn’t think we’d saved
enough money.”
“We’ve saved every penny of your salary, and I finally sold the stud
bull to Jacob Marshall. He’s been after me for a year . . .” Rhett held
her with one hand while flipping through the drawing with the other. “I
bought the ten acres by the stream. You know, the one with the trees we
loved. Dad wanted to give it to us, but I said no strings.
I wanted to buy it so he can’t hold it over me. Not that he would,
but family business can get tricky.” Everleigh leaned to see the name of
the road. Memory Lane.
“Darling, the section right off Memory Lane? The spot I wanted?”
Rhett’s grandmother had named the dirt road years ago, when she imagined a large family with lots of grandkids running around.
She envisioned an Applegate community.
But her sons, Melvin and Earl, went to war. Only Earl—nicknamed
Spike—returned home the fall of 1918. He inherited the ranch, married
Mama Applegate, and fathered Rhett, an only child. Grandma’s two
daughters married and moved away.
“Your granny would be proud, darling,” Everleigh said. “We’re beginning her dream.”
“Sh-she would.” Rhett cleared his throat, pressing his fist over his cough. “So, w-what do you think?”
…
Tell him! The timing could not have been more perfect.
“Rhett, sweetheart—”
He jerked his wrist up, checking his watch. “Oh, Ev, sorry, darling,
but I promised Dad I’d pick him up from the hardware store thirty
minutes ago.” He gave her a quick, passing kiss. “I’d planned to show
you these tonight, but I just couldn’t wait.” He rolled up the drawings
and tucked them into the canister. “What is it you wanted to say?” On
reflex, he checked his watch again.
“Nothing,” she said, smiling. “I’ll see you later. We can talk then. I have work to do anyway.”
“You sure?”
Everleigh fell into him and pressed her cheek against his chest.
“You make my dreams come true, Rhett Applegate.”
He kissed her one more time, then held her at arm’s length.
“Distraction, girl, you are one beautiful distraction.”
Blog Stops
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize of a copy of The Memory House!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!
My Thoughts
I read this book back in March and I have thought about it often since. It had a story line that really captured my attention. The story starts out with tragedy and I was surprised at how well the author handled the in between part of the book. There is incredible character growth in this story and Everleigh is my favorite. This is a dual timeline novel and I tend to enjoy the historical aspect more so than the present day. I didn't like the characters as much in the modern day story line but I did enjoy the many references to Gilmore Girls.
I think this story might just surprise you and it could be one that you think about long after you finish reading.
Five Stars.
"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
