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: @RachelHauck

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.”

MY THOUGHTS.....

This is a beautifully written story of two women and the life events that shaped their memories. Two women, separated by over fifty years, find that their lives have connected and often intertwined. Author Rachel Hauck uses a dual timeline to relate their stories and as we alternate between Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holiday we witness how their individual memories came about. Everleigh lived through natural disasters, she had experienced love and loss and she feared that her precious old memories would be erased if she allowed new ones to be made. Many of Beck's memories no longer existed because she had selective amnesia and all of her memories of her father had been erased; she didn't know why she couldn't remember and she wondered if she would ever remember them again.

Heartache and loss are a big part of this book but there is also an abundance of love, happiness and the promise of second chances. Hauck has created some unforgettable characters and she's filled the dual storylines with historical events and trivia that many readers will recall. A tornado in Texas in 1953, Hurricane Donna in Florida and 911 in New York; Everleigh and her mother watching Maverick as a part of Walt Disney Productions and Beck watching the Gilmore Girls. I found myself recalling my own memories when I saw all of these mentioned!

The Memory House is a well written story that I found hard to put down. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspirational fiction.

I received a complimentary Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher and Celebrate Lit and I was not required to write a positive review.