Book Summary (Amazon)...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.
My thoughts...I wasn't sure what to expect with this book when I started it, but once I started, I could hardly put it down! I LOVED this story! The rawness of the circumstances of each character, the journey of heartache and redemption each one experiences brought me to tears several times. I rarely cry in a book, but I caught myself empathizing with each character so deeply that the tears just came without warning.
I really loved that Rachel Hauck wrote a clean, Christian fiction novel, yet didn't skirt around the ugly parts of life. I might describe it as "edgy", but it felt more raw and real to me than anything. The parts where people make mistakes, really serious mistakes with very difficult consequences, and yet God can redeem them. I kept thinking of the phrase, He can make beauty from ashes, more than once. As typical with many of Hauck's novels, there was a supernatural element that helped play a part in resolving the conflicts the characters faced. This is a bit unique in that it was more than just your normal divine intervention...it involved what was probably an angel and characters having scenes practically brought to life before their eyes as opposed to just remembering something. It was not a turn off, but added a special element to the story.
I have enjoyed several of Rachel Hauck's novels, but I believe this is my new favorite! I would definitely recommend The Memory House, a split-time novel that connects through the generations.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in order to give an honest review, which I did.**

It's been a long time since I have read a book that made me feel like The Memory House did. Each of the characters were engaging and likable, despite their faults. They all went through trials and came out reborn on the other side with the help of God. The love stories included in this novel made my heart ache with hope for what people will do for those they love. The way Hauck ties in the past with the present is beautifully done. I am only sad that I did not read this book sooner. Well done Rachel Hauck!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

It’s hard to describe this book without going into too much detail and giving away too much. Therefore, I am just going to say I loved this book. It is just a feel good story like a Hallmark movie.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

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.

I adore Rachel Hauck’s novels. They are extremely well written, and filled with characters who worm their way deeply into the reader’s heart. The Memory House is no exception for it is a story I won’t soon forget. The hope and happiness the reader feels by the end of this novel alone makes The Memory House a 2019 must-read!

Beck Holiday and Everleigh Callahan are two of the best female characters I’ve ever read. Both women are faced with horribly terrible moments that change their lives forever. They both get stuck for a time in the depressed, angry, and scared zone of the grieving process, and are not sure how to get out. They both almost become forever-lost zombies merely existing in their day-to-day lives. Following Beck and Everleigh as they traverse their grief, as they come to points of clarity, and as they eventually come to the peace that can only come after surrendering it all to Jesus gave me such a sense of comfort and hope. Even though this story tackles some serious pain and suffering, and even though throughout most of the book my heart was in pain for these two beautiful, damaged women, I am walking away from The Memory House blessed.

I have never had more in common with fictional characters than I did with Beck and Everleigh. Beck is a young woman who lost her beloved father unexpectedly. Everleigh is a young woman who lost her beloved husband unexpectedly. Two and a half months ago, on January 23, I lost my dad unexpectedly. In the blink of an eye he was gone. I admit that I am not OK. I feel like my heart is hemorrhaging, and I can’t breathe. All I want to do is wrap my precious mother up in bubble wrap and put her in my pocket so I can safeguard her. I feel like life is out of control, and I don’t know how to fix anything. Everleigh mentions, in a very low moment, that “disasters had lasting effects. Ripples that ran through a person’s soul and mind, leaving marks no one could see.” Truer words have never been spoken! When will the ripples in my life, in my mom’s life, calm down? When will we be able to catch out breaths? How do we make it through?

Well, we will make it through with God. The notion that God is a good Father is repeated throughout this novel. I love this message, but it took me a moment to realize that this is the whole point of the story. To know that God is a good Father is the only way to get the ripples to calm down. Through the pain and suffering of this earth, we must realize that God is a good Father, and a good Father never hides from His hurting kids. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s plan for His kids is one of hope, and Psalm 34:18 assures us that God is close to those who are brokenhearted. As Beck and Everleigh realize God’s hope and closeness, and that He is the ultimate good Father, I couldn’t help but be filled with the same assurances. God is a good Dad. He will see me and my mom through this rough time. He will get us through the hurt and the fear and the drowning sadness because He is our good Father.

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is an amazing story, one that I truly needed to read. Sharing in Beck’s and Everleigh’s journies as they went through their stages of grief and healing was not only cathartic for me, but it really blessed me and leaves me with a sense of hope for my own healing. I highly, highly recommend this novel. I definitely believe this is a must read for 2019.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Audra Jennings at I Read With Audra and through NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Rachel Hauck has written a beautiful story about two women, separated by 50 years, who are simply stuck years later unable to move forward from their tragic losses that have left its indelible mark upon their lives. Hauck has expertly crafted two separate stories of two couples that will each garner the reader's interest as it is told from the different points of view of Everleigh, Don, Beck and Bruno. Usually I enjoy the heroines' stories the most, but I was just as interested in Don's and Bruno's individual stories as well. I attribute that to Ms. Hauck's skillful ability as a storyteller. The memory house is the thread that unites the two women. I love the way their separate stories are brought together in the end. This is a wonderful story of healing, forgiveness, faith, hope and love.

A couple of my favorite quotes:

"Funny thing about love, real love-it filled every soul with courage."

"What could she not accomplish if she let faith overcome her fear? Why had she ever been so locked down? So chained to the past?"

"Family is whoever fits into your heart."


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through CelebrateLit. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh my goodness, this was an amazing book! I wanted to keep on reading it to find out what was going to be decided, what was going to happen next, but then once I finished it, I was not ready for it to be done. I loved how this was written in current day with Beck's story and then years ago when Everleigh's story to know what led her to this house and the room created on the upstairs floor. All of the characters just come so alive on the pages and they are all facing major decisions and changes in their lives, either relationship wise, with their jobs, with their immediate families, past trauma and guilt, some are dealing with all of the above. It really felt like I knew these characters as I cried with them, laughed with them and smiled when things were looking up for them. The message of forgiveness and healing is so powerfully portrayed through characters as they work through past hurts and seek to do what is right. "The Memory House" is a story that will stick with me for a long time and one that I am highly recommending.

Beck and Bruno are, so far, the most tragic fictional couple of this year. (I must make a list if I’m going to keep coming up with awards to give out) So, what can I say about The Memory House other than it’s memorable? Let’s see…Everleigh is an amazing character. I want her to be real. The world would be a better place if there were more Everleighs around. She was dealt a heavy blow of tragedy and while she is reticent to change, her growth and love showed no bounds.

A split timeline seems to be a favorite of Rachel Hauck and she pulls it off with synchronicity and grace. The chapters end and switch timelines at just the right point to encourage ‘just one more chapter’. Her way of blending the two stories together was perfect.

As for God’s love and redemption, it’s there in heaps and shovelfuls but without an in-your-face message. It was a pleasure to journey with these characters as they learned about themselves, each other, and God.

Beck is hard-as-nails and Bruno is just mellow enough to get under her skin – the perfect balance of light and dark. For Bruno, it’s like being fourteen all over again only with more experience under his belt. They both have lessons to learn and Everleigh has made certain to give them their best chance at life and love.

It's hard for me to write this review without crying. The story is a time slip which gives readers a glimpse into the past where tragedy awaits for one and in the present pain . The two main women in the story deliver a sweeping tale of loss, forgiveness and hope. Beck is a strong willed woman who is a NYPD cop. She loves her job and has followed in her dad's footsteps. She is a cop who goes by the book, but one night she snaps and is suspended for four weeks. Beck is angry with herself for losing her cool, but maybe God has a plan for her. Beck has no memory of her dad since he died on 9/11. There is a secret Beck is keeping which will change her life. Will she make the right decision? I don't want to leave out the dog in the story or the mysterious Joshua Christian. They each represent something precious and hopeful . I loved how the author connected Beck and Everleigh and it brings them back together after many years through a letter Beck receives. Everleigh is a wonderful character who loves her husband Rhett. They have big plans for a house and with a baby on the way their happiness is overflowing. It is 1953 and Everleigh finds herself alone when a storm comes. She prays her husband will come soon and protect her. When someone opens the cellar door hours later, all her dreams are shattered. I could feel her pain and wanted to give her a hug. Her character is so well written that I wanted to be her friend. She can't let herself be happy and soon becomes a shell of herself. As you read the story you discover the ties that The Memory House has between Beck and Everleigh. The author breathes life into the story with emotions that are realistic and heart wrenching moments that will forever be felt. It's important to mention Don and Bruno because they each will play a part in helping these two women face their past and help them heal. They are strong men who love God and trust Him to give them strength to stand beside their women who they love. It's a love story that takes two women who are years apart and drops them into a house filled with memories as they seek healing. The author has once again written a story that spans over years but brings two people memories they will cherish and along the way love that will last a lifetime. I received an Advanced Copy of this book from the author and Read With Audra Book Tours. The review is my own opinion

She couldn't remember. He couldn't forget.

My rating is 4.5 stars

Beck's story made me squirm a bit. She was a tough cop who was passionate about her job and yet she made some choices that were less than admirable. Though I don't fault the author for giving her such a past, for without it, the story of her redemption couldn't be told.

Beck's selective amnesia regarding anything related to her father meant missing out on memories from most of her first fourteen years of life, including her friendship with the charming Bruno. When they were reunited through her strange inheritance, he set out to help her remember. His obsession with ""antique"" cell phones was quite amusing.

I enjoyed the way the stories of the two ladies from different decades intertwined and impacted one another. The similarities of their fear of allowing love into their lives were touching. I especially loved the way the men in their lives fell in love with the women so quickly and completely and therefore were determined to break down their defenses!

The Memory House is a lovely story of grief, guilt, forgiveness, and second chances. There are some adult themes which I would not recommend for a younger audience, however, the story is certainly a clean one.


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

Everleigh Applegate is a blissful, pregnant newlywed in 1953. But an F5 tornado is about to take
away almost everything from her—her new husband, the house they’re supposed to build
together—all her hopes and plans for the future. How could a woman who’s faced such
devastating losses ever recover and become the wise, generous, kindly elderly lady from Beck’s
childhood summer vacations?

Beck Holiday is a tough NYPD detective, or was, until one foolish night left her pregnant, with
her married boss’s child. Now she is on forced leave after assaulting a rich, drug-dealing kid
who was abusing a dog to hide his drugs. Oddly, Beck receives a notification that she has
inherited a house, and a bot of wealth, from an old family friend in Florida, whom she can no
longer remember, due to some selective amnesia involving her father, and his death on 9/11
twenty years ago.

Told from both women’s perspectives in alternating past and present narratives, The Memory
House is about loss and recovery, and the insurmountable power of hope and faith, despite the
enormity of life’s crises, and the way that sometimes, in the end, beautiful blessings can come
out of distressing heartbreaks.

An amazing read by Rachel Hauck !!! The story line flowed beautifully as it went from past to present day weaving the stories of the main characters together. A story of love, hope, tradgedy and the strength to overcome circumstances and tragic events with faith and love. What made the story line even more lovable was Beck’s telling of her Netflix Gilmore Girls binge and sharing her thoughts and how it impacted her decision making process when approaching Bruno. Hauck was very descriptive in her writing as I the reader felt I could easily visualize what memory house must’ve looked like. I picture a home in a movie with Diane Keaton beautiful decorated with just the right amount of knickknacks and kitchenware. All around an amazing read that will draw you in and keep you entertained wishing you were there.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is a gripping tale. Beck Holiday lost her father on 9/11 and while grieving, she lost her memories of him as well. She is now a police officer in New York known for being an Ice Queen, but things have changed recently. After assaulting a suspect for using a dog as a drug mule, Beck is suspended for four weeks. At the same time, she receives a letter from Joshua Christian notifying her that has inherited a home in Fernandina Beach, Florida. As Beck needs time to sort out her life, she heads to Florida with her new best friend, Beetle Boo (the ill-treated dog). Beck encounters Bruno Endicott, a sports agent, at Everleigh’s memorial who remembers the fun times they had together as teenagers and that Beck was his first love. Unfortunately, Beck has no memories of Bruno nor the house she inherited from Everleigh Callahan on Memory Lane.

Everleigh Callahan was happily married in 1953 and expecting her first child when a tornado whirls through Waco, Texas leaving her a widow. Six years later, Everleigh is living an uneventful life with her widowed mother and working at the local florist shop. One day she runs into Don Callahan who invites her to dinner which sparks a change in Everleigh’s life. Everleigh would like a relationship with Don, but she has a secret that is holding her back. Everleigh is afraid that if Don learns what she did, he would want nothing to do with her. In addition, Everleigh is afraid of letting go of her first husband whom she loved dearly.

Two women separated by decades need to deal with the past and they have two men willing to assist them. The Memory House has a way of providing comfort to its inhabitants. With love and faith, Beck and Everleigh can heal and have a beautiful, fulfilling future.

The Memory House is another beautiful story by Rachel Hauck. The Memory House is told from the perspective of Beck, Bruno, Everleigh and Don. We get to see how each of them came to be at the Memory House. The Memory House is well-written with thoughtful pacing. The characters suit the story and I like that we get to see them grow as individuals and in their faith. In The Memory House Don and Bruno help Everleigh and Beck deal with their grief. Grief takes a terrible toll on an individual and we each handle it differently. Beck was a teenager when her father died, and her mother was busy. She handled her grief by forgetting. Everleigh lost her husband, father, in-laws and her home all on one day. She clung to her grief and memories. Beck is now suspended from the force and dealing with a personal issue that will forever change her life. She was unprepared to meet Bruno with his continual references to their summers spent together when they were kids. Both women must deal with the past or they will be stuck living a half-life. God has a plan for these ladies’ lives. Joshua Christian was a mysterious character who provided little nudges when needed. I was little surprised to find intimate relations with a married man included in this Christian story along with violence to a suspect (even though he deserved it). Beetle Boo’s story will have you in tears. I wanted to take the sweet little dog into my arms and comfort him. Christian elements are light but impactful. It is true that God does work in mysterious ways. I enjoyed Beck’s Gilmore Girls marathon and the references to the characters (one of my favorite shows). My favorite sentence from The Memory House is “You could be Lana Turner or Marilyn Monroe on the outside, but if you ain’t got Jesus on the inside? Well, just leave your lipstick and mascara at home.” I liked how the characters stories connected and the book ended. The Memory House is one of those books that stay with you and puts a person in a reflective mood.

Memorable characters and events, a story you don’t want to put down, and two swoony romances mean Rachel Hauk has done it one again with The Memory House.

I love, love, loved this story. From tough NYC cop Beck Holiday with a tender heart and missing memories, a sports agent who, as a young teen, had big plans to marry Beck, and a widow who fears falling in love again, Hauck’s dual-time novel exposes the challenges Everleigh in the 1950s and Beck in present day.

Hauck’s ability to write heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories of hope and healing, of loss and love, and of life’s challenges just keeps getting better with each book she writers. You need to add The Memory House to your TBR ASAP. Seriously, go do it now. You do not want to miss Everleigh, Don, Beck, and Bruno (not to mention Beetle Boo and Baby Girl).

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Rating 4.5 stars!

I recently joined forces with the Read with Audra book blogging group, and today's post is part of a Blog Tour for the book, The Memory House by Rachel Hauck. Whenever I see a new book by Rachel Hauck, I know automatically that I will want to read it, and that it'll be a great book.  The Memory House is no exception.

From the very beginning of the book, I was drawn in with two strong main characters, both woman, and both willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Readers span decades and things are the same.....but different.

Beck Holiday is a sergeant with the New York Police Department who has a horrible secret and she's just been suspended for misconduct. Next a letter arrives telling her she has inherited a house in Florida from a woman she doesn't even remember knowing. Beck decides to head down to Florida and look into this strange inheritance. When she runs into Bruno Endicott, her live changes. Bruno has fond memories of the times he and Beck spent summers there as children and teenagers when Beck was his first kiss.  Bruno held a special place in his heart for Beck ever since, but Beck has no memory of Bruno.

Many decades before, Everleigh Applegate became a widow after a huge tornado ripped through her Waco, Texas home and destroyed her life. Now Everleigh lives with her mother in a life that is destined to be completely uneventful.  All of her memories are boxed away, but one day Everleigh runs into Don Callahan in the grocery store and her life begins to change a little bit at a time. Everleigh also has a horrible secret that she carries in her heart and she believes no one will ever understand. 

The Memory House is written in a dual time line that is 50 years apart and separates two women who come to know the powerful healing through faith and love. The characters are well written and the story line is well developed.  I found myself staying up way too late to finish this book, and at times I had tears in my eyes. It just amazes me how God pours these stories into Rachel Hauck's heart so that she can write them as an amazing book.

I received a copy of this book without cost from Audra Jennings PR in exchange for my post.  I also received an e-book on NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!

This book is another beautiful story by Rachel Hauck and I loved reading it. The moment I finished reading the book I was speechless as it was such an amazing read. I loved the character of Beck and how she is struggling with so much in her life and afraid to face her challenges head on, even though in order to move on she has to. I loved the story of Everleigh and how despite not wanting her challenges to hold her back they were but once she found the courage she realised just how strong she was. This is a story of two women decades apart finding their strength and courage to move on from their pasts and create the amazing futures that they deserve.
The house plays such a key role in the book and there were times where I wished the house was real so I could walk through it and soak up the history within the walls.
This book is a must read if you are after something that will stay with you long after you have finished the story.

This is a book that you will not want to put down. I love the stories that Rachel Hauck comes up with. I loved the back and forth between 1960 and the present. All of these characters were so real. I laughed and cried. It would be hard to grow up and not remember ever having a father. These characters go through a lot of pain throughout their lives. I received a copy of this book from Read with Audra for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This great book combines two time periods, present day and a couple of decades earlier. Beth Holiday a tough New York City cop, struggling with bitterness and anger and a widow Everleigh Applegate who lives with her mother in a mundane life style until she meets Don Callahan, a friend of her older brother. There is much excitement as we go back and forth between the time frames which makes for a very interesting read. We have lost memory, an unwed pregnancy that actually turns out well. An uninvited stinking mutt that hangs around and becomes much needed, A tornado with much destruction, an unwanted romance…..and this beautiful Memory House. Hauk certainly wrote a winner in this one………..I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley to read and give an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only.

I absolutely LOVE Rachel Hauck!! I fell in love with her books when I read The Wedding Dress and I loved this book, The Memory House, just as much! She has a true talent for writing and her books never disappoint! There's not only one good love story in it, but multiple love stories! It tugs at the heart strings and also keeps you guessing throughout the whole book. Highly recommend reading it!

The Memory House is a great dual time novel. It follows the lives of two women who are torn apart by loss and ‘what if’s’, and the people who are or were affected by those choices. I enjoyed the exploration of how a traumatic event could cause someone to lose memories. One of my favorite threads through the book was that of Bruno being a football sport’s agent. Both Ms. Hauck and I are huge college football fans so this thread was especially fun.
Faith and healing were the main themes throughout the book. The beauty in reading is watching characters resolve the pain and find true happiness. It shows us we can too and true to Rachel Hauck she writes a story that is faith based and not only shows us we can but points us directly to the One who is the source of our healing.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in association with Read With Audra. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.