Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

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.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts

The talented Rachel Hauck writes in a variety of styles and settings, and all of her books have touched me in some way. But The Memory House? It’s truly special, deeply rooted in faith, my favorite of all she’s written so far. There’s romance, of course, but this story is so very much more!

Family is whoever fits into your heart.

The Memory House is poignant and emotionally captivating. Hauck is a master of the dual timeline, and I was deeply invested in both worlds. Everleigh’s story brings the history of the 1953 tornado in Waco, Texas alive, a defining moment in her life. Beck’s defining moment went back to the events surrounding 9/11, resulting in emotionally suppressed memories.

While I enjoy dual timelines, I usually favor one storyline over the other, but here it’s like the years fell away and I was reading one intricately-woven story. The characters have emotional stories, and are flawed in a way that made them minister to me more than a “whole” person ever could.

He suspected Mom’s prayers had a hand in this.

The vitalness of prayer is subtlety seen, as are the themes of faith, forgiveness, and a loving God who is always at our side no matter the circumstances. Everleigh ministers through her heartbreak, reminding me of the way my own life has been touched by some dear saints. I may be reading more into this than intended, but Beck takes in a precious little dog that needed rescuing, and in addition to having my heart stolen by Beetle Boo, I kept reflecting on the human need to be rescued and loved by God.

The revelation of the connection between old and new themes was surprising – and perfect. The Memory House is a keeper, a “best of the best” read for me.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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.”

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! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/e2aa/the-memory-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads , April 22

The Avid Reader, April 22

Wishful Endings, April 22

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 23

The Power of Words, April 23

Andrea Christenson, April 23

Worthy2Read, April 23

Carla Loves to Read, April 24

Blogging With Carol, April 24

Spoken from the Heart, April 24

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 24

C Jane Read, April 25

Reader’s Cozy Corner, April 25

Lis Loves Reading, April 25

For Him and My Family, April 25

CAFFEINATED CHRISTIAN RAVES-N-REVIEWS, April 26

Literary Reflections Book Blog, April 26

Jeanette’s thoughts, April 26

Carpe Diem, April 26

Mary Hake, April 27

EmpowerMoms, April 27

My Devotional Thoughts, April 27

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 27

Bigreadersite, April 28

Inklings and notions, April 28

Pause for Tales, April 28

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, April 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 29

Rachel’s Back Talk, April 29

For The Love of Books, April 29

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, April 30

Quiet Quilter, April 30

Just the Write Escape, April 30

Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 1

Godly Book Reviews, May 1

Lights in a Dark World, May 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2

Older & Smarter?, May 3

janicesbookreviews, May 3

Living Life Free in christ, May 3

The Becca Files, May 4

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 4

A Reader’s Brain, May 4

Inspired by fiction, May 5

Moments, May 5

To Everything A Season, May 5

Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)