The Memory House is a lovely dual timeline story that tells the story of two women whose life is torn by loss and despair to the point of some amnesia to overcome the pain. Their lives cross and both are impacted.
Everleigh Novak Applegate and her husband, married for eight months, are madly in love. expecting their first child and planning their first home. But a tornado swept through Waco, Texas, killing her husband, in-laws and her father. Depressed and in deep sorrow, she lost her memory for a while.
She and her mother live together in an arrangement that works for them. Everleigh works to support them while her mother keeps the house. Don Callahan, a friend of her older brother, comes into her life several years later and wants to date her. Everleigh wants to protect the memory of her husband and isn't interested at first. Don gets a job in Fernandina Beach, Florida and asked her to marry him. Eventually after another possible tragic event, she decides that she cares for him.
Beck Halliday is an NYPD Sergeant but is put on leave without pay for a month after getting abusive with a perp. At a same time, she received a letter informing her that she has inherited a home in Fernandina Beach from Everleigh Callahan. Her father was killed in the North Tower on 9/11 and she has blocked out her father and any memory of him, including most of her childhood. She doesn't know who Everleigh was until her mother tells her that they used to go visit when she was young and her father alive. So she goes to Florida to get away and try to get her head on straight. She make a bad decision one night while intoxicated and is now pregnant, dealing with anger and frustration over her situation along with hormones. Bruno Endicott, a sports agent, recognized her at the memorial service for Everleigh but she doesn't know him. Bruno and Beck were close as children and shared their first kiss. His feelings for her are still there but she isn't interested. At first.
Everleigh and Beck both had tragic events in their life that has hindered their ability to seek happiness. Don and Bruno both have dreams of what they want to do in their careers but have issues getting to that point.
This story is one of love, tragedy, forgiveness and faith in the face of obstacles that seem so large to overcome. It is about second chances at happiness, realizing what is important and who we are to God. Truly special story as Rachel Hauck is so very great at writing.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley to read and give an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only.
Review for Chapter 1 teaser:
I read the first chapter of The Memory House and got a glimpse of what the story is going to be about I have an idea of where it is going and look forward to reading the whole book. In this first chapter, NYPD Sergeant Beck Holiday and her partner and former boss/mentor, Hogan, are working a shift in Manhattan on New Year's Eve. They are chasing a young man who has been arrested several times by Beck because of drug possession. When they catch him, he has drugs but also a little dog in bad shape that Beck thinks has been used to swallow the bag of drugs to get rid of them. Beck has a meltdown because of the mistreatment of the dog and leaves Hogan with the prisoner to take in for booking while she tries to get help for the dog. It is apparent that something is bothering Beck and this was the final straw. Now, we have to wait and see what is going on with her.
I received a complimentary ARC of the this first chapter from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley to read and give an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only.