Twin Souls Sixty Years Apart
The Memory House by Rachel Hauck is the most delightful dual timeline novel set in 1953 and present day. Rachel Hauck has done it again – and created a wonderful novel that will ignite the reader’s heart and soul.
The characters are warm and welcoming and realistic with their fears and failures. They are easy to identify with.
Prayer is important. “He suspected Mom’s prayers had a hand in this.” Prayer is powerful and how wonderful to think that our prayers can influence lives for the better.
Sometimes we have a day that defines us. There is a ‘then’ and a ‘now’. This is the case for the two lead females. Their stories run parallel but sixty years apart. Their crucial decisions are similar but different.
Memories are at the heart of the novel. Memories make us who we are. They may keep us warm at night or they may fill us with terror. Memories may trap us in the past but we need to face them and move forwards.
There is the theme of forgiveness. When we cannot forgive in our own strength we need to call on God. “It took prayer, lots of prayer to forgive him.”
There is the theme of mothers. There are several mothers in the novel with different ideas about parenting but the one thing that unites them is their love for their offspring. Without a selfish thought these mothers make what they consider to be the best decision for their children.
We all have priorities. If our priorities are not tied up in people we have the wrong set. “He thought he had time. Thought his career was more important.” There is nothing wrong with having a career unless it is at the expense of people.
Everyone is searching for something to fill the God-shaped hole inside that nothing and no one else can fill. I loved this idea “I went seeking, and about halfway down the road, Jesus waited for me.” Wow! Jesus waits for us. That is mind blowing.
Some characters embody Jesus. “She pointed the way to Jesus every day.” What a powerful legacy to leave behind.
Within the tale is a gorgeous little dog who needed rescuing. This is a motif for us and Jesus – When we were dirty and trapped in our sinful lives, Jesus bent down and rescued us, cleaning us up, holding us close and redeeming us with His love.
Rachel Hauck always writes such wonderful books that I cannot wait to sink into. Her stories are deeply rooted in God with characters who speak to the heart.
Thank you Rachel Hauck for another fabulous story in The Memory House.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
About the book:
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 read an excerpt!
About the author:
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.
Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.
At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.
A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.
She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.
For more information, visit www.rachelhauck.com, Facebook (@rachelhauck), Twitter (@RachelHauck) and Instagram (@rachelhauck).
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