By Bette Lee Crosby

 

The Memory House Bed and Breakfast is where memories are kept, or so it seems to Ophelia who owns Memory House.  When Anne arrives, Ophelia knows Anne has the same magical power of recalling memories from their objects, only Anne doesn’t know it yet.

Ophelia Browne remembers everything. She remembers things from her own life and from the lives of those who came before her. She has only to touch her hand to an object and she can feel the special memory clinging to it. But now she is getting on in years. In eleven months she’ll turn ninety. Few women in the Browne family live beyond such an age. If death comes before she finds a replacement, the memories might be lost forever.  –  MEMORY HOUSE

This engaging tale begins when Anne leaves Philadelphia to escape the pain of her breakup and move beyond it.  Little did she know she would discover the memories of a long-ago-little-boy when she touches his bike. The mystery surrounding this bicycle keeps drawing her back to the Memory House and her friend Ophelia.

Anne and Ophelia become very close, and when something happens to frighten Anne, Ophelia knows she has to change the course of things.

I love the way Crosby used sections in between chapters written from Ophelia and Annie’s points of view to give awareness into the lives and thoughts of these characters. This addition only made the story better.

If you’ve read any of the author’s other books, you will recognize some of the characters in MEMORY HOUSE. They, along with some of the objects in the Memory House, have appeared in Crosby’s previously published books. I enjoyed this reunion of characters that are so down-to-earth and positively believable.

I love reading anything by Bette Lee Crosby, and MEMORY HOUSE was no exception.  Crosby tells this story with the same warm, rich storytelling voice she uses whenever she writes. Storytelling just comes naturally to her.  Crosby, an amazing writer and one of my favorites, reaches out and pulls the reader into the story. Her books are unforgettable, and MEMORY HOUSE is no exception.

I highly recommend MEMORY HOUSE to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Book Blurb

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMORY TO OUTLIVE ITS OWNER?

Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.

Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.

When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.

To be published: 14th April 2015 by Bent Pine Publishing

Series: Book One of the Memory House Collection

Category: Contemporary Fiction

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win nineteen awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Crosby’s published works to date are Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). Wishing for Wonderful (2014), Passing through Perfect (2015).

My special thanks to the author Bette Lee Crosby and Bent Pine Publishing for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

Please click the link to visit the author’s website Bette Lee Crosby Words Wit and Wisdom.

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