What the Heart Remembers
What the Heart Remembers by Bette Lee Crosby
Series: Memory House Collection #3
Expected publication: November 17th 2015 by Bent Pine Publishing
Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect—impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood.
That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max’s life is stuck on hold because she can’t stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny?
After a New Year’s Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever?
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My thoughts about What the Heart Remembers ~~
I love all of Bette's stories and the characters in them, but I think some of my favorites are the ones in the Memory House series. What the Heart Remembers is book #3 and in this book, we learn more about Max and her memories of her time in Paris. Her life has been in limbo, waiting for her love, Julien to contact her. It's been three years since she has heard from him. She decides to head to Paris to find him, to make sure nothing has happened to him. But if she goes back, will she find things to be as wonderful as she remembers, or do memories change over time and we remember things as we want them to be?
'People who think they’re in love are blind to anything but what they want to see.'
I love my trips back to Memory House where I get to revisit the wonderful people I have come to love and enjoyed spending time with in the past. Good old Ophelia is still going strong and offers her support and love to the new residents of Memory House.
'I spent most of my ninetieth year waiting to die. Now I’m wishing I had that year back. Instead of worrying about dying, I’d be celebrating the fact that I’m still living.'
Annie and Oliver, the new owners of Memory House take a minor but supporting role is this story, which is centered on Max. But we see enough of them to feel like we are 'catching up' with their lives. Annie and Max are good friends and Annie knows Max has to take this trip, but that doesn't stop her from worrying.
'When you’re afraid someone you love is going to be hurt, doing nothing is the hardest thing in the world.'
Max learns a lot about Julien, and about herself, while she is in Paris. I loved watching her grow and look for her happiness. And this story made me want to take a trip to Paris someday ... some day, sigh.
As always, Bette's books are so full of wisdom and wonderful words to live by. I find myself marking so many passages when I read her stories. Her stories are just so beautiful and it is so easy to fall in love with the people she has created. I look forward to going back to visit Memory House again, sometime soon.
'As I stood there thinking about all that was lost, I started realizing I hadn’t lost anything. I still had all my memories.'
About the author
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: TheRoyal 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: Memory House (2015), Passing through Perfect (2015), Wishing for Wonderful (2014), 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).
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