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Friday, November 27, 2015

What the Heart Remembers (Memory House Series #3) by Bette Lee Crosby


What the Heart Remembers (Memory House Collection # 3) by Bette Lee Crosby
ISBN: 9780989128995
Published by: Bent Pine Publishing
Published: November 17, 2015
Kindle Version, 137 pages

Book Description:

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 mean 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?



My Review:
Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

This is one of those books that beckons me and draws me in before I even start reading it. The cover says it all – the wet pavement, the Eiffel Tower, and a suitcase draped with a red scarf.  It gets even better as the prologue sets up the reader's expectations for a fascinating story.  My expectations were fulfilled and then some.

Maxine (Max) is still pining for her lost love, Julien, who she met three years previously in Paris, when she was an architectural student there. She can't get on with her life until she figures out why they have lost contact. Her memories of him and their time together keep her captive so  she decides to return to the City of Lights to find him. What happens to her there is the basis of the story.  Paris seems so familiar and yet at the same time different in ways that Max can't see but only feel. Watch for the situation where Max declares, "what the heart remembers isn't always a true picture of what was." Perfect!

It's obvious that the author is familiar with Paris as she evokes the atmosphere represented by the cobblestone streets, the cafes, the bistros, Chateau Versailles and the Musee d'Orsay. It's authentic.

All of the characters are well drawn, but my favourite is 91-year-old Ophelia Browne who is one of the narrators. The reader gets a glimpse of her in this story, but to know more read the author's two previous books in this series. Ophelia is definitely intriguing. I'd like to know more about her.

My favourite line in the book is something Max says.  "…..love isn't the flourishes and fancy ironwork that decorates a façade; it’s the foundation of a building. It's what forever is built on."

I highly recommend this tale of lost love, new-found love and the power of memory set against the backdrop of that most romantic of cities – Paris.

Note: This book is rated G.

About this 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 twenty 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.

         

Disclosure by Sandra: Thanks to Bette Lee Crosby for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

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1 comment :

  1. I love Bette's books.

    I have read quite a few of her books, but I have not read this one.

    Thanks for the great post.

    LOVE your new blog design....FANTASTIC!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your feedback.

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