May Book Club Choice “Memory House” by Bette Lee Crosby

Memory House by Bette Lee Crosby

What an enchanting story!  Bette Lee Crosby created a truly engaging storyline, with Ophelia and Annie!   Just what I adore, another wonderful writer to follow!  It is truly a gift when I find a writer that inspires me to read more of their books.

I hope to read all of her books and from what I read at the end of this story, there are a lot of “spin-offs” …so the story lives on!  I was so grateful, as I was not ready for the story to end.  Brilliant ending, by the way!

“Memory House” is the tale of two charming characters.  Annie has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Michael for 7 years, but it suddenly comes to an end.  Once he moves out, she decides to hop in her car and leave Pennsylvania behind for a little while, in an attempt to outrun the memory of Michael.  She stops her car in front of a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) called “Memory House” just outside of Richmond, Va.  Upon entering the B&B she meets its owner, Ophelia….who is a character I will never forget, and I look forward to reading more about her. They were both so lucky to have met each other.  Those types of relationships are both powerful and beautiful. Ophelia had one love in her life, named Edward…they were together for a decade and it has been 60 years since they have been together.

Ophelia can feel the memories when she holds particular items.  With Ophelia coming up on her 90^th birthday, she wants to find someone to share her talents with.  So these memories can live on!

Will Annie be this person?  Will she have the gift to recall the memories held in particular items?  Reading about all of this is fascinating.  Ophelia had a beautiful garden and apothecary that she ran out of her home.  The apothecary was full of herbs, roots and potions.  She grew up in the mountains of West Virginia where people believed these plants had healing powers.  It was not far-fetched for me, as I believe in a lot of this also….to anyone that does not believe in it, the more enchanting you will find this story to be.  Each visitor to the Apothecary was a little humorous.

As stated in the book, “Before you find the magic of life, you have to open yourself up to the possibility of it being there.”

That is the true essence of this story.  It is a truly delightful read!  I am HOOKED!

Already bought more books in this series….I am anxious to read more Bette Lee Crosby Stories!

5 Stars.