by Bette Lee Crosby
Series: Memory House Collection #3
Genres: Women's Fiction
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Rating:
CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART? 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?
What the Heart Remembers by Bette Lee Crosby is the third book in her Memory House Collections. In the last book, we meet Max Martinelli, a young woman who is also touched with the ability to feel/sense the past in objects. Haunted by the memory of an unfinished romance, she journeys back to Paris looking for answers and instead finds something unexpected.
Max fell hard for a young man in Paris and when she journeyed home, she expected that he would be arriving behind her. Julien never showed, called, or emailed. For three years, she has struggled with unanswered questions and perhaps romanized the young man. She decides to take ten days to return to Paris, find Julien, and hopes to rekindle what was. As we grow older, we learn from experience you can never go back. As a result, we see Max struggle, deny and go through growth during her adventures.
It was hard seeing another side of Max in What the Heart Remembers. She was very strong and confident when we first met her in The Loft. I even had hopes of a haters to lovers’ romance with another character. However, Crosby did a wonderful job of portraying the many sides of Max. How many of us seem confident to the outside world, as we struggle with insecurities behind closed doors.
Crosby gives us the perspective of a few characters. Those of Max, Julien and a young woman now involved with Julien. I was not a fan of Julien from the onset because of how he ended things. My opinion only got worse, and I wanted to slap Max silly especially when an unexpected twist occurred, but this is a story about growth and ultimately I closed the book smiling. Max’s trip wasn’t at all what she expected and I loved how Crosby took it from dark to light.
There is a subtle and sweet romance that develops in What the Heart Remembers and it was my favorite aspect of the story.
While each of the books in the Memory House are designed to work as standalone I think they are best read in order. We see characters throughout the series and get updates, make connection and ties threads together creating the best reading experience if read in order. While not my favorite book, What the Heart Remembers had moments that made me joyful.
“Before I left Wyattsville Annie told me that after her mother died she kept going back to the places they’d gone together. The same restaurant, the same beauty parlor. She even went crosstown to the same library. She claims doing that was a big mistake. It was never the same, according to Annie, and going back spoiled her good memories. She said when you’re happy and having a good time you can’t see the imperfections of a place, but if you go back and look at it with a critical eye trying to figure out what it was that you enjoyed so much you’ll discover it’s nothing like you remembered. I’m beginning to wonder if maybe she isn’t right.” Max
Tyler H. Jolley
Max sounds like a very well developed and multifaceted character. And I agree with the consensus, the cover is awesome.
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Tyler 🙂
AngelErin
This series doesn’t look like one for me, but I’m glad that you liked it! 😀
AngelErin
I forgot to say, that cover is gorgeous!!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks and yes I love the cover too!
Charles
Great review! I may have to check out this series now, it sounds really interesting.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Charles…happy weekend!
The Bibliophile Babe
Fantastic review! Love the premise.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Amanda…I really enjoy this series. Have a lovely weekend!
Angela Adams
I like the premise of this book. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
She writes great stuff Angela.
Mary Kirkland
I’ve read one of her books and really enjoyed it. This sounds like a nice book too.
kimbacaffeinate
This series has been wonderful..I like the touch of magic and the wonderful characters Mary.
kindlemom1
Wonderful honest review like always Kim! Have a nice weekend!!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Ali 🙂 happy weekend
Melissa (Books and Things)
Oh what a great character book that also sounds like it has a touch of magic. Yea, you know that is the kind of contemp that I enjoy. Looks like another series I need to read.
kimbacaffeinate
I love this series Melissa. I hope you try them
Debbie Haupt
This sounds really good Kim thanks for bringing it to my attention!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Debbie, happy weekend!
Heidi
I am glad that you ended up liking Max even if you struggled a bit. I also like the sound of the Paris, setting. Love the cover for this one.
kimbacaffeinate
It really is a fab cover.
Sophia Rose
Going back would be tough. But I can understand her need for closure. And ahhh, glad she got a sweet romance after the soul-searching was over. I’ll have to check out the earlier books.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes I understood, and it was interesting watch her journey.
Laurel-Rain Snow
I love the sound of this one…who doesn’t have memories of loves gone wrong, especially the ones with unanswered questions? Thanks for sharing.
kimbacaffeinate
You would love this series Laurel!
cindy
This series looks good! Great review, I need to start with book 1. Have a great weekend and Happy TGIF;)
kimbacaffeinate
It really is Cindy. Enjoy and have a lovely weekend
Kathy
I love the idea of subtle and sweet, which is so opposite of many romances out there nowadays. I love that cover, too.
kimbacaffeinate
I could see you enjoying this series and its rich characters Kathy 🙂
Priscilla
This line right here is spot-on: “She said when you’re happy and having a good time you can’t see the imperfections of a place, but if you go back and look at it with a critical eye trying to figure out what it was that you enjoyed so much you’ll discover it’s nothing like you remembered. “
kimbacaffeinate
Isn’t that a fabulous quote and so true.
melliane
Oh France, that’s fun! I love to read books there mainly if I know the places. I like the way she can sense the past of the objects too
kimbacaffeinate
I love the touch of magical realism she bring to these stories,
blodeuedd
I wonder how it ends…
kimbacaffeinate
Hmm…spoilers darling.
Christy LoveOfBooks
Oh yeah! I forgot about this series. I really wanted to read the previous books when I saw them on here. Glad this was good too. I’ll definitely start with the first book, though.
kimbacaffeinate
I always enjoy her stories Christy 🙂