The Loft: A Memory House Novel, Book 2

Bette Lee Crosby

Sep 2015 · Memory House Series Book 2 · Richard Crosby

About this ebook

50 YEARS OF MEMORIES ARE HIDDEN IN THE WALLS OF THE LOFT…

Annie only needs to find one… the one that will save Oliver’s life.

On the day of their wedding, Annie saw nothing but happiness ahead, but when an accident calls her back to Memory House, her world is changed forever. Ophelia Browne, the woman who taught Annie to find the memories in a forgotten object, is leaving the house and she’s leaving all those powerful memories behind.

After only three nights in the loft, Annie must now find the single most meaningful memory in Oliver’s mind. If she finds it in time, she can save his life, if she doesn’t…well that’s something she can’t afford to think about.

Readers will welcome back the much-loved characters from Memory House and enjoy a few new friends!

REVIEWER PRAISE FOR MEMORY HOUSE…

“A magical book of memories, treasures and stories from a Masterful Southern Storyteller…” Judith D. Collins, top 1000 Reviewer

“Magical realism that will enchant…” Heidi, Rainy Day Ramblings

“Wonderful, heartwarming story of love and life…” Sherry Fundin, Reviewer 

Ratings and reviews

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is the second book in the Memory House series. Annie Cross is marrying Oliver Doyle. It has been a year since Annie stumbled across The Memory House Bed and Breakfast and Ophelia Browne in Burnsville. Ophelia and Annie are a family. Annie is leaving on her honeymoon when she has a feeling that something is wrong with Ophelia. They turn around and find out that Ophelia decided to drive herself to church (after not driving for a year) and suffered a heart attack. Ophelia needed surgery and then has to have six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. The doctor states that Ophelia will need to make some life changes and that includes no stairs (the stairs in her home lead to her beloved loft). Oliver and Annie decide to build a duplicate to Ophelia’s precious loft on the ground level. They enlist the services of Max Martinelli. Max is an architect with a special soul. She can feel the wonderful memories in the house. Annie and Max hit it off right away. Ophelia, though, while in rehab makes some new friends and discovers a new life. A life of living with friends and fun (instead of living with her memories of her deceased husband). Ophelia meets Lillian Markowitz. Lillian is loud and brassy but extremely friendly. Lillian and her friends show Ophelia that there is fun to be had with new friends and, maybe a new home! Can Ophelia move on without hurting Annie’s feelings? Annie has a new husband and the beginnings of a new life. Is Annie ready to embrace this new life or will she cling to the Ophelia? Oliver just wants Annie to be happy, but he also wants her to love him as much as she does Ophelia. Just when things are going good for Annie, something tragic happens. Annie had so much happiness that the scale was tipped too far in one direction. Annie will have to have faith and love to get the scale back in balance. The Loft was such a lovely novel. It is a Christian themed novel, but it is not in any way preachy. It is well written and enjoyable to read. The book just moves along nicely (no chopping endings or rough transitions). You will smile, laugh, sigh, and cry while reading The Loft. I give The Loft 4.5 out of 5 stars. The ending is the one thing that bothered me. We are left with a question. We will have to wait until the next book to find out the answer. I received a complimentary copy of The Loft from the author in exchange for an honest review.

While The Loft is a second book in a collection, it can be read as a stand alone book. I so enjoyed revisiting life with Annie and her circle of friends - Ophelia and Oliver. The struggles in this particular book bring Annie face to face with hard times as she is separated from living with Ophelia and her new husband, Oliver, is in a bad car accident. Annie knows that there is a memory somewhere that will help pull Oliver out of his coma from the car accident but cannot find the right memory. She continues to try to find the memory until she has helped Oliver regain consciousness. I look forward to whatever next comes for Annie and friends.

I was privileged to get an advance review copy of this book. It is the second in the Memory House series and I loved it more than I did the first. The characters return and they now seem like old friends. Bette Lee takes us into each of the main characters' minds and thoughts and it is absolutely amazing. I particularly liked a new character, the good surgeon Dr. Sharma. Also the wonderful characters that become Ophelia's new friends. I am left wanting for more of all of them, as well as more exploration into the power of memories for love, friendship, and healing. Loved!