What Matters Most: Memory House Collection

Bette Lee Crosby

Apr 2013 · Bent Pine Publishing

About this ebook

From #1 bestselling author of Spare Change and The Twelfth Child comes…What Matters Most. A heartwarming story of acceptance and coming to grips with the reality of change. A Royal Palm Literary Award Winner. 

Louise Palmer is a settled-down person. A woman who wants nothing more than to remain in the same house until the day she dies. So, when her husband, Clay, announces an intention to quit his job and move to Florida, her life is thrown into a turmoil of mixed emotions and strained loyalties. Torn between Clay’s desire for “the good life” and the lifelong friendships of her quilting club, Louise struggles with what to do…until her best friend suggests a scheme to thwart the move. 

Before she discovers the truth of what matters most, a marriage will be tested, family relationships will fall apart and the friendships Louise tried to hold on to will change dramatically.

Ratings and reviews

When Clay's uncle Charlie passes away and leave his house in Florida to Clay. Clay decides it is time to retire and move. Louise his wife wants to do no such thing. She spent her childhood never staying in one place and this house is where they raised their children and all her friends are at. Clay isn't backing down. The closer it gets to moving time the more Louise tries to sabotage the move. Loved the characters in this book. Louise was pretty much willing to do anything to stop the move. Yet nothing worked like planned. She was afraid of losing her friends, her home and the life she had that she loved. Clay was determined to move. He wanted to enjoy his life and not work himself to death. He saw the move as a good thing. Days of sitting back and doing nothing except piddling around. Wonderful story of learning home isn't the house. Learning change can be a good thing once you open yourself up to it.

Louise and Clay Palmer have the perfect life, or so Louise thought, until Clay tells her his health is in jeopardy because of the stress of his job. He wants to pack up and move to the house in Florida that his uncle bequeathed to him. He’s tired of his job, and he’s tired of shoveling snow. Clay wants to enjoy life. Louise doesn’t want to move. Why would anyone want to leave their family, the perfect home they’ve lived in all these years, and their friends and move to a place where they don’t know anyone? Louise tries to sabotage the sale of their home so that they have no choice but to stay. However, her efforts are in vain, and she and Clay pack up their belongings and move to Florida. The story follows their adjustments to a new life and the friendships they make. Will Louise and Clay discover what matters most? WHAT MATTERS MOST is a story of love, friendships and new beginnings. I read WHAT MATTERS MOST some time ago. It was the first of Crosby’s books I've read. Since then I’ve read several more, and like this one, I enjoyed all of them immensely. Crosby has a talent for telling a story in a way that you feel part of the cast of characters.

I always know when I sit down to read one of Bette's novels that I am going to love the people and the places she takes me to. What Matters Most is another sweet, wonderful story filled with characters who become my friends. I think about them long after I close the book. Louise loves her life and the predictability of it. She has her routine and her friends and that's enough for her. But her husband, Clay is feeling burnt out and restless in his life. When Clay's uncle dies and leaves his property in Florida to Clay, he figures this is the perfect time to make some changes. Louise goes along with Clay's plan, figuring he'll come to his senses eventually. But she is uprooted and off they go on the adventure of their lives. Can Louise adjust to this new life? Or should she just go back to the place where everything is familiar and safe? And does she really want this life in Florida, does she really still want Clay? What Matters Most gives us a look at life changes and how some people react to those changes. Some reactions are positive and others, not so much. Bette's stories are always filled with such great words of wisdom and gentle thoughts. I just love reading her books.