Laura had an ideal life. She had a great husband and had been blessed with an adorable daughter, Annie. Life was good, until a drunk driver tragically ended Steven's life, leaving his wife and child alone. Laura was grief stricken, acting more on basic instinct, until her daughter’s comforting words brought her back to life.

 They struggled to make ends meet, even with Laura's job at Hensen's department store, the money was tight, but Annie always had what she needed.

 With her parent's living in Georgia, Laura had few people she felt close to. Susan was her best friend, taking care of Annie while Laura worked, and Laura was also quite fond of her elderly neighbors, the Parkers. When Mr. Parker had a stroke, Laura watched over his wife, but her good deed met with a terrible ending, when a sliding car knocked her off her feet. Miraculously, Laura had only broken her leg, but she'd also lost her memory, neither recognizing her friends, her family, or her child.

  During Laura’s hospital stay, Susan stepped in and took care of Annie. It was a difficult situation, especially since her best friend couldn’t remember either her or Annie, and Susan needed a diversion to take Annie's mind from her mother's troubles, suggesting they start decorating for the Christmas season. Excitedly, Annie and Susan prepared the surprise for Laura's homecoming, and though Laura was impressed with their efforts, she felt out of place facing her previous life.

   Weeks past, and though disturbing visions had come to her dreams, it seemed that Laura was no closer to remembering things than she'd been that first day, no matter how much she tried. She mostly faked her way through each day; until life became an acceptable routine, but it seemed that her troubles weren't yet over when her home caught on fire.

    Chasing Memories is a heart-touching story, with a bittersweet conclusion.

      This is a touching storyline. I read with anticipation, hoping for a happy finale, but I was left with the feeling of melancholy. Cindy Bauer writes well, creating believable story lines and likable characters. I enjoyed this read quite a bit, and I admired Laura’s strength, despite the hard knocks. Great Read!

Reviewer: GhostWriter

ISBN: 1-4137-9835-7