Customer Reviews

Remember Me (Pieces of Silver Series #2)

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After reading Maureen Lang's "Pieces of Silver" I was eagerly anticipating this sequel. Realizing that sometimes sequels turn out to be disappointments, I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't need to worry. "Remember Me" was every bit as engaging, the characters just as likeable, and the descriptions just as vivid as in the first book. One need not have read the first book to enjoy this second one, but readers who enjoyed "Pieces of Silver" will also love this book. Knowing very little about WWI, I found the background information fascinating as well. While this story concerns Josef, one of the characters from the previous book, the other main characters show up eventually in "Remember Me" and they are brought in so artfully that those who have not read "Pieces of Silver" will still be able to follow the story; but surely they will be intrigued about these people and will want to read "Pieces of Silver" just to find out how Josef got himself into his predicament in the first place. Just plain excellent writing, which makes for excellent reading. A real treat.

Josef Warner, as he knows himself now, is given a chance few people receive; to start over with a completely blank slate. However, that comes with its own consequences. After being shot by an American agent and rescued by a man he doesn't know, he starts a new phase of life with no memory of his past.
He meets a Lissa Parker. She's a compassionate nurse, beautiful woman and loyal patriot. They begin a journey together creating a present, planning the future and hoping is memory will return. When she travels to war torn Europe to serve in the Red Cross, he enlists to fight for his country, the United States of America.
When, in the stress of battle, Josef's memory of his German heritage and staunch resistance to the American involvement in the war returns, his future is threatened. Will his present service and sacrifice atone for his past crimes? Can his renewed faith in God's truth carry him through the present trials? And, will the love between him and Lissa survive into their future?
Maureen Lang has written an historical masterpiece. Her understanding of a tumultuous time in our nation's history makes the line between fiction and non-fiction blur. Her compelling characters and tender love story draw your heart. And, in a day when our nation still struggles over the issues of war and peace, she touches the heart with God's truth above all.

This book begins in Washington DC in 1917. Josef had been hurt and could not remember anything not even his name. Hank was taking care of him and told him his name but that was all. Josef had a dream about a little boy along with his father putting his dead mother on a ship sending her back to Germany where they were from. But Josef didn't know if this was true. Finally Hank told him that he was his illegitimate son and that his mother was dead and the man was his step father.


After that Hank carried Josef back to him home Sadddebrook. Hank also told Josef that he had a step brother and sister, but Hank's wife and daughter had gone to New York on a shopping spree. A neighbor Larisa who was a nurse. She was a disappointment to her parents as she had joined the Red Cross and was going overseas to help in the war. But she came and help treat Josef but wanted him to go to a doctor to which he refused.


When Hank's wife and daughter came home Josef was better but could not remember much, but by reading the Bible he was beginning to realize that he knew Jesus. He was telling Larisa about this when the family came home and Hank's wife turned so pale they though she was going to pass out. She knew about Josef but did not like it because Hank brought him to their home.


Will Josef get all his memory back and if so what will he remember? Do he fall for Larisa and will she still go overseas with the Red Cross? A great book with a lot of history.


This book was sent to me by the Kregel Publishing Company for review.

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After reading PIECES OF SILVER the ending left me with no other choice but to immediately start reading the next, REMEMER ME. I don't recall having read a book that ended in such a way I HAD to read the next. There was no way I couldn't after an ending like that.

The second book didn't disappoint. Right from the first page I was captivated as I was swiftly brought into Josef's world with lots of surprises. It's hard to believe how quickly I went from not really knowing Josef, nor liking him to feeling sympathy and warmth towards him. I thought that was an amazing feat on the author's part.

REMEMBER ME could be separated into three books. The first portion was a true love story where Lissa and Josef fall in love as they get to know one another. I loved Hank's dedication to his son as well as the changes Josef goes through. The next section of the book had Lissa and Josef off to war with all that entails. And the final section is revealing Josef's past with the inevitable trial.

So what I walked away with after reading this book is a wonderful love story as well as one of change and redemption. It was fascinating to live through a war, as well as the early 1900's with the characters. I felt as though I was right there with them.

The year was 1917 during WWI and Josef wakes to find himself in the care of a stranger who he only knows as Hank. He can't understand why he is here let alone who he is. He tries to remember and question the man but can not remember anything. All Hank will tell him is his name.

Finally Hank begins to fill in some details especially since he is moving him to his farm in Culpepper, Virginia. Hank admitted to being Josef's biological father, having had an affair with his mother who was now dead and was raised by his mother's husband Otto von Woerner. Hank filled in a few more details that confused Josef - he was born American but Otto raised him as a German.

In Culpepper Josef meets Lissa Parker a nurse who lives down the road. From the beginning love grows between them despite Hank's attempts to separate them, which neither Lissa nor Josef can understand why. Josef can't remember his past nor will Hank tell him anything. Lissa gives Josef a Bible to read which causes Josef to remember the faith in God his mother had taught him. Lissa continues to nurse Josef back to health knowing that she must leave soon as she has joined the Red Cross and is going overseas as a nurse. Since she's leaving Josef decides to enlist even though he still does not know about his past, only Hank seems to know the truth that Josef is a wanted man.

Later Josef is captured and in an enemy prison camp his memory comes back. Josef knows he must pay for his past but what about Lissa, the most patriotic woman he knows will she stand by him? He knows he must find her. Read how he amazingly escapes from the prison camp, runs to Lissa's side only to find her sick with fever and is arrested and returned to the states without her even knowing he was there. Through it all he knows he is in God's hands and knows Lissa's life is too. Josef knows the two Josef's the past and the now must come together and trust God.

"Remember Me" is the sequel to "Pieces of Silver", an awesomely unique historical fiction novel. The author Maureen Lang has really painted a true picture of life during WWI. You'll really begin to believe you're reading a true story ripped from the headlines of a newspaper during WWI and not a fiction novel. You'll see how God's hand moves upon the hearts and lives of his people and that no matter what God is in control.

I didn't think this book would be better than the first, but it was! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of how Jozef Warner went from 'traitor' to 'patriot.'

Remember Me by Maureen Lang is a very timely book about two young adults caught up in the maelstrom of War.

Lissa Parker is making plans to head overseas as a nurse with the Red Cross in 1917 when she meets and falls in love with a young man who has lost his memory. Josef von Woerner heads to Europe to fight. As his memory comes back in bits and pieces he is faced with several life-changing decisions. This is not just a love story, but a heart-searching book with many twists and turns. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love reading this book and learn much about this era in the process.

This story was fantastic! Like Tricia Goyer, Maureen Lang can get you to fall in love with the characters and their stories and make you sad when the story ends. Yet, there is always a satisfying conclusion that will make you smile. I am a total fan of Lang's historicals. She had me cringing several times over the descriptions which were vivid and realistic to the point where I felt that lump forming in my throat. War is so devastating. At any rate, the main focus of the book was not so much the war as the story of two people fighting for what they believed. The court scenes were fabulous and the devastation of the flu epidemic was well done.

I don't want to give away some of the high points of the story because that will give away what happened, but I feel I can share that this story gives you a strong sense of patriotism and that glow you feel about American history. Overall, this story kept me on the edge of my seat. I really didn't know what would happen next. I detest a predictable story. Oh, and I was mentally living in 1917-1919 during WWI, also known as The Great War. It was that good. In fact, I can't think of a single weakness in this story. It made my heart sing. And this author is a master at dragging out the tension and building it until you want to either scream or cry with the characters. Fabulous historical fiction!!!

Maureen Lang is a master storyteller. She spins the "tale" in an amazing way. Peeking back into history seeing what it might have been like provokes thinking about the early stages of our country. The intrigue, romance, and family dynamics keeps the reader wanting to read on. At the closing of the book you want to know what will happen next????? I highly recommend Maureen Lang's books!!!!!!! I hope you will invest in the money and time to check out her writings!

German-American immigrants faced many problems during World War I. Although they were loyal to America, they still had a strong love for the Fatherland.

The story opens when Josef wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who he is. A man named Hank has been taking care of him. He tells Josef that he's an American, but his mother was born in Germany, however, Josef has no recollection of either. Hank also reveals he is Josef's birth father, but is not the man who raised him. At Hank's home in Virginia, Josef meets his step-mother, his half sister, Penny, and Caleb, his half brother.
Lisa Parker, who lives on a nearby farm has joined the Red Cross and will soon leave for overseas duty, with Josef's sister, Penny. Lisa and Josef are attracted to each other, but there can be no permanent relationship until the war is over. Hank is aware that Josef had been overly zealous in his love and support for Germany and is considered a traitor to America by the authorities, however, he keeps it a secret. Josef joins the U.S. army and is now fighting against the Germans he once supported in the past. What will happen if he regains his memory?

Maureen Lang's characters struggle with enormous problems. The emotional tension is intense, with riveting suspense and strong conflict. Remember Me is a great follow up to Pieces of Silver. I strongly recommend them both.