Remembering You [Paperback]

Tricia Goyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Television producer Ava Ellington cannot refuse her grandfather's last wish--that she accompany him to Europe on a tour of World War II battle sites. Ava has little interest in historical battles, but this may be her last chance to break down the barriers that have grown up between them, and she sets off, camera in hand, ready to record and report on their journey. She and Grandpa Jack are greeted in Paris by Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love. History comes alive as the group travels across Europe--from the romantic sights of Paris to the bleak battlefields of Belgium to the Austrian labor camp these men liberated so many years before--and Ava sees a side of her grandfather she's never known before. As he shares his memories of those bitter days on the battlefield, she begins to understand how his experiences in the war made him the man he is today. Throughout the journey, Ava and Dennis are drawn together in ways neither of them expected. Can their memories of the past lead to a bright new future?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Prolific novelist and nonfiction author Goyer pens a contemporary story rooted in World War II...This novel has a sweet way of describing family relationships and will particularly speak to those closely connected to WWII veterans, who are taking their stories with them to the grave. (Nov.) -Publisher's Weekly

"A wonderfully told tale about the need we all have for peace over the parts of our past we wish we could change--and the amazing truth that often what we wish we could change, God has already redeemed for good." --Susan Meissner, award-winning author of A Sound Among the Trees and Lady in Waiting

"Goyer's love of history and the people who lived it shines through this tale of two people who lost the romance of their youth but might have a second chance as they escort their grandfathers across Europe to a ceremony honoring the liberators of a German concentration camp." --Lauraine Snelling, best-selling author

"History lovers will appreciate Tricia Goyer's research and detail, and story lovers will delight in four fascinating characters with clashing goals. I highly recommend this novel." --Sarah Sundin, author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow

Prolific novelist and nonfiction author Goyer pens a contemporary story rooted in World War II...This novel has a sweet way of describing family relationships and will particularly speak to those closely connected to WWII veterans, who are taking their stories with them to the grave. (Nov.) -Publisher's Weekly

"A wonderfully told tale about the need we all have for peace over the parts of our past we wish we could change--and the amazing truth that often what we wish we could change, God has already redeemed for good." --Susan Meissner, award-winning author of A Sound Among the Trees and Lady in Waiting

"Goyer's love of history and the people who lived it shines through this tale of two people who lost the romance of their youth but might have a second chance as they escort their grandfathers across Europe to a ceremony honoring the liberators of a German concentration camp." --Lauraine Snelling, best-selling author

"History lovers will appreciate Tricia Goyer's research and detail, and story lovers will delight in four fascinating characters with clashing goals. I highly recommend this novel." --Sarah Sundin, author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow

Product Details

• Paperback: 311 pages
• Publisher: Guideposts (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824948122
• ISBN-13: 978-0824948122
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.

In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching February 13, 2012

By AMB

Format:Paperback

Remembering You is a sweet and powerful story about a woman's journey through remembrance of her grandfather's World War II experience. I am a bit of a World War II buff. I love reading stories, fact or fictional, set during that time. What starts as a way to get closer to her grandfather while resurrecting her career, becomes a journey of love and the rekindling of faith for Ava.

I enjoyed this novel very much. The highlights for me are Grandpa Jack and Grand-Paul. I believe Ms. Goyer did an excellent job in embracing both characters in a very realistic way. They could be anyone's grandfather. A part of me wishes they were mine. I enjoyed their camaraderie, it was very believable. I loved that their friendship stood the test of time and distance. There was a bit of humor in Grand-Paul. Of the two, he was the one with more spunk while Grandpa Jack was the more thoughtful one.

I enjoyed the journey the four main characters, Ava and her Grandpa Jack along with Grand-Paul and his grandson Dennis, who just so happened to be Ava's first love. I got a real sense of the emotion building between the grandfathers especially during their travel from Paris to the Concentration Camp in Mauthausen, Austria. Ms. Goyer interviewed countless Veterans of WWII and her research shows. There is an authentic feel to her writing. There were times I had to remind myself this was fiction.

Sadly the lowlights of Remembering You were Ava and Dennis. I thoroughly enjoyed their backstory and the hint of a possible romance. What I did not enjoy were the characters themselves. In the beginning, Ava was too self-centered and a bit whiney. Dennis was a little too self-righteous for my taste. I don't want to seem too harsh with them, both had redeeming factors that made me root for them in the end.

Ms. Goyer is an incredibly gifted writer. There were quite a few morsels of goodness in this novel. My favorite was this:
"Ava could picture that. She felt the same way. Not looking back because of the pain. Afraid to look ahead. Maybe she was just watching her feet too."

I think that captured the essence of who Ava was at the moment her journey started. I could relate to it because I'm just watching my feel. The hope of this novel is that Ava does begin to look ahead. And what a journey it is.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragedies of the past and the Promise of the future November 23, 2011

By Jill

Format:Paperback

Ava's job as a producer of the local top news show is stale, along with her non-existent relationship. Her trip with her Grandpa Jack, his best friend, Paul and his grandson, Dennis just might give her new insights into the past and make for a great feature.

Along their historical journey, Ava receives plenty of wise wisdom from her grandpa, wanted or not. She soon learns that there is a lot more to her grandpa than his rough exterior.

You will immediately connect with all the characters and your heart will go out to the Veterans and all the people involved. Their emotional journey will grab and keep you, wishing for more.

The Authors personal visits with friends, historians, and the Veterans in the back of the book will bring understanding along with tears and rounds out the true-to-life story with actual facts.

A Must Read! Lest we never forget the tragedies of the past and the promise of the future.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A heart-touching trip down memory lane... November 26, 2011

By Katie McCurdy

Format:Paperback

Tricia Goyer knows how to write fiction on World War II. Remembering You takes a different approach to the war, in that it's not a historical. Set in modern times, Ava Ellington journeys with her `Grandpa Jake' back through France, Germany, and Austria as he relives his experiences during the war. A trip that first began as a way to help reestablish both her job and her relationship with her grandfather, this journey down memory lane soon becomes so much more for Ava.

Ava was easy to get to know. While I didn't always agree with her "business first" approach to things, I enjoyed watching her fight it. Slowly, as the trip progressed, she began to see that spending time with her grandfather--really getting to know him and the man he was during the war--was far more important than getting `good footage'. Dennis was a bit harder to understand, his angry behavior often seemed kinda out of place and unexplained. But his care for those around him, and his undying love for Ava, was sweet.

I completely enjoyed this journey down memory lane. Each interview that Grandpa Jack or Grand-Paul did for Ava seemed to real and filled with vivid detail and emotion. Remembering You is a story that needs to be savored. I think veterans from the war would appreciate the time and love that Tricia Goyer has put into this book! Historical fans who enjoy books centered around WWII will enjoy this very unique approach to reliving the war--In a way that we all can relate to today.

I reviewed this book for Litfuse. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.