Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

This book couldn’t be more timely. We currently have veterans from the Iraq war who will later tell stories of their experiences. It’s as if the title is urging us to remember their sacrifices and to have compassion for them. One of my dad’s best friends was in the Vietnam war and on our camping trips, I heard his panic and fear as he relived some of his experiences in his nightmares. A friend of mine who served as a ranger overseas said that, upon killing a person, you could almost see their souls leaving their bodies. Those are heavy burdens to carry.

Grandpa Jake invites Ava to tour the places he fought. He takes his close friend who brings along his grandson. What makes it discomforting is that the grandson is Ava’s ex-fiance. While Ava’s trying to build her relationship with her grandfather, her feelings for Dennis keep wavering. They have different goals in life. How could they possibly make things work? Ava finds more than she ever bargained for on this special trip.

What I appreciate about this book is that it’s based on true stories from friends, veterans and research. Stories about WWII have been hashed and rehashed to the point where people just think “Ho-hum! Here we go again…” Tricia’s book is more like the eager genealogist who is tracing her history and seeing how the past has influenced her loved ones and how it can impact her in the present and future. I’m a little sad because the only grandparent I have left has Alzheimer’s and there’s no way for me to build a meaningful relationship with her before she passes. This book is sure to ignite memories of lost opportunities and difficult relationships.

Tricia is most certainly talented. I’ve read her self-help, Amish fiction, and now have a taste of her finesse for historical writing. I can’t wait to see the genres she’ll attempt next!

Disclosure: I was provided this book for free in e-book form in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not obligated to provide favorable feedback.