Review & Kindle Touch Giveaway: Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

Remembering You
by Tricia Goyer
Publication Date:  November 2011
Publisher:  Guideposts
Purchase this book - Amazon

Source:  I received a free copy of this book for my participation in a blog tour through Litfuse Publicity Group.
View the full Blog Tour Schedule HERE.

About the book:

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?

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou

My Thoughts:

I love novels centered around World War II and although this is a contemporary work of fiction, it is based on two grandfathers recalling their stories from the front lines of the war against Hitler’s regime and the ultimate liberation of the Jewish people from one of the many concentration camps, specifically Mauthausen in Austria.  In their 80′s, Grandpa Jack and his best friend and WWII buddy, Gran Paul, are fantastic characters, brimming with life.  You can feel their emotional turmoil as they recount their numerous stories as the foursome make their way across Europe, from Paris to Belgium, through Germany into Austria.  The angst lying under the surface as they watch their friends dying; their joy and horror at opening the gate to the Mauthausen concentration camp rings very true to life and I was very caught up in their tales.  The side stories with Jack as he comes to terms with some of the things he had to do during battle were heartbreaking and I felt truly sorry for the young man that he was, having to experience what he did.

Although I loved the historical aspects of this novel, the rest of it fell flat for me.  I did not care for the main character, Ava.  She was not a likable character at all.  I kept wanting to like her, but she kept doing silly and stupid things that made me dislike her even more.  Eventually I just got tired of her.  I never connected with her as a character or really knew what she was about.  All she seemed to care about was her job and getting the next camera shot.  It was agonizingly frustrating considering how much I enjoyed the other parts of this book.  Her relationship with her grandfather, Grandpa Jack, seemed strained at best and I never really felt a connection between them, which is unfortunate.

Dennis and Ava’s relationship is pretty awkward.  It isn’t until 230+ pages in that we learn the whole story of their past and why things are so weird between them.  They are on a roller coaster of emotions with each other and it is frustrating trying to figure out what the issues are between them when neither of them will talk about anything!

Finally, considering this book is Christian Fiction and published by Guideposts, I was a little surprised that there wasn’t some conclusion to Ava’s spiritual development at the end of the novel.  Prayer and God were touched on throughout the book (but not overly so), but I was expecting some kind of wrap-up to the journey I went though for 300 pages, or at least some type of “it’s in the works” statement.  But, it seemed to solely focus on the relationship between her and Dennis and making sure all of those loose ends were tied up.  It left me wanting more.

Overall, an okay read, especially for those who love the historical aspects of World War II. There’s a fantastic author’s note at the end regarding her interviews of veterans and some of her research.

About Tricia:

Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. On Tricia’s weekly radio show, Living Inspired, she shares stories of inspiration and encouragement. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia and her other books visit www.triciagoyer.com

Win a Kindle Touch for YOU and a Friend from Tricia Goyer!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you … and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she’ll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!

During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she’ll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.

Don’t miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself … and to “remember” a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner’s choice!)
• A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!!

Disclosure: Crazy-for-Books is NOT giving away a Kindle Touch. I am merely providing this information as part of the blog tour for Tricia Goyer. Please read and review the Kindle Touch giveaway information above to find out how to enter. Thank you.