TV producer Ava Ellington can’t ignore her grandfather’s last wish: to accompany him to Europe for a tour of World War II battle sites. Uninterested in his old wartime memories but desperate for a good story to save her career, Ava agrees to go. The arrival of her first love, who just happens to be an old war buddy’s grandson, further complicates the trip as travel plans go awry and old war mysteries demand attention after 60 long years. Can Ava find closure in the past that will give her hope for the future?
I have always loved history, and the World War II era has fascinated me for years. I’ve read everything I can find about this era, which is why this book drew me – and why it kept me turning page after page. Goyer’s approach to this book is very different from most of those out there; she doesn’t dwell on the Nazi atrocities, though they are mentioned, and she doesn’t linger on how hard it was for civilians during the war. Instead, Goyer’s historical aspect is written from the perspective of an military man who has struggled with his wartime experiences throughout his entire life – and who sees all of those involved as other people, just like himself. Void of the hatred often contained in books about World War II, this story resurrects wartime memories of veterans and puts them in perspective.
Goyer’s main character Ava adds drama to the plot. You can’t help but like her sincerity, yet her self-centered, shallow outlook made me wish for more – and Goyer delivers. Ava grows spiritually and emotionally throughout this book, and many of her struggles (as well as her grandfather’s) make you wonder: how would I handle this situation?
Though much of this book deals with weighty issues, it is at heart a love story – a story of love between a man and a woman, between grandfather and granddaughter, between soldiers and victims, between God and His people.
This would be a great introduction to World War II history for those who want to learn more, as well as a reminder for the rest of us of the extent that others have suffered – both as war victims and soldiers – for freedom and equality. The stories of these soldiers should not be lost, and Goyer should be commended for her work in preserving them.
To read an excerpt, watch a video, and more, visit here.
I received a free copy of Remembering You in exchange for an honest review.
