Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

Ava Ellington is a TV news reporter who accompanies her grandfather on nostalgic trip to Europe. It's not a laid-back vacation. It's a tour of WWII battle sites, beginning in France and ending in Austria at a concentration camp that was liberated by Grandpa Jack's unit. He is a WWII vet who saw action in some of the bloodiest battles and difficult conditions of the war.

Accompanying Ava and Grandpa Jack is his army buddy, Paul, and Paul's grandson, Dennis, Ava's first (and lost) love. Ava films daily stories about the places they visit and the reactions of the veterans. The other travelers don't have much patience with Ava's work, but they gradually come around.

Tricia Goyer has written or co-written nine books of historical fiction set in the WWII era. This one draws on research for her earlier novels based on the experiences of the 3rd Army's 11th Armored Division. WWII buffs will appreciate her attention to detail. For example, a church in the town of Bastogne chimes the first six notes of The Star Spangled Banner to honor the American solders who liberated the city in 1944.

I've enjoyed every WWII novel that Goyer has published. All of them have some romance thrown in, and this one is no exception. While the grandfathers wrestle with demons from their war-time past, their grandchildren are conflicted about their feelings for one another. I think Goyer strikes a good balance between the romance and the reminisces of the old men. And, there are surprises along the way. I recommend it highly.

Note: This book was not provided to me by the author or the publisher.