Remembered Book Review

Book Description

Though loss is often marked in a single moment, letting go of someone you love can take a lifetime.

The threat of war—and a final request—send Véronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood—her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Véronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.

His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn’t count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman’s search will cause havoc with his plans… and his life.

My Thoughts

I must confess that the blurb for this book really didn’t pique my interest at first. Having read the first two books in the series already (and loving them), I wanted to finish it on a good note. A French women in a young Colorado Territory seemed like an oxymoron from the beginning, but I vowed to myself that I would give it a try.

Oh, how glad was I?! This book was beautifully written, and the French aspects – the style, the language, the reflections on the country itself, even the heroine’s name – all added a unique cultural element that I was smitten with from the beginning.

What surprised me most may have been the author’s willingness to include mental illness. Both Véronique and Jack had various issues with anxiety, panic attacks, feelings of inadequacy, and crippling fears that made their characters more relatable. Even through fiction, I think most readers prefer stories that have characters with flaws which reassures us that none of us are perfect.

Each book had the perfect amount of romance to set my heart fluttering, and the love story between Véronique and Jack nearly took my breath away more than once! Their chemistry was undeniable from the moment they had to discuss who could buy the wagon…

It has been several years since I read the previous two books in this series, and without a doubt, this series has been wonderful from the very first page. This final book was a tad overlong (some segments could’ve been edited out and the story would not have suffered from it), but that doesn’t keep me from giving it 5 stars. It was merveilleux!

My favorite segments

Oh, there were several!

“The young man meant for you, Lilly, will not require any tricks or ploys to be played upon him. He will see you, he will grow to know who you are–both the good and the bad–and he will realize he does not wish to live another day of his life without you.”

“Father, would you make us more grateful for what you’ve given us in this country, and for the sacrifices of those who’ve spilled their blood. Would you make our government strong and keep us rooted in the faith of our forefathers. Help us to see our lives through eternal eyes and to realize that this life–though priceless–is but a vapor. And finally we ask…make us more like Christ, Father. No matter the cost.”

“…don’t you ever be forgettin’ that this gift you have is for the glory of the Giver, not for the one gifted.”

Jewelry Inspired by this Book

Early in this book, Veronique is mentioned as having a cameo at her neckline. From the book cover, it appears as though she is wearing a cameo pin. After reading through the entire book and seeing no other jewelry mentioned, I wanted to create something that was inspired by Veronique’s exquisite taste in fashion, her gorgeous language, and the romantic theme of the story. So, while I definitely have included a cameo, the other parts of the necklace blend very well with it. 🙂