Monday, November 5, 2012

"the memory jar" by tricia goyer

About the book (provided by Litfuse): Every year, 30-40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides!

Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met Jathan, a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

My take: While I'm not a huge fan of Amish fiction, Tricia Goyer's Big Sky series is one of my favorites ever—Amish or not. So I jumped at the chance to read The Memory Jar, the beginning of a new series also set in West Kootenai, Montana.

As the story began, I thought I had it all figured out—Sarah and Jathan would fall in love and live happily ever after. And while that does happen, the couple faces several challenges on their way to happily ever after—challenges that are realistic and sometimes seem insurmountable.

While I enjoyed Sarah and Jathan's love story and reading about the growth each of them personally experienced, one of my favorite aspects of the book was the presence of characters from Goyer's Big Sky series. It helped the story to seem that much more real!

The one aspect of the book that I didn't enjoy was the flashbacks to Sarah's childhood with her best friend Patty. While the flashbacks did give insight into Sarah's personality and struggles, I felt that they basically served to pull me out of the story. I also didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. Still, it was an enjoyable read—I just didn't think it was as great as some of Goyer's other work. 3-1/2 stars.

See what other reviewers are saying.
Buy the book.
Watch the book trailer.
See my reviews of Beside Still Waters and Along Wooded Paths, books one and two in the Big Sky series.

About the author: Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

About the giveaway: Celebrate with Tricia by entering her Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway and RSVPing to her Facebook party on November 7th. (And be sure to catch the fun video trailer or try your hand at one of the simple, keepsake crafts Tricia has put together on her website.)

One fortunate winner will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • Custom-made Memory Jar Kindle Cover
  • Amish-made decorative items {Wall hanging, horse/buggy and Amish houses}
  • The Memory Jar {Be swept away by this captivating series.}
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 6th. Winner will be announced at the "Memory Jar Author Chat Party on 11/7. Connect with Tricia for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of The Memory Jar and join Tricia on the evening of the November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from 
Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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