Jessica Ashley’s Echo sweeps readers into a story about trauma, redemption, and the raw vulnerability of healing through faith and love. At its center is Elliot “Echo” Hunt, a former soldier turned search-and-rescue hero, and a woman with no name, no past, and a gunshot wound she barely survives. As Elliot finds her unconscious on his land, tangled in creek debris, their paths collide in ways that neither expects. With themes of grace, second chances, and slow-burn romance, this Christian romantic suspense novel doesn’t hold back on emotion or intensity.

Ashley does a brilliant job of building suspense without losing the thread of heart in the story. The scene where Jane prays through Psalm 23 while escaping through the woods had me breathless. It was both terrifying and strangely beautiful. I appreciated how Ashley wove scripture organically into the story. It didn’t feel forced or preachy. Instead, it felt like a lifeline, like the characters were clinging to it as fiercely as I was turning the pages.

Elliot’s character is written with a lot of emotional depth. He’s gruff and guarded but not cold, which is a hard balance to get right. His scenes with his dog Echo and the quiet moments on the ranch gave his trauma space to breathe. What really got me was how shaken he is by her resemblance to someone he lost. That subtle heartbreak bleeds into the entire book. You can feel him holding back, afraid of letting himself hope again. I loved how the story didn’t rush his healing, or Jane’s. Their connection builds slowly, which makes it feel earned.

I also have to give a shoutout to the dialogue, which felt real and often funny, especially when Elliot is bantering with his siblings. The Hunt family dynamic is warm and chaotic in the best way, especially with Ruth (Elliot’s mom) and Lani (his sister and a doctor). You can sense how much love is in this family. That said, the book does dip heavily into past trauma and grief, and at times I felt those moments were almost too neatly resolved, but it didn’t take away from the emotional payoff.

Echo is a heartfelt story about faith, brokenness, and the quiet bravery it takes to let someone in again. It’s raw in places, gentle in others, and always anchored in hope. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic suspense with a soul, especially readers who enjoy Christian fiction that isn’t afraid to wrestle with pain. Fans of strong family dynamics, redemption arcs, and rugged heroes with tender hearts will find a lot to love here.

Pages: 456 | ASIN : B0DN7SW26B