Carole's Monday: Where the Echo Calls

Author: Steve N. Lee

Title: Where the Echo Calls

Series: Books for Dog Lovers

Genre: Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 281

Published: October 19th 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

Sometimes a dog isn’t just a dog — it’s hope.

Left for dead in the gutter, Rio struggles to his feet and lurches into the shadows for a place to hide. Life has always been brutal, thanks to a monster of an owner, but at least he’d had food, a bed, a place to call home. Now…?

Ben’s life ended when he lost his family. Drink no longer dulls the pain; therapy is a joke; friends have moved on. He’d had everything, yet now…?

But when the broken man meets the broken dog, they discover something neither had ever dreamed could exist… a reason to go on.

In a story as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, When the Echo Calls explores how hope can be found in the most unexpected of places if only we have the courage to look for it.

Review:

Couldn't wait to get started on this one! I have loved the others. In a way this is bittersweet. It is the last doggo story from this author for the time being. 

Rio was left for dead in a gutter by his terrible human. He had been a fighting dog but at least he had a home. He is taken in by the shelter to find a forever home. Will he find this when Ben takes him home? Ben had lost his family and nothing helps. However, when he finds a broken dog he never imagined the friendship as they fix each other. 

I loved, loved, LOVED seeing some old characters make an appearance here. However, this does well as a standalone, but it does add something special to seeing old people and dogs that you previously read about. This truly does show there are ALWAYS two sides to a story. 

This author really knows how to pull at the heartstrings! There is so much sadness for poor Rio and poor Ben. They have been given some terrible things in life and they deserve all the happiness! It was beautiful watching them fix each other and find their way. We had some humor too which is always nice. One scene had me laughing so hard that I had tears. Can't tell you, but it was so unexpected!

Awww Woofy!!!! Loved that furball and his owner.

I will warn the beginning was a little rough seeing poor Rio (Razor his previous name when he was a fighting dog) navigate the streets and then survive some terrible humans. It is important to his journey, though, to fully understand why he is the way he is. It made me cry because it breaks my heart that people are so cruel. I had a rescue growing up and I have one now... and I can't imagine what they both went through before we brought them home. 

That ending was simply perfect. I couldn't ask for a more perfect ending for Ben and Rio. In a way...it was a perfect ending for all the characters from the previous books too. There is always room for another dog tale but this wrapped up the series nicely. I do have plans to re-read one of the past ones (I re-read one a little while ago). These are for sure good re-reads. They are quick and short-ish, but they leave a huge impact.

Overall, I loved this. I loved all the books! They have it all. Humor, joy, sadness, and meaning. It was rough seeing Rio go through what he did before Ben, but it melted my heart seeing him finally find the pack he deserved. These books are great. A part of me wants more, but the ending of this one really ties everything perfectly together. I shall stamp this one with 5 stars. I highly recommend this and the other books.