Member Reviews

An excellent and engaging story entwining several different story lines into one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot through Jordan-Lake’s carefully researched historical fiction novel. A must read for any book lover!

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This is my first book by Jordan-Lake, and it was incredible! Although I do not read a lot of World War focused historical fiction, this one sounded too intriguing to pass up. With a PhD in English Lit, this author’s writing is immaculate. Both heart-wrenching and full of heart, this is a novel that will be on my mind for some time. Pick this up if you enjoy historical fiction or themes of love, loyalty, and friendship.

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I was drawn to this book mainly because it takes place on St Simon’s Island. It’s where I lived for the first sixteen years after I moved to Georgia. I had also vaguely heard about U boats off the coast of Georgia.
This book is told by dual timelines and multiple characters. It’s a well written book with very relatable characters. It’s an emotional story with a few surprises.
I found myself in tears towards the end. Definitely recommend to all historical fiction fans or anyone who has been to St Simon’s.

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Hidden secrets abound on St. Simons Island in Echoes of Us. The stories of its inhabitants during WWII, including a compelling storyline of a WASP pilot, reverberate through the ages to two women who visit the island for the first time present day. An immersive novel with intriguing characters.

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I couldn't wsit to read this book. I visited St. Simons Island and found it to be a gorgeous place. This book captures the beauty of this area. The story of WWII sheds light on a part of history i knew mothing about. Joannie, Will, Hadley, and the rest of the characters were so well written! I cannot say enough about this wonderful book!

Thank you to the publisher and author for an advanced copy of Echoes of US. This is my honest review.

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"Echoes of Us" by Joy Jordan-Lake is an unforgettable journey into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the enduring bonds of friendship. Set against the backdrop of World War II and told in dual timelines, this novel seamlessly intertwines the past and present, offering a rich, complex narrative that keeps you hooked until the last page.

The story introduces us to three unlikely friends—a Tennessee farm boy, Will Dobbins; a Jewish Cambridge student, Dov Silverberg; and a German POW, Hans Hessler—who forge a connection that transcends their differences during the war. At the heart of it all is Joanie, a courageous WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) who is deeply loved by all three men. Their connection endures over decades, but as their descendants clash over the legacy of the corporation they built together, long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening to tear everything apart.

Joy Jordan-Lake has created a haunting, well researched novel that beautifully portrays both the personal and historical impacts of war. The scenes on St. Simons Island, Georgia, are vividly brought to life, and the inclusion of real-life WASP stories adds an authentic touch that enriches the narrative. The dual timelines—following Hadley, a present-day event planner, and the wartime experiences of Joanie and the three men—are skillfully woven together, each timeline enhancing the emotional depth of the other.

"Echoes of Us" is not just a war story; it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of love, and the ties that bind us across generations. The characters are so well-developed and multifaceted that you’ll find yourself deeply invested in their fates. Hadley’s journey of uncovering the past is as poignant as Joanie’s daring feats during the war, creating a rich, immersive reading experience.

This novel stands out in the crowded field of WWII historical fiction for its meticulous research, compelling characters, and emotional resonance. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates a heartfelt, well-crafted story that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the advance copy of this remarkable book. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long time. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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I highly recommend Joy’s latest book. It is a combination of history, mystery, friendship and love that keeps you trying to figure out the ending up to the final chapter. It is written in dual timeline spanning World War 2 and the present time set on St. Simon’s Island, Ga.

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This was one of the most heartfelt stories I have ever read. Spanning the past and the present, It tells the story of people who are unlikely to come together but whose ties of friendship bond them together but are tested to its limits. You will laugh, cry and cheer for the characters in the book. It is a story about greed as well and how that can be dividing between family and friends. you will not be disappointed to learn about a period of American history that is forgotten and not told too often whether by omission or deliberately left out in our history books. Thank you Netgalley and Lake union publishing for letting me read this wonderful book

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I'll start this review by telling you that I absolutely loved this book. I have to really like a book to give it a 5 star rating but I would give this one ten stars if it was possible. It had everything that a great book needs. It was well researched, had a fantastic dual time line and well written characters. I got totally immersed in it and when it was finished, I couldn't pick up another book for a few days because this book stayed in my thoughts.

The story was well written and the two time lines flowed very well together. When everything came together at the end, it was just perfect. There was a bit of mystery and a bit of romance but the strongest part of this story was the attention to detail on the characters and their connections to each other. I love a book where the research is so well done that I learn things that I didn't know. I had no idea that German subs were lurking in the waters of the Atlantic near the US shoreline and that they managed to destroy several boats. In some of my goggling to learn more about this, I found out that in 1941 Germans sank five Allied merchant ships off Georgia shores. Either we never heard about this in school or I wasn't listening that day but I had no idea that German subs were so close to America.

This beautiful book is about bravery and family and an unlikely friendship that bonded three very different men and one woman for years. This is the best book that I've read in a long time and will definitely be one of my best books of the year.

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"Never in the memory of man has there been a war in which courage, the endurance, and the loyalty of civilians has played so vital a part."

I love historical fiction and World War II especially has always captured my interest as I always learn something new.
This is an emotional novel that will tug at your heart. A story of resilience, love, courage, secrets, and forgiveness set during WWII.
Dual timeline historical fiction that beautifully weaves together that had me totally captivated and engaged in the story.
These are characters that will stay with me for a long time. This was a book that I didn't want to put down!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to read this powerful book.

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I was invited to read and review this book before it's public release and am thankful for that. As always with this author, the book is well written and well researched. I learned a lot of information about WW2 that I didn't know before, author notes was probably my favorite section of the book .
Not a big fan of romance novels but this was o.k. and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. I much prefer one of her other books, Blue Hole Back Home and highly recommend it to those who enjoy her writing but not really into romance books

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Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
This is my first time reading this author's books, and I will be reading more! This was a dual timeline story that she pulled off very well. I loved the look into a time in history that I had never even heard about. I highly recommend this read.

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It was so refreshing to learn something surprising and new from a period of time so well written about. Learning about the US East Coast casualties during WW2 really intensified the storyline. You read so many history books already knowing the ending because of the commonality of the events. The fictional story was poetic and engrossing. How three men came together from enemy sides to create a company legacy for future generations was so well told. Dual timeline and different characters is a tough combination, yet this author managed to find the balance beautifully.
I am going off to the library right now to read more of Joy Jordan-Lake.
Thankyou Netgalley for the ARC

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I love a dual time live book, especially one with such rich history. Joy Jordan-Lake hot this one out of the park with such immense woven history into the plot telling such a pivotal story about WWII and the importance of woman and their work within the war. I also loved the diversity of the men's stories and their rich friendships. Couldn't put it down. A great read.

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I have read many novels set in WWII, but Echoes of Us introduced me to new historical details like German U-boats off the coast of Georgia and the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Like Jordan-Lake’s other novels, this book’s richly drawn characters and setting made it impossible to put down. I loved the interplay between the modern-day characters and their historical counterparts, and the ending offered a marvelous twist! I found this story deeply engaging as well as hopeful. I also appreciated that Echoes didn’t romanticize WWII, but demonstrated meticulous research and careful reverence for this history.

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Alternating between World War II and current times, Joy Jordan Lake weaves romance into a story about forgotten (if ever known) history. German US boat 123 attacks and sinks a merchant marine ship as it leaves St.Simons Island off the coast of Georgia, setting the stage for four very different characters to interact: Joanie, A local girl, Will, A Merchant Marine rescued from the torpedoed ship, Dov, A British exchange officer sent to St. Simons to to train Americans in the use of the new Radar systems, and Hans, the submarine engineer who deserts and is picked up as a POW and brought to the island as a prisoner until the war ends.
Jordan-Lake skillfully tells their stories, interweaving them with the party planners hired to organize a reunion of the decendants of the three men who formed a company after the war.
The author's attention to detail is impeccable. I had no idea that German subs killed more Americans than the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, or that WASPs played an integral role in moving bombers and other aircraft to where they were needed during the war.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am a fan of historical fiction, especially stories set in the World War II era and I also enjoy dual time lines, so this story was very interesting and an excellent read. The relationship between three young men and the young woman who was involved which each of them in different aspects was a very insightful, inspiring story. I was not aware of the fact that German U boats were off the southern coast and the ultimate consequences that ensued, and how these young people rose to the occasion and met these challenges. I do not want to give away too much detail, suffice to say this story had a little bit of everything that makes for good reading. I enjoyed the historical fiction details, the inspirational acts of these people, the friendship, love, respect that they had for each other, this story also weaved in some mystery aspects which I did figure out, but the author finished this story with a very neat twist that came as a surprise to me. I would highly recommend this story and I will be reading more books by this author.

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Love this story ! Learned so much history ! Love the way the this author makes story fun , sorry for so may lost lives and the war was awful and such a love story . Will be reading more of Joys books for sure! Woman really had to fight to help with the war

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Our family has lived visiting St Simons Island over the years and have good memories of the familiar landmarks referenced throughout this book. It’s a captivating story that brings out a piece of WWII history many may not know. The author artfully weaves storylines between the historical and contemporary characters with unexpected twists. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it whether or not you have been to the beautiful island of St Simons, Georgia!

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This is a story of 3 men and 1 woman and how they work together to get through WWII. It is a great read that will stay with you. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. This review is my feelings towards the book.

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