I read this book in bits and pieces over the period of a week, staying up late and getting caught up in the story as I worked on my knitting. My exhaustion from work and my studies all but melted away with the joy I found between its pages. I think it's one of the most beautiful and touching books I have read this year 🥺

I'm so grateful I got to read an ARC copy, but it's a book I desperately want on my shelf, and so I'll be keeping an eye out for it 💕

An entertaining coming-of-age novel, Hope's Enduring Echo was a pleasant read. The field of paleontology has always interested me, and it was enjoyable following along on the hunt as Jennie and Leo search the valley for dinosaur bones. Jennie is the "tumultuous age" of 17, on the verge of being a woman and already handling some adult responsibilities. Leo is a kind "college boy", who has chosen to spend the summer searching for dinosaur bones and hoping to help the world see that Creation is truth, and evolution is false. There are a handful of obstacles along the way as they search (as you would expect), and I appreciated much of the Biblical thinking portrayed in this book in dealing with doubt and lack of hope, etc.

The author did tend to explain more events, interactions, and feelings instead of showing them, which feels a bit laborious to me as a reader. It was excessive to me but nothing that would prevent me from reading another of her books. I did end up skimming some parts, though.

The faith content, as I mentioned earlier, was quite nice and a breath of fresh air, in many ways. I feel as though lately, many of the books I've tried reading that are marketed as "Christian" have little to no faith element, which I find very disappointing. Not so with this book! She does a good job of adding faith and Bible into this book. Seeing spiritual growth and maturity was a blessing!

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher. and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Thoughts: This was such a good book! It was a slightly slow start but I loved it. It was honestly mind twisting because I feel like this story is set during the 1800s. But it is actually set in 1915. (I honestly thought for the first but of the book that it was set in the 1980s)

One thing I liked was how main female character, Jenny, how she had normal teenage angst. With emotions boiling over and trouble understanding what she’s feeling and the likes. But it felt real. In most books, when you have teenage angst it’s overdone. It feels like it’s there only for the drama it can bring. But in this book it felt natural, it felt real. And I loved how it was counter balanced with the need for prayer and the need to have hope. How you can’t just wallow in despair and uncertainty.

It’s so sad it was so sad to see how the father was described before he had the accident and then have the comparison of afterwards. How hopeless and… heavy he’d become.

I also liked how Jenny was thinking about defying her father and was planning different ways how she could meet Leo but she didn’t. She chose the right thing to do and she obeyed her parents like the Bible says: children obey your father and mother for this is right.

Jenny’s mom’s commitment to giving her daughter what she needed; going to school, having friends, not having the burden of supporting her family, her commitment to giving her daughter that was amazing. I loved how she was willing to do something that she had no idea how to do, that was hard, dangerous even in order to give her daughter that opportunity… I really like that

Favorite character, part, quote.
Characters: My favorite characters are Etta; I liked how she had the faith and the strength to live and still love her husband. I also like Leo’s complete gentlemanliness. And Jenny; I liked her because she was real. As much as I have never gone through anything that she’s gone through I can relate to her far more any other character I can remember as of right now.
Part: My favorite part was when Etta made the decision to take over the line walking for her daughter so Jenny could live her life as 17 year old
Quote: NA

Bible Verse:
Romans 15:13 KJV
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Content List

Language/Profanity: NA

Faith: Praying; Talk of prayer; Talk of Hope and how we need it; Bible verses and talk of the Bible; Talk of the flood; Talk of God.

Romance/Sex: Thinking of a kiss; ‘I really like you.’; falling in love.

Violence ect.: Past accedent.

Other: Lies, a few to keep something secret, and another that I don’t quite know if it was actually a lie. The mother said she needed the outhouse. And she did, not just in the normal sense. She needed to give herself space and a good place to cry, so she did need it… In my opinion.

Part of a Series: Nope.

Synopsis:
Geology student Leo Day has been waiting for a big find to prove his career path is worthy to his father. While riding the train along the Arkansas River in Canon City, Colorado, Leo spots a young woman waving at the passing cars holding something that looks like a piece of fossilized bone. He catches up to the girl after leaping from the slow train and his pulse gallops when he recognizes it as a rib bone from a smaller dinosaur species, most likely a Allosaurus. She confides she’s found several similar bones, and he asks her to show him where.

Whether it was loneliness or boredom that led Jennie Ward to leave the water line and escort this stranger to the place where her daddy’s border collie had unearthed several bones, she couldn’t say, but she enjoys visiting with him. Could he become the friend she’s been praying for? As he leaves, he promises to return soon and asks if she’ll be his guide. She has little time for socializing, given her responsibility to the water works due to her father’s injury and aftermath, but the opportunity to gain a friend is too hard to resist. She agrees.

As the weeks pass, Leo, a man longing for a father’s approval, and Jennie, a girl trapped by her loyalty to a despondent father, become friends and confidantes. And God’s plan for both Leo’s and Jennie’s futures will unfold like an excavation of dinosaur bones.

Your review
•••
Apr 21, 2025
WOW, Hope's Enduring Echo was another masterpiece by Kim Vogel Sawyer! Initially I hesitated about reading this book because I couldn't imagine a book about digging for dinosaur bones capturing my attention. Was I ever wrong! Kim Vogel Sawyer is a master storyteller whose descriptions of characters and settings makes the reader feel as though they are right in the middle of the story. What I especially enjoyed about this book was how KVS wove in thought provoking Biblical references to the Mesozoic Era by using very down to earth characters of Jennie Ward and Leo Day. I highly recommend this book!
#KimVogelSawyer
#HopesEnduringEcho #NetGalley

I enjoyed reading Hope’s Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I can always count on Kim Vogel Sawyer to deliver an engaging story with developed, realistic characters. I liked the characters in this story. The story is told from Jennie, Etta, and Leo’s point-of-view. The transitions were smooth, and it was not confusing going from character to character. I felt for Jennie and her mother, Etta. I could just imagine how lonely Jennie was as well as her mother. Jennie’s mother, Etta, though, was focused on getting her daughter an education and friends. It was interesting reading about the search for the dinosaur bones as well as the water pipeline made from wood. Mental illness was a fledgling science back then. I liked how the family sought help and answers. Faith was beautifully woven into the story. I enjoyed the Scripture references, and I bookmarked several of them so I could write them down. The puppy was a delightful addition to the story. I wish that there had been an epilogue to let readers know how everyone was doing a year or so later. Hope’s Enduring Echo is a heartwarming historical tale with pipeline rambling, a bulky bone, a probing paleontologist, depressed dad, a precious pup, a talented artist, and having faith.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5)
Short Summary:
In a Christian historical fiction book set in Canon City, Colorado, we follow Jennie Ward, a brilliant young woman who takes on the job of inspecting a seven-mile wooden pipeline because her father can no longer go due to an accident that left him with a leg injury. Despite this responsibility, Jennie prays and longs for a friend. When a paleontology student, Leo Day, arrives in search of fossilized dinosaur bones, their friendship blossoms, and the warmth of their bond is palpable.
Jennie longs to be loyal to her father, while Leo struggles to get his father's approval. There are themes of faith, love, friendship, growth, duty, and family.
Review:
This was a fantastic book. I enjoyed the friendship between Jennie and Leo, and I was happy when they fell for each other. The acts of kindness Leo did for Jennie melted my heart. However, towards the middle of the book, I felt like the pace had slowed, and when they started talking about Jennie and Leo in search of dinosaur fossils, I began getting bored. The detailed descriptions of the fossil hunt were not to my taste, and I found myself skimming these parts. Aside from the mentions of fossils, I initially enjoyed the book as I was never really invested in that part of the book. The faith elements in this book were beautiful, and I was rooting for these characters at times. I was able to relate to Jennie when it came to her faith, which at times was comforting to know that, although she's a fictional character, I still enjoy reading these parts. Nonetheless, this was a good book that I highly recommend, especially if you want to read a book with great faith content.

Kim Vogel Sawyer continues to be one of my favorite authors writing in this genre. HOPE'S ENDURING ECHO is another terrific novel from this talented author.

The faith content, as always, is incredibly strong.

This is a comforting story. There are no real "bad guys", only characters you want to root for.

The protagonist is only 17 so this should appeal to younger readers as well. The coming of age angle is handled beautifully. Jennie tries to pray and do the right thing. I also very much enjoyed the mother/daughter dynamic.

The romance with Leo is sweet and realistic; given her young age, he treats her with admirable and appropriate respect. He is Jennie's friend first, always supportive.

The creation science topic is super interesting.

A thoroughly comforting and wonderful novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Hope’s Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a historical story about a young woman’s struggle with dire family circumstances, and follows her journey of hope when a young palaeontologist befriends her during their quest for a dinosaur skeleton.

I found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable although I did find the middle to be a bit slow (probably because I was once again in a reading slump—not the book’s fault). I would actually categorise this book as YA because it has some coming-of-age plot points which I liked because there isn’t nearly enough YA historical fiction books available.

I really liked Jennie & Leo and thought their friendship was very sweet. Overall, I’d definitely recommend to anyone who likes clean historical fiction with relatable characters, themes of faith and hope, and an interesting palaeontology side plot!

About this book:

“Geology student Leo Day has been waiting for a big find to prove his career path is worthy to his father. While riding the train along the Arkansas River in Canon City, Colorado, Leo spots a young woman waving at the passing cars holding something that looks like a piece of fossilized bone. He catches up to the girl after leaping from the slow train and his pulse gallops when he recognizes it as a rib bone from a smaller dinosaur species, most likely a Allosaurus. She confides she’s found several similar bones, and he asks her to show him where.
Whether it was loneliness or boredom that led Jennie Ward to leave the water line and escort this stranger to the place where her daddy’s border collie had unearthed several bones, she couldn’t say, but she enjoys visiting with him. Could he become the friend she’s been praying for? As he leaves, he promises to return soon and asks if she’ll be his guide. She has little time for socializing, given her responsibility to the water works due to her father’s injury and aftermath, but the opportunity to gain a friend is too hard to resist. She agrees.
As the weeks pass, Leo, a man longing for a father’s approval, and Jennie, a girl trapped by her loyalty to a despondent father, become friends and confidantes. And God’s plan for both Leo’s and Jennie’s futures will unfold like an excavation of dinosaur bones.”


Series: As of now, no. Seems to be a stand-alone novel.


Spiritual Content- Psalm 40:1 at the beginning; Scriptures are mentioned, remembered, thought over, quoted, & discussed; Many, many prayers & thanking God; Feeling peace; Church going, sermons, & singing hymns; Many talks about God, prayers/praying, having Hope, & creation; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Jennie has prayed for her father to get better for over a year, but hasn’t lately because she thinks that if God hasn’t answered them by now, He wasn’t going to (adding that her Mama could “waste her time imploring Him”, but Jennie was done); Jennie does a prayer that has a hint of sarcasm to it and thinks that if God was as forgiving as her Mama said, He’s understand “her momentary lapse into bitterness”; Jennie has been taught that Someone was always watching over her and that knowledge has curtailed her yielding to many temptations over the years, but wonders that if God isn’t answering her prayers, if He’s even paying attention to her and if she even has to behave then, but decides she won’t deliberately get up to mischief whether God was watching or not because she doesn’t want to hurt her Mama; Jennie feels as if it would be selfish to pray for her own silly emotions when her parents need the prayers more in her eyes; Leo plans to visit the different churches in town as he hasn’t experienced other denominations’ services and thinks it could be “interesting and enlightening”; Jennie and Leo both have a moment where they don’t pay attention during a prayer or sermon because of other thoughts and feel ashamed; Leo considered skipping church for hunting dinosaur fossils, but ultimately to still go to church; All about many mentions of prayers, praying, answered prayers, thanking God, & blessings over food (including Jennie and Leo praying for and with each other); Many mentions of God, His will, peace, having hope, & not holding on to bitterness; Many mentions of churches (including different denominations like Presbyterian and Baptist & a home-church service), church going, services, worship, hymns, sermons, & ministers; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of Jennie’s family doing a home-church most Sundays with just the three of them; Mentions of faiths & sharing it with others; Mentions of God-given talents; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of the Holy Spirit; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of blessings & being Blessed;
*Note: Leo hopes to one day help prove that the earth is thousands of years old and not millions like some of his professors teach (when his father asks him what eternal good is Leo doing, Leo wants to respond that he truly believes that he could “do eternal good by disproving scientific theories that discredited creationism”; *Spoiler* Towards the very end, Leo’s father realizes he was wrong to push Leo down the route of his choosing and says he will cheer Leo on in his determination to align his findings with biblical truths *End of Spoiler*); Leo discusses with Jennie about creationist views and evolution views (including how the Great Flood effected things, how evolution is a theory, and Scripture talking about giant creatures); *Spoiler* Claude lashes out at Leo and Jennie when he thinks Jennie has learned evolution thoughts from Leo and bans him from their home *End of Spoiler*; ‘Heaven only knows’ is said once; Mentions of evolution, eras, & fossils of prehistoric creatures like dinosaurs and trilobites; A mention of Santa Claus.


Negative Content- Pain, Injuries, & Being caught in a hailstorm (barely-above-not-detailed); Jennie, Etta, and Leo all try to avoid lying to each other and others (some half-truths and fibs are said still with guilt and asking God for forgiveness; Leo grapples with his conscience about keeping the Ward family’s secret); Mentions of an accident, injuries, & pain (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of the passing of a beloved dog from old age, finding him, & grief/sobbing (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); A few mentions of eavesdropping; A few mentions of mummified remains of cats being used in science; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a cigarette; A mention of hunters;
*Note: After Jennie’s father fell and broke his leg two years prior, he hasn’t been the same and his wife, Etta, is his caretaker while Jennie does his work for their living; Jennie struggles with a “tumble of emotions” like “resentment and worry and sorrow and sympathy” when thinking about her father and how he is now; Jennie feels guilt over her father’s accident (*Spoiler* As it happened the one day she wasn’t with him and her mother and her found him hours later with a broken leg *End of Spoiler*); Jennie’s father interrupts, snaps, and is unkind to Jennie and Etta at times because of his “woebegone attitude”; Jennie’s father, Claude, tells Etta that she should have given up on him months ago and that he is worthless and a burden to her (She is hurt by this as she loves him and promised before God to be faithful whether in sickness or death and tells him so); Jennie feels guilt for wanting her father to be hurt (emotionally) like he did to her and asks God to forgive her for the thoughts; Jennie has a fear that she might not have much more time with her father if he doesn’t get better because it seems as if he is withering away; *Spoilers* After Claude bans Leo from their home, Jennie struggles with the temptation of still meeting with Leo because her father didn’t exactly tell her not to see him, but is reminded by her conscience to honor her father and mother which she does despite the temptation to do otherwise; At one point, Etta goes to the outhouse and sobs over Claude and his harsh words & prays after *End of Spoilers*; Leo thinks that Claude may have ‘melancholia’ (which the discussion questions at the end of the book call it depression) and shudders when he thinks of the “treatments” available for it (such as being shocked with electricity or removing a portion of the brain; Leo does not share about this with Jennie); *Spoilers, but also a mental illness* After contacting the doctor at an insane asylum for a possible evaluation of Claude, he is upset at the thought but Jennie says that “we need a different kind of doctor to make us well when our minds are sick. Folks who are stuck forever in sadness have a sickness in their minds. The sickness is what makes them feel sad all the time. They need a doctor to help them.”; A bit later, Jennie tells Leo that she wishes there were medicines for “sicknesses of the mind” and to “cure endless sadness” which Leo says that maybe there will be someday *End of Spoilers*; Leo and his father have a strained relationship because of Leo not following in his father’s footsteps as a minister and his father disapproving of his career choice (Leo thinks often about wanting to be recognized by his father and gain approval from him; *Spoiler* Towards the very end, Leo’s father realizes he was wrong to push Leo down the route of his choosing and says he will cheer Leo on in his determination to align his findings with biblical truths *End of Spoiler*); Many mentions of mental illnesses (called “mental diseases”, an “imbalance somewhere in the brain”, and an “illness of the mind” throughout the book), psychiatrists, & an insane asylum (Leo is also concerned that Claude could become violent to Jennie and Etta & share with his family in a letter that Claude is emotionally unstable, which could be perceived as “harsh and critical” but he wants his parents to understand the problem so they can specifically pray); Mentions of schoolmates and professors ridiculing Leo for his interest in paleontology and/or having a creationist view; A few mentions of books and fictional characters (Pinocchio & Oliver Twist); A mention of Leo always thinking that dish washing was a duty for girls as his mother and sisters saw to the cooking and cleaning up at home, but washes dishes himself as a job at the hotel.


Sexual Content- A hand kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Wondering about a possible kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Etta also kisses Claude on the forehead twice & cuddles into Claude in their bed once (barely-above-not-detailed); A few Touches, a couple Embraces, Flutters, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); A few blushes; Some noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Claude makes a comment about Jennie and Leo wandering around without supervision (which Leo tries to tell him that nothing like that has happen and Jennie is very hurt by her father’s accusation; *Spoiler* Later, Etta allows Jennie and Leo to wander the hill again because she trusts them and can no longer trust Claude’s “ability to make rational decisions” *End of Spoiler*); Some young men corner Jennie and make her uncomfortable with their “overly friendly advances” (Leo doesn’t think they meant harm, but scares them off anyway); Etta thinks about how Jennie hadn’t reached the age of noticing boys when they moved to town, but that apparently Jennie isn’t indifferent and Etta thinks Jennie is smitten with Leo; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of handsome men; Very light love, falling in love, & the emotions (Jennie tries to guard herself the majority of the book from having more than friendship feelings for Leo because he will only be there for a summer and reminds herself about it a few times; She also makes a vow to herself to not let her “silly emotions” interfere in their budding friendship);
*Note: A mention of Leo looking at the end of a pup to find out the gender.

-Jennie Ward, age 17
-Leo Day
-Etta Ward
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1915
352 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

Full disclaimer: This book made me want to cry at about sixteen different parts. 🥲😭🥹

It almost felt like a YA Historical novel with Jennie being seventeen. The mother-daughter relationship between Etta and Jennie plus their conversations were so good to see. I’ve commented on this before in another book by this author, but it’s so nice to see a parent who is active in their young adult’s life and not only caring for them, but also praying hard for their grown child.

The faith content was outstanding in this book. Incredibly strong and incredibly prevalent throughout it. Despite her father being a bear about different things, Jennie honors and obeys both him and her mother. She’s tempted to not listen to their words like most teens might be, but prays about it and does the right thing. Having been a caretaker to a family member for nearly a year this book went with some emotions I’ve felt, but other emotions I could understood in a way that only one who has walked this path could, despite my family’s situation being different from the Ward family. In a way, it felt a little unnerving to read, like it was almost too raw to read and I was encroaching on their private lives. But in another way, I understood. I understood where they were coming from and how the path to healing isn’t as easily as we hope or pray for.

The romance was very light and definitely not the main focus of the book. You could argue the romance is basically non-existent because of the age difference with Jennie being only 17 and Leo is in college. That age gap doesn’t personally bother me in this historical setting and how they don’t even share a kiss or any romantic feelings in that way until the final chapter which is partially set a year later. He treated her at first very brotherly, but then they became close friends. The ending had me squeeing in delight! 🥹🥹🥹

Leo might be threatening Emmett from “The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow” for my favorite male lead by this author. The way he encouraged her, talked with her, prayed with her (!!), and was her friend which gradually lead into possible more was absolutely lovely and so heartwarming.

I grew up loving to learn about creation science and going to lectures in that field, so many parts of this book reminded me of what I learned then. Despite having very little (more like a small percentage) of interest in dinosaurs and being a little bummed at first this book would have the topic (as I’ve seen it a handful of times before in recent years in the Christian Fiction market), I ended up really enjoying those parts and how it was all connected back into the strong faith themes and conversations. Leo was so passionate about it and the connection to creation—which that was pretty frequently mentioned and discussed which this book have the most about creation science or biblical creationism compared to the other ones I’ve read.

One thing I greatly appreciated about this book was that there were no villains/antagonists in it. No person causing trouble or drama, just characters I could cheer for and hope with. I can’t say I see that much and it was very refreshing.

Often when I’m reading, my mind will jump to predicting what will happen in this book—and usually I’m right. Interestingly enough, though, with this story most of my fears of potential events didn’t happen. I was perhaps waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, but it didn’t happen. The ending of this book is a bit opened ended—it truly could have a follow-up novella or epilogue at least!—but it was wrapped up beautifully and realistically. Our trials and troubles don’t wrap up within a month or three hundred pages, so it makes sense that everything this family is going through wouldn’t either. That said, I wasn’t upset about how it ended and honestly had to wipe away my tears multiple times while reading.

What an incredible book. This is not just a coming of age book, but a coming into your own faith as well. Learning to trust the Lord when times are hard and you can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Such a tender picture of depression and how hard it is to watch your family member suffer. Yet pouring it all out the Lord. Every tear and worry. I can’t tell you how many times I cried just because the story was just so beautiful.

Hope’s Enduring Echo is a very sweet coming of age novel with a strong Christian message. Jennie is a naïve sheltered young girl who longs for friendship and Leo is a college student with great manners and a strong Christian faith. The novel moves at a fairly slow pace. But it is filled with hope and I am sure it will be enjoyed by readers looking for a clean faith filled novel. This could also make a good bookclub selection as I could see a lot of discussions happening around many of the books’ topics.

Some hope to forge a new path as they discover the past, some hope to find what they had or who they were, while others long to uncover who they’ll become. In all of this, our certainty and stability is found in the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hope’s Enduring Echo takes a reader on a beautiful and deeply emotional journey. Prepare to feel, prepare for words to drift out of focus as tears fill your eyes, and prepare to pause because there are profound moments worth reflecting on.

Told from three points of view — Jennie’s, Leo’s, and Etta’s, who is Jennie’s mother — this story features many contrasting details, which could be discussed with friends, family members, or a book club. The nuances are filled with spiritual truths, yet it doesn’t feel excessive. I’ve read many stories in which the setting is used skillfully to contribute to a scene, but it’s done exceptionally well in this novel. My attention was captured by the vivid descriptions from the first chapter.

The historical details are fascinating. However, some parts are heartbreaking to read since they deal with depression and isolation. You can’t help but feel for the characters.

Of all the verses that went through my mind as I read this book, these stood out: love in action (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7), shoes of peace (see Ephesians 6:15), and there’s a time for mourning and dancing (see Ecclesiastes 3:4).

Hope’s Enduring Echo is an incredible story about perseverance, holding on to faith, hope, trust, and gratitude when we’re tempted to give up.

Themes: Depression; isolation; loneliness; friendship; love; faithfulness; hope against hope

*Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ms. Kim Vogel Sawyer has proven to this reader that she is a master storyteller in the historical fiction genre. This reader is not a fan of dinosaurs or paleontology, but after the first few chapters, the page turning began at a fast pace. The sweet relationship between Jennie and Leo kept the plot moving, and any reader for romance dialed into the story. This reader had such empathy for Jennie, who wanted to honor her father’s wishes while wanting to learn more about paleontology and continue her friendship with Leo.

Mental health is addressed in the story and continues to be a subject addressed in many Christian Fiction titles over the last year. Ms. Sawyer addresses this in such a way and informing the readers of the stigma and challenges in the era. Hope’s Enduring Echo is highly recommended to fans of historical fiction, and Ms. Sawyer’s fans will devour this title.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Waterbrook, in exchange for an honest review.

Kim Vogel Sawyer does it again—bringing us a story full of quiet strength, hope, and heart. Hope’s Enduring Echo follows Jennie Ward, a young woman walking a lonely, seven-mile water pipeline in place of her injured father. She’s dutiful, resilient, and carrying more responsibility than most her age. But underneath all that, she’s a girl longing—for school, for connection, and simply, for a friend.

Her honest and almost desperate prayer is answered in a surprising way: through Leo Day, a paleontology student and preacher’s son who leaps off a train in search of buried bones and maybe something more. Their friendship blooms slowly, sweetly, and carries a quiet power that stays with you.

This story warmed my heart and reminded me of the quiet ways God meets us in our longing. It’s not just a love story—it’s about healing, identity, and learning to hope again.

Sawyer also gently touches on mental health, grief, and family dynamics, weaving them in without overshadowing the tenderness of the tale. A beautiful reminder that God hears even the simplest prayers—and answers in ways we don’t expect.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Really enjoyed the story of Jennie and Leo, the story was strong with excellent characters and so well written. I have read several of this authors books and have each one to be interesting and well described.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to publisher WaterBrook & Multnomah | WaterBrook and author for the excellent read.

A fossilized bone may whisper of the past, but faith and hope echo through eternity. Like the line walkers of long ago who traversed the Arkansas River’s water pipelines in Cañon City, Jennie Ward treads a narrow path, balancing duty and longing, faith and weariness, loneliness and the hope of something more. And then there’s Leo Day, searching for evidence—both in the dirt and in his own heart—that his calling is worthy.

This is a novel where faith echoes across generations, much like the fossilized bones buried in the earth. The past whispers to the present, reminding us that our stories are never truly isolated. Leo’s search for paleontological discoveries mirrors a deeper excavation—the digging into faith, identity, and purpose. He stands in the tension between science and belief, yearning to prove that the two are not at odds. The beauty of this novel is that it does not merely present faith as a passive, comfortable thing; instead, it shows how trust in God requires perseverance, just like uncovering fossils layer by layer.

Jennie, a caretaker in every sense, walks the pipeline—literally and figuratively—holding up the world of those she loves. She is the embodiment of sacrificial love, yet she also longs for a friend who sees beyond what she does to who she is. The weight she carries is familiar to anyone who has ever held a burden they did not choose but could not put down. And yet, her hope remains, not in circumstances, but in the God who walks the line with her. “The One to whom she offers the prayers is her source of hope … the prayers are her connection to Him and the hope He gives.” This truth hums through every page of the book like a steady refrain.

Faith in Hope’s Enduring Echo is a lifeline, gripped with weary hands and unwavering resolve. Leo and Jennie wrestle, question, and seek, their lessons not spoon-fed but carved into the marrow of their lives. In the end, they discover what we all must: Hope isn’t found in what we unearth but in the One who holds us steady as we walk the line.

Psalm 40:1 — I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher, WaterBrook, and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the excellent writing and the story’s fantastic content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Hope’s Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer – A Lovely, Enjoyable and Inspirational Read

Hope’s Enduring Echo is Kim Vogel Sawyer’s new book. I have only read one other book by this author. So glad I found this novel it was a lovely read, even with some weighty issues it addressed.

Hope’s Enduring Echo takes place in Canon City, Colorado in 1915. The story is about the Ward family, Claude, Edda, and their daughter Jennie. Claude’s job was to do a daily inspection of the wooden pipeline that brings water to the town of Canon City. The family live in a remote cabin near the pipeline and they have no neighbors. Other than their monthly trip to town and seeing the train passengers and crew, they do not see too many people. Claude had always taken pride in providing for his family. Thing changed two years ago when he sustained a serious injury to his leg. He was not able to do the inspections since then. His daughter Jennie has taken over the daily inspection of the pipeline. Claude’s leg was not the only wound, daily he seems to be losing the battle to melancholia.

Jennie has been homeschooled since the Wards moved to the cabin. She has missed being in school and having friends. That is why Jennie prayed that God would bring her a friend. Every day when the train passed by Jennie waved to the crew and passengers. One day a college student, Leo Day, got off at their stop. He had seen this girl waving what looked like a bone. Could it be a bone from a dinosaur? As a paleontologist, Leo wanted to take a closer look and find out where it came from. Could this young man be the answer to Jennie’s prayer for a friend?

I absolutely loved reading Hope’s Enduring Echo. It was such a change of pace from so many other books. Instead of being action packed, the story focused on the characters and their relationships and how they develop, grow, and change.

The best part of this book was the characters’ Christian faith. The characters strived to live out their faith, to apply the Scriptures to their daily life, choices, and how they responded to situations. I loved that when characters realized that they had acted unkindly or impatiently they showed repentance and strove to apologize and make amends.

When I think of Christian fiction, Hope’s Enduring Echo is a wonderful example of what I am looking for. The characters’ faith was integrated into who they were and how they lived their lives. Faith was an integral part of the storyline.

I also enjoyed the different characters, especially Jennie, Edda, and Leo. Claude struggled with depression it was painful to see him stuck in that cycle. I appreciate the tender and caring response his wife and daughter displayed. It was nice seeing the relationship between Jennie and Leo develop. I found Leo’s quest to locate dinosaur bones and the study of paleontology interesting.

I enjoyed reading Hope’s Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer and I highly recommend this book. I look forward to reading more of this author’s novels, past and future books. Kim writes in a manner that takes me back to what Christian fiction was like when I was a new believer. Seeing the Christian faith as essential in the characters lives.

I would like to thank Waterbrook Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Hope’s Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

I loved this book it was a delightful tale with wonderful characters and settings. I received a review copy from NetGalley but the views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Hope's Enduring Echo is a delightful story about two characters whose discovery of fossilized dinosaur bones leads to love and faith.

Jennie Ward's father works for a water pipeline company that supplies water to a local town in Colorado. When he falls off the pipeline during a storm, Jennie resumes his job as a pipeline inspector. While making her daily seven-mile trek down the pipeline, she waves to the passing train only to find a young paleontologist who is interested in the fossilized dinosaur bone that her dog has discovered. Leo Day is the son of a preacher and is an amateur paleontologist staying in town for the summer before going back to college. In efforts to unearth the bones of a dinosaur, he befriends Jennie and her family and grows to love them as equally as his own.

This book is part historical fiction and Christian fiction, but mainly Christian fiction. There are strong themes of faith and creationism presented in the book along with mental illness. Although the two main characters develop feelings for each other, the romance is very slight. I loved the way the book presented the argument of creationism versus evolution. After reading the excerpt, I was curious on how the author was going to present this idea in a Biblical perspective. The book was well written, thought-provoking, well executed, and was a wonderful read for lovers of historical Christian fiction who like a hint of romance in their stories. If you enjoy faith-based historical fiction novels, you will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts are my own.

Hope's Enduring Echo takes place in 1915 Colorado. Seventeen-year-old Jennie Ward had taken over her daddy's job of walking and examining the water pipeline that provided water to Cañon City after he fell and broke his leg when she was 15. Her father had slipped into depression after the fall and had never been able to return to his job. It was a heavily guarded secret as her family depended on the income and home that was provided by the Water Works Department. The first person to discover their secret was Leo Day, a young college student aspiring to become a paleontologist and to use that platform to prove the biblical creation story and his belief in young earth creationism. What better place to go on a dinosaur hunt than Colorado, the home of the Bone Wars from 1877 to 1892? Jennie had been without friends since moving to the pipeline. Leo seemed to be an answer to her prayer for a friend. And so began the summer of 1915. Readers will be moved by the many events that occur before that summer draws to a close. The author beautifully illustrates how God moves through prayer and through suffering when one allows oneself to have hope in the Lord and to place themselves and those they love in His care.

Kim Vogel Sawyer consistently writes sweet stories that address difficult themes. This story does not only address the controversial topic of creationism, but also mental illness. It addresses the first with a logically reasoned argument without being argumentative, and the second with great compassion. I highly recommend Hope's Enduring Echo, and all previous works by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.