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.

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

Kim Vogel Sawyer's books are a must read for me. I look forward each year to her new book and again this book didn't disappoint. The book is a historical Fiction with a subtle romance thread. In this book we meet Jennie Ward walking the line checking the water pipe for signs of need for repairs. She is holding a bone her father's previous dog had found when the train goes by. She always waves and is waving the bone. Leo Day is a college student wanting to be a palaeontologist sees the bone from the train. This starts a friendship and search for more bones.

We then meet Etta Ward, Jennie's mother and Claude her father. Jennie is walking the line due to her father's accident that has left him with a limb and despondent. The book is written from Jennie, Etta and Leo's Points of view which gives more insight into the story. The book has a very strong faith element and deals with some serious issues.

Jennie is now 17 and shouldering the responsibility of her family with the Monday - Friday walking the pipeline but longs to study art. While she would love to have friends and study, she also feels the loyalty to her family. Her mother also feels the same burden knowing that life in the valley being so isolated is not good for her daughter and the monthly trip to the town isn't enough. I love the dynamic between mother and daughter and how they are holding on to hope and prayers.

Then we see Leo who has his own issues with his father. Coming from a long line of preachers it is expected Leo will continue the tradition. He thinks he knows best and Leo feels the rejection of his father. Leo is so intent on finding a dinosaur to prove himself to his father.

This book reads well and moves at a good pace. We see growth in the characters and understanding and hope. I love how Kim handles some of the tricky topics and doesn't just wash over them and give the easy way out. She highlights even back in the early 1900's how some problems are not just fixed but have to be sorted through. I did enjoy how it worked out and love the ending. Sorry is I am being vague but I don't give spoilers and so much happens after the first few chapters.

If you like historical fiction with a hint of romance, I am sure you will enjoy this book.

Jennie Ward, seventeen years old, is of a tumultuous age in the summer of 1915. (Her mother, Etta told her so.) Each and every day she walks the wooden structure of the water line that is crucial to the citizens of Canon City. Her parents expect this of her. Her father, Claude is the lineman for Canon City's water source. The family is harboring a secret.
Paleontology student, Leo Day notices a person waving as he rides the train. They are going slowly enough that he is sure she is carrying a bone. A dinosaur bone. This may be his chance to make a discovery and prove to his father that it could be God's will that he become a paleontologist.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book. This is my own unsolicited opinion. This is an excellent story. My first reaction was thinking of my grandmother who was born in 1900. Here I'm reading of another teenager living in a rural area trying to meet her parent's expectations. Jennie has a lot of time to think as she travels the long distance each day. She aches to go to school. She misses living in the city where her aunt and uncle reside.
The story is told in three voices which make it quite interesting.
I liked the historical aspects of everyday train travel just to get supplies, the amazing thought of a water line being made of wood and running above ground.
The mental health issue and the time period is very well handled.
Despite the hardships Etta has great faith and stamina.
For those who enjoy a sweet and clean romance you will find it here.
There is hope for change, healing and love.
This is a five-star read for me.

This book had a great plot and good storytelling. I loved the friendship between Jennie and Leo as they searched for dinosaur bones near her cottage. I also liked the message that God always answers our prayers even if the answer is not now. Another message I loved was how science and religion are connected and prove that God created all things. This was such an inspiring and uplifting read! A Reading Guide is included for discussions.

Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Hope's Enduring Echo is a Christian historical fiction romance aimed at young adults. The story takes place near Canon City, Colorado, in 1915.


Jennie, the linewalker's daughter, wrote reports for Claude Ward after he stopped walking the line due to an accident.


I appreciated that the author mentioned the allosaurus existed thousands of years ago instead of millions, contrary to what some professors teach.


My favorite quote: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."


It was intriguing to learn about melancholia, a sad and gloomy state of being.


The characters and plot were engaging, and the author's tone was conversational. Set in the early 1900s, the events were believable.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4 NIV.

This verse is the theme of Hope's Enduring Echo. Faith almost lost, regained, strengthened, tested, endurance tested, patience tested. Kim Vogel Sawyer has masterfully dealt with deep, tough, questions with a sensitive, light touch and finesse that speaks volumes of her craft.

The budding of clean, loving, strengthening friendships that are a rarity, a tender love story, a paleontological dig site, dinosaur bones, creationism, honouring God as Lord, the agony of slow mental illness, family strength, love and unity -- these are some of the unifying, underlying themes in this lovely, hard to put down novel.

Buy the book, read it and savour God's goodness and faithfulness in your life.

I was given an ARC for my enjoyment. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

1915 Colorado

Heartwarming as expected.

Jennie Ward lives in a remote cabin with her parents. Since her father was injured two years ago, she's been handling his job of checking a wooden water pipeline. This involves walking on top of the pipeline for 14 miles every weekday. Jennie is able to keep her father's income and housing intact at the sacrifice of her own education.

Paleontology student Leo Day happens across Jenny and they soon strike up a friendship. Leo's battle is working through conflict with his father who believes Leo should be a minister like the long line of men before him.

There's a lot to love about this novel including historical details about the area, paleontology and the methods for treating mental illness. The novel is told from three points of view: Jennie, Leo and Jennie's mother Etta.

Another winner from Sawyer! This is a great story of a girl who is coming into being a woman who is discovering who she is in the midst of crisis and tragedy. A tale that is gritty and full of hope, this is a story everyone can relate to in one way or another. You will find yourself falling in love with each character for different reasons and rooting each of them on throughout the story. Amazing, gritty, life filled read~highly recommend!

When Leo Day meets Jennie Ward, he is on a train and spots her from his window walking across the terrain with a large bone in her hand. Leo immediately identifies the bone that Jennie is carrying as an allosaurus bone and hops off the train to scramble toward her. Leo quickly explains that he is a paleontology student and befriends Jennie as he beguiles her to guide him across this land adjacent to her home as he searches for the remainder of the fossilized skeleton-- perhaps one of the most impactful and significant archeological digs of the time!

Readers quickly learn that Jennie has been walking the length of the Waterworks pipe to continually ensure there are no leaks or damage to the pipe-- a job which her father was originally hired to do but Jennie took over after her father had sustained an injury to his leg. We also learn that Jennie is an exceptionally apt and skillful daughter who has great concern for her family, and works dutifully to ensure her father's endeavors for the Waterworks company are satisfactorily carried out so they will be allowed to remain in their home. Throughout the course of the narrative, readers are introduced to a myriad of interactions between Vogel's beloved characters-- and the many emotions written into these interactions.

The narrative itself is written from a variety of character perspectives, which allows each character to more fully offer detailed explanations of their own unique roles. Throughout these perspectives we are offered glimpses into their worlds and their pathways of encountering and overcoming specific challenges posed.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is an excellent author and her novel Hope's Enduring Echo is a worthwhile read for any literature scholar or avid reader.

Hope's Enduring Echo
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Genre: Christian fiction, historical drama, and romance

In the picturesque landscape of Canon City, Colorado, geology student Leo Day longs for the moment when he can unveil a significant discovery that will validate his career choice in the eyes of his father. One fateful day, as the train snakes along the shimmering Arkansas River, Leo's gaze lands on a young woman standing on a pipeline. She waves enthusiastically at the passing cars, clutching what appears to be a remarkable piece of fossilized bone, igniting a spark of curiosity in him.

Jenny Ward bears the weight of her family’s struggles on her shoulders. Since her father’s accident, which rendered him unable to work, she has stepped up as the main breadwinner. This responsibility has isolated her from the joys of youth—school, learning more about art, friendships, and social gatherings. In her heart, she carries a fervent prayer for companionship, and little does she know that Leo is destined to be the answer to that prayer.

The story artfully weaves together mental health themes, presenting them in a thoughtful and uplifting manner. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Colorado hills in 1915, the story unfolds with profound spiritual insights and richly developed characters. They navigate the complexities of family dynamics while demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity, reminding us of the strength found in friendship and faith.

i wanted to read this book because it was such a unique setting and plot to one im used to. its definitely centered and mentions the faith element alot but its doesnt feel forced upon you. but if you are completely averse to this topic then you better avoid this book. but then you should know this seeing as its Christian fiction.
like many families at this time and setting i felt young Jennie had such old shoulders and a needs to protect and take care of her family was genuine and lovely. but at the same time she yearns for what anyone does. especially at her age,...for company,fun, just something outside of what seems a heavy life. shes currently looking after her dads job role. she walks miles a day to check the pipeline for her father who is off sick. i thought the descriptions and effects of his illness was told delicately and really well.
this was a proper journey into a family. a normal family in their own world. ones we all have. that behind closed doors no one could really understand what many family do, feel, go through. but here we get a window into that and its such a warming and yet tough read all at once. and i found myself many times wanting to offer an ear to Jennie.
we also hear from her mother. which was really good. because you see it from both daughter and mother point of view. and how different but similar they both were. and how eventually they like we all want the same thing. for your family to be ok. and that love and faith really can do amazing things.
i really enjoyed how the romantic side of it entered with Leo. and like the rest of the book it felt like it naturally fit. that too of the supporting characters. it was a smooth book lol. one i could settle down, and settle in for.
there is a smooth flow to this book that felt right. and im glad i got the chance to read something different for me.

What an absolutely beautiful story! When Jennie Ward prayed for a friend, she never expected Leo Day to pop up in front of her. But he did, and a friendship was born.
The story follows Jennie, an intelligent young woman doing a man’s job to take care of her family, and Leo, a paleontology student looking for dinosaur bones, over the course of a summer. As they become friends, they encourage one another through trials, with their constant refrain being to hold onto hope.
Hope is the central message of the book, and it’s woven throughout the pages. There’s a love story, but it’s gentle and slow. Mostly, this book reminds us of a Heavenly Father who cares.
I found myself feeling teary multiple times as Jennie learned to trust God, and find hope when the situation was hopeless.
Kim Vogel Sawyer always writes wonderfully unique characters, and I loved Leo, Jennie, and Etta. Jennie is strong, but she’s also sweet and feminine, and Leo is her perfect match. The dinosaur search added an extra layer to the story.
If you want a sweet, uplifting read, Hope’s Enduring Echo is the perfect choice. You’ll come to the end with a smile on your face and hope in your heart—and a little bit of romance, too!
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is full of hope and inspiration. I loved the characters and how they grew throughout the book. I loved Leo and Jennie's friendship. The townspeople were kind and were instruments in God's hand. Leo was also an answer to prayer and Jennie and answer to Leo's prayer. I enjoyed this book.

Hope’s Enduring Echo, by Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a Christian Historical Fiction story that takes place near Canon City, Colorado in 1915. After her father is injured, Jennie secretly resumes his duties of walking the redwood pipeline and reporting damages to the city. One day while walking the line a passenger on the train, Leo, takes notice of her and a bone she is carrying.

This is a really good story. I liked the strong characters and the different situations they find themselves in. It shows the devotion Ginny has for doing the job to support her family. Yet we see the side of her that longs for friends her age and an education. For her family we see the stress of how they will survive if their secret is found out. With Leo, we see his strong desire to find the dinosaur skeleton the bone belongs too. The story also shows the struggles her father has and how it affects Ginny and her mother. I appreciate how strong Ginny’s mother’s faith is and how Leo turns to his family for prayers for Ginny’s father and family.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

'Hope's Enduring Echo' is a refreshingly sweet and easy-to-read tale that follows 3 POVs: a 17-year-old artist named Jennie, Jennie's compassionate mother, and a paleontology student named Leo. I was particularly intrigued by the setting: the Rocky Mountain foothills in the summer of 1915. The Ward family's work and the search for fossils provided an engaging backdrop for the growth of these dynamic characters. I particularly enjoyed the themes of selfless service, reliance on God for restoration, and believers demonstrating God's love and grace to all people.

If you enjoy wholesome historical romance, I highly recommend this book! Before discovering it on NetGalley, I hadn't heard of Kim Vogel Sawyer, but I am now eager to explore more of her work.

Special thanks to the publisher, WaterBrook & Multnomah, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

"Hope's Enduring Echo" by Kim Vogel Sawyer is another wonderful book by this author. The author does a great job with this historical novel set in Colorado alongside a water pipeline and train tracks. The history in this book with paleontology and how the water pipeline was inspected was really interesting. I've read a few books with Creation theology and paleontology but this was a first with the water pipeline and how that worked in the early 1900's.

This book focuses on 17 year old Jennie, who walks the 14 miles of pipeline 5 days a week on behalf of her father who is struggling with major mental health issues. Those issues and the emotions Jennie and her mother Etta experience are a large focus in the book. The book also has Leo, who sees Jennie carrying a dinosaur bone from the train one day bringing his love of paleontology into Jennie's life. These two become quickly enamored with one another and Jennie feels that his friendship and the timing of him coming into her life is an answered prayer.

I liked many of the supporting characters, especially the little pup Rags whose entrance in the book provides a heartwarming innocence only a pet can bring to the lives of those struggling.

This book is a Christian Historical Romance book and I really liked how much faith content is in the book. This is incredibly faith-filled and a wonderful book for fans of this genre. Someone not wanting to read a book with Christian faith elements would probably not enjoy the book because of the faith content. The mental health portrayal is done in a caring manner and the struggles seemed very real, though for someone who struggles with depression in their life, this book may be a difficult read for them.

Thank you to Waterbrook & Multnomah and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this book.
Can you imagine the highlight of your day would be waving at the train?
It would be very challenging to walk the pipe and check for leaks at any age. Did not realize this
was something that was once done.
The relationship between Jennie and Leo was very special.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me the arc.

As the title indicates this book is full of hope!

First, I have to say how much I enjoyed Etta’s POV. Her ability to keep her faith and hope amidst their trials was amazing. Her faithful love of and support of her husband while he fights his mental issues, oh my!

Jennie was such a sweet girl. She definitely had some struggles but seeing her spiritual growth was fantastic. Her friendship with Leo was fun to watch too. I loved that she prayed for a friend and God provided. Leo was a young man trying to prove himself to his family. I loved all of the biblical counsel he was able to give. It was fun to see his search for dinosaur bones as well.

Two quotes I loved:
He pointed with his chin in the direction of the end of the pipeline. “Lead on, mountain goat.” She choked out a laugh. “Mountain goat?” He grinned. “You call me ‘college boy.’ I have to call you something.”

Suddenly Leo cupped his hands beside his mouth. “Jennie!” She hollered back, “What?” “Remember … hold on to hope!” Tears stung. She’d promised him weeks ago she would do so. He’d been a good friend to her—she wouldn’t break her vow.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.