"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.

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.

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

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.

"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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Joy Jordon-Lake’s latest book, Echoes of Us takes little-known facts about World War II and builds a fascinating dual-timeline love story. From the first page of this brilliantly written novel you are hooked. It’s a story of secrets, friendships, courage and heroism. The author weaves little known historical figures and events into the story that you can’t put down and don’t want to end. Once again, Joy Jordon-Lake has produced a masterpiece. This is a must read! Nancy D

Via #netgalley, I read an ARC of this book. WOW! WOW! WOW! Joy Jordan-Lake makes the lives of these characters feel so real. This book transports us back in time and deeply immerses us into the painful, powerful, love-filled, and inspiring stories of these regular folks, from different countries, living during the horrors of WWII. I was so impressed by the research that went into this intriguing work and I learned SO much about our country’s history! I appreciated the moral strength of these characters as well as their desire to be true to themselves. I admired their loyalty, fortitude, diversity, and ability to see the best in people. They united to form a commitment to peace, kindness, and doing good in this world. All goals that we clearly need today. Brava!

I have been a fan of Joy Jordan-Lake's novels since Blue Hole Back Home, and I am an eager advance reader of each new book. If you like historical fiction with characters that jump off the page, you will love all of her books. With Echoes of Us, she has reached a new peak as an author. Her characters are richer and deeper than ever, with complicated lives of their own and personalities that make you want to get to know them. From the very first page, I was plunged into this story of generations, of wealth and poverty, of sisterhood and courage. And I even learned some WWII history along the way, involving U-boats and the Georgia coastline. Fair warning: don't pick this book up until you have several hours free, because you won't want to put it down. Truly it is the very best of her writing, and you need to read it.

Nancy Massand's reviewAug 18, 2024 · edit
it was amazing

I've been an ardent fan of Joy Jordan-Lake for years, since I read Blue Hole Back Home, and haven't missed a release yet. Even so, I can honestly say Echoes of Us surpasses her usual standard. She has become a master of dual timeline historical fiction, seamlessly weaving the present and the past into a continuous narrative that captivates our imaginations as it stimulates our intellects. Many times I found myself questioning bold plot devices: "Wait, what? A German sub on the eastern seaboard?" only to find that she didn't make this stuff up. I learned more about history from Echoes of Us than I did in my high school and college history courses. The women's angle is especially intriguing as she chronicles the saga of the WASP's in a poignant style that echoes the inequities many women still face today.

The theme of siblings runs strong in the book, in both the WWII and present day arcs, with love and rivalry intertwined convincingly. But both sets of siblings present a jolt to the reader in completely unexpected plot twists that shoot down all our expectations for their resolutions. Just when we think we know how it will all work out, the secondary characters with their own unique arcs get involved and up the ante, complicating an already tangled saga with new possibilities. It's no accident that references to Will Shakespeare keep surfacing as a trope, since the intertwined plots in this novel mirror those in some of the bard's most endearing plays.

Joy Jordan-Lake does not back down from controversial and even shocking material, but she treats sensitive subjects with finesse and subtlety. I would not hesitate to recomment Echoes of Us to teen readers as well as adult historical fiction aficionados. It is clean fiction at its best, appealing to romantics and intellectuals alike.

Don't miss this one! An emotional and suspenseful page turner, for sure!

Joy Jordan-Lake has found her place among those skilled writers who can draw us in and carry us along in multiple timeframes and with fascinating characters. Her ability to write characters that we feel we know and want to spend time with, while winding a story across specific historical settings and places catches the reader quickly and makes it difficult to put the book down.. In "Echoes of Us" the reader is invited to come along while a puzzle is solved, fall in love with people and families and see how hard it was for some to bring their gifts and skills to the United States involvement in World War 2. I particularly appreciate Jordan-Lake's way of bringing to light moments and movements that haven't gotten the spotlight but are worth our reading and knowing. "Echoes of Us" is also a fun read and a compelling mystery- well worth your time, and a wonderful gift to those you know who like to read, fly, ponder and care.