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.

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.