Heart Echoes by Sally John

Let's begin with the summary on this general Christian fiction novel:

In the aftermath of a massive Los Angeles earthquake, the perfect existence Teal Morgan-Adams has built begins to crumble. Teal’s daughter, Maiya, is determined to learn the identity of her biological father, despite the loving devotion of her stepdad, River Adams. But that’s a secret Teal hoped would remain buried forever. She has never shared the truth with anyone . . . not her family, not River, not even Maiya’s father.

As Maiya’s rebellion escalates, Teal receives tragic news from her sister and decides to take Maiya home to Cedar Pointe, Oregon, a place she’s avoided most of her adult life. But will her already-strained marriage survive the distance and the secrets she’ll be forced to face there? And can Teal erase the lies that echo in her heart?

And now, my review:

This book surprised me in good ways. The author hooked me from the beginning with the description of the earthquake and her characterization. 

The heroine has been trying to control what the other people in her life know about her past. Until now, she’s been successful, though to keep the secrets, she has betrayed her husband and her daughter. Problem is, her secrets affect them. But her fears have caused her to hold out on them. 

Sally addresses the “father wound” in the story—the fact that if people do not have an active father in their lives, there is a life-long void. Another theme was hiding. Her heroine was challenged to come out from the bondage of shame and let go of her past and be freed from the shame. 

I liked how Sally did not tie up every thread in a neat little bow. Things are more believable the way she handled them. And I enjoyed the surprises along the way. 

Sally excels in excellent story-telling and prose. I was engaged the whole way through. I found a few omniscient POV instances that only a writer-reader would notice. Overall, the story moves along at a great pace. 

I believe this story will minister to readers, even if they don’t have the exact predicaments of the characters. There are many relatable elements that will keep readers sympathizing with the characters and evaluating their own lives while rethinking their coping mechanisms.

This is a great read.

(For your convenience, I've included the link below. The first is the print copy, the second is the e-book copy. Whatever you're reading, enjoy!)