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Echo Island
Every family has its secrets.
For the Callaghans, this burden is more intimate than most; for they have kept their secret from the world, from each other and even from themselves.
The once proud and strong family is not what Maggie remembers. The distance between she and her brothers has grown until they barely know each other. As adults they continue to suffer the consequences of their childhood in very different ways. Only Maggie is blissfully unaware of the painful memories the rest share.
Maggie Callaghan Stewart has a good life, a successful husband and two beautiful little boys. Then recurring nightmares invade the calm and her strange behaviors concern her loved ones. With no other choice, Maggie begins to seek meaning behind these nightmares.
Patrick, Mickey and Aiden Callaghan have long struggled with the secret of their past. They each live different lives, quite separate from each other, yet one thing connects them completely. As their sister struggles to find herself, their own tentative reality is threatened. Now they must confront their past and reconcile it with their present lives.
For Maggie, what starts off as a bad dream will threaten the very facade her family has carefully constructed. Fighting to remember her past may prove more than Maggie can bear. The lies that have become truths unravel and they face a reality they thought they escaped many years ago when Echo Island calls them back once more."
For the Callaghans, this burden is more intimate than most; for they have kept their secret from the world, from each other and even from themselves.
The once proud and strong family is not what Maggie remembers. The distance between she and her brothers has grown until they barely know each other. As adults they continue to suffer the consequences of their childhood in very different ways. Only Maggie is blissfully unaware of the painful memories the rest share.
Maggie Callaghan Stewart has a good life, a successful husband and two beautiful little boys. Then recurring nightmares invade the calm and her strange behaviors concern her loved ones. With no other choice, Maggie begins to seek meaning behind these nightmares.
Patrick, Mickey and Aiden Callaghan have long struggled with the secret of their past. They each live different lives, quite separate from each other, yet one thing connects them completely. As their sister struggles to find herself, their own tentative reality is threatened. Now they must confront their past and reconcile it with their present lives.
For Maggie, what starts off as a bad dream will threaten the very facade her family has carefully constructed. Fighting to remember her past may prove more than Maggie can bear. The lies that have become truths unravel and they face a reality they thought they escaped many years ago when Echo Island calls them back once more."
- GenresFiction
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2011
About the author
E.M. Walton
2 books13 followersEM Walton grew up in Upstate New York and spent her summers on the Rideau Canal where much of Echo Island takes place. She continues to bring her family to Lake Opinicon and does much of her writing there. Her love of writing began as a child and has continued into adulthood.
EM is a school administrator for a variety of special education programs. She currently lives outside of Rochester with her husband and three children.
EM is a school administrator for a variety of special education programs. She currently lives outside of Rochester with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 6, 2011
Best book I've read all year. Truly a phenomenal plot that will keep you in its grasp until you unfold the secrets of the Callaghan's past.
August 18, 2017
This is truly beautiful. I was drawn to the Callaghan family immediately and didn't want to put their story down until the very end. I say "their story," because it felt like I was reading about a real family, with a real secret. Nothing about this novel felt cheesy or unrealistic.
I've always been very interested in where people come from, how their pasts affect who they are now. It was fascinating seeing how the Callaghans' secret family tragedy changed the lives of each member and how they all learned to cope with it - even Maggie, who has no recollection of anything having happened.
One of my favourite things about this story is that, although the characters are far from perfect, I was always on their side, fighting for them. I don't ever cry when reading a book, but I was wiping away plenty of tears by the end of this one. It just felt so true to life - painful, but beautiful and full of hope. This is one I will definitely read again and recommend to many people. I've already recommended it to my sister (who I don't think has completed a book in years), and she read it in two days. :)
Thank you so much, E.M. Walton. I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.
*I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway (best one yet!)*
I've always been very interested in where people come from, how their pasts affect who they are now. It was fascinating seeing how the Callaghans' secret family tragedy changed the lives of each member and how they all learned to cope with it - even Maggie, who has no recollection of anything having happened.
One of my favourite things about this story is that, although the characters are far from perfect, I was always on their side, fighting for them. I don't ever cry when reading a book, but I was wiping away plenty of tears by the end of this one. It just felt so true to life - painful, but beautiful and full of hope. This is one I will definitely read again and recommend to many people. I've already recommended it to my sister (who I don't think has completed a book in years), and she read it in two days. :)
Thank you so much, E.M. Walton. I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.
*I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway (best one yet!)*
July 25, 2011
Echo Island will touch your heart and stay there...
Occasionally an author comes onto the literary stage seemingly ready to take over the world, and EM Walton may be one such author.
For the Callaghan family, things could hardly be worse: Maggie's marriage is on the rocks, her brother Mickey is sliding back into alcoholic habits, and her brother Patrick fears the Feds will invade his office at any moment. How could children with such golden promise have fallen so far, and why do things only get worse when they turn to each other for help?
As the Callaghan family secret is revealed, we come to understand and care for each member of this broken family even as we cheer on their efforts to heal wounds that started so very long ago...on Echo island.
Hauntingly beautiful descriptions and smooth prose carry this enchanting family saga to a satisfying end.
reviewed by "Maine's Other Author"(TM) Tim Greaton
Occasionally an author comes onto the literary stage seemingly ready to take over the world, and EM Walton may be one such author.
For the Callaghan family, things could hardly be worse: Maggie's marriage is on the rocks, her brother Mickey is sliding back into alcoholic habits, and her brother Patrick fears the Feds will invade his office at any moment. How could children with such golden promise have fallen so far, and why do things only get worse when they turn to each other for help?
As the Callaghan family secret is revealed, we come to understand and care for each member of this broken family even as we cheer on their efforts to heal wounds that started so very long ago...on Echo island.
Hauntingly beautiful descriptions and smooth prose carry this enchanting family saga to a satisfying end.
reviewed by "Maine's Other Author"(TM) Tim Greaton
June 16, 2011
What a beautiful story! A large once close knit family is shattered by circumstance driving the siblings to survive apart rather than to provide support for each other.
Each of the main characters live with some sort of guilt and self loathing for the past.
Maggie's search for answers bring her to the precipice of all her relationships, marriage, motherhood, family and self. Her journey takes her through madness, nightmares, lost of identity and marriage.
Only when the family is finally honest, is Maggie able to come to terms with her family, herself and her past.
E.M. Walton has written this book in a style that is both captivating and honest. From the first word of the prologue to the very last sentence, she is able to keep her audience.
I found myself getting teary eyed and rooting for every member of her family. Living in upstate NY myself, I felt as though I've met each one of them and come to know them.
Chalk up another one to add to your summer reads!
Each of the main characters live with some sort of guilt and self loathing for the past.
Maggie's search for answers bring her to the precipice of all her relationships, marriage, motherhood, family and self. Her journey takes her through madness, nightmares, lost of identity and marriage.
Only when the family is finally honest, is Maggie able to come to terms with her family, herself and her past.
E.M. Walton has written this book in a style that is both captivating and honest. From the first word of the prologue to the very last sentence, she is able to keep her audience.
I found myself getting teary eyed and rooting for every member of her family. Living in upstate NY myself, I felt as though I've met each one of them and come to know them.
Chalk up another one to add to your summer reads!
March 29, 2012
This story starts slowly giving the reader a shallow picture of each member of the Callaghan family. However, the reader rapidly becomes aware of each member who appears to have a dark secret which keep each of them, as adults now, from close contact with each other. The reader will be enthralled with the different characters and can't let go of the story until the secret is revealed. This is a different story in that each member of the family suffers from knowing the secret except for Maggie. There is much turmoil they all endure until they all gather and share the memories with Maggie back on Echo Island. A good, intense read.
September 6, 2011
A goodreads giveaway and a worthwhile read. While I was able to guess the family "secret" long before the end's reveal, the family dynamics were still interesting enough to keep the story moving. There was no author bio on my ARC, so I am assuming that this is Walton's first novel. If that's the case, it's a solid debut and I'll look forward to reading future novels! A solid 3.5 stars.
January 10, 2012
A nicely crafted family drama. I admit I figured out the ending a little more than half way through, but it took away none of the suspense and anticipation. Thoroughly enjoyable!
September 4, 2012
I highly recommend this book for anyone
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews