What do you think?
Rate this book
Painfully shy, Cole Heath has always had a hard time connecting to people outside of his family. So when he meets Anderson Bester for the first time, he doesn't really think anything of it. He certainly doesn't imagine that he'll end up falling in love.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2011
1 person is currently reading
111 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 2, 2011
Cole Heath has speech condition called echolalia (he repeats the last sentence of what other’s say to him before he can go on to say what he wants) which makes it very difficult to interact with others. Many use his insecurities to not only abuse him but to use him. When Anderson Bester asks for Cole’s phone number, Cole never believes he’ll actually call but it was nice to be ask. Anderson is sent to help put a department of his father’s company back together and is surprised to find Cole. As they work together to fix the mess created by the department, things grow closer in the personal department as well.
I feel like it's been forever since I've read something five star, I'd almost given up hope and then this author came along offering to let me review her work. I read the blurb and I had anticipation zinging up my back bone but was at the same time hesitant. The plot is simple, it’s about two people meeting, showing interest and then the story of them as they fall in love. Don’t get me wrong, just because I use the word simple doesn’t mean that writing this plot is even close to easy. A lot of authors completely bomb this story line and cause a majority of readers to tread carefully. There is a lot of risk with this plot, it leaves no margin for error. The pace has to be perfect, allowing the reader to really feel as though they are looking through their window into someone else’s and getting a taste of their lives. There for, it can’t be too fast but at the same time it can’t be too slow or the reader will expect there to be large amount of angst to reflect real life. If that weren’t enough, it can’t be too sappy or you risk losing your reader to a tooth ache. I’m happy to announce that Sol Crafter wrote this perfectly. I was completely and utterly drawn into the lives of Cole and Anderson. Cole and his speech impediment isn’t something I’ve read about before and I found it not only interesting but well written. It made Cole all the more adorable, not because he had a disability but because it kept him for seeing how special he was. Anderson was born in the lap of luxury but for all that he is an incredibly laid back guy and the fact that he is completely charmed by Cole makes you love him all the more. This was a sweet chocolate read that I can not recommend enough. Go Get It, I promise you will not regret it.
I feel like it's been forever since I've read something five star, I'd almost given up hope and then this author came along offering to let me review her work. I read the blurb and I had anticipation zinging up my back bone but was at the same time hesitant. The plot is simple, it’s about two people meeting, showing interest and then the story of them as they fall in love. Don’t get me wrong, just because I use the word simple doesn’t mean that writing this plot is even close to easy. A lot of authors completely bomb this story line and cause a majority of readers to tread carefully. There is a lot of risk with this plot, it leaves no margin for error. The pace has to be perfect, allowing the reader to really feel as though they are looking through their window into someone else’s and getting a taste of their lives. There for, it can’t be too fast but at the same time it can’t be too slow or the reader will expect there to be large amount of angst to reflect real life. If that weren’t enough, it can’t be too sappy or you risk losing your reader to a tooth ache. I’m happy to announce that Sol Crafter wrote this perfectly. I was completely and utterly drawn into the lives of Cole and Anderson. Cole and his speech impediment isn’t something I’ve read about before and I found it not only interesting but well written. It made Cole all the more adorable, not because he had a disability but because it kept him for seeing how special he was. Anderson was born in the lap of luxury but for all that he is an incredibly laid back guy and the fact that he is completely charmed by Cole makes you love him all the more. This was a sweet chocolate read that I can not recommend enough. Go Get It, I promise you will not regret it.
April 9, 2012
Wow I just loved this. Such sweet characters without being sappy. Just adorable love story with some really touching scenes.
Read it
Read it
April 13, 2012
Lovingly written sweet romance. Cole was gorgeous inside and out, he managed to sneak his way into my heart with no effort at all. I loved him a cute genuine down to earth guy. His speech difficulties affect his life in so many ways and tries hard to make himself invisible, succeeding to a certain extent. Anderson arrives and turns his life upside down, it's wonderful how Cole comes out of his shell, less shy and happier in himself. Anderson is great the tenderness and understanding he shows Cole brings about a very real affection and trust in their relationship they are adorable together. Even with the fairytale feel its a wonderful meaningful love story and Cole he deserves all those hugs and much more. I hope we get to see the wedding and children one day soon as a novel!
November 11, 2011
4.5 stars
I love this story, although at some point the issue of 'echo' disappears completely. It's sweet but not sugary. There's enough dose of angst, happiness, and plot--especially toward the end.
It has a strong feeling of cinderfella, since Anderson is rich without Cole realizing it at first. On Anderson's part, he also didn't know that Cole actually works for his family company.
I like the way the author deals with Anderson's parents. Anderson's super rich father is not depicted as evil man who dictates everything, and 'kills' those stand on his way. He puts pressure on Anderson, but not an ultimatum. There are challenge, negotiation, and compromise on both sides.
I love this story, although at some point the issue of 'echo' disappears completely. It's sweet but not sugary. There's enough dose of angst, happiness, and plot--especially toward the end.
It has a strong feeling of cinderfella, since Anderson is rich without Cole realizing it at first. On Anderson's part, he also didn't know that Cole actually works for his family company.
I like the way the author deals with Anderson's parents. Anderson's super rich father is not depicted as evil man who dictates everything, and 'kills' those stand on his way. He puts pressure on Anderson, but not an ultimatum. There are challenge, negotiation, and compromise on both sides.
May 25, 2012
OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is so refreshingly different. Its sweet and adorable and I enjoyed EVERY PAGE. The two main characters were absolutely perfect for each other and I couldnt think of one thing to make them or the plot better.
I recommend this for those looking for a sweet read. Its not over the top sweet like other books, instead the romance is true and realistic and I AM IN LOVE with this book.
Go ... Stop reading this review and READ IT :)
I recommend this for those looking for a sweet read. Its not over the top sweet like other books, instead the romance is true and realistic and I AM IN LOVE with this book.
Go ... Stop reading this review and READ IT :)
August 8, 2012
Echo is a novella that tells the love story between shy, nerdy Cole and confident businessman Anderson. Cole suffers from a speech impediment related to Tourettes called echolalia, a tic that forces him to repeat the last thing a person said to him before he can then say what he wants.
The premise is very interesting. Cole is a virgin partially because of his extreme shyness due to his echolalia, and so the story is largely about Anderson teaching Cole about sex and love and trust.
It really is a sweet story, but it felt lacking in a lot of ways. For one, neither of the characters really seem to undergo any dynamic change, and there's very little conflict in the story. While I'm not a fan of the "miracle cure" endings for books with characters with disabilities, this book seemed as if it needed it.
Let me explain. It's suggested early in the book that Cole's echolalia was made worse because of the "psychological trauma" he experienced as a kid being teased and manipulated because of his speech impediment. The theme of Cole having trouble being comfortable with new people pervades the book and I really expected to see him regain some "control" over his tic (his words) due to his developing relationship with Anderson.
I'm not super familiar with Tourettes, so maybe that would have been medically unlikely, but it just seemed as if the story was setting up for that. As if the echolalia were a metaphor of sorts instead of simply a plot element. Maybe I'm asking too much.
Then there's the
Basically, it simply felt underdeveloped, which was disappointing. The book is supposedly part of a series, but from what I can tell, the author doesn't have any plans for the next book.
The premise is very interesting. Cole is a virgin partially because of his extreme shyness due to his echolalia, and so the story is largely about Anderson teaching Cole about sex and love and trust.
It really is a sweet story, but it felt lacking in a lot of ways. For one, neither of the characters really seem to undergo any dynamic change, and there's very little conflict in the story. While I'm not a fan of the "miracle cure" endings for books with characters with disabilities, this book seemed as if it needed it.
Let me explain. It's suggested early in the book that Cole's echolalia was made worse because of the "psychological trauma" he experienced as a kid being teased and manipulated because of his speech impediment. The theme of Cole having trouble being comfortable with new people pervades the book and I really expected to see him regain some "control" over his tic (his words) due to his developing relationship with Anderson.
I'm not super familiar with Tourettes, so maybe that would have been medically unlikely, but it just seemed as if the story was setting up for that. As if the echolalia were a metaphor of sorts instead of simply a plot element. Maybe I'm asking too much.
Then there's the
Basically, it simply felt underdeveloped, which was disappointing. The book is supposedly part of a series, but from what I can tell, the author doesn't have any plans for the next book.
December 31, 2011
You can’t not like the story of Cole and Anderson!
This book has a very unique premise because it deals with a little known condition called echolalia. As a result of having this disorder, Cole is very shy and vulnerable – almost used to people poking fun or taking advantage of him.
Anderson is like a breath of fresh air. He doesn’t react negatively towards Cole and actually works hard to win Cole’s trust and affection. His background might lead you to believe he’ll be an uppity, self-centered, pain in the butt, but he’s actually very laid back and quite the opposite. Under Anderson’s care and attention, Cole absolutely blossoms.
I loved the relationship between these guys. This was a definite feel good story that left me wanting more!!! Recommended for everyone:)
This book has a very unique premise because it deals with a little known condition called echolalia. As a result of having this disorder, Cole is very shy and vulnerable – almost used to people poking fun or taking advantage of him.
Anderson is like a breath of fresh air. He doesn’t react negatively towards Cole and actually works hard to win Cole’s trust and affection. His background might lead you to believe he’ll be an uppity, self-centered, pain in the butt, but he’s actually very laid back and quite the opposite. Under Anderson’s care and attention, Cole absolutely blossoms.
I loved the relationship between these guys. This was a definite feel good story that left me wanting more!!! Recommended for everyone:)
March 20, 2012
I liked this so much and I really didn't want it to end. Anderson just seems like such a great guy and I wanted to cuddle Cole because he was just so cute. This is a sweet story, though it has just the right mix so you don't feel like you're swallowing a load of sugar. It just made me feel good to read it.
May 25, 2012
It's sweet, funny and one of those stories when the sweet unassuming taken for granted underdog gets his gorgeous, ultra rich, powerful prince charming who adores him.
September 1, 2012
3.5
This is such an absolutely sweet story. Cole and Anderson were so good together and loved their interactions and story. Perfect read for when you need something light and enjoyable.
This is such an absolutely sweet story. Cole and Anderson were so good together and loved their interactions and story. Perfect read for when you need something light and enjoyable.
November 29, 2011
Full review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Do you remember how it felt to be in love for the first time? The sly glances shared with the object of your affections. The feeling of butterflies in your stomach, and rampant hormones that rose to the forefront with the briefest caress or whispered word were the best thing in the world. It’s that illusive time that Sol Crafter ( great name right?) manages to capture perfectly in Echo. It was that spot-on portrayal that filled me with warmth. Sort of like when you eat a chocolate chip cookie just out of the oven. It allowed me to over look some of the editing errors, and lack of details that threatened to derail from the environment I was submersed in.
Do you remember how it felt to be in love for the first time? The sly glances shared with the object of your affections. The feeling of butterflies in your stomach, and rampant hormones that rose to the forefront with the briefest caress or whispered word were the best thing in the world. It’s that illusive time that Sol Crafter ( great name right?) manages to capture perfectly in Echo. It was that spot-on portrayal that filled me with warmth. Sort of like when you eat a chocolate chip cookie just out of the oven. It allowed me to over look some of the editing errors, and lack of details that threatened to derail from the environment I was submersed in.
January 2, 2012
I absolutely loved Echo. Such a sweet love story with beautifully written characters. I adored Cole and Anderson so much. Although Cole was supposed to be very shy and reserved - mainly as a result of being bullied in the past because of his Echolalia - I loved how he was so much more brave and confident with Anderson. He was such a cutie. Anderson was charming, and I fell in love with him almost straight away.
I actually didn't want this story to end; I got so far ahead of myself that I was imagining a marriage proposal, a wedding, children... AHHH! I didn't want it to end, I'm pretty sure I could have kept reading about these two forever.
I actually didn't want this story to end; I got so far ahead of myself that I was imagining a marriage proposal, a wedding, children... AHHH! I didn't want it to end, I'm pretty sure I could have kept reading about these two forever.
March 27, 2013
Wow...I usually love books which feature a MC with a disability but this book just didn't do it for me at all. I really didn't feel the connection between the two characters & if Anderson had referred to Cole once more as 'cute' or 'adorable' I would have screamed...in fact, if anyone were to refer to me as cute & adorable more than once I'd probably pick my nose & fart whilst flicking the crusty snot at the pillock with the goofy grin & lack of imagination in the adjective department...but then again, I'm not exactly the most snugly possum at the moment & my mood may have influenced the review.
October 26, 2011
Wonderful, sweet romance. This was a nicely written, well-told story of a shy, kind soul (who also happens to be unaware of his gorgeousness and appeal) and a handsome, smart, and charming hunk falling in love and getting their happy ending. I truly enjoyed and liked this. I hope the author turns out more and longer ones at that.
Read
October 24, 2011A sweet man with a speech condition called echolalia meets a handsome stranger. A straight-forward story set in the real world--no aliens, werewolves, ghosts, witches, etc. Just two men that meet and fall in love.
February 13, 2014
Just so nice. A feel-good little cinderella-y romance.
June 7, 2012
Very sweet story. Loved it
August 15, 2012
2.5 stars
I purchased this book with the intention of reading something light, very sweet and romantic, without it being over the top. And according to the reviewers, this book should have fit the description. Unfortunately, not so much for me. It was an ok read with an interesting subject that started promising, but failed to deliver in my opinion.
I would have expected to love Cole but he didn’t really click with me. He was at times needy and whiny, especially in his relationship with his cousin. His relationship with Anderson didn’t truly feel real to me and, even if they don't say I love you right away, it’s still feels insta- love to me.
The echolalia could get a bit tiring when reading the dialogs . I do admit to paying close attention to see if the author will follow her premise, to see if she’ll forget to add the repetition in front of everything Cole was saying.
There are still a couple of things that I did like.
The other thing I really liked about this book was George, Anderson’s father. He was very cool( although I don’t know how realistic he was portrayed ). In his own words, he was authentic : I'm not going to pretend to be anything less than me .
What I think the book could have gone without was one scene near the ending that was put there for some degree of angst, I guess. I would have preferred instead another dose of George’s sense of humor: I've gotta go now. Laura has this stupid thing she wants me to go to. There was a feminine yell in the background. This supremely wonderful and life changing thing she wants me to go to.
I never expect everything to be perfect in a book I read and I can get over a lot of things and still enjoy a story, but for some reason, I just couldn’t in this instance.
I purchased this book with the intention of reading something light, very sweet and romantic, without it being over the top. And according to the reviewers, this book should have fit the description. Unfortunately, not so much for me. It was an ok read with an interesting subject that started promising, but failed to deliver in my opinion.
I would have expected to love Cole but he didn’t really click with me. He was at times needy and whiny, especially in his relationship with his cousin. His relationship with Anderson didn’t truly feel real to me and, even if they don't say I love you right away, it’s still feels insta- love to me.
The echolalia could get a bit tiring when reading the dialogs . I do admit to paying close attention to see if the author will follow her premise, to see if she’ll forget to add the repetition in front of everything Cole was saying.
There are still a couple of things that I did like.
The other thing I really liked about this book was George, Anderson’s father. He was very cool( although I don’t know how realistic he was portrayed ). In his own words, he was authentic : I'm not going to pretend to be anything less than me .
What I think the book could have gone without was one scene near the ending that was put there for some degree of angst, I guess. I would have preferred instead another dose of George’s sense of humor: I've gotta go now. Laura has this stupid thing she wants me to go to. There was a feminine yell in the background. This supremely wonderful and life changing thing she wants me to go to.
I never expect everything to be perfect in a book I read and I can get over a lot of things and still enjoy a story, but for some reason, I just couldn’t in this instance.
October 30, 2012
A sweet story that is clumsily written
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- It didn’t take long for me to develop the desire to see Cole happy. Echolalia is an unusual condition that I’ve never encountered in a romance before, and it presents some interesting challenges for him.
- Both of the main characters are cute and say some amusing things that made me smile. Looking at a huge TV at Anderson’s house, Cole says wistfully, “Would you be really upset if I slipped it under my jacket and took it home with me?”
- The story has a fairytale quality to it: the shy man who’s always been picked on meets a handsome, rich, dashing prince who falls for him instantly and whisks him away to a $46 million mansion.
CONS:
- The writing isn’t terrible, but it contains a lot of features that grated on my nerves: clumsy repetitions (“He wasn’t exactly the world’s best cook…” followed by “It wasn’t exactly the hardest thing ever” in the next sentence), irritating grammar (“That’s how he had always seen himself as”), stating of the obvious (“Anderson really was shocked” when the dialogue just before it starts with “Really?”), inconsistencies in Cole’s echoes (sometimes he repeats entire sentences--even rather long ones--and sometimes it’s just the final phrase of what the other person has said), etc.
- There are a lot of instances in which the word “he” appears and it’s not clear which character is being referred to. We’re 14 sentences into one scene before we know which character it’s following, and then there are sections that use only pronouns to refer to two different men, like this one: “He couldn’t help watching him walk toward him and admiring the way he looked in a suit. It was very hot to him.”
Overall comments: This is a sweet tale of seduction, of one inexperienced man and another who doesn’t take advantage of that. (Although you’ll be disappointed if you’re wanting a lot of sex; there are only a couple of scenes, and they’re very tame compared to those commonly found in this genre.) I liked it okay, but the writing could have been far better in my opinion.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- It didn’t take long for me to develop the desire to see Cole happy. Echolalia is an unusual condition that I’ve never encountered in a romance before, and it presents some interesting challenges for him.
- Both of the main characters are cute and say some amusing things that made me smile. Looking at a huge TV at Anderson’s house, Cole says wistfully, “Would you be really upset if I slipped it under my jacket and took it home with me?”
- The story has a fairytale quality to it: the shy man who’s always been picked on meets a handsome, rich, dashing prince who falls for him instantly and whisks him away to a $46 million mansion.
CONS:
- The writing isn’t terrible, but it contains a lot of features that grated on my nerves: clumsy repetitions (“He wasn’t exactly the world’s best cook…” followed by “It wasn’t exactly the hardest thing ever” in the next sentence), irritating grammar (“That’s how he had always seen himself as”), stating of the obvious (“Anderson really was shocked” when the dialogue just before it starts with “Really?”), inconsistencies in Cole’s echoes (sometimes he repeats entire sentences--even rather long ones--and sometimes it’s just the final phrase of what the other person has said), etc.
- There are a lot of instances in which the word “he” appears and it’s not clear which character is being referred to. We’re 14 sentences into one scene before we know which character it’s following, and then there are sections that use only pronouns to refer to two different men, like this one: “He couldn’t help watching him walk toward him and admiring the way he looked in a suit. It was very hot to him.”
Overall comments: This is a sweet tale of seduction, of one inexperienced man and another who doesn’t take advantage of that. (Although you’ll be disappointed if you’re wanting a lot of sex; there are only a couple of scenes, and they’re very tame compared to those commonly found in this genre.) I liked it okay, but the writing could have been far better in my opinion.
June 1, 2013
So this book wasn't bad but it wasn't really all that amazin either.
I liked the characters a lot, especially Cole. At the end I found myself being a bit annoyed by Anderson who seemed to make decisions for Cole all the time and seemed to see him as not quite an adult when it came to making decision.
The whole book would've been a lot better if it was longer. For me the romance felt rushed and not really developed. Also pretty cliched but I can live with that most of the time. Same goes for the conflict in the last ten pages.
It seemed like the author remembered that after the two of them got together and were happy there needed to be some kind of conflict for them to overcome together. It didn't do anything or have any significant impact on the characters other than making them move in together faster.
I did like the way the author dealt with Cole's Echolalia though I think that too would have deserved some more depth and would have benefited from some sort of development throughout the story.
It's a nice little read if you look something focused on romance without a complicated plot :)
I liked the characters a lot, especially Cole. At the end I found myself being a bit annoyed by Anderson who seemed to make decisions for Cole all the time and seemed to see him as not quite an adult when it came to making decision.
The whole book would've been a lot better if it was longer. For me the romance felt rushed and not really developed. Also pretty cliched but I can live with that most of the time. Same goes for the conflict in the last ten pages.
It seemed like the author remembered that after the two of them got together and were happy there needed to be some kind of conflict for them to overcome together. It didn't do anything or have any significant impact on the characters other than making them move in together faster.
I did like the way the author dealt with Cole's Echolalia though I think that too would have deserved some more depth and would have benefited from some sort of development throughout the story.
It's a nice little read if you look something focused on romance without a complicated plot :)
August 9, 2012
Excellent read! If you needed a pick me up and need to read a sweet, heartwarming love story then this is the book. Cole has a speech impediment which forces him to repeat the last thing the other person in conversation has just said and had been teased and mocked endlessly through his childhood, aggravating his condition. Anderson is a rich businessman, son of the owner of the company that Cole works for. After a chance meeting Anderson falls hard for Cole who has such a low opinion of himself that he can not believe that anyone could love him other than his mother and actor cousin. Well written in that the reader is desperate for Cole to see himself as he really is and for the relationship with Anderson to succeed.
Nothing too deep, good characters, good story but could have been longer but maybe we are going to get more in #2 ......
Nothing too deep, good characters, good story but could have been longer but maybe we are going to get more in #2 ......
May 18, 2014
I liked this. Cole. Man, I loved Cole. Anderson? Well, not sure how I felt about him. I mean at times I LOVED him and then were times when I wanted to smack him. I did like how he was super rich, yet still down to Earth. In the beginning I thought he was going to be a major ass, but I am glad I was wrong.
I hope we get a sequel because I want more of Cole and Anderson :)
I hope we get a sequel because I want more of Cole and Anderson :)
July 9, 2012
There are characters in books that make me smile. I read this whole book with a stupid smile on my face Cole was so sweet and shy and Anderson was just well to good to be true, but it work. Love this one!
November 18, 2011
2.5-3 stars.
January 18, 2012
3.5 stars
July 19, 2012
This was a cute little read that I enjoyed.
September 22, 2012
Very generic Harlequin-esque romance with gay Cinderella.
March 31, 2013
The characters were 5 stars.
The ease that everything feel into place was 3 stars. I totally understood the Echolalia & Anderson dealing with it but this tale needed more angst and challenges.
The ease that everything feel into place was 3 stars. I totally understood the Echolalia & Anderson dealing with it but this tale needed more angst and challenges.
April 29, 2013
3.5 stars-I really liked Anderson.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews