Echoes of Love

by Catherine Lane

Hazel Ross isn’t your average pet photographer to the stars. She’s got a she can see other people’s memories, playing out right in front of her. When a desperate plea for help yanks her from her glitzy life, Hazel plunges headfirst into a century-old romantic mystery.

Scientist Jo Steward thought she was escaping heartbreak by fleeing to her seaside haven in Northern California. Instead, she’s in the eye of a different storm. As a steadfast skeptic, Jo is determined to find a logical explanation for the strange energy now in the house. But what if the truth can’t be contained?

As Hazel’s and Jo’s paths intertwine, they’re swept up in a whirlwind of long-buried secrets, sizzling chemistry, and memories that won’t be denied. Can these two unlikely allies come together to solve an age-old mystery? And in the chaos of the past and present, can they discover a new their own echo of love?

Genres: Paranormal

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Catherine Lane started to write fiction on a dare from her wife. She’s thrilled to be a published author, even though she had to admit her wife was right. They live happily in Southern California with their son and a very mischievous pound puppy. Catherine spends most of her time these days working, mothering, or writing. But when she finds herself at loose ends, she enjoys experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, paddling on long stretches of flat water, and browsing the stacks at libraries and bookstores. Oh, and trying unsuccessfully to outwit her dog. She has published several short stories and a novel.

Reviews

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel runs her photography business, Hazel Ross Gallery, with her controlling ex-girlfriend Keera. Things are not going well - Keera gave her new girlfriend Cherry a job at the gallery without consulting Hazel, and Cherry is a terrible worker. However, Hazel’s photographs of animals are selling well, and winning awards. She has a gift with animals, which is also connected to her gift of seeing memories of the past - she calls them ‘reflections’. Her gift is a mixed blessing, sometimes good for helping people, sometimes just good at giving Hazel a headache. When her grandmother gives her name to Lauren to help her and her cousin Jo with some unexplainable problems they are having at the family house, she is thrown into a wonderful adventure.
Jo is a scientist. She is skeptical about Hazel’s reflections theory, but she can’t explain her dog Edgar’s complete refusal to enter the house, and other things happening around them. But she can appreciate a beautiful woman.
This is almost a supernatural story, but Jo, with her science background, is trying to explain the happenings with science. They find the story of one of Jo’s ancestors having a secret relationship with another woman about one hundred years before, and how that is totally not acceptable. We see the past story through letters, and through Hazel’s reflections. The past story is intensely sad, but layered on that, the modern romance between Hazel and Jo is warm and sweet.
I really enjoyed this story. It is so different from the usual romances I read.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Hazel has this special abilities where she can see reflections of other peoples' memories she also a successful photographer who focuses on animal photos. She runs a gallery with ex girlfriend Keera who she still pining for. Hazel feels less uninspired. When she is ask to investigate a strange energy in a house there she meets Jo and Lauren who are cousins and she immediately feels there’s something special about Jo. Hazel finds letters that is told of a love that was separate but can never be broken as they read the letters it’s alternate in the past and present intertwined. I enjoy this read I like how the author made sure not to overlap the past with the present it’s fit perfectly.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t believe in ghosts or what in this book is described as energies, memories of the past. Despite this I enjoyed reading this book and bought this premise straight up which indicates this is book worth reading.

The story alternate between present day and then the photographer and special abilities Hazel in focus. She struggles with her gallery partner and ex-girlfriend Keera so when she is asked by her grandmother to investigate a special assignment for her abilities she jumps in. Hazel can sometimes see things or memories that happened long ago. She goes to investigate a strange energy in a house, requested by the cousins Lauren and Jo that have a grandmother that knows Hazel’s grandmother. Hazel immediately feels something special for Jo but also a special energy in the house.

We then get to unravel backstory of the epic love story between Eliza and Joelyn via Hazel’s special abilities. She can help to piece everything together so Eliza and Joelyn finally can come to piece and not haunt in this house. Honestly the historical part about Eliza and Joely in the story I would have loved to be the full story of the book. Their struggles to try to be together in 1925 is really piquing my interest and their chemistry is sizzling. The present-day story does not bring that much to the story and the romance between Hazel and Joe is not more than a blip.

I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t believe in ghosts and this book was somewhat confusing with all the back and forth between present and past.

Hazel Ross is a successful animal photographer. It is her art and passion. The story alternate between present day with Hazel and Jo. She struggles with her gallery partner and ex-girlfriend Keera so when she's asked by her grandmother to investigate a special assignment for her abilities she jumps in. Hazel can sometimes see things or memories that happened long ago. She goes to investigate a strange energy in a house, requested by cousins Lauren and Jo that have a grandmother that knows Hazel’s grandmother. Hazel immediately feels something special for Jo but also a special energy in the house.

We then get to unravel backstory of the epic love story between Eliza and Joelyn via Hazel’s special abilities. She can help to piece everything together so Eliza and Joelyn finally can come to piece and not haunt in this house. The past about Eliza and Joelyn would have made for a better story. Their struggles to try to be together in 1925 is really piquing my interest and their chemistry is sizzling. The present-day story does not bring that much to the story and the romance between Hazel and Joe is not more than a blip and seems like a forgotten storyline.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[SusieQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this was the first encounter with an author I didn’t know before, but I definitely want to read more of her work. I found it a beautiful balance between the adventure in the story and the personal relationships in which the characters grow. Wanting to seize opportunities based on experiences and thinking: I don’t want to miss out on everything—I’d rather be happy, even if there’s a chance something might go wrong.

The story takes place both in the present and in the past through letters, yet it’s always very clear where you are in the book, creating an intertwined but still distinct storyline.

Both the characters you get to know less well through the letters and the two main characters show a very natural development in their relationships. The connection grows, with ups and downs, but they move closer to each other. Alongside the personal relationship, there’s also the professional side: What kind of work do I want to do? What gives me energy? While staying realistic about the need to earn money—but also showing that you can definitely follow your passion.

The book entertained me, and I was eager to find out how it would end, especially the storyline from the past.

I received a free copy of this book and chose to write this review voluntarily.

[Cindy Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel is a successful photographer who focuses on animal photos. Her ex-gf manages the business side of her art and has been pushing her toward high paying gigs of celebrities and their pets. But Hazel is feeling uninspired yet still caught up in pining for her ex. Then she receives a phone call from someone asking for her assistance with what the caller thinks are ghosts in her beachside house. Hazel has a gift for seeing reflections of other peoples' memories, but she's not a ghost hunter. When she gets to the house, she meets Jo, the cousin of the woman who called, and there's an instant attraction. She also feels the energy of the house and ultimately discovers a lesbian love story that took place in 1925 that includes a relative of Jo and her cousin.

The book is part romance and part mystery of the secrets of the house. That second element of the plot keeps the story moving more than the romance does, since there's minimal angst. The book is written from Hazel's POV with chapters from the past containing letters and journal entries. Overall, it's a decent book and by and large well written.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel Ross is a successful animal/pet photographer. It is her art and passion. But she also has the ability to see memories or reflections from the past, not ghosts. The modern day storyline has her helping Jo Steward and her cousin Lauren with some powerful energy at their seaside ancestral home. The two get connected up by meddling grandmothers who may also be matchmaking. The energy leads to a mystery involving a young woman who lived in the house in 1925. Her storyline is shared in letters that come between the modern day chapters. Jo is a scientist and has a hard time believing in Hazel’s gift. But she wants to believe the attraction the pair are experiencing is real.

I enjoyed both storylines and how the mystery plays out. There is just the right amount of tension as the women get closer to solving the mystery. The modern day romance comes with some realistic ups and downs. And I loved Edgar, Jo’s dog and his part in the story. If you enjoy a little paranormal energy in your books this is easy to recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.

[JAYNE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly different. I don't think the cover does this book justice. A solid 4⭐