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Echoes of the Heart

One woman lives by the rules. One woman lives by the stars. And one night is about to change everything.
Marina Fuentes has built her life around one simple win at all costs. With a promotion to partner finally within reach, a relationships isn’t in the cards. But a chance encounter at an art gallery introduces her to a distraction she can’t afford but also can’t resist.
River Rigel lives by instinct, spirit, and the beating heart of her South Side community. All she needs now is someone to love her for who she is. On a random night out, she finds a woman who just might be her destiny.
As opposite worlds collide, something real starts to grow between them. But when Marina’s new client puts River’s world in the crosshairs, they could lose everything, including each other.
A sapphic opposites-attract romance about ambition, community, and destiny. Perfect for fans of ice queens and slow-burns.
Buy now and find out if love can survive when everything else is being torn down.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2026

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About the author

Ally McGuire

17 books83 followers
Award winning sapphic author ALLY McGUIRE lives in the UK with her wife. She writes WLW fiction to escape into the far more pleasant world in her head. Her latest, Echoes of the Heart, is out now — slow burn, gentrification stakes, and a ghost with opinions. Free preview chapters at allymcguireromance.com.

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5 stars
77 (67%)
4 stars
30 (26%)
3 stars
6 (5%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Clara Addicted to sapphic books.
451 reviews370 followers
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
April 25, 2026
4.5⭐️.
I didn't read the blurb well and didn't realize River would be a medium. I did not expect this touch of paranormal to be there and didn't know how I would welcome it. But River did her woo-woo on me perfectly. I was in some kind of reading slump, and this book took me out of it. First, it's really funny. Marina, who is so composed, finds herself in impossible situations every time she meets River, and I loved those scenes where fate is definitely playing a big part. Second, them being on opposite teams added some good tension. I really liked River's character; she is kind and really down-to-earth despite her gift. I just don't like it much when being butch is repetitively mentioned as a whole identity. Marina is layered, and her past added mystery. The resolution of her family issues was a tiny bit rushed for my taste. Expect a slow burn with a big "S" and a satisfying conclusion. The chemistry was so good I just had wished to see Marina reciprocate in bed. Pervy me. Overall I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Misha.
1,894 reviews79 followers
September 12, 2026
(rounded down from 4.25)

This romance struck a good balance between two people who are on opposite sides of rationality and "woo-woo". As someone firmly on the side of the rational, I appreciated the balanced approach that makes room for both ways of being and finding a middle ground together.

River is a fortune-telling, mystical shop owner who sees ghosts, and Marina is the ruthless lawyer making her way to the top of her firm by being dedicated to her work and winning.

I enjoyed the subplot about gentrification in neighbourhoods that are a bit less economically successful and the perils of being in partnerships with corporations that do not have the long-term interests of the people at heart. The villain is a bit cartoonish in her personality and gross behaviours, which is well and good when you need a villain to cleanly root against, but a more nuanced person with restraint would have been a more effective villain for the main couple to deal with.

Overall, this was an engaging and interesting romance where opposing people get together and make choices to grow and expand their lives to include more happiness.
Profile Image for Megzz.
377 reviews154 followers
Did Not Finish
September 28, 2026
It's not badly written, it's even funny at times, but God, I was so bored, I stopped at 40%. This isn't even a slow burn. Nothing happens. And I'm sure Marina redeems herself by the end but she's so deeply unlikable, I just couldn't. You have to give the reader something to hold on to.
224 reviews
March 19, 2026
Different, imaginative and romantic

This is an amazing story with excellent characters. I wasn't sure how much I liked Marina in the beginning, but she grew on me. And she had some epiphanies. They weren't a lot; she didn't change completely, but at least in one instance, she saw the light. I might like the book a little more if she changed legal fields or something, though. But that might be asking too much. I really found River fascinating, and Audrey too. And I liked the cameos from other books. I'm really glad Marina got the closure she obviously needed, but true to life, it didn't just magically fix everything. Marina and River had excellent chemistry and real personalities and flaws. They had to work at their relationship, which I appreciate. I'm very happy and fulfilled at how everything turned out. More ghost stories, please, Ally!
Profile Image for Jade Doodes.
750 reviews17 followers
March 17, 2026
This book is about two worlds colliding in the messiest, yet most perfect way. A woman who is driven by her career and a woman who speaks to ghosts, falling in love whilst on opposing sides of a legal battle. It honestly has a little bit of everything and makes for great reading. The love story runs throughout with a few other storylines that really hold your attention.
298 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 26, 2026
I loved this book from start to finish. It was written for a reader to just get immersed in and soak up all the feels and vibes. There was a wonderful unforced humour that put a smile on my face at several points throughout the book, talk of ghosts and psychic gifts that a non believer could completely get on board with and amazing chemistry between the two MC's. On top of this there were an array of supporting characters that had their own personalities and brought extra depth to the story.
The whole thing was well rounded, no dragging things out or constant repetition of what was going on but rather a story that moved forward at a good pace staying on its trajectory.
Profile Image for Emily.
55 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2026
When Logic Meets the Unseen

I loved this one so much. The opposites attract dynamic was done perfectly. You have one FMC who fully believes in spirits and the unseen, and the other who’s very much “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That tension alone made their connection so fun to watch unfold.

What really stood out to me was the growth. Watching Marina slowly come to terms with the fact that maybe the world isn’t as logical and controlled as she thought was so satisfying. It never felt rushed or forced, just really natural and emotional.

Their relationship builds in such a genuine way, and the contrast between them adds depth instead of conflict for the sake of drama. It’s soft, it’s a little magical, and it pulls you in without trying too hard.

If you love sapphic romance with a touch of the supernatural, strong character development, and that “we shouldn’t work but somehow we do” energy… this is absolutely worth the read.

Ally McGuire is quickly becoming one of my automatic read authors! Love her books so much
1,271 reviews
July 6, 2026
An Exciting Story Your Going To Love!

I LOVED This Book! Once you start it you can’t put it down. Two women who keep running into each other even after a disaster of a date. Marina Fuentes is a lawyer who needs to keep winning to get that promotion to partner. River Rigel, a clairvoyant, who lives in the moment with her spirits who guide her and her neighborhood that stands behind her. Both strong women, complete opposites who can’t seem to get each other off their minds. When Marina is forced to take on a very difficult client who is the bosses friend, a job done well will guarantee the promotion. But when Marina’s client wants to take over the whole South Street including the building where River owns her shop and her home. The thing that draws these two women together is the very thing that will tear them apart. Add in some really “special friends”, lost family members and some tough talking neighbors and you have characters all over that pulls this story together. River believes that although Marina is a shark, there is something underneath that Marina is hiding from. Can she see the real Marina before everything explodes? A must read if you are looking for something with heart, belief and truth.
Profile Image for JeanQueen.
64 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2026
Perspective

It is interesting to watch this genre unfold in real time. I’m a fan of this author’s work and have been a proponent of more plot and character driven lesbian romance stories and while, this book clearly sought to come up with an interesting plot, and to be more character driven it completely lost the romance to me. The plot in an effort to be more intricate and timely, buried the romance between the two leads. That was illustrative in the one 4 scene that I believe this book had, where there was no reciprocation which gave touched me not vibes. The ghost living in the home seemed to be central, except we never got any backstory on who she was and why she kept yelling a certain expletive at the main character and guests. There were some interesting pieces, but my perspective is that this book lost its way a little bit.
5 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 5, 2026
A Spiritual & Legal Showdown with Heart
Genre: Sapphic Paranormal Rom-Com / Social Commentary
TL;DR: A fierce Latina lawyer, a ghost-whispering butch, and a high-stakes battle against gentrification. A rare find that balances laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth.

✨ The Tropes & Highlights
* Opposites Attract: An ambitious, uptight skeptic meets a laid-back, intuitive mystic.
* Career Stakes: A high-powered lawyer with a career-defining promotion on the line.
* Butch/Femme Dynamics: Authentic, high-chemistry representation.
* The Reluctant Spokesperson: A soulful shop owner forced to find her voice to protect her community.
* "Eat the Rich" Energy: A tense showdown with a ruthless corporate villainess.
* A Vibrant Cast: A neighborhood full of memorable, distinct characters that make the stakes feel personal.

The Setup
Marina is a sharp-as-a-tack, ambitious Latina real estate lawyer who is firmly planted in the "real" world. She has no time for anything she can’t prove with facts and logic—especially the supernatural. With a career-defining promotion finally within her reach, she is more focused than ever on delivering results for her firm.
River, a butch, tarot-reading shop owner, couldn't be more different. She is laid-back, guided by her cards, and prefers to stay under the radar. But when Marina’s ruthless corporate client targets River’s neighborhood, River is thrust into the role of reluctant spokesperson for the community. These two opposites don’t just attract—they collide in a battle for the neighborhood's future that threatens Marina's promotion and River's peace of mind.

What I Loved
* The Emotional Depth: What surprised me most was the incredible character development. This isn't just a "funny book"—it has real range. The author masterfully balances humor with moments of genuine sadness and reflection. Watching River, who prefers the quiet of her shop, step up as a voice for her neighbors was incredibly moving.
* The Supporting Characters: The neighborhood feels truly alive. The book is populated with a fantastic cast of characters who add so much color and humor to the story. Their presence makes the threat of gentrification feel much more urgent and personal.
* The Dynamic: The butch/femme energy is immaculate. Watching skeptic Marina try to remain "professional" while River reads her soul is a total delight. Their chemistry is a delicious slow-burn that feels grounded and real, even amidst the ghosts and the "ghostly alarm clocks."
* The Twists: This isn't a predictable romance. The author weaves in mystery and mysticism that kept me guessing until the very last page.

The Verdict
This is a rare gem that manages to be both a hilarious rom-com and a poignant look at a community fighting for its space. It captures the full spectrum of experience: the humor, the heartbreak, and the search for where you truly belong. A deeply satisfying read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Put this on your TBR immediately!

FTC Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
318 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 17, 2026
Rivals to lovers romance with food for thought woven in
If you like butch/femme romance, opposites attract, rivals to lovers lesfic with unique characters and some supernatural elements, Echoes of the Heart checks all those boxes. Add to that a thru line of community and intergenerational interaction/connection/disconnection in both the queer and local Chicago neighborhood communities to provide food for thought in this humorous, sweet story with main characters who aren't all that they seem on the surface.  I liked that mains River and Marina weren't always predictable even if I questioned some of their choices and actions; they have undeniable chemistry and are steamy as can be when they get physical.
There is a colorful collection of secondary characters (Marina's assistant is hands down my fave of the entire cast) including a particularly despicable villain who add to the drama and humor.  Heads up for the heavier themes that crop up concerning family dynamics and grief, mistreatment and harassment, questionable morality and demonstrations of corrupted power; they are offset by much lighter moments that may provoke happy tears to fall while reading. There are also Easter eggs in the book, character cameos from other books by the same publisher, a nice bonus if you've read those books and recognize the names but not critical to know for this story's trajectory.
Trying to classify this book is tricky. It's at times a beach read, NSFW for some scenes, ponder worthy when you're not tearing up or laughing at the shenanigans on the page, or letting out an 'awwww' or two; not full escapist reading but still engaging and entertaining, highly bingeable. I've read all the books by this author (along with many written under her other pen names Brey Willows and JJ Taylor) and although this one is not my faves it gave me a bunch of the feels and things to think about long after I finished reading it. Oh and one of the early chapters of Echoes of the Heart opens with a banger of a first word and subsequent scene; you'll have to read the book to find out which one (no spoilers here).

139 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 16, 2026
Wow, I loved this book! The storyline was so unexpected and kept me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next. There were also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Once I started reading I didn’t want to stop and easily read this in a few sittings. I would categorize Echoes of the Heart as a paranormal sapphic rom-com with a butch/femme dynamic. The main tropes are opposites attract and a super slow burn.

In the beginning we meet Marina, a successful lawyer working her way to the top of her firm. Her friend cancels dinner plans at the last minute but sets her up with someone in his place. When the “baby masc” Binky (seriously, what she goes by) enters the picture I was really nervous. I thought there’s no way this can be Marina’s love interest for the book. I’m so glad I was right because soon we get to meet the psychic hot butch River. After Binky, the ghost-seeing River seems absolutely normal.

River is the owner of Echoes and Insights, a metaphysical shop that also offers psychic services and tarot readings. Her shop is located in a poorer area of Chicago that is soon to face challenges related to gentrification. She and Marina meet at a gallery showing featuring River’s goddaughter and immediately feel a connection. River is busy helping with the gallery opening but gives Marina her number.

Marina is handed a big client at the firm that wants to buy up all the real estate in the area where River lives and works. This creates a lot of drama and tension throughout the book. Our main characters don’t seem like they’d be compatible beyond the physical connection so nothing is acted on for most of the book. However they do keep unexpectedly running into each other so the universe must have something in store for them.

There was a lot of heart in this book. There were tender emotional moments, drama, excitement, and laughs. The side characters were well developed and helped to paint a richer story. While this was a slow burn the relationship and spice was worth the wait. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and need more. I hope we get some spin-offs with other characters. This book made me happy. Thank you for the ARC.
Profile Image for Nicole.
508 reviews68 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 25, 2026
Echoes of the Heart by Ally McGuire was a fun read. The romance was a slow-burn with nice chemistry and a spicy payoff. The overall arc was engaging.
Two women meet at an art museum, and despite their immediate attraction, their first date tanks. Something keeps bringing them back together, and then they find themselves on opposite sides of a gentrification project.
Rivals-to-lovers, the ‘ice queen’ trope, found family, community support, corporate greed and entitlement, family complications, and supernatural elements are among the factors that keep the narrative engaging.
I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters that make up a strong support system for the main pairing and the nasty corporate villains. Sheila and Montgomery give me the ick.
The additional family complications and unresolved grief that Marina experiences don't delve deeply into these themes but help to round out her character arc, along with her cultural identity.
River is a sweet, kind, and fun person, and I like her special abilities.
This one is also a bit of a rom-com. I chuckled a few times. Marjorie is particularly amusing. And here are some funny lines.

"Whore!" River Rigel sat up, her heart pounding, as the ancient woman with the wild white hair and eyes black as voids faded away. “Damn it, Marjorie.” She ran her hands over her face. "I wish you’d quit doing that."

He [Paul] nodded, his arms crossed. "Way more. They can go eat turds as far as I’m concerned."

"That’s about as true as it is that hogshit smells like roses."


I recommend this book for fairly low angst, satisfying romance, and a feel-good ending. I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up.

#Chicago #Illinois #butchfemme #WOC #Latina #icequeen #rivalstolovers #conflictofinterest #oppositesattract #slwoburn #spicy #strapscene #corporategreed #realestatelawyer #tarot #psychic #supernaturalelements #ghosts #spiritualshopowner #community #foundfamily #gentrification #regeneration #socialinfluence
#motorcycle #cutecat #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Carol Hutchinson.
1,178 reviews79 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 22, 2026
A little belief goes a long way!

Marina is determined to succeed in helping a big real estate developer to get what they want. The problem is she meets River, owner of Echoes and Insights, which happens to be in the neighbourhood Marina’s client wants to develop.

I loved this! It was fresh and different, especially with the quirky ghost who lives with River judging her all the time. River had a special gift, and instantly I knew she was kind, caring, and just wanted to help people. Of course, Marina didn’t believe, so she was really struggling with understanding all it was that filled River’s life. As fate would have it though, Marina was more intertwined in River’s life than I think either of them expected, and when it was all revealed just how much that was going to be outside of the developer thing, I thought that was a brilliant unexpected twist. Even if it was sentimentally and emotionally quite tough, it was a pinnacle in bringing them together finally.

Marina had great determination, and I understood why the things River described freaked her out and made no sense to her. Marina was logical and logic dictates against otherworldly existence and spirit. River really shook that up for her and made her realise there is more to life than winning in court. I loved the connection they actually shared, because underneath I do think Marina had a curiosity of it all that she had just been very unsure of. Again, later in the story when we learn more about Marina’s family and her past, it became a lot clearer why she might think that way and act out towards River’s beliefs.

A really enjoyable story, with just the right about of humour and seriousness around belief and spirits and a great deal of heart behind all the drama a good romance needs.
Profile Image for Maria.
549 reviews21 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 30, 2026
I would not really categorize this book as a romance even if Marina and River are just right for each other despite being total opposites. Instead, I read the story as Marina only focusing on her job as a corporate lawyer, prepared to do anything to be promoted, finally see there might be something else to aspire to. River on the other hand is this easy-going psychic that takes on life and women as more of a game until shit hits the fan for her community.

Marina having to represent the predator Shelia is quite the challenge for her. Sheila is this horrible developer that is all for gentrification and expects Marina to help her convince the community where River has her shop to sell out and allow her to destroy what they have built so she can make a fortune. River and above all the lovely Mrs. Crabtree will never give up without a fight though.

I enjoyed the interaction between Marina and River and seeing them being so attracted to each other but still resist so they can focus on what they believe in. Their targets so opposite to start with but with Sheila lurking, showing her true self Marina starts to see things a bit differently. She is extremely skeptical to all the psychic things that River is all about with her ghosts, but also that is ending up helping her so much. In the end the story just came together in a great way.

I received a free ARC from the author and leave an honest review voluntarily.

Profile Image for Michelle  Schuler.
935 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy
April 24, 2026
Oh, Ally why must you torture me this way - a very hard book to put down where you can't do anything else because you are so invested in the characters that your holding your breath until the end.

There are slow-burns that have the slow growing chemistry and you get to see the track they are on, but they don't. The characters accidently or not, keep putting themselves in the proximity of each other constantly that you are like, just kiss already.

Then there are other slow-burns that have that immediate chemistry, but see that they are on opposite ends and focuses more on resolving the barriers than they are hooking up together, standing steadfast in their beliefs.

Echoes of the Heart is the latter of the two for me. The slow-burn, glacial spaced romance that even though you know ultimately that the two will get together, it is the enjoyment of the ride; with several laughs along the way that makes it 100% worth it.

The characters stood their ground, did not fall into a lust fest; they worked their differences, but still showed up. The characters had natural growth that fueled their chemistry even more.

I haven't finished a book in less than 3 days in over 6 months, I am lucky to finish a book in a week; This was done in 2 days; and I enjoyed every minute of it. Take the time, check it out. Ally McGuire is an author I have on my auto buy list, I look forward to what she brings us next., In the meantime, I will be adding to my re-read pile.
Profile Image for Jonna.
136 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2026
What do mysticism and corporate lawyering have in common? Not much. But sometimes fate intervenes and new perspectives are welcomed.

I really enjoyed that this is a layered and complicated story. The story is first and foremost a slow burn, opposites attract, butch femme contemporary romance. It also layered in real ethical issues around gentrification and community renewal. Questions about moral compasses were also front and center - how they swing and what an individual decides to do when caught between a client and a right choice. Finally, it was a paranormal book where mysticism is embraced.

Both protagonists were well-drawn - Marina, the career-obsessed latina lawyer was a predictable ladder climber on one hand, but also a deeply human character who had to confront how the choices she made at work impacted River and others in her community. River was an extremely grounded psychic who can speak to ghosts. She is a reluctant hero as she speaks for her community, but she accepts that things are going as they need to and is an extremely calm and steadying force, particularly in Marina’s life.

I was particularly interested to see how these two women, who were completely at odds, would wind up navigating all of the challenges put in their way. Yet again, McGuire guides us through a wonderful love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Butterworth Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Debbie Fahlman.
30 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 25, 2026
Ally McGuire has authored this book with diverse characters, a slow burn, and a couple who have chemistry but are polar opposites! There is Marina, an attorney on a trajectory for making partner in the firm she works for, and River, who talks to ghosts! You have secondary characters, Rob and Jeff who are Marina’s support and Audrey who is River’s support. Rob is funny and jeff always gives a difference of opinion. I would not want to be Audrey, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why.

Marina is closed off and only interested in her work, but when she meets River, there is instant chemistry between them. Marina is haunted by her past and River actually communicates with ghosts! Their subsequent meetings with each other, both intentionally and accidentally are funny and sometimes lead to disaster.
The book is beautifully written with laughs and angst and an older character who will keep you laughing. The other character in this book is, well all I can say about her is I would have liked to slap her upside her head, but I’ll let you find out when you read it.
Marina and River end up being on opposite sides when Marina is assigned a new client exclusively.

The book keeps you turning pages and at times makes you wonder what is going to happen next. This is a book I will read again! Pick it up, you won’t regret it!

I received an ARC from the author.

Profile Image for Valden Bush.
Author 12 books21 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 30, 2026
I really bought into this story and its premise of two women attracted to each other. But it’s so different, in that one of the main characters is a corporate lawyer and the other is a ‘woo-woo’ girl and their initial date is disastrous. Of course, the rest of the book is about what happens next.

The main characters are Marina who is the lawyer trying to impress her bosses for promotion. McGuire makes her the master of the understatement, and she can be humiliating with the put down to people she doesn’t believe meet her standards. The fun that McGuire obviously has with developing Marina shines through with things that go wrong for her, and when she gets a new boss, I was totally going “Yes, yes, yes!”

River the other main character is my hero. She can see people ‘on the other side’ and if you aren’t sure about those ‘woo-woo’ moments, neither is Marina, and I can promise you McGuires handling of them makes them just part of the character and nothing untoward. The humor that is McGuires trademark is evident from the first few pages.

The emotion carries through the story beautifully as River and Marina navigate their way through their will they/ won’t they relationship.

It’s one of those books that I really enjoyed, with a glass of my favorite drink on a warm spring day. I’m sure you will too. Go buy it.
Profile Image for This.
307 reviews12 followers
May 17, 2026
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
I didn't read the blurb beforehand (I rarely do) so I didn't know there was a paranormal element. I don't have a problem with it - if anything in this book it brought the story to life.
What started as a relatively tame high flying lawyer hellbent on making partner and getting all the material rewards for her work - became more.
Marina, the incredibly clumsy lawyer meets River - the handsome butch who has a ghost as an alarm clock, and whose life is revolving around spirits, readings and a shop selling woo woo stuff. They find themselves on opposite sides of a property developers wish to redevelop the area of River's shop.
There's a smattering of interesting side characters - some from the woo woo side of things - others from Marina's corporate life. And then her family joins in and issues begin to be resolved.
There's also the extremely nasty, entitled, Sheila Black of Pinnacle Holdings who tells Marina she will have her, it's just a question of when. She oozes sleaze.
Good always prevails and everything will work out for the best.
109 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, two nights in a row I found myself reading past midnight, so the book really drew me in. I didn’t finish it just to find out how the story ended.
On the other hand, I didn’t like Marina’s character at all.

Marina’s behaviour is driven solely by her determination to become a partner, whatever the cost. She’s prepared to stoop lower than low for this sacrosanct promotion.

And then there’s River, who operates on the fringes of the paranormal, sees and hears the shadows of the past, and tries to protect her community. She is surrounded by people just like her.
She said she didn’t want to hate Marina, even though Marina had let her down.

Eventually, Marina does change her attitude, not out of a desire to do the right thing or to improve, but because of external events that push her to her limits.
The villainous Marina becomes vulnerable, but I had a hard time reconciling this new Marina with the old one. The author had really made her seem horrible in the first part of the book.

This paranormal aspect is important but doesn’t overshadow the story.

So I’m giving 5 stars to River even though I didn’t like Marina.
Profile Image for Red Dragon.
303 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 28, 2026
When River’s life converges with Marina’s at an art exhibition then the elements converge for a rollercoaster of a ride!
This is a great book. Marina is a hardcore lawyer focused on her next promotion, definitely not a believe of ‘woo hoo’ while River is a sensitive soul who talks to ghosts. senses emotions and feelings and loves her community.
Then a misogynistic, power hungry Sheila Black is thrown into the mix. She has her eye on Marina and also River’s community!!
The story has it all, tension, fun, laughter some great supporting characters both real and supernatural, including a surprising Easter egg from Helen Hart’s latest release which was lovely.
A definite winner for me, one of those books that you need to recover from in a very good way before reading the next!
Thanks to Butterworth Books for the ARC. Happy to leave this honest review.
Profile Image for Lirissa.
76 reviews4 followers
April 30, 2026
For me, this was very much a character-driven slow burn where the payoff really depends on how much you connect with the two leads.

Marina’s growth felt realistic, if a little slow to warm up at the start, but once it clicks, it clicks. River completely stole my attention though, her world, her work, and that feeling of always being slightly on the outside made her so easy to root for. The contrast between them is where the story really shines, structured, controlled work driven Ice Queen meets intuitive, spiritual chaos, and the tension that builds from that is so good.

Their chemistry is undeniable from the beginning, but the story really makes you wait for it, which might be frustrating at times, but honestly just makes the eventual payoff hit that much harder… and yes, it delivers on the spice too.
Profile Image for Monna.
243 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 12, 2026
A lawyer and a psychic walk into an art gallery and something incredible happens. The psychic, River, has a “feeling” about the tough femme lawyer, Marina. Marina just lusts over the attractive butch, for now. This story goes much deeper than attraction. The main characters are impeccably drawn and developed. Opposites attract, enemies to lovers, paranormal, and a healthy amount of spice make “Echoes of the Heart” one of those books that is hard to pigeonhole and definitely difficult to put down. An interesting and compelling set of supporting characters for both MCs lend even more depth to the narrative. There is a strong us vs. them/good vs. evil vibe throughout. Good finally wins in a very satisfying conclusion. Another excellent book from Ally McGuire.
Profile Image for My sapphic escape .
19 reviews4 followers
May 4, 2026
I received this book as an ARC read and this is my honest review.

Oh my where to start with this book. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. The two MCs are Marina, the big city lawyer and River, the small community medium. They couldn’t be more different. In her own words, Marina does not believe in any of that woo woo stuff. I on the other hand loved every bit of it and Marjorie. River has a pretty good idea from their first meeting that Marina is going to crash into her life in a big way, whether it's in a good or bad way is the question. This book has every little open door spice, Its main focus is building the relationship, community, and friendships. The story had me guessing to the end how it would play out, how could these opposites get to a HEA. Nail biting, that’s for sure.
Profile Image for JAYNE (sapphic_story_seekers).
263 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 9, 2026
Loved this book! It’s a funny, heartfelt slow-burn sapphic romance with an amazing sense of community and found family.

I adored River Rigel, her mystic shop in South Shore, and the friendly banter she had with her business partner. Learning about a developer's interest in gentrifying the area catches the community off-guard, but everything happens for a reason, right? Queue Black Pinnacle’s attorney, Marina Fuentes. Her chill attitude was a perfect match for River, and I enjoyed seeing their dynamic shift as events unfolded. To say opposites attract with this couple is an understatement.

Overall, a wicked balance of humour, sadness, hope, and tension.
Profile Image for E.V. Bancroft.
Author 15 books46 followers
May 5, 2026
A delightful opposites attract contemporary romance.
I loved this laugh out loud romance between a cynical lawyer and a medium who lives with a belligerent ghost.
The setting of Chicago is interesting, and the characters, including the secondary characters are well drawn and three dimensional (with the exception of the ghosts, of course)!
As always, with an Ally McGuire book, it is well written, with information threaded through the dialogue with a deftness not often seen. It has a deeper point and makes some of the issues around capitalism and corruption very clear. A must read, definite five stars from me.
Profile Image for Jennifer Michelle.
222 reviews9 followers
June 27, 2026
This book was a little slower for me to get into, however, once it hooked me, I was hooked. This book is different and not in a bad way.

What I loved the most was being able to relate to Marina for having awkward situations arising and the clumsiness.

The pace of the book and the way the events played out was fun. I was shook a few times due to some of the events that came into play.

I loved the role River had in the book and how she stayed true to herself and her gifts. Not once did River shatter or break due to her gifts.

I loved how this book brought people together to fight for a cause.

Just a powerful and fun read.
Profile Image for Fran Sappharc.
958 reviews48 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 29, 2026
Great first chapter. Character set out and book style. The atmosphere in the second chapter is different but no less enjoyable.
I am romping through this book and my attention is firmly held. I am on tenterhooks to see how the mains will find their way to each other.
Well that was great! I was amused, entertained and stressed. 4.5!
190 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2026
Woo-woo & a hot butch

What a brilliant story, Marina and River are absolute polar opposites but utterly complete each other.
I loved all the characters and the woo-woo stuff was especially entertaining. A ghost that shouts early morning insults - awesome.
I was hooked from the beginning, definitely 5 stars.
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