Lost in the Echo

by Jack L. Pyke

"Three days. Three questions. Three answers."

Despite being a linguistic tutor and having every conversational tool at his disposal, all Will Chambers wanted to do was fade into the background, become lost in the echo of wild heath and harbour. But now someone wants to put his body and mind on full display, force Will to find his voice -- answer three questions, over three days.

All Will has to do is provide three... simple... answers.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, Contemporary, LGBT, BDSM, Romance, Novella

121 pages, ebook

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Jack blames her dark writing influences on living close to one of England’s finest forests. Having grown up hearing a history of kidnappings, murders, strange sightings, and sexual exploits her neck of the woods is renowned for, Jack takes that into her writing, having also learned that human coping strategies for intense situations can sometimes make the best of people have disastrously bad moments. Redeeming those flaws is Jack’s drive.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.



I beta read the extended, edited novella. Please note: I never read the original version.

It's always a pleasure working and chatting with you, Jack. Thanks! Looking forward to beta reading your next book. Just holler whenever you're ready. *waves* :)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

****4.5 Stars****

I don’t have much to say except that this is not your typical romance.
But then, none of the other books I’ve read from this author were, yet I loved them all.
It’s a mindfuck story and carries a mean punch
The kind of story that leaves me staring at nothing in the end, with a stupid face, wondering... how some people are born with not a single ounce of imagination *like me* and others are blessed with an unlimited capacity to put not only words together but create the unthinkable.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+++ I'm floored. THIS was a mind-blowing story. So exceptional, so dedicated so, so, I’m speechless.

Amazing concatenation of words. Beautiful.

It has an amazingly intriguing captivatingly build-up.
Confusing. What and why is this happening?

Bit by bit the curtains of the mystery slide open and OMG, there is so much to see. It was devastating.
Those beautiful men, it was heartbreaking, it was devastating. I cried out loud
I felt to my knees and cried. Will, James, Elliot, and Ryan. Fathers, sons, friends, and lovers.
Those men I cried for them, omg I love them so hard it hurts.

I just can't tell more without giving the story away and that would be a disaster because this story, you have to feel it, live it, breathe it. Mind-blowing beautiful.

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story, I will be honest wasn't what I was expecting after reading the blurb. The warnings made me want to read it especially reading the word



I will admit to wanting something darker from this book and I went in with the wrong ideas which could explain my lower rating- Sorry Jack :(

Very touching end to the story though :)

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack L. Pyke has a way with writing, she uses a dark and erotic - maybe slightly (probably more than slightly) deranged way of thinking that takes the reader on a ride and leaves them breathless at the end! All of her stories have kept me totally enthralled..you know the type of book where you hide away flipping the pages as fast as you can and avoiding everything else until you get to that last word..yes! That is what you experience when you read a book by Jack L. Pyke.

Lost in the Echo is a different type of book because you are plunged into what the main character experiences, you don't get to see the background nor what's happening around him...you only experience what he does, which is panic. Darkness. Nakedness. Shame. Fear. Anger. And much, much more! Some have said they were ""lost"" in this book - I think it's suppose to be that way, you are living (reading) what our MC is experiencing. It makes his experience all the more real!

Three days. Three questions. Three answers.

Kidnapped, blindfolded, and bound to a bed, running away isn't an option any more for Will Chambers. Despite being a linguistic tutor and having every conversational tool at his disposal, all Will wanted to do was fade into the background, become lost in the echo of wild heath and harbour. But now someone wants to put his body and mind on full display, force Will to find his voice—answer three questions, over three days. All Will has to do is provide three... simple... answers.

So, remember as you read this story ... you are Kidnapped, blindfolded, and bound to a bed, being asked 3 questions in 3 days.. and allow yourself to fall into Will's headspace as he is brought back from the Echo!

5 fantastic stars - Another Amazing story!

Please visit the Publishers Story Page: ForbiddenFiction

Review Copy of
Lost in the Echo provided by Forbidden Fiction for an honest Review.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release day review and e-book giveaway to come at .

This story revolves around a set of events that is a mystery to the reader. In typical Jack L. Pyke style, I felt a bit lost at the start, like I was thrust into the middle of something, experiencing it from the character’s mindset, but all is revealed in time. It is obvious from the beginning that there is a sadness around Will. There is discord, anger and someone missing from his life (lover, ex, friend?) and all of it is weighing heavily on Will. There is bad blood and hurt between Will and his co-worker Elliot, who have some sort of history and it doesn’t seem good. Will is glad to know Elliot is taking a new job and leaving the University. On the other hand Ryan, Elliot’s son, seems to be on Will’s side of whatever happened and also seems to be touched by the same sadness.

With the school break starting Will is heading off for some time alone to his cabin on the shore near his childhood home. Things soon turn bad as Will finds himself attacked, drugged, blindfolded and waking up bound to a bed at the mercy of two men he calls “Voice” and “Friend”. He doesn’t know what they want from him other than three answers to three questions over three days and that they are willing to get violent to get what they want.

Bits and pieces of Will’s story, good and bad, are revealed through his memories with each question asked by Voice as Friend “urges” compliance. We learn about the people and moments in Will’s life and what brought him to his current state of mind. The history between him and Elliot is revealed; two men whose lives are devoted to language, yet they can’t find a way to use it when it matters most. Ryan’s place in their lives also becomes very clear. I really don’t want to say more about the details of this story since it would spoil the experience.

Lost in the Echo is a story of love, loss, grief and regrets. I’ll admit that I had some issues with how things played out relating to Will’s abduction, but I can ignore those niggles in light of the emotional chord Jack L. Pyke struck in the aftermath. The way secrets, indecision and lost moments all combined to create a perfect storm ending in a tragedy that changed so many lives so quickly, had me grieving and shedding some tears along with the men in the story. It’s so much more than an abduction story. An abduction can’t erase the past and only real communication can change the future and offer up a second chance; that is if Will even wants to.

The story is novella length and has so many layers that are slowly revealed, I read it twice before reviewing it just to make sure I had the full effect. There were a couple times I did wish I had a bit more insight into certain characters and their actions, but in the end I had enough information and background to feel everyone’s pain and hope for a better future for them all.

What starts as a mystery, turns into a nightmare and ultimately ends up a tale of love, loss, family, hope and forgiveness. First and foremost this is a drama, but there is an underlying story of romance that hangs in the balance. Through all the mistakes, misunderstandings, desperation, love and grief there is a way for Will to find his way out of it all.

[Ula'ndi Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall book rating: 4.25
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2



There really is nothing more to say other than – I now need a stiff drink, and I absolutely love the way this author’s mind works. Brilliant

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that's like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

Holy Crackers. Intense. Frickin' emotional guerrilla warfare. Started down one road, then listed to the side and..WHAM! Totally slammed as the story shifted with the lines I read. Part of me wants to kill the characters in this book, part of me just wants to curl up and cry, and the other part's like...yeah, that's cool.

A few places I got briefly twisted around as I thought I knew where I was going--wrong. Sorted myself out quick enough, but there was a wee bit disorientation. The title was perfect--you don't find out until the end, but it works so well.


LINK to read lost in the Echo, part of the M/M Romance group's Love Has No Boundaries event

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm mixed in this one. There is something about Ms. Pyke's writing style which is convoluted. It's messy and almost as if she keeps 1/2 the story in her head and only shares partial. I always feel like I'm looking through a very cloudy glass and seeing only part of it.

This story is pretty hot from a kidnapping point of view. The twist is classic Ms. Pyke. It's enjoyable and yet twisting. The turmoil between Will and Elliot is pretty intense. It's also jarring. It also feels unfulfilled. It is a mind fuck but somehow leaves me feeling as if it is all unresolved. Still, the characters are interesting and the sexual tension as well as love lost makes the story riveting.

[Sandi ♥'s way too many M/M books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Love Jack, that being said I might try to read this again when im not at work so I can try to focus more. I felt all over the place couldn't really connect to the characters. And at times felt kind of lost in the sotry and not in a good way. Just literally lost and confused. I'm going 2.5 stars for now will see if that can change after a re read.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story. There was a slow-moving part about midway through but other than that, the pacing was nice. The situation was painful and it hurt to read but it felt real. Will's grief was palpable and understandable. On the one hand I didn't like how the whole thing was handled (I can't explain anything without giving it away) but on another, I can see it happening and maybe doing what it was meant to do.

The story really resounded with me because it is the first book I have ever read that acknowledged that foster parents can love their children as much as any other parents love their child. No one has ever understood my bond with my daughter. They've continually told me to give up on her when her difficult behaviors became too much for me. No one would ever have suggested I give up on my daughter if she were my own flesh and blood. But to me she is. I would do anything for her. I don't usually even tell people she's my foster daughter because it never mattered. I love her unconditionally even though her mental health issues make it so that she will never love me back in the same way.

So thank you Jack for writing a story about love and loss and grief that didn't try to define family but let it flow.

Happy ending? Yes, HEA.

[Jack Pyke]

Author Note: Extended Edition. Ebook only format.

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deliberately cryptic novella, pleasingly dark. All becomes clear by the end.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extended edition of a short story first published for the Goodreads Love Has No Boundaries "Dear-Author" Challenge. I haven’t read the original version, so I can’t compare the two or say what has been added or improved on.

I particularly liked the wonderful writing style and use of language. Right from the start the author sets the tone well. I was enthralled by the sentence structure and use of imagery to reveal the different settings. Jack creates a suspenseful atmosphere, especially in the first half. The story itself is mysterious and gripping, and held my attention to the end.

This is a complex tale with many layers that needs your full attention, otherwise you may miss clues and references to the various characters and their relevance to the plot. There’s no real backstory at the start and information on the characters drips through a few drops at a time. I was a little bewildered at first and not sure who was being referred to. I think that was the intention of the author. The story gradually unfolds with flashbacks to explain the current situation.

The story has a dark element, but it wasn’t quite as dark as I’d thought it would be. Yes, there’s kidnapping, physical restraints, and psychological torture to some degree. Above all, it’s an emotional tale, full of pain and grief. It is also about love and love for more than one person.

We experience what Will is feeling. We’re lost with him, confused as to what’s going on. His senses have been dulled, and we experience what he’s going through. Will is lost in the echoes of the past and his grief is palpable.

I enjoyed the story, but read it again to sort out the characters, who did what and their motives, plus to order the different flashbacks. It’s a multi-layered story with lots going on that I didn’t fully understand at first. The second reading clarified some of my confusion. Even so, I struggled with what had exactly led to the kidnapping and am still a little muddled about the motives and why things happened as they did, both in the current as well as the backstory.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers in this review. Give it a try. I recommend it.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

***What a Mind Game!***

Jack L. Pyke is known for darkness, BDSM, and mind games, and Lost in the Echo is another amazing show of this exquisite talent! This book tosses you in the deep end from the very beginning. Told from a singular point of view, that of the kidnapped Will, you walk through his harrowing experience not knowing why he was taken until he himself reveals the experiences that led to this traumatic event.

We as readers are so accustomed to receiving the background of the characters and their situations that something like this book completely derails the mindset. I’ve never experienced a book that works like this one does, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to completely alter my own prejudices and expand my ability to take in information!

It is dark - actually, it is super dark - and that just makes the entire experience more mind boggling. Don’t look for fluffy bunny happiness here. You must earn that fulfillment by walking through the shattered mess that is Will’s mind. I can say with complete certainty that you need to take this book for a spin!


Review copy of Lost in the Echo provided by the publisher, Fantastic Fiction, for an honest review.

[Phetra Hedlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come on GGR.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was an intense read but I expect that from Pyke. This is a short story that is a three day reflection on a lifetime of pain, hurt and love. Let the pieces fall ❤️

[Helena Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be one of those ‘o my God, I want to say all the things but I can’t give anything away’ sorta reviews. This story blew me away. It had me wondering and guessing what exactly was going on from the start and the answers and revelations were nothing short of stunning.

This is a story about grief and (not) dealing with it. It’s about a man, Will, who has shut himself down. He actively avoids feeling and dealing with what has happened and doesn’t realise—or refuses to see—that this road will lead him to more rather than less loss and pain.

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for another is break them down to their basics so that they can find a foundation to build themselves up again. Sometimes the questions you least want to answer are those that will allow you to move forward, if only you find the courage or incentive to face them.

I loved how this story was written. Exactly what is going on, what has happened and how it relates to what is happening in the present is only slowly revealed. The reader has to pay attention; every word is important, every action has a reason and every thought reveals more than is clear at first glance.

There’s darkness, fear, anger, and despair in this story but ultimately this is a story about hope, about bonds that can’t be broken and turning your gaze to the future rather than allowing the past to swallow you whole.

I’m sorry. I know I’m being very vague here, but trust me when I say that I do so on purpose, be it reluctantly. You’ll want to experience this story. A large part of the magic this tale weaves lies in the fact that the reader only slowly discovers what is happening and why. You’ll just have to trust me when I say that you should read this book and allow the mystery to reveal itself as you turn the pages. It is impossible to do so without feeling the pain, experiencing the fear, and hoping that feelings that have been ignored for too long are still strong enough to forge a new future.

This was my first book by Jack L. Pyke but it most certainly won’t be my last. This author has a unique voice and a magical way with words. It was impossible not to be drawn into Will’s experience and emotions. Last night I went to sleep thinking about this story and this morning it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the same thing happened again tonight. Lost in the Echo is a worthy addition to my list of extra special books. I can’t wait to find out if the other books Jack L. Pyke has written will affect me in a similar fashion.

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.

Wow, this story really packs a punch. I was pretty darn confused in the beginning, but I just kept telling myself to relax, this is Jack, there is always a method to her madness. And thank goodness I listened to myself, because when it all plays out, it is totally worth it.

At first glance, this is a pretty complex story, but on the other hand, it is a tragically sad, yet beautiful story of love. Love for a son, love for a partner, and what happens when those are interconnected and then tragedy strikes. Will is falling apart, losing himself to the grief of losing his adopted son. He leaves town to get away from the memories that surround him at home and it doesn’t take long before he is kidnapped. While he is disoriented and confused, it becomes clear that this is more personal as the kidnapper forces Will to confront things by asking him three questions.

To say any more about this story would be giving too much away. Suffice to say, once the kidnapping happens, things ramp up pretty quickly. As that comes to and end, the pieces start falling into place. The emotions bleed off the page as two men grieve and come to grips with things. All three men have lost here, but it is the remaining son who sets Will and Elliot straight pushing them to wake up and take control of their lives.

I am never disappointed when reading a Jack Pyke book. The quality of writing is never in question. Every one has such depth to them through complex characters and story lines you can’t help but fall in love with. They tend to be on the darker side, with very little fluff, yet they are full of emotions and love and even hope. If you have yet to experience her work (and it is always an extremely fulfilling experience), you are truly missing out, and I highly recommend you give one a try.

[Sunne]

This one was strange. I was curious, wanted to know, was glued to the pages (of my kindle) and enthralled.....and then I felt let down.

There was a great built up. Secrets, tension, events unkown to the reader, someone mourned but who? And why? I wanted to know.
And then piece by piece I learned what had happened. And that was the moment the story went south for me personally. I didn't get the conflict that had led to the nightmarish situation in the first place. What was the problem? I still don't get it. Why was William against them as a couple? What was so terrible? Especially because he...

Okay, so in my humble opinion there was a deadly drama created out of a situation that would have required either joyfull get-together or in the worst case a short talk with each other. It continues with more situations where I thought that the reactions of the MCs didn't fit with what was happening.

So - for the writing and the built-up of the suspense - it was a 5 star. For the conflicts and the solutions...

No idea how to rate that, I've never been in the situation that I thought the whole story war illogical but I was still glued to it till the end.

I'm not going to rate it, read it for yourself, maybe it's me, it's free anyway so you can try it.

[DB Kimmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaser
Lost in the Echo is a shining example of how powerful a punch an artist can put into so few pages. Jack L. Pyke gives you well rounded characters, a carefully crafted backstory and an engaging plot that has you guessing up to that pivotal moment, and then spinning at its revelation, while hoping right up to the end. It is one of those stories which will leave you wanting to immediately read it again once you know the answers and all the characters, just so you can immerse yourself in their mindset.

See Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2bwD0HP

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking hell. This is a fantastic, unbelievably wonderful, completely beautiful and heart wrenching story. Jack, my dear, you are so incredibly amazing with words. What I just read was so great, I can scarcely believe it. The emotions I'm feeling right now... my God, I need a drink. Thank you, Jack. Thank you so very much. Just... WOW.

[Kazza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent novella. It isn't as dark or as brooding as I would have liked, but it's still quite melancholy.

The main characters just didn't grab me like I wanted them to. I liked Ryan the most. From the extra author info at the back he was injected into this version more. His story adds pathos to the overall tale, but he's a secondary character. I couldn't imagine this novella without Ryan involved like he was. He's actually a scene stealer.

I'm not a fan of a (more than a few) incomplete sentences. Lost in the Echo has its fair share of those. I understand some fading away of dialogue here and there, particularly in more emotional stories, but not as often as in this novella.

The premise is excellent. I can see Jack L Pyke can write. It's a case of me wanting to connect with their writing style but not quite being able to. I had the same problem with Don't.... I know intellectually that the writing is fine as I'm reading, and the story interesting, but the main characters don't pull me under with them. In the well named Lost in the Echo I was cruising when I should have been feeling an intense tug.

If you're looking for something quick to read that's more psychological, with a bit of bent added, because it is a tad bent, I'd say pick up a copy.

[Steelwhisper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this prompt and photo because it was so close to my own, and I had hopes for another dark or deeply psychological story.

Alas, no. "Lost in the Echo" is a soap opera instead, one suffering badly from ADHD. It's all over the place, insofar it's really lost. I soon wondered what wouldn't be dragged into it at some point: foster kids, dead kids, envious colleagues, nasty bosses, interested neighbours, kidnapping, a trope I'm horrified that it made it into m/m from m/f at all ("if you enjoy it it's no rape"), an endless stream of severely anthropomorphic objects, log cabins in merry old England, drama galore.

I lost cohesion with it half way through and started skimming only, never truly connecting to or caring about any of the characters. Maybe this story wanted to be Monty Python's Flying Circus, but there wasn't really enough absurd irony in it for that and it sorely lacks the rubber chicken. Maybe it's just not my thing. Whatever.

2* mainly for the lovely photo and prompt itself. The story itself was GR-style "it was okay".

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was wonderful! I read through, and then re-read because it is pretty clear that this is a multi-layered story with hidden depths.
I loved William, his reticence and repressed behaviour, hiding such an ache of loss behind his silence. Jack really brought him to life in this story! The flashbacks, particularly the scene in the showroom, were great, although I would have liked more room given to all the other characters. I would have loved to learn more about James' death and the immediate aftermath, even with William holding onto his emotions so tightly. I could say the same thing for the failed marriage, but there again I am curious about such things!

But that is nit-picking! Suffice it to say, that this is a story that I will read over and over again with great enjoyment! Thank you Jack for such a great 'William'!

[Silkeeeeeereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw that Jack Pyke had posted her No Boundaries story and went in search of it. I mean - it's Jack Pyke, why wouldn't I? She's just up there with my favorite authors.

Even though this was a short story she still managed to make the story suspenseful, sad, and then sweet and uplifting at the end. In other words, it was a EXCELLENT.

Highly Recommended! Why? IT'S JACK PYKE!

[Seiran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was not for me, it was all over the place and I felt nothing for the characters. I could never get invested into once certain character because there was never any time to completely know or understand who the character is or their thoughts.

Also if someone did anything remotely close to what elliot did, I would rip his fucking balls off, and send his ass to jail, just sayin'.

[Jack Pyke]

Free Story for the Goodreads Love Has No Boundaries "Dear-Author" Challenge.

[Sara]

What is this????

Oh hell yeah.

[♣️ Lynda ♣️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching! I loved this book. It's a quick read but you get the span of all emotions while reading it.