Where the Echo Calls: A Heartwarming Dog Book

Books for Dog Lovers #3

by Steve N. Lee

Sometimes a dog isn’t just a dog — it’s hope.
Left for dead in the gutter, Rio struggles to his feet and lurches into the shadows for a place to hide. Life has always been brutal, thanks to a monster of an owner, but at least he’d had food, a bed, a place to call home. Now…?

Ben’s life ended when he lost his family. Drink no longer dulls the pain; therapy is a joke; friends have moved on. He’d had everything, yet now…?

But when the broken man meets the broken dog, they discover something neither had ever dreamed could exist… a reason to go on.

In a story as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, When the Echo Calls explores how hope can be found in the most unexpected of places if only we have the courage to look for it.

Genres: Animals

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2022

About the author

Steve has three passions: anti-heroes, animals, and travel. To date, he's visited 60 countries and has adopted five homeless cats, but he's yet to prowl the streets in the dead of night to beat up bad guys (though he still daydreams about doing so, but who doesn't?).

In pursuit of adventure, he's cage-dived with great white sharks, sparred with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and explored exotic locales such as Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China.

Fortunately, his passions fuel his fiction. He loves to pepper his action-packed thrillers with the exotic places he's explored and the unusual encounters he's experienced, while his dog stories glow with the love and companionship that will warm the heart of any animal lover.

More recently, while on his travels, Steve came across two true stories from the Holocaust which moved him so deeply, he has based two novels on them.

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, the great-great-great niece of the 1924 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, and two stray black cats who visited their garden one day and liked it so much, they moved into the house. Luckily, they graciously allowed Steve and Ania to carry on living there, even allowing Steve to continue paying the mortgage to give him a sense of purpose.

If you love stories of four-legged heroes, tales from histories darkest hour, or books with pulse-pounding action, you'll love Steve's three series. He wrote them for book lovers just like you!
Visit Steve's website: http://stevenleebooks.com/
Follow Steve on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/steve...

Reviews

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and I have loved each one. Each story has tugged on my heartstrings, made me laugh, and even cry a little.

The story starts out with Razor (later renamed Rio) being shoved out of a car, and he doesn't know what is going on or why his man left him behind. Razor is a fighting dog, and we get the impression he must have lost. It was hard to read because I hate when any dog is abused or neglected, or tossed aside. We watch Razor navigate the streets, tending to his wounds, finding things to eat, and just trying to survive. 

The story is told from Razor/Rio's point of view, and it is interesting how he thinks that if he isn't abused that he isn't loved. But I think those emotions probably hold true for various people in this world because they have been beaten down and don't know to expect more.

Rio's saving grace is when he is adopted by Ben. They need each other more than they can ever know. It takes time for both of them to adjust to one another, but when they finally do, it is so sweet. But it takes time for both of them to discover the strength that they gain from the other. 

The book does have some humorous parts with the addition of Izzy and her chihuahua, Woofy. They are perfect to offset the seriousness of the book.

This book also deals with friendships and emotional attachments that are formed. I don't think we give enough credit to animals and what they can experience and feel on an emotional level.

This is a lovely book, but if you have problems reading books dealing with abuse or abandonment, you might want to pass this one by. 

We give this book 5 paws up.

[Carole Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't wait to get started on this one! I have loved the others. In a way this is bittersweet. It is the last doggo story from this author for the time being.

Rio was left for dead in a gutter by his terrible human. He had been a fighting dog but at least he had a home. He is taken in by the shelter to find a forever home. Will he find this when Ben takes him home? Ben had lost his family and nothing helps. However, when he finds a broken dog he never imagined the friendship as they fix each other.

I loved, loved, LOVED seeing some old characters make an appearance here. However, this does well as a standalone, but it does add something special to seeing old people and dogs that you previously read about. This truly does show there are ALWAYS two sides to a story.

This author really knows how to pull at the heartstrings! There is so much sadness for poor Rio and poor Ben. They have been given some terrible things in life and they deserve all the happiness! It was beautiful watching them fix each other and find their way. We had some humor too which is always nice. One scene had me laughing so hard that I had tears. Can't tell you, but it was so unexpected!

Awww Woofy!!!! Loved that furball and his owner.

I will warn the beginning was a little rough seeing poor Rio (Razor his previous name when he was a fighting dog) navigate the streets and then survive some terrible humans. It is important to his journey, though, to fully understand why he is the way he is. It made me cry because it breaks my heart that people are so cruel. I had a rescue growing up and I have one now... and I can't imagine what they both went through before we brought them home.

That ending was simply perfect. I couldn't ask for a more perfect ending for Ben and Rio. In a way...it was a perfect ending for all the characters from the previous books too. There is always room for another dog tale but this wrapped up the series nicely. I do have plans to re-read one of the past ones (I re-read one a little while ago). These are for sure good re-reads. They are quick and short-ish, but they leave a huge impact.

Overall, I loved this. I loved all the books! They have it all. Humor, joy, sadness, and meaning. It was rough seeing Rio go through what he did before Ben, but it melted my heart seeing him finally find the pack he deserved. These books are great. A part of me wants more, but the ending of this one really ties everything perfectly together. I shall stamp this one with 5 stars. I highly recommend this and the other books.

[Ilse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Razor/Rio is dumped by his owner and left to fend for himself but this dog has a strong will to survive. You will experience a range of emotions when reading this book and will come to understand the meaning of unconditional love...the type of love that dogs give.

This book is worth more than 5 stars, but since that is the most I can give, I give it! Have your tissues ready as you will need them from time to time.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mans best friend

I just love Steve's books. There are so intense I cry every time. They have good endings but getting here can be interesting. Great dogs, people and stories. Ill read more by this master of dog stories.

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pet lovers, read this book! I loved every page. Five HUGE stars!
Oh, wow. When the author contacted me about reviewing his book, I thought, "I love dogs, and dog books are always such sweet stories." I told Steve N Lee that I would love to read and review it.

So I expected a cute book about a dog. What I got was so much more that that.

Where the Echo Calls brought out so many emotions! The trials that the dog goes through are real things that probably happen in our own communities to dogs; being left alone, injured, hungry, confused, and feeling the same types of emotions that we do, like sad, happy, frustrated,...depressed.

The author made this book come alive and play out in my mind! He made Rio as real as our dog lying next to me as I read. The dialogue of Rio's thoughts was amazing-it made me realize our dogs are probably confused by me a million times a day!

Rio lived a life that would have ruined most of us. Harsh, brutal conditions were his day to day. Perhaps being abandoned, while cruel, was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Rio's story will stay with you. Just this morning, I thought of Where the Echo Calls when our dog was looking at me and I wondered, "What is he thinking about me right now?" I wish Steve N Lee could interpret for me!

[Christina Desalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Steve N Lee's other two dog books. I won't give away any spoilers because I want everyone to enjoy the story as I did. I will say the true hero is our protagonist, Rio. What a dog! Despite being used and abused as a fighter, he remains loyal and loving to those he must protect. Rio takes his job seriously. This story serves as a reminder to give a dog a chance and not judge a dog by his past.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve has a gift for writing from the dogs point of view. As someone who has lived with dogs my whole life, it all rings so true and yet sometimes Steve offers an insight that I had not previously realized. Thanks for a great story and an intense craving for bacon.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of a dog's love shines through Where the Echo Calls. There is nothing like a dog's love and this statement is so true. They are so loyal even when they are not being treated humanely. The story is told by Rio, the dog, and his point of view. The love and and bravery he shows shines through the wonderful storytelling. This book is an emotional roller coaster where one minute you laugh and the next you cry. A very good read. I would recommend.

[Cindy Visscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great writer

Steve has such a nack for story telling. This book has twists and turns which will have you crying and laughing. Don’t miss out!

[Marion Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the feels. I was caught in the story from the very first page. It was about the will to fight and to never give up. Rio was the strongest dog. He had unconditional love. I was pulling for him the whole way. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. Everyone that loves dogs needs to read this. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. You will fall in love with Rio just like I did

[Vicky Sandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I loved how it was told from the dog's point of view. It was sad. It was funny. It was hopeful. If you love dogs you need to read this book! It will capture your heart.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a foster-mom to more than twenty-five dogs, and all the dogs I've ever kept have been rescues, so it's no surprise that I'm a sucker for a good dog story. Where the Echo Calls is not merely a good dog story, though; it's a fantastic dog story that really puts you inside the head of the dog at the center of the book. Rio (nee  Razor) is a shepherd mix used as a fighting dog. When we meet him his owner is abandoning him on the streets. We travel with him through his confusion, heartbreak, and steadfast determination. We get to learn about the "messages" dogs leave in their p-mail. Hope finally comes when he's brought to an animal shelter, only to have his first adopter betray him. Back at the shelter, Rio, like many dogs in similar situations - and I've seen this first-hand - Rio begins to shut down.

Finally Ben comes into the story and Rio is safe, but it's not that simple. Like Rio, Ben has a tragic history. Not only does he have to learn to trust Rio, but Rio must learn to trust him.

I really loved seeing the inner workings of Rio's brain. I've heard that well-trained, well-socialized dogs have an understanding of human vocabulary roughly equivalent to a human five-year-old, but we really never think about the fact that our pets are bilingual, in a sense, because their first language is one that combines scent, body language, and vocalizations (barks, growls, yips - my bigger dog is part Catahoula, and he sings.). They learn our language, and adapt to our lives. We don't do the same.  But Steve Lee gets it. And he writes the path to doggy comprehension amazingly well. Rio learns that "pocket-meat" (bacon) is for treats, and then he learns how to get it.

While much of this novel deals with serious things - depression and loss for both man and dog - there are some fantastic light moments that not only break the tension, but also warm the heart. Rio loves chin-tickles but pretends to only "allow" them in order to protect his tough-dog persona, and the bit with him eschewing, then secretly using, his "princess" bed is just hilarious.

I should note that though this is the third novel in a series, and characters from previous stories have cameo appearances, it's absolutely self-contained, and readers should not worry if they haven't read the first two. (That said, go read the first two, as they're equally wonderful.)

Overall, this is a totally plausible, thoroughly engaging story told (mostly) from the dog's perspective, and a copy of this novel should appear on every dog-lover's bookshelf or e-reader. I laughed and cried and had to stop reading more than once to cuddle my own dogs. You will, too.

Goes well with: Bacon! And cool drink of water.

[Barb Lie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Echo Calls by Steve N Lee is another one of his standalone novels that centers on a dog. Having read the previous books by Lee, I looked forward to reading this one. I really enjoyed this book, though I did have mixed feelings, which I will detail later in this review.

We meet Rio at the start, when he is kicked out of a car; badly injured, he struggles to get up and hide in the shadows. Rio’s life has always been rough, being a dog fighter, and with a mean owner. As Rio tries to heal a bit, he is desperate to find food, and keeps an eye out for his missing owner (who never comes); he doesn’t understand why people are mean, and looks at other dogs, who seem happy. After a short time on the outside, animal control will capture Rio, and bring him to a hospital, with the Vet fixing his bad injuries. I really liked the hospital assistant (he called her Wierdo), who was so wonderful taking care of Rio, and desperately trying to find a home, knowing the people tend to shy away from a dog that did fighting. I will say close to the first half of the book, it was very emotional and depressing to see what Rio had to go through.

It was difficult to read when Rio was adopted, by not really good people. The story changes when Rio meets Ben, who lost his family a long time ago. Both Ben and Rio were broken, and perfect to help each other. I loved how Ben did everything make Rio learn how to be a dog, and I got a kick out of Rio seeing other dogs in the park. To say too much more would be spoilers, as the last half of the book was very well done as well as emotional; so much happens at the last quarter of the book, that you need to read.

Where the Echo Calls was a heartbreaking, as well as heartwarming story. I loved Rio, and Ben, and some added characters later on. My mixed feelings were the first half of the book, which had me putting the book down for a bit, since it was depressing; and I do love dogs. Where The Echo Calls was well written by Steve N Lee.

Barb
The Reading Cafe

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars This is the third book I have read by Steve N. Lee and enjoyed them all. They are all wonderful stories about dogs, their lives (not only happy, but realistic) and the effect they have on their owners and loved ones. In Where the Echo Calls, we meet Razor/Rio. Razor has lived a hard life and even when being mistreated, he will do whatever his man wants because he wants to make him happy, it is also the only life he knows. When he ends up on the streets, he isn't quite sure how to take care of himself, until he is captured and ends up at a shelter. That is not the end of things for Rio. Will he find a good home and an owner he cares for him?

From the synopsis, you know that he meets Ben, a man who needs someone or something to help him heal. When Ben meets Rio, he immediately feels a kinship to him and they become a unit, but can they help each other. I loved when a book is narrated by an animal. As Steve N. Lee gives us Rio's voice, I had to smile and laugh many times. Bacon used to train him, is "pocket meat" as that is where Ben pulls it from. The characters are very realistic, both the bad and the good. In his last book, we meet Izzy and I loved her character. I was thrilled that she is back in this story and plays a large role. This is a book that had my emotions all over the place. Humanity is laid bare and we see how cruel people can be at times, but there is also love and companionship and we meet people who are compassionate and their dogs are their family. I want to mention that there is some mistreatment of animals and mention of dog fighting, but that is not described. If you enjoy books about dogs, especially those narrated by them, then I definitely recommend you pick this one up. Rio is a character that I won't soon forget. The author provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Mary E Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Echo Calls: A Heartwarming Dog Book by Steve N. Lee is the third in the “Books for Dog Lovers” series.

Razor, a big German Shepherd, is a hardened competitive fighting dog. But now he’s fighting for his life, alone on the city streets. His man has abandoned him, injured and forlorn, and Razor must scrounge to find food and shelter. To strangers he is a menace, and to other dogs a threat.

He’s eventually captured and taken to an animal shelter, treated for his wounds, and is available for adoption. But who would want a dog who obviously has been a fighter? Would children and other pets be safe around him?

Where the Echo Calls is written in a dog’s point of view. He’s a dog who has never known real comfort or love. His former owner used him for illegal purposes and took the spoils without giving kindness or companionship. But Razor is loyal and capable of great love, no matter the cost to his own well-being.

Steve N. Lee’s writing about dogs has heart. I’ve read his two previous books of the series, As the Stars Fall and When the Skies Cry. Where the Echo Calls is one more gripping story of a pet’s loyalty and love.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third in Mr Lees dog series, and this series was very heartbreaking at times, while also being very humorous. Razor is a German Shepard, a dog that has been used as a fighting dog, and fighting and cruelty is the only life he knows. The only attention his owner gives him is kicking and punching him. On the way home from a ‘dog fight’, where Razor was badly beaten by two dogs, Razor falls out of the car. Now lost and very wounded he has take care of his wounds, and find food and shelter. The entire story is written from the dogs perspective, (which was very well written).
Being a dog lover I can not understand, nor do I want to understand, how anyone can be so cruel to a dog. A dog is supposed to be mans best friend, the one friend that will never let you down, and give you unconditional love.
As the book goes on Razor, who is now called Rio, has one disappointment after another. Will Rio learn what friendship and love is? I won’t give you the answers, for that you will have to read this wonderful book.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this third book from Steve. If he had written me into this book as a character, I'd have been down to that animal shelter before you could blink and already have Razor back home with me, but he didn't. With me in it the book it would have been see Razor, home Razor live with and love
Razor. Book finished.
I far prefer Steve's story and you simply can't not read this book narrated by Razor, with Steve's help, telling the reader his few ups and lots of downs story, with true feeling.
Please, please don't let this be your last animal book Steve. You are too good at writing in this genre.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely tugged at my heartstrings. (Ok, maybe a little harder than tugged, but you get the idea). There were times I had tears in my eyes, and times I couldn't help but smile. Rio will wiggle his way into your heart so fast that it's hard to leave him behind when you finish the book. Ben was an interesting character, and watching his journey with Rio unfold was captivating. Highly recommend!

[Keli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Am. Exhausted!

I swear, this book nearly killed me! Going from one thing to the next in a split second - heartbreak to bliss and back. And then AGAIN! If this book doesn’t stir up emotions in you, friend, ya gotta problem. I fell in love with a dog (again) and in love with this author for writing this one. So do I recommend the book? Does the word, “duh” ring any bells? ;)

[Erminia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve N. Lee is a genius at interpreting the thoughts and emotions of a dog and presenting them in a wonderfully compelling masterpiece of fiction. Where the Echo Calls moved me like few other novels have. Rio, the former fighting dog, shares his life story in a most eloquent narrative. This book earns all five stars.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

Razors life has been turned upside down. Going from being used in dog fights to being dumped and trying to survive on the streets. Being captured and finding a little joy in life to one again being neglected and ending up back on the streets. Can he ever have a truly happy life? Or will he always suffer?

[Martin Pingree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very heart warming story of a fighting dog kicked out by its owner who finally finds a master that needs him as much as he needs him. Told from a dog’s point of view, this book is an emotional roller coaster. You’ll cry, laugh and smile from beginning to end !

[CAROLYN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog and man save each other

A lovely written book of the adventures of my one. After many years if abuse, love and understanding transform a frightening dig to a dog that fights for the human he lives.

[Edith Meza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

This book, like the others, has a great cast of characters. And dog characters, as well as a rat, called Rat. Well written. This guy has a great imagination! Made me cry, but picked me up later, so I could read some more.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘great new dog/human series’

Loved how this author tied these 3 books together unto a marvelous read! I love dog/human stories and this series was wonderful. Read it and you will see why! 🐾❤️

[Cherie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one I really enjoyed, v the dog was quirky and had some great thoughts, like when her talks about weirdo picking up his poop and when it came to his pee he was like what you don't want my pee too such great verbage for the dog...I loved it

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Fighters never Quit

The story of Rio and his pack of misfits is truly inspiring! Just when you think you have to put it away to do other things, you turn a page and are pulled back in. Funny, exciting, and heart-wrenching - I love this book! Thank you, Steven N. Lee.

[Jamy A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

This is one of those books that when you finish you feel warm inside! Taking m dog for another walk…just because!

[angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great stories

I read all 3 books. I laughed, cried and even got angry. But I like how all three books in a way became one

[laurel fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great dog books

I love reading the dog books Mr Lee writes and I hope he writes more!!! Thank you, Mr Lee, and please write more.