ECHO (Linear Tactical #7) by Janie Crouch-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 12, 2019

Sometimes the deepest scars are the ones that can’t be seen.

Single mom Peyton Ward works three jobs to make ends meet. At Linear Tactical she’s surrounded by heroes on a regular basis…but none of them are hers. She thought she’d found one in Linear’s silent partner, and country music superstar, Cade Conner.

She was wrong.

Unintended wounds still cut as deep.

Cade may not work day to day operations at Linear, but he takes the mission of the company he helped create—teaching survival intelligence and self-defense skills to the people who need them most—seriously. And finding out he’s wounded Peyton in the worst way possible weighs on him.

So when danger on two separate fronts closes in on her, he will damn well be by her side. Making sure they survive so he can right his personal wrongs.

He might not have been a Special Forces soldier, but Cade Conner knows how to fight. And Peyton is a woman worth fighting for.

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REVIEW: ECHO is the seventh instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former Special Forces soldiers who own and operate Linear Tactical, an Oak Creek, Wyoming business specializing in survival skills, security and protection. This is twenty-six year old, Nashville superstar and silent partner in Linear Tactical Cade Conner, and twenty-three year old, single mother Peyton Ward’s story line. ECHO can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is reveal where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Cade and Peyton) ECHO follows the second chance romance between twenty-six year old, Nashville superstar and silent partner in Linear Tactical Cade Conner, and twenty-three year old, single mother Peyton Ward. Five years earlier Cade Conner had hit it big with he release of his new single, but falling for home-town girl Peyton found Cade struggling between his head and heart. With Peyton about to head to London, England to start film school, Cade headed to Nashville where he would become one of the biggest stars in the music industry. Fast forward five years wherein Cade returns to his home town of Oak Creek, Wyoming where he will come face to face with his past, a past with whom and what he struggles to come to terms. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Cade and Peyton, and the potential fall-out as Peyton’s past is hoping to end her life, and a betrayal forces Cade to take stock of his future.

Peyton Ward works three jobs in an effort to take care of the child she loves but coming face to face with her past brought with it too many memories of what was and what was never to be. Cade Conner had no idea the h*ll of which Peyton Ward endured within weeks of him leaving Oak Creek, Wyoming. Hoping to make things right, Cade Conner begins a slow seduction of his muse but with a stalker intent on destroying his life, Cade’s first priority is to protect the woman he loves and everything she has to offer.

The relationship between Cade and Peyton is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people torn apart by circumstance, betrayal, secrets and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We get reacquainted with the Linear Tactical team: Zac Mackay and Anne Griffin (Cyclone #1); Finn Bollinger and Charlie Devereaux (Eagle #2); Aiden Teague and Violet Collingwood (Shamrock #3); Jordan Reiss and Gabriel Collingwood (Angel #4): Dorian and Ray (Ghost); Heath and Lyn (Shadow). The reader is introduced to Cade’s Aunt Cecelia, as well as members of his security team: Mark Outlawson, writing partner Everett Templeton, best friend Blake ‘Baby’ Bollinger (Finn’s brother); Sheriff Curtis Nelson; and Peyton’s daughter Jess; her mother Renee, and her step-father Dennis.

ECHO is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and lies; a story of vengeance and retribution; second chances and love. The premise is intriguing and suspenseful; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are colorful and energetic. ECHO is a fascinating and exciting addition to the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock
Angel
Ghost
Shadow

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy