Echo: Hold: A Military Romantic Suspense

by Delta James

Some missions protect the world. This one protects my family.

I walked away from Rachel Donovan eight years ago, thinking distance would keep her safe.
I was wrong.

Her son just witnessed a Committee execution, and now they’re hunting them both. Protecting them is the mission… but the moment Rachel opens the door, I know it’s more than that.

I’ll hold the line.
I’ll hold Lucas safe.
And this time, I’m not letting her go.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2026

About the author

As a USA Today bestselling romance author, Delta James aims to captivate readers with stories about complex heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way.

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels, and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and white-water rafting.

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally with as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/34898....

Reviews

[Cécile Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echo: Hold is already the 4th story of the series,and i have to say it’s getting better by the book.
Yes,Rachel and Colton take their time reconnecting,and accepting their feelings are still as strong as 8 years ago.
And yes,they both keep talking about what happens after….will Colton stay,or leave again?
But there’s a child involved,Rachel has a 6 year old son,called Lucas.
That,in my opinion,is reason enough to make sure their relationship is solid.

What Rachel went through after Colton left the first time,is enough to cause trauma.
Lucky enough,she got rescued,and the man she was with,the father of her son,Matteo,was killed.
But after Rachel finally settled down in Tuscon with Lucas,and tried to get on with life after,he saw a man getting killed at the back of the store.
By a man that would do anything to make sure that Lucas wouldn’t talk about it….Kessler.
Because he just killed a man that used to be involved in Protocol Seven,making it Committee business.

Colton was determined not to fail the woman he’d left behind all those years ago this time.
The woman he never stopped loving,but who he thought deserved a better life,without him.
Seeing her again,seeing the change in her,he knew he couldn’t walk away a second time.
But he also knew he had a fight ahead of him,and not just to keep her,and Lucas,safe.
He knew he had to earn her trust,and her heart,back…..and he knew he’d die trying.

When danger comes very close,and relocating to a safe house isn’t enough,they move to Echo Base.
Meeting the team,Colton’s family,drives the seriousness of the situation home even more for Rachel.
But she knows they’ll do everything they can to keep her and Lucas safe.
And she knows she can’t live without Colton again…..even if that means letting him walk into danger,time and time again…..
The fact that Lucas idolises Colton,and wants him to stay with them,makes the decision a little easier.
But will they get that well deserved happy after this time?
Or will the Committee kill that,and them before they get there??

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars ~ good plot and building suspense. Love the characters, but a run through by an editor would catch some of the inconsistencies that are annoying and break your flow through the story. Review to Come

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the fourth book in the Men of Echo Ridge series. I have read the first three books in this series before picking up this book. I loved this book for the first page to the last page. I loved everything about this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is the 4th story in the Men of Echo Ridge series, all of the romantic suspense and dangerous action holds strong. And who doesn't love a second chance to make things right trope? Colton and Rachel both have survived broken hearts, but coming to grips with the past and working together to move forward may take more than they can believe.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous from front to back. We met Stryker at the beginning of this series to me he was always the tortured one. Now I know he was tortured but by himself needlessly.
Rachel to escape her heartbreak moves to South America with an Aid group and meets and falls in love with a man who provides them with medical supplies and all manner of aid they have not been able to get from the system that supplies them closing her eyes to the little red signals. After moving in with her so very charming man and of course getting pregnant all of her closed eyes come home to roost. She and her son are finally rescued then Colton shows up once again.

I received this ARC from the author for free and am leaving this review voluntarily

[ltfrom bc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was especially emotional, simply because the newest target of The Committee is a small child who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will now be up to the the men and women of Echo Ridge to keep him and his mother alive. This is a very fast paced story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat right until the end. It is a story of forgiveness and second chances. And who would ever think that that there is time for second chances when one of The Committee's strongest hunters is hunting this little boy and the people of Echo Ridge? This was a very enjoyable story - very emotional as well. And as a bonus, a new character is introduced to the fortress known as Echo Ridge. Well done.

[Mariaan Belinfante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enraptured with this edition though it's brutal at times. Years ago Stryker left Rachel, thinking he can't be the man for her, but that led to her meeting Mateo and pregnant with his son after she ignored all the red flags. Mica Hawthorne extracted her and her son from the cartel compound, killing Mateo, but 6 years later Lucas witnessed an assassination by Kessler of the Committee. The Committee wants him dead, yes they'll stoop that low. Now Stryker is back in her life, protecting them along with the the Echo Ridge team. Can they rekindle what they had and build up the broken trust? A suspense filled, second chance storyline that will keep you riveted.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you BookSirens

[JigsawGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stryker and Rachel had a past that she never expected to revisit until Stryker showed up to.protect her 6 year old son Lucas.

The Committee is after Lucas and Stryker is there for the long haul. This book is a non stop rollercoaster of action, danger, and suspense. I enjoyed the moments with Lucas, Khalid, and Odin. Khalid was so protective of Lucas. There were a couple of heated moments between Rachel and Stryker.

What overshadowed everything was the way the team was coordinated and supported one another. There goal to protect Lucas from Kessler. Once again, the battle was won, but the war was definitely ongoing. Makes one wonder if it will ever come to an end? Can the Committee be defeated?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[GMW · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating book in the Echo Ridge series. Rachel & Stryker have a traumatic history. He walked away leaving Rachel with a broken heart. Rachel volunteers for a humanitarian organization in Mexico in an attempt to move on with her life. Fast forward several years - she is now back in the states, trying to provide for her young son. Suddenly he is now a target of the committee because he saw something he shouldn't have. Stryker is assigned to protect Rachel & her son Lucas. A fast paced & suspenseful well written book.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better with each story, this is the fourth book. Rachel and her son are the new targets of the Committee. Having brought up her son and recovering from a broken heart, she's determined to do everything she can to protect her son. When the Men from Echo Ridge come to the rescue along with Stryker we see them all work too protect and the truth behind their friendship is at the forefront. This is another suspenseful, emotional and a second chance story that brings the whole story together.

[Patricia Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is the 4th story in the Men of Echo Ridge series, and it is a story of romantic suspense, power, murder, obsession, forgiveness, friendship, family and love. Stryker and Rachel have survived 8 years apart but when the committee comes after Rachel’s son, Lucas Stryker and the team step up to protect him.
With all the mayhem and chaos Stryker and Rachel rekindle their love

[Tonya Peterson]

This book was awesome!! Just like the other books in this serious they take protecting their girl very seriously. Stryker has always loved Rachael and thought walking away was best but of course it wasn't. Rachael went on with life but something was missing , more like someone was missing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stryker, Rachel & Lucas

Rachel hasn’t seen or heard from Stryker in eight years. He appears at her home in Tucson to protect her and Lucas from the Committee. They have their issues as the Committee has them on the run to Echo Base. So much happens in this book.

[Tom Prejsner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance

Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stryker and Rachel have been through so much in their lives eight years ago, they shared an intense romance, but Stryker made the decision to leave her, believing it would keep her safe. It shattered him inside, but he was convinced it was for the best however, his absence left Rachel vulnerable, and someone took advantage of her pain. From that betrayal came the most precious thing in her life her son, Lucas, who became her reason to keep going and fight to stay safe.

The present changes everything when Lucas sees something he shouldn't, something that puts him in the Committee's crosshairs this danger forces Stryker back into Rachel's life. The reunion isn't easy; the feelings from the past are still raw, and the pain never fully healed and my heart broke for both of them because neither deserved to have spent so many years apart, especially when it was clear they never stopped loving each other.

Rachel is no longer the same she has become harder, more distrustful, she has built walls to protect herself, although deep down she knows that the love she feels for Stryker will live within her forever and Stryker, that man, never stopped loving her, this time he is willing to do what he didn't do in the past and decides to stay , he promises Rachel that he will protect their son until his last breath, and he keeps every word.

As Stryker and the entire Echo Base confront the Committee, his feelings for Rachel grow even stronger, and she slowly decides to open her heart to him again, knowing that she can no longer live apart from him. Amidst dangers, open wounds, and unfinished conversations, they both manage to find a balance, and Rachel finally understands why Stryker left her and lets him back into her heart, because she understands that she never stopped loving him and that now he is willing to fight to stay forever.

Together they face the threats and manage to bring Lucas to safety, their bond strengthens as they fight against insecurities, fears, and the constant danger surrounding their lives and they find their way back to each other, and their love grows stronger with every step they take together.

Lucas demonstrates admirable courage and finds a true father figure in Stryker, because a father isn't just the one who fathers a child, but the one who protects and cares for you, even in the darkest moments. Rachel, for her part, finds a family in the team, people who support and defend her against any adversity.

Although they managed to neutralize this threat, nothing is truly over, the Committee will not give up and will continue trying to win this game and destroy Echo Base. The short preview of the next book left me wanting more and with great anticipation for what's to come.

This was my first review of the year and Delta captivated me with the story of Stryker and Rachel. Their wounds broke my heart, the tension between them was palpable from the very beginning, and the development of both the story and the characters was simply excellent. All of this made this a deeply emotional and highly recommended read. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

ECHO: HOLD is the fourth instalment in Delta James’s contemporary, adult MEN OF ECHO RIDGE romantic, military suspense series focusing on a group of former Delta Force soldiers. This is Colton Stryker, and single mother Rachel Donovan’s story line. ECHO: HOLD can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order, or have some working knowledge of the story, as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: Having been betrayed while on assignment in Afghanistan, the group of former US Delta Force soldiers, set up a military compound known as Echo Base, Montana where they find themselves searching for the truth all the while, protecting those who need it the most.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stryker and Rachel) ECHO: HOLD follows in the wake of the threats against Rachel Donovan’s six year old son Lucas, a young boy who witnessed an execution style murder behind a local grocery store. Unaware of the danger, Rachel finds herself facing the man who once broke her heart, the man she struggles to forgive and forget. Colton Stryker has been assigned to protect the woman he has never stopped loving but the ongoing threats by a group known as The Committee, force Stryker to take control, securing Rachel and Lucas at the Echo Base Compound, a compound that is about to become the target of some powerful men.

The world building focuses on the protection and guarding of Rachel and Lucas but approximately eight years earlier Colton Stryker walked out of Rachel Donovan’s life, leaving her to face the wrath of the Mexican Cartel. Fast forward to present day, Colton promises Rachel forever but the threats against Lucas refuse to stop.

The relationship between Rachel and Stryker is one of second chances: a rekindling romance destroyed by one man’s inability to accept his worth but a man who never stopped loving our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of the engaging and determined Men of Echo Ridge: Kan and Willa, Mercer and Delaney, Dylan and Reagan, as well as IT wiz Tommy, communications Sarah, and Afghanistan orphan Khalid. We are introduced to CIA operative Micah Hawthorne.

ECHO: HOLD is a story of power and control, murder and obsession, family and friendships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and dark; the romance is fated and seductive ; the characters are desperate, charismatic and dynamic.


copy supplied for review

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating read filled with action and subterfuge, I guarantee readers will be captivated
Stryker and Rachel are the main characters in this book they are long term elements that she has thought she had long left behind her, since she was contacted by Stryker who informed her with no dressing up of his information and the fact that her six-year-old son was under threat.
The committee is searching for Lucas in the necessary it is essential that they once again do anything to ensure that Lucas, Khalid and Odin show how protective they are for six-year-old Lucas, and is true to say that between Stryker and Khalid and Odin and Khalid who is so protective of Lucas.
The war and the battle is definitely ongoing and it is obvious right from the off that the adults in this book will do anything to ensure that both his son and Rachel are set free, and that they are both happy and healthy to be set free.
Stryker and his ex is an eye witness that he will not be compromised over, time may be running out and still he continues to ensure Lucas and Rachel are both free.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the Echo Ridge series and as time is quickly running out he feels the absolute dedication he has to ensure both are set free and that they determined they will return to Echo Ridge, Rachel and Lucas will do anything to ensure their happiness and health and more importantly their freedom.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance Love Story

Packed full of action, danger, suspense, this storyline will keep you on the edge as Stryker is determined to save Rachel and her son. I love how the story portrays Rachel’s character, and you can feel the sizzling chemistry ready to break free between them once again.

Stryker knew the moment he walked away to keep her safe, it had been the wrong decision, He’s got a second chance to protect her and work at claiming back what he once let go!

The story takes you from one intense situation to another and you can feel the tension building up as all these wonderful characters come together to protect against the corruption still in play as the story keeps you engaged ready to read more.

This has to be my favourite read of the series so far!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story the most in the series so far, it was fast paced, the characters were interesting and I was not always right. I thought ghost had a bug but it didn’t and I wasn’t sure about Hawthorne so it was refreshing to have to wait until the very end. Rachel and Stryker’s relationship was great. She didn’t welcome him back with open arms, she was smart enough to trust him but wait before giving in to her feelings. Lucas and Khalid were a refreshing combination along with Odin. Slowly, one after another, the echo ridge soldiers are decimating the Committee’s ranks and undermining their evil purpose.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 Men Of Echo Ridge story of Lucas and Rachel. This one had me bitting my nails as the danger and action just kept coming. I was so shocked at all the bad guys were willing to do to get the job done. The drama and danger the men find will have you turning the pages and cheering for the good guys each time. I couldn’t stop reading this one once I started.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annemieke Westerbeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echo ridge , a wonderful very suspenseful story with camaraderie and romance finding it’t way in to it. Vividly written and in a fast paste. The characters are wonderful and a young very brave son. I love this story and the whole series is one adrenaline rush, all of them are worth reading if you love suspense and ex militaries defending what’s worth defending and helping others who are in problem.

[Foodiegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stryker story is filled with action and steamy romance. When Stryker learns his ex-girlfriend is a compromised witness he has to be there to protect her and her son. Running out of time for not only Rachel and Lucas. But for the entire team at Echo Ridge. I love this series and jumped at the chance read Stryker's story. I loved Rachel's courage and strength with everything she has been through, and her commitment to Stryker and the team.
What a great addition to the series.

[Barbara Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, we see the Echo Ridge going against the Committee; Rachel’s son sees an execution by the Committee’s agent and now is on their hit list.
Colton arrives to rescue them but is not met with gratitude after the way their relationship had ended years ago.
This is a fast-paced, suspense, romance, with plenty to keep your attention. The hook at the end means I need the next book now!
I voluntarily received and reviewed an ARC copy of the book.

[beautiful A Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth book in the series ots equally as good as the rest of them ! I found myself not as invested into the story though as previous books. I shall continue the series though