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The Summons

A Call to Love

by Kathy Joy La Plante

“This is more than a novel; it’s a call to love in all its forms, messy, redemptive, and brave. An unforgettable debut. I didn’t want it to end.”

— Liz Dubelman Author of What Was I Thinking?

When Noel De la Mare loses everything—her job, her home, and her sense of self—a letter from a mysterious great-aunt in France offers an unexpected lifeline. At Laleu, a sun-drenched estate steeped in secrets, Noel uncovers the hidden memoirs of Catherine and Colette, two women whose forbidden love and wartime heroism defied the darkness of World War II. As Noel edits their stories, she begins to heal her own: confronting the shame of a dishonorable discharge, reclaiming her queer identity, and discovering the strength to love again. From covert SOE missions to the quiet courage of chosen family, The Summons: A Call to Love is a sweeping historical novel about resilience, redemption, and the ties that bind us across generations. Perfect for fans of queer historical fiction, women’s war stories, and emotionally rich family sagas, this novel invites you to journey through time, across borders, and into the heart of what it means to belong.
Category:
Fiction 
Genres:
LGBTQ+ Action & Adventure, Women's Action & Adventure Fiction 
ASIN:
B0FX5RHNMN 
Length:
286 Pages 
Production:
Cover Designed by Domini Dragoone 

Accolades

“This is more than a novel; it’s a call to love in all its forms, messy, redemptive, and brave. An unforgettable debut. I didn’t want it to end.”

— Liz Dubelman, Author of What Was I Thinking?

Book Reviews

"A Luminous Tale of Redemption, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Love"

The Summons: A Call to Love is a rare and beautiful novel that lingers in your heart long after you close the last page. From the very first scene—where Noel De la Mare’s life unravels in a small-town newsroom—to the sweeping landscapes of France where she meets her mysterious great-aunt Catherine a...

— Liz Dubelman Author of What Was I Thinking?

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"One of the best books l've read this year"

A fantastically written, clear-eyed and emotional read - one which had me fascinated and gripped from beginning to end. Not just a call to love, but a call to arms - in an age in which LGBTQ rights feel more under threat than ever, how refreshing it is to read a story of queer characters fighting fo...

— Jennifer Wormald

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"A Fight for Love, a Cry for Justice"

This is a great yarn that will whisk you up and carry you from sedate Seven Sisters college life to wartime London to the lush countryside of France, as you lose yourself in two parallel stories of anti-queer witch hunts in the military, one in World War II, and one in all-too-recent US history. Pre...

— Anne Stockwell Writer, Editor, and Early Supporter , Amazon submission (shared directly with author)

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"Unapologetically Queer, Courageously Human"

This book holds incredible stories of love, courage, and resilience. It is unapologetically queer and the stories woven thru this book create a tapestry that connects you to the characters alive within the pages. Stories that needed to be told- story’s that need to be witnessed.

— Rebecca Guanzon Community reader highlighting the book’s unapologetically queer spirit , Amazon

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"Immersive, compelling, and impossible to put down"

"I absolutely loved 'The Summons'! The portrayal of strong, intelligent, and courageous women truly resonated with me; we all need Aunts like these in our lives. I felt the tension as Catherine and Colette's stories unraveled, making it incredibly hard to put the book down. The rich history and vivi...

— Deborah Mitchell Business consultant and avid reader of intelligent, immersive books - review shared directly with the author , Founder, KindShift by Inspired Consulting Solutions

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"Writing that heals"

I highly recommend this intricately layered, multigenerational story of finding and speaking truths that heal. I loved, especially, the historical details interwoven in the stories of brave women and men working as secret operatives in the resistance movement in Vichy France during WW2. Thoroughly r...

— S. Head Poet, avid reader, and life-long learner , Amazon

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"Engaging, insightful, and informative"

This book hooked me from the very first chapter. La Plante has crafted an engaging narrative that simultaneously provides a enthralling glimpse into the resistance movement in France and Great Britain during WWII and reminds readers of the importance of embracing their identities and opening their h...

— Susan Copeland University professor , Kindle verified purchase

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Book Excerpts

Exclusive First Chapter: The Summons – Free Download

Rock-bottom, jobless, and out of options, Noel “El” De la Mare is seconds away from losing everything—including the last scraps of her self-worth—when a single letter changes her fate. Fired in a blaze of newsroom fury, haunted by a dishonorable discharge, and trapped in a town that wants her gone,...

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