Engaging, insightful, and informative

Susan Copeland Kindle verified purchase

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 hearts to those around them. It illuminates the courage and sacrifice of thousands of US LGBTQ+ service members whose government often repaid them with humiliation and cruelty rather than the recognition their dedicated service deserved. The book offers a thoughtful, yet hopeful, message for the current times in which we live. Highly recommend it!

All 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 and her partner Colette, this story unfolds like an emotional symphony.Kathy La Plante writes with cinematic precision and emotional honesty. Every sentence feels alive—with history, pain, humor, and h...”

— Liz Dubelman,
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 for space in a hostile world, and being reminded that good might just triumph after all.”

— Jennifer Wormald,
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. Present-day: meet Noel 'El' De la Mare, disgraced daughter of a once-proud military family -- ousted as queer, marooned in her homophobic hometown, drinking her way to oblivion -- until she receives a fi...”

— Anne Stockwell, Amazon submission (shared directly with author)
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, Amazon
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 vivid descriptions transported me right to France, immersing me in the setting. The story was so compelling that I found myself reluctant to reach the end. The characters were wonderfully crafted, and I a...”

— Deborah Mitchell, Founder, KindShift by Inspired Consulting Solutions
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 researched and beautifully written, fans of a variety of genres (queer fiction, historical fiction, military fiction, generational stories, etc.) will want to read this book. Additionally, the narrator...”

— S. Head, Amazon
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 hearts to those around them. It illuminates the courage and sacrifice of thousands of US LGBTQ+ service members whose government often repaid them with humiliation and cruelty rather than the recogniti...”

— Susan Copeland, Kindle verified purchase

The Summons

A Call to Love

by Kathy Joy La Plante

Amazon