Summer is the season of possibility—warm nights, longer days, and the feeling that anything could happen. It's this sense of potential that draws Emma Calloway to Pine Lake, Wisconsin at the beginning of "Summer Sanctuary."
What she doesn't expect is how quickly this small lakeside town begins to work its quiet magic.
Pine Lake isn't just a setting in my new romance series—it's practically a character itself. Inspired by the small vacation towns that dot Wisconsin's northern landscape, Pine Lake represents something we all seek: a place where we can be both anonymous and known, where we can hide if we need to, but also be found when we're ready.
For Emma, a Chicago ER nurse fleeing an abusive relationship, Pine Lake's summer camp offers the perfect sanctuary—far from the city, surrounded by nature, and filled with the uncomplicated energy of children enjoying their summer freedom. She arrives with a simple plan: work for three months, heal her wounds (both visible and invisible), and figure out her next step.
What she doesn't plan for is Liam Blackwood, the reserved owner of the town's lakeside bar. A former military medic with his own scars to hide, Liam recognizes something in Emma that others miss—the strength beneath her carefully constructed walls.
In creating Pine Lake, I wanted to explore how the right place at the right time can facilitate healing that might not happen elsewhere. There's something about small towns where:
- Everyone knows enough about you to care, but respects your privacy enough not to pry
- Nature provides a constant reminder that renewal is always possible
- The slower pace allows space for reflection that busy city life often prevents
- Unexpected connections form precisely when you need them most
Whether you've experienced the magic of a lakeside summer yourself or simply long for that sense of sanctuary we all sometimes need, I invite you to visit Pine Lake through the pages of "Summer Sanctuary"—available 6/13/25 on Amazon and will be released on Kindle Unlimited!
Pre-Order Now for $2.99