Summer Sanctuary : Pine Lake Chronicles

Some wounds can’t be seen. Some healing happens when you least expect it.

ER nurse Emma Calloway needs to disappear. After escaping her abusive firefighter ex-boyfriend in Chicago, she flees to the serene shores of Pine Lake, Wisconsin, where a three-month position as a summer camp nurse offers the perfect hiding place. All she wants is time to recover, space to breathe, and a plan for what comes next.

What she doesn’t expect is Liam Blackwood.

The gruff, guarded owner of the town’s lakeside bar has watchful eyes that miss nothing—including the bruises Emma thinks she’s hidden and the fear she tries to mask with practiced smiles. A former military medic with his own scars to hide, Liam recognizes trauma when he sees it. He should keep his distance. He doesn’t need another person to worry about. But something about Emma’s quiet strength calls to him.

As summer unfolds around the crystal waters of Pine Lake, what begins as cautious friendship deepens into something neither expected. Emma discovers that Liam’s protective exterior hides a man of unwavering patience and loyalty, while he witnesses her slow transformation from hunted to hopeful. For the first time since her escape, Emma feels truly seen—not for who she pretends to be, but for who she really is.

But when her past tracks her to Pine Lake, Emma must find the courage to stop running and fight for the life she deserves—and the love she never saw coming.

SUMMER SANCTUARY is the first book in the Pine Lake Chronicles, a moving small-town romance series featuring emotional healing, protective heroes who aren’t alpha jerks, close-knit community, and the redemptive power of truly being seen. Each novel follows a different couple through the seasons while previous characters continue their stories in this charming Wisconsin lakeside town.

Perfect for readers who love emotional depth with their romance, fans of Katherine Center, Brenda Novak, and Robyn Carr will find their next favorite series in the Pine Lake Chronicles.

Content warning: Contains references to past domestic abuse and healing from trauma. Happily ever after guaranteed.