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The Summons: A Call to Love
At the edge of ruin, Noel "El" De la Mare has lost everything—her job, her home, and
the last shreds of her self-worth. Haunted by a dishonorable discharge and a lifetime
of rejection, she is ready to disappear. But a single letter from a mysterious great-aunt
in France changes everything. With nothing left to lose, Noel boards a plane to La
Rochelle, where she is swept into a world of secrets, resilience, and unexpected
kinship.
In the sun-drenched gardens of Laleu, Noel finds herself drawn into the extraordinary
lives of Catherine and Colette—two women whose love and courage defied the
darkness of war and the weight of family shame. As she helps them unearth their
intertwined pasts, Noel discovers a legacy of bravery, forbidden love, and the power
to reclaim her own story.
The A Call to Love is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel about the ties
that bind us across generations, the healing found in truth, and the courage it takes to
answer the call of your own heart. For anyone who has ever felt lost or alone, this is a
story of hope, belonging, and the transformative power of love.
the last shreds of her self-worth. Haunted by a dishonorable discharge and a lifetime
of rejection, she is ready to disappear. But a single letter from a mysterious great-aunt
in France changes everything. With nothing left to lose, Noel boards a plane to La
Rochelle, where she is swept into a world of secrets, resilience, and unexpected
kinship.
In the sun-drenched gardens of Laleu, Noel finds herself drawn into the extraordinary
lives of Catherine and Colette—two women whose love and courage defied the
darkness of war and the weight of family shame. As she helps them unearth their
intertwined pasts, Noel discovers a legacy of bravery, forbidden love, and the power
to reclaim her own story.
The A Call to Love is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel about the ties
that bind us across generations, the healing found in truth, and the courage it takes to
answer the call of your own heart. For anyone who has ever felt lost or alone, this is a
story of hope, belonging, and the transformative power of love.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Joy La Plante
1 book1 followerKathy Joy La Plante is an indie author and publisher whose work blends historical depth with emotional truth. She holds two master’s degrees: one in Education Counseling, and the other in Archaeology—a dual foundation that fuels her love of lifelong learning, her understanding of the human condition, and her commitment to advocacy through storytelling.
Her writing gives voice to women whose lives have been overlooked, forgotten, or silenced—illuminating the resilience and complexity of those whose histories were left behind. Drawing from lived experience and a trauma-informed lens, Kathy crafts emotionally rich narratives that speak to truth, healing, and connection.
She publishes under the name Kathy Joy La Plante in honor of her grandmother, whose quiet strength and enduring joy continue to inspire her work. She shares essays and updates on Substack: https://substack.com/@kathyjoylaplante.
Her writing gives voice to women whose lives have been overlooked, forgotten, or silenced—illuminating the resilience and complexity of those whose histories were left behind. Drawing from lived experience and a trauma-informed lens, Kathy crafts emotionally rich narratives that speak to truth, healing, and connection.
She publishes under the name Kathy Joy La Plante in honor of her grandmother, whose quiet strength and enduring joy continue to inspire her work. She shares essays and updates on Substack: https://substack.com/@kathyjoylaplante.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 16, 2026
The Summons: A Call to Love is a thoroughly engaging, and masterfully written story about love and war, detailing the trials of three separate individuals facing almost insurmountable odds against the folly and hypocrisy of historical discrimination and intolerance in the military and society at large. A quick read, but not at all simplistic or lacking depth, its layers are intertwined seamlessly into a narrative that spans decades of time, generations of family, continents and oceans. Descriptive passages of scene and setting, ranging from panoramic vistas to luxurious menus to the intricacies of top-level WWII era espionage training, repeatedly satisfy the hunger for immersion into a story that produces many valuable morals. Its rewards are commensurate with its underlying complexity.
Stick around for personal commentaries from the author and additional resource materials at the end, which provide opportunity to explore historical perspectives on discrimination and military history.
Stick around for personal commentaries from the author and additional resource materials at the end, which provide opportunity to explore historical perspectives on discrimination and military history.
Displaying 1 of 1 review