If you are so inclined, pull up a chair and let me tell you about Summer’s Keep.
It’s a story of hope, played out among a motley crowd of people. Summer’s Keep wasn’t a real place when I began writing, but it certainly feels like one now after living there for so many months.
Before diving into this book, a few questions captivated me: What would a person be like if they’d been reared by a group of nuns and a priest, and then suddenly turned out into the world? And along those lines, What would a person be like who followed the script laid out for them by others their entire life, only to suddenly wake up and decide to take back their life on their own terms?
This is the story of Shanna Muir and Gage Barrington.
Walking the Tightrope
As a Christian and a fiction writer, I sometimes feel like I’m walking a tightrope. Striking a balance between being authentic and real without being offensive can pose a challenge. I never want to pretend or portray Christians as having only small, easily resolved problems. I want to show the true, honest struggles of this life. Despair and hope walk along the same road together for most of our journeys, and we must learn how to respond to both.
Two Worlds Connected
The saga of Summer’s Keep bridges two distinct settings. I chose to create a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina where the main thrust of the story takes place. Forever linked with this island is the small town of Noble, Mississippi.
As my characters travel between these two traditionally different Southern regions—one spiced with Gullah lore, the other rich with the life of the Mississippi Delta—my purpose was to show how we are all deeply connected. Good or bad, our pasts and our histories intertwine to form who we are and what we believe.
Where to Order
Summer’s Keep is available through Amazon, Books-A-Million, Walmart, and wherever books are sold.
Book Clubs & Garden Clubs
A special thank you to The Happy Bookers, The Town & Country Garden Club, and The Memory Lapses for welcoming me to speak to your wonderful groups about Summer’s Keep!
💡 Are you looking for a guest speaker? I love connecting with readers! If your book club or garden club is reading Summer’s Keep,contact me hereto check availability for a virtual or in-person visit.
What Readers Are Saying
“I love all of Annie Cole’s books but, this one is my favorite! It makes you feel as if you are right there with Gage and Shanna in the low country of South Carolina. A beautiful story of love and hope!”
— Shawn Nesbitt
“This story just reminded me about the seeds we plant. Sometimes they lay dormant until the right rain or storm comes our way, bringing them to life! Their journey to growth.”
— Darlene McCaig
“I’ve just finished reading Summer’s Keep. A great read! I didn’t want to put the book down even when I’d read the last page. Looking forward to Annie’s next book.”
— Clarice Johnson
“Summer’s Keep had a way of transporting me to another place with characters that I found myself falling in love with… It is a must-read novel with a powerful message that brought everything together beautifully.”
— H. L. Mears
“I haven’t been disappointed in one book written by Mrs. Annie Cole. Summer’s Keep is beautifully written, I felt as if I were right in the thick of the story… feeling the fresh air blowing my hair, enjoying the wonderful food (especially the homemade pecan pie!). Your feelings get wrapped in each character.”
— KACM
“A great read. Sometimes when you seem lost in the hard moments of life it is good to be reminded that God is always Faithful. Shanna shows us how giving of oneself opens the door to peace, and Gage walks us down a path of finding out we do not have to be defined by what life brings us.”
— Lisa Clement
A Note from Annie:
My main objective in storytelling is to share a message of Good News. While I don’t preach in my stories, I do try to keep the tension high enough that you are compelled to keep turning pages long after you should have turned off the bedside lamp to go to sleep. With a prayer of hope, that’s what I hope to accomplish.
Thank you so much for opening your heart to Shanna and Gage’s story and for spending your valuable time within the pages of Summer’s Keep. It is my deepest prayer that as you journeyed to the low country and back, you found a small glimmer of hope to carry into your own world.
(By the way, my daughter, Hannah, is the beautiful cover girl for Summer’s Keep!)
Joyfully,
Annie
