Muskoka, 1914. It’s the Age of Elegance in the summer playground of the affluent and powerful. Amid the pristine, island-dotted lakes and pine-scented forests of the Canadian wilderness, the young and carefree amuse themselves with glittering balls and friendly competitions. This summer promises to be different when the ambitious and destitute son of a disowned heir joins his wealthy family at their cottage on Wyndwood Island. Through Jack’s introduction into the privileged life of the aristocratic Wyndhams and their social circle, he seeks opportunities and alliances to better himself, including in his schemes, his beautiful and audacious cousin, Victoria.

 But their charmed lives begin to unravel with the onset of the Great War, in which many are destined to become part of the “lost generation”.

 This richly textured tale takes the reader on an unforgettable journey from romantic moonlight cruises to the horrific sinking of the Lusitania, from regattas on the water to combat in the skies over France, from extravagant mansions to deadly trenches - from innocence to nationhood.

 The Summer Before The Storm, the first of the epic “Muskoka Novels”, evokes a gracious, bygone era that still resonates in this legendary land of lakes. 

The Summer Before The Storm is Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle winner for  2010!

Favourite Books: The Muskoka Novels by Gabriele Wills
Highly recommended... The Summer Before The Storm
by Gisela Kretzschmar, "Focus on Books"

I very much enjoyed the Muskoka-tale, describing a world I've never known and could not even have imagined before, and here it came alive in a way that made me almost feel part of it. And I was fascinated by all those different characters, whom I soon felt very close to, following their trials and adventures, hopes and despairs.

Having finished the first novel I couldn't wait to find out, how Victoria, Chas, Jack, Ellie, Blake and all the others would be doing in the completely different world of wartime Europe. So I was really glad to have the second part handy and be able to continue with Elusive Dawn.

 "The Summer Before The Storm and Elusive Dawn are not only well written, suspenseful, and enjoyable, but also historically accurate. The amazing amount of research provides an excellent educational background on the Great War and on aviation. The writer obviously has a keen interest in and knowledge of the subject." - Arthur Bishop, WWII pilot and author, son of Billy Bishop, VC, Britain's top WWI Ace