As the author of this novel, it is not my place to review it, so I shall let my fans speak. To see the attributions and more comments, visit this website.
“This lovely novel transports you into an era of privilege and decadence, which is depicted with such intimate detail and subtlety, I can't fathom how Wills achieved it short of having a secret time machine. The story is perfectly paced and beautifully told from the views of the wonderful characters, many of which I now consider cherished friends. I can't wait to read the second book!"
“I haven't been that emotionally invested in a story in many years.”
“I knew this novel was far above average when I found myself neglecting important business matters to sneak in another hour or two of reading. If you like grand scale novels, this is the one."
“Your fascinating and intriguing characters are so real, so believable, each one unique and passionate in his/her own way. I couldn't help but be drawn into the emotions and circumstances of their lives. Once again, you have intertwined fact and fiction into a compelling story that educates and stirs emotion.”
“You have created a masterpiece. I loved every moment I shared with [your characters].”
“Many points in the book brought me to tears. I love history but tend to find the war stuff quite boring - however you made it all interesting by connecting it to great characters!”
“I have never enjoyed a book as much and cannot wait to read 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
Review from The Book Chick - Jonita Fex:
The Summer Before the Storm is a richly detailed, complex novel - one that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. The details have been painstakingly researched, and when Gabriele Wills described a scene or a home, I felt as if I was actually right there along the characters. There are a multitude of colourful characters who appear in this book... Wills also has the talent of turning characters that I thought I would dislike into characters that I both liked and admired by the end of the book. She makes her characters multi-layered, revealing only small parts of their personality at a time. This is a large book, which took me almost a week to read (this from the woman who reads a book in a day or two!), but you'll be glad that you picked it up. The Summer Before the Storm offers a realistic reflection on the war from a uniquely Canadian perspective, and incorporates romance, betrayal, family dynamics, and loyalty within its pages.
Review by Gisela Kretzschmar - "Bücher im Blickpunkt":
Gabriele Wills: Die Muskoka-Romane:
Diese Bücher - die ersten zwei Bände einer Reihe, aus der eine wunderbare Familiensaga werden könnte - gehören für mich ganz eindeutig in die Kategorie "unbedingt übersetzenswert"! Die Autorin - in Deutschland geboren - lebt seit ihrer frühen Kindheit in Kanada und hat auf bewunderswerte Weise kanadische und europäische Geschichte vor dem Hintergrund des Ersten Weltkriegs miteinander verwoben.
Der erste Band spielt überwiegend in Kanada, wo man eintaucht in die Welt der Reichen und Superreichen, die ihren Sommer wie gewohnt am idyllischen Muskoka-See genießen, während sich in Europa schon die dunklen Wolken des drohenden Kriegs zusammenbrauen. Es ist eine Welt, die den meisten LeserInnen eher fremd sein wird, und doch gelingt es der Autorin mühelos, sie einem so nahe zu bringen, dass man sich bald als Teil davon fühlt.
Man lernt das (noch) sorglose Leben einer jungen, privilegierten Generation kennen, die schon bald hineingezogen wird in die Wirren eines Krieges, der eigentlich gar nicht ihrer ist, den sie aber zu ihrem machen, teils aus Abenteuerlust, teils aus Pflichtgefühl, denn Kanada war damals noch britische Kronkolonie und die Kanadier loyale "Untertanen" des Königreichs. Welch hohen Preis sie für ihre Loyalität bezahlen, wird im zweiten Band deutlich.