Book Description:
Annie Samarasinghe has it all together.
Beautiful and brilliant, she has a medical career in Sydney and a fiancé in Sri Lanka.
But on the week of her wedding to childhood-sweetheart Sunil, Annie uncovers the shattering truth behind the façade of his business.
Forced to hide out in the Snowy Mountains, Annie changes her name and her story. When she meets the brusque and arrogant Roy Broughton-Knight, she discovers she’s not the only one hiding secrets. But the more she gets to know Roy, the closer Sunil comes to finding her.
Against the stunning backdrops of Sri Lanka and the Snowy Mountains, Annie and Roy learn to face the betrayals in their pasts and fight their fears. But how will they embrace the possibilities of a future?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Snowy Summer, and I loved the cross-cultural aspects of the story. The story opens in the sleepy Snowy Mountains town of Jindabyne, Australia, where Annie meets Roy at a masquerade party.
Annie is attracted to Roy, despite being betrothed in an arranged marriage to Sunil. Sunil is her childhood best friend in Sri Lanka who she hasn’t seen for many years. We journey with Annie back to her home country, and experience her angst when her dream of a life married to Sunil in Sri Lanka is shattered.
Annie’s world is turned upside down and her life is in danger. She escapes Sri Lanka and returns to Australia to start over as Dr. Sheva, the new doctor at a small Jindabyne medical centre.
Roy is a carefree playboy from Sydney, Australia, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s now hiding from the world on his family’s alpaca farm near Jindabyne, and he has a few secrets of his own. The women in his life have let him down. He’s slow to trust and wary of love.
Roy meets Sheva at the medical centre, and she reminds him of Annie. He can’t forget Annie and their chance encounter at the masquerade party. He’s attracted to Sheva, but he’s respectful of her cultural background and her faith that underpins her desire to wait for marriage. Sheva’s close friendship with the park ranger, Dan, ignites Roy’s jealousy and curiosity about Sheva’s past.
Snowy Summer is an action-packed contemporary Christian romantic adventure story with medical themes. It’s a more edgy read than the typical Christian romance, and possibly too edgy for more conservative readers.
Annie has trained as a surgeon, and she thinks about the human body in a more clinical way than the average person. Anatomical terminology that’s not usually mentioned in Christian romances is included the story.
The author is a retired Sexologist. She portrays the attraction between Sheva and Roy, and their thoughts about each other, in a realistic rather than euphemistic manner. There are situations in the story that definitely push the Christian romance genre boundaries.
I recommend Snowy Summer to romance readers who appreciate cultural diversity and are looking for a contemporary Christian romance that deals with real life issues. The blend of Aussie and Sri Lankan culture, and the stunning settings, was a highlight for me. I enjoyed visiting familiar places in Australia and learning more about Sri Lanka.
Learn more about Patricia Weerakoon and her books at her website.
Do you like learning about different cultures through reading? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Hi Narelle, thanks for sharing about this book- I have just downloaded a sample to try it out. My youngest son’s best friend is Sri Lankan Australian, their other best friend is Vietnamese- my son asked me one evening why there were not many people in the world with blond hair/blue eyes like him!! I love exploring new cultures and feel blessed to teach at a school that is very multicultural- it is literally, spot the white kid!! I love that my boys are growing up with such cultural diversity- makes for awesome multicultural day lunches too!!
Blessings:)
Yes, I enjoy learning while reading, especially history.
Thanks for sharing Narelle Atkins. Having traveled to 3 continents and interacting with students from around the world, I enjoy reading books with international settings and learning about different cultures, traditions, languages, and cuisines. We have a Vietnamese friend. Other friends are missionaries to Thailand. Friends retired as missionaries to Papua New Guinea. Been busy with grandchildren and an aging dog, so I haven’t had much time for reading. School starts in 3 weeks, then I only have one grandchild to watch. Adding the book to my wish list. Best wishes.
Yes, I like to learn about other cultures when I am reading. I also like learning things about history when I am reading. I appreciate the research that authors do to make their books authentic, and in turn teach us something.
this does sound interesting. yes i love to read and learn about differnt cultures, time periods, historical events etc. especially if biblical
Hi Wemble, I hope you’ll enjoy Patricia’s book. You’ll appreciate the Sri Lankan culture in the story that’s a reflection of our rich and diverse multicultural society. The multicultural lunch days at your school sound like a lot of fun. :)
Hi Lucy, I love learning about history via fiction books. :)
Hi Renate, You’re very welcome. It sounds like your having a busy summer! Enjoy the special time with your grandchildren, and I hope you’ll have an opportunity to check out Patricia’s book. :)
Hi Susan, I agree, and I appreciate all the research that authors undertake to add authenticity to their stories. Reading is a fun way to learn more about the world. :)
Hi Lori, I also like reading Biblical fiction and learning via reading. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Patricia’s book. :)
Definitely sounds interesting! I do like reading about other cultures, but I’ve also had the opportunity to live in a couple of different cultures than my own.
Hi Margaret, It would be fascinating to have the opportunity to live in and experience different cultures. :)
One of the things I have enjoyed about Marion Ueckermann’s books, and even The Tuscan Legacy series, is that I have learned so much about other cultures and countries. It’s one way to travel when we can’t physically go there.
Hi Becky, yes, we should definitely encourage Marion to continue traveling the world and writing fabulous stories in the exotic locations she visits! :)
Sounds like an interesting book. I love the cultural diversity represented in this book and the medical component to the story.
The medical themes and situations in the story were interesting. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Snowy Summer. :)