⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “An outstanding read. I rarely give 5 stars, but this one was definitely worth it… One of those that I couldn’t put down.” Goodreads Reviewer The cobbled streets were dark as Isabelle hurried through the shadows, dodging in and out of doorways, constantly looking back. She worried the sound of her loudly thumping heart would give her away, as she peered around a corner. Suddenly, Isabelle … Suddenly, Isabelle was surrounded by Nazi soldiers, their black boots pounding on the pavement, barring her way…
1939, Berlin. Max Albrecht is the young and handsome heir to a beautiful house on a lake where he spent his happy childhood. As war approaches, his parents tell him he must join the Nazi party or the whole family will be killed. But when his beloved French fiancé Isabelle shows him the horrifying truth, Max faces an impossible choice: protect his family or save the girl he loves?
2010, San Francisco. Anna Young is content with her life, running a bustling deli and taking care of her adored grandfather Max, who raised her. Max has never spoken of his past until he hands over an old map, the plans to a grand house just north of Berlin. With a shaking finger, he points to it and says, “I left something behind under the floorboards. Please bring it home before I die.”
When Anna arrives at the crumbling manor in Germany, she discovers a hidden engagement ring in a velvet box. She is desperate to find the woman her grandfather hoped to marry, but the local villagers look away when she mentions Max’s name, and back in San Francisco he is now in hospital, too unwell to speak to her. What did Max do so many years ago? Is Anna ready for the terrible secret that her family’s past may hold?
A gripping and heartbreaking novel that uncovers the secrets and devastating choices that people were forced to make during history’s darkest time. If you were captivated by My Name is Eva, The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See, you’ll adore The House by the Lake.
Readers are utterly captivated by The House by the Lake:
“Brilliant… It made me cry (can’t remember when I last did that)—I also laughed and felt sad when the book finished. I wanted to know what happened next… I highly recommend this book. Really looking forward to her next one.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I LOVED this book!! I didn’t want it to end because the story was so great and fast moving.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I NEEDED to know what happened. It kept me turning the pages… I have grabbed up the other two books in the set.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved this book! The history has such beautiful detail and it was also a beautiful love story!!! I felt like I was there with them!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down and read it in one night. Ella Carey’s descriptions had me in awe, I truly could visualize everything especially the Christmas scenes!!!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“WOW! What a great story… I highly recommend this book.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“One of the best books I have read in a long time. I will definitely read anything by this author. I recommend it to everyone, it’s really, really an excellent read.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow!! This book was awesome and I couldn’t put it down. I was so enthralled with the story and characters. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out!!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A real page-turner. I couldn’t put this book down… The ripple down effects continue to this very day, as this story illustrates so well.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I have only one Ella Carey book left to read… Please, write MORE & MORE!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐more
I loved Paris Time Capsule so I knew I would love this book. Anna is leading the life she thinks she is meant to in San Francisco when her Grandfather asks her to make a trip to an estate his family owned in old Prussia and he asks if she will journey there to retrieve it for him. This is a page turner, puller of heart strings puller and a great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
The House by the Lake by author Ella Carey is a novel of modern day drama revealing the main characters family history. I found it hard to grasp that Anna being her father’s caretaker for several years had no idea of his personal history regarding the war years in Germany. It starts with the mysterious trip grandfather Max insists she take to search for a piece of jewelry which has been hidden in a huge former family mansion for more than 70 years. Max is very frugal with any details, but as Anna discovers a love story with so much heartbreak, she also finds layers of family history. There is a lot of detail in extra characters which are integral to this story. It is mysterious, it is sweet, but it is a bit unbelievable…but that is how a good novel is written! I think the title is a bit misleading…yes the story revolves around the house and what has happened to the people associated with the house, but the lake is only featured in a small part close to the end. The ending romance was sweet and predictable.
I gave it *****. I am now going to read Paris Time Capsule which really is BEFORE House by the Lake. I don’t care…I loved it. I looked up some of the fashions of Paris 1934 ish. Fun to look at.
I have purchased several more books by this author. She writes strong independent, intelligent women characters who are believable. The settings of her books are well researched and interesting.
I truly loved this book and the first book in the series called Paris Time Capsule. Both held ones attention from the start. The stories were also interesting and believable. Highly recommend both books.
I love to enjoy history and modern culture mixed together in a delightful way. And this book is Delightful. Never a predictable chapter, kept me guessing and involved to the end
A wonderfully original and unexpected story line that gives a new and interesting perspective on historic events. Great characters draw you into the story and you find yourself caring about people who might not find your sympathy if you didn’t know their story.
Really enjoyed this book.
I oved this fast paced plot and memorable characters.
Couldn’t put it down!
Very good historical fiction – I loved how the story was built around real events and places. Switching timeframes seemed to flow easier than some I’ve read.
Felt like I was living with the characters, but in the background, simply observing everything. Couldn’t wait for the next event to happen.
Having lived in Germany for 40 years, I found it fun to read this historical fictional book. I enjoyed it, but didn’t think the some of the German characters were very true.
Held my attention
Ella Carey has yet again woven an incredible blend of fact with fiction in this well written and researched story.
From modern day San Francisco to Berlin, Anna is on a quest on behalf of her beloved grandfather to find a precious item which is hidden in the deserted family Schloss in East Germany. The reader is taken back to pre-war Germany and Paris, then to the horrors of World War 2. In the background is the enigmatic and deserted Paris apartment of the late courtesan, Marthe de Florian.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous series, and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Anna has a happy life in San Francisco until her grandfather asks her to go to Germany and find a package in his family’s estate in Germany. For the first time she finds out that he was part of an aristocratic family before WWII. When she gets to the small town in Germany she finds the castle abandoned and falling apart. She feels that she has to learn the history of the home and of her grandfather’s family so she contacts the lawyer of the owner and after a rude start, he helps her try to trace family history despite all of the dead ends that they encounter. By the end, they find that the house in Germany and her grandfather are linked to the abandoned apartment in Paris. As with Book 1 in the series, this book has mystery, romance and family history that unlocks her grandfather’s past.
As with the first book in the trilogy, it’s an interesting set up. We start with Anna who is quite happy running her café in San Francisco. Her grandfather, Max, doesn’t talk much about his past – until one day he reveals a long-held secret, going back to WWII. That time period is rich with places, people, and events to build stories upon. It’s not hard to imagine that are still millions of stories to be told from that time. It was neat to receive more information on the story that was begun in Paris Time Capsule. There were a few minor issues that caught me, such as Anna referring to her “flat” when she lives in San Francisco (should be apartment). But the story is engaging. For more thoughts, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
Great book, interesting history, unforgettable!
Historical fiction – Parallel stories between a woman (2010) and her grandfather in Germany in 1930s. Predicable, but light read. Enjoyed.
Fabulous book. Also loved the sequel.