The House by the Lake by Ella Carey was a beautiful mix of history and contemporary. Two tales unfold, tied together by Max Albrecht, Anna's grandfather. In the present, Anna is sent to find an item her grandfather holds dear. And while she is there, she stumbles on a mystery of what happened in the past and why he walked away from it all.

In the past, we see Max's life, at first luxury, and then turning to disaster. I highly recommend reading Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey as the two stories are entwined and build on each other. 

Max's history in Nazi Germany did not end well. His is a love story gone horribly wrong. One that changed so many lives and he's been hiding from ever since. But it's time to unearth the past. I really felt for Max. He was caught between two worlds and two choices, and never given the chance to decide which road to take. 

Anna was a very determined character. Once she set her mind to making things "right," she was all in. She doesn't understand what she finds at first, and digs deeper, always looking for the next string to pull until she finds out how everything happened.

She has a very sweet romance. While it wasn't the primary theme in the book, it was just enough to soften the edges of the tale. It made her more real and helped me root for her on her journey. 

The way the two stories, history and present, wove together is what really makes this book a gem. The narrative bounces between the past and the present. But it's done in a way that helps advance both storylines and each adds an extra level to the other. I can't wait to read more by Ella Carey - she certainly has a way to pull me into the story.

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***