This is the second book I have read by Nuala Ellwood and like the first one, (‘The Day of the Accident’) this one did not disappoint either. 
This story is told from two different perspectives, an 11 year old girl in 2002 who is being raised by her sergeant father as a little soldier, in isolation in a house on a lake and that of Lisa in 2018 who escapes with her son from her abusive husband to the same house.
Full of twists and turns and a lot of sadness for both characters, it is a compelling read and I could not put it down. The ending left me sad and disappointed for Lisa and Grace, although we can’t always have fairytale endings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for letting me read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Another great read from Nuala Ellwood. Lisa is on the run from her controlling and mentally abusive husband with her little son Joe. Lisa's friend has let her stay in her old house in a remote village. Rowan Isle House is very creepy and run down. 
The story is very gripping and had me hooked from the first page. Very good twists I did not see coming. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy to review.

The story  is set In two timelines that both centre around the occupants at Rowan House.  The earlier part sets the scene for the psychological thriller in the later timeline. It took me a while for me to get into being captivated and not being able to put the book down. The story is well paced, atmospheric, full of twists and secrets and has realistic descriptions of the people and the scenery throughout. From the start I consider this tale to be sad and in many places depressing but it was necessary to create the emotions, shock and fear of abuse and PTSD. Just over half way through the  two timelines begin to merge and everything becomes very clear. I felt that the ending was a little sad but despite that there was still hope on the final horizon.
I have read “My Sister’s Bones” and loved that as well, because of both these books I would highly recommend Nuala Elwood as an author who captures the essence of life in her writing.

No matter how far you run . . .
He's never far behind

Lisa needs to disappear. And her friend's rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It's miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows her or her little boy, Joe.

But when a woman from the local village comes to visit them, Lisa realises that she and Joe aren't as safe as she thought.

What secret has Rowan Isle House - and her friend - kept hidden all these years?

And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her?

This story is told by Grace and Lisa over two timelines, Grace in 2002 and Lisa in the present day. It alternates chapter by chapter between the two characters giving the reader insight into their lives, one suffering at the hands of a father who has PTSD and the other who has a controlling husband, but how are these two lives linked and what secrets will be revealed at the house on the lake?

This is the second book I've read by this author and once again she drew me into a very well crafted tale covering some very delicate subjects, which she has dealt with very sensitively, it's a fast paced thriller which kept me hooked throughout and one I'd definitely recommend.

I'd like to thank Penguin Books UK and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

A tense thriller which focuses on the lives of a young woman on the verge of puberty and a young mother on the run with her toddler son. Both are the victims of controlling men and are struggling to gain their independence. As events develop, links between the two emerge and their fates become intertwined.

There are several twists and turns in this well paced story, some unexpected and others more predictable. The characters often make dubious choices but these seem in keeping with their predicaments and mental states. 

An entertaining read.

(I was given an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review)

The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood is a very entertaining, page turning novel that kept me hooked throughout.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints but the author uses this to build the tension whilst slowly revealing the storyline 

Definitely recommended

This story follows two main characters Grace and Lisa, who, at different times, live in Rowan Isle House but years apart. Both have their own secrets and although set years apart, their stories intertwine cleverly. 
The description in the book is so well-crafted that the house, in particular, was uncomfortably vivid in my mind. The plot cleverly weaves suspense and unease throughout and the characters have fantastic depth. I was looking for resolutions for them throughout the story. 
As with all good books, you gradually get more information and fill in the gaps. Plenty of plot twists and surprises too. 
A great book that will hold you as you want to find out what happens to Grace & Lisa.

This novel is something that makes you expect the worse and keep the lights on. Why Lisa has gone to Rowan Isle House and who is the girl in flashback scenes being drilled as a soldier and excluded from a normal life. You become aware that the father of the young girl has obviously suffered Post traumatic stress but what has made Lisa act like this and who is the stranger who wants to become involved in helping her. The suspense builds and every act seem to bring about a conclusion that one doesn't wish for. Beautifully crafted suspense to this horror story.

A book that genuinely had me scared. I honestly didn't believe a book could frighten someone! U enjoyed the different viewpoints that were cleverly woven together, although I found it slow paced at times.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. It span across two time zones and kept me gripped from start to finish. The story is well written, with lots of suspense and unsettling at times. The story is very much about an old house with a dark history, and complicated individuals with difficult lives and history. The story covers difficult and complex issues that  draw you in as you get further into the story and is a constant page turner! Overall, I found it to be a very worthwhile read and will certainly be looking to read more books from this author I the future.

I have no idea why I requested this book as it really isn't my kind of read.  However, it was amazing, it had me gripped from the very first page until the end.  It was scary in places (I'm a total wimp where thrillers are concerned) and very suspenseful and atmospheric.  I could feel the damp in that house, the angst of the small boy and the fear of the little girl.  There were 2 storylines that ran alongside one another, cleverly written as you could sense where the stories were heading although the end was quite a surprise.  It highlighted many modern day issues in an educated and empathetic way, Nuala has certainly done her research.

Thank you for NetGalley for an advance copy, thoroughly recommend!

Unfortunately I was hoping to read this book before publication date, but life got in the way I have read the NetGalley reviews which make this book sound like a must read, so I’m hoping to get to it in The not to distant future, when I will update my review.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The House on the Lake  by Nuala Ellwood, was an amazing, totally engrossing read,  which I have been reading throughout the course of a day.
It tells then stories of  Lisa and Grace, two woman who both live at the house on the lake. It is an extremely sad story of the woman and their friend Isabel. It is a storyline of men controlling the women in their lives and the consequences of that behaviour on the individual women.
 A masterclass in storytelling. 
Highly recommended.

Really good plot, twisty and turny thriller. I loved how atmospheric it was too. 
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

Dark and atmospheric, the house on the lake is told on two time lines, but all based at Rowan house, the house that sits on the lake in a small village in Yorkshire,  in the past there lived an unnamed girl with a military father who is trying to mold her into the perfect soldier and in the present Lisa and her 3 year old son Joe have arrived at Rowan house on the run from her ex partner.
This novel has lots of twists and turns, keeping up the suspense right to the final chapter. Definitely worth a read.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this one. Many thanks for allowing me to try it. No review will be posted online.

An intriguing novel with a lot of secrets between the lines.

I enjoyed this book, it kept me reading but I did feel it was a little drawn out and at times a little obvious. 

I enjoyed the differences yet similarities between the two main characters and it was interesting reading them from different viewpoints and ages and times.

However, I didn't feel like this novel was original enough to be the next big thing. 

Its a decent read, but not one that will stay with you.

This book tells the story of Lisa and Grace
Lisa is on the run with her 3 year old son Joe and arrives at what she hopes to be a safe place only to find a large run down house with no electricity or running water. Just where has her friend Grace sent her?
The book alternates between Grace in the past and Lisa now. It was an interesting read but I was left feeling like the ending had been rushed and I wasn’t surprised by the outcome either..

I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

Lisa needs to run away and when a friend suggests Rowan Isle House it seems the perfect place.
However, when she arrives there, with Joe, her son , all isn't what she expected.
What has gone on in the house - who really is her friend and who can she trust?
This will have you gripped from start to finish - Brilliant

A thought provoking book which makes you question other people's realities. It jumped between past and present which I don't usually enjoy but there was enough background setting it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. Very atmospheric.