Hop on for a time-travel romance adventure with Beneath the Lake: Lake Lanier Mysteries Book 1 by Casi McLean. After catching her boyfriend cheating on her, Lacey Madison Montgomery leaves her best friend's party and storms off into the night, only to find herself falling through a portal in time near Lake Lanier that transports her to 1949. She arrives in the town of Sidney, Georgia, and while trying to acclimate to her new surroundings, she comes across a handsome man named Bobby Reynolds. Soon, Lacey and Bobby fall head over heels in love and marry. But when one stormy day, Bobby goes missing. Lacey and Bobby's sister Sandy try everything possible to find him. Lacey's belief that Bobby is still alive is further reinforced when she receives a cryptic message from the future. Will Lacey and Bobby find their happily ever after?

Casi McLean is a master of concocting riveting romance stories with a dash of time travel and mystery. In Beneath the Lake, the author's strengths shine through once again. McLean uses a non-linear narrative to craft an absorbing and unpredictable plot that surprises you at every turn. As a reader, you think you know where the story is going, only to have the rug pulled out from under your feet. There are a couple of shocking moments and reveals I can honestly say I never saw coming. The plot is very well-paced, and it doesn't take long to become attached to the characters. Apart from Lacey and Bobby, I also liked the personalities of Sandy, Piper, and Drew. This book is tailor-made for romance readers who like a bit of the paranormal in their stories.

Beneath the Lake is the first book in Casi McLean’s Lake Lanier Mysteries. After Lacey Montgomery is tricked into going to a party for her best friend, Piper, she discovers her boyfriend was not called away on an emergency business trip after all. She races into the stormy night only to get lost on the ridge above Lake Lanier. After waking up, she is convinced someone is playing a trick on her. Old-time cars, no technology, and weird clothing are extreme, but she slowly realizes she has fallen back in time. Her true spirit is revealed when she realizes the people she has become fond of are about to lose their homes, jobs, and friends. Knowing she will eventually find her way back home becomes a challenge when she realizes she has lost her heart to the man who saved her. All this time Lacey doesn’t even know she was being stalked back home.

Casi McLean put much research into her novel, Beneath the Lake. This story visualizes the lives of the people who were uprooted when the Buford Dam was built and Lake Lanier was created. The author skillfully weaves time travel and modern folklore with the mysterious aura that surrounds Lake Lanier. The author draws you into the lives of her characters as history plays out, hoping Lacey can make the right choice. I savored this story, wanting love to win out in the end. I highly recommend this time travel romance to anyone who wants a surprise ending when you don’t even know what will become of the characters.

Beneath the Lake by Casi McLean explores the story of Lacey Montgomery and Bobby Reynolds. Lacey, a defense attorney, has her world shattered when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her at a friend’s party. Fleeing from the scene in stormy weather, Lacey’s car crashes, and she plunges into the icy depths of Lake Lanier. When she awakes, she finds herself 63 years in the past. Bobby Reynolds, a respected businessman, rescues Lacey, and they have an instant connection and spark. While coming to terms with her time travel from 2012, Lacey must convince Bobby of her identity and the future events that threaten his hometown, Sidney. The waters of Lake Lanier will submerge the town. Bobby decides to believe Lacey, and this sets in motion events that alter the destinies of not just the couple but also the townspeople of Sidney. Will Lacey’s presence in the past rewrite the future? Will Bobby and Lacey’s relationship come at a great cost to their loved ones?

Casi McLean has woven a story with intriguing plot twists and turns, pulling readers into a narrative of mystery, romance, and time travel. Beneath the Lake presents multiple perspectives of the protagonists, past and present. Although this could be confusing in the beginning, it helps add to the suspense part of the narrative. I liked Bobby Reynold’s character the best in this story for his unwavering determination. His nature shines through as he stands up to protect his townspeople in the face of crisis. Lacey's actions during her time travel reminded me of the impact that timely action by one individual can have on the lives of many. The other side characters, including Sandy, Drew, and Piper, also played their parts well and added to the richness of this narrative. Beneath the Lake is an interesting read, and it made me think about fate, destiny, and the enduring power of love.

Beneath the Lake by author Casi McLean is a work of fiction in the time travel mystery, romance, and suspense genres, and is the opening novel of the Lake Lanier Mysteries series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Lacey Montgomery finds herself transported back in time to a ghost town submerged beneath Lake Lanier after a car accident. Saved by a handsome stranger named Bobby Reynolds, Lacey discovers a passionate romance amidst the mystery of the town's past. As Lacey grapples with finding her way back to her own time, she becomes entangled in a love that transcends time itself, torn between returning home and staying with the man she loves.

Author Casi McLean has a natural flair for character dynamics that has helped her craft an enchanting and suspenseful journey through time and love. The different strands of romance, mystery, and time travel converge beautifully in a well-balanced narrative, creating a captivating tale with lots of different emotional hooks that are sure to keep readers deeply invested until the very end. Lacey's unexpected journey to the past and her blossoming romance with Bobby Reynolds provide a compelling emotional throughline for readers to follow. The unfolding mystery of the submerged ghost town slowly builds into a brilliantly penned plot with plenty of satisfying revelations that make total sense to the story’s inner logic. The chemistry between Lacey and Bobby sizzled off the pages, drawing me deeper into their passionate love story with sharp, witty dialogue. The vivid descriptions of the town and its inhabitants were similarly vibrant and engaging, evoking a sense of wonder and intrigue. Overall, Beneath the Lake is a thrilling and romantic adventure that I would not hesitate to recommend.