I thoroughly enjoyed this short read. Exquisite language and well-written prose along with a good story. I have passed through Hungary a few times so was pleased to learn more about the country. A story of love mixed with intrigue dating back to the 1970s (my era). It's a short book and can be read in a couple of hours. Recommended.

In cruising through Amazon, the premise of this book caught my interest: what if you fell in love during a terror attack. I had just finished reading a book about a woman, a concentration camp victim, who married her Nazi guard when the war was over and found it a captivating read. Although not the same premise, the themes are similar re: love during tragic events. A short book, less than 200 pages, it was a nice pick for a holiday weekend to sit and enjoy. 49 year-old Laura struggles with ennui and to rid herself of the boredom she vacations to Paris. There she meets Max, a good-looking Hungarian and feels a “deep connection.” Intensifying this connection is the fact that they were surrounded by gunshots in lockdown. While there Max mentions another place, on the Hungarian Riviera. As the story progresses, Laura goes there, to Levendula, and stumbles upon a spy ring that heightens the story tension. The turns in the plot kept the read interesting. Wanting to know will their relationship sustain and what happens as mysteries unfold kept the pace of this story moving at a fast pace. I was glad I came upon this book and read it. It did not disappoint.

Lake Balaton and the characters of Füred make this an interesting read. While the love interest is an important part of the story, the location is an important character, too. It is so easy to get lost in the beauty of this area. The veterinarian and the monk are enjoyable characters, my favorites. Laura finally finds what she needs as her journey find closure in this wonderful place.

This story has interesting characters and an intriguing storyline. The storyline is well written and captivating, with mysteries from the past, life in the present, beautiful settings, and some romance. I really enjoyed this story.

I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.

Well I really want to live in Balaton now! What a beautiful dreamy place, innocence and richness ooze through the pages of this delightful book. A bit of a romance a bit of a mystery and a look back at a tiny bit of Hungary’s past. Truly delightful, Visiting Balaton is now on my bucket list.