Saturday, January 07, 2012

THE BUNGALOW

Author:  Sarah Jio
Genre:  Women's Fiction, Standalone
Published:  2011
Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)
Format:  eBook
Yearly Count: 3


From the Author's Website:

A sweeping saga of thwarted love, murder and a long-lost painting. In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific Island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiance, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war. A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne’s determination to discover the truth about the twin losses of life and of love that have haunted her for seventy years.

I really enjoyed this book. There were a few predictable and not-so-believable parts, but overall I looked forward to visiting with these characters and didn't freely want to put the eBook down.

I don't read a lot of women's fiction, but discovered that I really liked Jio's style. Her words captivated me from the start, and I was even swept away with the sweet romance. I'm excited about getting to her debut novel The Violets of March. Thankfully, it's sitting on my TBR shelf.  :)





My thanks go to Penguin Group USA and NetGalley for sending me this eGalley.

10 comments:

  1. I keep reading good things about this book. It sounds wonderful!

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  2. Anonymous7:57 PM

    So glad this one worked well for you. I'm saving it for a vacation read next month. I really enjoyed VIOLETS OF MARCH, the first book. Hope you do too!

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  3. Well, seeing how much you liked this one I'm pretty positive you'll love her debut book!

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  4. Gret review! Thanks! I'm not much into women's fiction either but the WWII aspect, the exotic location and the crime have had me eying this. I might just give it a try now.

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  5. Bermudaonion ~ Did you read her debut novel?

    Kay ~ I'm glad, too! It's perfect for a vacation read! Enjoy!

    Staci ~ "Pretty positive" sounds very encouraging! I have to make sure I'm in the right mood, so I don't ruin my read.

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  6. Nicola ~ You snuck in here, too! Friendship and romance play a large role, as well. I simply liked the main character a lot.

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  7. I'm anxious to read this and The Violets of March. They both might be good to read while I'm in Hawaii in March! Thanks for the recommendation.

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    Replies
    1. Les ~ I just randomly thought about these characters today! I'm excited about getting to The Violets of March. Maybe I'll read it on my vacation in February! :) I hope you enjoy whichever one you choose.

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  8. Anonymous11:57 PM

    I've got Violets of March on my shelf too.

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    Replies
    1. Stacybuckeye ~ I'm looking forward to it! I hope we can both rave about it afterwards. :)

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