At 91, Anne Calloway Godfrey has lived a seemingly fulfilled live, but when her granddaughter brings her a mysterious letter from Tahiti--a letter that was almost thrown away--a tidal wave of memories and regret seven decades in the making is unleashed. The Bungalow is the story of Anne's time in Tahiti, where she served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. Frustrated by her friend Kitty's preference for play over work, the young, engaged Anne suddenly finds herself in a passionate romance with a soldier named Westry. They meet regularly in a bungalow where an unknown French artist once lived--a bungalow the natives believe is cursed. Both Anne and Westry dismiss the curse, until they witness a gruesome murder at the bungalow's doorstep.
Sarah Jio is skilled at writing engaging characters, and with Anne, she employs a pleasant, conversational tone that holds the reader spellbound. Anne's bittersweet, nostalgic reminiscences come, at times, with a bit of literary license, but Jio's ability to weave an intricate storyline that lovingly envelops her characters allows for such liberties. This expertise is most evident in the building of suspense that surrounds the unsolved murder mystery. Fans of Nicholas Sparks are sure to enjoy this heartwarming novel. --Sarah Borders, librarian, Houston Public Library