Part Michener's Return to Paradise, part Cameron's Titanic, and part McCarey's Affair to Remember.
It's a short novel, almost a novella, really; and I had some issues with it at first (what I felt were inaccuracies regarding the Seattle area where I grew up and the Tahitian Islands where I vacationed a few years ago), but once I got over that, I found myself enjoying the book and looking to see where the characters would take it.
My conclusion is it's an enjoyable, light read perfect for the beach or curling up by the fire on a cold day. ( )

This book was recommended to me by my sister while we were both reading "All the Flowers in Paris," and she said she had read this one. While I've read many books taking place during WWII in Europe, I think this is the first one I've read that took place in the Pacific. It was a beautiful, but sad love story, as well as a mystery that lasted many years. I may check out more of this author's books. ( )

Anne Calloway's future is already planned out. She's going to marry Gerard Godfrey, a wealthy young banker she's known all her life, and begin her life as wife and mother. But it's 1942 and WWII has just started for the Americans. Both Anne and her best friend, Kitty, have studied nursing and decide to sign up for a tour as military nurses. Before long they are shipping out for the South Pacific island of Bora Bora. Kitty sees it all as a grand adventure, while Anne wants to find out if she's ready to settle down and raise a family. On Bora Bora Anne meets Westry, a soldier stationed there as well. Before long she is sneaking away to meet him in an abandoned bungalow. One night they witness a brutal crime that will alter the course of their future together.

Many years later Anne receives a letter from a woman in Tahiti who asks for any knowledge she may have about a murder which took place during the war. This letter is the impetus for Anne to tell her story to her granddaughter, which is done in flashback for most of the book.

I enjoyed much of the story line of this engaging novel. It was an interesting mystery and a tale of friendship, as well as betrayal. I also found many elements of the story to be very predictable and thought it was more of a romance novel similar to those of Danielle Steel. Despite it's predictability I was still turning pages quickly to see how it ended. I didn't like it as well as Blackberry Winter but I'm certainly still a Sarah Jio fan. ( )

This love story is light reading and a decent story if you don't check out details too closely. For instance, someone who was paralyzed in the war and confined to a wheelchair later walks. In real life, that seldom happens, if ever. Several other details seemed incongruous, and even with that, it's entertaining, though predictable. For you romantics, it's a nice read. ( )

I absolutely LOVED this story!! War, long lost love, the south Pacific and a missing painting what more could you ask for in a novel? This is my first book by this author and will not be the last. I could not have enjoyed this beautiful story more. ( )