

Helpful Score: 4
April Newton's fifth anniversary of being cancer free should have been cause for celebration. However, her life held a void, a great emptiness without a name. Through the radiation treatments, mastectomy, and breast reconstruction, April had lost something along the way. Her husband, Rick, had grown distant. Their daughter was a 15 year-old with things other than family life on her mind.
April struggles with the missing joys of friendship, a rift with her family, and a house to call a home. The excitement that should be felt of moving into a newly reconstructed and remodeled home, designed by her husband, is non-existent. She does not feel the excitement of life in general, until she stumbles upon a bungalow being offered in a contest by the owner, an eccentric widow. The bungalow is surrounded by newer homes and is the "last" beach bungalow, which is being threatened of being demolished instead of saved.
April musters up enough courage to attend the open house for the 1928 Beach Bungalow in Rodando Beach, California. Upon entering, she is immediately drawn to the atmosphere of the house. The collection of game pieces on the walls and the feeling of home overwhelm April. She finds herself contemplating making a life in the bungalow, independent from her husband and daughter.
My thoughts on this story:
This is an intriguing story of a woman's defeat over not only cancer, but the demons that haunt her soul. She struggles with those demons and eventually learns the art of forgiveness and how to live again...instead of merely existing. The story made me laugh and cry. It is a story of courage, hope, faith, and dreams. This book held me captive. I was enthralled in the story and unable to put this book down. I highly recommend it.
April struggles with the missing joys of friendship, a rift with her family, and a house to call a home. The excitement that should be felt of moving into a newly reconstructed and remodeled home, designed by her husband, is non-existent. She does not feel the excitement of life in general, until she stumbles upon a bungalow being offered in a contest by the owner, an eccentric widow. The bungalow is surrounded by newer homes and is the "last" beach bungalow, which is being threatened of being demolished instead of saved.
April musters up enough courage to attend the open house for the 1928 Beach Bungalow in Rodando Beach, California. Upon entering, she is immediately drawn to the atmosphere of the house. The collection of game pieces on the walls and the feeling of home overwhelm April. She finds herself contemplating making a life in the bungalow, independent from her husband and daughter.
My thoughts on this story:
This is an intriguing story of a woman's defeat over not only cancer, but the demons that haunt her soul. She struggles with those demons and eventually learns the art of forgiveness and how to live again...instead of merely existing. The story made me laugh and cry. It is a story of courage, hope, faith, and dreams. This book held me captive. I was enthralled in the story and unable to put this book down. I highly recommend it.