A Heart-Pounding Story of Bravery, Sacrifice, and Self-Discovery
My Thoughts
You’d better have a big chunk of reading time or lots of self-discipline when you start this book. I found myself falling into both categories. As I read I kept thinking there were other things that I should be doing. Like getting out of my pajamas. Going grocery shopping. Cleaning the house. And, of course, it wouldn’t be acceptable to ignore the birthday party. Especially since it was at my house! So, yes, I did have to occasionally put the book down. But reluctantly.
When I learned that Wildland is Hodge’s debut novel, I was shocked. The writing is extremely tight and the characters unique and believable. Plus, I could both feel and imagine the settings by her descriptions.
The story begins with Kat Jamison, a cancer patient, who has rented a cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s the same place she and her husband vacationed once, and she remembered it as a lovely area. She needs quiet time to mull over her medical options. Another round of chemotherapy for her advanced-stage of cancer, or skip it and enjoy what’s left of her life.
Kat recently lost her husband, so she is alone at the vacation cabin. But her daughter Sara, who works at an animal shelter, shows up with a companion for her mom. You guessed it.
Mom isn’t fond of dogs but Sara won’t take no for an answer. Juni, a well-trained golden Lab is from the shelter and is looking for a home.
Sara again tries to pressure her mom into having chemo, but Kat isn’t in the mood to talk about it. The visit is less than perfect.
As Sara drives down the remote mountain road Kat tries to think of relaxing thoughts. But as she surveys her surroundings, the cabin she remembered is now badly in need of repairs. The once lush greenery is dry and the pine beetles and ash borers have destroyed many of the trees. The view is disappointing, but she just needs time to relax and think. It should work just fine for that.
But almost immediately she discovers neighbors from down the mountain. There is a newly-adopted boy and his dad, and a divorced father and his daughter.
Will Kat actually get to think and rest?
Neighbors and an upcoming storm are sure to create a story worth reading.
My thanks to St. Martin’s and #NetGalley for an ARC and the ability to freely express my thoughts.
Details
- Title: Wildland
- Author: Rebecca Hodge
- Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (February 11, 2020)
What Concerned Me
Not one thing at all. Nothing. Nada!
What I Liked Most
I can’t say enough about this book. It’s inspirational, thrilling, suspenseful, and the characters are well developed.
I highly recommend it. Trust me, Wildland will keep you flipping pages until the very end. It’s a heart-pounding novel, for sure!
About the Author
I’ve always been an avid reader, and books have influenced my life from the very beginning. After reading the Marguerite Henry horse books, the Black Stallion series, and all of James Herriot, I ended up going to vet school. I devoured the Rick Brant Science Adventure series (without ever noticing the pesky detail that there were no women scientists in those books) and ended up with a career as a clinical scientist.
Writing has been a natural offshoot of my love of reading.. It’s my hope that my writing provides readers with great entertainment—and hopefully a few things to think about along the way.
I have three grown sons, two crazy rescue-dogs, and one patient husband, and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. When not busy writing, I love hiking and travel, and (of course) curling up with a good book.
