This is a powerful well written novel about one woman's courage and her fight for survival. The characterisation is excellent and very believable, the story is very emotional and it's a thrilling rollercoaster! A lovely bit of escapism to devour in one sitting. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Kat Jamison is used to surviving. Although her breast cancer has returned, she knows what it means to battle against a formidable future. So when she is thrust in the midst of a wildfire with two young children to protect, Kat has the mettle and strength to try to save all of their lives. Such is the premise of Rebecca Hodge’s debut novel, Wildland, a daring, action-packed tale of survival in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Kat’s breast cancer has returned, and she has retreated to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains for some contemplation in solitude. However, what was supposed to be time away from the rest of the world, quickly turns into something else when Kat is introduced to two other families, both with children in tow, staying in the mountains nearby. Kat can’t help but make friends with the families and soon finds herself fond of the kids - 12 year old Lily, who is staying in a cabin with her father, and Nirav, an orphan from Pakistan, who is vacationing with his adoptive father.

Although this interruption to Kat’s seclusion was unexpected, it is nothing compared to what awaits these families in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When a wildfire breaks out, Kat finds herself racing through the wilderness, doing her best to keep herself and the two kids safe. Can she guide them (plus two dogs) through the mountains to safety? Only time will tell.

Wildland is a fast-paced, explosive novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy exciting, plot-driven works. As a more character-driven reader, Wildland didn’t connect with me personally, but I think it will be a satisfying read for the right person. Told from two perspectives - that of Kat’s and that of the dads on a rescue mission - Wildland shows both sides of this disaster - readers experience the wildfire on the ground from Kat’s POV, and also from the air by helicopter with the frantic fathers. Together, these perspectives paint a terrifying portrait of the ugly side of Mother Nature and the people at her mercy.

I am a firm believer in the fact that sometimes you read a book and it just isn't the right time for "you" to read it, even though the book would be impactful for someone else. I feel like this book may have just been at the wrong time for me. It was fine, I enjoyed it, I know what it was trying to convey and it was technically proficient, but it didn't "wow" me. I am not sure why that is, exactly, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't one I'd recommend to others.

This was a very fast-paced, suspenseful and heart racing novel! I could not stop reading once I began, desperate to find out what would happen next! I highly recommend it!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this novel back in May and have totally forgotten that I have not reviewed it yet...whoops.

Wildland is about a middle aged woman, Kat, who is re-diagnosed with breast cancer and is debating whether she wants to go through chemotherapy treatment again. She is also recently widowed and due to the challenges she is facing in her life decides to rent the cabin Kat and her late husband used to go to all the time.

Upon arriving, Kat meets two neighbors in the cabins next to hers and their young children, she starts a friendship with them and the children ask if they can spend the night with her. Kat then wakes up in the middle of the night to a forest fire, and there is no access to main roads to safety so she and the children along with two dogs, have to go on a life or death adventure through the forest to try and save themselves before they are caught in the blaze.

Most of this story is told within about a 24hr period of trying to rescue those caught in the fire. It is told between two perspectives Kat’s and one of the children's fathers trying to help rescue them. It is an interesting narrative as you are getting both parts of the rescue and it truly does leave you at the edge of your seat and just wanting the characters to be found safe and relatively unharmed.

I highly recommend to those who want a story about survival, bravery and self-discovery. Hodge blends this together so perfectly and being her debut novel, I am even more intrigued to read her other works.

This book starts a bit slow with all the characters getting to know each other and the reader getting a feel for place and people. Then, in the second half, it gets crazy intense!! I was on the edge of my seat reading late into the night because I just had to see it all play out. It was a predictable ending but an extremely satisfying one. Quick read that I would definitely recommend who like thrillers with a deep message.

Honestly this book was amazing. I couldn't put it down and I was so invested in everything that happened to Kat and the kids as they tried to make it through the fire. The entire story is all about following your instincts and the urge to protect. Rebecca Hodge did an amazing job not only writing the story but also with the character development. Everyone was changed by what happened and they were doing so while the fire was raging and she did an amazing job writing that. I also think having three very different characters and having them all show their reactions to things around them was a great idea because you saw that no two people will react the same in a time of panic, not even the two fathers trying to find them. I would highly recommend this novel.

I received a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed, and all opinions are my own.*⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
*REVIEW* ☆☆☆☆⁣⁣
I have always loved survival stories, so Wildland was the perfect choice. This story, however, is unlike anything I have ever read in the genre. Kat is a woman at a major crossroads in her life. She has retreated to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains for quite contemplation, but Kat ends up with a couple of dogs that attract two neighboring children. Then, the unthinkable happens. Lighting ignites a monster forest fire. The kids are with Kat at the time, and her cabin is cut off from the rest because of the fire. Kat, the kids and the dogs are forced to flee. The story is told by Kat and the two fathers of the children, and this showed all sides of the tragedy very well. Will they survive the fire? This story was breathtaking, or, rather, breath holding, and so intensely realistic. Rebecca Hodge has built an authentic scenario with details that grounded me right there with the characters. Kat was such an empathetic and emotionally compelling character with relatable qualities. Her relationship with the kids was touching, genuine and believable. Wildland is the kind of story that pulls you into its world and keeps you riveted from start to finish. If you want a thrilling emotional read that portrays human nature in all of its variations and gives you all the feels, pick up this book today. ⁣

When I first started reading this, I thought it was a take on that story with Reese Witherspoon from a few years back...a woman soul searching embarks on a solo trip into the wilderness hoping to find herself. Boy was I way off. While there is some soul searching involved here, this became a gripping story of survival as Kat, a breast cancer survivor who recently found out her cancer had returned, struggles to decide if she wants to fight through another round of cancer treatments. Hoping to gain some insight and solitude Kat rents a lonely cabin with a view to die for in the hopes that a month of being one with nature will give her the strength she needs to make difficult decisions about her health. Her plans for some quiet time are disrupted early on when her daughter saddles her with a lab who needs a foster and she gets some attention from two father/ child duos renting cabins in the same area. As Kat builds a budding relationship with Lily and Nirav, the two children staying in other cabins lower on the hillside, so it isn’t all that unusual for Kat to consent to watching the two children for the night. A simple sleepover turns disaster when a fast moving wildfire wakes Kat and the children. With the only road down the mountain burned into kindling, Kat is left to make life and death decisions for the children and pet dogs in her care. Unable to stay in her cabin, she embarks on an impromptu cross country trek, with the wildfire continuing to lick their heels. With few choices Kat can only hope that the children’s fathers made it out and are searching for them. A riveting, harrowing tale of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things when called upon. A story that holds your heart in your throat for most of the book. An outstanding debut. Review posted to amazon, Goodreads, and LibraryThing.

I absolutely loved this book. It had me feeling all of the emotions and, yes, I was even reaching for the tissues.

The beginning is on the slow side, but wait a couple of chapters -- I couldn't put it down.

Kat is a wonderful character, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer who goes to the mountains to think about what to do. She meets 2 different dads with their kids. While the kids have a sleepover, a forest fire starts and Kat must get the kids and the 2 dogs in her care to safety. The peril, her decisions, her will to keep everyone safe, the time crunch, and the trust they all must place in each other make for a compelling read.

Having lived close to forest fires, I found the book harrowing and could feel myself there. Hodge wrote the emotion in the book amazingly well. I also loved that Kat was smart and made well thought out decisions. The book explored survival in a dramatic way!

The supporting characters, the dads, kids, and dogs, were also really well portrayed and each added something necessary to the book.

I highly recommend this book. In fact, I own a book box subscription called Callisto Crate and included this book for February and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

If you are interested in this author, I was able to do a Facebook Live interview with her, which you can find by clicking here. I found it fascinating how she wrote this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the review copy.

This was an intense page turner of a debut novel. It was highly recommended to me and I'm so glad that I got a copy. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The descriptions of the fire were outstanding - the reader felt like they were with the characters in the rapidly moving wildfire. The main characters grit and bravery was apparent throughout but when she was about to give up, I was rooting for her to remember how strong she really was.

Kat has decided to spend month in the Blue Ridge mountains to make some important decisions. Her cancer is back and she has to decide if she'll go through chemo again or just let her life end. During his first round of chemo, her husband was her lifeline but he has recently passed away and she doesn't know if she can fight the cancer without him. She settles in a small cabin with a beautiful view that is totally out of cell range so she's totally isolated. On her first day, she meets a neighbor from down the mountain -- Malcolm and his newly adopted son Nirav. Nirav has just come to the US from Pakistan and knows very little English yet. The next day, she meets Scott and his daughter Lily. They are spending time in the mountains much to Lily's teenage dismay - she'd sooner be shopping than hiking. A few days after they all meet, Kat has the children for a sleepover. So her plans for a quiet retreat are now filled with 2 children and 2 rambunctious dogs. There is a bad thunder storm during the night and early in the morning, Kat realizes that there is a wildfire rushing toward them. When their way down the mountain is blocked, she decides that they'll head into the woods to try to get ahead of the fire. She questions herself at every decision but continues on heading the same direction. The air is full of smoke and she can see the fire behind them. The kids are tired and she has lost her shoes and is walking on blistered feet full of cuts. But they still keep moving while she tries to figure out how she can keep the two kids safe. If it was just her alone, she doesn't think that she would fight but she must keep the two children safe and get them back to their fathers. While they are fleeing the fire, the dads are in a helicopter above trying to find and rescue them but the smoke is so strong that it's almost impossible to see the ground. They have a few successes but the major setback to the search has them doubting their success to find and rescue the threesome on the ground. The rush to find them as Kat and the kids are trying to outrun the flames is so well written that I was holding my breath with my fingers crossed for their success.

Rebecca Hodge has written a fantastic character driven first novel. I loved all of the characters especially Kat who wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life but was determined to save the lives of the children. She was so real as she questioned herself with every decision but did everything she could to guarantee their survival. She had to dig deep to find the strength and determination needed to save them all.

It was hard to believe that this was a debut novel for this author and I can't wait to read what she writes in the future.

This book has been on my list of things to read for a while, partly bc I thought I might get a little bored. I’m so glad I finally read it! After just a few pages I didn’t want to put it down. I may or may not have been late for work once bc I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. Not because of any reason other than I normally don't like suspenseful novels. This book was the perfect mixture between character development and plot where the one couldn't exist without the other. Hodge wrote with a deep sense of place and how it impacted each of the characters differently.

Each character was nuanced. Not too perfect and not too imperfect. I tore through this book and read whenever I had the chance.

I can't wait to read more from this author. A great debut!

Having recently finished “Wildland” by Rebecca Hodge, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!

This was a thriller of a different sort.
The fear of a raging wildfire as the potential killer instead of a disturbed human like most thrillers, made for a very suspenseful story and one I would recommend to anyone wanting a quickly paced, and gripping story. The characters in "Wildland' all made a great team who worked together throughout this drama. I was surprised that a couple "things" in the story mattered to me as much as they did, but Ms. Hodge wrote about them in a way that made me "see them." Who knew a bowl and a pendant would stay with me after closing the pages of this book for the last time. This story of perserverance is one I am happy to be able to add to my "read" shelf.

What I Loved:
I am unable to say the right words to express to you just how much I loved this book. The author’s ability to utterly hypnotize me with her words was wonderful. I was 100% invested in Wildland and could not put it down. What an excellent job Rebecca Hodge has done with this book!

How I Felt:
I will say that I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I, again, loved the cover and didn’t really know what the book was about. It was an intense ride of emotions and I loved every minute of it!

The Characters: The main character, Kat, just grew on me so fast. I understood her situation and empathized with her need to figure out her next steps in life. As Kat struggles with her re-emerging breast cancer, she is unsure if she wants to with-go another round of treatment and decides to take some time in the mountains to decide. Her character growth was so wonderful. I do say that a lot, and looking back, I always mean it, but in this case, it’s doubly true. Her decisions throughout the story paralleled her need to decide on treatment, and the changes she undergoes from start to finish were amazing.

The Writing: Rebecca Hodge can sure tell a story. I went through so many emotions while reading Wildland! She was able to introduce the characters and provide backstory while keeping me fully invested in the current story. Once the fire was introduced, this book took off and did not stop. The action from her perspective, running from the fire with two young children and two dogs, was heart-stopping, and truly had me on the edge of my seat. The perspective would then shift to the two fathers separated from the children by fire and trying desperately to find and save them. The choice of showing the reader both perspectives was excellent. I enjoyed seeing what was happening in the fire and what was happening outside of it.

Content Warnings: Breast cancer, child endangerment, animal endangerment, entrapment in fire.

Overall: Wildland is such a well-written and exciting story. It brought out a variety of emotions for me, going from sadness to laughing, then fear and concern. I could not put this book down and I know it’s a top 2020 read for me!

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Wildland for readers that enjoy action/adventure with a strong female lead that must take charge of a situation.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

A great suspense thriller with good character development and ....dogs!
A quick but satisfying read

Cracking pace, well-drawn characters and a topic- wildfires- that is sadly newsworthy make this a good, speedy read. Good sense of place, and a believable plotline.

Kate Jamison's breast cancer has returned. With the death of her husband, she faces the decision of more chemotherapy or to let nature run its course, alone.
She takes off to her rustic cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains to contemplate her choice.
Her daughter brings a yellow lab rescue dog to foster and keep her company. While they are walking through the woods nearby, they find a pitiful stray puppy that needs medical attention. Kat has him treated at the local veterinary office and brings him home.
In the two cabins below hers are twelve year old Lily and her workaholic father and a nine year old boy Nivar, recently adopted from Pakistan and his father.
After bonding with Kate and the dogs, both children spend the night with them. They wake up to thick smoke from a raging fire caused by a lightening strike.
Unable to get down the mountain to the children's fathers, Kat must flee deep into the mountains with them, trying to keep ahead of the spreading fire.
The two dads work on mounting a rescue, but will they be in time?
Will Kat be strong and resourceful enough to keep them safe in the meantime?
This exciting and emotional story of bravery and survival was amazing! So suspenseful and terrifying, full of heart and determination.
This will be a top book for me in 2020.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

An exhilarating read! The writer has written a powerful novel showing courage and deep meaning. Moving and nail biting, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for thrill and satisfaction

This book made me an anxious mess, but it was definitely an amazing story.

Kat has gone through chemotherapy and hasn’t responded well to treatment. Her husband passed away recently and she just needs some time away to think about her next steps. Her daughter is pushing for her to continue treatments, but Kat has decided to go away for a month to a cabin she once stayed at with her husband just to enjoy some quiet before making any decisions.

Kat isn’t the only occupant in these secluded mountain cabins. A father and daughter (Scott and Lily) are staying down the road and another father and son (Malcomb and Nirav) are staying in the third cabin. The kids gravitate to Kat, perhaps because their own mothers aren’t there or because Kat has two dogs which make for fun play mates. When Scott asks Kat for a favor which is for Lily to stay one night with her so he can work, it soon turns into a sleepover with both children staying over. No one anticipated the events that would happen the next morning.

Everyone is woken up to the smell of smoke and soon they realize the mountain is on fire. There has been a severe drought in the area and lightning the night before must have sparked something. The fathers can’t get up the mountain to Kat and the children and Kat and the kids are stuck. Kat is now responsible for these children’s lives and without knowing if rescue is coming she has to make some fast decisions.

This book was definitely suspenseful and kept me on edge. This would be my worst nightmare being stuck with a fire burning all around me, and to have two kids and two dogs in tow. I could visualize the flames, the ashes falling around them and the crackling of the fire as it approached. Kat’s bravery and concern for these precious lives was inspiring. I highly recommend reading this debut novel by Rebecca Hodge.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advance reading copy.