I sometimes wonder when the description compares to other well-known authors works, but I have to admit this one did feel like a Jodi Picoult or Anita Shreve book, of which I love both. I was pleasantly surprised.
The author does a wonderful setting of how Kat is dealing with multiple heartaches and trials in her life. I’m sure if dealt with the same situations, I could have felt the same way. The descriptions of the surroundings and the deadly wildfire are done very well, you could feel the heat, the ash, hear the trees fall and imagine what it would have been like cornered. The only thing I think was stretched a little bit might have been the helicopter’s capability in such a situation, but that may just be me.
I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read and would recommend. There is heartache, hope, determination and a lot of love in this one.
I was given an advance copy from Crooked Lane Books through Net Galley for my honest review, this one gets 4 stars.

SPOILER!!
At best a 3. I forgive the accelerated storylinewriting because this story has much beauty in it… About wounded people and dogs coming together to care for each other...but seriously....
Day one gets a new dog, meets strangers, takes stranger’s daughter for a walk, discovers severely injured and stressed puppy (so gets two dogs),
Day two picks up puppy from vet,
Day three has two strangers’ children for sleepover,
Day four...trapped in forest fire.
And it goes on and on...including a predictable ending. I wanted to like this story, but I just can’t.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, what a thrilling ride! I really enjoyed this book. I was a little apprehensive by the serious nature of the story but was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful side stories hidden inside these pages. It's not so much about cancer, its about finding what makes life worth living. This book had a beautiful setting, wonderfully vivid and unique characters and a great story of emotional healing not to mention an intense action packed thriller! I found myself in tears more than once, but in a very good way! I thank the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderful gem!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was so good! I had no idea. I couldn’t put it down. This debut novel was awesome. Very well written. I highly recommend this one. It’s a story about people coming together, even if it was the last thing they wanted to do. They had learn to depend on each other to survive and I was a nervous wreck during most of it. I was on sitting on the edge of my seat. It had a lot of heartfelt moments. And I wanted to hug the book when I was done.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. It was one of the best stories I’ve read this year. I hope all my friends give this one a try.

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

Very well written, must read book. Trials and tribulations with passion to survive. A book that is hard to put down. For me, this book was a 5 star gem.

3.5 stars

While I enjoyed this book for the most part, I didn’t like how it was paced. The first 30% of the book takes place over a few days, but nearly 70% of the book covers less than a day while the wildfire occurs. I wish there had been a little more to the story before the fire started because, while it was an important aspect and the main focus, that scene seemed to just drag on.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3092325715

WILDLAND, the debut novel by Rebecca Hodge, is a fast-paced and suspenseful survival story that kept me riveted from beginning to end. After the recent and sudden loss of her husband, Kat Jamison learns that her aggressive breast cancer has returned. She retreats to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains to contemplate the choice of whether to keep fighting knowing her quality of life will deteriorate or face further treatments with no guarantee of success. Instead of the solitude she needs, Kat finds herself responsible for two children and two dogs in the face of a massive forest fire that threatens to consume everything in its path. Although unconcerned about her own survival, Kat is determined that she will do anything to keep the children and animals alive. The race against the time is told from the alternating perspectives of Kat, as well as Malcolm and Scott, the fathers of the children with her. The characters are well-developed and believable and the descriptions of the fire are nearly heart-stopping. I enjoyed this gritty and emotional story of finding unknown strength and courage in the face of dire adversity and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

I have read many reviews posted on Goodreads and other sites and I am not sure that I can add anything other than this book kept me sitting for all the hours it took until I turned the last page. This book is filled with so much of what I consider great writing.

The story is about big questions, big risks, big decisions, and no clear cut choices. It is also a story about human endurance, love, self-discovery. Great human characters, tough choices, inner thoughts that become your own, extraordinary descriptions and quotes from Shakespeare - what more could a reader want? More? Scene after scene, the random pattern of life - never intrusive but sucking you in and holding you to the moment.

Great book.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy

4 1/2 ⭐️‘s
When Kat finds out her cancer has returned, she heads to the mountains for a month of contemplation, a time to consider her options and to make some tough decisions. Within a few short hours the tranquility she hoped for is disrupted as she meets those in the neighboring cabins. All of a sudden she has the company of dogs and two children disturbing the peace she was so craving. When circumstances find her trapped in a deadly forest fire with the two children and two dogs, she does everything she can to save them, but will it be enough? Meanwhile the fathers are in a helicopter desperate to save their children, but where are they and will they be too late? An absolute pulse pounding, thrill ride of a book. As Hodge’s words come to life on the page, get ready to smell the smoke, to feel the heat of the fire, to hear the crackling flames, and to be a passenger on a terrifying helicopter rescue mission. Easily a one sitting book because once the action starts it’s impossible to put down!

I do want to say that had I realised the subject in this book covered cancer, I wouldn’t have chosen it right now, having lost my sister almost a year ago. However, I did read on, it was interesting to see Kat trying to decide whether to go through treatment again, having already had breast cancer , along with the treatment that involved, that had gone into remission, to then find it was back and the numbers weren’t good, you can understand her wondering whether to go through the treatment again. Her daughter isn’t happy that her mum is considering not having treatment, which causes an argument. Kat decides to go to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, to reflect, she is also recently widowed, so even more trauma. She hopes the solitude in the cabin will help her think about her situation. However, she won’t be alone as her daughter gives her a trained adult rescue dog. Kat initially doesn’t want the dog but soon starts to bond with it.

In nearby cabins, there is Michael with his newly adoptive son Nirav from Pakistan, he takes him to the cabin to help him adjust to life in America. Michael is ex Special Forces which turns out handy, having the skills to survive, not that he expected to be using them.

In another cabin is Scott with his 12 year old daughter on their annual summer holiday, which she really isn’t happy about and doesn’t want to be there.

Both children take a shine to Kat’s dog and Kat, they then find a neglected, sick and injured puppy. It’s in bad condition but Kat uses her skills and gives the dog treatment. The children stay over the night in Kat’s cabin, little did they know they would be separated from their fathers and trapped with fire spreading around them. Kat has to summon all her energy, and courage to get the two children, and the two dogs out of danger. Can she do this?

This is a highly emotive story, the pace is initially slow but soon picks up pace and has you gripped and engrossed in the challenges they gave to face. The rescue teams don’t know where the families are, the smoke is blinding them, and some of the rescuers get injured.

This is a story not just of a woman fighting the cancer that is in her body, but her realising how much strength she does have as she tries desperately to save the children and dogs, to get the children safely back to their fathers. Kat May have more strength and fight in her than she ever realised. Now us the time to find out. For a debut novel this is beautifully written, all the characters feel real and alive, relatable.

I look forward to reading more by this author. Excellent first book.

Wow. The author’s active prose kept me on the hook and didn’t let me off until the end. A wonderful tale of survival.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Wildland’ by Rebecca Hodge in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Kat’s breast cancer has returned and despite being told to start chemotherapy she decides to rent into a cottage in the Blue Ridge Mountains for a month while she decides what to do. Whilst there she meets Malcolm Lassiter and his adopted son Nirav and divorced father Scott Bradford with his daughter Lily who are living in nearby cottages, and despite not being an animal lover she’s soon taking care of two dogs, Juni and Tye. Lily and Nirav stay overnight with Kat but in the early hours of the morning a lightning storm causes the dry woodland to catch fire and they have to flee on foot to escape its clutches. Can they survive before the wildfire catches up with them?
‘Wildland’ is an absolutely amazing story of bravery, strength and courage and I find it hard to believe it’s Rebecca Hodge’s debut novel. From page one I was totally involved in the story and was sitting on the edge of my seat unable to stop reading. The characters were so believable that it felt true to life and I found myself praying that they escaped and were able to take the dogs with them. The story was fast-paced with lots of excitement, action and drama and by the time I reached the last few pages I had tears in my eyes. I have no hesitation in recommending this thrilling novel and look forward to reading more by this author.

I received an E-ARC through NetGalley.

It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I truly enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.

This book was really a magnificent debut novel. The characters were well developed and believable. I like the detail the author gave on each one. You could relate to them.
Kat goes to the Blue Ridge Mountains for solitude to make decisions about continuing treatment for cancer.
She gets anything but solitude with the other neighbors and the dog her daughter brought her for company!
Full of great emotion and love. This book will touch your ❤️ heart and you will be rooting for them all!!!!

Thank you Crooked Lane and NetGalley for the ARC

Kat Jamison has fought breast cancer for several years and now it is back. She decides to take a retreat to really determine what she wants to do. Kat recently lost her husband so she is not sure she is up for the fight. Her daughter Sarah is determine to keep her mom fighting cancer and worries the retreat will delay necessary treatment to beat the disease.
Kat’s retreat becomes more difficult with dogs and children staying nearby. Lilly and Nirav and their love for the dogs that have found Kat has her life filled with happy chaos. When lightening causes a fire to start, Kat, the children and the dogs are cut off from their parents and the fire is closing in on them. With no choices left, Kat takes the kids and dogs trying to escape the fire. When the car is no longer able to move forward they headout on foot. The children’s fathers frantically try to find them so they can rescue them from the blaze.
Will Kat be able to stay ahead of the fire? Will the children and dogs be able to keep moving? Will the rescue happen in time? Will Kat fight for herself to survive and determine what is worth fighting for?
This was a visually descriptive story. The dogs will touch your heart. You will be rooting for them as they struggle to keep one step ahead of the fire that is closing in on them.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy to read. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a riveting story of Kat who went to a cabin in Western North Carolina mountains to decide whether to continue cancer therapy as the last numbers were not promising. She meets a man with an adopted son from Afghanistan and a man with a teenage daughter who is unhappy to be with her father and in the mountains.
Kats daughter surprises her with a dog which she foes not want. The dog turns out to be key to survival. The boy and girl become friends and are welcome visitors for Kat. One day while they are visiting a fire breaks out blocking the road making them stuck. The dog finds a brook that saves them from the fire.
Through perseverance, Kats determination to save the kids, she discovers more of herself. The kids find their inner strength. The fathers don't like each other but find they have to work together to find the kids and Kat.

I will suggest this book for book club.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so, I read it within the day, I couldn’t put it down, I was completely drawn into the story. It’s a exciting novel of courage, surrender, and self-discovery. It is also a story of vivid female courage and inner strength. I highly recommend it!

I absolutely loved this book by Rebecca Hodge and felt that it was a wonderful debut novel! I was truly invested in the characters and the outcome of their decisions the entire book. I stayed up late to finish it (in 1 day!).
The main character is at a crossroads in her life. She decides to take a month to think about her options about where to go next with her illness and decide what she wants to do, but ends up responsible for 2 dogs and 2 kids smack dab in the middle of a forest fire. It puts her decision about her own life into perspective in order to help her decide what to do in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their harrowing escape from the clutches of the fire. I highly recommend this book!

Wildland is an incredible story of strength and survival. This story was fast paced, without any lulls. Rebecca Hodge did a wonderful job on her debut novel of creating an emotional atmosphere around a very realistic scenario. 

When recent widow and breast cancer survivor Kat goes to the mountains to find solace and consider her next steps in her life, she could never have imagined the horrific events that will occur.

When Malcolm goes to the mountains to help his newly adopted son adjust to life in America he never thought his Special Forces skills would be needed to save the lives of his new friends.

When Scott and Lily go on their annual father daughter summer trip to the mountains, they never expected to be separated by a raging forest fire.

Together these characters show us what strength and determination and a lot of love can do.

I really wanted to love this book but .... as I read through it, I just kept thinking how trite it was. I didn't connect with any of the characters. It was predictable - the outcome, the character arcs, all of it. The author has potential ... she's not quite there yet.

Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eARC.