Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

This book really resonated with me because my mother has had breast cancer twice. Kat is such a strong character and I loved her from the start. Lily and Nirav are just what Kat needed, along with Juni and Tye. This is a gripping, keep you on the edge of your seat book, with the fire and the fight for survival, not only against the fire but for Kat's life. A beautifully written story.

Kat Jamison retreats to the mountains for a month to have time alone to make the decision about whether to continue cancer treatments--by solitude is exactly what she does not get as dogs and neighbors are suddenly a big part of her life. And then there's a forest fire.

Thehe plot and all of the details seemed contrived and the writing was so so. Wasn't for me.

Wildland by Rebecca Hodge is a great entry for a new novelist.  I am an avid reader who needs strong character development and sense of place to stick with a book.  While I was a little slow to like the main character the challenges she faces show how fierce and strong she could be.  Sometimes it takes an 'outside of ourselves' incentive/reason to go on pushing forward.  This is where the characters in this book  find their strength.  Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this novel.

Hi! Welcome to my review of Wildland Rebecca Hodge!


The Non-Spoiler Review:

In Wildland, we follow Kat as she retreats to cabin in the forest to think about her future, concerning her breast cancer.
She meets two children, Lily and Nirav, who disturb the peace she really wanted. But then lightning strikes and a massive forest fire breaks out.
It’s up to Kat to keep herself, Lily, and Nirav safe and alive.
This was the type of book I could easily read in one sitting. The characters were interesting and once the pace started picking up, I was chewing off all my nails!
It was interesting and made me think for a while after reading it!


The Review With Spoilers:

You have been warned.


Good Underlying Themes/Messages:

-Kat doesn’t give up while trying to get herself, the kids, and the dogs to safety.
-Scott overcomes his fear and does the right thing to help others.
-The pilots decide to help other people instead of following their orders.
-Malcolm doesn’t hesitate before he sets out to save Kat and the children.
Since this book really is about the ultimate survival, it was nice to see good role models!

A whole star for this catagory!


Interesting Story:

I have to admit, it took a while to get the ball rolling and for the action to start but once it did, it never stopped. I was chewing my nails off for the last part of the book where it got really intense.
I learned some interesting things, too. I never really knew how fast wildfire travels and that the fire would always head up the mountain.

Half a star for this catagory!


Realistic Characters and Growth:

I think that this is where the book exceled!
I loved reading about the characters and their pasts. Malcolm and Nirav’s story was especially endearing for me – the way they connected to each other. Kat’s struggle with breast cancer was tragic and the way her daughter was stubborn with her mother to continue her treatment broke my heart a little.
But I was satisfied with all the character’s endings. I liked how Kat realized that she wasn’t fighting the cancer for anyone but herself, and how she was surrounded by people who would be there for her when she needed them.

A whole star for this catagory!


Writing Style Was Beautiful/ Easy To Read:

The writing style wasn’t especially beautiful but it was quite easy to read and made the action scenes fairly easy to understand. I also really liked how the author used Shakespear quotes here and there; it added a little something extra to the mix.

A whole star for this catagory!


Fantastic Worldbuilding:

I could perfectly picture each scene: From the cabin where Kat stayed to the bridge that burned down to the lake where they where trapped at the end. I’d say that’s a job well done!

A whole star for this catagory!


That’s it!
4.5 stars of of 5!
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.”

Bravery, self-discovery, and intrigue sill this book, but I did struggle to connect with the main character. It wasn't that she was bad, it was just that I couldn't quite understand why she had all of this inner strength and ability, and still believed that her life would be better off resigning herself. The ending worked for that reason, but I did really wonder if the character was designed backwards from the success of the ending so that it had an impact, and for that reason, the first third of the book was really hard to enjoy.

A fast paced, character driven read. At first I had to drag myself through reading but when it picked up I couldn’t stop reading.

Kat stole the show - a excellent protagonist that I related to and cared about.

Brilliant read - I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends and family!

Really enjoyed this book. The author asked at the end of the book if readers would like to read more of the characters and I say a resounding yes. Need to know what happens next.

It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. An incredible first book that should be a best seller and a movie.. A wonderfully written, breathlessly paced description of a horrific forest fire and the people who endured its furor. I loved it! When I pick up a new book, I know immediately I will like it when I am drawn to the characters and relate to them. These protagonists are so likable and charismatic. They are not stereotypical but individuals you can empathize with as soon as you read about them. Of course, the dogs are adorable and I don’t like dogs! Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this exceptional novel.

I received a free copy of Edge Of Safety to give an honest review.
Cancer survivor Kat goes to the Blue Ridge mountains to just relax.
While there, she meets 2 abandoned dogs and 2 friendly children.
Then a forest fire breaks out and all hell breaks loose.
This is a very thrilling novel in which so many things happen, you will feel like you are on a roller coaster.
A great book

This book hits all the marks:

A protagonist who is at a major crossroads in her life. Two adorable children who do not belong to her. Two dogs she only thinks she wants nothing to do with. Random lines of Shakespeare that pull at you heart. And a fire. And by fire, I mean Ms. Hodge makes you feel the heat and hear the crackling flames with a descriptive talent that beyond compare.

I loved this book. Can you tell?

If you're a fan of books involving natural disasters forcing people to push their limits for survival, books that are full of emotion and heart, or books that are just frankly too gosh darn hard to put down, then you're going to want to put Edge of Safety on your TBR.

Kat Jamison has battled breast cancer in the past. When she relapses, she faces a difficult decision: continue treatment or just find peace in her final days. Her daughter, Sara, wants her to fight, but Kat doesn't think she has it in her. To contemplate her future in solitude, she escapes to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains where she and her late husband shared memories of happier days.

Solitude is not exactly what she finds.

Thinking that a dog is just what she needs, Sara brings Kat a rescued lab named Juni. Kat resists, but Sara isn't hearing it. Additionally, down the road a bit in two other cabins are Scott and his 12-year-old daughter, Lily and ex-Special Forces soldier Malcolm and his 9-year-old adopted son, Nirav. Immediately, Lily and Nirav become attached to Juni and as the result of unforeseen circumstances and crossed messages, Lily and Nirav end up staying the night at Kat's.

When a lightning strike ignites a forest fire, and Kat and the children are cut off from their fathers, they're forced to escape on foot. Kat must find her inner strength and her will to survive all over again, but this time she's responsible for more than just herself.

Told in alternative perspectives, Kat's and the children as well as the rescue operation set underway by Malcolm, this edge of your seat thriller will keep your cheering everyone on until the last satisfying page.

At first glance, this is a natural disaster survival story. I was drawn to it by comparisons to Gin Phillips's Fierce Kingdom, which I also enjoyed. But there's also an emotional depth that adds a rich layer to something that could just be gratuitous (this book is not. If you're looking for gory survival, look elsewhere). It's just as much about the struggles of parenthood, end of life issues, and the struggle of finding your place in the world as it is about escaping a forest fire.

Hodge has crafted an excellently paced novel and a believable plot that, even though there are a couple "that's really convenient" moments, will leave you pleased by the end. I'll be looking forward to more books from both the author and the publisher.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy for review. This review will also now appear on my blog: https://michellefohlin.wixsite.com/abookishholiday/post/edge-of-your-seat

Loved this one. I loved the setting and found the characters and plot to be believable and engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Edge of Safety is a great novel that I could not put down. The characters are well developed and the storyline is interesting. I would read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this propulsive, exciting adventure story in return for an honest review. The characters were well developed and believable in this fast-paced survival story.

Kat has retreated to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountain wilderness. She had undergone radiation and chemotherapy for cancer, it was in remission but has learned that it has returned. She wants solitude and quiet to decide whether to have further treatment and is reluctant to do so. She has argued with her daughter about the possibility of giving up. Her daughter who runs a dog training and rescue business brings her a trained, adult dog for companionship. Kat had never wanted a dog but gradually bonds with it.

In neighbouring cabins, two fathers are staying with their children. They are 12- year- old Lily and nine-year-old Nivar, adopted from Pakistan. The children are attracted by Kat’s dog and spend time playing with it. One day Kat and the children find a neglected, sick and injured puppy. It is rescued in terrible condition and Kat brings it in for veterinarian care, and now has two dogs in her life. The children's’ fathers leave Nivar and Lily with Kat for an overnight stay. Kat’s time of quiet and contemplation has come to an end.

A ravenous forest fire has broken out and is rapidly approaching the cabins and surrounding wooded areas. Kat must summon up all the resourcefulness and courage she never knew she possessed in order to save the two children and the dogs.

As the nearby forest is engulfed in flames they flee on foot, trying to reach safety. All ways out seem blocked. Meanwhile, a dangerous helicopter rescue has started. It seems hopeless as the rescue crew have no idea where the group might be. Fire is raging in all areas, and vision of the landscape below is obscured by smoke and ash. It seems hopeless, and will anyone survive? There are injuries among the rescue team, and with the traumatized Kat, the children and the dogs. The situation is heart-rending and gripping.

Although the author describes the area well, I would have liked to see a map drawn to illustrate the location of the cabins, the fire, ponds, lakes, cliffs in order to help me visualize the paths and trails where the desperate Kat led the children and dogs.

I thought this was an exciting, thrilling survival story, told with much suspense and touching the emotions.

After surviving breast cancer once, Kat Jamison is devastated to hear she has had a recurrence. Can she suffer through the “cure” again, knowing the pain, sickness and exhaustion that await her? Maybe she should just surrender. She heads to the Blue Ridge mountains to try to decide what to do. Once there, she doesn’t find the quiet serenity she was searching for, instead encountering noisy children and bouncy dogs. When a wild fire isolates Kat, the children and dogs are forced to try to find a way to safety. And in all the craziness, fear and confusion, Kat begins to realize how very much she wants to live. This novel hit a personal nerve with me because my sister lived through a bout with breast cancer and she has often told me she doesn’t believe she could go through chemo and radiation again

If you have any compassion at all, this new book will send your heart racing after a few chapters. A 40-something woman facing a momentous health related decision befriends two young children and another adult while taking a hiatus to think about what she wants to do. Soon after, a forest fire arrives and this sends the reader on an adrenaline fueled blast. I couldn't put the book down; would the plot be predictable or would it cover new territory? Will everyone survive?

Thanks to the publisher for this advance reader's copy. I'll be sure to look for future books by this author.
#EdgeOfSafety #NetGalley