Kat Jamison, a widow in her fifties, escapes to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains after learning that her breast cancer has returned. Her daughter, Sara, encourages her to pursue treatment, but Kat isn’t certain she has what it takes to go through chemotherapy again.

But soon Kat faces another serious threat, and this time her life is not the only one at stake. A drought and an ill-timed lightning strike start a fearsome wildfire that quickly blocks the route down the mountain. The approaching fire forces Kat to flee deeper into the forest, and with her two dogs and two children, nine-year-old Nirav and 12-year-old Lily, who have become separated from their parents.

Meanwhile, the children’s fathers, Malcolm and Scott, start a risky rescue mission below the fire-line, putting aside their differences to save their kids. As both groups struggle for survival, they are forced to reach deep inside themselves to find the courage they need to make it through the fire.

Each character in Wildland has an intriguing backstory and a distinctive personality, which adds dimension to an exciting premise. The scenes are vividly detailed, from Kat’s and the children’s frantic flight through the smoke-filled forest to the deafening noise inside a rescue helicopter. As the novel progresses and the situation become increasingly desperate, the suspense and action sequences will hook even the most restless of readers.

Author Rebecca Hodge doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of forest fires or cancer, but she still manages to infuse the book with hope. It’s this hope that keeps Kat going despite countless obstacles, and that will keep readers turning the pages, eager to find out what happens to all the characters. Wildland is a suspense novel that brilliantly explores themes of perseverance, survival, and responsibility, showing how destruction can strike without warning, but also how the bonds forged in tough times can turn strangers into family. Wildland is a pulse-pounder with heart, and highly recommended.