Wildland

Cancer patient Kat Jamison, the heroine of Hodge’s assured debut, a suspense novel, has rented a cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in order to contemplate her future—whether to face another round of chemotherapy or let the advanced-stage disease take its course. Kat’s grown daughter, Sara, who works at an animal shelter, drops off Juni, a golden Labrador, to keep her company. Exuberant Juni, pulling an unwilling Kat along, quickly makes friends with the children in the two neighboring cabins, Lily and Nirav, each of whom is vacationing with their single fathers: one a divorced computer programmer, the other a security consultant. When a forest fire cuts off Kat’s cabin from everything while the children are staying over, Kat must find a way to get Lily, Nirav, Juni, and a rescued puppy to safety. The novel starts slowly, allowing readers to get to know the protagonists. Once the players are in place, the thrilling action begins. Those looking for an inspirational story about one woman coming to terms with life and death will be rewarded. Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Assoc. (Feb.)