Wildflower Hill

Author: Kimberley Freeman
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Touchstone, 2011
Pages: 544
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Emmy is a prima ballerina in London and at a crossroads after an injured knee ruins her career. When she learned of her grandmother Beattie's death, and her own strange inheritance - an isolated sheep farm in rural Australia - Emma is certain she has been saddled with an irritating burden. But when she returns to Australia, forced to rest her body and confront her life, she realizes that she has been using fame as a substitute for love and fulfillment.

Beattie also found herself at a crossroads as a young woman, but she was pregnant and unwed. She eventually found success - but only after following an unconventional path that was often dangerous and heartbreaking. Beattie knew the lessons she learned in life would be important to Emma one day, and she wanted to make sure Emma's heart remained open to love, no matter what life brought. She knew the magic of the Australian wilderness would show Emma the way.

Wildflower Hill is a compelling, atmospheric, and romantic novel about taking risks, starting again, and believing in yourself. It's about finding out what you really want and discovering that the answer might not be at all what you'd expect.

Review: This may be one of the best novels I've ever read. I love family sagas, and this is right up there with Roses at the top of my list. It was late when I sat down to read a chapter or two just to see what it was all about. A couple hours and more than 200 pages later, I decided I was going to sleep on it and come back to savor it tomorrow.

It seems as though every author has jumped on the bandwagon of alternating time periods. This style works for this novel, and there are multiple chapters before a time change.