Review: Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

Publisher: Touchstone
Pages: 544
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5/5


Emma Blaxton-Hunter is a world renowned prima ballerina, living a perfect life with the perfect boyfriend. First, the boyfriend decides that the relationship isn’t going in the direction that he wants, and second, Emma‘s knee is severely injured and she can feel her career being ripped away. Her mother insists that she move back to Australia and forget about London and Josh. Emma is so heartbroken over Josh and her career that she gives in and goes home. While in Australia a few days, her Uncle comes to visit and hints at a secret; apparently her grandmother Beattie has left her something in her will and the stipulation was that she returns to Australia before she could be told about the inheritance. Now, it makes sense why her mother was constantly asking her to come home. Emma’s Mother and Uncle didn’t see any of Beattie’s fortune; it was all given away to various charities and Emma is wondering what could be left. Her grandmother knew she wasn’t very materialistic and doesn’t think it would be money. Both her Mother and Uncle are very bitter about the way the estate was handled, and they pressure Emma to visit with the lawyer right away. Emma is given a house that she is advised to sell but the contents need to be emptied. While Emma begins to recover from her knee surgery, she moves to Tasmania and learns about her grandmother’s secret life before she was married.

Wildflower Hill is a captivating, absorbing read. The story is told from both Emma and Beattie’s perspectives. Both stories were equally engrossing and mesmerizing. Kimberly Freeman has amazing talent, and readers will be transported into her story. Emma is lost, her career is over and her boyfriend is gone. She begins to realize how much her life revolved around her career, everything came second and she always expected to dance. When Emma returns to the farm and begins to open boxes, she finds a mysterious picture of her grandmother standing with a man, and a little girl. Emma is baffled. Could her grandmother have had a secret family? Emma begins to uncover the secrets of Beattie’s past. A young and careless Beattie had an affair with a married man and ran away to Australia when they learn she is expecting. Beattie is desperate, her mother has thrown her out, and she is ecstatic that Henry wants to be with her. Beattie’s perfect romance is cut short when Henry becomes an alcoholic, abusive gambler. Henry barely provides food each week for his daughter, and has mounting debt. When a second letter appears from Henry’s ex-wife, Beattie is furious. Molly proposes that Henry return to her, and entices him with her new found wealth. Beattie is afraid that he will take Lucy and decides she must take her life into her own hands, She’s tired of being the victim, a friend once told her that there are two types of women in this world “those who do things and those who have things done to them.“


I loved this book! I loved every page, every detailed paragraph and felt sad when I closed the book and left the characters behind. Readers are always on the hunt for the book you completely fall in love with, and can’t stop thinking about- Wildflower Hill was that type of novel. I loved Emma and Beattie’s stories equally. The story was paced very well, and transitioned perfectly. I was thoroughly moved by this book. Do yourself a favor and read this one, this will not be sorry. This book has made it to my top 5 favorite books read this year.