A truly fascinating book: My review of "Wildwood Creek" by Lisa Wingate

about the book....

With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?
Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream. 

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood--including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set--seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.

my review....

"Wildwood Creek" is a fantastic read, a truly fascinating blend of contemporary and historical characters, joined together by a sense of foreboding that makes for addictive reading. Wingate's characters have been clothed in flesh and brought to life under her skilled pen, and I found them to be believable and unique. Allie is instantly likeable as she seeks to forge her own path through life, even at the risk of alienating her family back home. I found that her involvement in the film industry made for an interesting context. I also loved the character of Bonnie Rose, struggling to survive in 1861 after she and her sister have suffered so horribly and continue to face injustice. Both of the plots of these character's stories, on their own, made for entertaining reading. Yet Wingate does an excellent job at weaving these two stories together, and showing how evil can manifest in different times and places and people, but still look so similar, can be twisted and selfish, proving there is nothing new under the sun. Wingate does a wonderful job at bringing different settings and locations to life, with great descriptions and lively scenes. She infuses just the right tough of romance into the stories, and both male and female readers are likely to enjoy this story. And I dare you to read the ending and not be left with a smile on your face!

I highly recommend this latest book from the talented author, and award it 5 out of 5 stars. I think this is my favourite book so far from Lisa Wingate, and I look forward to what's to come next!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 about the author....

Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Blue Moon Bay, andLarkspur Cove, which won the 2011 Carol Award for Women's Fiction. Lisa and her family live in central Texas. Visit www.lisawingate.com