From the author of Wildwood Whispers comes a spellbinding novel of magic and self-discovery when a woman escapes her abusive husband and finds shelter in a magical orchard.
Virginia, 1969.
Rachel Smith has found peace in the Appalachian Mountains. Sequestered in Morgan’s Gap, an idyllic small town, her days are spent simply tending its lush apple orchard. She studiously avoids thinking about her past. If her dreams are haunted by memories of her violent husband and longing for the child she was forced to hide, that pain is borne away by fresh mountain air and apples that taste as sweet as honey.
But Rachel wasn’t meant to live in the shadows. When she dares to venture beyond the orchard, she discovers a tight-knit community of wisewomen who honor the old mountain traditions—those who stitch and stir, brew and tinker—where she learns to feel safe. A world of magic unfolds for her, a world filled with new friendships and possibly a new love.
Yet, Rachel’s past is creeping in. She must learn to harness the strength of the wildwood—and herself—to protect her newfound future and community before it's torn apart.
For more from Willa Reece, check out Wildwood Whispers.
About the Author
Willa Reece is a pseudonym for Barbara J. Hancock. She lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia where stories are often told on a dark side porch in the flicker of firefly light.
Praise For…
Praise for Wildwood Whispers:
"A feast for the senses. Wildwood Whispers is everything I love in a book and I fell under its spell. Willa Reece has written a magical, romantic tale about our essential connections to nature and to each other." —Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author
"Willa Reece has perfectly infused magic, suspense, and a love of nature deep into the pages of this novel. Ultimately filled with hope, love, and the power of growth and resilience, Wildwood Whispers is a thought-provoking, memorable debut." —Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café
“Dark, tender, and thought-provoking, Wildwood Whispers is a beautifully woven tale of fantasy, feminism, and mystery set in rural Appalachia.” —Constance Sayers, author of The Ladies of the Secret Circus
"The Appalachian Mountains are alive with magic in this folksy, feminist contemporary fantasy...Mel’s story is full of human compassion and animal wisdom that will charm readers. This works both as a contemporary fairy tale and a slow-burning romance—and fans of both genres will appreciate this walk through the wild woods." —Publishers Weekly
"A lovely tale of sisterly love, the power of inheritance, and the many magics of the natural world. Readers will love Reece’s wonderful wisewomen and cheer for the abandoned baby who grows up to find her true home. A deeply satisfying read!" —Louisa Morgan, author of The Age of Witches
