Wildflower Hill

By: Kimberley Freeman

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 16 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1920s Glasgow, Beattie Blaxland falls pregnant to her married lover Henry just before her nineteenth birthday. Abandoned by her family, Beattie and Henry set sail for a new life in Australia. But life is not about to follow the plan that Beattie had hoped for and fate will play her a cruel hand...

In 2009, London, prima ballerina Lydia Blaxland-Hunter is also discovering that life can also have its ups and downs. Unable to dance again after a fall, Lydia returns home to Australia to recuperate. But on arrival she is presented with some surprising news – her recently deceased and much-loved grandmother Beattie Blaxland has left her Tasmanian property to Lydia. Told through the eyes of a young Beattie Blaxland and a contemporary Lydia Blaxland-Hunter, this is an emotionally charged, seductive tale of self-discovery, secrets and surprises.

©2010 Kimberley Freeman (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Wonderful read!!!!

This is a great story... And I felt like the characters were well developed and we took the journey with them as readers. This is my first novel with this author. I cannot wait to read her other work.

Great story with excellent characters

I loved this book - well written and narrated. I was brought to tears many times

Loved it

As usual Kimberley Freeman did not disappoint with her latest book. Not my usual genre but the subjects she writes about are so well researched I make an exception.I have read Duet by same author and loved that .The narration is also superb. However, I think I could listen to Caroline Lee read from a cereal packet so imagine how good it is to listen to such a beautifully written book.
Cant wait for the next book

Wonderful Story!

A wonderful story.......Caroline Lee's voice is so delightful to listen to. Love the way the story went back and forth from past to present and did not want it to end. I highly recommend this book.

Great read!

I will be reading more from this author very soon and recommending her to my friends.

This book will be hard to put down.......

This was an a great tale-it begins with Grandma Beady encouraging her young Granddaughter to follow her dream of being a great ballerina but also warning her not to narrow her sights in life. The story flips between Beady as a young woman in Scotland and follows the trials and tribulations of this incredibly strong woman., living in a time of harsh judgement dealt to women who didn't follow Society's "rules". The story then switches to her Granddaughter now grown and a famous Ballerina in London-no spoiler here:) Grandma Beady dies and leaves her Sheep Farm to her Granddaughter who unravels the untold tale of her Grandmother's life and discovers the child that she had and kept secret. I really enjoyed this book, hard to stop listening to--I will search for others by Kimberley Freeman. And of course the narrator-Caroline Lee is one of my all time favorites with the ability to truly capture the personality of each character. I recommend you listen to this book, or read!

Gripping story, great narration, poor audio editing

Beautiful story that will stay with you. One of the most well written books I've read in awhile! Congratulations to Ms. Freeman for creating such a strong female character in Beattie.

I love Caroline Lee's narration, usually. However the editor left in so much mouth noise it's unbelievable. So many loud swallows, distracting breaths, and even little burps. Why?!

Compelling storyline and enjoyable

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would after the first couple of chapters. The window on discrimination meted out against so called 'sinners' (an unwed mother) and 'blacks' (an aboriginal man) felt authentic in its portrayal. So did the oppression of the small town against non-conformists and the lack of alternatives to pack up and leave in depression-era Tasmania. Some other elements of the plot were irritatingly predictable - the wounded, sensitive (handsome) small-town man versus the successful, insensitive (also handsome) snobbish London love interest of the modern-day protagonist. Thankfully, the rest of the story set in 1930s Scotland and Tasmania was sufficiently compelling to overlook the spoiler alert (not!) of the 'which one will she choose' sub-plot. Truthfully, I would classify this a chick-lit. Nevertheless, it is a much higher quality than the norm and a good listen for someone always on the lookout for lengthy audiobooks a cut above the norm.

Surprisingly Intriguing

I found this book played on every emotion for me. I cried as identified the loss of her daughter, identifying with my own losses from impossible decisions. As Beattie's life seemed to go by in a flash, and how she came to terms and go on with life. Perhaps its my own journey that I am going through that identified with Beattie's life. Then to see how the granddaughter's life would eventually become entwined and the lessons learned and understanding gained by her grandmother's life unfolding at Wildflower Hill.

I enjoyed this book to a point where I stayed up way too late at night listening, perhaps hoping against hope that decisions could have been remade and outcomes be different, when I knew that was wishful thinking...

Incredible listen, I didn't want it to end.

I loved this story, I really want to know what Lucy did. Please write a sequel.