Wildwood Whispers

"A witchy story full of found family, lush nature, and small-town secrets.” —Hester Fox"A magical, romantic tale about our essential connections to nature and to each other." —Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling authorStep into a world of hope, fate, and folk magic in this bewitching debut when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to honor her best friend.  Mel Smith’s life is shattered after the sudden death of her best friend, Sarah Ross. In an effort to fulfill a final promise to Sarah and find herself again, Mel travels to an idyllic small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. But Morgan’s Gap is more than she ever expected. There are secrets that call to Mel, from a salvaged remedy book filled with the magic of simple mountain traditions to the connection she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it.  With every taste of sweet honey and tart blackberries, the wildwood twines further into Mel’s broken heart. But a threat lingers in the woods—one that may have something to do with Sarah’s untimely death and has now set its sights on Mel. The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal—if you're willing to listen . . .For more from Willa Reece, check out Wildwood Magic.

Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author

"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."

Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

"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."

Constance Sayers, author of A Witch in Time

“Dark, tender, and thought-provoking, Wildwood Whispers is a beautifully woven tale of fantasy, feminism, and mystery set in rural Appalachia.”

and fans of both genres will appreciate this walk through the wild woods."

"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

Louisa Morgan, author of The Age of Witches

"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!"

Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall

"I loved everything about Wildwood Whispers. Reece’s poignant writing style truly captured the vivid setting of small-town Appalachia. Readers craving a witchy story full of found family, lush nature, and small-town secrets will find it utterly enchanting.”

Luanne G. Smith, author of The Vine Witch

“A wonderful heartfelt novel full of intuitive nature-based magic, wise women, and found family.”

Lydia Kang, author of Opium and Absinthe

"Willa Reece's Wildwood Whispers will cast a spell on its readers. Rich with imagination and rooting itself in the tendrils of rural Appalachia, the story will pull you in and never let go. A glorious read.”

Tish Thawer, author of The Witches of BlackBrook

"A beautifully-written debut spun from love, suspense, and a deep connection with nature that simply entrances. Wildwood Whispers is an unforgettable tale.”

Culturess

"A sweet tale of self-discovery, but it’s also a story of the way women and marginalized communities have always been underestimated by those with power."

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.

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