Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Review: Running Wild


You already know I’m a major K.A. Tucker fan so it really shouldn’t surprise you that I loved reading Running Wild. Like many readers, I thoroughly enjoyed the world Tucker created in Alaska with Jonah and Calla in The Simple Wild. I was interested to see what she would do with Jonah’s friend, Marie, the heroine of the latest novel in the series, in Running Wild. I ended up really liking Marie’s story and I’m glad Tucker gave us another wonderful novel to read.

Here’s the book’s description:
Veterinarian Marie Lehr knows unrequited love all too well after pining for her best friend, only to watch him marry another woman. It’s a mistake she will never make again, especially not when she can practically hear the clock ticking on her childbearing years.
The trouble is, she can’t seem to find anyone who appeals to her even a fraction as much as that burly bush pilot did. Competitive musher Tyler Brady certainly doesn’t, especially not after the heated altercation with the handsome but arrogant, spiteful man.
Or so she thinks.
While volunteering at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Marie discovers that first impressions may have been false, and her attraction to Tyler is very real. But his heart belongs to someone else, leaving him with nothing to offer but friendship. Marie’s been down this road before and knows how that ends. Yet, no matter how hard she works to keep from falling for Tyler, it seems she’s doomed to follow her own trail once again.
I’ll read anything Tucker writes so I’m the first to admit I am a wee bit biased when it comes to her novels. I find that I don’t pay as much attention to issues some readers might have when I’m reading some of my favourite authors, like Tucker. I’m also one that rates a book based on my enjoyment of a novel, not necessarily if it was “good” or issue free. And maybe I’m feeling a bit precious about this book and Tucker because I’ve been reading her books for so long that I know what she’s capable of. Her novels may all seem similar on the surface but they’re nuanced and each one is a little different. I didn’t expect another The Simple Wild when I came into reading Running Wild and I think others’ have expected that. It’s OK to have expectations. I get it because I’ve been there. With Running Wild I expected an Alaskan setting, a romance that would tug at my heart in some way, and damn good writing. I got it all with Running Wild and I enjoyed the hell out of the book.

Marie’s a little bit older than your typical romance heroine as she turns 38 over the course of the novel. She mentions her age a lot which got a bit tiresome but then I realized that maybe it was tiresome because I do that too, at just 34. There’s something about being in your thirties that seems to make you want to defend your choices or something. Like, I am an adult and I have had life experiences but you also have a ton of life ahead of you. It’s a weird place to be. I don’t have a biological clock ticking away like Marie does (pretty sure mine is broken or maybe didn’t even exist in the first place) but I could understand how anxious she would be about not having a child and not knowing if she’d ever be able to have one as she expected she would. All that to say: I’m here for more stories about heroines in their thirties.

I personally found all the talk about the dog racing pretty fascinating. There’s a lot of it but I could appreciate that Tucker wanted to do justice to the sport and the controversy around it. And I think she did do justice to it. I liked that she showcased the dogs who were currently athletes and the retired dogs that were living the life of leisure as house dogs. Definitely made me wish I had a giant husky hanging out with me (Tonks would likely not appreciate one in the house…something tells me those dogs might not get along with rabbits).

Now, for the romance! I was really happy when Marie and Tyler were able to make it through their initial issues. They did NOT get off on the right foot! I did find myself wishing that they would just listen to the other but they were both pretty stubborn (this wasn’t the typical miscommunication of romance novels…just general human miscommunication when you allow your emotions to get the better of you and you can’t have a logical discussion to find that, just maybe, your first impressions were wrong). They were able to find some respect for each other which lead, of course, to some romantic feelings. Tyler had a lot of issues that he needed to work out and I respect that he was honest with Marie once he realized that it was not fair to her to pursue a relationship when he was still too wrapped up in his past. What bothered me was how he kind of ended up jerking her around and he never really gave Marie (or, more importantly, the reader) a good enough answer when he finally realized he was an idiot needed to be with Marie. Tucker writes angsty relationships so very well so I was feeling All the Things right alongside Marie. Painful, yes, but that does make for an enjoyable read for me.

Readers of the rest of the series will be happy to know there are lovely scenes with Jonah and Calla, as well as the rest of the crew from the previous books. I felt there was just enough to satisfy series readers but not enough to take away from Marie’s story.

All in all, Running Wild was a win for me. K.A. Tucker writes stories that always suck me in. They’re emotional and so well written. I didn’t want the story to end and already can’t wait for her next book.

Content warnings: death of a spouse and child prior to start of story, miscarriage, yearning for a child, unrequited love, abuse and harm of dogs off the page.

Buy Running Wild
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About the Author
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women
K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

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*An advanced egalley of this novel was provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*

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