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.

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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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My review of The Simple Wild

My review of Wild at Heart

My review of Forever Wild

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

Review: Enjoy the View

I've been having so much fun reading Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs series. I liked Mistletoe and Mr. Right, the second book, a bit more than The Tourist Attraction, the first, and I liked Enjoy the View a bit more than that! I don't know if it's because I'm loving the town more the more I read about it or there was something about Easton and River's story that really drew me in. No matter the reason, I enjoyed reading it!

Here's the synopsis:

A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet
And miles of untamed wilderness...
What could possibly go wrong?

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.
Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.
Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

As usual, I was both frustrated and understanding of how the residents of Moose Springs were treating River. They need the tourists to be able to stay financially viable but they also want absolutely nothing to do with them. So, they treat River pretty terribly. She, like I, can't quite understand why they don't want their town overrun with tourists so her enthusiasm rubs them all the wrong way. I don't think they need to be assholes though and I felt the same as I did when Lana was butting heads with the entire town as well. And there's even a quick scene with Zoey, the heroine from the first book, is "othered" and treated like an out of towner. Graham may be head over heels in love with her but it's like it physically pains and sickens him that she didn't grow up there. It's the strangest thing.

I've never had the urge to climb mountains. I could barely get my spindly arms to cooperate during rock climbing week in gym class during high school. (I haven't tried it as an adult but since I seem to have developed a fear of heights, I figure I probably shouldn't give it a go.) But. That doesn't mean that I was uninterested in the story as Easton, River, and her team climbed Mount Veil. (Which, as I'm realizing as I'm writing this...doesn't actually exist.) The mountain climbing took up a longer portion of the book than I expected (and maybe a touch too long and technical) and there was a lot of drama. Like absolutely terrifying and I-was-afraid-for-their-lives kind of drama. It added to the suspense of the building romance between River and Easton. It was like climbing the mountain was a giant, long foreplay session. And that was not a bad thing! I remembered that Morgenthaler keeps everything other than kissing behind very closed doors so I liked that the pair flirted and teased each other. It was so fun and sweet to read.

Speaking of love stories. There's a marmot that follows Easton and the group when they're climbing the mountain. It is the most ridiculous thing but I absolutely adored it. Because why not have a rodent fall in love with a tall, bearded mountain man. Honestly, I can't explain how hilarious and adorable it was.

Even though the Moose Springs series hasn't WOW-ed me, I've been having a lot of fun reading Sarah Morgenthaler's novels. Enjoy the View has been my favourite so far and I definitely recommend reading it (and the rest of the books) if you want to armchair travel to Alaska. They're funny and sweet and the small town feel is so great to read (especially for this small town girl). I do hope there will be another book - I want to see Ash, Easton's twin sister, get her love story too!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right

 

I read Sarah Morgenthaler's The Tourist Attraction this past summer after I saw all sorts of bloggers and bookstagrammers talking about it. The cover first grabbed me and the description drew me in even further. Once I realized it was going to be a series, I was thrilled and made sure to request a copy of Mistletoe and Mr. Right to read and review. I'm so glad I did because it was so enjoyable - even more so than the first book!

Here's the synopsis:

How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.
Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.
And really...how hard could it be?
The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

If I had to try to explain Moose Springs, I would have to liken it to Stars Hollow but moved from Connecticut to Alaska and with a lot more moose. The townspeople are quirky but loveable and always there for each other. They're very much against tourists and that's why they're hellbent on blocking Lana at every turn. I think that was a really interesting thing to read as the townspeople don't want change nor do they want a bunch of strangers ruining their town. Most of them do know that without tourists their town would start dying but it has to be hard to see your quaint town overrun with people who don't care about what's left when their vacation is over. The thing is, Lana really does care about the town and you can't help but hope the town realizes that her vision does have some merit and that they can all find a way to work together.

I couldn't really remember how Lana and Rick met and there was some allusion to their history that kept throwing me off because I couldn't remember any of it. And I only read the first book in the summer! It wasn't a huge deal but I had to keep reminding myself that they did have history and that was why their relationship was moving as it was. It's a bit of an opposites attract kind of story but I find that kind of insults both Lana and Rick. She's rich, yes, but she knows the important things are friends and family which is why she holds on to her friendship with Zoey and Graham so tightly. And Rick isn't some small town guy with no brain, which he sometimes comes across as - which I don't think was Morgenthaler's intent. He's a quiet guy who observes everything and has a lot of his shoulders, trying to take care of a failing business and raising his ex-wife's nephew, who is now twenty and Rick's roommate.

Speaking of roommates - Rick is a total animal lover (he has a tendency to take in strays and look after everyone which was a bit refreshing since normally it's the female in the romances who has that issue). He has a giant cat, Roger, who often makes his displeasure known but deep down loves his home. AND HE HAS A HEDGEHOG. The set-up to the reader meeting Darla was perfection and I laughed out loud when I got to that part. I'm not a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, exactly, but even I found it too funny that the hedgehog is named after a character in the show.

This book is heavy on the comedy with a sweet romance (no open door sexy time here) and important messages woven throughout. It's not all fun and games when you're trying to: catch a destructive moose, prove to your family that you have a solid business plan for your favourite town, keep your pool hall afloat, keep your nephew out of jail, and just generally save the town.

Sarah Morgenthaler's Mistletoe and Mr. Right is quirky and lovable and I had a lot of fun reading it. I enjoyed the second Moose Springs book much more than the first and I really looking forward to the next book in the series, Enjoy the View. 

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Forever Wild

I knew we needed a final wrap up to Calla and Jonah's love story but I hadn't quite anticipated how perfect Forever Wild would be. I never want to say goodbye to characters I love but K.A. Tucker has completed her Wild series in a way that left my heart full and happy. 

Here's what the novella is about:

The holiday season is upon Calla and Jonah, and with the mistletoe and gingerbread comes plenty of family drama. Jonah is bracing himself for two weeks with a stepfather he loathes, and while Calla is looking forward to her mother and Simon’s arrival, she dreads the continued pressure to set a date for their wedding … in Toronto. Add in one bullheaded neighbor’s unintentional meddling and another cantankerous neighbor’s own family strife, and Christmas in Trapper’s Crossing will be anything but simple.

This is a true series so you can't hop into reading this one without having already read The Simple Wild (review) and Wild at Heart (review). I mean, you could, but you would be so confused and you'd have so much spoiled for you. 

Not only was Forever Wild such a perfect story to wrap up the series, but I loved that it's set at Christmas. Christmas stories lend themselves so well to novellas and short stories, given it's such a small part of the year overall, and Tucker used that to her advantage. It also made for the perfect reason for the whole family to be together, tucked into Calla and Jonah's house and cabin. The emotions were running high in the house and I liked seeing how all the traditions came together to create such a wonderful holiday for everyone.

While I can see why Tucker chose to make this a novella, I do wish it could have been a full novel. I think I needed a bit more pre-Christmas time with Calla and Jonah and there didn't seem to be enough (if any??) sightings of Zeke and Bandit - two animal characters that are as well loved as any Disney sidekick. I wanted more about their jobs too since that was a big thing they were trying to sort out in the last book - what, exactly, would give Calla purpose in Alaska? And, yes, I would have loved just more of this story, these characters, that setting. It was hard to say goodbye to Calla and Jonah but it was the right thing for the series. I will say that I'm not surprised that Tucker plans to expand the Wild universe a little bit and will be writing a story about Marie, a longtime vet friend of Jonah's who had a major crush on him. Mostly it's unsurprising because I found the hints pretty obvious in this novella. Not that I'm complaining - I'll read anything Tucker writes!

Multiple characters in the story had a lot of drama but it worked well, considering the novella is only just over 150 pages. Tensions always run high during the holiday season but once things settle, you're left with a group of individuals who care fiercely for each other, whether they're blood relatives or not.

There's not much more I want to say about Forever Wild because I don't want to give away any spoilers. I read this in one sitting on Saturday afternoon and absolutely loved it. I'm pretty sure I was the heart eye emoji come to life as I finished the last page. If you're a fan of contemporary stories, you should definitely pick up K.A. Tucker's Wild series. This is a romance series for those who don't think they're romance readers so keep it in mind this holiday season for gifts for others - or yourself!

Buy Forever Wild
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Not quite ready to buy it or haven't read the first two books? Add Forever Wild to Goodreads. 

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.

Connect with the Author

Website * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook * Facebook Group *
Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Pinterest *

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Under an Alaskan Sky

Back in December I read a holiday-ish novel, An Alaskan Christmas (review here). I was completely enthralled so I was really happy when I realized Jennifer Snow would be writing it as a series. Under an Alaskan Sky published earlier this year and I read it at a time when I needed to go back to a place that was lovely and familiar and get caught up in another love story.

Here's the synopsis:

Allowing himself to love always seemed too dangerous. Now it might be his only salvation…
Single dad Tank Wheeler has vowed to keep his heart shuttered in the name of keeping his young daughter’s life stable. But lately, the chemistry between him and his adrenaline-loving best friend, Cassie Reynolds, has been getting him a little hot under the collar. And then, with one scorching birthday kiss, these best friends are instantly more.
Exactly the wrong time for Tank’s ex to show up in Wild River, Alaska.
Cassie is pretty sure she’s having a waking nightmare. Not only is Tank’s gorgeous ex hoping to reclaim her family, but a new megastore is threatening the wilderness-adventure business she’s spent five years building. But Cassie never backs down from a fight. And now it’s time to make the most terrifying leap of her life—and hope that Tank catches her…before she falls too far.

I'm not really a big fan of love triangles so I was a bit worried about where Snow was taking the story when Tank's ex came back to town. Without giving much away, I really liked how the story played out. Montana says she's coming back for her daughter but you gotta believe she wants another shot at Tank. She could have been painted as a totally evil witch-with-a-b but Snow manages to portray her so, so well. Which I'm thankful for because the next book in the series will be about Montana and someone else in town.

The other reason I was so wary of Montana was because I had already fallen in love with Cassie and Tank in the first novel. Their solid friendship was so lovely but you absolutely knew it had to eventually become much, much more than a friendship. While it's admirable to think of the child in the relationship - Cassie had become like a surrogate mother to Tank's daughter - if the pair had been open with each other, they could have avoided a whole lot of heartbreak and slammed doors and runaway daughters. But where's the fun in that, right?

I adore Cassie. She is small and spunky and with a heart of gold that is head over heels in love with Tank. I admired her entrepreneurial spirit and how she worked so hard to do the very best for her business - even when it was hard and made others question her decisions (and really, they were only questioning them because they loved her so much and wanted to keep her safe).

Tank was such a great father - which was refreshing to see in a romance novel. I think the single dad trope is getting stronger so we'll probably start seeing a few more out there. It's not one I'd normally seek out, to be honest, because single parent stories just aren't my jam. (I'm childless for a reason and know what I like when it comes to romance novels. And it doesn't include babies.) But. I liked Tank. Even though he needed to give his head a shake and realize that keeping things buried and Cassie at arm's length was not helping anybody, especially not him.

All in all, Under an Alaskan Sky is just what I like in a romance novel. Jennifer Snow's novel swept me away and I enjoyed every second I spent with Cassie and Tank in Wild River. I'm really looking forward to the third novel, A Sweet Alaskan Fall, so I can get back to the small town to see how everyone is doing.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Blog Tour: Wild at Heart

K.A. Tucker introduced readers to Calla, a city girl if there ever was one, and Jonah, an Alaskan bush pilot and very much not a city boy, almost two years ago. Some people didn't like Calla. They thought she was stuck up or clueless or rude - or all of the above and more. Those people tended not to like The Simple Wild. Me? I loved the book. It was one of my favourites of 2018 and one I still recommend to many people. Calla isn't perfect because no one is. But the story Tucker created? Well, that was close to perfection. It's no surprise I am beyond thrilled that she chose to self-publish Wild at Heart so readers can continue on Calla and Jonah's journey and remember why and how we all fell in love with them and their story.

Here's the synopsis:

Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.
But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in interior rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra.
With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting.
This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all. 

Sequels can be tricky. Especially when they weren't exactly planned. I'm speaking as a reader and I imagine it's even harder for the author. When I finished The Simple Wild I figured that was it. I loved it and of course didn't want it to end but I thought that was all I was going to get. I was excited, and a bit nervous, when I found out Tucker would be writing a sequel. I couldn't wait to get back to these characters and find out what they were up to and where their lives would go next. But what if I didn't like this one as much? What if I realize I didn't like the first one as much as I thought I did? These are thoughts of a reader who thinks too much, yes, I know. I didn't need to worry though. Tucker's sequel is wonderful and angsty and emotional, just as I'd hoped it would be.

A delayed warning regarding spoilers: if you have not read The Simple Wild but want to and do not like spoilers, I would suggest you go read the book and then come back here. I won't give spoilers for Wild at Heart but as it comes directly after another book, well, I'm sure something could get spoiled for someone.

Calla and Jonah both have personalities that are not for everyone. What I love about both characters though is the other side of them that's kind of deeply buried and only shown to those closest to them. It takes time for them to trust others, I think, and that makes them both come across as prickly or stubborn or just plain rude. I liked that this book allowed the reader to really see the softer, if you want to call it that, side of them both. They're way more vulnerable in this book because they've made a massive life choice after an equally massive life change, with Wren, Calla's father and Jonah's father figure, dying at the end of the first book. That would be hard enough to get through when you're not uprooting your life and moving to the other side of the country and, in fact, to another country, as Calla does.

This book is emotional in all the right ways. I mean, yes, I was close to tears at some points but that's just because Tucker is such a damn good writer that I was feeling as anxious, lonely, frustrated, and scared as Calla was (Jonah was feeling some of those things too but Calla is the focus of the book). But even with all of those feelings, Calla still knew she was in the right place. She had to figure out how to make the best of the situation - and needed some harsh words to see that - but being with Jonah was ultimately the most important thing.

This is a romance, sure, but it's so much more than that. It's about what makes these two people tick and how they work as a couple. So, I really liked how much family played a part in this story and how family can be different than traditionally assumed. Family was important in The Simple Wild too but both Calla and Jonah realize throughout the second novel that family is integral to their happiness so I really hoped they could figure out a way to work that into their lives by the end of the book.

This isn't just a emotional, angst-filled story. There are lots of light-hearted moments (and some steamy ones too!) that really give a well-rounded look at Calla and Jonah's lives. There's a fainting goat and his raccoon sidekick, as well as an incident involving a truck and a moose that gets compared to an episode of Schitt's Creek by one of the new characters introduced in this book. I think great novels include the good, the bad, and the ugly and Tucker always comes through with all the best and messiest parts of life in her stories.

The setting is a character as well. I've never been to Alaska (though my sister has, including to the North Pole, one of the towns Jonah flies Calla over) but I feel like Tucker was able to really capture the setting and how it would feel to live there. I grew up in a small town, not like Toronto where Calla grew up, so I might have a better transition but I know I would struggle, even with the views they had from their house (oh, to live on a lake...).

I don't know how much of this rambling review tells you about Wild at Heart but know this: K.A. Tucker has written yet another stunning novel that you're going to be completely obsessed with while you're reading it (and probably awhile after too...the book hangover is real with this one). I highly recommend you read this book, and The Simple Wild too if you haven't yet.

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*An egalley of this novel was provided via NetGalley by Social Butterfly PR in exchange for a review for the purpose of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Simple Wild

I've been reading K.A. Tucker's books for...well, years. I've been lucky enough to meet her a handful of times and she's a wonderful person on top of being an excellent writer. I love every book of hers I've read. But this last one? The Simple Wild is, hands down, my favourite of all of her books. It may even be one of my favourite books of the year.

Here's the synopsis:

Calla Fletcher wasn't even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.
She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah—the unkempt, obnoxious, and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.
Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

I'm usually the type of reader who likes to read about characters who could be my friend - particularly when reading contemporary novels. It's a narrow viewpoint to have, I know, but I just love it when I can tell I'd be BFFs with the heroine. I don't think Calla and I would be immediate friends - we're quite different. But that was ok. I was wary of her - just like everyone in Alaska was - but eventually I realized she is more than her appearance and had a heart of gold is tucked under all the Instagram filters and expensive clothes. I am so with her on roughing it though. I would not have been impressed with missing suitcases or being stranded in a cabin for awhile without running water. I don't even like camping! But I digress. Calla is a wonderfully layered character who I fell in love with in the end.

And, as much as Calla was the heroine in this story, she didn't get all the focus. Every other character you meet is important - even if it's just a fleeting passing moment at the grocery store (I choose that character to reference in particular because her name was Kayley and I maintain Tucker should have dropped that middle 'y'). Jonah, Wren (Calla's dad), Agnes, and Mabel add so much depth to the story and I can't imagine the novel without them or the other supporting characters. I do find it interesting that I got more of a feel for Simon, Calla's step-father, than I did of her mom. I don't know if it was intentional. Her mom was the reason they left Alaska after all when Calla was so young. I also wonder if there was more of a comparison to be made between Simon and Wren that made way for an eventual acceptance that both men can be father figures to Calla.

I found The Simple Wild to be a much more emotional book than Tucker has written in the past. I finished the last part of the book at work on my lunch break even though I knew I was going to be hit with a few emotional gut punches. Yes, I could have waited to finish it at home where I could actually allow myself to shed a few tears but I couldn't wait that long to see how Calla's story finished off. I was so tangled up in the stories and emotions Tucker had written that I needed to know how it was resolved even though I knew it was going to break my heart. I was so invested in this book and found myself thinking of it often throughout the day when I wasn't reading it. I was so into it that it actually helped me get my butt out of bed at 5am to be in Toronto for 9am because I knew I'd have an hour-ish train ride to read Calla's story. I am not a morning person so this was a hella powerful book.

Speaking of Toronto, this is the first of Tucker's books to be set (partially) in Canada, where both she and I live. There aren't enough contemporary novels set in Canada so I'm always thrilled when I find one that is. I especially love when it's set somewhere that I recognize. In the first few pages, Calla is heading home on the TTC - which is what the Toronto public transit system is called. I don't live in Toronto but I've been on the subway enough (and a streetcar a time or two) that I could see and feel exactly what Calla was seeing and feeling. I also giggled when I realized the two giant raccoons that were terrorizing Calla's Toronto home were most likely named Tim and Sid after two sports talk show hosts.

And that cover? Sa-woon.

I don't know what else I can really say about The Simple Wild. I loved it so much and it left a serious imprint on my heart. If you've never read any of K.A. Tucker's books (seriously, what are you waiting for?) I highly encourage you to pick this one up if you can afford it or borrow it from your library. It's wonderful and well written and just...great. And once you read it can we please talk about it? Because I'm not ready to let Calla, Jonah, and Wren go.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*