Review: A Queen of Thieves and Chaos

If you’re a regular blog reader you’ll know two things about me: I’ve been reading K.A. Tucker for ages (and love everything she writes) and I don’t often read fantasy novels. Because of my love of Tucker’s books, I’ve been happily devouring her Fate & Flame series even though I say I don't read many fantasy books. The third in the series is A Queen of Thieves & Chaos and is just out today. It’s a beast of a book clocking in at around 600 pages but I needed and loved every page.

Here’s the book’s description:

"You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown."
The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus' grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.
With Islor's fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king's forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.
And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm – or is their fate already sealed?

I had an easier time picking up the story than I did between books one and two, which was a bit of a relief. Since I don’t read a ton of fantasy, the whole world building thing can take a bit to get my head around. This time, I just dove in and hoped that I’d remember important information when I needed to. Tucker provides a few helpful pieces of info here and there to assist the reader who has waited so long for this book but it's not repetitive for those who have better memories (or, I imagine, those who are reading the series in order in a short period of time). It probably also helped that I’ve already spent two books with these characters, learning about the different lands, abilities, and creatures as well as following an intricate (and enjoyable) plot.

The beginning of the book included a table of contents (and a map! Swoon.) and I was a bit worried about how many characters had chapters dedicated to them (hint: it’s A LOT). Not only that, but each character tells their story in the first person. You’d think, as I did, that it would get confusing but it actually worked really well. Each character is included because they have something important to contribute to the overall narrative and while I always wanted to be with Romeria, I appreciated all the time I spent getting to know other characters.

I have no idea how many books Tucker has planned for this series so I wasn’t sure if this third book would be the last. Heads up: it’s not! Book four is due out next summer and it seems like it will wrap everything up and I am desperate to see how all the characters will fare once the prophecy is revealed in its entirety.

This is a fantasy romance (romantasy? Is that what the kids are calling them these days?) but the most prominent romance in this novel was a bit of a surprise. I don’t want to say any more about it because the description doesn’t hint at it and I think readers will enjoy watching the romance unfold as much as I did. I will say that it was a great to have this new romance paired with the romance between Romeria and Zander which, as new as it is, is really solid. There are a few steamy scenes but the characters going off to war definitely played a larger role than sexy times.

Finally, can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty that is this Hang Le cover? My god, she does amazing work.

I absolutely adored K.A. Tucker’s latest novel, which is no surprise. I’ve loved the other books in the Fate & Flame series and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos was just as good as the others (it might even be my favourite so far…). Even when I was anxious for the characters (so many chances for them to be killed!), I was so glad to be able to spend more time with them and I enjoyed being surprised right alongside them as they learned more and more about this mysterious prophecy. How am I going to be able to wait another year for the next book!?!

Download A Queen of Thieves & Chaos today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo: https://geni.us/queenthieveschaos

The audiobook edition of this book will be released on September 19 with narration by Elizabeth Klett.

Intrigued by my vague review (hey, it's hard to write about a third book of a series!)? Add A Queen of Thieves & Chaos to your Goodreads shelf. 

Don’t forget, this is an adult fantasy story that must be read in series order and you can start the series for only 99¢ for a limited time.
Buy A Fate of Wrath & Flame
Buy A Curse of Blood & Stone

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 * Newsletter * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook 
Facebook Group * Instagram * Tiktok * Bookbub * Pinterest * Threads

*An egalley of this novel was provided by Valentine PR for the purpose of a blog tour and release blitz. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Hustler Next Door

You all know I adore K.A. Tucker so it’s no surprise I love love loved The Hustler Next Door, which was just published today. I have been waiting for Justine’s book since I finished The Player Next Door. In the summer. Of 2020. That’s a long time to wait! (Review is here if you missed it.) The wait was totally worth it though and I could not put this book down.

Here’s the book’s description:

Justine MacDermott is in what she would call a transition period: squatting in her best friend’s house and working in an appliance store in Polson Falls while the man she was supposed to marry starts a new life with someone else.
She’s definitely not thinking about slashing his tires and wishing his vital extremities would fall off.
When newcomer Garrett Harrington strolls into Murphy’s Appliances looking to buy a refrigerator, Justine convinces herself she’s found her rebound. Or the next love of her life. Either works. But a chance encounter leads her to discover that Garrett isn’t who he made himself out to be, and he’s more interested in hustling her kindly old boss out of his family business—and using her to do it.
Furious at being fooled by yet another man and itching for retribution, Justine enlists the help of unlikely townsfolk to battle Harrington Group’s big-city development plans for Polson Falls.
It’s all going to plan … until Justine finds herself crossing enemy lines.

I admit I didn’t even read the book’s description before requesting to review this one. I just knew I needed more of Tucker’s contemporary romance (that borders on rom com) in my life. This series is smart and funny, has just the right amount of drama, and adds a (liberal) dash of spice - and sass and swears, in the case of Justine. Which I, of course, loved since I swear like a sailor myself. Anyway. So, because I didn’t read the description, I didn’t know who the love interest was going to be. I had also forgotten about Dean, the best friend of the hero in The Player Next Door. I thought, ooh Justine and Dean would be fun together (other than the rhyming of their names…) so I ended up having to totally change my mindset for this romance! The brain is a weird place. Also, speaking of my weird brain, I’ve been doing a rewatch of Veronica Mars so I was totally picturing Ryan Hansen, who plays Dick Casablancas on the show, as Dean. You’re welcome for that random visual. And now I really want Dean’s story so I’m really hoping that will be coming soon(ish)!

But none of that tells you about The Hustler Next Door, does it? OK, let’s see. First of all, Justine was a hoot to read about. She gives zero shits and doesn’t exactly have a filter. She's a really good human and amazing friend. She tells it like it is, for better or for worse. And most people will probably think the worst of her but I thoroughly enjoyed her as a main character. She knows what she wants, even if she fights against it. Like, duh, of course she was attracted to Garrett and should most definitely hook up with him but it took her awhile to get there. But when they did give in to the attraction they had to each other? Hoo boy, get out the fan, my friends. There’s one particular scene where Justine shows up unexpectedly at Garrett’s that’s seared into my brain. And I’m totally ok with that.

Given I’m a small town girl myself, I love the setting of this novel. And, as in most small town stories, there’s a cast of secondary characters that are lovely and sometimes wacky. The “granny gang” that helps Justine fight the development features Shirley who seems to have it out for everyone and everything. I’m actually really not sure why she was so angry at the world and it got to be a bit much, especially because Justine looked up to her as a grandmother figure. I didn’t want Justine to be that jaded or contrary. It was like she was just fighting for the sake of fighting and the WHY of it was never explained. I think if you’ve never lived in a small town and seen the concern when buildings are being torn down or overhauled, you won’t get why anyone would be trying to fight it.

I ended up rating this one at 4 stars, but would easily give it a solid 4.5 (and probably did on Storygraph). That extra half star to bring it to a full 5, which Player got, is missing because the plot outside the romance was lacking something and I wasn’t on board with Justine’s issues post break up with Bastard Bill. It was too convenient to blame that (not that I’m saying she wasn’t right to be hurt - she absolutely was) for the issues between herself and Garrett.

The Hustler Next Door is a must read for anyone who loves contemporary romance with main characters who practically leap off the page. K.A. Tucker continues to be one of my all-time favourite authors and I’m so, SO very glad she brought us back to Polson Falls with this novel. I’m ready for the next story from the small town!

Download the novel today. It will be available exclusively on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited January 5.

Add The Hustler Next Door to your Goodreads shelf.

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 * Newsletter Sign Up * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook
Facebook Group * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Pinterest

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

Review: A Curse of Blood and Stone

If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you know I don’t read fantasy too often. What I do read often is every single book K.A. Tucker writes! The second novel of her Fate and Flame series, A Curse of Blood and Stone, is published today and I completely devoured it!

Here’s the book’s description:

From jewelry thief to interloper to queen-in-waiting, Romeria flees Cirilea a traitor to all. But the yawning distance between her and Zander troubles her more than any king’s bounty on her head. While Zander may have escaped by her side, he seeks to regain his throne, and no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor’s queen. She fears it won’t be long before Zander abandons her as everyone else she’s ever loved has.
Zander sacrificed his crown to save Romeria’s life, yet he dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. As Ybaris’s plan to destroy Islor unfurls, a more insidious threat, orchestrated by rival fates, lurks beneath the surface. He can offer his allies no honest explanation for why he protects the Ybarisan princess and takes counsel from Queen Neilina’s caster, leading those closest to doubt his wisdom—and his allegiance.
As their company aims for the Venhorn Mountains, steered by prophecy, Romeria is desperate to wield her newfound abilities to undo Princess Romeria’s treachery before the kingdom tears itself apart. But with the mortal rebellion swelling, bolstered by the gift of Ybaris’s poison, it may already be too late.

It had been over a year since I read A Fate of Wrath and Flame so there were a few details of the world Tucker had built that I had completely forgotten. I was a bit worried at first, to be honest, that I had so many gaps in my memory. But I kept reading and all the necessary particulars came rushing back and I was immediately sucked back into Romeria and Zander’s story. I’m already jealous of the people who haven’t discovered this series yet and can read these two back-to-back. But be warned – you’ll feel just like I do right now. Which is impatient (already) for the next book in the series!

I don’t consider myself an expert on the fantasy genre so there may be things that aren’t “done” in that world but, to me, this book did what a fantasy should. It swept me away to a whole other world and introduced me to rules and creatures that we would never encounter. There were a few times when I found it difficult to wrap my head around who was what kind of creature and what curse affected who, but I tried not to focus on the nitty gritty details when I was confused and just went with it.

Tucker, being the kind of writer she is, not only built an intriguing fantasy world but created characters that I love reading about. Romeria and Zander each narrate alternating-ish chapters, both telling their story in the first person. Romeria has the bulk of the chapters with Zander’s many chapters filling in blanks and providing more tension and depth to the novel. There are two other chapters from two different characters that also let the reader know what else is happening elsewhere. You’d think that would all be confusing but it’s really not!

This is a fantasy romance (romance fantasy? Romantic fantasy?) so the love story between Romeria and Zander is just as important as the battle they’re preparing for in the world they’re in. The couple aren’t exactly a couple at the start of the novel and I wondered if they’d be able to work through the outside forces at play that were trying to keep them apart. Which is kind of amusing since one of the outside sources was a prophecy (prophecy? That might not be the exact word Tucker chose) that said the two were destined to be together. Minor spoiler (but, duh, it’s a romance): the pair do make up their differences which allowed for a few sexy scenes between them. *fans self*

I was completely hooked on A Curse of Blood and Stone from the first page and only got more sucked in as I read K.A. Tucker’s latest novel. I’m so glad there’s more to come in this series but it’s going to be tough to wait for the next installment!

Buy the Book
Amazon * Apple Books * Nook * Kobo * Audiobook: Releasing October 25th!

Add to Goodreads

About the Author
K.A. Tucker 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.
She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

Connect with the Author

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Facebook Group * Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Pinterest

My review of A Fate of Wrath and Flame 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR for the purpose of a review for a blog and Instagram tour. All opinions are honest and my own.*

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
Amazon * Apple Books * Nook * Kobo * Google Play: Coming Soon!

Add Running 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 Kathleen

Website * Newsletter Sign up * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook

Facebook Group * Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Pinterest

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: A Fate of Wrath and Flame

I used to read a lot more fantasy than I do now. But, then again, when I was a kid and teen, I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on in my small hometown library. For some reason, my adult self isn't drawn to fantasy but when I find a story I like, I really really like it. A Fate of Wrath and Flame is one of those books. I knew I wanted to read it because I love every single thing K.A. Tucker writes plus I wanted to see how I enjoyed a fantasy read. Turns out, I enjoyed it a lot.

Here's the book's description:

Gifted thief Romeria has flourished from her days as a street kid pilfering wallets to survive. Now she thrives, stealing jewels from the rich under the involuntary employ of New York City's most notorious crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is plunged into a startling realm of opposing thrones, warring elven, and elemental magic she cannot begin to fathom.
Her quest is straightforward: Steal a stone from Islor's sacred garden without anyone discovering her true identity, which would earn her certain death. But the identity she has inexplicably assumed is that of the captured Ybarisan princess--an enemy to Islor after she poisoned their beloved king and queen on the day she was to marry the prince.
Her betrothed, the newly crowned King Zander, detests her with every grain of his handsome being. Fortunately for Romeria, she is more valuable to him alive than dead. Zander gives her a choice: life in a cell, or an acquittal of all charges in exchange for her help in exposing the growing plot against him.
Romeria sees no other option and embraces the tricky role of smitten queen-to-be until she can escape, a ruse that brings her far closer to the king than she anticipated and threatens more than her safety. As she digs deeper into this sacred garden and the ancient feud between Ybaris and Islor, she discovers monstrous truths that could spell ruin for all. 

The novel opens not with Romeria, but with Sofie who is the aforementioned "enigmatic woman." It sets the stage for a story that's going to take place in a world that's not like our own and the reader has no idea how different it is going to be. It took me a bit to get into things but that, I think, was simply my own fault because I was only able to read in snippets. This is the kind of story that you need to sink into completely and not emerge from your reading cocoon until you're completely invested in the story. Or finished the book. Either or!

Tucker has said that she wrote this fantasy for herself and that it reignited the writing spark for her. Also, that it might not be a "true" fantasy that readers might be expecting. Given I don't read a ton of the genre, I didn't really care if it didn't tick all the boxes it was "supposed" to. To me, a fantasy novel is a fantasy novel if there's magic and/or creatures that aren't found in our world. This novel had both. And I was into it. 

Tucker takes the route of having a clueless main character and allowing the reader to learn more about the world they've been dropped in right alongside them. Romy has no idea where she is or that the people who surround her may not be human. She learns things in bits and pieces and, by extension, the reader learns things too. I think it was an effective way to do things as the reader didn't feel like they were alone in their "what the hell is happening and who are these people?!?" feelings. It meant I was constantly playing catch up, which is a bit exhausting to start, but I eventually was able to let some of that go and just roll with the info I was given and trust that it would all make sense in the end.

There's a delightful bit of romance throughout and the "will they, won't they" sexual tension between Romy and Zander is hot. I will say I found myself more drawn to Elisaf, a guard and one of Zander's closest confidantes. I'm not entirely sure why. *shrugs* Zander is a really attractive hero - both inside and out. And Romy is just as fantastic. They make a great pair even though it seems like absolutely everything is against them. 

Raise your hand if you're also swooning over this cover! Hang Le is an absolute master and I love every cover she does.

I really enjoyed A Fate of Wrath and Flame and I wish I could have the next book immediately. I'm definitely going to make sure to carve out a chunk of time to read book two so I can completely lose myself (again) in the world K.A. Tucker has created. I think this has proved she's a master at many genres and I can't wait to read what she publishes next. Also: I am now taking fantasy recommendations. And go!

Buy a copy of A Fate of Wrath and Flame
Amazon * Apple Books * Nook * Kobo

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

*An egalley of this novel was provided by Valentine PR 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
Amazon * Apple * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Indie Bound * Indigo

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: Gabriel Fallen

Last week I shared my thoughts on Sweet Mercy, the first book in Nina West's Dirty Empire series (read the review here if you missed it). Gabriel Fallen is book two and is, if you can believe it, more intense than the first. It's just as angsty and sexy but now that the Mercy and Gabriel are getting to know each other better, stakes are higher and hearts are at risk. If you haven't read the first book, I'd suggest doing that and then coming back here for my thoughts on the second book - I don't want anything accidentally being spoiled for you!

Here's the synopsis:

Mercy Wheeler and Gabriel Easton’s sordid tale continues in Gabriel Fallen as Mercy finds herself heading down a dangerous path.

Gabriel has made an art of dangling what I’m most desperate for in front of me, what he knows I can’t refuse, no matter the cost. In this case, that cost continues to be me.

He is still a scoundrel, but I’m starting to see something more.

And while our bargain is proving advantageous in ways I never anticipated, the risks that come with being associated with a man like him are becoming painfully clear.

But how much longer before this arrangement with Gabriel costs me everything I am?

I mentioned in my review of Sweet Mercy that I wasn't a fan of Gabriel. He was far too controlling and, even though he treated Mercy with respect, he seemed to think everything should be handed to him, including Mercy. She has spunk and a spine, even in the face of the son of a very dangerous man, so she doesn't really allow him to walk all over her. That said, she has no real choice but to go along with his demands because he can help her father, who's in jail for murder even though he never meant to kill anyone. (You following?) You can tell, though, that he's starting to fall for Mercy and that is solidifying his feelings that he and his brother have got to get out of the family business. It's sort of like when the Grinch's heart grew three sizes if, you know, the Grinch was a very sexy young man whose father is an imprisoned mob boss.

Speaking of wanting to get out of the family business - I actually quite enjoyed that part of the story. It added an interesting layer to the drama as the reader (along with Gabriel and his brother, Caleb) doesn't really know who to trust. And making a mistake about who to trust? That kind of mistake can have permanent and fatal consequences. 

I have to say I'm so glad that I read these books so close to the publication date of book three (Dirty Empire releases on September 15) because OH MY GOD THE CLIFFHANGER. West's novels can be read as one big novel as each picks up directly where the other left off (at least, that's the experience thus far) and thank goodness because I am freaking the fuck out about what happened at the end. Just. WHAT??? Also - I was relying on the next book to wrap everything up (no idea if it'll be in a nice bow or if things will go completely off the rails) BUT this trilogy is now going to be a quartet. I don't know if my nerves can handle it.

Gabriel Fallen was just as addictive and steamy (oh so steamy) as Sweet Mercy and even though I'm still struggling with my thoughts on Gabriel, I'm completely into the story Nina West is telling and I cannot wait to read what's next in Dirty Empire. 

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

Review: The Player Next Door

I am a happy, happy reader when K.A. Tucker releases a new book. Her latest is The Player Next Door and this remarkably fun and sexy romance did not let me down. It was pretty much exactly what I needed to be reading and the only downside I found to it was that it had to end and I could never go back to reading it for the first time. 

Here's the synopsis:

Scarlet Reed has returned to Polson Falls, convinced that twelve years away is long enough to shed her humiliating childhood identity as the town harlot's daughter. With a teaching job secured and an adorable fixer-upper to call home, things in her life are finally looking up.

That is, until she finds out that Shane Beckett lives next door.

Shane Beckett, the handsome and charismatic high school star quarterback who smashed her heart. The lying, cheating player who was supposed to be long gone, living the pro football dream and fooling women into thinking he's Prince Charming. Shane Beckett, who is as attractive as ever and flashing his dimples at her as if he has done no wrong.

Scarlet makes it abundantly clear that old wounds have not been forgotten. Neighbors they may be, but friends they most certainly are not. She won't allow herself to fall for the single father and firefighter again, no matter how many apologies he offers, how many times he rushes to her aid, or how hard he makes her heart pound.

But as she spends more time with him, she begins to fear that maybe she's wrong. Maybe Shane has changed.

And maybe this time she's the one playing herself—out of a chance at true happiness.

I grew up in a small town. It wasn't quite as small as Polson Falls but it sure as hell felt like it. So reading as Scarlet moved back and had to confront some of the people she thought she'd left behind forever? It really, really resonated with me. Now, my experience in my hometown was just fine. I didn't have any mean girls after me nor any embarrassing family members (I did have family members I wished didn't exist but that's a whole other therapy session review). I was just bored as hell. I left for university and haven't lived there for more than summers since. Now that I'm older (just a few years older than Scarlet), I can sort of see the appeal to the smaller towns but I don't think you'll catch me moving back anytime soon. My point? If you also grew up (or currently live) in a small town, you'll love how Tucker captures the setting of this novel. And if you're a city dweller? Know that this is the real deal.

Tucker's stories are kind of all over the map in terms of genres. Some are more suspenseful with murder and dangerous individuals lurking around every corner. Others are dramatic with serious issues like single parenthood, a death of a parent, or learning a friend is on the spectrum. But they all have a romantic element woven throughout. Which is always welcome (you all know I'm a big fan of love stories) and always well done. I like to recommend her books to those who say they don't typically read romance (usually after I've gone on a lengthy monologue about how romance novels and readers are stigmatized and stereotyped) because hers are stories that feature realistic people doing their thing and living life. Life that happens to include a romance because that's the case in real life. There are careers and friends and lessons to be learned, but there's a romantic relationship happening too. It's wonderful.

And the romance in The Player Next Door? Well, it's pretty front and centre in this story and it is steamy. Scarlet and Shane had to overcome a lot before they could get back together. There was a loss of trust because Shane was such a bonehead in high school. You might think, "that was over a decade ago and Scarlet needs to let that shit go" and, well, you're not wrong. But when someone hurts you that deeply and you've never been able to figure out why? It's going to be hard to listen to reason. Scarlet makes Shane work for it and once he is finally able to get his side of the story out, she decides to forgive him. Then the sexy times can start. You may want a fan nearby. 

The characters Tucker writes are always so well developed and so interesting. You're able to feel like you can step right into the story and become friends with these people. Especially in this story. I would love to be able to go out for drinks at the local restaurant with Scarlet and her friends and just hang out. Tucker's characters are never perfect - which I like because perfect characters are boring. Plus, none of us are perfect so why should we expect the characters in the books we read to be so? I don't even care if I can't fully connect or understand a character. Scarlet is a teacher and Shane is a father. Both of those things involve children and make me want to run away screaming. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to read the book just because I can't fully understand their motivations. (Er, I may be using this review to rant on people who have issues with other books and other characters and "not being able to connect" which I find utter BS...unless it's a poorly written character.) What I'm trying to get at, in the world's most rambling way, is every character Tucker writes is as layered and interesting as the people you're going to meet in your real life and that is part of what makes all of her novels so very good. 

The Player Next Door is a novel you're going to want to add to your To Be Read list immediately. K.A. Tucker's latest is fun and dramatic and sweet and sexy. It is a light-hearted escape for you during these bonkers times but it isn't an empty story. There's a really great heart and soul to it that will leave you feeling incredibly satisfied by the time it's done.

About K.A. Tucker

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge. 

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher's Weekly. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her family.

Connect with K.A. Tucker

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*A copy of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR 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.

Connect with K.A. Tucker
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Find your copy

Amazon * Amazon Worldwide * Apple Books * Nook * Kobo

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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: Say You Still Love Me

Fact: I will always love whatever K.A. Tucker writes. I've been reading her books for so long now that I can't imagine not falling in love with the characters and world she creates. That might make me a bit biased these days but it's the truth. She is, and always will be, one of my favourite authors (both because of the amazing books she writes and because she's such a lovely person). And because she's a favourite and an auto-read (and usually auto-buy but my wallet usually has more to say about it than I'd like), I knew I'd want to read Say You Still Love Me as soon as I heard about it. So much so that, confession time, I actually had no idea what the book was about before I dove in. And, oh boy, did I ever dive. I didn't want to put it down.

Here's the synopsis:

Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway.
On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus, she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé—a fellow VP—on the other side of her glass office wall every day.
Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller—the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group Industries, and coincidentally the first love of her life.
The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counsellors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name.
Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is not only alive but stronger than ever, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences.

Second chance romances are my favourite (yep, I'm a broken record and you'll continue to hear that from me until I can no longer flail about books) so Say You Still Love Me was right up my alley. What I liked about Tucker's approach to the trope was that the relationship began at summer camp (so, hello, perfect for summer) and it featured characters who were from two very different worlds.

The other thing Tucker did with this novel and the second chance trope was tell it in two time periods. There was a chapter in the present ("Now") and then a chapter from 2006 ("Then") when Piper and Kyle were both counsellors at summer camp. Each chapter moved forward in time and, slowly but surely, the story came together and all the little mysteries (what happened to their friend from camp? Why did they break up?) were solved.

Another of my all-time favourite authors is Sarah Dessen. She writes strictly contemporary YA novels (the only kind of YA I'll read these days and even then only from specific authors) and I've been reading them since I was about 15. Her books often take place in the summer because she sees the season as a transformative one where absolutely anything can happen. Once I got thinking about Tucker's latest and all of Dessen's books, I realized something. Say You Still Love Me is what would happen if Dessen's characters grew up and we got to see what they were up to years after a magical, life-changing summer. No wonder I loved it so much.

Three side notes. The first, I love this cover. Just love it. It reminds me of where I grew up and the docks and trees that are found all over the bay. The second is I'm fairly certain Tucker referenced one of her own books in a very sneaky fashion. Piper catches Kyle reading a thriller and its cover features a blurred person with their palm pressed against a pain of glass. Sound familiar? Third, Kyle changes his last name to Stewart, which was his mom's name. I did the same thing when I turned 18. And the name I changed it to? Stewart.

I'm not sure if this book will get bumped to the top of my favourite of Tucker's books - and I can't quite put my finger on why. I thought it was a unique story (yes, there were tropes but Tucker used them well and put her own spin on it) and the characters were interesting (I loved that Piper was smart and kicking ass in the corporate world) and had chemistry. It was still really, really good though and one I'd highly recommend for the second half of your summer (it takes place in part at summer camp, of course you want to read it in the summer).

Say You Still Love Me is yet another wonderful novel from K.A. Tucker. She knows how to write real, angsty, and interesting novels and I always look forward to them. I'm a bit jealous of all of you who haven't read this one yet because you have such a treat to look forward to. I, on the other hand, am already impatiently waiting for what Tucker writes next!

*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.*

Review: Be the Girl

There are a few authors who are on my "I will read absolutely anything they write" list and K.A. Tucker is one of them. She wrote one of my favourite books of 2018 (The Simple Wild, which I reviewed here last year if you missed it) and is gifting us with another book early in 2019. Be the Girl - just released today! - is a little different than anything she's ever written before but it's no less amazing.

Here's the synopsis:

From the national bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and The Simple Wild comes a poignant story about a girl trying to change her future while evading her past.
Almost sixteen-year-old Aria Jones is starting over. New postal code, new last name, new rules. But she doesn’t mind, because it means she can leave her painful regrets behind. In the bustling town of Eastmonte, she can become someone else. Someone better.
With the Hartford family living next door, it seems she will succeed. Sure, Cassie Hartford may be the epitome of social awkwardness thanks to her autism, but she also offers an innocent and sincere friendship that Aria learns to appreciate. And Cassie’s older brother, Emmett—a popular Junior A hockey player with a bright future—well … Aria wishes that friendship could lead to something more. If he didn’t already have a girlfriend, maybe it would.
But Aria soon finds herself in a dicey moral predicament that could derail her attempt at a fresh start. It is her loyalty to Cassie and her growing crush on Emmett that leads her to make a risky move, one that earns her a vindictive enemy who is determined to splinter her happy new world.

As I mentioned, Be the Girl isn't quite like any of Tucker's other novels. For starters, she's self-published this one - after years of being traditionally published. That doesn't necessarily make it different than her other books but, to me, that indicates that this was a story that had to be told even if the publishers may not have thought so. The other big thing is that this is a YA novel. It's possible this story could have been told with adult characters but it wouldn't be nearly as good.

Tucker is such a phenomenal writer with an amazing knack at writing deep emotions. That meant this book gave me all the feels - including ones I hadn't really felt since I was in high school myself. Many YA authors can write that angsty, emotional roller coaster that are the feelings of a teenager but there was just something about this book that totally transported me back to my own high school. Maybe because the book was set in a town that was ridiculously similar to my own hometown - also a small town in Ontario, north of the big city of Toronto (though slightly more north than I think this fictional town is supposed to be). I felt this so acutely that I could immediately picture and smell my town's arena when Tucker described the arena Aria was setting foot into. There's a distinct smell to small town arenas and it's one that's hard to explain unless you've been in one.

This book also made me incredibly glad social media didn't exist when I was a teen. In fact, I don't even think Mark Zuckerberg was at Harvard when I was Aria's age. *checks internet* OK, I can't figure out when he started but I'm pretty sure thefacebook officially began the year I turned 17, a year older than Aria. But I digress. Social media is pretty brutal for adults sometimes so I can't imagine the special hell some teens face these days. I was also feeling pretty thankful that I sort of stayed under the radar when I was in high school. I did my best to not attract attention because I was so shy and awkward (which, let me tell you, is not easy to do when you're a six foot tall female basketball player in a school that holds the jocks at the top of the popularity hierarchy). I was lucky that I found my people early on and we had a solid group of friends. But I also wondered, as I read Aria's story and got to "know" Cassie, if I could have been a better person. Probably. I imagine I was never outright mean nor did I knowingly bully anyone but I'm sure there were instances where I giggled with my friends over someone different or ignored someone who was just trying to be friendly. It's a hard thing to think about yourself but that's part of why Tucker's new novel is so necessary. It makes you take a hard look at how you treat others and think about what you could do to be better. To paraphrase Emmett, there's no excuse to be a dick to someone just because they're a little bit different.

You may have noticed I've gone on a lot about the feelings this novel inspires instead of the actual plot. That's because Tucker has woven an incredible tale that I can't talk about too much because I'll spoil it all and you'd be pissed. Trust me. Aria's story is completely hidden at the start and is revealed bit by bit over the course of the novel. And that's the way it should be. So enough about plot!

Moving right along to the characters...I loved Aria. She's real, she's flawed, and she's trying hard to be a good person. Although, I don't think she really needs to try that hard. It's no work at all for her to be friends with Cassie. Cassie was an absolute joy to read. Her bubbly personality leapt off the pages. On the other hand, my heart broke every time someone ignored or teased her. I am so, so glad Tucker has written a book that features such a gem of a character. Emmett would have made teenage me swoon so I completely understood how Aria was feeling. A cute jock who has a heart of gold? Sign me up. Zach, Emmett's best friend, also deserves so many standing ovations for being such an incredible human.

I've realized this review of Be the Girl isn't exactly like most other reviews I write. But I think K.A. Tucker's novel isn't like most other novels. It encourages discussion and deep introspection and is a book that needs to be read by everyone. Young, old, in between. Everyone. You won't regret the time you spend with Aria, Cassie, and Emmett. You may cry (I did) but this is a story that's going to stick with you for a long time.

Buy Links
Amazon * iBooks * Kobo * BN

Print and audio will be available at a later date.

About the Author
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 18 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, and Be the Girl. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher's Weekly. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for Ten Tiny Breaths and Best Romance 2018 for The Simple Wild. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her family
 .
Find K.A. Tucker Online

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

Cover Reveal: Be the Girl

If you're a long time reader of this blog (thanks!), you'll know K.A. Tucker is one of my all time favourite authors. I've read almost all of her 17 novels and have met her on several occasions (the most recent being a couple of weekends ago that saw me driving over two and a half hours to a lunch and event with her and a few other equally wonderful authors...I take my book obsession seriously). She's a lovely person on top of being a fantastic writer. Seriously/ Her last book, A Simple Wild, is one of my top books of 2018. (You can read my review here in case you missed it.)

Tucker started out self-publishing her books and that was how Ten Tiny Breaths got noticed by her traditional publisher (Simon & Schuster Canada and Atria Books) many years ago. She's had a ton of success being publishing traditionally (which isn't something that happens for everyone) but she has had a story she's needed to tell for awhile now and has decided to go back to the self-publishing route so the world will be able to read Be the Girl.

Here's what the novel, which is to be published January 21, 2019, is all about:

From the national bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and The Simple Wild comes a poignant story about a girl trying to change her future while evading her past.Almost-sixteen-year-old Aria Jones is starting over. New postal code, new last name, new rules. But she doesn’t mind, because it means she can leave her painful regrets behind. In the bustling town of Eastmonte, she can become someone else. Someone better.
With the Hartford family living next door, it seems she will succeed. Sure, Cassie Hartford may be the epitome of social awkwardness thanks to her autism, but she also offers an innocent and sincere friendship that Aria learns to appreciate. And Cassie’s older brother, Emmett—a popular Junior A hockey player with a bright future—well … Aria wishes that friendship could lead to something more. If he didn’t already have a girlfriend, maybe it would.
But Aria soon finds herself in a dicey moral predicament that could derail her attempt at a fresh start. It is her loyalty to Cassie and her growing crush on Emmett that leads her to make a risky move, one that earns her a vindictive enemy who is determined to splinter her happy new world.

Doesn't that just sound spectacular?

Now, if you follow Tucker or any of her fans, you've probably already seen the gorgeous cover. But since I already had a cover reveal going up yesterday (how does that happen all at once?), I'm sharing it with you a day later.

Ready for it?

I just adore the colours. So beautiful. I also shouldn't be surprised that I love it. It's designed by Hang Le who's done the majority of Karina Halle's recent covers, which have all been stunning.

The book will be available in e-book format (pre-order links are below for you eager beavers), paperback the day after release at online retailers, and will eventually be released as an audiobook as well.

Here are the pre-order details - and you'll want to pay attention because Be the Girl will be available for a special pre-order price of only $2.99 for the e-book and the price will increase shortly after release (which, again, is January 21, 2019). (That's $2.99 for all you Americans. For my Canadian friends, it looks like it's $3.90)

Amazon * iBooks * Kobo * Nook

And don't forget to add it to your Goodreads! 

Author Bio

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. Ten Tiny Breaths was a finalist in the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her family.

Author Social Media Links 

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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.*