Author: K. A. Tucker

BOOK REVIEW: Wild at Heart & Forever Wild (The Simple Wild #2 & #2.5) by K.A. Tucker

BOOK REVIEW: Wild at Heart & Forever Wild (The Simple Wild #2 & #2.5) by K.A. TuckerWild at Heart (The Simple Wild #2)
by K. A. Tucker
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the internationally best-selling author of The Simple Wild comes the continuation of a woman’s journey to Alaska and a life she never imagined for herself.

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 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.

Review:

Wild at Heart was a beautiful continuation of Jonah and Calla’s story.  Set in Alaska, this book enraptured me. I loved the small town feel and watching those we love struggle and grow.  This series is easily one of my top favorites.  If you love adult romance and stories that make you feel everything, add this one to your tbr!

“I can’t remember what it feels like not being in love with you, Calla.”

This story is for all of those who fell madly in love with Calla and Jonah in The Simple Wild.  As they started their path to where they would live, I loved watching them be playful together.  Yet they had a lot of hurdles along their way.  Jonah was afraid of failure.  Calla was struggling with finding her way in their new home and town.  Each step it felt like they were trying to find their footing, while also growing as a couple.  I loved being able to witness their day ins and outs.

I ramble about nothing and everything, closing my eyes to recall the sound of Wren Fletcher’s quiet chuckle. Terrified of the day it fades from memory.

Within this story, there was compromise, hope, love, and growth.  We even saw how grief can hit you like a ton of bricks.  So, while Calla still had a lot of growing to do, I loved that by that final page she had grown in leaps and bounds.  But I will say as someone who lives around bears and mountain lions, I understood her healthy dose of fear for wildlife.  All the while, I loved how affectionate Jonah was with her.  With his hands, mouth, body and words too.

He’ll always be wild at heart, and there is no way to tame or change him.
Not that I would ever want to.
I smile.
And I hold on tight.

This book had so many beautiful and memorable moments.  From the Christmas gift that tied in with her father.  To the moose.  The trap.  To the beer that was bought for her.  To her taking sneaky pictures of Jonah.  The gift on her porch and another moment on the porch.  To even Zeke fainting.  This book was everything.  For anyone who ever wanted more of their favorite characters, this is that book.  And I’m so grateful we got it!

He’s like a sentry, on guard for threats unseen.
I can’t help but smile.

While we got to see many of our favorites like Bandit and others whose names won’t be mentioned for fear of spoilers.  We also had some new additions.  From Zeke to Roy who was their grumpy neighbor and reminded me of Red from That 70s Show ha!  To Muriel, Toby and Teddy.  And there was also Oscar, who was one of my favorites!  I loved watching Calla’s interactions with each of them.  It warmed my heart!

“One thing is for sure, Barbie. This was never gonna end. Not if I had anything to do with it,” he whispers, his hands coming to rest on either side of my jaw, cupping my face.

Wild at Heart was one of those stories that had this calmness to it, while also packing an emotional punch.  I cried, jumped while screaming, and felt oh so happy.  If you loved The Simple Wild, this one is a must read!

 

BOOK REVIEW: Wild at Heart & Forever Wild (The Simple Wild #2 & #2.5) by K.A. TuckerForever Wild (The Simple Wild #2.5)
by K. A. Tucker
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes Forever Wild, a novella that continues the story of Calla’s journey to the Alaskan wild and a life she never imagined for herself.

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.

Review:

Forever Wild was a holiday novella that had all the small town charm and Christmas cheer!  Getting to watch Jonah and Calla spend the holidays together and surrounded by those they loved was everything.  While there were some butting heads, the Christmas magic was strong, and I loved watching them all come together.  It was impossible not to cry sad and happy tears, their journey now feels complete!  I loved that Jonah and Callie got the happily ever after they most definitely deserved!  

 

Some of my favorite quotes…

“That’s workplace harassment!” I holler after him.
He pauses to offer a sly smile over his shoulder. “And what do you call what you did to me in the office yesterday?”
“Your Christmas bonus.”
His deep, grating chuckle warms my heart.

 

“Then, we’re doin’ this? For real?”
I smile, even as nervous flutters stir in my stomach. “For real. If you’re sure.”
“We wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” He lets out a slow, shaky breath.

 

“I’m getting a repeat performance tonight, right?”
I plaster mock sympathy across my face. “Oh, I’m so sorry, but Mrs. Claus only comes out on Christmas Eve.”
His responding smile is wicked. “We’ll see about that.”

 

“Muriel’s calling in a lot of favors on your behalf,” Simon notes quietly.
“She’s like the godfather of Trapper’s Crossing.” All her pushiness and meddling is paying off.

BOOK REVIEW: Say You Still Love Me by K. A. Tucker

BOOK REVIEW: Say You Still Love Me by K. A. TuckerSay You Still Love Me by K. A. Tucker
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

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.

It seems crazy to me that reading about summer camp will elicit a feeling of nostalgia within me when I’ve never actually even been to a summer camp before. Books like this get me every. Single. Time. AND make me want to go back in time and experience these things for myself!

This is a book about Piper and Kyle and flashes back and forth between the present and the summer they met at Camp Wawa as teens. While at times the flashbacks made it feel like they slowed the book down a bit and were almost even jarring at times (adult Piper is VP at her dad’s multi BILLION-dollar company so it’s very Corporate compared to “simple” teen life outdoors at a summer camp) I obviously still loved reading about their time at camp and the two falling in love. Young love like that always makes me feel so happy and bubbly inside. It excites me and reminds what those initial feelings were like, all those years ago.

This is my first book by Tucker and it definitely won’t be my last, either! I loved her writing, her characters, and the twists that found their way into the story that kept my on my toes. If you’re looking for a sweet summer read that also packs a pretty big emotional punch, I’d highly recommend this one!

Huge thanks to Atria books for sending me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review! ♥

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