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.

Wild at Heart, book two in the Simple Wild series by USA Today bestselling author, K.A. Tucker, is live!

 

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Blurb

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.

 

 

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Review

5 stars

The Simple Wild was one of my favourite reads of 2018. From the moment I picked it up I was consumed by the story – the writing, the setting, the characters, the emotion, the wonder, the fantastic dynamics, and the romance. Calla’s journey stole my heart, and while I didn’t think her story needed a continuation, I was so happy that she got one, and I loved every moment of revisiting these characters as they move on to the next stage of their lives.

I sensed the tectonic shift somewhere deep inside – my time in Alaska had changed me in ways I couldn’t pinpoint but also couldn’t ignore. Who I was and who I am now seem like two different people.

We met Calla in the first book when she travelled to Alaska to visit her sick father. Over one amazing summer she fell in love with her Dad, with small-town Alaska, and with the various people that she met along the wa – in particular, gruff bush pilot, Jonah. Calla and Jonah’s love story is a strong focus of the first book, and this one continues their romance now that Calla has agreed to move to Alaska permanently and build a life with the man she loves.

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

It’s a scary prospect, and there are a lot of compromises needed for them to figure out where they want to be and how they want to live, but they forge forward, make plans for their life together. And then we get to watch them set it all into motion – buying a home, making it theirs, and settling into semi-rural village life with a new and fabulous new crew – including a grumpy old neighbour who greets them with a rifle, a bossy motherly type who is determined to mould Calla into an Alaskan farmer, a dog who may actually be a wolf, and a fainting goat.

But Calla’s new life with her man isn’t all that she expected. For starters, Jonah’s work takes him away a lot and she finds herself alone and missing him. And what exactly is she supposed to do in Alaska anyway? The challenges she faces are more than just the isolated ruggedness of Alaska or the dangerous wildlife lurking outside of her door, and she and Jonah have a lot of hard work ahead of them to make it work.

It’s a beautiful story, that feels real and relatable, and as much as I enjoyed reading about the wild ruggedness of Alaska, it’s a true character story as we watch Calla and Jonah figure out what they want their lives to be – both individually and as a couple – and then figure out how to make that happen. They definitely have their ups and downs but there is no angst and the drama is minimal. They are in love, they are happy and they are committed, and I loved watching them work through their challenges and finding that happy place together.

“I need you in my life like I need to fly. Like I need this Alaskan air. More than I need this air.”

I absolutely loved this book, it’s a wonderful continuation of Calla and Jonah’s journey and, even though this book ends beautifully, I’d still be happy to read more about this couple and their story, or any of the other characters we’ve met before.

5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Wild series

 

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Excerpt

November

“So … I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”

I can’t manage words around the flaring lump in my throat, and so I simply nod. The past four days with Jonah in Toronto have been a blur. A bliss-filled blur that I’m not ready to let go of yet. The Uber driver shuttling me home after this parting will have the privilege of a sobbing mess in their backseat.

An unreadable look flashes across Jonah’s icy blue eyes. I still haven’t grown accustomed to seeing him without a beard, though I’ll admit I’ve enjoyed admiring that chiseled jawline and those dimples. He takes a deep breath and turns away, his carry-on slung over one broad shoulder, his boarding pass and passport dangling from between two pinched fingers.

I watch him hand his documents to the agent at the US-bound entry gate, who spends all of one second reviewing them before waving him toward the glass security doors. On the other side is his fourteen-hour flight home. In seconds, Jonah is going to be out of sight, gone.

Who knows when I’ll see him again? He flew here to tell me in person that he’s been miserable these past two months since I left Alaska, that he doesn’t want to be a carbon copy of my father—spending his life pining over my mother—that he wants to find an “us” that will work. That he wants me beside him.

I haven’t given him an answer yet, too afraid to leap.

Until now.

I feel the word rising inside me—an emotion about to erupt. “Yes!” My pulse pounds in my ears.

Jonah turns to regard me with a raised eyebrow.

Am I crazy? Maybe.

But I’m fully committing to it.

I take a step forward and swallow my nerves. “I’ll come back to Alaska.” Because being with Jonah again—laughing and reminiscing, having him in my space, waking in his arms—has only confirmed what I’ve suspected for months: I’m deeply in love with him, and living in Toronto when he’s not here doesn’t make sense to me anymore.

I’m done saying goodbye to this man.

Jonah leaves the line and retraces his steps to close the distance, dropping his bag by his feet. It’s five A.M. and we’re creating an obstacle, forcing travelers to weave around us on either side to get to their flights. Their grumbles touch my ears, but in this moment, I don’t care.

The severe frown cutting across Jonah’s handsome forehead as he stares down at me says he doesn’t, either. “Are you serious?”

I nod. “Yeah. I mean, if you’re serious about moving to Anchorage—”

“When?” he demands to know, his voice suddenly gruff.

“I don’t know. As soon as I can?” How long does it take to pack up your life and move to a different country? Granted, a country I was born in and still have citizenship with but haven’t lived in for more than two decades.

His eyes spark with determination. “Come for Christmas.”

I laugh. “That’s like a month away!”

“So? What else you got goin’ on?” It’s a challenge, delivered in Jonah’s typical blunt style. “I’m not going to see my mom in Oslo anymore. And Aggie and Mabel would love having you there. Especially since it’s the first one without Wren. You should come.” His Adam’s apple bobs with his hard swallow. “Come.”

Somewhere in between his words and his tone and the way he’s looking at me, I hear the silent plea. In truth, the idea of being near the people closest to my late father for the holidays sounds more appealing—and more feasible—by the second.

“Okay?” I say on an exhale, my voice shaky.

 

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About the Author

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.

 

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