From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes a new story in the Simple Wild world, featuring veterinarian Marie and her struggles to find her own happily ever after…

 

 

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Blurb

From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, struggling between the safe route and the one that will only lead to more heartbreak.

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.

 

 

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Review

4 stars

K.A. Tucker takes us back to Alaska in a beautifully written, slow burning love story that is real and emotional, and completely engaging.

This is the third full-length novel in the Wild series, but it can be read as a standalone as the story moves away original series couple, Jonah and Calla, to feature Jonah’s best friend and Alaskan veterinarian, Marie. Marie has had an interesting role in the series so far, given that it was obvious to all that she was in love with Jonah – so of course the romance fandom was not particularly a fan of her. But I loved the opportunity to actually get to know Marie – a strong, independent heroine, who is searching for a love of her own.

Tyler Brady is new to town. He is a competitive dog musher, and he and Marie definitely don’t get off to a good start, immediately clashing, and putting him firmly on Marie’s list of people to avoid. That plan falls apart when she volunteers as a vet in the legendary Iditarod Sled Race, where Ty is competing. Marie learns that there’s so much more to Ty than she originally thought, and he in turn, gets to see who Marie really is.

They form a bond over their shared passion for animals, and though Marie is hoping for more, she learns that Ty is a grieving widower who has no intention of opening up his heart again. She is determined not to have her heart broken in another unrequited romance, but in their small world, it’s impossible to keep her distance, and his confusion over his feelings for her certainly don’t help.

“When I’m with you, I forget about everything else. You make me feel like myself again.”

It’s an angsty back-and-forth as Marie and Ty wrestle with their feelings. There’s definitely something between them, they have their passionate moments, and there is clearly a lot of emotion and chemistry there, but they both have a lot to work through, and it’s a struggle between their heads and their hearts. And with Ty unsure what he has to offer, and Marie determined not to get hurt again, it’s a tricky situation.

He leans in to press his forehead against mine, his mouth inches away. “Please don’t give up on me yet.”

I love Ty! I admit, I’m a sucker for the surly, damaged man who has buried his heart. His story is tragic, and I could definitely understand where he was at, but at the same time, I really felt for Marie. She’s a smart, sensible woman, and she deserves the love that she longs for. But as much as she wants love in her life, this book is more than just a romance, it’s a story of Marie finding her place, and figuring out what she wants from her life, and I respected her strength and courage in going after what she wants, while bravely protecting herself.

I want it all. Consuming passion and camaraderie, laughter and strength, hope and comfort.
It exists. I’ve seen it every time I look at Jonah and Calla.
And maybe I can have it for myself too.

Characters from the previous book appear, and I loved to see development with them, and I loved meeting Marie’s family, who are a fantastically entertaining group. And once again, Tucker does a wonderful job at taking the reader back to Alaska. It’s somewhere that has always fascinated me, and I felt like I was actually there – seeing it, feeling it, and freezing in it. This time, there is a strong focus on dog mushing, which is something I knew absolutely nothing about, and Tucker dives right in there, showing us the good, the bad and the ugly, and I was fascinated. She gets you into the heart of the sport, and while I could see why there is some controversy over it, I could also absolutely see the beauty in it, and I thought she showed a really balanced, well-researched perspective.

But I was here for the love story, and it was really sweet. A bit angstier than I was expecting, and the slow burn really is a slooooow burn. I would have loved to have seen more of Tyler and Marie actually together as a couple, but I felt that their happy was hard fought for, and I was happy to see them finally get their HEA.

I’m hoping that Tucker continues writing books in this world, with this incredible setting and wonderful group of characters.

Loved it – 4 stars.

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

 

The Simple Wild series

 

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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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