K.A. Tucker

Running Wild

ash (smokedshelves)

i was so nervous moving to marie's story because of her motivations and actions from the books in calla's pov. but i'm so glad i went into this with an open mind. we were able to see her develop past some of her previous mistakes and actions. we learned truly how kind and determined she is when it comes to helping animals. some would even call her a crusader. and of course, i loved her and tyler. i truly think they were perfect for each other.

truly... and i can't belive i'm saying this, but i want more from marie. only ka tucker could make me love this character (almost) as much as calla. but, genuinely, i'd follow anyone in this little group of alaskan-based characters. ( ka tucker this is my formal request to write about toby ).

Aundreya Rich

"I am only human. I have a heart that aches when dreams are shattered, and emotions that can pull a river of tears when hope proves false." 

When I read the Simple Wild a few years ago it easily became a favorite for me. It stepped out of the normal contemporary romance feel and gave me a new home in Alaska and a bush pilot to love.

Some of us loved that bush pilot so much and his new wife Calla that we were very closed minded to Marie.


Marie is the villain who wanted to steal Noah, right? 

But everyone has a story, and some of them may surprise you.

All Marie's ever wanted was someone to love and a family of her own, and after waiting for her best friend to notice her and realizing he never would, Marie felt like she has lost all hope for finding her someone.
She no longer looks at that man with longing, but with adoration for his life and heartbreak for her own.
A woman with a giving heart who gives TOO much to a fault.
A woman who wants authentic soul crushing love.
A woman who is 38 and without children of her own.

Marie bleeds all of her life and earnings into her vet practice and helping Alaska run Iditarod in the safest manner for the dogs.

That heart and fight for animals is what leads her into the arms of Tyler Brady. New town sledding rookie and a little bit of a heart throb.


But Tyler has his own demons and can only offer friendship, the one thing Marie can't bare to go through again.

This story is everything you would expect from KA Tucker, but nothing you thought you wanted from Marie.
It is raw authentic truth of what it is to be lonely.
It is the perfect picture of a fear many women have but never speak openly about.
But for me it was a story of redemption and second chances.

Running Wild is nothing short of perfection when it comes to The Wild Series.

And I will shamelessly plug that I'm begging for more from this OTP.

Read if you love:
-heartbreak after unrequited love
-crusadors and saviors of animals
-Your NEW Jonah ❤️
-a mature woman lead
-alaskan history and events
-seeing some of your original WILD favorites
-family, the dysfunctional and broken kind
-cars, bars and sleeping bags 😘
-friends to lovers, slow burn romance

note: this book can be read as a standalone. She does a great job summarizing previous events that you could continue here if that was your desire.

Rating
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ magnificent stars
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ TAKE THEM ALL
steam- a few logs on the fire kept it blazing... but not too hot 

Song- Two by Sleeping at Last

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

"I have a heart that aches when dreams are shattered, and emotions that can pull a river of tears when hope proves false."

*takes big contented sigh* 😮‍💨🤧

This was amazing. perfect. beautiful.

From the start, I loved the whole vibe of this book SO MUCH - from Marie, the dogs, her family, and just being back in Alaska with these characters ... I felt so very much at home!

Our time in Alaska is now following Marie - and her life after Calla and Jonah's story takes off. She's doing her vet thing, protecting and caring for animals in the Alaskan wild. She's moving on from the path of unrequited love, determined to never make that same mistake again. And then she meets Tyler - the new guy in town - a competitive musher, dog sledder, and trainer .... and both of their lives turn upside down. But Tyler's heart still belongs to another woman, so where does that leave Marie?

This story is about second chances and healing - moving on and finding peace and it does speak to some unimaginable tragedies. I was so glad to get to know Marie more, and honestly, I really hope we get more her and Tyler! I need them together, living life, and experiencing more big (and little!) moments. I daresay I may have officially forgotten about Jonah just like Marie 😅

But, seriously, Marie and Tyler's story touched my heart in unfathomable ways. I will truly never forget it.

I adored her family, the conflict, and ultimately how everything turned out.

Hats off to Tucker for writing true to life experiences and embracing the sometimes harsh, difficult, and complicated realities of the human experience.

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
— the Alaskan wild
— vet clinics x dog sledding!
— corny dad jokes 🤍
— slow burn, friends to lovers
— new guy in town
— flirtatious, fun banter
— healing & moving on
— Sunday family dinners
— heated, intense moments
— MCs in their late 30s

I will also mention - some of the book's content was hard for me because of my own personal experiences with miscarriage and trying to conceive, but while it was hard, I also appreciated the awareness and true-to-life thoughtfulness surrounding pregnancy. So just take care with the content warnings 🤍🤍🤍

CW: miscarriage, TTC difficulties (mentions), maternal death in childbirth and infant loss (mentions), sister rivalry/family drama, animal cruelty

Thank you to Tucker and Valentine PR for my advanced e-copy. 💙