Running Wild by KA Tucker | BOOK REVIEW

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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. 

Running Wild by KA Tucker | BOOK REVIEW

Running Wild by KA Tucker
BOOK REVIEW

I was rather late finding K.A. Tucker.

I came across THE SIMPLE WILD on Bookstagram in 2018. But when I read it I fell heads over heels in love with Calla and Jonah. And since then they have become one of my all time favorite contemporary romance couples and it’s a book/series I recommend to everyone who will listen to me.

Over the years I have read the books a couple times already, and the sequel WILD AT HEART has become an instant favorite with me. It’s a book I re-read whenever I need a mood read – which happens quite often. And I think it’s one of my most re-read books so far.

I could never get enough of this series. Not just because it speaks to me so much, but also because it’s just fresh and different in a sea of mediocracy.

The author manages something that other romance authors lack, fresh ideas, new scenes and different locations.

Probable one of the reasons this series is so amazing is the location. I love it that the book is located in Alaska, and focuses on the people living there. And of course it features a delightfully and deliciously grumpy bush pilot as hero. But it also tells the story of their hardships, the ups and downs living so far up north. It has a heroine that grew on me from the first step she took on Alaskan ground and I adore her for the many friendships she built with her warm personality, and the patch-work family she put together. Honestly, the series has it all!!

Of course we also needed the OTHER WOMAN, a love interest that was actually never someone I detested rather understood.

Marie the veterinarian, the crusader, and Jonah’s best friend.

I was overjoyed to find out that she finally gets her own story, and I would get more Alaskan WILD books. I’m not a picky reader when it comes to this series.

So, let’s get to Marie’s book.

I had no expectations when it comes to RUNNING WILD. All I needed was more of Alaska and more of my favorite characters – and I got both of it.

I LOVED what the author did with this book.

Not only did she write a great romance, she continued with her signature style and brought the reader back into Alaska. Introduced a national sport that I didn’t know much about but was the perfect focus for this story.

And I’m not surprised that Marie was a very relatable heroine. Especially with her kind of backstory. I always felt for her, and hoped she would find a man who she could be happy with. In the end, Marie and Tyler fit rather well. Thanks to fantastic chemistry and it didn’t suck that he was a bit of a Yeti too!! They both deserved a happily ever after, and I’m glad they found it in each other.

I adored the many scenes with Jonah, with Calla too, and even some with Roy, Muriel, Agnes and Mabel and the rest of the gang. I’m secretly hoping for more books. Maybe there will be a book about Mabel in the future. And I also would love to see if there is something happening between Agnes and Roy :D.

As I mentioned before, I love to learn something new with each book I read. I was fascinated by everything about mushing – the good and the bad. Of course I knew about the big race (Iditarod) and its history, but never had any real idea what it must mean to race for days in bitter cold weather to reach the goal after almost 1000 miles. The endurance and commitment it requires from human and dogs, and how much volunteering goes into events like these. The author did a great job of telling both sides of the story.

The only thing I really could complain about is that the ending of RUNNING WILD felt a bit rushed. The last 10% of the book didn’t feel satisfying enough. I actually thought a couple time that the book would continue in a duet. I didn’t get nearly enough couple time between Marie and Tyler, and felt there was still so much to talk about.

But other than that I had a wonderful time catching up with everyone and I’m beyond happy that Marie finally got her HEA!!!!

If you are like me and never get enough of a great book, I put together a list of other books you might enjoy after reading THE SIMPLE WILD – WHAT TO READ NEXT.

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Running Wild by KA Tucker | BOOK REVIEW