If the Sweet Home Alabama and A Walk to Remember movies had a cousin, it would be K.A. Tucker's delightful novel "The Simple Wild". Calla was just a toddler when she left Alaska and her pilot father to move to Toronto with her mother. Their relationship was still active until age fourteen, but for the past twelve years, they've been estranged. The novel opens when she gets fired and then shortly thereafter, receives a phone call from Agnes, a woman she rightly assumes is important to her father. Upon finding out he has cancer, she leaves the life she knows behind in order to reconnect with her father once more before he dies. Her mother sends her off with warnings about Alaska's weather, barren land, and the "sky cowboys". It's in Alaska where Calla is faced with choices; could Alaska have been her home had her mother not left? Could it still be her home? Could she love a father she barely knows? Does she even have time to really get to know him? Despite all the "turbulence" in Calla's life, Tucker has written a smooth story. Readers, enjoy the ride -- the view's great!

I read Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone earlier this year and fell in love with the Alaska setting, so when several blogger friends told me about this book, I had to read it! I'm so glad I did--I LOVED it. One of my favorites this year for sure! I loved Calla as a character--and I loved her and Jonah's relationship. I loved all the banter and back and forth they did. I loved Calla's dad, and Agnes, and all the supporting characters. I got so attached to these characters so quickly. I was sad when the book ended and have been in a book hangover ever since.


I loved Calla's journey throughout the book--how it mirrored her mom's life in a way, and how she grew to understand both her dad's love for Alaska and the reasons why she couldn't stay. It 's hard to put into words how much I loved this book! It's been awhile since I've stayed up super late reading--and this book kept me up late reading both nights I was reading it. This is a book not to miss!

We are living in a time in which everything in our life is rushed. We focus on things we deem essential to our lives, smart phones, computers, the newest cars, the most beautiful houses. You know what THE SIMPLE WILD did to me? It gave me perspective. After reading this powerful story I feel the urge to decelerate. To strip MYSELF down to the essential and just be.

Twenty-four years ago Calla's mom left Alaska and the love of her life behind. She tried. She really tried to make a go of it but the stark beauty of it depressed her rather than exhilarated. She packed herself and her two year old daughter and went home. Calla, now twenty-six, receives a phone call from the past she can hardly remember. Going back to Alaska, to the man who fathered her, who she hasn't talked to in more than a decade - it's not an easy decision to make. Too much hurts the disappointment, being let down by her dad, still, after all this time. Yet, there is no better time than now, so she goes on a journey to reclaim her past.

Calla is young woman whose most important struggles are what to wear, which make-up to apply, which picture to post on her and her bestie's blog. Being confronted with the bleakness of her dad's hometown is a new struggle at first. Through her eyes we see the landscape turn from barren to stunning and gorgeous. This is where the magic happens: when the setting of a story becomes a character in it. I adored KA Tucker's descriptions of the untamed, rough Alaskan beauty so much. I've always wanted to go there but now I feel an even stronger pull..

While Calla gets to know her dad again you see a distinct growth. You know she won't leave as the same person she arrived as, the spoiled young woman who has been living in abundance. Alaska strips her off the plenty and gives her the kind of softness that comes when you fall in love with a country and its people. She finds out that she's more her father's daughter than she thought she was.

Talk about Wren, he was a wonderful, beautiful, flawed character who so wanted to do right  be his loved ones but just couldn't leave his skin he was born in. He had a gentleness, quiet and wisdom about him that drew people to him instead of repelling them. When all the truths came to light, his sacrifices, heart flew to him.

It turns out he is the man on the other side of the phone, listening to me prattle in childish wonder. He’s exactly who I wanted him to be, despite all his flaws, and all the pain he caused.

Jonah is the guy who pulls a girl's piggy tails if he likes her. It's exactly what the rugged bush pilot does with Calla. I laughed at his antics, the way she got her revenge, his teasing personality. He was a jerk in the beginning but he soon realized that the lost daughter was made of sturdier stuff and that he didn't know all of the history between father and daughter. I loved the contrast between his teases and his tender and loving side.

My limbs curl around his body as I watch his broad chest heave with each thrust, and his hooded eyes alight with fire, our gazes locked, and I wonder how on earth I could ever possibly have not wanted this man.

The Simple Wild is powerful, emotional and a little sad at times (yeah, I cried) but also full of love and laughter. I take lessons away from it, the loudest message of it being to live more in the moment and not to get stuck in the past you can't change, to appreciate the commodities we have but also to grab my smartphone that one time a day less and enjoy my surroundings more. I have K.A. Tucker to thank for that.

“You should have called him. He should have called you. Your mom should never have left. Wren should have left Alaska for you. Who the hell knows what’s right, and what it would have led to, but it doesn’t matter because you can’t change any of that.”

Beautifully laid out and told, The Simple Wild will resonate deep within you on so many emotional levels it will simply take your breath away. Rich is family relations and what really makes and breaks a family, The Simple Wild will have you captivated after the first heartbreaking chapter.

Heartfelt every bit as much as it was sometimes heartbreaking, Tucker once again created a charming tale that was hard to put down and let go of.

I thought about this long after I put it down and way into the next few days. The story haunted me on so many levels as I related to the characters and fell in love with just about everyone.

One of my top reads not only of this year, but of a lifetime.

I loved this book. It hooks you from page one. Calla and Jonah are great characters and their banter with each other is hilarious. The book is set in Alaska but a small part is in Toronto. It’s fun to read books taking place in your own country so as a Canadian I enjoyed the Toronto aspect as well as the Alaska setting. The information and descriptions about Alaska are very enlightening and it really details how remote some of the villages are. The culture and mindset of the people living in Alaska are discussed throughout the book and we get to envision great scenery. I’m not going to say much about the plot except to say that it covers a lot of emotions and relationships. But back to Calla and Jonah!! If you like a romance with smart characters and fun dialogue this is for you. I loved these two. Defintely a 5⭐️ for me.

One of my favourites of this year!! The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker will make you swoon and cry all at once. I felt like I was in a similar situation with Calla especially in parts near the end of the book with her father. Plus who wouldn't help falling in love with a rugged, and proud Alaskan pilot named Jonah. Also this book definitely got me out of my book slump. I really also enjoyed that it was set in Alaska and Toronto which made it even better since I could relate to some of the areas there.

As a big fan of K.A. Tucker, this book had all the emotions between love, loss, and knowing where you come from. After her mother left Alaska when Calla was two, leaving behind her father, Wren Fletcher, after twenty-four years she has finally comes back to see her father and to the town where she was born. Everything in this book got me. From her relationship with her father, and reconnecting with him. The character growth for Calla, and all the supporting characters that will make you fall in love with the setting.

While I didn't like Jonah right away I knew that the chemistry between them was going to be strong. Even if her mother did warn her about falling in love with a pilot. I did like that the romance was not a insta-romance because you get to see them in their own way fall in love with each other. The ending of the book is full of emotions that you will definitely be crying. I felt like I really connected with Calla at this moment because I went through a similar situation with my own father almost two years ago.

Overall, The Simple Wild was a fantastic read that now has become one of my favourites of this year! If you haven't read any of K.A. Tucker's books I recommend you get them immediately. The last part of the end was also heartwarming that I'm already looking forward to Tucker's next romance book! Thank you Atria for a copy to review!

My Thoughts:

Calla feels like her life is going pretty well until she gets unceremoniously laid off from her job as a Risk Analyst. She lives at home with her mom and stepdad, so for now she can just focus on starting over career-wise. Until one night she gets a phone call telling her that her biological dad (Wren) who lives in Alaska is sick and it doesn’t look too good. Calla hasn’t see her dad since she was just shy of two years old and she hasn’t spoken to him in over a decade. Despite her uncertainty about the whole situation, she decides to book a trip to Alaska to see him.

This is all new territory for both Calla and Wren. This is the first time they’ve seen each other in 24 years and neither one seem to know how to act towards each other. Wren is not good at talking things out or expressing his emotions and Calla's feeling rejected almost from the start. She's not sure how to make the first step. She's not sure what to say. There are all these emotions that she is holding on to and juggling and she's trying to find a way to somehow put that aside in order to be there for her father, help him, and get to know him just in case she may not have that much time with him.

I did not like Jonah that much until maybe the last half of the book. I thought he was a total jackass. Which he still was, but his later actions softened my opinion of him...a little.
I can definitely get Jonah being on the defensive and being overly protective of Wren since he has known him for quite a few years. He's been his right hand man who not only works with him, but they are close like family. And with Wren being sick, he's going through a lot. But I felt like he shouldn’t have been so quick to judge Calla. And he should’ve realized that even though she never had a real relationship with her father, that didn’t mean dealing with everything would be easy for her.

I finished this book in two days. I found it very easy to get pulled into Calla and her time in Alaska with her dad. I loved the community they lived in. People were friendly and helpful. Everyone seemed to know everyone. The Simple Wild was a sweet story of family, love, and being content with the simple things. Once again K.A. Tucker has created a well written story that I enjoyed very much.


Side Note: I absolutely love this cover. It’s simple yet gorgeous. I think it perfectly captures the story.


RATING: 3½ out of 5.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for this opurtunity to read this Arc in exchange for my honest-to-goodness review.
So excited I got approved for this. I am a KA Tucker fan.
This novel got me hooked. It kicked me in the feels near the end. I cringed. I teared up. I got frustrated. I read this in a day. I sent my twins to my folks' house for a sleepover so I could keep reading.

I've been a long time fan of KA Tucker's writing and stories. I've read everything she's ever written. I always get excited to hear that she has a new book releasing soon. THE SIMPLE WILD is a story about love and loss, about what can break families apart and what can bring them back together. Calla Fletcher hasn't seen or talked to her father in 12 years. When he bailed on her 8th grade graduation. He's always put his business and life in Alaska before anything else. Including a relationship with her. When she gets a call saying that he's sick, she has to decide if going back and mending their broken bond is what's best. Can she live with never getting the chance to really know him?

Jonah is everything she doesn't want in a man. He's sarcastic, insufferable and embodies the Alaskan "bush" lifestyle. He's her complete opposite in every way. Her mom warned her that there's something about the men in Alaska and to be careful not to fall in love knowing she'll never be able to stay isolated up there. But one thing continues to make their paths cross, her Dad. Will their differences keep them apart? Or can they put those aside and maybe just find something special and worth fighting for.

Although I thought the writing was fabulous (as always), there was something about this particular story that just didn't work for me. I found that I wasn't super connected with the story or the characters as much as I expected I would be. I think it might be because I find myself drawn more to Tucker's romantic suspense, than her contemporary romance novels. BUT, that's not to say I didn't enjoy reading this one. It just didn't call to me the same way as her others. I will always be a fan of her work and can't wait to see what she has for us next!

3.5 stars

The blurb for this story is what got me. Calla goes to Alaska to meet her estranged father and what she discovers while there is life-changing. K.A. Tucker delivers the perfect blend between light and sad. This book was so much more. It was about the setting, the characters, and everything around it. I loved the details about Alaska. The writing made me feel as if I was there with Calla as she experienced it. I truly love it when the location plays an important part in the story. The people, the backdrop made the story that much better. But the characters were just as integral. Calla, Jonah, Wren, and the others were prominent in their roles. And they were great. I enjoyed seeing the progression of so many relationships. The last half of the book really got me intrigued and it was compelling to see how it will play out. The Simple Wild has so many layers and was a magnificent read.

Y'all, I loved The Simple Wild. I loved it so freaking hard. So much so that I'm not even sure I can put all the things it made me feel into words. At this point — days after finishing — I can barely think about it without getting all teary eyed. The book hangover from this one was so very real. It wrecked me in the most amazing way possible and I loved every single thing about... even the tears.

The Simple Wild was so much more than a romance. In fact, as much as I enjoyed the romance, I was here for Calla's story and all the feels. And boy, were there a lot of them. I'd seen countless reviews touting this book as amazing, emotional and K.A. Tucker's best work yet. I can't deny any of those things. I can't tell you the last time a book made me FEEL as much as this one did. The good, the bad and the ugly — I was here for all of it. And I felt every single bit of it. It was so easy to put myself into Calla's shoes and live everything she was experiencing as though it was happening to me. Every emotion I felt was heightened and I'm still not entirely over all of it. I'm not sure I ever will be.

There's no doubt this is a special book. I'm not going to waste your time talking about the plot so I don't run the risk of giving anything away. What I am going to do is tell you that from the setting to the characters to their development to the romance, it all struck a chord with me. While Calla rubbed me slightly the wrong way initially, I loved and respected her so much by the end of the book. Her growth was amazing. And understandable, given what she was dealing with. Feels for days. Jonah was pretty great in his own right. I have a thing for the grumpy recluse-ish guys in books. I might've side-eyed him a bit in the beginning because he was obviously taking something out on Calla, but it wasn't long until I was swooning.

While the romance wasn't my favorite part of the book, I still loved how it all progressed. (I still LOVED the romance, don't get me wrong!) There was a delicious slow burn as Calla and Jonah moved from strangers to friendship and then more. It so perfectly aligned with her character growth and the situation with her dad. Calla blossomed throughout this book. Not only did she discover who she really was, she put old regrets and hurts to rest and moved on. It really was quite beautiful, if sad at times. 

The Simple Wild is a read-in-one-sitting kind of book. I'll be adding it to my "to be reread" shelf soon. It's one of those books I turn to when I need to FEEL, to hit the reset button. It's gorgeous and special. If it's not on your TBR, it should be. 

FAVORITE QUOTES
What am I supposed to do with this information? How am I supposed to feel about possibly losing a person who has only ever hurt me?

These people—strangers—see a pretty, well-dressed girl embracing life. None of them know the real story—of why I'm here, of why I'm already thinking about going home. They can't sense my loneliness, or the knot in my stomach. That's the magic of social media, I guess. But there's also an odd comfort to hiding behind the illusion. If I state at myself beside the orange-and-yellow toy plane long enough, and reread the effervescent caption enough times, maybe I'll start to buy what I'm selling, too.

I've spent the last twelve years dwelling on all the things Wren Fletcher isn't. I should've had the guts to come and find out all the things he is.

Does a book ever take you completely by surprise and you love it even more for that? I have read several cute, light books recently. And with The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker I was expecting more of the same. A book solidly at 3 or 4 stars. Cute. Fun. Simple as that. And though The Simple Wild was these things, it was so much more than that.

I ended up reading this book in one day, and it isn't a particularly short book. But I absolutely could not put it down. It has been awhile since I was completely swept away and captured by a book. Through K.A. Tucker's writing, I felt transported to Alaska. It is on my bucket list, and I fell in love with the place and the people even more through my reading of this story.

I was also completely engaged with Calla and Jonah's story. And the story of Calla's father Wren. I truly mean it when I say that I laughed and cried and had a bit of a book hangover when I finished this book. There also a depth to the characters that took me by surprise. Their development was simply lovely.

This is one of my top favorite books of the summer. If you have the chance, get your hands on a copy of this one. I will be reading more books by K.A. Tucker!

I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“But twenty-six years ago, in a land that is unforgiving for so many things, this was her garden. And my dad has preserved it all these years.”
~K.A. Tucker, The Simple Wild

I really, really enjoyed this book! It’s rare to read a book with such real characters, handling tough situations in such real, believable ways. The plot was well-spaced, and not rushed or unrealistic. This story was moving, captivating and very romantic.

The Simple Wild is a heavier story, (focusing on a girl trying to repair her relationship with her father before it’s too late), but K.A’s writing is so captivating, that you aren’t overwhelmed by it. It took me a couple of chapters to be fully invested in the story, but at about the same time that Calla started to settle in to her relationship with her father and with the people in Alaska, I started to relax and settle in to her story. I love that. I felt like I was with her every step of the way...her feelings were so real and visceral, you couldn’t help but laugh with her, cry with her...and heal with her.

And Jonah. Let’s talk about Jonah. He is one of my favorite male characters to date. It was such a relief to read a story where the male character communicates well, where he doesn’t let things lie, but just says how he feels. I love that he pushed Calla and Wren (her father) to confront issues that needed to be dealt with, and I felt like the story flowed so well because of it. Not to mention, he’s handsome, faithful, and strong...as well as playful and bearded. What more could you want? His chemistry with Calla was off the charts and I loved their banter.

I honestly loved all the characters in this book, and while many of them had made poor decisions that they regretted, the focus of this book was on healing...not dwelling on pain. The characters were well-rounded, good, loving people who made mistakes and required forgiveness, just like the rest of us. I really struggle when a book focuses on drama just for the sake of drama, and this book did NOT do that. I truly enjoyed all of the themes in this book, and the reminder that it’s important to focus on how you treat others instead of just on how they treat you.

Also, I loved seeing what an integral role pilots play in rural Alaska, as well as seeing how the people there managed daily life. It was both fascinating and inspiring.

All this to say, that it was truly a joy to read this story. It hit all the notes that a great story (and romance) should, and I will absolutely be reading more from this author!

This was my first book by this author and OH MY GOD..!! I have been living under the rock... This book killed me.

Calla Fletcher is our typical City girl with a good enough interest in getting her make-up done, owning fancy shoes, and having a latte every morning that her stepdad prepares for her from their fancy coffee machine at their house. Yes. Calla also lives with her mom and stepdad at 26 years.

Calla's mom left her father when she was two and came back from the Wild Alaska. Her mom loved her dad, but it was brutal for her and she couldn't live in Alaska anymore. Now, Calla gets a phone call and she makes the decision to go visit her dad in Alaska. She is all prepared to go for a week, have a visit and come back. Little did she know that her life was about to change.

As soon as she lands in the ANchorage, her last flight is led by the pilot, Jonah. He is the right hand man of Calla's Dad and they instantly fall into a Hate relationship. Jonah hates city girls with a passion and doesn't have a very high opinion of them. Calla is obviously new to the life of small country where they struggle in day to day life, need to fly in stuff from the city and limited plumbing. It takes her a while to adjust, all the while getting into fights with Jonah and slowly and steadily proving him wrong.

Calla's father was a very interesting character too. It was a little difficult to love him at first (because the writing was so good that as a reader, I felt the same things as Calla did) but once you get to know his world, it is difficult to not love the guy. It was absolutely heart-warming to see Calla connect with her father, and form such a good bond with him. I absolutely adored their relationship.

The ending of the book was one of the most heart melting scenes that I have ever read. I don't want to ruin it for you, but there is a scene among two side characters that absolutely destroyed me and melted my heart. One of my favorite scenes ever..!!!

Lastly, I would mention the amazing side characters that played such an important part in the book. They were the ones who kept the book together and brought color and life into it.

GO Ahead. Read this book. Experience the Wild Alaska. The SImplicity of the place. And the purity of the relationships that bloomed in the barren lands of the Wild...!!

I love K.A. Tucker. I have absolutely devoured every single one of her works as immediately as I possibly could, if not sooner. I consider myself a hopelessly devoted fan and K.A. Tucker connoisseur that always knows just what I'm going to get when I crack into a new masterpiece. And yet, The Simple Wild was, plain and simple, totally unexpected. At first, I have to admit, this wasn't exactly in the best possible way. I didn't feel instantly drawn in to this book, I didn't feel immediately connected to the characters, and the romance was missing for the majority of the book. In the end though, I found myself totally enamored with the story, dumbfounded by the simultaneous simplicity, yet complexity of it all, and 100% consumed.

Up until at least the 25% mark, I hate to say, I wasn't wholly invested in Calla as she just wasn't completely winning me over, Jonah seemed more like an angry ass with a chip on his shoulder than anything else, and I had no idea where this story was heading. This is the amazing K.A. Tucker we are talking about though so the further in I got, the more I became preoccupied by the graphic and enthralling descriptions of the setting, enthralled by the banter between Jonah and Calla, the relationship evolution with Wren, and the unbreakable bonds Calla was forming all over Alaska. In the end I was completely captivated by this unlikely couple, the overwhelmingly beautiful backdrop, and the unconventional family dynamics. Most importantly, at least for me, I was consumed by the saturation of emotion; the awe, the elation, the merriment, the slippery slope of unintentional romance, the surprise, the sorrow, the helplessness, and the grief.

At first I had a hard time connecting with Calla because of her attitude, her sense of entitlement, her work ethic, and really her prejudice when it comes to a region and a people she has never encountered before. Is she all bad? Certainly not, and honestly, that's why I kept reading, waiting for the change that was sure to come and that I just knew she was capable of. I found that Calla is a lot like many of us, maybe a little more to the extreme than others, but she is a product of her environment and when not forced to take a good hard look at the things that we routinely take for granted, the way of life of others, just how easy we may have it, and how some of the things that we are resentful about may just be a consequence of our own thoughts, actions, and choices after all, we are surprised to find things aren't at all the way we thought or the way they may have seemed. She has a pretty rigid view of her surroundings, a sense of superiority, and very little motivation to act any differently than what she is used to, but I'm thinking at some point in time or another almost all of us can think of an example or two of this in our own lives. After some system shocking and self reflection though, Calla slowly evolves into a woman that sees more of her surroundings, feels more, in both herself and others, and shares more of herself with everyone.

Jonah may be a saint at heart, and I can personally attest to the fact that he is virtually guaranteed to win over even the hardest of hearts, but for much of the first half of the story, he seems like a huge jerk that is much too critical, doesn't let anything go, and has no problem tearing into someone he barely knows and giving them a much harder time than is warranted. Is Calla shallow? Undeniably. Unreasonably so? I don't believe so. Which made it hard to fall for Jonah as he seemed to be being especially harsh to someone that is really just a bit naive and misguided, who doesn't really know any different, and isn't actually malicious or unkind in any way. Once we find out his true motivations, it gets a bit easier to understand Jonah and once we see him for the teddy bear that he really is, there is no doubt you will be headed down that same inescapable rabbit hole that entraps Calla.

And talk about a slow burn. The romance doesn't happen for quite some time, (which I surprisingly thought was quite nice as there are plenty of other issues at hand) but I do have to say, once it starts to take off, after waiting with bated breath for something, anything to happen, it will have you completely captivated. You may have seen this one coming from a mile away, but as a lover of opposites-attract and enemies-to-lovers stories, an element of surprise was not at all necessary as the issues and complications to the relationship could not have been more numerous or difficult. Once caution, and maybe even a little sense, was thrown to the wind, the chemistry was palpable, the romance pure, and the devotion unanticipated and refreshing.

Probably the first book I've read by K.A. Tucker in which I wasn't instantly pulled in with an iron fist by the prologue prompting me to tear through page after page thereafter, this book was not as attention grabbing as some of her previous book, but believe me, the slow build, the slow burn, and the slow pace that represents the Alaskan bush way of life, is by far worth the wait. In the end, The Simple Wild is a beautiful, intoxicating, unexpected story that reminds us all to let bygones be bygones whenever possible, to cherish each precious moment before it is lost forever, to put yourself in someone else's shoes before passing judgment, and to never let other's perceptions cloud your opinions or get in the way of your own potential happiness and fulfillment.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed the Alaskan setting in this book as well as the premise. Calla returns to Alaska to see her dad who she hasn't seen in 23 years after she learns he's sick. She's a city girl who's not at all comfortable in a small town and I did find her behavior a little cliché. She has an immediate hostile encounter with Jonah, a pilot who works for her dad. Their banter was very back and forth and personally I didn't find him to be all that nice of a person. For this reason I had a hard time with the whole hate to love connection between the two of them. Overall, I found the storyline fairly predictable.

If I were to base my rating on the first half of the book, I think I would have given this 2-stars. I was irritated (!!!) with the female MC and was ready to DNF, but the last 25% really turned my rating around.

I like a story where we start off disliking a main character and then slowing morph into loving them. Now, I'm not sure that was K.A. Tucker's plan, but I certainly started off hating Calla.

Calla was a bratty, entitled girl who wore wedge heels and brought a suitcase of basically just makeup to the Alaskan wilderness. (WTF???) I honestly was DONE with her from the start. Calla isn't a child- she is a 26 year old woman who wastes her time on Instagram and lives with her parents. She does nothing around the house to help. She whines and whines and whines. When she goes to Alaska, she is upset about the lack of her preferred brand of soy milk for her latte (girl, just drink it black!!)- THIS IS THE TUNDRA.

Her chemistry with the male MC, Jonah, also felt extremely juvenile. Lots of smirking and teasing and pranks. After reading romances for adults about adults for so long, and even though these two were meant to be adults, it felt like reading YA (which is K.A. Tucker's specialty!).

I was pretty much resigned to not enjoying this one, even though the actual writing was well-paced and entertaining (if you like descriptions of rural Alaska- I do), but the last 25% surprised me.

I know, I know I was emotionally manipulated. Hell, I welcomed it at that point because it made me feel something for the characters in the story. I even teared up a time or two, and I grew pretty attached to the side characters. I left the book on a high, which is the best way to end a story, even though it was a rough ride getting there.

I'm leaving this book with 3-stars because I enjoyed the ending of the book, and I'm SURE most readers will enjoy this one. I, however, know that K.A. Tucker has more up her sleeve than this book with its immature characters.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This book absolutely left me a mess! So full of emotions, it had me in tears of joy, hope, and sadness - giving me an ugly cry I didn't expect but welcomed wholeheartedly. It is my TOP READ of the year so far and left such an impact on me.

Alaska has always been this fabled land for me. I've always had this fascination, my mind filling with the romance of the state. What would it be like to live so simple? So when I saw this book come across in an email, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. Not only was it something I was really interested in but also written by one of my favorite authors!

Alaska is not made for the faint of heart, as Susan soon found out after moving to Alaska with her new husband. She thought that their love could survive anything... but she was wrong. Making the heartbreaking decision to leave Alaska and the love of her life, Wren - the sky cowboy she fell head over heels for, she decides to take her baby daughter Calla and move back to Toronto.

Now 24 years later, Calla gets a call she never expected. Her father is sick and his friend thinks she needs to come to Alaska to see him. The only problem is that Calla hasn't heard from Wren in over 12 years... So why should she stop her life and go to Alaska to see the man who never bothered to be a real dad to her? The last time her dad saw her was the day she and her mother left Alaska for good.

Curiosity and with a little nudging from her stepfather - Calla takes off for Alaska. Her mother tried to prepare her, but this city girl was in utter shock after landing in the Last Frontier. And having a pilot who seems to have a stick up his a$$ doesn't exactly leave a great first impression either. Turns out the rude pilot is her father's right-hand man... so this should be fun.

Calla finally meets her dad. He's everything and nothing like she thought he would be. It awkward, filled with emotions she doesn't know how to handle. Why? it's all she can think of. Why did he let them leave? Why hasn't she heard from him in over 12 years? Does he even love me? Thought of me? The emotions run high for both Wren and Calla.

I really don't want to say more about the book... you need to experience each raw emotion and the easiness and lightheartedness of the Alaskan Tundra. I hung on every word. I couldn't read it fast enough. I had a hard time walking away from the book to feed my children. LOL.

This book was an expected treasure for me. Read it. Feel it. Let the feeling fly - Brava!!

K.A. Tucker is an automatic read for me. A few years ago her Ten Tiny Breaths series was recommended to me and I’ve been a fan ever since. The Simple Wild is one of the best romances I’ve read this year. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and already re-read it once. I loved everything about this book and I already know it will be a romance I go back to over and over again.
This story has so much heart and depth. In the beginning we are introduced to main character, Calla Fletcher. Calla’s life has just been thrown a curve ball when she loses her job. She then receives a call, from a women she doesn’t know, telling her that her estranged father has cancer. Bad luck comes in three’s right? So when she makes the decision to fly to Alaska she meets the obnoxious and testy Alaskan pilot, Jonah. Or is that really bad luck?
Calla was such a witty, smart and dynamic character. I enjoyed reading the banter between her and Jonah and there were so many times I caught myself laughing at exchanges between the two. The secondary characters brought so much more depth to the story. The relationship between Calla and her father, brought a whole other element and I thought the way Tucker played it out was so emotional and raw.
What really brought this story to a different level was the setting. The Alaskan backdrop became a character all its own. Challenging Calla from the moment she steps off the plane. What was really lovely to see what the Canadian touches! I enjoyed the scenes set in Toronto, I could picture it so clearly having grown up in Southern Ontario and visiting Toronto many times. I really hope to see the author use Canadian settings more! It’s such a beautiful country and I don’t think its utilized in the writing world enough!
If you are looking for a beautifully written romantic story, with a lot of depth then this is the book you need to get your hands on. I can’t wait to see what K.A. Tucker has in store for us readers next!
P.S. how gorgeous is that cover?

4.5 stars

I knew, according to other reviews, that this book was something special. Since I never read anything by this author before, I didn't know how this book would affect me. Suffice to say it affected me a great deal.

And ultimately it was a great deal more than a romance.

It had everything from loss to love, regret and heartache, to forgiveness. The Simple Wild was an emotional and tender story that perfectly blended all of these emotions into a brilliantly written story.

Throughout the first third of the story, the author slowly introduced the reader to the characters, their relationships, and the reality that was Bangor, Alaska. The way the author described this at times desolate and for many people depressing place felt utterly authentic and real. Alaska is by no means an easy place to live in, but the author researched the area so well that the way of living came across as authentic and as true as possible, which was greatly appreciated.

While reading The Simple Wild, I fell in love with Calla, her parents at home in Toronto, with her biological dad in Alaska, and with the annoyingly but handsome bush pilot Jonah. Everyone of these characters was endearing, smart and genuinely likable. Each was fleshed out with personalities that were charming, relatable, and unique.

The dialogues, which were funny, heartfelt, and genuine, literally jumped off the pages. Each character had a distinctive voice, and I must admit, one of my most favorite characters of all was Calla's stepdad Simon. Any child should be lucky to have a dad like him, and any woman blessed to call him hers. He was AMAZING!!! But that's beside the point.:D

Calla and Jonah's story was beautiful, touching but also a lot of fun. Enemies to lovers, their animosity was hilarious and their back and forth exceptionally well done. They didn't change just because they slept together, they kept true to themselves and I adored them even more because of it. There were some incredibly tender moments in this book that took my breath away, especially between Calla and Jonah.

This book worked!!!

There was nothing I didn't like about this story. The story flowed, and made me smile, laugh and in the end tear up. The author took an idea and wove it beautifully into a story that carried a message that is important to all of us. Life is short!! Don't wait too long. Love, forgive, appreciate family, and enjoy the short life we were given.