Cover Image: Wild at Heart: A Novel

Wild at Heart: A Novel

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Member Reviews

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 way - 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 it ends beautifully, I’d still be happy to read more about this couple and their story.

5 stars!

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Wild at Heart was one of my most anticipated books and when I got it I started immidiately!I devour it, even though I tried to read it slow it was so good that I couldn't get enough of Calla and Jonah!Such a beautiful , heartwarming and sweet story!

I was swooning and melting from the beginning and I have a smile on my face!Everything felt so realistic and I could feel like I was a part of their story.I could imagine the places !

Wild at Heart has a little bit of everything romance,feelings and drama!I loved the relationship between Calla and Jonah .They have a great connection and chemistry!They were sweet,sexy and cute.


Their story is so addictive. I wish I could travel and go to Alaska right now!I highly recommend it!

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It was so good to be back to Alaska with Jonah & Calla. :)

I enjoyed this book but unfortunately 1st book was so much better for me. But still I'm glad to see their happily ever after. <3

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One of my most anticipated books of 2020, also my most nervous to read books of 2020.

First: this book is a true sequel. The continuation of events laid out in The Simple Wild is seamless and Wild At Heart should not be read as a stand-alone. 😉

Coming off of 2019 in which I read The Simple Wild three times, you could say my level of anticipation for this was quite high. However in TSW my greatest love was for the emotional side story of Calla’s estranged father Wren and her mother, Susan. I was worried a book solely focused on Calla and Jonah would not have the same pull for me.

Worried needlessly. This was perfection.

I find sequels tend to be lackluster in that so much is altered from the original that the characters are no longer recognizable and I lose my connection. This is truly a continuation of TSW. Calla and Jonah making life in Alaska the fullest for both of them while laying down roots. I did not want to put this down. The new characters in this book added so much that I couldn’t even be sad for the change in town setting from book one.

Now that we have the sequel I have my fingers crossed for this to roll on into a trilogy. 🤩

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Wild At Heart felt as relatable as it was charming. So often love stories end with a fade-to-black thought of it being a happily ever after, but when we get to see the after—the difficulties of big life decisions, the struggles when things don’t line up, the did-I-make-a-mistake panics—there’s a real sense of heart and humanity in it. So much of what came out of The Simple Wild was involved in life-changing self-discoveries and I felt anxiety for much of this novel, seeing their differences clash and how hard they had to fight for love to prevail even though those kinds of things are normal for all relationships early on—even more so for one as complex as this. But the love was always right behind everything they did and I loved that it shone through at all times.

I knew with how the first book ended there had to be more to mine from, and I’m not disappointed Tucker decided to explore more of their complicated relationship. There were slower moments, but Jonah and Calla kept me turning the pages. They were incredibly easy, as before, to fall into and understand their motives and thoughts. And they were just as playfully combative as they always have been, lending to wonderful moments of levity and feel-good’s. Anyone who adored the first novel will enjoy this follow up, and I’m sad—again—to see them go.

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This is the sequel to The Simple Wild, a book I ADORED soooo much, that I can totally reread it and force it upon my friends and family.

Here is the deal, I was craving this book so hard I think I scammed myself with my high hopes. I was trying to imagine what kind of plot twist we might get, and the pages kept turning, and nothing was happening.

Calla and Jonah have moved to Alaska, they bought a home and are starting their own business. Life for them is as homey as it gets.

It was so hard for me to get into the story, mainly because I was bored. There was a lot of decorating, whining, jogging and semi steamy sex scenes.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but the story does pick up towards the end and the pace gets speedy, which was a great recovery in my opinion.

What I love about Tucker’s books is her writing style, the way she makes her words come to life. All the lush scenery and rich characters. There are few authors out there, that can really make me visualize scenes.

Once again, thank you Netgalley and K.A Tucker for the ARC!

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I absolutely LOVED The Simple Wild. Calla and Jonah captured my heart in that book. When I heard we were getting an unexpected sequel, I was so excited. 

Unfortunately, Wild at Heart and I didn't click very well together. I found the story to be very slow moving and nothing much going on. This was so odd for me when it comes to K.A. Tucker's books. I normally devour them without taking a breath. 

I had trouble feeling the chemistry between Jonah and Calla. There weren't any sparks like in The Simple Wild. I want more passion for them. 

I loved Calla in book 1 but in this book, she annoyed me to the max. Her personality came off extremely spoiled, bossy and ungrateful. 

Jonah is the same great and amazing man we met before! He still has a heart of gold. I would have like more interaction with him and for him to Calla in her place once in a while. She needed it! 

I did love seeing where they are currently because my heart was so invested with their love story in The Simple Wild. I was just missing something for me. I wanted them to blow me away again but they didn't unfortunately. 

I am so sad to rate this book 3 stars after giving book One 5 Stars. I have read and loved every single one of K.A. Tucker's books but Wild at Heart missed my heart. 

The Simple Wild (book 1) must be read before reading this book.

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Oh, K.A. Tucker, you’ve done it again. You’ve written another amazing story in the sequel to The Simple Wild, Wild At Heart.

Wild At Heart follows Calla and Jonah, four months after The Simple Wild ends. Calla agrees to move to Alaska to be with Jonah. The two set out to build a life together, though not without challenges.

I loved Wild at Heart, quite possibly more than I loved the Simple Wild. I think there’s something so special about coming back to the story of Calla and Jonah and their life in the gorgeous setting of Alaska. While it’s familiar, this is definitely a new story with new characters and challenges. Calla gets used to the idea of life in Alaska and struggles to find her place in her new settings. Jonah struggles with the desire to be flying but also be home with Calla. The two struggle to balance their personal needs with their relationship.

If you loved the Simple Wild, you will love Wild At Heart. Wild At Heart was everything I wanted in a sequel and more. While Wild At Heart definitely ends at a good place, I do desperately hope that this will not be the end of Calla and Jonah’s story and that K. A. Tucker will write a third book!

Thank you to K.A. Tucker, Social Butterfly P.R., and Netgalley for the review copy!

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I will forever love this story of Calla, Jonah and the Alaska wild! I absolutely fell in love with these characters in The Simple Wild and the fact that they received a sequel was just an added bonus.

This book basically picks right up where Calla and Jonah left off with Calla agreeing to live in Alaska so she could be with Jonah. From the beginning, I could sense Calla's reservations about picking up and moving her life so far away from her family and friends in a remote setting far from what she knows. As much as she loves Jonah, her apprehension was felt with each scene and challenge she faced adapting to life in rural Alaska. And as much as I felt for her, I just wanted her to keep pushing herself for Jonah.

Oh Jonah...he is one of my favorite heroes. His love for Calla is endless, and his passion and loyalty towards her made me swoon the entire book. No matter what Calla faced, Jonah was right there pushing and supporting her - even when he knew it might be tough on her. His love was unwavering, and at times my heart broke for him when wasn't sure if his love for Calla was reciprocated like he deserved.

This book is a wonderful story of this couple's ups and downs navigating their new life in a new relationship. The secondary characters, the hero's job, and the setting all add to setting this book apart from others and make it unique. KA Tucker's description of Alaska and all it has to offer has me wanting to jump on a plane and experience it all for myself!! Well done once again KA Tucker!

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I was so excited to hear that a sequel was being written. I have been looking forward to this book! I will admit that it started slow for me and I think it may have been a tad too long. But, I was more than happy to watch Calla and Jonah’s relationship grow as they handled various obstacles thrown their way. ⁣

Calla and Jonah are forced to deal with real-life issues together, I really appreciate this aspect of the story. So many romances are about girls being swept off their feet or falling head-over-heels in love with some added steaminess. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 takes place after the girl was swept off her feet and shares the honest struggles of a day-to-day relationship. Relationships are more than romantic moments and sex. Relationships take hard work. I appreciate any romance novel where the couple actually communicates to work through their issues. Lack of communication is my biggest romance pet peeve.⁣⁣
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Once again, I love the Alaskan setting. I would never be able to live in the Alaskan Wilderness, but it sounds beautiful and difficult. Tucker continues to share the ups and downs of living in rural Alaska.⁣⁣
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In addition to reading about Calla and Jonah, we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters. I loved meeting these new characters, like Roy, who ended up being one of my favorites. We also get to see more of Calla and watch her grow as an individual apart from Jonah.⁣⁣
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I am glad I read this one! 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 moves beyond the stereotypical romance novel and is worth reading if you loved the first.⁣⁣

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Wild at Heart picks up right where The Simple Wild leaves off: Jonah and Calla deciding that they want to make their relationship work. So Calla moves with Jonah to Alaska and the two of them move to a house in the woods right outside of Anchorage.

It’s a little bit of The Simple Wild all over again. Calla is tackling the wilderness, dealing with new and unfamiliar territories and situations. Calla and nature don’t exactly mix and now she’s living in the thick of it 24/7. Jonah is following his dreams of being more than just a charter pilot, but that means he’s away from home more frequently, leaving Calla on her own. And now they need to decide if their relationship can weather these new changes or if they will end up how Calla’s parents did.

Wild at Heart by KA Tucker is the unexpected follow-up to The Simple Wild, which is one of my all-time favorite books. I had high expectations going into this book; I wasn’t sure if The Simple Wild was even meant to have a sequel. I think it could’ve been left as a standalone, but I also enjoyed seeing Calla and Jonah’s relationship over the next year of their lives. The first half of the book was very slow and seemed like Calla experiencing the wild for the first time all over again. After the halfway mark, Calla and Jonah’s problems came to a head. I also enjoyed witnessing Calla’s relationships with her neighbors, each quirky but likable. I think the grouchy man next door was my favorite character and his story was touching. Did Wild at Heart live up to my expectations? Not quite. The Simple Wild left big shoes for Wild at Heart to fill. And even though this didn’t win my heart, I still really enjoyed it. 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Social Butterfly PR and KA Tucker for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book follows The Simple Wild. It picks up with the main character, Calla Fletcher packing up her things so she can move from her home in Toronto to the unknown in Alaska so that she can be with her boyfriend Jonah. Throughout the book Calla struggles to not only fit in with all her new neighbors but also figure out who she is and wants to be in Alaska, while Jonah is out doing what he loves. Calla begins to have a lot of feelings pop up ranging from joy to jealousy to loneliness.

I was so excited for the release of Wild at Heart. Both The Simple Wild and now Wild at Heart are my favorite books and are books I enjoy reading over and over again. The characters are written so well and you as the reader feel every emotion that they feel. I got connected to these characters in the first book and was glad to see them back in the second, plus the addition of new characters. Wild at Heart ended in the perfect way but I am still crossing my fingers for a third book.

I can't recommend Wild at Heart enough! I will definitely be buying copies for my friends and family as gifts. This is definitely the must read book of 2020.

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This was a great sequel for those who loved The Simple Wild. I felt like I was reading about what I would be like moving to Alaska! The feelings and growth of the couple was pretty spot on for what a new couple would be experiencing. I felt some of the ending was rushed, but overall was very happy to be in Alaska with Calla and Jonah again!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review

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This book is a sequel to 'The Simple Wild' and has Calla rushing back to Alaska to be with Jonah after he makes a grand gesture to ask her to move back to Alaska with him.

Jonah is Alaska. If you ever watched 'Alaskan Bush People' that is him. He loves the state and he loves what he does. It's obvious that while he states that he would go back to civilization for Calla, it's not something that he would love. Calla knows that she is going to have to be the one to make the sacrifices in order to make him happy. And that is ok. That's how relationships work.

With that knowledge, we get to join Calla on this adventure as she tries to figure out who she is in the world and who she will be in Alaska. She needs to reinvent her self because the version of herself that used to be will not be happy and thrive in Alaska. I have watched those reality shows that take place in Alaska and it's a beautiful state but it does take a certain type of person to really thrive there. I know that I am more like Calla and it would be a struggle for me.

At the beginning, Calla is very...timid. She just gives into what Jonah wants because she is so fearful that they will end up like her parents. She is willing to compromise to give Jonah what he needs to be happy. After things change, Calla starts to realize that while making Jonah happy is not going to fully make her happy. Tucker does an amazing job at showing that while it's important to compromise in relationships, there has to be a line. You can't completely give up who you are or else you will never be happy.

The point of the story is to find your happiness within you. You can't depend on other people to make you happy or else you will never be truly happy. It's a beautiful story and a must read. Unlike the last book that took me some time to get into, I jumped in with both feet and couldn't put it down until I finished.

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Special thanks to the author K.A. Tucker, Social Butterfly PR and Netgalley for an e-Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review. Receiving Wild at Heart did not affect my review or rating.

The Great: I don’t know why but I always find myself shocked at how emotional I get and feel while reading K.A. Tucker’s books. It fascinates and scares me how deep of a hold she has on my heart with her stories. And is maybe the single-handed reason she has become one of my favorite authors. I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing The Simple Wild back in 2018 and absolutely squealed when I found out that Tucker was planning to continue Calla and Jonah’s story. Calla’s character development is one of my favorite parts about this story. In The Simple Wild, we watch her grow from super materialistic city girl to someone who understands the importance of family and connection. For Wild at Heart, I watched her grow from someone who still had very urban ideals—in a state like Alaska no less— understand what it means to find oneself, and to find love and passion beyond your partner. I watched her optimism simmer into pessimism and back into proactivity and finding her purpose. It amazes me how much I couldn’t stand her for the majority of The Simple Wild and how much I was rooting for her in Wild at Heart.

Also Jonah, the Alaskan Yeti who is clearly head over heels for Calla but also passionate about his purpose in life. Which is not only to be a bush pilot, but one who is able to give back to the community who has given so much to him. It was such an emotional ride watching his development as well. And let me just say I’ll take one piping hot Alaskan Viking for $1,000 Alex because he is steeeamy lol.

I also loved seeing Agnes and Mabel again. As well as meeting new characters like Roy Donovan, Toby and Muriel. It’s not just the main characters who make the story for K.A. Tucker but the ever present side characters as well. And without fail, I connected with all three of them for various reasons.

The Good: Pace. Although Tucker has an excellent way of giving me heart attacks while reading, the pace for the story was done well. I won’t lie though, in the beginning, I found it easy to put my iPad down. However, from middle to end, I was basically glued to it!

The plot and plot development were also good, if not predictable at times. But I don’t think I would want it written any other way.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed and adored Wild at Heart. I laughed, cried and heavy sighed all throughout the story. So if you’re looking for a story like that, this is your best bet!

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5+ Yeti Stars

I was a little nervous to read Wild at Heart because my expectations were so high but I am happy to report they were more than met! I fell in love even more with my sexy angry Yeti, if that was even possible. Although he was more my sexy, romantic Yeti in this book.
"I can't remember what it feels like not being in love with you, Calla...I need you in my life like I need to fly. Like I need this Alaskan air. More than I need this air."

Wild at Heart is an extension of Jonah and Calla's love story and so The Simple Wild must be read first. In this book we get to see them planning their lives together, starting with the biggest decision of where they should live. These two were hopelessly, madly in love with each other but they didn't want to make the same mistakes as Calla's parents and they knew being in love was not going to be enough to keep them together. I think they both learned that compromise and communication with each other was essential to them surviving as a couple and by the end of this book they had #RelationshipGoals!

While this book obviously focused on Calla and Jonah as a couple, I really felt this was a bit of a coming of age story for Calla. There is a lot of focus on her finding her place in Alaska and finding a purpose outside of loving and supporting Jonah. Calla finds herself a bit isolated in rural Alaska when Jonah is working long hours. Naturally, seeds of doubt about whether she is making the right decisions by staying with Jonah begin to plant. I loved watching her grow and develop into a woman who learned to compromise without losing her identity. I did get mad at Jonah sometimes because, like Calla, I felt he didn't give her enough attention and spent so much time working. Then we are reminded that Jonah thrived on helping people and making a difference. His work was always more than a job and what he was doing was so important. It's why we fell in love with him in the first place!

I have to mention that this book is so much more sexier than the first one. The sex scenes do not go into great details but they were still so steamy! I felt so much passion, even from a single kiss! K.A. Tucker has created one of my favorite couples of all time. Their chemistry makes me feel like I'm about to be set on fire and their epic tale of romance makes my heart race and swoon all at the same time!

There are wonderful, amazing supporting characters in this story that Calla forms the most unlikely of friendships. They live in a small knit community and while some of these characters bring a lot of humor to this book, they each have their own tragic stories that made for some heartrending, emotional moments. The way the author interconnects all these characters was just brilliant! Of course I have to mention all the animals that brought so much humor and love into this book. A huge shout out to the racoon, goat and wolf dogs that were such a great addition to this story!

I was so sad to see this book end. I kept clicking the forward button on the kindle hoping there was more. I could read about these characters forever! This book is complete with a HEA but I am seriously hoping a book 3 is coming because I NEED MORE!

5+ Stars
Contemporary Romance
POV: Heroine
Heat Level: Mild
HEA: Yes

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Wild At Heart is one of my top reads of 2020. This book takes off right where The Simple Wild left off. I was invested from the first word. As with everything KA writes, I devoured it within hours. I loved it.

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If you loved The Simple Wild (the prequel to this one), you will enjoy this extension of Calla and Jonah’s story. I love the characters and the setting. K. A. Tucker is a master setting weaver. She makes you feel like you are wrapped up in the Alaskan culture and life. The whole time I was reading I wanted to be curled up by a roaring, crackling fire with a cozy blanket and hot chocolate (or coffee if that’s more your thing ;)! This book picks up right where The Simple Wild left off, which I appreciated because I was left wanting more after that one! But-because I read that one a while ago I did have to go back and refresh my memory some on it before continuing on with Wild at Heart.
I love that their are challenges in the main characters love story and its not always perfect. It makes it way more relatable for me which is good for romance genres. Its a lovely book!
Thank you K.A. Tucker, NetGalley, and Social Butterfly PR, LLC for the e-ARC copy!

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Please note that Wild at Heart is a continuation of The Simple Wild. They must read in order.

That said, if you haven't read The Simple Wild, please put it on your tbr. It's hands down one of my favorite books. My feelings vary with sequels. Sometimes, I'm completely ok with leaving things how they ended. This time around, I was begging for more of Calla and Jonah. Calla had a wild ride when it came to getting settled in Alaska. I felt like Jonah was selfish when it came to making decisions. But Calla rolled with it. I loved her journey, the wildlife, the neighbors, all of it.

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When I first read THE SIMPLE WILD back in 2018, it became an instant favorite. K.A. Tucker has a unique talent for writing with both heart and humor, and her stories always pull me in within the first few pages. The world she first created in THE SIMPLE WILD, has become one of my favorite fictional worlds, partly because it feels so incredibly real. So, when she announced she’d be writing and releasing a sequel, WILD AT HEART, I was ecstatic.

WILD AT HEART begins right where THE SIMPLE WILD left off. Jonah is on his way back to Alaska after surprising Calla on her porch in Toronto a few months after she returned. They know they want to figure out a way to make it work, and when Jonah asks Calla to move to Alaska to be with him, she agrees.

From there, we follow Calla through her first year living in Alaska full-time and her new life with Jonah. It becomes clear that love alone may not be enough to make their life in Alaska work. Jonah works long days flying, while Calla is left at home trying to find ways to fill up her days alone. The reality of living in Alaska with Jonah is much different than she imagined it’d be, and that struggle felt so realistic. One can never really know what something will be like before trying it.

I really loved getting a peek into life with Jonah and Calla. There was so much more to their story I wanted to know after finishing THE SIMPLE WILD. I knew the adjustment to life in Alaska would not be easygoing for Calla, no matter how much she loved or was committed to Jonah. Her journey and struggles and doubts and joys felt real and true for someone making such a big life change as she did. Yes, Jonah left the town he’d been living in for a decade, but he didn’t leave Alaska. He didn’t give up flying. There were adjustments he had to make too, but I don’t think he really had any major overhauls to his life; at least not like Calla did. I don’t think he quite understood just how much of a change this would be for Calla, and how he’d need to support her through that. He does eventually realize (with the help of Agnes) his part in their struggles, and together they look for a way forward.

Calla and Jonah struggle through their first year, but what’s steady is their commitment to each other. They may have doubts about how to make their life together in Alaska work, but what they don’t doubt is their love for each other. This story is about love, but it’s also about making sure you don’t lose yourself in someone else. Making sure you have purpose for yourself outside of your relationship. That purpose will only make your relationship stronger in the end.

If THE SIMPLE WILD had you itching for more Jonah and Calla, to know more about their life in Alaska, read WILD AT HEART. It will fill that Jonah-Calla-Alaska shaped whole in your life and is sure to satisfy.

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