This book is like a Hallmark movie - charming town, two characters who seem to be very different but find themselves drawn together and can't help but fall for each other. There's adventure (I really enjoyed the peek into search and rescue) and romance. It's somewhat predictable, but just like a Hallmark movie, enjoyable through the last moment!

So I need to get this off my chest - as much as I have adored this series, this book was hit and miss for me. I still have a great love for the whole Kincaid family, but I struggled with some aspects of this one. This is an enemies (?) to lovers story - that gave me some serious feelings. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because any book that can make me feel so strongly - deserves a lot of recognition. But I can't bring myself to give it four because of those feelings.

Will Kincaid is a a good guy. He is a straightlaced, rule abiding, school principal of a K-12 school (not an easy task). He comes from a large family and lost his parents at a young age. Even though he didn't take on the same responsibilities his older brother did - he still struggles with his place in the community and his family.

Catie is a force of nature. She wears a lot of hats and always has ideas about how to improve and make things better. Her dedication and volunteer work in the community is really amazing. She is confident, independent, and a natural leader. This also gets her a lot of labels - as bossy and controlling.

Unfortunately, that is kind of where things started to give me trouble in this book. And honestly - maybe it just touched a nerve for me or hit too close to home - but I had a really hard time liking Catie. I respected her and acknowledged that she was right - Will was being difficult just to be difficult and he was grumpy. But I felt like the same things she was complaining about in Will were reflected in her. And, while we see Will exhaustively putting in the work to change and better understand Catie, I don't feel like she put in any work at all on the other side of things.

One scene that truly stands out in my mind is where Catie and Will sit down to talk about where their problems with each other started. As background, the issue started when Catie told Will and other about her ideas for an updated "bachelor auction" idea. Will said he didn't think it was a good idea - and Catie was pretty offended by this. He then tried to backtrack and offered himself up for the auction. Catie - as I read it at least - declined to include him mainly because he hadn't supported her idea. Will, understandably, was stung by this. When they talk about it - Catie's response is "Wow, that's really fragile." My response to that was - wow. That is really cold Catie. She's not wrong - but damn - what a way to tear someone down when they are telling you how you made them feel. It just felt - cruel. And yet- Will still wants her, still goes after her, still continues to build her up and even agrees that he did have a bruised ego. And then he apologizes to her for not working more collegially with her. After all of this - Catie never apologizes, never owns up to her part in their back and forth, and never admits that the blow to her own ego played a role too.

At the end - Catie and Will clearly find a way forward - but from my perspective that is because Will put in the work and really adjusts his mindset. I'm not sure Catie ever really does. They have a moment towards the end where she challenges Will on his cell phone policy in the school. Catie thinks it is dumb and holding back her own progress with the kids involved in the business club - so of course the entire policy is just one more example of how out-of-touch and controlling Will is. Will challenges her on this - and she reacts badly. He calls her bossy (for the umpteenth time) and she says - I'm not bossy, I'm a take charge person and don't like things that stand in my way. She's right - she is a take charge person - and as long as things are going her way - all is well. So who really is the unbending person in this relationship? It was pretty clear to me that it wasn't Will.

Overall - I felt like the only way their relationship was going to be a success and go the distance is if Will continued to let Catie be in 100% control - and that doesn't seem healthy to me. Relationships are all about compromise and consideration - and I am not sure we really go that here.

I still love the Kincaids - and I am anxious for the other books - but this one wasn't a hit for me.

I received this as an ARC but these opinions are all my own.

This book was an easy five star for me. A slow burn/ hate to love trope is right down my ally and this did not disappoint. The chemistry between Will and Catie felt organic and passionate. Catie is a woman with an agenda and not a lot of free time, always bouncing to the next community service while Will is a well spoken principle who despises everything Catie does. This small town romance is definitely worth the read.

This is the third book in this series, but the first one I've read. This is also my first book by this author. Seriously, I've been missing out. I really enjoyed this book. The connection between the hero and heroine was sexy and so much fun. I adore small town romances and this one did not disappoint. It was well written with great characters and a storyline that kept me engaged and reading long into the night. I can't wait to read more by this author. I would highly recommend this book. Huge thanks to the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Heartwarming romance with deep family roots

I love how this story focused not just on the Kincaid family but also on Catie's family dynamics and how that affected her settling into Pine Harbour. I rejoiced with both Catie and Will as the steps were taken to honor those who deserved it.

I'm three books in and I'm in love with every one of the Kincaid brothers. They're very different, yet each one is a good man who fulfills every girl's dream of a book boyfriend. Will is a little more straight-laced and still bears the scars from losing his parents, but he's everything that Catie needs and their journey to their HEA just made me swoon every step of the way.

I really appreciate how the author let us get to know Catie in the earlier book, so we can understand a bit of her history, especially her feelings for Will. The writing is, as always with this author, top-notch and thoroughly engaging.

Much respect to the author for including a land acknowledgement in the book. She handled a sensitive subject with grace and dignity for all, adding just the right touch of authenticity to her fictional world.

If you love small town romances, you have to get deep in the Pine Harbour series. Each is a standalone love story, and each one builds on the previous community interactions. Start with this one, then catch up with the earlier books in this series and the previous series set in the same small town. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Wild at heart by Zoe York.
Kincaids of pine Harbour book 3.
He’s the guy everyone loves, and she’s the outsider who knows better than to fall for the town’s favourite golden boy.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover. That's what drew me to read it. Great story and characters apart from Frances. I did didn't like her at all. Can't wait for next book. 5*.

•Adversaries to lovers
•Slow-burn
•Learning to trust
•Taking a chance on love
•Steamy scenes

⭐4.5

How have I only just been introduced to this series?! I loved it! The story was intense, laugh out loud, frustrating, sweet and steamy! Everything I love in a romance. For me this novel ticked every box and is making me itch to read the first two books in the series. If you love romances then this series is definitely for you!

Thank you to Zoe York and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zoe York’s Wild at Heart was a balm to read after flailing around in a fantasy novel that should have worked for me, but did not. It was nice to slip into York’s small Canadian town where everyone knowing everything about everyone is a blessing and a curse. For Catie Berton, what people don’t seem to care to know is what bothers her the most. That, and also that Will Kincaid thinks her town improvement ideas are dumb. Will thinks Catie is bossy, and she hurt his feelings when she rejected him as a bachelor auction participant. He wasn’t the kind of bachelor she was looking for. His family and her friends are deeply amused by their obvious attraction and unwillingness to admit it.

I do love to see characters grow and learn on page. Will is forced to confront his own less than stellar behavior and then he decides to make changes and does so. It’s a process and there is a wonderful moment late in the book when he remains stuck in the idea that he and Catie are “oil and water” and their mutual friend rolls her eyes so hard it’s like a slap upside the head. I love that Will doesn’t decide to do better and then is immediately better. Being a better person takes self awareness, conscious thought, and, most importantly, practice.

I’m all in favor of learning and practicing of all kinds. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others is the gift of understanding that we all have a lot to learn and that pretty much everything takes practice.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Catie Berton has returned to Pine Harbour after the death of her mother. Even thought she was born in Pine Harbour, there are those in this close-knit community that have made her feel like an outsider. One of those is Will Kincaid, the school principal. It seems that nothing she does meets with his approval. They seem to strike sparks off of each other and especially now that she is participating in the twelve-week Search and Rescue Training Program. Of course, she ends up paired with Will. He doesn’t understand why she bothers him so much unless it’s her way of calling him out on his “attitude”, what’s up with that? Will they realize that their strong feelings for each other mean that they were meant to be lovers, not enemies? Although I enjoyed this latest story in the series, the back-and-forth unexplained animosity between Catie and Will seemed childish rather than two adults fighting an attraction. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)