The Simple Wild: A Novel

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker is an unforgettable story you won't casually read because it's a full experience. A book that in no way is simply written; a book about love, family and friendship set in the breathtaking wildness of Alaska.
Calla is a twenty six years old girl who has never gotten to know her father. He is just a voice on the phone she has not heard for years. When an unexpected call brings her some bad news, she is forced to face the reality. Leave her easygoing life in Toronto and go spend some time with her estranged and sick dad.
She has resented him for a long time because he chose the airline he owns over his daughter but soon the anger shifts to a deep bond. She gets to discover the beauty of Alaska and the different aspects of her father. Not to forget she loves to hate the right hand of her dad, the pilot Jonah.
Jonah has made her life difficult since she landed but behind the brooding face there is something that attracts her. She knows their affair can be temporary but she doesn't care.
Calla is a girl who at start you might find a little naive and conceited. While you get through the book, you will laugh with her sense of humor and the comebacks she has for Jonah. She is a modern girl thrown into a foreign place so she might be a little clueless but she doesn't give up.
Jonah is my kind of hero. He is gruff, a bit difficult but brutally honest. He doesn't play games and I love how observant he is. He is loyal and he does everything for those he cares about. He is also built like a Viking so prepared to be swooned.
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. The characters are all so interesting even those who play the smallest part. Although the story is focused on our heroine, you get to admire everything; the ideal scenery, the job of a bush pilot, the different cultures and mostly the sense of family.
I can admit that this book was more emotional than I expected. I cried silent tears but from start to finish my heart was full. I would have loved to see an epilogue but you know me, I am sappy for these things.
This book is one of the best I have read this year and I will definitely not forget it. You will thank me for this recommendation so what are you waiting for? Read it now!!!

Calla Fletcher was born in Alaska but her mother moved them back to Toronto when she was two-years old, leaving her bush pilot father, Wren Fletcher, and the rugged life behind. Calla is now 26-years old and has not seen him since and hasn’t talked to him in years. When she receives a phone call from one of his close friends asking her to come see him, she decides to make the trip after learning he’s been diagnosed with lung cancer. Calla is met at the airport by Jonah, one of Wren’s pilots, and to say the reception was less than welcoming is an understatement.

Life in Alaska was as much a part of the story as the characters, which made this a much richer reading experience. Calla lived a more pampered lifestyle in Toronto with access to the plethora of services and amenities associated with an urban environment. It was a tough adjustment but she quickly adapted, despite Jonah’s ill temper. I loved how her relationship with her father developed slowly, allowing time for both to create a new one. And, she frequently relied on her stepfather’s advice in making the best choices in the process.

And then there was Jonah. The long thaw between these two provided lots of humor and interesting situations. It was also through Jonah that we learned about the realities of life in the wildness of the state. Their relationship developed so naturally that when it took a romantic turn, it just seemed right. Other characters added even more flavor to the story as they were important people in Wren’s world.

I also enjoyed the narrator's performance as she really captured Calla’s personality and the essence of the story. This one really worked for me even though there wasn’t a lot of drama. It is a deep exploration of the dynamics of a father-daughter relationship that wasn’t nurtured but given a second chance. It confirmed why this author is an auto read for me.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)

**4.75 Blushes**

Calla Fletcher does not remember the small isolated town of Bangor Alaska where she was born. Probably because her mother, Susan, left it and her father, Wren, behind 24 years prior and never looked back. Wren’s love for Alaska is only dwarfed by Susan’s disdain for it. Hoping against hope that he would come after them. Wren never did.

Everyone has now moved on. Calla is an adult living a comfortable life, rent free courtesy of her parents, a boyfriend, a job and a blog she runs with her bestie. Until that absolutely craptastic day that starts with her getting fired and ends with a phone call from a friend of her father’s in Alaska. He has cancer. Get on a plane and meet him before it’s too late or not. Needless to say she gets on a plane (or four) with no idea what to expect.

Jonah, her Dad’s right hand man, picks her up at the airport. His attitude makes it abundantly clear that she's not high on his list of favorite people. The culture shock is almost exactly what her mother told her to expect. Her Dad is not exactly warm and excited to see her.

We're so quick to judge. Finger pointing and assigning blame is easy. You could have called! You could have visited! Getting to the heart of things is much harder. As is living with regrets. Love is interpreted in different ways by every person.

Cancer is unforgiving. It tears a hole in the patient and their family too. Treatment does not guarantee survival. Irregardless our time here is finite.

Maybe she's not so selfish and spoiled. Maybe this giant of a man has a heart to match. Will Calla and Jonah move past their preconceived notions and explore what's blossoming between them? Or will the ghosts between them speak louder?

The Simple Wild is a beautifully written story that took me on a journey of the heart. K.A. Tucker writing is so evocative! In my mind, I saw the mountains, I breathed the air, I felt the love of the town folk like a warm hug, I felt the heartache, I laughed and I cried. This story is not about hot sex and handcuffs. It's about family - not just the kind related to us by blood - the one we choose. It’s about the inevitability that life continues. It's about learning lessons from the past. Its about saying hello and goodbye. It’s about accepting each other where we are, right now, in this moment!

The beauty and poignancy of this story will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

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 tears cried tears, my heart exploded, and my laughter rang loud. The Simple Wild was anything but simple.

City girl Calla leaves her upper-class home in Toronto to travel to Bangor, Alaska, to visit her ailing father. While Calla was uneasy about seeing her father for the first time in 24 years, experiencing the rugged wild her mother spoke so often about was equally as daunting. She didn’t anticipate though, that her biggest challenge would be from the man she nicknamed the Yeti. Jonah challenges her beliefs about herself, her dad and her life. He forces her to reevaluate what’s important and to take in the beauty around her.

Jonah and Calla were night and day. They were oil and vinegar. Where he was used to the relaxing calm of the wild, she was a city girl at heart, with places to go and people to see. She dressed up in two hundred dollar sweaters and he wore relaxed shirts and jeans bought at the local mart. She learned to see through his grumpiness and he appreciated her sass and backbone. By the time Calla is to return to Toronto, neither want to imagine life without the other person in it, but the city girl needs her city and the Yeti, won’t leave his wild .

❝I did warn you about falling in love with one of those sky cowboys, didn’t I?❞

I’m not sure how to express all of the overwhelming feelings swirling in my head right now. Wren, Calla and Jonah’s story touched me profoundly and viscerally. I lost my dad to cancer almost 5 years ago, July 13, 2013. It was devastating and heartbreaking. Reading the story of these three brought all those feelings back. My heart broke for them. It broke for me. Between the physical decline, to hospice, to the anger, fear, and regret these characters experienced, Tucker’s portrayal of an ailing parent was honest and real. It could have been my family she was writing about.

Yet, while there were tear-inducing moments, there were also many funny, light-hearted and heart-warming moments, too.

❝You asked why I kissed you.❞
I hazard a glance upward, to find his piercing blue eyes alight with heat. ❝And you said it’s because you wanted to.❞
❝That wasn’t the right answer.❞ He reaches up to smooth the wet strands of clingy hair off my forehead, his gaze wild as it skitters across my features. ❝You have been driving me f*cking insane for days and I couldn’t hold myself back for one more second.❞

I was so caught up in this story that when the end came, I felt an indescribable sadness. The story was consuming. The characters felt real. The writing was impeccable. This is my favorite K.A. Tucker book to date!

THE SIMPLE WILD is beautiful slow-burn romance about family, forgiveness, and second chances.

*I was provided a review copy by the publisher. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.*

Shel: Truthfully, I had some mixed feelings going into The Simple Wild. On the one hand, I enjoy K.A. Tucker's novels and characters. On the other hand, I wasn't sure if I was up for the wilds of Alaska. I'm less a camping and more of a glamping type girl and the idea of inhabiting a space that was going to be as spare and harsh as Alaska seemed like work. My curiosity about who I'd meet in this novel won out, though, and after a bumpy start, I was flying through the pages.

Shel: I'm not sure I necessarily liked Calla, her mom, her dad, or Jonah, at first. All of them seemed a bit stubborn about some pretty important things--things that would impact their lives or the lives of their loved ones, or the way they perceived things--and I found myself shaking my head at them all. I also had a little of a hard time getting into the setting of Alaska--it seemed like such a harsh setting to live in, especially for someone as spoiled as Calla (or me, for that matter) and I just couldn't (and can't) fathom making a choice to live in the wilds of Alaska. That being said, once I got passed those things and got to know the characters, I was invested. I laughed at the games and snark between Jonah and Calla and I came to really enjoy the interactions Calla had with her dad and her new Alaskan friends. And, I was so completely caught up in their stories that the ending snuck up on me faster than I was prepared for--making me sad to see that there wasn't another page of chapter to flip to after the last page.

Shel: So, all in all, while it took me a little longer to fully sink into this novel, I found that once I got passed my own preferences, I enjoyed what these characters had to offer.

I've heard many people say this was their favorite KA Tucker book yet, and I was skeptical. I'm happy to report THE SIMPLE WILD is fantastic and you should go buy it right now. Like seriously, just click the button already. Okay? Okay. Glad we're on the same page.

Calla goes to Alaska to try and reconnect with her father after she gets some upsetting news. She has always preferred the city life, and isn't sure what she will find in a town where there is barely a grocery store and internet is a hot commodity. Jonah has always loved being a pilot, and came back to Alaska because it's where he truly calls home. Calla never intended to fall for the bush pilot, and Jonah certainly isn't looking for love, but sometimes the heart wants what it wants.

I really enjoyed this story. Not only is it sweet and sexy, but it also brings up a compelling thought. Would I be okay living in a town where only the people mattered and not the things? Could I be okay with no make up, no TV, and no fast food? I'd like to think I'm not that entitled or spoiled, but this book really made me consider it. I wasn't expecting a feel good romance novel to make me think, but there you go; it sure did.

I really enjoyed how Tucker took her time developing all the relationships and showing the beauty of Alaska. My only complaint was the somewhat abrupt ending. I knew the characters would get their HEA, but I just felt like a lot of details and questions were left hanging. Sequel perhaps?

Overall, I loved this book. I was able to listen on audio, and I found the narration really good. She had a great voice for Calla, and did a very good job with the male characters as well. Okay, well, why are you still reading this review? Go buy it already!

City girl meets sky cowboy. Gads, I loved the snarky haters vibe Calla and Jonah, a pilot for her father’s charter plane company have and it begins when he picks her up in Anchorage. While Calla and her gruff Dad get off to an awkward start, Calla and Jonah trade barbs and make assumptions about each other. Tucker does a great job of showing the vast difference between city life in Toronto and the fictional town of Bangor, Alaska. A flat area of Alaska surrounded by mountains.

Admittedly Calla and Jonah weren’t the fuzziest of characters, especially Calla in the beginning. In fact, I kind of thought she was a spoiled, entitled brat, but those assumptions changed early in as they interact with each other and those in the community. I laughed aloud at the nicknames these two called each other. Some were barbs thrown at each other and others like Viking Hottie were one’s Calla shared with her friend back home. I loved how this was a slow-burning romance that moved from haters to lovers as the two spent time together. It felt authentic, and yet you knew Calla was eventually going home.

Neighbors, the crew at the Wild Charter Company and some critters added to the tale. We gained a sense of community as we got to know Wren’s makeshift family.

The Alaskan landscape was a character all on its own. Beautiful and deadly. Tucker delicately balanced the beauty of Alaska, against the harsh realities of this lush, sometimes brutal landscape

Tucker took me through an array of emotions and hooked me. I lost track of time and devoured their story. I laughed, swooned and lordy did I cry before she wrapped it up leaving me in a good, hopeful place

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

The family drama, emotions long hidden and a life in Alaska are the new themes in this amazing upcoming novel by my favorite K.A. Tucker!

Calla Fletcher has just lost her job, broke up with her boyfriend and found out that her father is sick with the c-word. Taking a brave step, she travels to Alaska where she will try to connect with her father, learn about living in the frontier and also get to know Jonah the pilot (whom I'd really want to have if he was an actual person!)

I adored the story, the setting and I'm sure that Tucker did a spectacular job in her research; knowing myself I wouldn't be able to live there. But the story doesn't stop there, it also covers the difficulties of life, the indigenous people living in Alaska and it's filled with wild nature and amazing scenery. Through Calla's eyes we see Alaska as if it was a documentary and the emotions inflicted to her through the story are very realistic.

On the other hand, I began reading The Simple Wild after having finished "The girl and her Ren" by Pepper Winters. That book gutted me in a way of ugly crying over the phone (lots of tissues I tell you), so the ending of the "Simple Wild" found me also in the Sobbing Land. But, Calla and Jonah pulled through and the book satisfies you in the best bittersweet way.

Family drama, romance, and an adventure, the Simple Wild is a must read!

Once Calla arrives in Alaska, I was hooked on this story. The sexual tension, the scenery, the desolation of Alaska, the lies, the misunderstandings, and the tears, just all of it. I really came to love these characters and their stories. All of them, especially, Simon, who is only a secondary character, but he is the best Step-Dad ever…if you have to have a step-dad than Simon can't be beaten. Even Calla says "everyone needs a Simon in their lives".

Nobody does angst quite as well as this Author, and this story has its fair share of it. Even with the sad-as-hell cancer storyline, this felt refreshing and current. It's also not weighed down with unnecessary drama. The Simple Wild is exactly that…simply wild and now it's one of my favorite KA Tucker books. I highly recommend to everyone.

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~~~~~MY RATING~~~~~
☆5☆STARS - GRADE= A+
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~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~

Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters~ 5+/5
Secondary Characters~ 5+/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 4.5/5
Addictiveness~ 4.7/5
Theme or Tone~ 4.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 4.5/5
Ending~ 4.5/5
Book Cover~ Not the best part about the book, by far, but It's okay.
Setting~ Bangor, Alaska & Toronto
Source~ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Simple Wild is more than just a romance. It’s a story about second chances, forgiveness, understanding, growth, and change.

What I loved most about The Simple Wild was the contrast between city and country life. Calla is a city girl from Toronto. She’s used to a lush lifestyle, so when she arrives in the last frontier, Alaska, she’s out of her element and has to face hardships she didn’t know existed. Watching Calla grow into an entirely new person as she begins to view the world from a very different perspective is compelling.

From the first few pages until the last, I couldn’t turn them fast enough. I absolutely loved the opening chapters. The reader is given a clear picture of who Calla is, how she moves through life, and what she expects out of it. This, again, adds more contrast to the Before Calla and After Calla.
Tucker’s writing is vivid in its imagery. Readers will be able to clearly imagine Alaska and all its wilderness glory. Also, the few chapters set in Toronto are authentic (Tucker lives in Toronto) and give the reader a sense of the hustle and bustle that is Canada’s biggest city. I’m excited to read more of Tucker’s novels set in Toronto!

Calla and Jonah’s friendship to romance is a slow burn as each of them discover how to compromise. It’s not the focus of the novel, but it’s a beautiful addition to everything Calla is experiencing.

Overall, The Simple Wild is anything but simple as Calla discovers a new dimension of herself and what it means to forgive.

Wow...WOW. The Simple Wild is an excellent book. My heart hurts, my eyes are burning from crying. And yet, my heart is full and I'm almost smiling.

I reallllly don't want to say too much, but I will say that Calla and her dad Wren's story was so beautiful. Unlike their story, I always had a wonderful, full relationship with my Dad, but I so, so related to that incredible bond that forms when you know your time could be running out. Everything Calla felt, I felt. Every thought she had, I had. Reading The Simple Wild was incredibly cathartic. I almost skipped it because I'd rather avoid pain than rush towards it. I'm really glad I didn't.

I realize I've almost exclusively talked about my feelings, and not the actual book. But I think it's important to point out that some books are more than entertainment (although there's nothing wrong with that!). Some books become a part of you, heal you. That's what Simple Wildwas to me.

But, the romance between Calla and Jonah was more than on point. It was a slow burn, fiery and sustainable. A love story that makes you just, love Love.

AND, if you care for reading about a dude who (in my mind) was pretty much described as Chris Hemsworth in Thor:Ragnarok, then have at it guys. Jonah was ??

I've been reading KA Tucker books —sporadically—for years. The Simple Wild is by far my favorite. Hats of to you.

You guys, I'm a mess.  This wonderful, heart-wrenching, beautiful book got me.  It's a good thing I'm at work because I would be sobbing my eyes out right now.  It's been a long time since a book made me feel ALL THE FEELS.  I finished it about 15 minutes ago and had to come write about it right away.    I started this book on my commute this morning and finished it up at lunch.  All 400 pages of it.

When the book starts, it's a little jarring because it's years ago and the person narrating is actually the female main character's mother.  So it switches from Susan to Calla for the rest of the book.  I know I had to go back to double check so just be forewarned.  Anyway, fast forward to modern times.  Calla lives with her mom, Susan and her step-dad, Simon.  I want Simon for my dad but I digress.  Calla gets a phone call from Alaska that she tries to ignore but the calls are persistent.  Her biological father, who she hadn't seen since she was 2, has lung cancer.  And so, being laid off from her job at a bank, Calla goes to Alaska to see her father.

Here we meet Jonah also known as the Yeti.  Jonah works with Calla's dad and is an all around pain in the ass.  And of course, where we have hot guy who is a pain in the ass, we have romance.  Once Calla arrives in Alaska, everything goes wrong.  Her luggage hasn't arrived, none of the grocery stores have her soy milk, there are bugs everywhere and her dad doesn't seem to be to keen on the idea of having her there.

Over time as the relationships begin to progress and layers begin to peel away, Calla begins to adjust to Alaska and take time to get to know her father, Jonah and the rest of the cast of characters.  Of course Calla and Jonah strike up a relationship and of course there is trouble and unrevealed secrets and other roadblocks but in the end, the book is so much more than a romance.  Every relationship in this book changed and every character in this book grew as a person.  I don't remember the last time I could say that about a book and really mean it as much as I do for this story.  

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.  It's out today.  Bravo Ms. Tucker, Bravo. 

The Simple Wild is an emotionally filled journey full of love, regret, sorrow and forgiveness. Her mom and dad parted ways when Calla was very little. 24 years later, circumstances unite Calla with her father, Wren, who owns his own charter plane company in rural Alaska.

Calla flies to Alaska from Toronto to see her dad. Jonah, a bush pilot who works for Wren, flies Calla on the last lag of her flight. He doesn't make things easy for her and comes across as a jerk but we slowly see why he acts like he does toward Calla.

Calla and Jonah are total opposites. Calla is the privileged 26 year old who owns expensive clothes and loves her daily lattes. She earns the nickname "Barbie". Jonah is a 31 year old down to earth, low maintenance, tell it like it is kind of guy with a bushy beard and large selfless heart. He earns the nickname "Yeti". Slowly, those two warm up to each other and the tricks they play on each other is very entertaining.

I loved this emotional enemies to lovers romance and highly recommend it. The Alaskan setting and tasks/jobs of being a bush pilot as described in this book added a uniqueness to this journey. The secondary characters really strengthened the beauty of this story too

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

I am in tears. This book should be called The Simple Feels. I have felt every single emotion possible while reading this book. That is the true sign of a remarkable story. K.A. Tucker is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read every single book by her, and I can honestly say this is by far her best novel. I am so incredibly enamored and invested in this story and the characters. I will definitely be rereading this book again...and again...and again. (Yes, it is THAT good.)

I immediately connected with Calla from the very first page. Calla's personality is incredibly vibrant, fiery, and radiant. You can't help but like her and feel for her. When this book starts Calla is having a bad day: she gets fired from her job. Then, she finds out that her father--whom she hasn't seen since she was 2 years old nor talked to since she was 14 years old--has been diagnosed with lung cancer. But wait, there's more, then Calla realizes that her boyfriend is kind of almost cheating on her...only she doesn't mind. Turns out they'd grown apart and neither wanted to hurt the other by saying they should break up. Still with me? Okay, good. If this is where this story starts then you can only imagine where it can go from here! (This is me subtly telling you to read this book as soon as it's published on August 7th...Remember that date, it is very important. Like super important because you need this book in your life.) If you like stories full of heart, witty banter, sarcasm, family, and romance then this is the book for you. (But, really, this book is for everyone. Everyone deserves a beautiful, heart wrenching story.)

K.A. Tucker does a phenomenal job in depicting the setting, way of life, and people of Alaska. Bangor, Alaska sounds like a place everyone needs to visit at least once in their life. All of the people who live there are extremely accommodating, kind, helpful, and caring--they're wonderful people. They all band together to help each other out. This is how everyone in the world should be. We need to take a page out of Alaska's book.

Now, let's talk about the characters. Boy, do I love and cherish these characters. First off, Calla, our main character, is sooooooo relatable. It's easy to read the story from her point of view and understand why she feels the way she does or why she does something. There's nothing worse than a main character that you can't connect with or even remotely like.

Next, Jonah, Calla's love interest. Jonah is a piece of work and I am here for it. He's the definition of a teddy bear. He looks incredibly intimidating and cold from the outside, meanwhile he has a heart of pure gold. He risks his life every day to help others. Needless to say, when these two characters meet it is not love at first sight...at all. Jonah is extremely prejudiced against materialistic girls and with one glance at Calla that is all he sees. Of course, he's wrong. Sure, Calla loves material things as we all do but she isn't a superficial person. Thus, the heated animosity between these two. Side note: this book has some of the funniest and entertaining banter I've ever read. Calla and Jonah are hilarious. Definitely perfect for each other, in my opinion.

Now, Wren Fletcher. The absentee father. Wren and Calla's mother's romance did not end well. Calla's mom decided she couldn't hack it in Alaska and Wren couldn't leave. You start this book out wondering what the hell is wrong with Wren. Here is a pilot that never manages to fly himself to Toronto to see his daughter. Wren is a complex man and I enjoyed getting to know him. He is the embodiment of accepting reality and in turn not fighting for what you want. He isn't a bad person by any means; he was just too scared of possibly disappointing his daughter more so he simply stayed away. He played it safe when he should have taken a risk.

This leads me to the question you are all probably thinking: will Jonah and Calla follow in her parents' footsteps? Will one of them be brave enough to leave the comfort of their home for the other? Will love conquer all?

Yeahhhh, I'm not going to tell you. You'll just have to read it for yourself and find out *evil villain laughter*.

Overall, I loved every single thing about this book, if you couldn't tell. I honestly don't have a single complaint. The pacing was perfect. The characters were three dimensional and completely flushed out with great development. The setting was described vividly; I imagined Bangor, Alaska in my head without any issues. The romance wasn't forced or unbelievable; it was so incredibly realistic. Most of all, the different versions of a family are accurately described and shown throughout this book. The writing of this book is raw. I smiled. I laughed. I cried. I rolled my eyes. I cried some more. I can't wait to see what K.A. Tucker writes next.

I absolutely love everything that KA Tucker writes. The Simple Wild is a beautifully written story about love, loss and relationships. This is one of my top reads of 2018 and I highly recommend it!

Callia Fletcher has never had a relationship with her father, Wren She is quite surprised when she gets a call asking her to come to see him. She isn't sure how she feels about seeing him again after all these years but knows she needs to see him and hopefully build a relationship with him before it's too late. She never expected to fall in love with Alaska and the people who live there while she was visiting.

Jonah is a bush pilot for Wren who thinks Callie is a high maintenance girl who doesn't belong in Alaska. He understands why she is there spending time with her dad but he doesn't treat her very well. The more time they spend together he begins to realize that Callie has a huge heart. When tragedy strikes Callie and Jonah help each other cope with all the changes that take place.

I loved the deep connection between Callie and Jonah. The secondary characters added lots of depth to the storyline. I can't wait to see what KA is working on next.

KA Tucker, yet again, impresses me with her unique stories in The Simple Wild. My favorite thing about KA's writing is her settings. The Simple Wild takes place in Bangor, Alaska, and although Bangor itself doesn't actually exist, her depiction of what Alaska is will engulf you. You LIVE The Simple Wild!

Calla, the city girl from Toronto, gets a phone call that her father, whom she has never had a relationship with, is dying of cancer. Wren lives in a place so completely foreign to her and her animosity for him almost overcomes her will to get on the plane to visit him. Once she lands, she quickly realizes that the simple wild of Alaska isn't simple at all... and her entire life changes within two weeks time.

KA Tucker outs so much effort and energy not only into her settings for her stories, but her characters as well. They each are so special and their stories are beautifully woven together. The Simple Wild will school you in facing your fears, grieving, transforming that into hope and acceptance. Fantastic read once again!

4 out of 5 "Alaska Wild" Blushes

4 Beautiful Alaskan Stars!

I’ve loved every KA Tucker novel I’ve read and The Simple Wild was no exception. Set in a rural Alaskan town, Calla’s story is one of self discovery and reflection, realization, making amends and finding love. Her story is not without heartbreak and loss. I teared up numerous times while reading especially towards the end. But I also really enjoyed reading the light hearted banter between Calla and Jonah (think Charlie Hunnam circa season 2 of Sons of Anarchy but instead of motorcycle he’s flying a plane- YUM), and the picturesque landscape that Tucker illustrates beautifully.

Their romance is one of enemies to lovers with a subtle, slow burning attraction that explodes once ignited. I loved Calla and Jonah together. Calla is a bonafide self-proclaimed city girl and Jonah the burley and brooding pilot tasked with bringing her to Alaska on his single engine plane. And so it begins....an unlikely bond is forged between the Barbie and her yeti. I’ve spent the last few days totally sucked into their world and loved every minute of it.

Undeniably, The Simple Wild is one of my absolute favorites on 2018!

I don't know where to begin, honestly. This book has it all. There's laughter, romance, heartbreak, and raw emotion. K. A. Tucker has blown me away. It's true that she's one of my favorite authors, but I feel like The Simple Wild went above and beyond anything I've ever expected from her books. I think it is because I was especially touched by Calla's relationship with her father and could relate to it in many ways.

While the entire book was fantastic, I was astounded by how good the second half was. The ending... oh boy. It was so emotional and heartfelt. I was a bit curious as to how certain things would be handled, but I couldn't have imagined anything better than what actually happened. It was the best, most perfect ending I didn't realize I wanted.

I cannot believe it's over. This book was fantastic and I need more of Calla and Jonah.

* This book was received from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

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.

After Calla receives a call about her father, whom she hasn’t seen since she was two, she makes her way to the Alaskan wilderness to get to know him. What she doesn’t expect to find is an angry yeti bush pilot to butt heads with. Will the simple wild be to much for the city girl to handle?

The Simple Wild has got to be up there in my list of favorite romance novels and one of my favorite K.A. Tucker books. She managed to take two totally different characters and perfectly form it into a realistic romance. I love how the simple wild sticks out from the same repetitive themes. I rarely see romance novels about bush pilots and its great to see a different theme that stuck out. This novel really has everything. Humor, heartache and romance all put together in a hard to put down and irresistible story. It makes you question what is out there and what you could be missing.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Words can’t express how much I loved this book. This is KA Tucker at her best. I loved everything about this book.

Calla was born in Alaska but moved to Canada with her mom at a young age. She has been perfectly content with her life until things start to fall apart. After a phone call about her dad she decides to go back to Alaska. She hasn’t spoken to him in years but she knows she needs to go.

When Calla arrives in Alaska she meets Jonah a pilot who is going to take her to her dad. To say they got along is an understatement. Jonah thought she was spoiled and should have came to visit her father sooner. I loved Jonah and the banter between these two characters.

This was a story about forgiveness and second chances. Everything about this book was perfect and just so much! The Simple Wild has made it to my top favorites list for 2018. This is a must read you don’t want to miss!

Very moving and fantastically written novel by K.A. Tucker. This one may have moved Ten Tiny Breaths out of the top spot for me.

It's the perfect balance of all the feels, comedic timing, and titillating romance. I almost felt like I was in Alaska (which I have no desire to go to) while reading this novel. Not only are the characters wonderful, but the way the surroundings are described set this book apart. The relationships, not only with the main character Calia and her father but with Jonah, were so realistic.

I couldn't put this one down and I will definitely be re-reading this one as I feel the first time through I may have missed so much as I just needed to get to the next page to see how things unfolded. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, especially if you loved Ten Tiny Breaths.

ARC Provided by Publisher for free, but this does not influence my review.

"The Simple Wild" focuses on 26 YO Calla Fletcher as she travels to the "barren wasteland" of Alaska to meet her father, who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer, for the first time.

Calla's views of her father and of Alaska have been heavily influenced by her mother, who left Alaska 24 years prior, despite still loving her husband. Because of this, Calla is quick to dismiss everything about her father's hometown. The weather, the lack of cell service and WiFi, no coffee shops...you get the idea. I'll admit that it was difficult to like Calla at first because she came off as spoiled. As is the case with books like this, that changes over time.

This book features a slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance and that is one of my absolute favorites. All of the tension! All of the banter! Jonah, a bush pilot who works for Calla's father, starts on Calla the moment he meets her, seemingly writing her off because she comes off as high-maintenance. Calla bites back at Jonah because he is unkempt and cranky, basically her exact opposite (she calls him the "angry yeti", which I love!). I really like the way their relationship unfolded...you knew what was going to happen, but the waiting was perfect in its tension and humor.

I actually cried reading this. It's not super rare for me, but it doesn't happen that often, either. I just felt like I got to know all of the characters so well and imagine them and their environment so clearly.

This was a sweet, funny, emotional read. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Definitely a different kind of feel from KA Tucker.
Calla Fletcher lives in Toronto but she was born in Alaska. Her mother moved them when she was 2. Calla always wished she knew her dad. With some bad news she has decided it is the right time to embark on a trip to get to know her dad. The descriptive writing makes the reader really feel how different everything is in the Bush of Alaska. She struggles with forgiving her dad and he struggles to open up to her. It is a beautiful struggle and the Yeti makes is perfect. great writing

There’s always those type of books that leave you reeling with emotion. And that is precisely what The Simple Wild did.

Calla hasn’t seen her father in over 20 years, but some news comes that can’t keep them apart any longer. So Calla travels to Alaska to see what the wild is all about. I’m still so emotional from this book and still just want to cry after reading. It’s a beautiful story. With all these lovely characters. You can’t help but love them.

Tucker has always been one of my favorite authors. Every book she comes out with I’ve loved. But this one by far is the best. This is Tucker. This is the brilliant writing, that tugs at every emotion. You can feel that love they have for each other. The passion and care. If I could give this a million stars, I would, and still wouldn’t do this book justice.

This is a great enemies to lovers plot line about the outdoors in Alaska. Calla is a very strong character that she is someone that I would totally want to be friends with. Even though Jonah is convinced that Calla is out of her depth, she really tries to learn about the man (her father) that she has always wondered about. Jonah is, of course, the rugged hero that you always wanted. He and Calla have a great connections and both grow throughout the story. You will feel like you are in the Great Frontier and be so happy you read this book. This book is very close to pushing Ten Tiny Breaths out as my all-time Tucker favorite! Her writing is amazing in this installment and I really felt like I was feeling the emotions of all of these wonderful characters!

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.

Not enough stars. Not even kidding.

Oh my heart!! The Simple Wild was beautiful, in story and in the setting. This book had everything, laughter, sadness, love and friendship. My puffy eyes are proof of all of these. I couldn’t contain my emotions. It was more than my body could take. KA Tucker pulled no punches with this. It was raw and real and I felt like I was there, experiencing everything with them. She was in her element with this. I have a feeling this will be in my top 10 of this year and it’s definitely my favorite of hers now. Bumped TTB off that pedestal. So freaking good.

Life is definitely not always as simple as we’d like it to be. Man, I can’t wait till you guys read this book.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for a honest review

4 1/2stars

The Simple Wild was a great book for me, from the first page it sucked me in and I was sad when it was over. K.A Tucker did a wonderful job of keeping me interested in the story and it's character's, I really loved both Calla and Jonah and I also loved how this was a slow burn romance. This story had pretty much everything I like in a book, great story, character's, and a writing style that totally kept me engaged in what was happening. My only tiny complaint is I wish we would have gotten Jonah's pov every now and then and that there was bit of an epilogue but otherwise, loved it!

But this time my emotional bounderies have been broken. It hit close to home and I felt upset, angry but also it kind of made me see farther than what I am sometimes willing to see and accept. Very eye opening without judgement or moral doing.
It also has a lot of humour and romance.
The way Alaska is described makes me want to move there! Well maybe not but it is defintely on my bucket's list to visit.
Also, I cried. That NEVER happens!
I don't know how she does it but she amazes me every time.
It's a romantic standalone that I wholeheartedly recommend.
No wonder KA Tucker is a best seller.

I really loved this. I loved the pace, the character growth, the romance, the relationships, the love, the pain, the humour, the setting. It was also wonderful to see Tucker write a story about a Canadian girl from Toronto.

My only disappointment is that I wish it had been a tad longer. I was worried that there wasn't going to be enough time left in the book to complete the story in a suitable and believable way but she managed to tie everything up and make me happy. Still, I just wish I had more time with everyone. I can't thinking about it. Wren, especially, stole a piece of my heart.

Calla learns her father is ill and returns to Alaska from Toronto. She was taken at age two by her mother who couldn't stand the wilderness. Now Calla is getting to know her dad, Wren and the handsome pilot, Johan who seems very anxious for her to leave. He thinks she's too prissy and city bound to be happy in the wild. As they get to know each other she begins to think there could be more between them but is unsure if she can stay. A good story of a father/daughter relationship and a budding romance. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book completely gutted me!
I love the characters so much. I related to Calla a lot too.. what she went through, I’ve been in a similar situation with someone who was like a second father to me.. might have made the experience so much stronger while reading.. I’m daddy’s girl through and through even with our distant relationship.
Each and every time I think I’ve found my. favourite but KA Tucker always seems to change it with each release! This one is no exception. I love her writing and can’t wait to see what she comes up with for her next release!

This was a beautifully written book that reads as if you are part of the story. I truly felt like I was in Alaska from the descriptions. I loved Calla and Wren's story. Calla feels abandoned by Wren never being there for her, and Wren doesn't know how to connect with his daughter that he hasn't seen since she was 2. Add in romance and it is the perfect book to lose yourself in. This is a beautifully written story of family, love, and redemption. I received and advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

**received copy from Netgalley in exchange for honest review**

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. I have some personal experience with a theme of this story, and I have to give Tucker commendation on writing that part so well. I highly recommend this book to any and everyone. As with all of her books, The Simple Wild was well written with the perfect characters that stay with me long after I have finished reading. This book has taken the top spot of my favorite book! Happy Reading!!
5 likes

I devoured this book. It was, in classic KA style, unputdownable. It was quite a bit more emotional than I thought it would be, but in such a powerful and wonderful way. I loved all the different facets, the way each character was so pertinent to the story, and how I still feel as though I know this bunch on a very personal level. Another fantastic book by KA Tucker!
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Thank you to atria books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fabulous read! Great characters, impressive story development, witty, poignant, and so romantic. I'm in love with a Yeti. This is a fish out of water tale that is at times heartbreaking, but tempered with witty banter and crazy antics. I wouldn't say that it's an angsty read; more like secondary angst. All around, it was a wonderfully written and unputdownable story that in turns made me smile and then shed a few tears.

This book was a cross between women’s fiction and romance (in my opinion).A big part of the story is the heroine trying to attempt a relationship with her estranged father. Then there’s Jonah...a rough around the edges guy who you can’t help but love in the end. This is a slow burn love story and an unexpectedly emotional story that had me crying the last 10% of the book. Beautifully done with a hopeful ending that made the story even better.

KA Tucker never disappoints. This book was incredible, it follows the journey of Calla to Alaska to see her father - a man she doesn’t know. The characters were poignant. Alaska became its own character. I loved watching Calla grow and change her pre-conceived notions. This book reminds us that life it short and do all things. Even if they are hard.

Loved the setting and all the characters. However, I found Calla a tad too shallow. I know that was part of the fish out of water and romantic tension of the story, but for me it kept the book from being 5 star. Still a fast and engaging read.

Mixture of sweetness and sadness. Calla is a high maintenance girl and Jonah is a dreamboat. Of course they grate on each other's nerves. Love the pranks they pull on each other. My Favorite people were Angie and Mabel. Set in Alaska, living more rurally shows urbane Calla just what the country can offer. The ending was the best.

Calla’s journey to Alaska to make amends with her dad after years of separation is a duel, soul-searching journey. Calla tries to understand her father’s estrangement through his eyest and his lifestyle. Meanwhile, a “sky cowboy”, Jonah, challenges her self-absorbed, urban lifestyle in a funny and meaningful way. Fun, but, sad, adventurous and real, Calla journey leads to life-altering choices and moments.

A beautiful love story that starts with the beginning of her life. Emotionally overhauled by the end and a new appreciation of Alaska. One of the very few books that caused tears. One of the year most epic reads in 2018. Standalone.