Running Wild — Books, Beauty, & Buys

By: K.A Tucker
Published Year: 2022
Publisher: K.A. Tucker
Pages: 370

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Veterinarian Marie Lehr knows unrequited love all too well after pining for her best friend, only to watch him marry another woman. It’s a mistake she will never make again, especially not when she can practically hear the clock ticking on her childbearing years.

The trouble is, she can’t seem to find anyone who appeals to her even a fraction as much as that burly bush pilot did. Competitive musher Tyler Brady certainly doesn’t, especially not after the heated altercation with the handsome but arrogant, spiteful man.

Or so she thinks.

While volunteering at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Marie discovers that first impressions may have been false, and her attraction to Tyler is very real. But his heart belongs to someone else, leaving him with nothing to offer but friendship. Marie’s been down this road before and knows how that ends. Yet, no matter how hard she works to keep from falling for Tyler, it seems she’s doomed to follow her own trail once again.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, struggling between the safe route and the one that will only lead to more heartbreak.

First Impressions

I loved the first Simple Wild book and enjoyed the second one as well so I was very excited to see a third one coming out. I was a bit surprised that this was not about Calla and Jonah, so it dampened by excitement slightly, but also we had gotten so much of them I was ready to see what was next. I also adore these covers. They are so beautiful and make me want to go to Alaska.

What I thought

This book lived up to all of my hopes and expectations.

Marie is a veterinarian in rural Alaska. She took over her father’s clinic outside of Anchorage, but at 38 years old she is starting to wonder if she will ever had more in her life. Tyler just bought a farm in the town and has come from Finland to run in the Iditarod. He is shrouded in mystery and Tyler and Marie do not get along from the first time they meet.

Marie did appear in the first two novels. She was in love with Jonah and considers him her best friend. I don’t think anyone who has read the first two books in this series would say that they liked Marie. I was curious to see how Tucker was going to bring us into her world and make us root for her. If nothing else, I figured I would be cheering for her to find her own love story and get over Jonah!

I loved this book. I thought Marie was great and I actually really liked her character. I also adored Tyler and the immediate banter and chemistry that he had with Marie. One of my favorite characteristics of Marie is how strong of a woman she is. She is the best veterinarian in the area and volunteers for the Iditarod. She isn’t afraid to stand for a cause when it comes to the animals.

However, that also balances with the one part I got a little annoyed with over time and that was her age and desire to have a child. Marie is 38 and it is repeated over and over and over how much she wants a family and a child and how worried she is she will never have that since she broke off an engagement and Jonah got married. I understand where she’s coming from, but it did get a little repetitive at times.

I was surprised how the Iditarod occurred to early in the book. I wish there had been a little more build up to that and then maybe not as quite occurring afterwards. But I also understand that the timeline works well to have months for Tyler and Marie to get to know each other.

It was also interesting because Tyler is a widow. I think, for the most part, it’s written well without being over the top. I got a little frustrated towards the end, but I think it was mostly me just wanting them to get together already!