The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

The Simple Wild (The Simple Wild, #1)

by K.A. Tucker

City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reconnect with her estranged father, and unwittingly finds herself torn between her desire to return to the bustle of Toronto and a budding relationship with a rugged Alaskan pilot in this masterful new romance from acclaimed author K.A. Tucker.

Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when her father reaches out to inform her that his days are numbered, Calla knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.

She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this new subarctic environment, Jonah—the quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot who keeps her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.

Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. As time passes, she unexpectedly finds herself forming a bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago.

It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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She left Alaska, and her father, 24 years ago, but after learning her father was ill, and after some soul searching, she returned in an effort to connect with her him once again.

When I first read the synopsis, I thought this was going to be a full-on romance. Don't get me wrong, there was a strong romantic element, but this leaned more towards women's fiction for me. The story was really Calla's. She seemed to be at a standstill in her life. She had lost her job, shed her boyfriend, and wasn't sure what her next step would be. She seemed to be unfulfilled in many areas of her life, and Alaska was a place for her to escape. A place where she could sort through her emotions, while also trying to make peace with her past. Watching her evolve was an amazing treat, and I have to thank Tucker for allowing me to take this journey with her. It was heartfelt and moving, and I was really pleased with all she accomplished.

Aside from Calla and her part of the story, I adored being in Alaska. I had cruised through there several years ago, and was captivated by the beauty of that state. Tucker did a great job sharing that part with us, as well as giving us a glimpse into how they live out there. I really appreciated getting that peek into their daily life, and also the respectful way it was presented to me.

This book was packed with characters, who won a place in my heart. Agnes was a beautiful human, whose love saw no boundaries. I could feel her warmth radiating off the page every time she entered a scene. And, Simon, Calla's step dad, was another star in my eyes. It was quite a situation he was in, but he handled it with so much grace.

And, then, there was Jonah. I have a special place in my heart for grumpy heroes, and Jonah definitely fit that bill. From their first interaction, I knew he and Calla would eventually catch fire, and when then did! Oh, boy! They were white hot. But, it wasn't just about the chemistry, he really pushed her to be the best version of herself, while still loving all the parts of her, and they complemented each other well.

However, Calla wasn't supposed to fall for the Viking Sky Cowboy. I sort of loved, that Tucker set Calla up in a situation similar to her parents. It was almost like history repeating itself.

So, yeah, I went through the crying part, and then another crying part, and then the ending happened, which was amazing, and made me really happy, and now, I am eagerly waiting the sequel, because I cannot wait to continue this story.

Overall: A touching and beautiful story about forgiveness, connection, and love containing the perfect blend of humor, romance, and drama, which left me constantly switching between happy and sad tears.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 16 October, 2019: Finished reading
  • 16 October, 2019: Reviewed