*I received a free copy of Running Wild from Selfpublished via Author. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Running Wild by K. A. Tucker Series: Wild #3
Published by Selfpublished on 25 January 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 383
Format: eARC
Source: Author
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.
Running Wild is Marie’s story, she is a character we met in the prior Wild stories, and she was not my favorite character in those…
I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy Marie’s story, because, as I sad, I didn’t really like her in the prior books in this series. Partly, that’s because she was kind of an interloper in Calla and Jonah’s story. As Jonah’s best friend – who also had a crush on him. This is something Marie deals with in her own novel. While she is happy for Calla and Jonah, she also wants that kind of relationship for herself.
The family relationships in Running Wild are a bit complicated. Marie is the oldest of three sisters, and she lives and works on her parents’ property. Both of her sisters either have children, or soon will become parents, and Marie can hear her biological clock tick-tocking away. But she doesn’t want to settle. Which is something I can understand so very well. She definitely deserves someone who loves her, someone who is her friend, who she is passionate about, and who looks at her as if she’s the only woman in the world.
Enter Tyler. He’s grouchy, secretive, handsome, and at first, Marie despises him. That is, until she gets to know him. Then she likes him more and more. Only, he isn’t sure what he wants. He has a complicated past, and he’s not sure he wants the ‘complications’ of a relationship. But he also develops very strong feelings for Marie.
Running Wild has some drama, both of the family type, and other types. This brings some more bones to the story, but I didn’t feel like everything was resolved by the end of the novel. As always, KA Tucker’s writing was spot on, and the story definitely hit me in the feels!
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Twitter: Northwomn
Fantastic review! Interesting combination of location and careers.
I love KA Tucker so much, and being able to travel through the books right now is an even bigger treat than usual 🙂
This sounds like a good one. I love when an author can take a “less than loved” type character and turn them around to be a beloved heroine. And I love books with animals!!
Yes, I agree, she totally got me to love Marie, and that was not a given 🙂 Of course, books with animals are awesome. I think you’ll enjoy this, too, Jen.
I really enjoyed this one and was happy that Tucker decided to write Marie’s story. There was so much going on beyond the romance – financial issues, aging parents, sibling dynamics – and I thought it all blended together well for a solid story.
Yes, you’re so right, Tanya. There was much more going on than the romance, and I was there for it 🙂
I love that Tucker had you changing your feelings about Marie’s character. She made me mad a few times in those first books, but I’m excited to find out what her story is. I can’t wait to start this book in the next couple of days. Great review!
It takes a special kind of skill to turn a character around in readers’ minds like that. And I’m very happy Tucker managed to do that for me with Marie.