Running Wild: 4 (The Simple Wild)

Running wild follows Marie whom we are already familiar with from the previous books of the Simple Wild Series. Being the potential threat to Calla's love life, Marie wasn't exactly a fan favorite that you expect to get an independent book of her own. Naturally, it generates a curiosity to see how she fits in as a protagonist. Surprisingly, the author made the character so relatable that you start rooting for her. When it comes to the central conflict and how it is resolved, Tyler falls a bit short. That being said, the chemistry between the main characters was great and the story was entertaining too. The ensemble cast as always complimented the main plot. Overall, I enjoyed Running Wild. It gave closure to Marie and was a nice bookend to Calla and Jonah's love story.

Great romance with thoughtful and fabulous characters and extremely well written. Highly recommend.I sympathized with Marie from the first pages. She is such a wonderful person, which will do anything to save and protect animals. While patients owners and neighbors admire her commitment and worship her, unfortunately she is not so lucky in love. I loved it like the author made it possible to grow up with the relationship between Marie the Veterinarian and Tyler the Ranger/Dog runner and how Marie realized was is best for her, her family and the Clinic. Loved the Alaska-feeling and the beautiful dogs🐕. You will thrill for Marie, feel for her desires and you will just want her happiness (Spoilers: She get her Happy Ending 😊)

4.5 starsI’m so happy we got to read Marie’s story.Unpopular opinion but I’ve always liked her as a person ( we are kindred spirits , unrequited love check ✅, rescuing every animal check ✅) and I was so delighted to see how strong and amazing she is .This is a very slow burn romance but the chemestry between Marie and Tyler is off the charts. They started with the wrong foot but both quickly realized that there was more to one another and started to get to know each other better . There were a lot of up and downs and very serious moments, both Marie and Tyler had issues to work through but in the end they were made for each other .Tyler was swoony and funny but he was also a broken man with a tragic past. Trying to move on and at the same time holding on to his past .Marie , I loved her before and I love her even more now. I could always relate to her as I’ve been in her place before. But there so much more to her other than her being a veterinarian and her unrequited love.We got to see what her life is , her family and the pressure that is on her as a woman . She feels pressured because she is 38 and doesn’t have kids yet, no husband while evyone around her is “evolving” and she feels stuck and everyone seems to have an (unwanted) opinion and suggestions on how she should live her life.We got to see her family and her Very opinionated sisters and her lovable relatioship with her dad and her mom.Marie is very selfless and I’m glad that we got to see her journey and her evolving into this person that knows what she wants and is not willing to settle.This book was so much more than a romance and I really can’t express how much I loved it! Also there were some funny moments involving a blong wig and a one eyed snake!Highly recommend!

Wow, where to begin with this book? I'm sure like most Calla/Jonah stans Marie was one of those characters that I was leery of from the previous books. However, I was willing to give this book a shot to see where her story goes and this book DELIVERS. Readers will not be disappointed in this addition to the series, and we get to see Marie's side of things. We do get to see past friends from this series (yay!), but ultimately this is Marie's story.This book starts off by giving us a glimpse into Marie's history with Jonah and how everything changes once Calla arrives in Alaska. Marie feels like everyone around her has everything they want in their life - except her and she isn't sure how to change that. She has taken over her father's veterinarian practice, but everything changes for her when one of her biggest clients brings in what seems to be an abused sled dog. Marie is a very caring person (especially with animals) and is outraged. She decided to confront the supposed owner of the dog, who turns out to be the newest person in town, Tyler Brady. Tyler does not appreciate Marie's accusations of mistreatment when he is the one that originally found the dog in such bad shape. To say they start off on a rocky path is an understatement, but circumstances start throwing them into each other's paths.Once they get past their initial meeting, Marie feels like Tyler is flirting with her. Something happens (during Tyler participating in the Iditarod no less!) where she doubts herself and if she is reading the signs wrong, again. Tyler offers her friendship, but Marie is wary of this because she is afraid of getting too attached without any sort of future that leads to her getting hurt a second time. She is doing her best to avoid past mistakes, but Tyler makes it difficult. Tyler makes things even harder to resist when he asks Marie to be the vet to his sled dogs, which puts Tyler in her path on a regular basis.Tyler has some old hurts he has a difficult time getting past, and he really holds himself back from Marie. He's really struggling with what is now his new life and Marie is something that is unexpected. We see him as someone that is really caring and selfless, but he does something really hurtful to Marie after she really lets down her guard with him. You can really experience the emotions and hurt they are both feeling throughout the book. Will Marie finally find what she wants out of life with so many changes happening around her? Will she be strong enough to move forward?I know this review is a little long, but I do want others to know that this book is an absolute delight. If you love the Simple Wild world, you will LOVE this book. You will love seeing old friends, but you will really love being introduced to new characters. You will also love reading about new aspects of Alaskan life and the sledding dog culture (and the love and criticism surrounding it). Marie's family was a trip and I really enjoyed seeing the bond she has with her dad. I also really enjoyed seeing into Marie's thoughts and how loving and caring she really is. There are a lot of things that make you laugh throughout (there is one scene where her past and future converge while waiting for coffee that had me laughing like crazy at a mention of being in the twilight zone). There are also a lot of scenes that really hit you in the feels while Marie is sorting through her own feelings, professionally and personal lives, and what she really wants. You really feel like you are going through what Marie is going through, just like you do in the original books. I do think (and I hope!) there is potential for other characters from this book getting their own stories.If you were on the fence about this book not being about Jonah and Calla or if were unsure with this being Marie's book, don't be. You will love her story just as much, and you will be wanting more from these characters and this world just like I was. I don't think fans of this series and author will be disappointed AT ALL. You will just be happy to be in this world again. I stayed up WAY too late to read this book and immediately went back to re-read some of my favorite parts once I finished it. I've been thinking about this book and characters all day, and I can't wait to read it again! I hope I've expressed how much I loved this book and what a great story it is. I honestly wish I could experience this book as a new read a second time!

This lovely story that spins off of the Simple Wild series is wonderful. I was hesitant at first. I didn't realize that it was going to go off with a different main character Marie the Vet in the first 3 books of the series. It took me a few months to pick it up I was so in love with all the characters and the dynamics of the first 3 and I have to say she wasn't a favorite. But this book is a great addition to the series and it does have a lot of my favorite people in it they make the perfect appearance in a more in depth look into Marie's family and longing to find true love. Don't hesitate it's a wonderful read. I'm so glad I got to know another side of Marie and her family and her love and commitment to the animals she cares for. The only thing that's sad is the that the Simple Wild Series is now officially done.

“I want it all. Consuming passion and camaraderie, laughter and strength, hope and comfort.It exists. I’ve seen it every time I look at Jonah and Calla.And maybe I can have it for myself too.”Running Wild yet again proves why I love K.A Tucker's books so much, she has a knack with evoking deep emotions within through her writing. I am always in awe of her ability with handling complicated/messy human emotions in the most simplest of ways, if she continues to write more in this series, I will be here till the very end(Totally hoping for Mabel and Reed's story like 5 years later).While I selfishly wanted more Calla and Jonah, I was eager to pick up this book about Marie.Even though I never disliked her character it is a known fact that she isn't favored by the fans, I however am a sucker for perspective changes when it comes to a character. I was intrigued with this dog loving (precious) Woman and I am so happy I gave it a chance!Marie's story is messy, beautiful, sad, raw and real! The first thing I noticed and loved about her is her brutal honesty which was a breathe of fresh air, she knows herself in a very intimate manner and is always realistic about her needs and wants including the kind of love her broken heart needs in order for her to pick up her life and move on. Her relationship with her family especially her dad is heartwarming, even the mild sibling rivalry we see is so very real and as far as I am concerned these people really exist in Alaska. While Marie is easy to fall in love, she doesn't have the best luck with her choice of people and Tyler is no different with a tragic past of his own he is trying to piece his broken heart with one puppy at a time and what comes out of the relationship between these two is beautiful, authentic and matured.Your heart aches for these souls and yet mends at the same time as you genuinely feel happy how the story turns out for themI also absolutely loved seeing a bit of old friends here, Calla and Jonah, Mabel and Agnes, Muriel and Toby and of course the resident grump Roy.The little tidbit in the last chapter about Calla and Jonah's situation brought an unexpected surge of emotions in me, I also enjoyed how KAT wrote this book around mushing. I mean a bunch of puppies and gorgeous big dogs! who in the world doesn't love that? All in all I want to thank the author for the beautiful world she had created and especially for giving Marie a second chance, my heart is full! like I said I can keep reading the series forever if the author continues to expand it.TW- Loss, grief, loss of child, Miscarriage, animal abuse (mild)