Book Review

Book Review | Forever Wild by K.A. Tucker

Title: Forever Wild (The Simple Wild, #2.5)
Author: K.A. Tucker
Genre: Romance, Holiday
Published On: December 1, 2020
Publisher: K.A. Tucker
Source: digital
Pages: 156

Synopsis:

From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes Forever Wild, a novella that continues the story of Calla’s journey to the Alaskan wild and a life she never imagined for herself. 

The holiday season is upon Calla and Jonah, and with the mistletoe and gingerbread comes plenty of family drama. Jonah is bracing himself for two weeks with a stepfather he loathes, and while Calla is looking forward to her mother and Simon’s arrival, she dreads the continued pressure to set a date for their wedding … in Toronto. Add in one bullheaded neighbor’s unintentional meddling and another cantankerous neighbor’s own family strife, and Christmas in Trapper’s Crossing will be anything but simple. 

My thoughts

(Spoiler free)

Forever Wild seemed the appropriate way to round out the year since I read the first two in the series, The Simple Wild and Wild at Heart, earlier in the year. Forever Wild read like the perfect continuation of Calla and Jonah’s story. It didn’t take any time to settle in. I was immediately lost in their story again.

While I would have loved it to be longer—honestly, Calla and Jonah could be sitting on the porch watching the snow fall and I’d want to read about it—I was satisfied with what I got. With one exception. More on that later.*

“Now, it’s Jonah’s fearless confidence that makes my blood race. His unwavering loyalty that makes me search for him in every room. His untamed passion that makes me weak at the knees. It’s everything—inside and out, good and bad—that makes up this wild man’s heart.”

K.A. Tucker, Forever Wild

All our favorite supporting characters are back, as well… and bonus—it’s Christmastime in Alaska! I enjoyed reading about Calla and Jonah preparing for the arrival of their families, decorating the house, worrying about the weather, and if everyone will get along. And, of course, the setting is always one of my favorite things about revisiting these characters. Who hasn’t fantasized about living (or at least visiting) somewhere remote and snowy at Christmas?

Since this is a novella, there’s not much that can be said without giving away spoilers, but if you’re a fan of the first two books, you should enjoy this one, as well. I read it in a few hours, and it left me misty-eyed at the end. This is a series I will definitely be rereading, and I would love to own all of them in physical form to display on my shelf.

The author mentioned in the Acknowledgements that it’s time for her to move on from Calla and Jonah. She hinted that they’ll show up in the spin-off she’s writing for Marie, the vet who crushed hard for Jonah, but I wish she’d write more for Calla and Jonah. They’re young! They have plenty of more adventures ahead! Maybe another novella someday?? One can hope. 

*The one exception to the novella I didn’t love was a bit of a minor thing, but still left me with my mouth hanging open. It’ll be a spoiler, so read at your own risk!

Spoiler

It drove me crazy that it faded to black at the very beginning of the wedding, just after Calla and Jonah see each other before she walks down the aisle. No vows?! No kiss?! No reception?! No first dance?! Maybe we’ll get it some other time–or maybe the author wanted to leave that to our imagination. But I was sad that it was abruptly over.

Rating: [usr 5]

Kobo | Amazon

About the Author

K.A. Tucker
K.A. Tucker

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. KEEP HER SAFE made Suspense Magazine’s Best of 2018 list for Romantic Suspense.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

A Song For A Book

On Bookstagram I created a hashtag for when I include a song that reminds me of the book I’m sharing, #ASongForABook, I thought I’d make it a regular feature on my reviews, too.

I mentioned in my last review that I’ve been listening to Praytell’s It’s Almost Christmas Volume II album, and their version of “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” is perfect for Calla and Jonah!

The snow is snowing and the wind it is blowing
But I can weather the storm
What do I care how much it may storm
I’ve got my love to keep me warm

Have you read Forever Wild? Did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!

12 thoughts on “Book Review | Forever Wild by K.A. Tucker”

  1. I do love this couple even if Calla frustrated me a bit in the last book. I would love characters in this world to get their own books. It’s packed with characters, who I think could carry their own stories.

  2. I just picked up the first book in this series! I didn’t realize there’s a Christmas novella too, so maybe I’ll pick it up next and see if I can read the series this season.

  3. Great review, Dedra! I ordered a signed set from Tucker’s website and its on its way to me (although I have no idea how long it’s going to take to get to me LOL) but I’m so excited to add these to my shelves. I still need to read Wild at Heart and then of course Forever Wild, and I can’t wait for more Calla and Jonah ?

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