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North Country
14 hours, 45 minutes
From USA Today and international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Ontario.
Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she's built a life of running the town's police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.
She's certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.
Logan Landry is home.
After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family's bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.
When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River's favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she's built . . . and the love she can't let go.
From USA Today and international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Ontario.
Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she's built a life of running the town's police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.
She's certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.
Logan Landry is home.
After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family's bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.
When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River's favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she's built . . . and the love she can't let go.
Audible Audio
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
K.A. Tucker
69 books25.7k followersK.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://katuckerbooks.myflodesk.com/g...
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://katuckerbooks.myflodesk.com/g...
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June 16, 2026
North Country is now live! Don't miss this sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Ontario.
Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.
She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.
Logan Landry is home.
After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.
When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.
June 15, 2026
📚 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬 📚 [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Star Review]
☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ NORTH COUNTRY ☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ Is a full length second chance small town romance by author K.A. Tucker. In this you'll meet Emery & Logan
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
From the author who gave me 'The Simple Wild' series I was beyond excited for this..
A second-chance forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Canada.
Tropes: Boy Next Door, Forbidden Love, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Redemption, Second Chance, Small Town, Star-Crossed Lovers
You know that feeling you get when you've been away for a while, that feeling of touching base and coming home, this is that feeling I got when I dived into this, that feeling of connecting with the story line, the writing style, the characters, the setting, it all felt like coming home from a long trip away an indescribable feeling.
This filled my heart to bursting and I couldn’t get enough of this couple, the author weaved her magic cloaking me under her spell as I devoured every chapter of this book, I was pulled in from the get go and loved every second, minute, hours spent in this world the author allowed me to be immersed in. There’s nothing I would change, this slow burn got its hooks into me and didn’t let go.
How did things go so wrong? Because within a blink of an eye it did. From friends to briefly more, they had dreams and plans, but one mistake, one night, took that all away from them and he was sent to prison for 20 years.
He came out a different man, reserved, hardened, but I wouldn't say he had a chip on his shoulder, bit by bit the more he started spending around his family and his first love that guard of his started coming down and we got those small glimpses of the boy he used to be.
But then Emery wasn't that same girl that she used to be, she's not a full grown woman with a teenager in tow, and that slow burning spark between them didn't take long to ignite. I loved their dynamics, no bitterness of the years lost, they easily transitioned into better versions of themselves and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.
☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ NORTH COUNTRY ☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ Is a full length second chance small town romance by author K.A. Tucker. In this you'll meet Emery & Logan
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
From the author who gave me 'The Simple Wild' series I was beyond excited for this..
A second-chance forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Canada.
Tropes: Boy Next Door, Forbidden Love, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Redemption, Second Chance, Small Town, Star-Crossed Lovers
You know that feeling you get when you've been away for a while, that feeling of touching base and coming home, this is that feeling I got when I dived into this, that feeling of connecting with the story line, the writing style, the characters, the setting, it all felt like coming home from a long trip away an indescribable feeling.
This filled my heart to bursting and I couldn’t get enough of this couple, the author weaved her magic cloaking me under her spell as I devoured every chapter of this book, I was pulled in from the get go and loved every second, minute, hours spent in this world the author allowed me to be immersed in. There’s nothing I would change, this slow burn got its hooks into me and didn’t let go.
How did things go so wrong? Because within a blink of an eye it did. From friends to briefly more, they had dreams and plans, but one mistake, one night, took that all away from them and he was sent to prison for 20 years.
He came out a different man, reserved, hardened, but I wouldn't say he had a chip on his shoulder, bit by bit the more he started spending around his family and his first love that guard of his started coming down and we got those small glimpses of the boy he used to be.
But then Emery wasn't that same girl that she used to be, she's not a full grown woman with a teenager in tow, and that slow burning spark between them didn't take long to ignite. I loved their dynamics, no bitterness of the years lost, they easily transitioned into better versions of themselves and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.
June 12, 2026
4.25 stars
I love a good second-chance romance, and KA Tucker’s newest release, North Country was fantastic. It was the perfect mix of forbidden love, second chances, and forgiveness.
Emery McAllister and Logan Landry thought they were meant to be. And then one night changed both of their lives forever. Logan is gone for twenty years, and now he’s home. Emery is a cop with a daughter. Logan is on parole, living next door at his family’s farm. Everything is different. Except the way they still feel for one another.
This book gave me all the feels with the perfect amount of angst. There was also an element of suspense to the story. I adored Logan and Emery together. And the relationship Logan developed with Emery’s daughter Ilsa was wonderful. There were so many great secondary characters, especially in Logan’s family. This was a gem of a book!
I love a good second-chance romance, and KA Tucker’s newest release, North Country was fantastic. It was the perfect mix of forbidden love, second chances, and forgiveness.
Emery McAllister and Logan Landry thought they were meant to be. And then one night changed both of their lives forever. Logan is gone for twenty years, and now he’s home. Emery is a cop with a daughter. Logan is on parole, living next door at his family’s farm. Everything is different. Except the way they still feel for one another.
This book gave me all the feels with the perfect amount of angst. There was also an element of suspense to the story. I adored Logan and Emery together. And the relationship Logan developed with Emery’s daughter Ilsa was wonderful. There were so many great secondary characters, especially in Logan’s family. This was a gem of a book!
June 16, 2026
“North Country is a story about redemption and second chances, but also about finding grace and how little of it society has to offer.”
— Acknowledgments
You know that when K.A. Tucker titles a book with a nod to the setting, that setting is going to become as much a character in the story as anyone else.
📖 You Will Enjoy This If...
• You read The Simple Wild series and loved it.
Or
• You like an equal blend of romance, small-town atmosphere, and mystery, with all three running in parallel, carrying similar weight, and contributing equally to the story's progression.
❤️ A Story Full of Heart
This book held so many emotions.
I laughed out loud countless times. I felt tension and angst, yearning, and that aching pull between the life you have and the life you could have had.
The characters are all deep, layered, and wonderfully complex.
Kathleen handles so many sensitive topics beautifully, and these are not easy subjects to tackle.
Reading this felt like walking through a minefield.
Every time you discover a hidden mine, Kathleen either pulls out the perfect key to disarm it, or she makes you stand beside it just long enough to feel its weight and tension without ever letting it explode. She works methodically and carefully through each difficult issue, and it shows.
🔍 Mystery Done Right
She navigates the kidnapping mystery in a delicate but intelligent way, leaving you guessing until the very end.
And then, when the truth finally unfolds, you realise the clues were there all along.
The foreshadowing isn't flashy. It's subtle, deliberate, and carefully woven into the story until everything clicks into place.
🏡 Family, Friendship, and Love
Once again, Kathleen delivers when it comes to found family.
And once again, she gives us a family that has been fractured, hurt, and pulled apart, while still showing us the possibility of repair.
She explores:
• Family members who have equal reasons to love and hate each other
• Friendships that are life-binding
• Parents who love fiercely, who punish hard, and forgive harder,
• And children (young or adult) who carry the weight of all that
• Lovers willing to go extraordinary lengths to protect one another
She shows how friendship intertwines with passion.
She shows how deep love can go.
And she reminds us that second chances are not handed out freely. They are earned through heart, determination, and the willingness to do the work.
🌲 The Setting Shines
The backdrop of this story is gorgeous.
You can feel the research, care, and effort that went into creating this imagined county and its communities. Knowing Kathleen completed a 2,000-kilometre road trip while developing this story makes so much sense because the setting feels vivid and authentic.
It isn't just scenery. I love that K.A. Tucker always nods to the indigenous communities and shows their stories wherever the exist in her stories.
The setting here – Just the The Wild series - is part of the story's soul.
✨ This book gives us:
❄️ Complex characters
❄️ Complex relationships
❄️ Complex decisions
❄️ Complex lives
...all grounded by something beautifully simple:
Love.
Whether it's a mother and her child, two best friends, family members struggling to find their way back to one another, or two star-crossed lovers caught on opposite sides of a forbidden romance, love remains at the heart of it all.
And if you know me, you know I'll always recommend a K.A. Tucker book.
This one is no exception. 🤍
Thank you to Valentine PR and Kathleen for the eARC. As always, my opinions are my own and have not been influenced by the fact.
--
Pre-read:
KA Tucker writes it. I read it.
In this case, ARC read it. Yeyyy!
💞Second chance after 20 years
👮🏻♀️Forbbiden romance
🤠Small town
☠️Murder mystery suspense
🏠Boy next door
— Acknowledgments
You know that when K.A. Tucker titles a book with a nod to the setting, that setting is going to become as much a character in the story as anyone else.
📖 You Will Enjoy This If...
• You read The Simple Wild series and loved it.
Or
• You like an equal blend of romance, small-town atmosphere, and mystery, with all three running in parallel, carrying similar weight, and contributing equally to the story's progression.
❤️ A Story Full of Heart
This book held so many emotions.
I laughed out loud countless times. I felt tension and angst, yearning, and that aching pull between the life you have and the life you could have had.
The characters are all deep, layered, and wonderfully complex.
Kathleen handles so many sensitive topics beautifully, and these are not easy subjects to tackle.
Reading this felt like walking through a minefield.
Every time you discover a hidden mine, Kathleen either pulls out the perfect key to disarm it, or she makes you stand beside it just long enough to feel its weight and tension without ever letting it explode. She works methodically and carefully through each difficult issue, and it shows.
🔍 Mystery Done Right
She navigates the kidnapping mystery in a delicate but intelligent way, leaving you guessing until the very end.
And then, when the truth finally unfolds, you realise the clues were there all along.
The foreshadowing isn't flashy. It's subtle, deliberate, and carefully woven into the story until everything clicks into place.
🏡 Family, Friendship, and Love
Once again, Kathleen delivers when it comes to found family.
And once again, she gives us a family that has been fractured, hurt, and pulled apart, while still showing us the possibility of repair.
She explores:
• Family members who have equal reasons to love and hate each other
• Friendships that are life-binding
• Parents who love fiercely, who punish hard, and forgive harder,
• And children (young or adult) who carry the weight of all that
• Lovers willing to go extraordinary lengths to protect one another
She shows how friendship intertwines with passion.
She shows how deep love can go.
And she reminds us that second chances are not handed out freely. They are earned through heart, determination, and the willingness to do the work.
🌲 The Setting Shines
The backdrop of this story is gorgeous.
You can feel the research, care, and effort that went into creating this imagined county and its communities. Knowing Kathleen completed a 2,000-kilometre road trip while developing this story makes so much sense because the setting feels vivid and authentic.
It isn't just scenery. I love that K.A. Tucker always nods to the indigenous communities and shows their stories wherever the exist in her stories.
The setting here – Just the The Wild series - is part of the story's soul.
✨ This book gives us:
❄️ Complex characters
❄️ Complex relationships
❄️ Complex decisions
❄️ Complex lives
...all grounded by something beautifully simple:
Love.
Whether it's a mother and her child, two best friends, family members struggling to find their way back to one another, or two star-crossed lovers caught on opposite sides of a forbidden romance, love remains at the heart of it all.
And if you know me, you know I'll always recommend a K.A. Tucker book.
This one is no exception. 🤍
Thank you to Valentine PR and Kathleen for the eARC. As always, my opinions are my own and have not been influenced by the fact.
--
Pre-read:
KA Tucker writes it. I read it.
In this case, ARC read it. Yeyyy!
💞Second chance after 20 years
👮🏻♀️Forbbiden romance
🤠Small town
☠️Murder mystery suspense
🏠Boy next door
June 29, 2026
“With each day that passes, I care less about how others will punish me for loving Logan and more about not wasting this second chance.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɪꜰ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ” x ᴊᴀꜱᴏɴ ᴀʟᴅᴇᴀɴ & ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏᴏᴅ
0:40 ───♥──────── 3:32
Wow wow. This started off with a BANG. It had me hooked immediately, and I just knew I was about to get some delicious angst… and thankfully it delivered. 😭
Logan losing twenty years of his life after one tragic accident already had my heart in a chokehold. Then he finally comes home only to find the girl he always loved still living next door… except now she’s the town’s police officer, raising a teenage daughter, trying to keep the peace with her ex-husband (who also happens to be the mayor and absolutely despises Logan). He told her to move on all those years ago, but neither of them ever really did. 🥺🥺
And THEN the suspense kicked in.
When a teenage girl goes missing, the entire town is thrown into chaos… and of course, everyone’s eyes immediately land on Logan. He had only just gotten out of prison, so no matter what he said or did, people were ready to believe the worst. It was so frustrating watching him become everyone’s favorite suspect simply because of his past. Meanwhile, Emery is caught between doing her job as the lead police officer and believing the man she’s never truly stopped loving.
I genuinely had no clue where the mystery was going. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, the story completely changed directions and had me questioning everything all over again. I stayed on edge the entire time because there was always this feeling that something bigger was waiting around the corner… and when everything finally came together?? I was SHOCKED.
My heart honestly broke for Logan through this whole book. After having twenty years stolen from him, all he wanted was the chance to quietly live his life, yet everyone was so quick to judge him before giving him that chance. 😭😭😭
I expected the forbidden romance to have even higher stakes than it ended up having, but honestly it still worked for me. The tension, the history between them, and all the years of unresolved feelings carried so much emotional weight that I never felt like anything was missing.
This story is packed with tragedy, forgiveness, healing, hope, love, and second chances, and somehow balances all of that with an incredibly engaging suspense plot. This was my first book by this author, and I’m seriously impressed. It kept my attention almost the entire way through, and by the end I was completely invested in these characters and their future.
things to know about the book ↓
💜 boy next door
💜 ex convict MMC
💜 officer FMC
💜 forbidden love
💜 forced proximity
💜 found family
💜 redemption
💜 second chance
💜 small town
💜 star-crossed lovers with HEA
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 16, 30
Thank you Valentine PR, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡💜 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
june 24th- the boy next door is one of my favorite tropes 🥹
I can't wait for this
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɪꜰ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ” x ᴊᴀꜱᴏɴ ᴀʟᴅᴇᴀɴ & ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏᴏᴅ
0:40 ───♥──────── 3:32
Wow wow. This started off with a BANG. It had me hooked immediately, and I just knew I was about to get some delicious angst… and thankfully it delivered. 😭
Logan losing twenty years of his life after one tragic accident already had my heart in a chokehold. Then he finally comes home only to find the girl he always loved still living next door… except now she’s the town’s police officer, raising a teenage daughter, trying to keep the peace with her ex-husband (who also happens to be the mayor and absolutely despises Logan). He told her to move on all those years ago, but neither of them ever really did. 🥺🥺
And THEN the suspense kicked in.
When a teenage girl goes missing, the entire town is thrown into chaos… and of course, everyone’s eyes immediately land on Logan. He had only just gotten out of prison, so no matter what he said or did, people were ready to believe the worst. It was so frustrating watching him become everyone’s favorite suspect simply because of his past. Meanwhile, Emery is caught between doing her job as the lead police officer and believing the man she’s never truly stopped loving.
I genuinely had no clue where the mystery was going. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, the story completely changed directions and had me questioning everything all over again. I stayed on edge the entire time because there was always this feeling that something bigger was waiting around the corner… and when everything finally came together?? I was SHOCKED.
My heart honestly broke for Logan through this whole book. After having twenty years stolen from him, all he wanted was the chance to quietly live his life, yet everyone was so quick to judge him before giving him that chance. 😭😭😭
I expected the forbidden romance to have even higher stakes than it ended up having, but honestly it still worked for me. The tension, the history between them, and all the years of unresolved feelings carried so much emotional weight that I never felt like anything was missing.
This story is packed with tragedy, forgiveness, healing, hope, love, and second chances, and somehow balances all of that with an incredibly engaging suspense plot. This was my first book by this author, and I’m seriously impressed. It kept my attention almost the entire way through, and by the end I was completely invested in these characters and their future.
things to know about the book ↓
💜 boy next door
💜 ex convict MMC
💜 officer FMC
💜 forbidden love
💜 forced proximity
💜 found family
💜 redemption
💜 second chance
💜 small town
💜 star-crossed lovers with HEA
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 16, 30
Thank you Valentine PR, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡💜 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
june 24th- the boy next door is one of my favorite tropes 🥹
I can't wait for this
June 19, 2026
Such an enjoyable and well written book where the pages just flew by.
It’s a well done second chance romance, not a standout for me, but really enjoyable. I think the connection between the mcs could have been more impactful and deeper felt, at least for me, but that said, I enjoyed their scenes together and their story, it worked very well and I rooted for them. There was a believable obstacle between them since Emery being the sheriff meant a relationship with an ex-con was something that could ruin her reputation and career, and I was eager to see this situation unfold and how it would be resolved.
What made the whole of it work especially well was that it wasn’t just a romance book, the story in its entirety was beautiful and engaging. Logan’s return home after 20 years in prison was very well done, seeing his difficulties in readapting to the world, in reuniting with his family and working to find his footing and in general his feelings about all of it, what he lost and about himself, were parts that I particularly liked and I really felt for him and all the gossip and prejudice, especially considering that what he paid way surpassed what his actual role in what happened was.
I adored all the scenes that had Logan interacting with his family members, all of them added something and were very enjoyable presences. Another character I enjoyed was Isla, for once the teenage daughter was a likable character and there were some really good scenes that showed her relationship with her mom and the one she developed with Logan.
The storyline about the teenage girl’s disappearance was interesting and even if I’d guess the culprit from the start, I enjoyed following the investigation and I did question if I had it right a couple of times.
I’m really glad I picked this book up.
It’s a well done second chance romance, not a standout for me, but really enjoyable. I think the connection between the mcs could have been more impactful and deeper felt, at least for me, but that said, I enjoyed their scenes together and their story, it worked very well and I rooted for them. There was a believable obstacle between them since Emery being the sheriff meant a relationship with an ex-con was something that could ruin her reputation and career, and I was eager to see this situation unfold and how it would be resolved.
What made the whole of it work especially well was that it wasn’t just a romance book, the story in its entirety was beautiful and engaging. Logan’s return home after 20 years in prison was very well done, seeing his difficulties in readapting to the world, in reuniting with his family and working to find his footing and in general his feelings about all of it, what he lost and about himself, were parts that I particularly liked and I really felt for him and all the gossip and prejudice, especially considering that what he paid way surpassed what his actual role in what happened was.
I adored all the scenes that had Logan interacting with his family members, all of them added something and were very enjoyable presences. Another character I enjoyed was Isla, for once the teenage daughter was a likable character and there were some really good scenes that showed her relationship with her mom and the one she developed with Logan.
The storyline about the teenage girl’s disappearance was interesting and even if I’d guess the culprit from the start, I enjoyed following the investigation and I did question if I had it right a couple of times.
I’m really glad I picked this book up.
June 23, 2026
•Second chance
•Friends to lovers
•Single mom
•Redemption
•Small town
•Slow burn
•Forbidden love
The pacing felt perfect & l loved the suspense elements mixed in with the romance. Tucker has a way of writing characters that stay with you long after the book is over.
Thank you to KA Tucker & VPR for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75⭐️
•Friends to lovers
•Single mom
•Redemption
•Small town
•Slow burn
•Forbidden love
The pacing felt perfect & l loved the suspense elements mixed in with the romance. Tucker has a way of writing characters that stay with you long after the book is over.
Thank you to KA Tucker & VPR for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75⭐️
June 4, 2026
i feel super conflicted about this one as i didnt dislike it by any means but i didnt really love it either… it was just okay. i was more invested in the crime aspect of the book and finding out who the killer was than i was in the romance to be honest.
i think this will be great and well loved by a lot of romantic suspense fans but it wasnt my favorite
i think this will be great and well loved by a lot of romantic suspense fans but it wasnt my favorite
June 30, 2026
Loved it!!!
I had high hopes. High expectations. And we all know how often those get trampled by books we’re excited for. Sometimes, very rarely, a book actually delivers exactly what you hoped for—and this one delivered in spades.
It’s not The Simple Wild… and I have to admit, I think I’ll always hope that every K.A. Tucker book might become another The Simple Wild for me. So far, that hasn’t happened. But North Country delivered in completely different ways, and I loved it for that.
I loved how much Logan and Emery loved each other. I loved the big family, the support, the laughter, the teasing, the kids. I loved that there was no unnecessary misunderstanding between them—the tension came from outside the relationship, and I’m a huge fan of that. I’m so tired of third-act breakups.
I also really enjoyed the suspense woven into some of the plot arcs, and I wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel or getting more of this family in future books.
All in all, this was an incredibly satisfying read. It was beautifully written, the characters were wonderful, and compared to many romances I’ve read this year, this one felt like a step up.
So yeah… two thumbs up from me. 4.5 stars
I had high hopes. High expectations. And we all know how often those get trampled by books we’re excited for. Sometimes, very rarely, a book actually delivers exactly what you hoped for—and this one delivered in spades.
It’s not The Simple Wild… and I have to admit, I think I’ll always hope that every K.A. Tucker book might become another The Simple Wild for me. So far, that hasn’t happened. But North Country delivered in completely different ways, and I loved it for that.
I loved how much Logan and Emery loved each other. I loved the big family, the support, the laughter, the teasing, the kids. I loved that there was no unnecessary misunderstanding between them—the tension came from outside the relationship, and I’m a huge fan of that. I’m so tired of third-act breakups.
I also really enjoyed the suspense woven into some of the plot arcs, and I wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel or getting more of this family in future books.
All in all, this was an incredibly satisfying read. It was beautifully written, the characters were wonderful, and compared to many romances I’ve read this year, this one felt like a step up.
So yeah… two thumbs up from me. 4.5 stars
June 20, 2026
K.A. Tucker's books always feel like coming home. They're such a comfort read for me, and North Country is no different.
Is this my favourite from K.A. Tucker? No. But did I enjoy it? Hell yeah.
I'm a sucker for a romance with a little side of mystery, and when I actually figure out the mystery? Even better.
I'm not the biggest fan of second chance romance, which is why this wasn't quite a 5-star read for me. I also felt like the relationship progressed a little too quickly after 20 years apart, and Logan having been imprisoned. That said, the mystery was handled really well.
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from K.A. Tucker.
Is this my favourite from K.A. Tucker? No. But did I enjoy it? Hell yeah.
I'm a sucker for a romance with a little side of mystery, and when I actually figure out the mystery? Even better.
I'm not the biggest fan of second chance romance, which is why this wasn't quite a 5-star read for me. I also felt like the relationship progressed a little too quickly after 20 years apart, and Logan having been imprisoned. That said, the mystery was handled really well.
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from K.A. Tucker.
July 11, 2026
4,5⭐️
A deeply emotional, heartwarming story about second chances, fresh starts, and a love that never truly fades.
This is, without a doubt, the best romantic suspense novel I’ve read so far.
The story goes far beyond the lives of a single mother who also happens to be the local police chief investigating a difficult missing-person case, and a man who’s finally released after spending twenty years in prison. It paints a vivid portrait of an entire small town—its people, generations of family secrets, years of hardship, and moments of hope.
What struck me most was how one wrong decision, one life-changing mistake, can send ripples through countless lives, affecting not only one family but an entire community.
Stories with mature characters will always have a special place in my heart. They feel real. They understand that life looks very different when you’re raising a teenage child, juggling responsibilities, heartbreak, and trying to keep moving forward.
Emery was such an inspiring heroine. I admired her strength and resilience. Co-parenting with the man who betrayed her is far from easy, yet she never loses sight of what’s most important—being a loving mother and a responsible adult. Through years of loss and hardship, she’s rebuilt her life by finding purpose in her career, friendships, and motherhood.
Logan’s adulthood was shaped by prison—but also by the letters his mother faithfully wrote every single Sunday. Those letters became his connection to the outside world, allowing him to experience family milestones, celebrate new additions to the family, and follow the successes of the family business even while locked away. They were his lifeline.
Emery and Logan’s relationship ended twenty years ago in the most heartbreaking way imaginable. They both believed that chapter of their lives was closed forever.
Yet from the moment they see each other again, it’s obvious that the warmth they buried deep inside their hearts never disappeared. Their need for comfort, support, friendship, and the person who once knew them better than anyone else pulls them back together. The love they never had the chance to fully live still exists, quietly waiting after all those years.
This story leaves you with a warm heart while keeping you on edge with its gripping mystery until the very last page.
I can’t recommend it enough if you enjoy romantic suspense. It was beautifully written.
Tropes
💛 Second chance romance
🚔 Romantic suspense
🕵️ Missing person investigation
🏡 Small town
👩👦 Single mom
❤️ Childhood sweethearts
⏳ Love that stood the test of time
🤝 Friends to lovers
🫂 Emotional healing
💌 Letters through the years
👨👩👧 Family secrets
⚖️ Life after prison
🥹 Mature characters
🌿 Hope & new beginnings
💞 Emotional tension
🤍 Found comfort in each other
A deeply emotional, heartwarming story about second chances, fresh starts, and a love that never truly fades.
This is, without a doubt, the best romantic suspense novel I’ve read so far.
The story goes far beyond the lives of a single mother who also happens to be the local police chief investigating a difficult missing-person case, and a man who’s finally released after spending twenty years in prison. It paints a vivid portrait of an entire small town—its people, generations of family secrets, years of hardship, and moments of hope.
What struck me most was how one wrong decision, one life-changing mistake, can send ripples through countless lives, affecting not only one family but an entire community.
Stories with mature characters will always have a special place in my heart. They feel real. They understand that life looks very different when you’re raising a teenage child, juggling responsibilities, heartbreak, and trying to keep moving forward.
Emery was such an inspiring heroine. I admired her strength and resilience. Co-parenting with the man who betrayed her is far from easy, yet she never loses sight of what’s most important—being a loving mother and a responsible adult. Through years of loss and hardship, she’s rebuilt her life by finding purpose in her career, friendships, and motherhood.
Logan’s adulthood was shaped by prison—but also by the letters his mother faithfully wrote every single Sunday. Those letters became his connection to the outside world, allowing him to experience family milestones, celebrate new additions to the family, and follow the successes of the family business even while locked away. They were his lifeline.
Emery and Logan’s relationship ended twenty years ago in the most heartbreaking way imaginable. They both believed that chapter of their lives was closed forever.
Yet from the moment they see each other again, it’s obvious that the warmth they buried deep inside their hearts never disappeared. Their need for comfort, support, friendship, and the person who once knew them better than anyone else pulls them back together. The love they never had the chance to fully live still exists, quietly waiting after all those years.
This story leaves you with a warm heart while keeping you on edge with its gripping mystery until the very last page.
I can’t recommend it enough if you enjoy romantic suspense. It was beautifully written.
Tropes
💛 Second chance romance
🚔 Romantic suspense
🕵️ Missing person investigation
🏡 Small town
👩👦 Single mom
❤️ Childhood sweethearts
⏳ Love that stood the test of time
🤝 Friends to lovers
🫂 Emotional healing
💌 Letters through the years
👨👩👧 Family secrets
⚖️ Life after prison
🥹 Mature characters
🌿 Hope & new beginnings
💞 Emotional tension
🤍 Found comfort in each other
June 16, 2026
The Simple Wild got me back into reading and to be able to arc read this feels like a crazy reminder of where my reading journey has gone.
I loved this. Plain and simple.
Logan
An MMC with a criminal past. Count me in.
20 years in prison to be exact.
But a good human. Readjusting to life outside.
Emery
Canadian police officer
Single mom/ divorced
16 year old daughter
Childhood best friends/brief romantic relationship
It’s always been you
Neighbors/neighboring families
A bison ranch. Setting win.
Romantic suspense 🔥
This was one where there were so many theories and suspects in my head. And it really came down to the end.
The depth of emotions.
This one’s going to sit with me awhile.
Arc review ✨
I loved this. Plain and simple.
Logan
An MMC with a criminal past. Count me in.
20 years in prison to be exact.
But a good human. Readjusting to life outside.
Emery
Canadian police officer
Single mom/ divorced
16 year old daughter
Childhood best friends/brief romantic relationship
It’s always been you
Neighbors/neighboring families
A bison ranch. Setting win.
Romantic suspense 🔥
This was one where there were so many theories and suspects in my head. And it really came down to the end.
The depth of emotions.
This one’s going to sit with me awhile.
Arc review ✨
Want to Read
January 12, 2026Alaska ✅
Northern Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 I'M READY
Northern Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 I'M READY
June 23, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️
I had such a good time with this book and found myself invested almost immediately.
The setting felt vivid and welcoming, the characters were easy to care about, and I slipped into the story effortlessly. It had that familiar emotional warmth that kept me turning the pages.
The romance was tender, layered, and full of history. I enjoyed watching these characters reconnect after so many years apart, and while I wished their emotional connection had hit me a little harder at times, I was still rooting for them throughout. The slow-burn tension, family dynamics, and themes of forgiveness gave the story plenty of heart.
What really elevated this book for me was everything surrounding the romance. The sense of community, the complicated family relationships, and the touch of mystery kept the story engaging from beginning to end.
The characters, setting, and emotional depth made this an easy book to recommend.
~~~~
Huge thank you to K.A. Tucker & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I had such a good time with this book and found myself invested almost immediately.
The setting felt vivid and welcoming, the characters were easy to care about, and I slipped into the story effortlessly. It had that familiar emotional warmth that kept me turning the pages.
The romance was tender, layered, and full of history. I enjoyed watching these characters reconnect after so many years apart, and while I wished their emotional connection had hit me a little harder at times, I was still rooting for them throughout. The slow-burn tension, family dynamics, and themes of forgiveness gave the story plenty of heart.
What really elevated this book for me was everything surrounding the romance. The sense of community, the complicated family relationships, and the touch of mystery kept the story engaging from beginning to end.
The characters, setting, and emotional depth made this an easy book to recommend.
~~~~
Huge thank you to K.A. Tucker & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Emery + Logan
Twenty years ago life was amazing. Emery was happily in love with her best childhood friend and boy next door Logan. They were about to leave for University and their amazing future together. And then things happened and Logan was gone.
Emery kept on living her life. Becoming a cop. Getting married. Having a baby girl. Getting divorced. Moving back into her parents' house.
And now Logan is back.
Will there be a second chance for a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
══════════════════
I could read a K.A. Tucker book every month/week/day and never get tired of them.
And this one was just as beautiful as all the others.
We get a small Canadian town with our heroine as the 'Sheriff' and our hero as the ex-con who is finally back home at his parents' bison farm after 20 years.
And then we get a teenaged daughter and hockey and so much family and an ex-husband mayor and not-so-nicely gossiping townsfolk and bisons and dogs and horses and a crime that people want to blame Logan for.
Will we also get a second chance for a happily ever after for our two darlings?
It won't be easy... at all! The whole town and Emery's bosses believe the worst about Logan and people keep blaming him for things and Emery could lose her job and so much more if she starts seeing him again. But those old feelings never went away.
Ugh. That was so sweet and super heartbreaking.
But also funny and so full of family and love and nature and animals and regrets and hope and all the things. Just beautiful. I was seeing this whole book like a movie in my head. It's all described so perfectly and I just loved reading it.
I wish this would've been a three book series with so much more of everything - but it was perfect the way it was.
NORTH COUNTRY was such a beautiful second-chance love story. Heartbreaking. Funny. Sweet. Adorable. Exciting. Sparky. Mysterious. Thrillerish. Full of family and animals and all the best book things. Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Logan - this one is mine!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
June 15, 2026
North Country — K.A. Tucker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review
This book felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket while someone casually drops emotional damage, a murder mystery, and a second-chance romance into your lap.
K.A. Tucker really said: “What if I took two people who never stopped loving each other, separated them for twenty years, added a small-town scandal, a missing girl, a bison ranch, and let readers suffer?” And honestly? It worked.
Emery and Logan completely stole my heart. She’s the town’s police chief, divorced, raising a teenage daughter, and trying to keep everything under control. He’s the boy she loved, freshly returned after spending twenty years in prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The tension? Delicious. The pining? Exquisite. The emotional damage? Thank you, I’ll take seconds.
What I loved most was how mature this romance felt. These aren’t twenty-year-olds making impulsive decisions anymore. They’re older, scarred by life, carrying decades of regret, grief, and unanswered questions. Every interaction felt meaningful because they had so much history between them.
And then there’s the mystery. I kept changing suspects every five chapters like I was auditioning for a detective show. The suspense never overshadowed the romance, but it definitely kept me glued to the pages.
Also, can we talk about the setting? Small-town northern Canada, family ranches, endless skies, community gossip, and enough atmosphere to make me want to move there immediately (minus the murder investigations).
Tropes
🤎 Second Chance Romance
🤎 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🤎 Boy Next Door
🤎 Small Town Romance
🤎 Star-Crossed Lovers
🤎 Forbidden Love
🤎 Slow Burn
🤎 Found Family
🤎 Redemption Arc
🤎 Single Mom FMC
🤎 Romantic Suspense
🤎 “It’s Always Been You”
North Country is emotional, hopeful, romantic, and surprisingly suspenseful. It broke my heart a little, put it back together, then handed me a mystery to solve while I recovered.
If you love second-chance romances with grown-up characters, deep emotions, and a mystery that keeps you guessing, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Many thanks to Valentine PR, and K.A. Tucker for the ARC. All thoughts are my own. 💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review
This book felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket while someone casually drops emotional damage, a murder mystery, and a second-chance romance into your lap.
K.A. Tucker really said: “What if I took two people who never stopped loving each other, separated them for twenty years, added a small-town scandal, a missing girl, a bison ranch, and let readers suffer?” And honestly? It worked.
Emery and Logan completely stole my heart. She’s the town’s police chief, divorced, raising a teenage daughter, and trying to keep everything under control. He’s the boy she loved, freshly returned after spending twenty years in prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The tension? Delicious. The pining? Exquisite. The emotional damage? Thank you, I’ll take seconds.
What I loved most was how mature this romance felt. These aren’t twenty-year-olds making impulsive decisions anymore. They’re older, scarred by life, carrying decades of regret, grief, and unanswered questions. Every interaction felt meaningful because they had so much history between them.
And then there’s the mystery. I kept changing suspects every five chapters like I was auditioning for a detective show. The suspense never overshadowed the romance, but it definitely kept me glued to the pages.
Also, can we talk about the setting? Small-town northern Canada, family ranches, endless skies, community gossip, and enough atmosphere to make me want to move there immediately (minus the murder investigations).
Tropes
🤎 Second Chance Romance
🤎 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🤎 Boy Next Door
🤎 Small Town Romance
🤎 Star-Crossed Lovers
🤎 Forbidden Love
🤎 Slow Burn
🤎 Found Family
🤎 Redemption Arc
🤎 Single Mom FMC
🤎 Romantic Suspense
🤎 “It’s Always Been You”
North Country is emotional, hopeful, romantic, and surprisingly suspenseful. It broke my heart a little, put it back together, then handed me a mystery to solve while I recovered.
If you love second-chance romances with grown-up characters, deep emotions, and a mystery that keeps you guessing, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Many thanks to Valentine PR, and K.A. Tucker for the ARC. All thoughts are my own. 💜
Currently Reading
March 29, 2026I feel like I’m going to LOVE this one! 😍
💜Forbidden Love
💜Star-Crossed Lovers Redemption
💜Found Family
💜Second Chance
💜Forced Proximity
💜Small Town
💜Boy Next-Door
Expected pub date - 6/16/26
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
💜Forbidden Love
💜Star-Crossed Lovers Redemption
💜Found Family
💜Second Chance
💜Forced Proximity
💜Small Town
💜Boy Next-Door
Expected pub date - 6/16/26
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
June 19, 2026
Thank you to Valentine PR and K.A. Tucker for the opportunity to receive this eARC.
I absolutely loved this. North Country was such a beautifully written second chance romance, and Emery and Logan were both incredible characters. Their story carried so much history, hurt, and emotion, and I was completely invested in seeing where their journey would take them after twenty years apart.
One of my favourite things about K.A. Tucker’s writing is how she creates a world where the side characters feel just as important as the main characters. I found myself invested not only in Emery and Logan’s relationship, but also in the people around them and the community they built. The ranch setting added so much warmth and atmosphere, making the story feel grounded and lived in, while the small town dynamics brought another layer of connection.
I also loved the way the story unfolds over time, following the changing seasons and allowing the relationships, emotions, and connections to develop naturally. It gave the book a slower, more immersive feeling and really made me feel part of the world Tucker created.
The combination of second chance romance, forbidden feelings, and the suspense/murder mystery element worked so well together. The emotional depth of the characters alongside the tension of uncovering the truth kept me completely hooked.
Overall, this was an emotional, immersive romance with unforgettable characters, a beautiful setting, and a story that stayed with me long after finishing.
Tropes
Second chance romance (20 years later)
Forbidden romance
Small town romance
Ranch setting
Seasonal / passage of time storytelling
Murder mystery / suspense
Boy next door
Strong community and side characters
Emotional, character driven romance
I absolutely loved this. North Country was such a beautifully written second chance romance, and Emery and Logan were both incredible characters. Their story carried so much history, hurt, and emotion, and I was completely invested in seeing where their journey would take them after twenty years apart.
One of my favourite things about K.A. Tucker’s writing is how she creates a world where the side characters feel just as important as the main characters. I found myself invested not only in Emery and Logan’s relationship, but also in the people around them and the community they built. The ranch setting added so much warmth and atmosphere, making the story feel grounded and lived in, while the small town dynamics brought another layer of connection.
I also loved the way the story unfolds over time, following the changing seasons and allowing the relationships, emotions, and connections to develop naturally. It gave the book a slower, more immersive feeling and really made me feel part of the world Tucker created.
The combination of second chance romance, forbidden feelings, and the suspense/murder mystery element worked so well together. The emotional depth of the characters alongside the tension of uncovering the truth kept me completely hooked.
Overall, this was an emotional, immersive romance with unforgettable characters, a beautiful setting, and a story that stayed with me long after finishing.
Tropes
Second chance romance (20 years later)
Forbidden romance
Small town romance
Ranch setting
Seasonal / passage of time storytelling
Murder mystery / suspense
Boy next door
Strong community and side characters
Emotional, character driven romance
June 19, 2026
K.A. Tucker struck small town romantic suspense gold with this one! Thanks to LibroFM for the ALC!
Y'alllll. I fell in love with K.A. Tucker's The Simple Wild, and this story felt a bit like coming home to them (Calla + Jonah). Outdoor adventures, suspense, in a small more remote town, with family drama, and I absolutely ate this one up!!
Emery's life has NOT gone to plan: the boy she was in love with got arrested for a crime she's sure he didn't commit; she got pregnant and then had a shotgun wedding; her husband cheated on her (again); her parents passed away... all this before Logan Landry comes back to town.
Logan served a 20-year sentence for crimes he did not commit. His brother led him into a dangerous situation, and Logan unfortunately paid the price. Not only did he have to leave the girl he loved with his whole heart behind, but his brother died and the community he grew up in and loved lost two police officers that day.
When he returns home to serve his parole time on his family's ranch, everything is different. Smartphones and the internet have changed the world he once knew, and he has to acclimate to life with a world that moved on. In many ways, he feels like his life froze in time, stuck living the same day, over and over again in prison, left to think and harden himself to the world.
And the moment he gets home, he just knows his feelings for Emery haven't gone anywhere, yet he feels so undeserving of her as the current man he is. Emery's still the girl next door in every sense, but now she's running the police department and raising her 16-year-old daughter (with a tense co-parenting situation), while fighting her feelings for the boy she used to love.
Then, a teenage girl disappears, and the whole town is rocked with her disappearance. It seems too timely to have the convicted "cop killer" back in town when the girl goes missing, and Logan becomes suspect #1. It doesn't take long for Emery to have to confront her own boundaries because... she's his alibi, and the town shouldn't know why.
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- the convict (mmc) + the cop (fmc)
- romances set in canada
- romantic suspense
- single mom
- cowboy/ranch setting
- small town
- forbidden
- secret relationship (only this once to only within these walls)
- murders, mystery, + clues
- family drama + love
THE AUDIOBOOK: Narrated by Ryan West + Summer Morton, I am so glad I picked this one up via audio! It was fantastic and gave us depth to these characters. I felt like I was experiencing the romantic suspense / murder / tension / drama in real time with the crew, and that's the sign of a great audiobook! Five stars. Would absolutely recommend!!
Y'alllll. I fell in love with K.A. Tucker's The Simple Wild, and this story felt a bit like coming home to them (Calla + Jonah). Outdoor adventures, suspense, in a small more remote town, with family drama, and I absolutely ate this one up!!
Emery's life has NOT gone to plan: the boy she was in love with got arrested for a crime she's sure he didn't commit; she got pregnant and then had a shotgun wedding; her husband cheated on her (again); her parents passed away... all this before Logan Landry comes back to town.
Logan served a 20-year sentence for crimes he did not commit. His brother led him into a dangerous situation, and Logan unfortunately paid the price. Not only did he have to leave the girl he loved with his whole heart behind, but his brother died and the community he grew up in and loved lost two police officers that day.
When he returns home to serve his parole time on his family's ranch, everything is different. Smartphones and the internet have changed the world he once knew, and he has to acclimate to life with a world that moved on. In many ways, he feels like his life froze in time, stuck living the same day, over and over again in prison, left to think and harden himself to the world.
And the moment he gets home, he just knows his feelings for Emery haven't gone anywhere, yet he feels so undeserving of her as the current man he is. Emery's still the girl next door in every sense, but now she's running the police department and raising her 16-year-old daughter (with a tense co-parenting situation), while fighting her feelings for the boy she used to love.
Then, a teenage girl disappears, and the whole town is rocked with her disappearance. It seems too timely to have the convicted "cop killer" back in town when the girl goes missing, and Logan becomes suspect #1. It doesn't take long for Emery to have to confront her own boundaries because... she's his alibi, and the town shouldn't know why.
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- the convict (mmc) + the cop (fmc)
- romances set in canada
- romantic suspense
- single mom
- cowboy/ranch setting
- small town
- forbidden
- secret relationship (only this once to only within these walls)
- murders, mystery, + clues
- family drama + love
THE AUDIOBOOK: Narrated by Ryan West + Summer Morton, I am so glad I picked this one up via audio! It was fantastic and gave us depth to these characters. I felt like I was experiencing the romantic suspense / murder / tension / drama in real time with the crew, and that's the sign of a great audiobook! Five stars. Would absolutely recommend!!
June 20, 2026
KA Tucker has been a hit or miss author for me, and I’m happy to report this book was a hit! 🙌🏼
June 5, 2026
Since I don't read blurbs or back/flap matter, I rarely know what I'm getting into. Finding out this was second chance, with 2 MCs who were in their late 30s, plus one of them was an ex-con? 😳 I had no idea how Tucker was gonna make it work, but somehow, she did. There was also a mystery to solve (actually a couple), and while experienced mystery readers might have clocked hints early one, I was genuinely surprised at the outcome. This one does not have the emotional punch that The Simple Wild did (imo), but it was a story about moving on and finding peace while doing so. 💖
4.25🌟
4.25🌟
June 6, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
K.A. Tucker writes in a way that makes me never want to leave her stories. North Country was no exception! I did not want this book to end…I need to read about what happens next to everyone in this family. Keep reading this review for my favorite parts of this book.
📖 The theme of forgiveness was prevalent throughout the book, but not just towards other people. Both Logan and Emery each went through separate instances of forgiving themselves and their past mistakes.
📖 I loved Logan’s family but especially his mom. I was weeping within the first few chapters when he was reunited with her. I just kept thinking of the prodigal son returning home.
📖 The suspense! The mystery plot had me in a chokehold! I had no idea this book would have this element of suspense and trying to figure out who the “bad guy” was made me not want to put this book down.
📖 The author managed to change my mind on some characters that I didn’t care for in the beginning. Except for the true criminals in this book, everyone else who we thought we would hate, ended up having redeeming qualities.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I think that fans of The Simple Wild will enjoy reading this! Thank you to Valentine PR for the e-ARC!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
K.A. Tucker writes in a way that makes me never want to leave her stories. North Country was no exception! I did not want this book to end…I need to read about what happens next to everyone in this family. Keep reading this review for my favorite parts of this book.
📖 The theme of forgiveness was prevalent throughout the book, but not just towards other people. Both Logan and Emery each went through separate instances of forgiving themselves and their past mistakes.
📖 I loved Logan’s family but especially his mom. I was weeping within the first few chapters when he was reunited with her. I just kept thinking of the prodigal son returning home.
📖 The suspense! The mystery plot had me in a chokehold! I had no idea this book would have this element of suspense and trying to figure out who the “bad guy” was made me not want to put this book down.
📖 The author managed to change my mind on some characters that I didn’t care for in the beginning. Except for the true criminals in this book, everyone else who we thought we would hate, ended up having redeeming qualities.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I think that fans of The Simple Wild will enjoy reading this! Thank you to Valentine PR for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Valentine PR and K.A. Tucker for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was okay, but I would not really classify it as a romance. To me, it felt more like a story about family, loss and tragedy, that happened to include a love story. The romance is present from the start, but it often felt like it was sitting on the sidelines when I wanted it front and centre.
Emery and Logan are the definition of a second chance romance. Their feelings for each other somehow survived a twenty year separation, and they are very much star crossed lovers. My biggest issue is that we are told how deep their connection is rather than really getting to experience it. I wanted more of their history, more of their relationship, and more reasons to invest in them as a couple. What we got just did not feel like enough.
I did enjoy the mystery element and spent a good chunk of the book trying to figure out who was involved. Unfortunately, I worked it out around the halfway mark, and once the mystery lost its bite, so did my interest. I pushed through to the end because I had committed to reviewing this ARC, but I think I wanted to love this book more than I actually did 😔
That said, if you happen to hit the same reading slump I did, there is a silver lining. Around the 70% mark, Logan wears grey sweatpants. Enjoy!
Thank you to Valentine PR and K.A. Tucker for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was okay, but I would not really classify it as a romance. To me, it felt more like a story about family, loss and tragedy, that happened to include a love story. The romance is present from the start, but it often felt like it was sitting on the sidelines when I wanted it front and centre.
Emery and Logan are the definition of a second chance romance. Their feelings for each other somehow survived a twenty year separation, and they are very much star crossed lovers. My biggest issue is that we are told how deep their connection is rather than really getting to experience it. I wanted more of their history, more of their relationship, and more reasons to invest in them as a couple. What we got just did not feel like enough.
I did enjoy the mystery element and spent a good chunk of the book trying to figure out who was involved. Unfortunately, I worked it out around the halfway mark, and once the mystery lost its bite, so did my interest. I pushed through to the end because I had committed to reviewing this ARC, but I think I wanted to love this book more than I actually did 😔
That said, if you happen to hit the same reading slump I did, there is a silver lining. Around the 70% mark, Logan wears grey sweatpants. Enjoy!
June 9, 2026
Wow! The suspense and layered plot in this book were so incredibly well done. From the very beginning, I was completely invested in both the FMC and MMC, rooting for them every step of the way while trying to piece together where the story was headed.
The twists, tension, and emotional stakes kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself constantly wanting to read just one more chapter. Every storyline felt purposeful, weaving together into a compelling and satisfying whole.
If you love books that balance romance, suspense, and emotional depth, this one absolutely delivers. I was hooked from start to finish!
Thank you to Libro.FM and Tantor Media for the ALC!
The twists, tension, and emotional stakes kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself constantly wanting to read just one more chapter. Every storyline felt purposeful, weaving together into a compelling and satisfying whole.
If you love books that balance romance, suspense, and emotional depth, this one absolutely delivers. I was hooked from start to finish!
Thank you to Libro.FM and Tantor Media for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a review of the ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is performed by Summer Morton and Ryan West.
This is a contemporary romance with a mystery element. It is a second chance romance set in a Canadian small town.
Emery and Logan were in love as teenagers. On his eighteenth birthday something happens that ruins both of their lives. He ends up going to prison for twenty years. Now he is being released.
I loved this book so much. It features a single mom, forbidden love, found family and redemption.
Logan is the boy next door. He is returning home to his family’s bison ranch after being in prison. Emery is now divorced. She is a police officer in a leadership position.
This book is very Canadian and I loved that so much. A Canadian author writing a book that is so Canadian makes me so happy.
This book has a captivating mystery and an incredible small town setting. The romance was epic. But the mystery aspects added so much to the story. Also Logan is trying to survive with so many of the townspeople against him. This broke my heart.
Audiobook thoughts: This is my first time listening to these audiobook performers. Summer Morton was phenomenal. I loved her as Emery so much. Ryan West was good as Logan. The two of them made the audiobook a joy to listen to.
Overall this book was so good. I want this to be a series because this town is so awesome. I highly recommend both the book and the audiobook.
Complimentary ebook copy provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Audiobook from libro.fm
This is a contemporary romance with a mystery element. It is a second chance romance set in a Canadian small town.
Emery and Logan were in love as teenagers. On his eighteenth birthday something happens that ruins both of their lives. He ends up going to prison for twenty years. Now he is being released.
I loved this book so much. It features a single mom, forbidden love, found family and redemption.
Logan is the boy next door. He is returning home to his family’s bison ranch after being in prison. Emery is now divorced. She is a police officer in a leadership position.
This book is very Canadian and I loved that so much. A Canadian author writing a book that is so Canadian makes me so happy.
This book has a captivating mystery and an incredible small town setting. The romance was epic. But the mystery aspects added so much to the story. Also Logan is trying to survive with so many of the townspeople against him. This broke my heart.
Audiobook thoughts: This is my first time listening to these audiobook performers. Summer Morton was phenomenal. I loved her as Emery so much. Ryan West was good as Logan. The two of them made the audiobook a joy to listen to.
Overall this book was so good. I want this to be a series because this town is so awesome. I highly recommend both the book and the audiobook.
Complimentary ebook copy provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Audiobook from libro.fm
June 14, 2026
Headlines:
Cowboys but suspense
Dark family secrets
Second chances
I didn't know anything about this audio when it popped up on my early audio selections from LibroFM but I know I can trust this author and launched in. What I found was a romantic suspense, steeped in secrets, regrets and sadness. At the heart of this story were Emery and Logan, separated by decades and reunited as neighbours on a ranch. So much had happened in Logan's absence and his family carried shame and secrets.
Emery was an empowered woman, in charge of the local police department. Any connection with Logan was a risk to her position. His return was police business as well as personal business. I really grew to like these two characters as well as the richly painted family around them. This story was deep in characterisation and the plot twisted it's way around these characters. The suspense element was kinda tense and not always predictable. I believed in these characters and I felt gripped to their lives playing out.
The narration was excellent, dual POV, dual narration. Logan's voice was gritty and conveyed the hard life lived.
I don't know if there are any plans for KA Tucker to write more in this world but I would welcome it. She did dark cowboy romantic suspense well!
Thank you to Tantor Media and LibroFM for the early copy.
Cowboys but suspense
Dark family secrets
Second chances
I didn't know anything about this audio when it popped up on my early audio selections from LibroFM but I know I can trust this author and launched in. What I found was a romantic suspense, steeped in secrets, regrets and sadness. At the heart of this story were Emery and Logan, separated by decades and reunited as neighbours on a ranch. So much had happened in Logan's absence and his family carried shame and secrets.
Emery was an empowered woman, in charge of the local police department. Any connection with Logan was a risk to her position. His return was police business as well as personal business. I really grew to like these two characters as well as the richly painted family around them. This story was deep in characterisation and the plot twisted it's way around these characters. The suspense element was kinda tense and not always predictable. I believed in these characters and I felt gripped to their lives playing out.
The narration was excellent, dual POV, dual narration. Logan's voice was gritty and conveyed the hard life lived.
I don't know if there are any plans for KA Tucker to write more in this world but I would welcome it. She did dark cowboy romantic suspense well!
Thank you to Tantor Media and LibroFM for the early copy.
June 26, 2026
“All those years, I told myself that I’d accepted what happened and moved on. I wanted to move on so badly. But the truth is I never did. Never.”
K.A. Tucker has a way of making you feel like you are on the Landry Bison Ranch in Cold River, Ontario, Canada, right smack in the middle of all the action. The atmospheric setting brings so much to the story. Also, I am a sucker for small town romances, and this one hits all the marks.
Logan is back home after serving 20 years in prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time on the night of his 18th birthday. He is now 38 years old and returning home to the ranch and the girl he left behind all those years ago.
K.A. Tuckers books have a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, amazing setting and characters I find myself invested in. Perfect book to bring on vacation or read poolside!
K.A. Tucker has a way of making you feel like you are on the Landry Bison Ranch in Cold River, Ontario, Canada, right smack in the middle of all the action. The atmospheric setting brings so much to the story. Also, I am a sucker for small town romances, and this one hits all the marks.
Logan is back home after serving 20 years in prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time on the night of his 18th birthday. He is now 38 years old and returning home to the ranch and the girl he left behind all those years ago.
K.A. Tuckers books have a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, amazing setting and characters I find myself invested in. Perfect book to bring on vacation or read poolside!
June 4, 2026
KA TUCKER NEVER !!! MISSES !!!!!!!!
this is an ARC review! shoutout valentine PR for the chance to read this early!
i have been in the most ridiculous reading slump of my entire life the past three weeks — keep starting them, keep stopping, accruing a 10+ book nightstand doom pile that haunts my every waking AND sleeping moment — and then north country hit my kindle.
i am a DEVOUT fan of the ground KA walks on — the woman can write ANYTHING !!! literally ANYTHING !!! and make it compelling, heartwrenching, and beautiful. i started with her fantasy series (a fate of wrath and flame!) and loved it so much i picked up the simple wild (a contemporary!) just to live inside her brain a little longer — and loved that so much that i’ve been anxiously and enthusiastically waiting for whatever she wanted to write next. AND SHE SLAYED IT. AS EXPECTED.
this is just proof that KA can truly write anything — north country is a contemporary romance (ANGSTY second chance between childhood friends turned lovers turned strangers when the MMC gets sent to prison for a heist and a murder, and the FMC grows up, gets married (and divorced), and becomes the head cop at the small town police station), BUT IT ALSO is a bit of a mystery!!! a whodunnit!!!! that had me flipping pages until the wee hours of the morning even in the midst of the slumpiest slump that has ever slumped.
this was SO GOOD. i loved the romance, the found (and literal) family of it all, the yearning, the mysteries, the VIBES (gorgeous rugged canadian countryside????? bison ranch???? SO ATMOSPHERIC), and i’m left feeling cured of my reading slump but also desperate for more in this world, as usual.
if you like angsty forbidden romances, yearn for ranch life, and love trying to put the pieces together of a murder mystery before it’s revealed, then add this one to your TBR. an absolute delight from page one through to the end.
this is an ARC review! shoutout valentine PR for the chance to read this early!
i have been in the most ridiculous reading slump of my entire life the past three weeks — keep starting them, keep stopping, accruing a 10+ book nightstand doom pile that haunts my every waking AND sleeping moment — and then north country hit my kindle.
i am a DEVOUT fan of the ground KA walks on — the woman can write ANYTHING !!! literally ANYTHING !!! and make it compelling, heartwrenching, and beautiful. i started with her fantasy series (a fate of wrath and flame!) and loved it so much i picked up the simple wild (a contemporary!) just to live inside her brain a little longer — and loved that so much that i’ve been anxiously and enthusiastically waiting for whatever she wanted to write next. AND SHE SLAYED IT. AS EXPECTED.
this is just proof that KA can truly write anything — north country is a contemporary romance (ANGSTY second chance between childhood friends turned lovers turned strangers when the MMC gets sent to prison for a heist and a murder, and the FMC grows up, gets married (and divorced), and becomes the head cop at the small town police station), BUT IT ALSO is a bit of a mystery!!! a whodunnit!!!! that had me flipping pages until the wee hours of the morning even in the midst of the slumpiest slump that has ever slumped.
this was SO GOOD. i loved the romance, the found (and literal) family of it all, the yearning, the mysteries, the VIBES (gorgeous rugged canadian countryside????? bison ranch???? SO ATMOSPHERIC), and i’m left feeling cured of my reading slump but also desperate for more in this world, as usual.
if you like angsty forbidden romances, yearn for ranch life, and love trying to put the pieces together of a murder mystery before it’s revealed, then add this one to your TBR. an absolute delight from page one through to the end.
June 22, 2026
Thank you Valentine PR and KA Tucker for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
KA Tucker stole my reader heart from the moment I finished The Simple Wild years ago. I was so excited to see a new release from her in my inbox and that it was Romantic Suspense! I’m not a thriller reader, but I love the pacing of thrillers and the perfect middle ground for me is this sub-genre.
I had a wonderful, fun reading experience with this book! I’d recommend reading it in the Fall over the Summer but you can’t go wrong if you’re looking for something that will pull you in, keep your hooked, and make you swoon.
Synopsis:
Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.Logan Landry is home.After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.” —Goodreads
What I Liked:
The Small Town Setting—I’m a sucker for a small town Romance.
The Mystery—I really wasn’t sure who the culprit was going to be! It kept me on my toes.
The Second Chance Romance—A favorite trope!
What Didn’t Work:
The Length—It was a littleeeee long imo but there was a lot to fit into the story since there was the love story and the mystery to fully explore.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
death, grief, law enforcement, gun violence, misogyny, murder
KA Tucker stole my reader heart from the moment I finished The Simple Wild years ago. I was so excited to see a new release from her in my inbox and that it was Romantic Suspense! I’m not a thriller reader, but I love the pacing of thrillers and the perfect middle ground for me is this sub-genre.
I had a wonderful, fun reading experience with this book! I’d recommend reading it in the Fall over the Summer but you can’t go wrong if you’re looking for something that will pull you in, keep your hooked, and make you swoon.
Synopsis:
Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.Logan Landry is home.After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.” —Goodreads
What I Liked:
The Small Town Setting—I’m a sucker for a small town Romance.
The Mystery—I really wasn’t sure who the culprit was going to be! It kept me on my toes.
The Second Chance Romance—A favorite trope!
What Didn’t Work:
The Length—It was a littleeeee long imo but there was a lot to fit into the story since there was the love story and the mystery to fully explore.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
death, grief, law enforcement, gun violence, misogyny, murder
July 1, 2026
A lehető legjobb összetevőkből áll ez a könyv: Kanada, kisvárosi románc, second chance, nyomozás. Az első oldaltól kezdve teljesen belesüppedtem a világába, amikor nem olvastam akkor is a bőrömön éreztem a történetet. Mi történik ha a gyerekkori legjobb barátod és szerelmed egy borzalmas éjszaka után 20 évre börtönbe kerül? Az írónő szépen bánt azzal, milyen amikor vissza kell térned egy társadalomba. Szívmelengető, izgalmas és helyenként szomorú. Egy újabb csodálatos könyv az írótól. 🥹
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