Review of Sweet Wild of Mine by Laurel Kerr

Sweet Wild of Mine by Laurel Kerr
Where the Wild Hearts Are #2
Published 28 May 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Love runs wild at the Sagebrush Flats Zoo...
In a bid to revitalize his career, bestselling author Magnus Gray has come to Sagebrush Flats to write about the local zoo's latest rescue―an orphaned baby polar bear. But Magnus dreads the drama of small towns and is bullishly determined to keep to himself.

June Winters is a people person, and delights in welcoming Magnus to Sagebrush Flats, though it seems unlikely she can get the handsome stranger to crack a smile. Then a mishap with an open gate forces Magnus and June to deal with a stampeding flock of fainting goats, an adorable but clingy polar bear cub, a cranky pregnant camel, and two star-crossed honey badgers. Never mind small town drama―the lively animals may just convince these two that opposites really do attract...



Sweet Wild of Mine is Ms Kerr's second novel and she leaves behind the bully-to-lover trope I hated in Wild on my Mind and gives me an antisocial animal-loving Scotsman by the name of Magnus Gray as a gift! Y'all already know I've hugged this book in that creepy obsessive manner I have, okay. I actually read Sweet Wild of Mine first, so let me tell you why I love this book. Make yourself some tea, get your comfy blanket, and settle in for a read. I'll wait.
Magnus is sent to Sagebrush Flats by his publisher in a last-ditch effort to salvage his writing career as he volunteers his time and experience at the zoo, raising a polar bear cub. The first person he meets in Sagebrush Flats is June Winters, the All-American vivacious chatterbox that is Katie Underwood's best friend. June tries to be her usual overly-friendly self and invite the lone diner to join the celebration going on across the restaurant. It wasn't exactly a case of love at first sight for them, I mean, Magnus' first words to June were "Fuck off" in a last-ditch effort to escape the woman without letting his stutter slip out. But eventually things finally work out in a give-and-take manner and there is all the happily ever afters. And a matchmaking honey badger, let's face it, I'm totally in it for the honey badger and the Scotsman. I make no apologies!
Some quick thoughts on Sweet Wild of Mine. My heart broke repeatedly hearing about Magnus' childhood and the history surrounding his speech dysfluency. That man needs a hug or two, y'all. June's exuberantly extroverted self is a bit pushy, but in this instance, it works out well. June just keeps pushing her way into Magnus' life (not altogether altruistically) and helps Magnus realise that a stutter does not make him defective in any way and that it's no reason to cut himself off from the world like he does. The way Magnus steps out of his curmudgeonly role and helps June with her grandmother time and time again made me "aw" out loud every time. Bowie makes up for his role at Katie's bully by letting a completely hammered Magnus FaceTime with Frida, Sagebrush Flat Zoo's resident grizzly, in the middle of the night. That's how guys do the bonding thing, right?
Ms Kerr's writing left me with all the feels yet again (yes, again, I had so many feelings with Wild on my Mind despite the bully element!) and I was left craving more. Ms Kerr goes the extra mile in her writing by doing so much research into the animals and the places mentioned in her books, and you can tell in her vivid descriptions. Ms Kerr's expressive writing plays a major part as to why I bought extra copies of both books in this ongoing series and sent them to my grandmother. If you love poignant scenes that leave you bursting at the seams with emotions, this is a book you'll fall in love with.
Now, I want to throw in a couple Trigger Warnings. Please practise self-care in your reading if you choose to read this.
Child abuse - Magnus was abused by his father and he has minute flashbacks (not scenes) and does a couple descriptions of the abuse.
Spousal abuse - there is a very brief conversation touching on this subject towards the end of the book.
Overall, I'm giving this book all 5 of my bright shiny stars and 3 flames for sexytimes. I truly and honestly cannot wait for the third book to be available and am ready to get my pre-order in on this one. Also, thank you to the Sourcebooks Casablanca and their facebook giveaway I won that included my copy of Sweet Wild of Mine, it probably would have taken me months to get to this book if it hadn't fallen off of my bookcase on my head one morning.







Laurel Kerr is a full-time romance writer and mom, who occasionally still dabbles in the practice of law. Her debut novel, Wild on My Mind, reached the Golden Heart® finals under the title of Volunteering Her Heart in 2016. Laurel Kerr was also a 2017 Golden Heart® Finalist for a historical manuscript. She lives in Pennsylvania with her daughter, husband, and loyal Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 

Her social media links are :: Facebook|Instagram|Twitter 



If you've noticed my odd postings, hey, congratulations, you're a regular reader of my blog! But in all seriousness, my life is a hot mess as usual, and I'm also looking for new doctors and a new apartment or house to rent, and I've been hemming and hawing over moving my review day to Saturday or Sunday. And this weekend, I've gotten to enjoy a lovely allergy reaction. Lots of vomiting and an endless nosebleed. I feel like reconstituted sludge.
My charity of choice for this review post is Polar Bears International and they also have a list of "Artic Ambassadors" where you can visit and learn more about our ice-loving friends.
Until next time, have a happily ever after!

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