Keep It Wild (The Big Five Book 5)

“You have been staring at the ground for so long you forgot there’s a whole sky up there.” Have you ever been to a place that just takes your breath away while simultaneously leaving you feeling like you can finally breathe again? A place that leaves you feeling like for the first time, you’re home? Keep It Wild is that and more! I can’t believe we are at the end of the Big Five Series but what a way to wrap it up! I’ve been longing for Bryce Canyon since book 1 and I am in awe of the picture Katie paints, not only with the landscape (she nails it btw), but also with her characters. Sophie and Clay. Just WOW. These two are something special! Sophie is our uber independent, animal rescuing, free spirit. She longs for the next adventure while simultaneously wanting roots she doesn’t think she’ll find. She’s unapologetically herself and when she finds herself the voice of revolution in town; she holds on with both hands. Clay, this man. He’s is guarded and full of depth. His past keeps him leery and he’s not sure why he’s stayed in one place so long, but also can’t bring himself to leave. He’d rather deal with animals than people until a fiery redhead steps into town and knocks him off his axis. Sophie and Clay are utterly electric together. The way they are drawn together. The way Sophie makes Clay think. The way they anchor each other in the best ways. The depth in each of these characters blows me away. And the side characters… Everyone needs a Sammy in their life!…

I’m the kind of reader that falls hard for a series and wants to devour each book, but I also want to slow down and soak each one in. I’m also the kind of reader that wants to know what happens but gets sad when it’s all over. Why does a great series have to end? Are we sure we can’t get just one more? Will I be okay to just return to these books from time to time like visiting old friends? I guess I don’t have much of a choice. KEEP IT WILD is the final installment of the Big 5 Series by Katie West and I am reviewing this book as an ARC. I was incredibly excited to read this book, but at the same time, not ready to say goodbye. I don’t usually pick favorites, but right now I’m sitting here trying to figure out if this one might actually be my fave. This story centers around Sophie, who is new to the Bryce Canyon area, and Clay, a grumpy, quiet cowboy who tends to keep to himself. This story is a good one, with much more than romance. You can find love, found family, some romantic spiciness, ride or die friendships, and strong female characters in KEEP IT WILD. You will feel a connection to these characters, and you will be invested. This story takes place in a small town in the beautiful Bryce Canyon, full of beauty and out of this world sights which West brilliantly makes you envision and feel like you are visiting. When big developers try to close in on the town and the small, local businesses, like Sophie’s new coffee shop, the town decides to fight back. They band…