…on Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Posted January 17, 2013 by Asheley in Uncategorized / 14 Comments

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #1
Published by Papoti Books
Publish Date: October 9, 2012
264 Pages
Source: Kindle Loan

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.
But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness. -(summary from Goodreads)

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker 


My Thoughts:  From the first moment I saw this cover, I could not deny my attraction to it. It screamed out to me and I had to see what the book was all about. In a nutshell, Ten Tiny Breaths is a candy-sweet New Adult issues-contemporary that I blasted through. Despite a few editing glitches, the story was engaging, and I tore through it in one short sitting.

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Kacey Cleary used to have a great life, but in one instant it was taken from her. A horrifying car accident left her parents, her best friend, and her boyfriend dead. While Kacey survived the accident, she was left with gut-wrenching guilt that plagues her every day. Younger sister Livie survived the accident because she was not in the car, and it has been Kacey’s mission in life to take care of Livie since that time. After staying with their aunt and uncle for a few years and then running away (after their uncle tried to put the moves on Livie), the two decided to make a new life for themselves in Miami.

For years after the accident, Kacey tried to numb her pain and guilt with drugs, alcohol, and meaningless encounters with guys, but lately she has stopped this dangerous behavior and herself up. She attributes this change in her life to Livie and has vowed not to make the same mistakes again. It’s no surprise that Kacey almost can’t stand herself when she begins falling for her next door neighbor, Trent.

There’s just something about that boy. Trent is so incredibly good-looking. And charming. He doesn’t seem to be like all of the other guys – he doesn’t seem to want to use her for her body. Trent is able to get past all of the walls that Kacey has built – and despite her best efforts – he finds a way into her heart. So do Kacey’s neighbors Storm and Storm’s 5-year-old daughter, Mia. Kacey planned to live along with Livie in solitude, but they’ve suddenly got this makeshift family, and it feels great to them. They’re happy.

Until the THING – the big twist.

And Kacey’s life spins out of control. Again.

This can not be happening to her! It. Can. Not. How on earth will Kacey survive her life being shattered again?

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Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker is one of those awesome New Adult books that seem to be popping up everywhere these days. If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of them – especially the contemporary romance ones, like this one. I want to gobble them up – I’m not kidding. Ten Tiny Breaths tends to be on the issues-contemporary end of the spectrum, which I don’t mind a bit. For some reason, I tend to handle New Adult issues books much better than I do Young Adult issues books, although I am making progress with them all! (You guys should totally be proud with me and these contemporaries! But I digress…)


When the story begins, you think the issues are that Kacey and Livie are on the run from these bad people their aunt and uncle, eager to start life over on their own. They are fiercely independent. Kacey seems like a gal with an almost-chip on her shoulder, so very determined she is to protect her little sister. As the story progresses and Kacey lets her guard down, you’re rooting for her (you really are!) because you want her to beat the odds and be happy. Why? Because Livie is happy. Kacey has a great job and she’s dating a great guy. The neighbors are great. But she’s so stubborn about some things at times. So darn stubborn.


Let’s talk about Trent – the love interest. He’s a cutie, that one. And he seems to be just as stubborn as Kacey is, so the two seem to have good chemistry in the story. Trent is good for Kacey, because while he can’t get her to open up and share her past with him, he knows she has issues and he is careful to be mindful of her. He is patient and he is kind. It is because of this that Kacey can’t help but fall in love with this boy. 


But friends, Trent also has issues. And they kind of clash with Kacey’s issues. Big time. You can imagine that when this girl finally lets her guard down – finally – and lets this boy into her heart, and THINGS happen…well, let’s just say it isn’t all cupcakes and roses. There’s some heartache and pain. And anger. 


I have to admit to everyone that the THING that happened was something that I felt was a little predictable. I wasn’t entirely sure if I was right, but I was. Still, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story at all. I read it anyway and loved the heck out of it. I never mind a predictable story if it progresses well and if there is some originality to the plot, and this story was good. Plus these characters were really great and I felt connected to them all, main characters and secondary characters. I felt empathy for what they all were going through, before the THING and after. So even through the predictability, I loved this story a lot. 


Worth noting: the structure of the story is pretty neat. The author chose to segment the story in stages, with stage one being numbness, stage two being denial, stage three being resistance, stage four being acceptance, and so on. It became clear to me as the story progressed exactly how each stage perfectly matched up with the stages of, I suppose, Kacey’s grief. I thought it was very clever. I didn’t realize exactly what the stages were at the beginning, but at the end everything made complete and total sense. 


Ten Tiny Breaths packed an emotional punch, but was so enjoyable. It was one that pulled me in from the first paragraph. I did not put the book down at all until I was finished. I read straight through. I will absolutely continue with the series when the companion is released because I want to see where the story is headed for these characters. I recommend this book for fans of contemporary New Adult romance, particularly those that do not mind some steamy love scenes or books with issues. Also, I am still loving that cover! It ties in with the story very nicely, and y’all know how I love it when that happens. 

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Ten Tiny Breaths will appeal to fans of:

New Adult Contemporary Romance
with Issues
Romance: No triangle. Slow-Burn.
*A little bit of mature content!*

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
is currently available for purchase.

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How are you all liking NEW ADULT these days?
I’m kind of all about it.
ALL. ABOUT. IT.


Asheley

About Asheley

Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.

You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.

Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!

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14 responses to “…on Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

  1. That cover is so pretty! This sounds very intriguing, and I'm curious to find out the "twist" that appears to be a part of this story. New Adult has been an interesting new addition to my reading material, and I'm always on the lookout for more!

    • This cover caught my eye to begin with! Those colors! I read this one as a loan, and I'm not joking Alexa, I never put my Kindle down at all until I finished it. There were a few editing errors, but they didn't take away from how much I liked the book. It was predictable, but sometimes I enjoy stories like that. And there will be a companion, so I'm excited to see where the story goes from here!

  2. Oohhh…this one does look like fun! Like you, I devour these NA contemp. romance books! And the only reason I'm not jumping on my Kindle and downloading this immediately is because I have, like, 10 already sitting there waiting on me that I bought a little while back in one big bulk order (as a matter of a fact let me know if you need more reading suggestions and I'll email you all the titles!)

    Like you, I don't always mind if something is a little predictable. I can still totally get caught up in a book when that happens. And I am curious about what this THING is that happens in the story.

    Btw: You really must read my latest fave ADULT contemp. romance sometime: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. I turned Lauren on to it a few weeks back. So smart and funny. I think you'd love it. Hoping to have it reviewed this month:)

    • Yeah, this book was like mind candy. A good story with a few predictable parts. Still, there was some originality. I think the author could have had it edited a little better, but it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the story. I borrowed this one from ebookfling.com so I didn't buy it, but as inexpensive as it is, I would consider possibly purchasing it one day for a re-read, particularly when the companion book comes out.

      I honestly never laid the Kindle down once. I held it in my left hand while I made a simple dinner for the kiddos in my right hand. THAT is how caught up in this little story I was.

  3. I cannot wait to read this one…when it finally shows up. Not sure what's happening with that contest I won. Anyway, I agree, these NA's are addictive and I love that there is a little MORE that we usually get in the romance for the pain of all those issues. The balance is easier for me to handle as well.

    Is the sequel the continuation of Kacey and Trent's story? aka is there a massive cliffhanger? Or does it just take place in this world?

    • Yes, this one was fun. A little issues-heavy, but that's one of the things I'm enjoying about these NA books.

      There is no cliffhanger. The sequel is actually a companion novel and is Kacey's sister's story as she will be going to college soon. I think you'll like it if you don't mind overlooking a few editing errors and a little bit of predictability.

      Hope you've gotten it by now?

  4. I've been on kind of a new adult kick lately – they don't take long to read and I can always use a break from reading for class. About to start this one now!

    • EXACTLY why I love them – they're easy and quick to read. They're like candy, seriously. I usually throw one or two between heavy or long books and I'm happy as a lark. I'm loving the New Adult genre. Hope this one was a good break for ya!

  5. this cover grabbed me too. its' the colors I think. I have had a few friends recommend this to me. I will have to get sometime. probably not till this summer. ( i'm on a book buying ban because hubby and I are surprising the little one with a disney trip in june to celebrate turning 5) but it's on my list. lol

    yay to no love triangle! And I am loving these new adult contemps. Plus adult ones. sometimes I just need some steam in my story.

    • Yes to the steam in the story!

      Also, I borrowed this one from ebookfling.com. You might want to look at that. It's a great place to borrow books from other Kindle users if you have a kindle or nook users if you have a nook. I use it ALL THE TIME. I have two out from there right now!

  6. I loved the author's writing, the characters, the plot, and the pace. When I finished, my very first thought was I wanted my 15 year old son to read it. This story is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! And after you read it, recommend it to everyone you know, because this story will capture their heart, too!!

    Marlene
    Info site for Who is Allah

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