Review: Ten Tiny Breaths

TEN TINY BREATHS

by K.A. Tucker

Pages: 280 (paperback)

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: September 24th 2013

ISBN: 1476740321
Received From: The Hot Bed 

Summary 

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.

Review

"No human can bury their past indefinitely. It's only a matter of time before you crack."

I've seen K.A. Tucker books all over the place recently but never thought to sit down and actually read one. Then when The Hot Bed asked if there were any books I've been meaning to read it was the Ten Tiny Breaths series that popped into my head. Now I'm sleep deprived from staying up all night to finish Kacey's story and desperate to get my hands on book two in the series. This book is heart retching and thought provoking. It's a story that covers some hard issues without sugaring coating a thing and it's all the more endearing for it. 

Ten Tiny Breaths is the story of Kacey Cleary, a twenty-year-old orphan that's had a tough couple of years and with fifteen-year-old sister in toe is hoping for a fresh start in Miami. But even Kacey didn't imagine the friends they would make and the impact these sisters new home would have on their lives. With a stripper on one side and a sexy dream-boy on the other the apartment building turns out to be the Cleary's saving grace. Although not all is what it seems and as the plot begins to unravel you'll be taken by surprise and utterly put through the emotional wringer. 

"Take ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them."

Kacey is an incredible leading lady to read about. She's broken to the point of destruction and for a bloody good reason to! I can't stand it when we have these kind of characters, the kind that have hit self-destruct mode and don't care about the consequences over something trivial but with Kacey we have protagonist that is braking because she went through something genuinely earth shattering. As a character she's constantly fighting to keep moving forward, which was inspirational and even when things get tough (which they inevitably do) Kacey tries to stay strong for what family she has left. I just wanted to scoop her up and give her a massive hug - even if she is likely to jab me in the throat for it. 

"I'll make you whole again, Kacey. I promise you, I will."

And then we have our other player in this swoon worthy romance - Trent. Damn that boy is HOT! Okay so there was a little inta-love going on but I honestly couldn't give a fudge. Trent has enough secrets, flaws and quirks of his own to keep him interesting and out of the dreaded 'secondary character' category. But it's the fact that throughout the whole of the book - well 80% at least - Trent's main goal seems to be to make Kacey smile, to try and make her whole again. And sure, he was a bit of a numpty at times and there's one little scene where he rightfully gets a smack but for me his flaws only enhanced his charm. What can I say, I like them a little batshit-crazy.

""I want to make you smile. For real. Always. We're going to go for dinners, and see movies, and walk on the beach. We'll go hang gliding, or bungee jumping, or whatever you want to do. Whatever makes you smile and laugh more." His fingers toy with my bottom lips. "Let me make you smile.""

This book is without a doubt a provocative, steamy and captivating novel that ticks all the boxes for me. The story was exciting, The character's were real and moving. I for one adored Storm and her inflatables! It made me laugh out loud and a little hot under the collar at times. I can't wait to delve into the rest of these books and I'm hoping we get to see a little more of Kacey and Trent along the way. 

"Trent has kept his promise. He makes me smile every day."

YEAH! That's how you write New Adult fiction!!

**I received this book as an ARC from The Hot Bed at Simon&Schuster to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**