Review - Ten Tiny Breaths (Ten Tiny Breaths #1) by K.A. Tucker

Title: Ten Tiny Breaths

Author: K.A. Tucker

Series: 1st

Pages: 262

Published: December 11th 2012 by Papoti Books

ISBN: B00B3VOU74

Source: Personal Copy

Description: Just breathe, Kacey. Ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them.  Four years ago Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend, and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, holding her boyfriend’s lifeless hand and listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, twenty-year-old Kacey and her fifteen-year-old sister, Livie, escape Grand Rapids, Michigan, to start over in Miami. Struggling to make ends meet, Kacey needs to figure out how to get by. But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D.  Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes, deep dimples, and he perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction is undeniable and Trent is determined to find a way into Kacey’s guarded heart—even if it means that an explosive secret could shatter both their worlds.

I Give This ...

Interestingly enough, this book never hit my radar even though several reviewers have loved it.  I think it was released in England first, then ebook formats, followed by a US release date later in the year.  So, it's no wonder that may have gotten lost in that.  It wasn't until it's sequel popped up for review that I even noticed it.  I'm so glad I found it.  This was one of those books.

First off, I hope this isn't heavily marketed as a teen book.   Because, I really feel its not.  Even though our main character is young, her experiences are not to be taken lightly.  That fateful car wreck that only Kasey survived has left her severely broken and damaged.  When we are first introduced to her, I thought maybe she had her life back together.  She puts on a great front.  She has to for the sake of her baby sister.  But, Kasey has never learned to properly deal with her feelings.  She make have given up the bad behaviors, and they are not pretty, but she's put up a wall.  I think she was just hoping to get Livie through school and have to college and then we would have seen the worst kind of scenario possible.  

Kasey doesn't form normal connections.  She doesn't think she needs anybody.  Plus, in her twisted mind, she thinks relationships aren't worth the hurt caused when they are taken away.  But, the people they meet in Miami open up her heart in ways she didn't think could be done every again.  From the bartender Storm and her adorable daughter Mia, to Trent.  They refuse to let her shut them out.  And I think that forces Kasey into positions she never wanted to be in.

I caught the twist in the story right before we were told.  It floored me.  At first I was afraid of how that was going to play out.  But, I'm so glad that it forced Kasey to get the help she really needed.  And it helped her acknowledge the fact that she could love again.  Ultimately the story was about forgiveness.  Kasey needed to forgive herself for surviving, and forgive the cause as well.

As I said earlier, I don't think this book is for young teens.  It deals with loss, despair, drugs, sex, and numerous other topics that I would want to discuss with a younger reader.   It's beautifully written though.  I felt every ounce of Kasey's pain.  I can't wait to read the next book One Tiny Lie.