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

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

Published December 11th 2012 by Papoti Books

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.

My Thoughts

Ten Tiny Breaths has been on my radar for quite some time, so I’m glad I finally decided to pick up this book! It was emotional, perfectly paced and absolutely engaging. Falling for Kacey and Livie seemed too easy, but not surprising since they both were characters that were relatable and quite likeable. I can’t wait to continue with this series as I hope some of the secondary characters I met in this first book get their own story in the subsequent installments.

In Ten Tiny Breaths, Kacey and Livie Cleary pack up and leave one day for a second chance at life. Having lost their parents four years prior in a horrific car accident that affected both sisters in different ways, they know staying with their uncle and aunt is not an option. Especially after fifteen year old Livie is inappropriate approached by her uncle. When they head to Florida, Kacey struggles to make ends meet, that is until she meets Storm who gets her a lucrative gig as a bartender at Penny’s.

As they begin to settle in and Kacey finds herself falling for the hot guy next door, she still can’t seem to recover from the car accident that left her physically, emotionally and psychologically scarred. When Trent begins to push her to find help, a whole new layer of complexity is added to her life.

This first installment of the Ten Tiny Breaths series has so many layers to it that were absolutely enthralling. There were characters that played small roles with big intentions that I wanted to get more of. I loved Ben, and I hope to see more of him in other books. Storm and Dan were a nice pair that would easily be able to carry their own book as well. Also, I’m so curious about the mysterious bar owner Caine. I want his story!

As for Kacey and Trent... yes their backstory and how they come together is quite unconventional, but if I’m being honest, I wanted them to work. I really liked Trent and despite his stalker like actions… his reasons for his actions seemed noble and sincere. (view spoiler) I appreciated the distance he gave Kacey at the end of the story and applauded Livie for knowing what to do.

Overall, Ten Tiny Breaths was told in such a captivating way where you had to slowly but carefully peal each layer of the story to uncover the ultimate truth. I can’t wait to see what the next installments have in store, because based on the secondary characters I met in this book, I’d more than gladly continue journeying with this cast. Great story!

4 Suns