Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Ten Tiny Breaths 
by K.A. Tucker
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: February 12, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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Four years after losing her parents, best friend, and boyfriend in a drunk driving accident, twenty-year-old Kacey Cleary runs away to begin a new life in Miami. Hardened by the tragedy, she's determined to keep everyone at a distance—until she meets an irresistible and mysterious neighbor who is determined to melt the ice over her heart.

I have been read a slew of contemporary book of late, and while I do not think I will ever fully connect with young adult contemporaries, I am finding I truly enjoy them in the new adult and adult genres. Ten years ago I would have gagged and called you a liar if you told me I would come to love them. While they still cause me to become way to emotionally involved I am at peace with it. Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker kept a little piece of me when I closed the book. The tale was powerful, tragic, heartbreaking, and romantic.

The tale begins four years after a horrific accident that took the lives of Kacey Cleary’s best friend, boyfriend and parents.  As the sole survivor of the wreck, she has been plagued by nightmares. She and her fifteen year old sister have just arrived in Miami, Florida after escaping from their aunt’s house. Twenty-one year old Kacey has just enough money to set them up in small furnished apartment while she looks for work. The shabby little, Melrose inspired apartment complex is about to change this hardened woman’s life as her neighbors and one smexy neighbor in particular worm their way into her heart. Filled with touching moments, unspeakable secrets and hope this book kept me enthralled until the last page.  

Kacey Cleary is one tough cookie, and about as fragile as one. She has this snaky, I don’t give a shit exterior and a jagged past as she spent the last four years in a drug and sex induced stopper to control the pain and lose she feels. Her love of her fifteen year old sister has changed all that and for once she is going to hold it all together as her guardian. Kacey really tears at your heartstrings, while making you laugh your ass of the in the next sentence. The author did a wonderful job of fleshing her out, sharing her fears and making her real for me. Livie her sister is sweet, and she really holds it together.  Kacey and Livie befriend their next door neighbor single mother Storm and her five-year old daughter Mia. They had their own storyline that intertwined with Kacey’s giving this book almost a small town feel. Trent lives on the other side of Kacey’s apartment and boy howdy is he smexy. He is very sensitive to Kacey and her issues and I immediately felt a connection to him. Trent’s complicated, and seems perfect and you just want to bite him. He is a good guy but you sense his pain. There was no insta-love and in fact, very little smexy time but it was such a beautiful and touching romance. I laughed, I cried and ooh how I cheered them on.

Tucker really did a wonderful job of sharing Kacey’s turmoil, her post traumatic distress order and ultimately her road back to herself. The relationship between her and Trent was sweet and intense and yet this tale was so much more than a romance. It spoke of forgiveness, finding peace, faith and redemption. I refuse to give away any details but I had this ah-ha moment where the pieces clicked and I became frantic with my need to confirm. With twists and interesting subplots I was so caught up that time and reality slipped away. I laughed aloud, and silently cried and the next minute I was bursting with joy. I love when a book moves me and I literally checkout from the world around me. Tucker’s smooth writing style and expressive ability to capture raw emotions delighted me as a reader. The ending is one I am sure most will enjoy as it gives closure.

Fans of character driven contemporary romances will adore Ten Tiny Breaths. I recommend a box of chocolates, a warm fuzzy blanket and a quiet place when reading this novel. The next book One Tiny Lie is from Trent’s perspective and will release later this year.  

Four and half cups of coffee from Cafe Demetrio out of five