The Indie Bookshelf: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker & Giveway

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Review by Nina Gomez, Janna Mashburn and Lindsay Sparkes
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Synopsis from Author

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.

Nina Gomez
4.5 Stars

What a captivating read! Ten Tiny Breaths is a moving story about pain and suffering, survival and forgiveness. The author’s touching portrayal of two young people experiencing the pain of losing a loved one is eloquent and heartfelt. Kacie’s pain is so palpable and real that I ached for her hopelessness. When Kacie and Livvie move to Miami to start a new life, we are introduced to many characters who symbolize a different stage in Kacie’s catharsis and healing. Every single one of them brings a different meaning into Kacie’s world. From the first time she learns to hold Storm’s hand, to the lightness and laughter of Mia, to Cain’s genuine concern, Dan’s protectiveness over their new family, to Trent and his determination to make her happy again. All these people have lost something in one way or the other and have yet learned to make the most out of what they had. For years after her family’s tragedy, Kacie felt like she was underwater, drowning and immersed in her personal sorrow. As she expresses her feelings for Trent - “He’s like ripe watermelons after a lifetime of thirst. He’s like air after years under water. He’s like life” – her love for him becomes her saving grace. It helps her to realize how much she wants to live. How much she wants to forgive. How much she needs peace. Once she accepts her love for him and for her new family, she finally understands the meaning of her mother’s constant words. In a way like no other, Storm, Mia, Ben, Tanner, Cain, Nate, Livvie, Dr. Stayner, Carter and Trent are her ten tiny breaths of new life.

Ten Tiny Breaths. “Why Tiny, not deep? Do you think it matters if they’re tiny or deep?” Ten tiny breaths. Ten Tiny steps. It’s a long road to absolution and forgiveness but once you get there, seize those moments. Feel them. Love them.

Janna Mashburn
4.5 Stars

The minute I read the powerful prologue, I knew I was going to devour every inch of this book.

Kacey and her sister Livie try (the operative word being try here) to escape the tragic past of their lives by fleeing to Miami to start over. Everyone knows you can try run from your problems, but they will always be there no matter where you go, right?

Kacey is a strong heroine, but only on the surface. Inside her walls are crumbling. She survived a gut wrenching tragedy, and she is on the verge of a breaking point the whole book, and I had front row seats. While in Miami Kacey meets Trent, the mysterious boy next door. Trent is harboring some emotions as well, a tragedy from his past he to wants to forget.

I loved the relationship between Kacey and Trent, the dialogue was funny and enjoyable and the sexual tension was almost unbearable!

Another character I really loved was Storm, another neighbor to Kacey and Livie.

The friendship between Kacey and Storm was beautiful, and some of my favorites parts of the book.

"Storm swears she's found her angels. I'm sure that we've found ours."

They had each other backs no matter what, and I fell in love with their friendship.

The writing was excellent, and I enjoyed every single thing about this book . I cried at most parts, and smiled at the rest. This is a must read for sure!

Lindsay Sparkes
5 Stars

This book had me at hello and is by far my favorite book I have read for The Indie Bookshelf so far. A lot of times it is easier to write about faults in a book, but when there are little to none, what do you say? Those that know me, know I am HUGE on characters. Are they likeable, believable, well developed? Is there chemistry? YES! YES! YES! And YES!

The pain that Kacie is genuine and real, exactly how I would feel in the same situation. Her responses to that pain are just as genuine and real. She is reluctant to let ANYONE in and in the end finds that, somehow, the walls she so carefully built have been breached by a whole new family and she didn't even realize it was happening.

And then you have Trent. Trent. Yes please. Mother may I? He worms his way into your heart from that first smile. The chemistry between he and Kacie buzzes through your veins. There are several conversations I highlighted between the two that are too long in whole to share in a review, but here are a couple clips of my favorites, both out of Trent's beautiful mouth.

"I want to make you smile. For real. Always."

and

"I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Give me your heart, Kacey. I'll take everything that comes with it."

I know, right?

I cannot wait for the rest of the world to experience this book for the first time! It is on my must read and read AGAIN list!

Click on the links to see our take on casting Trent and Kacie.

We also thought, Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum fit perfectly!

Here is the Book Trailer on YouTube

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

**Warning - This is a Mature YA/New Adult book. Contains sex and violence**

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