Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Release Date: December 9, 2012
Format: ebook, 262 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #1
Source: NetGalley

Description from Goodreads:
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.

"Ten tiny breaths... Seize them. Feel them. Love them."

THIS BOOK...okay. First of all, this book took me by surprise. I went into this expecting the regular run-of-the-mill New Adult story, one where we meet Boy Toy right away and spend a majority of the book swooning over him, hiding something as we deal with some kind of issue, and then MC and Boy Toy have some kind of falling out, but don't you worry--HAPPY ENDING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

But Ten Tiny Breaths? I think it's safe to say it...did not follow this path. At all. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE New Adult. Looove it. But it's always nice to find something special when you're least expecting it. K.A. Tucker has written one of those special stories that will grab your heart and not let it go--even after the story has ended.

Character Rundown:
Kacey: There were good things and bad things about her. I liked how confident and independent she was, but I did not like her attitude a lot of the time. I also did not like how detached she could be. There are good reasons for it, but still. Excuses, excuses. I really enjoyed watching her character grow, though. By the end of the book, I truly did like her.

Trent: Awww, my boy Trent. I heart him. But I'm going to admit--a lot of things about him seem way too coincidental. But then the story goes on and we learn stuff and everything slides into place. Oh, and that part with the snake? HA! I'm pretty sure that's when Trent became my boy. He was kind, caring, and carrying a crap-load of baggage. His character was great.

Plot. Okay, I'm going to be honest with y'all. I totally guessed the twist. BUT K.A. Tucker built up to it so well that I was STILL sitting there freaking out. Seriously--it was Easter and I was sitting on my brother's couch screaming at my Kindle. It was fun. Also, K.A. created this story so perfectly. She knew what she was doing. She knew who we wanted to see and when, and when she took a character that was desperately needed, it didn't take forever and a half to get them back. This made the reading of this book flow incredibly fast, even though it was Easter. I mean, come on, there was cake and stuff. Normally I would get distracted!

Romantic things. Kacey and Trent's relationship...in the end, I loved it. At first, though, when it was just random encounters in a laundry room? I didn't NOT like it, I just wanted more. But as they start to actually hang out and whatnot, and they grow to actually be with each other, I loved their relationship more and more. I swear, that is what makes...certain aspects of this book so devastating. We grow to love these two together, and then BOOM. It happens.

The ending. Okay, so when I was reading the book and STUFF was goin' down, I was freaking out. I was not sure whether or not I'd end up actually, you know, liking the book. Because we all know those books that are so GREAT, but then the ending just goes and ruins everything. But let me tell you, my friends--this is NOT one of those books. Just keep reading (as Val and Kelly told me to do while I was reading this) and you WILL love this book once it's over. Don't give up on this one.

Overall, Ten Tiny Breaths was a refreshing New Adult story that K.A. Tucker wrote fabulously and veers off the path that most NA books take. If you're looking for a New Adult book that will make you swoon, tear up, and scream at your Kindle on Easter, Ten Tiny Breaths should definitely be on your TBR list.


♥Jessica(: