Ten Tiny Breaths

Summary:

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.

Summary taken from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15990969-ten-tiny-breaths.

My Review:

"Just breathe," my mom would say. "Ten tiny breaths... Seize them. Feel them. Love them."

Ten Tiny Breaths is an incredible story about horrific loss, unexpected love, and unwavering friendship. It takes you on an emotional journey of heartbreak, healing, and forgiveness beginning with Kacey watching her life shatter before her eyes followed by her slow and painful struggle to pick up the broken pieces.

After such traumatic loss, Kacey has an extremely difficult time letting go of her pain and letting her guard down and her "coping" mechanism aren't very effective (or healthy), but as the story progresses she finds herself opening up to people for the first time since the accident. I really enjoyed reading her thoughts as she struggled against her feelings toward not only Trent, but Storm and Mia as well. And Trent, holy moly... he is an enigma himself. He is charming and supportive, yet dark and mysterious, and his ability to make Kacey trust and feel again was beautiful.

“Give me your heart, Kacey. I’ll take everything that comes with it.”

I figured out the big secret he was hiding about halfway through, but it didn't make the big reveal any less heart wrenching. I mean, WOW!!! I felt every ounce of pain like I was right there with them.

Ultimately, this story is one of forgiveness and second chances at life. It is a definite must read and I can't wait for Livie's story in the upcoming companion novel, One Tiny Lie. 

Happy Reading, y'all! =)