{Audiobook} {New Adult} Review: One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker

Title: One Tiny Lie
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator: Elizabeth Louise
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths, book #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents' tragic death and Kacey's self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would...and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.

After enjoying the emotional and tumultuous story of Kacey and Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, I knew I had to pick up the audio for One Tiny Lie, which is Livie's story.  Livie, Kacey's younger sister and ward, was just fifteen in the first book, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but the author took it in a very similar direction as the first book, with Livie having to face down her fears and break out of her shell.

I thought Livie's naïveté seemed very genuine and realistic, considering all she and her sister have suffered and overcome.  And it was so much fun to see her let loose and act like a normal eighteen-year-old as she started her first year of college at Princeton, away from all of the family and friends who've helped her through the last seven years.  Her problems and issues may not seem as major as Kacey's did, but I can tell you from experience that being introverted and socially awkward make for a hellish existence at times.

Again enters Dr. Stainer to assist Livie with overcoming her shyness and social issues, at the behest of Kacey.  Initially, I thought he'd peak in, tell Livie to get over it and move on.  But I should have known better.  This guy's no quack; if I ever needed a therapist, I'd want one like Stainer.  He doesn't just listen...he gives Livie assignments to work on her social skills, like getting drunk at a party or saying the first thing that comes to mind whenever she's near her crush.  The potential for embarrassment is always there, but so is the potential for personal growth, which is exactly what Livie needs.

And, of course, right off the bat, Livie meets someone.  Or rather, two someones.  Two completely different boys:  one who makes her blush and do crazy things and one who is her ideal man.  I liked both guys. It seemed like Ashton, though a total player, had a lot more going on beneath the surface, if only Livie could get him to open up.  And Connor, well, besides that faint Irish brogue, he was a total gentleman, willing to take the relationship as slowly as Livie wanted.  It was obvious from the beginning which guy truly held Livie's interest, so it was hard to watch the triangle and subsequent cheating, knowing all the while that things were not going to end well.

Even so, this audiobook solicited many a laugh from me, even if I was cringing in the next moment.  It was funny and light-hearted, but there were also characters with deep issues to work through, and both aspects kept me engaged and listening, as did the narrator.  I thought Elizabeth Louise did a fabulous job with the narration of both of these books, though I wish her Irish accent for Connor had been a little bit stronger and a little less British at times.  Other than that, I have no complaints.  I hope she voices the next two companion books in this series.

I had so much fun listening to this book.  Seriously, there were sad moments, but it's not really a sad story. It's more hopeful than anything.  And as I was listening, I swear I had a perma-grin.  It was more funny than anything.  With Kacey and Livie's stories now told, it appears we're finally going to get Cain's story in the next book.  That guy has been an enigma, so I really can't wait to find out his story.  And then after that, it looks like we're getting Ben's story.  That should be fun, as well.  If you can't tell, I'm having a lot of fun with this series.  :)

Rating:  1/2

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.

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