{Audiobook} Review: In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker

Title: In Her Wake
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator(s): Sebastian York
Series:  Ten Tiny Breaths, book #0.5
Length: 3 hrs 53 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
Source: audiobook received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Before you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything.

When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.

Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.

And there’s only one person who can give that to him…

I am really going to miss this series. I've listened to every single book on audio, and these narrators have really become favorites for this genre. This is one of my favorite new adult series, too. So, when I had the opportunity to review the audio for Trent's story, the final -- or first, depending on how you look at it -- chapter in the Ten Tiny Breaths series, I had to jump on it.

Sebastian York is a fabulous narrator. I've only heard a few of his performances, but he has such a masculine presence, one that you won't easily forget. His voice is so deep and so seductive that it's hard to believe that he's not speaking directly to you, just for you. Bringing him back to portray Trent in this novella was the best idea. He just brings such a depth to Trent's character, a forlornness that I don't think was exactly visible the first time we met his character in Ten Tiny Breaths.

Honestly, if I didn't know the story already, I might have immediately written Cole's character off for his stalker tendencies and inability to move on, to put distance between himself and those he hurt. But I do know the situation and how things turned out -- and the fact that he owns up to a lot of what he does in this novella -- so I can forgive him. Also, seeking aide from Dr. Stainer goes along way for his character. I've missed seeing that guy in the last couple of books.

I don't know if I could pick a favorite book in this series. It's solid through and through, and the narration just made each book that much better. I'm going to miss these characters and all of their drama and also their happily ever afters. But I just might miss Trent most of all.

GIF it to me straight:

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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, favorite narrators, k.a. tucker, new adult, novellas, reviews, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths

{Audiobook} Review: Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker

Title: Five Ways to Fall
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator(s): Elizabeth Louise & Deacon Lee
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths, book #4
Length: 11 hrs 48 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: June 24, 2014
Source: received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

I'm going to be completely honest with you guys. I didn't even plan on reading/listening to Five Ways to Fall. I didn't think I really cared about Ben as a main character, and so I saw no reason to read this installment. Until I was given the opportunity to review the audiobook. I never rarely say no to audiobooks...I can always find time to fit those into my reviewing schedule.

And I'm extremely glad that I did give Ben and Reese's story a chance because it just might be my new favorite in the series. It's my favorite kind of romance, with that initial attraction but a very slow build-up to the actual romance. Plus, it's snarky and funny and sexy as hell. And the characters and premise were probably the most realistic out of the whole series...at least to me.

I love me some character growth in a story like this, and Ben and Reese bring it big time before bringing on the swoons. Reese is the wayward, abandoned girl who can't seem to get her life right, recently divorced from her cheating ex-husband of less than a year. Ben is a playboy ex-strip club bouncer who just graduated from law school. So, both obviously have some room to grow and learn and become better people. And they're just the ones to help each other do that...by almost sleeping together in Cancun and ending up working together at Reese's ex-stepdad's law firm.

If that doesn't spell trouble to you, I don't know what does. But it's fun and highly entertaining. Reese is sarcastic and witty and Ben's just a good ole Southern Mama's boy...and whenever they're together, sparks fly. But they can also be extremely sweet and heartwarming, too. I was seriously surprised at how much I liked Ben's character. I was definitely shown a side of him I hadn't really seen previously in the series, except maybe when it came to Kacey.

I loved how important family was to this story, too: how some family can bring you down and others can lift you up when you least expect it. Considering you don't see parental units much in YA, it's even more surprising to see them featured so prominently in a new adult novel. I like it.

I probably enjoyed this story even more because of the narrators for the audiobook, though. That slight Southern drawl Deacon Lee had as he voiced Ben's chapters....yummy. It wasn't what I was expecting at all for this character, but it worked well, especially as I got to know Ben. And I've appreciated Elizabeth Louise's narration of all the books in this series thus far. It's sometimes difficult for me to separate characters and narrators, so I was afraid that having listened to Louise voice Kacey, Livie, Charlie -- and now Reese -- would be confusing, but it wasn't at all. Probably helps that I didn't listen to them back-to-back, though.

If you're already a fan of this series, I think you'll definitely enjoy this newest book from K.A. Tucker. If you're just discovering this series, no better place to start than here. It's a series, but as with most contemporary series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. Though, if you've read the previous books, you'll see some characters you recognize. ;0)

GIF it to me straight:

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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, k.a. tucker, new adult, reviews, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths

{Audiobook} Review: Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker

Title: Four Seconds to Lose
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator:  Elizabeth Louise, Sebastian York
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths, book #3
Length:  12 hrs 41 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

Cain's always been a bit of an enigma throughout the course of this series, periodically playing the role of the strip club owner with the heart of gold and then fading back in to the shadows just as quickly as he appeared.  Naturally, I was intrigued by his story and how he came to lead the life he did.  I've had to suspend belief with this series quite a bit, but I think it went above and beyond in this book.  It bothers me a little how nice and neatly each of these books wraps up, and this one was no different.  But I'll get to that.

I was slightly disappointed that this story was told from a dual perspective.  It was supposed to be Cain's story, and honestly, I really only cared about his point-of-view.  Charlie didn't really add much to the story for me, and what she did bring to the table made me sick to my stomach.  Not only is she lying about her identity and her age, but she's harboring some serious secrets...the kind people kill for.  She redeems herself a bit near the end, but there's always a choice and I think she made a lot of wrong ones before finally doing the right thing.  I know it added drama to the story to have her scenario play out the way it did, but it just left me feeling all kinds of squicky.

Cain, on the other hand, was everything I'd hoped his character would be...and more.  He truly is the strip club owner with a heart of gold, doing everything he can -- and I mean everything -- to protect the people who work for him and ensure their safety.  Because they're not just his employees...they're real people who've become his friends over the years.  And then to discover how he came to be the owner of Penny's was more than a little heartbreaking.  Here's a man who's lost everything, and yet he's still striving to help others avoid a fate like his own.  He doesn't hold the girls in the club back; his actual goal is for them to all make something of themselves and move on.  This is another instance where some of that suspension of belief comes into play, but I appreciated the sentiment, so it didn't bother me too much.

There's some serious chemistry between Cain and Charlie, but once I found out that he was actually ten years her senior, it didn't seem so hot anymore.  But it's not his fault she's been lying about her age, so I can't fault Cain for the relationship that develops.  I do, however, fault Charlie for the situation she's placed Cain in.  At times, Charlie did seem much older than she was, and so it was easy forget that she's not even of legal drinking age, but then she'd make another idiotic decision and show her true age.  The hardest thing to swallow about this story was how easily everyone accepted her deceit simply because of the extenuating circumstances surrounding it.

Perfect endings are hit or miss with me, depending on execution, but something that's never a miss is a good narrator. And both narrators for this audiobook were phenomenal.  Elizabeth Louise has narrated the previous books in this series, and though it was hard to envision this voice as different from Kacey and Livie, she still provides an enjoyable presentation.  Where this audiobook really rocked was in the casting of Cain's voice.  Sebastian York has this deep, seductive voice that just oozes sexiness, and I'll admit trying to look up the narrator to put a face to the voice.  (Sorry, no luck, ladies.  Wah wah wah.)

This isn't my favorite of the series, and I definitely had some issues with the book, but it was a very addicting read/listen. That fact alone -- okay and, well, Sebastian York's performance, too -- caused me to add another star to my rating for the audiobook.  Had I simply read the book, I probably would have only given it three, maybe 3 1/2 stars.  But this is such a readable series, full of high stakes and drama and romance, that even if I hadn't enjoyed this book -- and I did, despite what it might sound like -- I'd still continue on to the next book.  Especially since it's Ben's story.  He might not be as mysterious as Cain, but he's intriguing nonetheless, working as a bouncer at Penny's while he finishes up law school. Yeah, I'll definitely be checking out his story.  ;0)

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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, k.a. tucker, new adult, post hs ya, reviews, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths

{New Adult} Official Cover Reveal: Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker

I recently discovered the awesome audiobooks for K.A. Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series over the summer, and I thought that Livie's story would be the end of it.  Naturally, I was ecstatic to hear that CAIN would be getting his own book.  Cain was always the ever-present but completely enigmatic club owner, and I always wanted to know more of his story.  And now I get to help reveal the cover for his book!

To preorder:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other Retailers

Here's the blurb:

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE is due to be released November 4, 2013.

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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

I'm so excited for this book!  And I love that this cover fits so well with the others in this series!  What do you think of the cover and the summary?  Have you started this series yet?

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Labels: contemporary, k.a. tucker, new adult, official cover reveals, post hs ya, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths

{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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, indies, k.a. tucker, new adult, post hs ya, reviews, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths, tough subject

{Audiobook} {New Adult} Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Title: Ten Tiny Breaths
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator: Elizabeth Louise
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths, book #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley/purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

I tried to thumb my nose at new adult when it became this massive "thing" and everyone was trying it.  But as it turns out, I actually kinda like it.  More than like it.  Because practically every novel I've read with "new adult" subject matter has been a hit with me.  Maybe I've just got awesome luck picking new adult reads or maybe I should've just given them the benefit of the doubt from the beginning -- much like my recent love affair with YA contemps.  Either way, I've had fun with the ones I've read so far, and Ten Tiny Breaths was no different.

I didn't think I liked "issues" books, either.  And truth be told, I still don't really think I do.  I like seeing characters work through things and overcome obstacles, but it doesn't have to be the type of tough subject matter that new adult novels always seem to hit upon in order to impress me.  It's more about the characters, and Ten Tiny Breaths was made of win when it came to that.  Though I've not been through anything nearly as traumatic as the characters in this novel, I still connected with them and their pain on a level I didn't expect to.  Because they were human.  Their pain, their love, their sarcasm, their biting words...it was all real and true to who they were.  Even crotchety old Tanner, landlord to this little "Melrose Place", was ultimately likeable.

I'm pretty good at figuring out who characters are in relation to one another in these books, regardless of how convoluted and confusing that relationship may become, or what secrets may tear it apart.  Needless to say, I knew where this story was headed pretty early on.  Yet, it didn't bother me that it was predictable, that the characters had been manipulated and toyed with.  It probably should have, but it didn't.  Maybe because in this story, everything was about healing, and according to some, you're never given more than you can deal with.  And even though Kacey had already dealt with more than her lion's share of misery and burden, she was strong and capable.

Even so, everyone has their breaking point.  It was empowering to see Kacey hit that point and rather than letting it own her, she sought help.  For herself.  And for her sister's sake.  Because nothing was more important to Kacey than Livvie.  The bond they share is precious and unbreakable, and I think the author portrayed it beautifully.

I also liked how this book was broken up into stages or phases.  It reminded me of The Catastrophic History of You and Me and how it was broken up into the stages of grief.  I think this breakdown made the experiences of the characters that much more relatable, seeing as how at some time or another, we've all probably experienced grief to some extent.

The narration of this audio was great.  I mean, I was swooning over Trent, even with the bad vibe I was getting from him, and I know it had something to do with the voice he was given.  I don't know what it says about me that a female narrator made a male character more swoon-worthy, but there it is.  I'm glad to see that this same narrator is performing the sequel.

This wasn't exactly a stand-out in the new adult genre, which is usually the complaint I hear about this type of novel:  they all generally follow the same pattern, the same basic storyline.  But it was entertaining and had me laughing and sniffling as I listened.  And that's all that matters to me sometimes.

Rating: 

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.

Find K.A.:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, indies, k.a. tucker, new adult, post hs ya, reviews, simon schuster, ten tiny breaths, tough subject