Challenge Corner discussion

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.

Forgot about this one, hopefully starting soon

Chapters 1-5 (view spoiler)[Okay, I really can’t imagine what Cole is going through. It’s so sad for him and that he feels so responsible for everything. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 6-8 (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for him and completely understand why he is pulling away from everyone around him. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-14 (view spoiler)[I really like seeing how he is getting past this in his life, especially with the therapist or specialist (whatever they are called) conversations. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[Okay, I liked this one and seeing Cole and how he felt. Kind of felt like a stalker though so not completely sure if I liked him even though he had good intentions. (hide spoiler)]

Read the novella.



Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[
I feel bad for Cole, he trusted his friend when he said he was ok to drive and that led to 6 people dying including his two best friends.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 6-10
(view spoiler)[
Cole/Trent is not handling things well. I don't get why no one around him sees why, they're all too eager to move on and forget but he can't since he feels responsible.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 11-15
(view spoiler)[
It was interesting to see Trent's time in the clinic/whatever that place was that we had just heard about in Ten Tiny Breaths. I don't like how obsessed he is with Kacey, it's an issue I had with the first book as well.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-21
(view spoiler)[
I kind of had the same issues here that I did with Ten Tiny Breaths, Trent just feels like way too much of a stalker that it's hard to like him or be happy with the romance to come with Kacey.
(hide spoiler)]

Continuing soon

Continuing soon

Will be reading book 2 this month.

Chapters 1-5 (view spoiler)[Of course they got tatoos. It seems like a love triangle will happen. I like this so far but do not love it. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 6-10 (view spoiler)[The attraction between these two is so good. And all she says about Connor is nice but Ashton did cheat and I hate cheating so much. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 11-15 (view spoiler)[Well i don't like the cheating at all in this book. I loved the professors comment though after reading the note. She just needs to end things with Connor. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I still did not love the cheating. I figured the dad had something against him that he was not free from him. I am glad that the psychiatrists helped out. (hide spoiler)]

Updating this now since I’ll be on vacation the next few weeks.

Continuing soon

Will pick up book 2 soon.

Going to pick up book 2 soon.

Going to read this soon

Still planning on reading this

I’ll get to this

I’m going to continue soon

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RESTARTING MARCH 29TH, 2025

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I love K.A. Tucker
I might join this one when time comes

I’ll get to this soon

I might jump on this one

I’ll start it soon

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RESTARTING AUGUST 26TH, 2025

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Can we still read this with the March 29th restarting date? Or do we have to wait until August now?

I'm pretty sure you can still read it since the thread hadn't expired and it had already been posted as a buddy read. Ashlyn and I just needed to move the date for us.

I finished this first one and wasn't by my computer to update, so I'll do that now :)

Stage 1-3 -> (view spoiler)[I really am not a fan of Kacey. I get why she has a chip and she's angry. She lost her parents, but damn, this girl is really a bitch and offputting. I'm struggling with her. (hide spoiler)]

Stage 4-6 -> (view spoiler)[I definitely am feeling that Trent has something to do with this accident. He's always talking about fixing her. But it also makes sense with how mysterious this author is trying to be in giving us background info on these two. We are being strung along a little to be slammed at the end with info... (hide spoiler)]

Stage 7-end -> (view spoiler)[yep, of course Trent is really Cole. Of course he was involved with the crash. Of course, Kasey can't see through all her anger to see that he wasn't at fault for the crash. ugh...I swear.

And the ending?!?!?!?! What the hell? They spend months apart. Trent said his goodbye to her months before, and then he shows up on the beach and she can't help but say something bitchy. God, I really don't like her. But then on top of that, they just kiss and all is right with the world, lol.

This book spent way too much time on her anger rather then them getting the help they need. Why couldn't Trent just be a random person who helps her through her pain!??! Why did he have to be in the car? I really think the book would've been so much better had he just been a random person she fell for (hide spoiler)]

2 stars is rough!
And you're right in your review, this is 2012! wow
I'll read soon and see how that goes

Did you do audio too? I have a feeling that it's no?

I did do audio for a portion and then switched over to reading.

Still plan on coming back to this one

keeping alive...

Jamie to you plan on coming back and giving the series another chance?

Maybe???? I have it on my list to still try.

Okayy! I will see if I can read it this month.
I'm enjoying Ronan's book a lot

started this one this morning....interesting so far

Jamie wrote: "

Stage 1-3 -> [spoilers removed]"

except to laundry guy, she is friendly to him, haha

Grace wrote: "Hey Carrie!
BR threads are active until 15 days after the last comment on it, which makes this thread inactive.

Admins definitely need to fill in on this, but if you want to use the thread especi..."
was it not a planned buddy read set for August 26th? I thought it was 15 days from the planned date?

lol my mistake sorrryyy I didn't read the title and usually see the comment that says restarting, totally my bad

Grace wrote: "lol my mistake sorrryyy I didn't read the title and usually see the comment that says restarting, totally my bad" so you think its good? I am new to this, and want to follow the rules. I am enjoying the book so far, but just want to make sure if to make effort to stay connected with writing....to myself it appears. Only kind of buddy I can find :(

yes yes ignore my message, I didn't see the restart date and you're 100% on track

I might actually join you, I've been meaning to read this

This thread is a bit confusing.

You are good to read as the thread was restarted with an August 26th, 2025 date. The confusion came in because it was an active thread, with active readers when it was restarted. So the restart message (msg25) got lost in the comments.

I have book 1.5 on my TBR because I do love this author, but I'm super nervous to read this series because the first book was rough for me. I might join at some point while it's active, but I won't commit just yet as I'm already behind on my BR's and other books I want to read, lol

through 5 (view spoiler)[ Intriqued is the best word I can come up to find out more about Trent. Kacey seems to really be closed up. I know she has had some major trauma, but she doesn't have to be such a witch. If she wants Trent so bad, why is that his fault? She seems to be excited about the new job, but is leary and not trusting of her security, even though the bouncer was really watching out for her. (hide spoiler)]

through 10 (view spoiler)[ I agree there is something about Trent. He has a need for Kacey to be ok. Wasn't he in the apartment first though so he didn't seek them out? I am in suspense and its not even a mystery/thriller/suspense, lol (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "Jamie to you plan on coming back and giving the series another chance?"
I really enjoyed the first one. I don't really know what I was expecting, but by the end, couldn't put it down.

finished-kinda a big chunk but I got carried away-(view spoiler)[ wow, that was alot of turns I wasn't expecting. I would sure say this had some suspense to it. Some single, white, female vibe maybe. I liked it. Although I knew Trent had to have something to do with the wreck, I would have never guessed the story to go the way it did. I loved the psychiatrist and how he handled Kacey and truly am happy that he allowed them to be together after they both did some healing! Not sure how a sequel would go more than the epilogue, but sure going to read it soon (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to next one