Review: One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker

AMAZON | KINDLE

One Tiny Lie (Ten Tiny Breaths #2) by K.A. Tucker
Contemporary / New Adult
Atria Books (June 11, 2013)

Rating: A
Heat: Warm

Heroine: Livie Cleary – College Freshman, Finding Herself
Hero: Ashton Henley – Campus Bad Boy, Hiding Himself

 

 

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

Livie Cleary is perfect. The perfect student, the perfect sister, the perfect friend... because she has to be. Has to. With three words from her deceased father, his very last three words—“Make me proud”—Livie has spent her whole life trying to live up to that. Has set crazy expectations for herself and anything less is unacceptable. Get straight A's, go to Princeton, become a pediatric oncologist. She has no time for boys or fun.

What she doesn't plan on is her sister, Kacey, and her psychiatrist, Dr. Stayner. Those two are on a mission to liberate Livie. Chasing chickens and bungee jumping are just the tip of the iceberg of their plan. The real work begins once Livie starts Princeton. And nothing says hello freshman year like a house party and Jell-O shots.

Which is where she meets the ridiculously handsome and flirty Ashton. A bad boy if Livie ever saw one and a guy who should be avoided at all costs. Except, even though her brain says avoid, her heart and body disagree. And so do I. Truly, the man is a chick magnet. Captain of the rowing team, a sexy and dimpled face, and dreamy chocolate eyes that melt you... I fell instantly and I fell hard.

And so did Livie. Unfortunately, a lot of women fall for Ashton. Including his longtime, long distance girlfriend, Dana. Which reaffirms how wrong Ashton is for her and leads Livie into the arms of Connor. Cute, perfect Connor. A guy her parents would’ve definitely approved of. But even Dana and Connor can't keep Livie and Ashton apart. Unwillingly, they keep running into each other. And with each encounter, they grow closer. They reveal things to each other no one else knows...

So, yes, there is emotional and physical infidelity. Cheating is wrong. Bad Livie. Bad Ashton. But, for me, the extenuating circumstances made it... understandable, relatable. I do feel bad for Dana and Connor, but the love between Ashton and Livie, the reasons behind it all... I wanted every moment between them to happen.

What Ashton and Livie have together was beautiful. And often heartbreaking. And tear-jerking. Bad boys with those deep, buried feelings call to me. The more we discover about Ashton, the deeper I fell for him. He had a wonderful way of bringing out the best and worst in Livie. Allowed her to finally feel things, experience life in all it’s ups and downs.

One Tiny Lie was a remarkable story of love, life, and finding yourself. I loved experiencing all of those wonderful firsts—first touch, first kiss, first love—with Livie. I cried, I swooned, I melted into a puddle at the hotness that is Ashton. Livie and Ashton have a heart palpitating, lip biting, stomach fluttering love that had me flipping through the pages as fast as my eyes could read. You don’t want to miss this book!

Favorite Quote:

1. I’m brilliant
2. I’m charming
3. I’m hung like a thoroughbred
4. I’ve stopped all philandering
5. I’m highly skilled, as you’ve learned the other night.

P.S. Stop staring at my hands. I know what you want me to with them.