*ARC* In Her Wake - Review

In Her Wake (Ten Tiny Breaths #0.5)

By: K.A. Tucker

Published: September 1, 2014 by Atria Books

320 pages

Source: Netgalley ARC from publisher

(Goodreads /Amazon)

Summary:

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…

MY REVIEW:
This novella is the back story of Trent from Ten Tiny Breaths. This is the story of the events that led to that fateful night of a car crash that ruined the lives of 2 people and killed 6 others. It's a story of seeking forgiveness.

How can you review a novella that occurs before the events of the first book in a series without giving away any of the plot?! I try really hard to keep any and all spoiler type comments out of my reviews. Because let's face it, that just sucks when someone ruins the plot of a story before you've read it yourself. Having said that, even though I don't expressly mention the major plot below of book one, I'm giving you fair warning for those who haven't yet read it, because it might give away more than you want to know.

*SPOILER-ISH ALERT* PLEASE STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN'T READ TEN TINY BREATHS!!!
Trent's full story opened my eyes to the fact that as much as he thinks he has begun to overcome his demons in his terrible mistake, he continues to go about seeking forgiveness in all the wrong ways. To the point of stalking and manipulating. In the course of that he begins to fall for a girl he doesn't even really know. As disturbed as this story is, and how it would send most normal girls running for the hills in real life, in a fictional setting, and knowing his heart, it makes the reader fall for him all the more. Trent really is a "good guy", but misguided, and wanting forgiveness so much from his part in the tragedy he will do just about anything to plant himself in Kacey's life. He believes if he can help her heal, that the two of them might just have a chance at life and helping one another.
*End of Spoiler*

If you loved Ten Tiny Breaths (and I rated it 5 stars!) then you'll love this addition to their story.

Favorite Quotes:
It was only a dream, I tell myself. The worst night of my life is over, I remind myself. I'm just living in its wake.

I'm done with alcohol. I'm done with this apartment. With this school. I'm done with everything.

"But that's life, Trent. Whether we like it or not, we live and die by an endless stream of choices that affect each next step in our lives."

Is this really happening? Yes, it is. And she's not going to ignore me anymore, I decide. I'm going to make her see me.

Final Rating - 4 stars