Welcome to our stop on the One Tiny Lie tour hosted by Inkslinger PR. Below you will find Gloria's review of One Tiny Lie and our character interview with Livie, the main character of the story! Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out the Giveaway at the bottom of this post!
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Publication Date: June 11th 2013
Publisher: Atria
Pages: 256
Format: ARC provided by publisher for tour
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.
MY TAKE
I knew I was going to love this book. After falling madly in love with the characters in book one titled Ten Tiny Breaths, my love affair with One Tiny Lie was a sure thing. I'm so happy to say K.A. Tucker did not disappoint.
Livie has always been the one with her act together. She's been the perfect sister and the perfect student. Pretty much perfect at everything. But her sister Kacey is convinced that Livie is heading for a breakdown. Dr. Stayner, the psychiatrist who treated Kacey for her PTSD, is just what Livie needs. She agrees reluctantly to take calls from him. He gives her what seem to be useless/crazy tasks to complete and overachiever that she is, Livie does as she's told. I think my favorite task would have to be her talk with an Orangutan.
Kacey goes with Livie to help her get settled in her dorm at Princeton. Her knew roomie Reagan joins Kacey on a mission to help Livie break out of her shell and experience life and boys. Poor Livie is eighteen and so goal oriented and repressed. It's funny to see her older sister pushing her to drink and find a guy at her first college party. No one expected Ashton Henley to waltz and steal her heart. Well actually he first stole her Jell-O shot right out of her mouth before she could even taste the flavor. He had no idea he was also stealing Livie's first kiss.
"This guy's tongue was in my mouth? This guy. . . this tall, giant Adonis with dark wavy hair, tanned skin, and a body to tempt a blind nun. . . had his tongue in my mouth."
Livie learns a valuable lesson that night, countless Jell-O shots can lead to you waking in the morning with a naked guy in your room. Oh yes she did!!!!. Guess who? Yesssssss, Ashton, sporting a brand new tattoo(and maybe some wood). Thanks goodness Kacey was taking pictures the whole night because there's not much of it that Livie remembers without photo proof to prompt her memory.
So our first impression of Ashton is he's a cocky man-whore that cheats often on his girl-friend. But I swear I fall in love with instantly. Dr. Stayner gives Livie some very wise insight when she asks how do you know when a guy likes you more than just in a physical way. His answer...
"It's usually by the things he says. And if he does them without making a show of it, then he's got it bad"
Livie has a clear picture in her head as to what kind of guy her parents would have wanted for her, and Ashton is not him. But Conner, with the Irish accent (swoon) and Ashton's best friend is exactly who she can see her future with. She agrees to "slow and easy" dating with Conner. But all along she's drawn to Ashton. No one knows just how broken this guy is. He doesn't share anything personal with anyone. He's controlled by a demon of a father and I was in tears as Livie figures out Ashton's secret. He reveals more and more of himself to her and the little things he does for her only prove Dr. Stayner's theory. Conner is an amazing boyfriend but he doesn't see the simple things that mean the most to Livie. There are so many sweet and then extremely hot moments between Livie and Ashton as he continues to take credit for some of her firsts.
One of my favorite moments in the story is when Ashton goes with Livie to the hospital while she volunteers on the pediatric ward. She works with twin five-year-old boys that are in treatment for leukemia. They fire off question after question to Ashton. Livie's amazed how much she learns about him as he answers the boys questions. There is nothing like the innocence and honesty of a small child. I found myself smiling and giddy during this part of the story. But one of the reason's Kacey and Dr. Stayner worry about Livie is due to her fragile nature with others in pain. Livie has to decide if she can handle the emotions that will be associated with her career choice. And she really wants to help her "broken star" Ashton. She's trying to fulfill a promise she made to her father when she was just a little girl. She's trying to be who she thinks her father wanted her to be and not discovering who she really is on her own. Her grades take a dive for the first time in her life only proving her dad was right.
"My father was right. Boys do suck the brains out of smart girls"
Just as Livie starts to figure out where her future is not heading with her career and who her heart belongs to, the crash that Kacey and Dr. Stayner were expecting happens. I cried my way through the last few chapters. Ashton has to be completely honest with Livie and his story is heart breaking. But we've all heard "the truth will set you free", and freedom is what both Ashton and Livie need the most. It's just amazing that they help each other find that freedom at the same time. I love all of the characters in this story with the exception of Ashton's father. Dr. Stayner may just be my favorite character. I think I need a tee shirt that says
Globug and Hootie's interview with Livie Cleary:
Today on the blog I have Livie
Cleary from Ten Tiny Breaths and the upcoming new release One Tiny Lie, Welcome
to our Blog Livie!
Thank you for having me!
• Livie when we last saw you, things were a little intense in your life. How is everything going at the moment?
Well... things are still
a little intense but in a good way because I'm finally starting college! I feel
like I've been working toward this goal forever. I can't believe I'm finally
here.
• What was the best thing that happened to you this weekend?
This weekend? Let's
see...I moved onto campus and met my amazing roommate, Reagan. She's really
nice and fun! I think we're going to get along really well. And
then I went out to my first college party. Kacey came with me. It
was...fun... I think.
• If you could be one for just 24 hours, what cereal box cartoon character would you be? Why?
That's an easy one. I'd
be the Lucky Charms leprauchan, of course. I'd love to have an Irish
accent.
• If you knew you could not fail,
what would you do?
I'd act on broadway. I
think acting would be fun if I could handle being the center of attention.
• What CD is in your CD player right
now?
CD player? right... those
things. Kacey and I had a few of those when we were younger. I was
listening to Metric on my iPod before I came here.
• Name a turning point in your life
that makes you smile/cry.
Oh... I feel like I have
had so many turning points in my life. But, the biggest was the day Kacey
stepped out of Dr.Stayner's clinic after her inpatient therapy program. She
tipped her head back, closed her eyes, and smiled. A real Kacey smile. That
made me cry, but they were happy tears.
• What was your nickname growing up
or now?
Funny you should ask... for some stupid reason,
this jackass--I mean, guy-- has started calling me "Irish" after the
weekend. I haven't figured out what triggered it yet. I'm drawing a lot of
blanks after Saturday night though...
• What is your worst personality characteristic?
I'm really shy. I know
that's not a bad personality characteristic at all but, for me, I wish I
weren't so shy. It stops me from doing a lot of fun things. Dr. Stayner and I
have been working on it over the summer. He's helped, in his weird Stayner way.
• In closing, what are some things we can look forward to in One Tiny Lie?
Well, that's a good question. I'm not sure. If my
first weekend here is any indication, I shouldn't be allowed to drink
anymore... Though my roommate will have none of that so I'll probably
have some other stupid things to tell you about. I did meet this
Irish guy earlier today, though. His name is Connor. He's super sweet and I
think he likes me. Oh, and I'll be volunteering at the Children's hospital
starting this Saturday. Dr. Stayner helped set it up for me. I can't wait.
GIVEAWAY:
About the Author
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.
Links:
My heart is still going *pitter pat* over ASH!!!!!! LOVE HIM and love this book!
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