Four Seconds to Lose

Ten Tiny Breaths #3

by K.A. Tucker

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.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Fiction, Young Adult

345 pages, ebook

First published November 4, 2013

About the author

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. KEEP HER SAFE made Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018 list for Romantic Suspense.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

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Reviews

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over,
And seconds to lose them.
-- CAIN

Engaging, sexy and addictive, Four Seconds To Lose was a phenomenal addition to one of my favorite series!! It kept me guessing and was impossible to put down. I kept telling myself "one more chapter" and pretty soon it was 4AM and my book was finished.

From the very first page, this book started strong. It had a totally fresh concept and a very different vibe than the first two books despite fitting in well with the series. I really love it when an author is able to keep a series like this going and still deliver something completely unique each time.

This was Cain's story. We'd been introduced to him as a side character in the first two books and I have to admit that I'd been curious to see his story every since meeting him and boy did this book ever deliver!

A walking contradiction, Cain ran a strip club as a way to help women. He didn't do it for the money having already made his wealth in the underground fighting rings but his logic was that there were women out there who needed money desperately enough that they were driven to the point of taking their clothes off to get it and, while he couldn't stop them, he could give them a safe place to do it and  hopefully also help them get back on their feet and away from the sex trade in the long run. He was a fair boss who took good care of his staff, protected them, and maintained a long standing policy never to sleep with the women he employed. This had generally been an easy rule for him to follow until Charlie walked through his door.

Running from a dangerous life and in desperate need to quickly save enough money to escape it for good, Charlie was willing to do whatever it took to earn money fast - including taking her clothes off on a stage - and Cain's club was well-known to be the safest in town. Her plan was to get in, make her money, and get out but her attraction to the alluring, charming club owner derailed her course...

Cain was such an awesome hero! I love complex characters who aren't just easy to peg as either  'good guys' or 'bad guys'. Cain was a survivor who had done all sorts of 'bad' things but he was a 'good' guy. Described as reclusive, charming, moody, intense and principled, he "marche[d] to a different beat" and was also the kind of guy who would stop at nothing to protect those he loved.

"I'm living a life where safety is a luxury… Yet it took this man - a stranger - mere seconds to decide he would protect me."

And Charlie was just a wonderful heroine. Hardened by the dangers of her life, very little rattled her but she was at a vulnerable point in her life where she'd realized that the things she grew up considering 'normal' were in fact dangerous beyond belief and she wanted to get as far away from that life as she could. She was a strong character with a touch of badass who was willing to go to any lengths to take back control of her life.

"I finish my shift, pushing the reality of stripping into a tiny, neat box. I tuck it away in the recess of my mind, as just something I have to do, for now… It won't be forever."

I loved the way their relationship developed. While their attraction was clear from the start, the pace at which they fell for each other was slower and very believable. Cain wasn't eager to break his rules about being romantically involved with his staff and, given her plan, Charlie knew better than to get emotionally tangled with someone when she was planning on leaving anyways. But their attraction was undeniable and not something either of them could brush away.

"Two weeks later, and my balls are ready to burst. I don't know how the monks survive. Probably not by watching live strip shows daily."

I also loved that this was more than just a romance, with all the complications going on in Charlie and Cain's lives respectively, the actual plot had many layers and twists. But as the double lives and secrets began to stack up, things got more and more intense -- especially towards the end. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough!!

"I'm hanging from a pendulum as it swings back and forth between a nightmare and a dream. Only the nightmare is real!"

Oh, another cool thing is that this book was long! At 416 pages, it was by far the longest of the series.

While this book reads as a complete standalone, there are several scenes with the characters from the previous two books so fans of the first two books will get to see more of Kasey, Trent, Livie, Storm and the whole gang but a new reader just picking up the series won't be lost either. However I do recommend reading all three books in order just because I love them all!

If you're looking for sexy, heartfelt and well-written New Adult romances, this is a great series to try. I highly recommend all the books and will be eagerly waiting for the next one which will tell Ben's story :)

4.5 stars (same rating as both previous books in the series)


Please note that all quotes were taken from an advance copy of the book and are subject to change before publication on November 4, 2013.


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[Pearl Angeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are simply two good people with equally flawed pasts, looking for perfect futures. And I think we've found it, in each other."

4.5 Stars!

I knew I would love this book the moment I've read its premise because, omg it's all about Cain! This man made me feel drawn to him when I've read about his character in Ten Tiny Breaths. And when I learned that he's a part of this series, I was so hyped!

Four Seconds to Lose is quite different compared to the previous books of this series mainly because of its dark theme. We get to know a new character here named Charlie Rourke. Charlie grew up under the care of her step-dad named Sam. Unfortunately her life is a mess. Her step-dad deals with drugs and he uses and controls her to take a big part of it. When she was sent to Miami for a secret drug dealership, she started planning for an escape, particularly giving in to the idea of a new identity. And of course she can't do it without enough money, so she went to stripping, a job that potentially offers a lot of money in just few nights, at a club which is owned by the quiet and dangerously notorious man, Cain. The moment Charlie and Cain met, there's already a sexual attraction going on which further led to deeper feelings. But Cain doesn't know about her past and her real identity and Charlie doesn't plan to let him know because it will just endanger his life.

There was edginess here that made me feel anxious and that's one thing that I loved about this book. It was fully nerve-wracking. Charlie and her hidden activities were too much for me to handle. And then Cain trying to save her-- I knew their whole situation is going to be a lot more difficult.

I especially loved the plot. There was a little bit of mystery and the romantic build-up totally won everything. And the smexy scenes-- don't even get me started. When it comes to the characters, I loved them both. Cain is one helluvah irresistible man. I loved how he treated Charlie and the rest of the girls who are working at his club. Charlie, on the hand, impressed me with her strength and her will to move on and get past her miserable life. I also loved the cameo appearances of the characters from the previous books and how they all became closely connected in the end. My only tiny complain though is the near-end chapters and the resolution. They kind of felt hurried to me. Nevertheless, I'm still glad I got the ending that I hoped for.

As a whole, Four Seconds to Lose is quite simply an amazing book. I even loved it more than I loved the first two books of the series because it's simply different. This book totally brought out such a sweet, stunning, and thrilling romantic story that I surely wouldn't forget.

[Rachel Reads Ravenously · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

“I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them.”



I can't believe I've waited this long to read this book. Ten Tiny Breaths is one of my all times favs, and I loved One Tiny Lie. I liked Cain, but for some reason set this book aside, until now.

Cain is the owner of a strip club called Penny's in Miami, but he's a good guy and not a sleazy one. Cain takes care of his employees and doesn't exploit them. Charlie is applying for a job at Penny's, and she's got a huge amount of secrets around her. From the moment they see other, Cain and Charlie feel an attraction but neither of them are willing to act on that attraction.

“She’s the woman who stole my heart right out from me before I even realized she had her hands on it.”

Night after night Charlie dances, and she teases Cain. Every night he watches her but doesn't act. As time goes by tension builds up and the two must decide whether to give in to the attraction or let each other go.





I really enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little bit slow for me but once the book gained some speed I couldn't put it down. KA Tucker seems to thrive on characters with secrets and boy did Charlie and Cain have secrets. I liked Charlie as a main character, a girl who feels a lot but is not expressive, making her mysterious to other characters but not to the reader.

“For all that I hate about what I’ve done, there’s one thing I can’t regret. It led me to him.”

I also really liked getting some character development on Cain. He's been present in the last two books but never a central character, and I'm glad his story was told. He wasn't the most moral or perfect man, but he genuinely wanted to make amends for his past and was a good man to everyone around him.

This book was a bit steamier than the last two which was a bit of an added bonus. TTB was fairly fade to black if I recall and I'm glad the author didn't do that in this book. The age difference between Charlie and Cain also didn't bug me too much, Charlie may have been young but had the soul of someone who was older.

“I’m not afraid of anything, yet I think I’m afraid of Charlie. Not afraid of her. Afraid of having her. Of losing her.”

Overall like I said I enjoyed this one. It didn't pack the same emotional punch as the first two but was still a great addition to the series and definitely worth a read.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!!



Four Seconds to Lose is a moving, suspenseful, sexy, beautiful and well written addition to the Ten Tiny Breaths series.

I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over,
And seconds to lose them.
~Cain

This story follows Cain. Cain is the owner of the strip club both Storm and Kasey worked at. He is mysterious and complex. His life has been far from perfect. He has things in his past he is not proud of. He does what he can to make up for them, atone for his past sins. Cain is unlike any other strip club owner. He is kind, respectful, and treats his girls well. He doesn’t see the girls as just a piece, he sees something different.

All I see are girls who need a second chance. Girls who need someone to protect them because no one ever has.


He has very strict rules he follows.

I don’t fuck my staff. Ever. I’m here to help them get on their feet and away from the sex trade, not drag them down further by being the sleazy boss who treats them like whores.


When Charlie Rourke comes to town looking for a job, everything changes for Cain.



Charlie just moved to Miami. Charlie isn’t really Charlie’s real name. In fact, everything about Charley is fake, almost. She is into some shady things she’d rather not be doing, but she really has no choice. Not unless she chooses to change things. Start fresh. It will take a lot of work and a lot of money. Money she can get easily by dancing for Cain. When she meets Cain, she doesn’t know what to think. He is the exact opposite of what she expected a strip club owner to be. They have this intense chemistry, an attraction from the start. Charlie can’t get involved with anyone. Her life is complicated enough as is. There is something about Cain. It screams that he is a good guy, that she can trust him. The more time she spends with Cain and gets to know him deep down, she see’s the true man underneath the good looking, slick guy.



Cain and Charlie go back and forth a lot. They are friends, but... more. It’s a dangerous game they’re both playing. Cain has never been tempted by a worker like this. He can’t go there, but he can’t stay away either. The very last thing Charley needs is to be involved with anyone, especially someone like Cain. It is a slow burn, a lot of sexual tension.



Secrets, twists, turns, passion, lust, attraction- how long will they be able to fight their feelings for one another? And what will happen when they find out everything about the other?

Cain and Charlie- adored the two of them together! Both were fabulous main characters. Charlie has a strength deep inside of her. I love a strong heroine. She is willing to do whatever necessary to change her life. Cain was just wonderful. He had an incredibly sexy outside, and an incredibly beautiful inside. Although the characters from the first two books weren’t in this book a lot, they did have some cameos. I loved getting to see them, along with Ben. I cannot wait for Ben’s book- I just love that guy!

This series is fantastic, K.A. Tucker’s writing is off the charts phenomenal! Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I love how all three of these books are totally different. The vibes, the story line. The only thing that is truly consistent is the amazing writing and story telling.

The Ten Tiny Breaths series is one you don’t want to miss out on. If you haven’t read these books, you need to!

I’ll give Cain anything he wants, because he’s given me everything.

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Four Seconds To Lose is third book in Ten Tiny Breaths series, and this time around we are able to see more of broody, mysterious strip club owner, Cain Ford. The man I was pinning after from the moment I learnt about him. He just sounded so yummy and alpha enough to drool. I couldn’t contain my excitement when I finally had Four Seconds To Lose on my ereader. I expected something out of this world sexy, sensual and romantic.

My internal romance junkie wanted to read epic romance that will blow me away. Unfortunately, this time KA Tucker did not completely satisfy me. I had several big issues and as much as I wanted, no needed to feel butterflies in tummy, tingles all over my body, but I didn’t.




Charlie is in very bad position. She has to hide and do things she doesn’t want to do. Her life is like horror scenario. Everything seems to be fucked up and she has no idea how to cut the strings to her previous life. When she becomes a new addition to Penny’s Palace, Cain’s strip club, Charlie quickly captures the attention of the not approachable boss.

Cain is tried of being in business. Constantly working, living with guilt and lost love he’s a wreck. After Penny died, something in him died too.




This story didn’t seem to captivate me enough to hold my interest for a very long time. It certainly wasn’t bad or boring, it just didn’t have the same spark Tucker’s ealier book had. I missed the incredible sexual chemistry and pure honesty Ten Tiny Breaths had or the easy, funny vibe Livie’s story emitted. I hoped for more. A lot of more in chemistry department or the depth. I don’t know, I just had a feeling it lacked of something.



I wasn’t a big fan of Charlie. It was really hard for me to connect with her. I was also frustrated when Cain constantly tried to compare Charlie to Penny. It was irritating. Sometimes, I caught myself on thinking it’s love triangle with dead person. It was a real turnoff.

Overall, Four Seconds To Lose was disappointing read. Still nice, suspenseful and entertaining, yet not as incredible as Tucker’s previous books. I hoped for a little bit more.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Emotionally- Epic-Roller-Coaster-Dramatic-Stars

What can happen in four seconds?

Words cannot convey how much I love this book. I have to write a little intro, so if you are bored by lengthy reviews, I would advise you skip this part. Four Seconds to Lose (FSTL) was EXACTLY want I needed and wanted. It was emotionally driven and well written. Everything worked for me, from the character development, to the depth of detail, to the story line, to the issues, to the dialogue flow, EVERYTHING!

I need to clear the air here, first off, I hate hyping up a book and I know I am doing that now, so let me just explain to you why I think this book doesn’t work for some people. FSTL, is not like Ten Tiny Breaths or One Tiny Lie (both reads I LOVED). Ten Tiny Breaths was a bit dark, but it had (like FSTL) a lot of emotions and heart. One Tiny Lie was a bit steamier, with a lot of emotions, but it was just sexier. FSTL is not a steamy read, but it for sure had nice sexual tension. FSTL was just gritty, dirty and raw, things I CRAVE in a dramatic read.

[Summary]

Charlie doesn’t have the most traditional upbringing. Her dad is very demanding (mixed up in illegal activities) and while she is away trying to save money to maybe break free from her father, she decides to strip to bring in lots of cash. Cain owns a strip club, he’s the perfect boss. He doesn’t sleep with his employees. He looks out for his workers and treats everyone fairly. Cain has his own personal demons to work on, but once Charlie steps inside his club, somehow his demons resurface and it’s hard for him to stay away from the girl that looks exactly like the girl who haunts his past.



[My review]

The summary isn’t really the full story, it’s just the tip. I’m not the type to rehash the entire blurb, you can read that on your own. I also don’t like to say everything because I hate spoilers. Finally I don’t like long reviews, BUT I do write them for the books I really love, so you have been warned, this will be a long review, but seriously, it’s worth it.

[Charlie]

Charlie is a phenomenal character. All the characters are, but I’m going to focus on the Heroine. She’s strong, sassy and really smart. I couldn’t believe she was 18, I felt like I was reading a girl in her mid-twenties (which is a good thing). I loved how Tucker developed Charlie’s character. Charlie’s past was really interesting to me and I was enjoying her childhood memories (rare I know). She had enough issues and problems to really warrant her actions and feelings. Everything she questioned, so did I. She struggled throughout the whole book, but it was never once annoying, if anything it was completely endearing.

[Cain]

Oh Cain. I’m a HUGE duel POV fan, HUGE. I also love it when the author can clearly write from two POV’s and Tucker does. Of course Cain has issues and we get a good chunk of why he is the way he is at the beginning and I loved knowing that. I felt Cain’s pain and it didn’t turn me off at all. I understood his struggles and his reasoning. I just wanted to reach through my book and tell him, god you are sexy and it’s okay baby, let’s make love. Seriously, he’s one tortured, yet beautiful, yet fuckable character.



[Overall]

The best part of the book is basically reading Cain and Charlie interactions with each other and all in the midst of struggling through past issues, external issues and bad people. I thrive on couple’s working-against-the-world kind of read. FSTL is not a short book, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every paragraph and word was needed. I loved it.

I just wanted to take this moment to say, I REALLY enjoy reading authors shifting their books. As much as I loved Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie, Four Seconds to Lose was the perfect direction for Tucker to take. To me, she took a huge risk, because it was nothing like the previous two yet it just shows her talent. TO ME that is amazing. These are the books I crave, thrive and read for.



Here are some questions you may have…

Can I read the books out of order? You can kind of, since each book references different characters, but I wouldn’t advise it. There are a few references from the previous books and I wouldn’t want anything to be spoiled.

Is there a cliffy? NO

Is there a love triangle or cheating? No and No

Is there book 4? Yes, it will be Ben’s book

**Quotes were taken prior to publication and is subject to change**

I also wanted to thank Tucker's publicist, Kelly for providing me an ARC copy.

Series Order
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON

For more reviews, visit http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

✦ We finally get Cain's story, the notorious but sweet strip club owner and ex-boss of both Storm and Kacey.

✦ Let me repeat that "strip club owner"...this book is much darker and grittier than the prior two books. *fair warning*

✦ The whole "Penny" situation was really intriguing and while I did ~sort of~ like the little twist, I almost felt it was too much...?

✦ Charlie is very mature for her age...and Cain is much older. When I found out the truth, it was a little weird.



✦ The other women...I just don't really like hearing about that especially when he thinks about it later on. And...I don't think keeping the bed "holy" makes it all better either.

✦ I did like having a lot of Storm and Dan in the story and we even get a bit of Kacey and Trent and Livie(before her book).

✦ Both Cain and Charlie had some rough things happen to them...the similarities were interesting.

✦ Some of their scenes were quite steamy...especially the one on the pier but I also liked the sexual tension and flirting that went on beforehand!



✦ I really enjoyed getting to know Nate and I really liked the friendship between Nate and Cain...wonder if he will get a story?

✦ I did like the ending and that there was a lot of forgiveness or just acceptance and they were both able to move on.

✦ We get A LOT of Ben...the part at the club with him in the green bikini, I about died. Can't wait to read his story and meet who tames him in Five Ways to Fall.




Favorite quotes:

♦ “I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them.”

♥ "Whenever I look at her, a hot burn fills my chest.
I don’t know how I ever lasted a day without Charlie. Both work-wise and life-wise, I’ve never spent this much time with another human being. Not even Nate, who lived with me for several years.
I don’t even mind coming into Penny’s anymore. The place feels different. It’s not just me anymore. Now I have Charlie at my side. And those knots in my shoulders that never go away?
Fucking gone. Like magic.
Charlie magic."

♥ "I’ll give Cain anything he wants, because he’s given me everything."

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Well done K.A. Tucker!

Loved the story and just loved both characters.

“For all that I hate about what I’ve done, there’s one thing I can’t regret. It led me to him.”



Mystery, Suspense, sexy Cain Ford and one great hea!

"We are simply two good people with equally flawed pasts, looking for perfect futures."



Only negative for me was that the story was a bit on the long side. Other than being a long story, it was a very good read and I would love to see Cain again!

"Always be ready, son. Every second counts."

[Aimen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'You Only Have Seconds' Stars!

Charlie


Cain


K.A. Tucker has done it again! This book was so incredibly amazing! I have to say, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book because we didn't really get to see Cain in the previous two books, being the closed-off mysterious person he was. But once I did get to know him, I was hooked! And his story was exceptionally interesting.

Cain was a fighter. Always has been in, and is some ways, always will be. As a teenager, he did a lot of underground fighting for money. Lots and lots of money. It's how he was able to open up clubs at such an early age. But his story was definitely a tragic one. He lost his sister and parents, all of whom were involved with drugs and sex, at the age of 19. All of his life, Cain was surrounded by bad things and yet, he turned to be an amazing man. It's kind of why I fell hard for him. Cain found out his sister would sell her body for money and this pissed him off beyond manner. What pissed him off even more? His own mom didn't try to stop it, probably encouraged it. So when he lost his sister, you can imagine the heartbreak and guilt Cain went through, knowing he did nothing to stop it. This is why Cain is so intent on keeping girls caught up in these situations safe, because he can't bear to see it happen. The way he runs his clubs are very professional. He doesn't interact with his staff. It's all business. When a girl named Penny comes into his club, all rules are thrown away and he finds himself falling for her. And when Cain lost Penny, it broke my heart. He'd already been through so much. So when a girl named Charlie comes into his new club, he's taken aback. Why? Because she is just like Penny. Looks, personality, you name it and once again, he's hooked. But this time, his feelings are so much stronger.

"If Penny’s death did anything, it stopped me from ever getting distracted from my purpose in this business. It sure as hell isn’t love.
Here I was, thinking I had put that tragedy behind me and moved on. Until tonight, a Penny lookalike walks in and blows my recovery to smithereens."

Charlie was a great heroine.Her story was really sad as well and different. I've never read anything like it. Charlie had a mom that was all about looks. She also worked at a strip club. She left to marry Charlie's dad, Sam, even though Charlie's grandma protested. Charlie's mom died during childbirth and so did the baby. Charlie was taken under Sam's wing, given presents and a really good life. Or so she thought. Turns out, when she got older, she learned that her dad was a drug dealer. The best there is. And soon, he lured Charlie into his schemes, making her do the dirty work and trafficking heroine all over the place. She had no choice but to go along with it because the thing about Sam is, you don't mess with him. Even if you are his daughter. When suspicions about Charlie arise, Sam makes her a fake ID and sends her off to Miami. Her fake name is Charlie Rourke. Yup, that's not her name. You;ll find out her real identity later on in the book. It's mind-blowing! Anyways, Charlie wants to be able to do something while making money in her time in Miami. So when she see's the fluorescent lights of Penny's, she goes for a job. Because of all the drug business she's in, Charlie thinks she deserves working in a strip club. Bad things should happen to bad people. The plan is simple: make money in a strip club and deserve everything that comes in your way. Although, nothing is ever that easy. Especially when she gets a look at her boss.

"She certainly left out details about his physical appearance, I realize, as my gaze skates over his frame to see the well-defined curves beneath a fitted button-down black dress shirt and black dress pants. As if that body isn’t enough, his face is flawless—angular cheekbones and a sharp jaw combine to give him a masculine yet almost pretty look. He’s like a sculpture—and about as opposite to Sin City Rick as you can get.
Basically, Cain is panty-dropping hot.
That your boss is panty-dropping hot is an odd thing to leave out of the equation. Cain’s the type of guy that makes women lose their words and their train of thought when he walks by."

My favourite thing about this book was that Cain is always there to watch charlie dance. He never does that for any of his dancers. Ever. Except he can't help it and Charlie can't help teasing him because she knows this.

"I think Charlie just winked at me.
I shouldn’t be enjoying this but I can’t help myself. I am. Too much.
I need to stop coming out here when Charlie dances.


Their story had bazillions of ups and downs, given their pasts. But it was so alluring and entertaining and HOT. Cain can be quite the alpha when he wants too. And at the same time, he can be the sweet, caring, gentleman we got glimpses of from the previous two installments. Cain was intent on chasing Charlie before he lost his chance again. Charlie did nothing but run away because she didn't want to put Cain in danger. When you have someone like Sam for a dad, there's no room for other people in your life. Though, you can only run away from your feeling for so long before the tension builds up. And boy, did it ever! Their time together was intense. That all I'm telling you.

"Whenever I look at her, a hot burn fills my chest.
I don’t know how I ever lasted a day without Charlie. Both work-wise and life-wise, I’ve never spent this much time with another human being. Not even Nate, who lived with me for several years.
I don’t even mind coming into Penny’s anymore. The place feels different. It’s not just me anymore. Now I have Charlie at my side. And those knots in my shoulders that never go away?
Fucking gone. Like magic.
Charlie magic."

This was generally a sad story. You'll find yourself feeling bad for both these characters a lot and just wishing their pasts would leave them and let them be. Their HEA was so incredibly sweet! I'm happy to say it worked out really well for these two! And the deserved all of it, honestly. On a side note, I'm am so psyched for Ben's story. He was one of my favourite characters. He had me laughing aloud and kept the book a little light, which it so desperately needed. I can't wait to see this flirt settle down, haha! All in all, fantastic read that I highly recommend. It will not disappoint! This book had so much depth and meaning and it was just...amazing. The concept was new, the characters were ideal, the story line was original and refreshing, this entire book deserves a category of it's own. When you decide to read it, It'll set the standard for book pretty high. Now go on and read it, before I do it for you!

“I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them.”



Enjoy!



Edit:

Teaser #1: Charlie's POV!

He’s just standing there, boring holes into my face.
Given I’ve never laid eyes on him before, I don’t know what his normal complexion looks like but I’ll bet it’s not the sickly white pallor that I see now.
Like he’s seen a ghost.
I try to catch Ginger’s eye, to see if she thinks his reaction is strange, but I can’t.

“Sorry…I knocked but you didn’t answer,” she offers in apology. It’s true, she did knock and we waited for close to a minute before entering. I don’t know what he was doing in his office—behind the closed door with a sign that reads “boss man” and pair of lacy underwear pinned to it—but, by the stunned look on his face, we’ve interrupted something. A glance down confirms that his belt is at least buckled.

“This is my friend, Charlie, who I told you about.” Ginger’s long, slender fingers point to me and I force a bright smile. “Friend” sounds a bit misleading, seeing as everything I’ve ever told Ginger about me is a deliberate lie.

I only met her three weeks ago. Her beginner pole dancing class was just finishing up and she stayed on to watch the advanced class. I guess I impressed her because she sat through the entire hour and then talked my ear off in the change room after about how good I am. I took her proffered number with no intentions to call. The next week, Ginger cornered me after class and wouldn’t leave until I went out to lunch with her. Last week, she coerced me into shopping. There’s nothing wrong with her. I’d say she’s in her mid to late twenties, so quite a bit older than me. She has an easy, genuine laugh and a sarcastic sense of humor. She’s persistent, too. I just didn’t plan on getting to know people, seeing as I won’t be in Miami long. But I guess you could say that we’ve become friends—lies and all.

It’s ironic that we met when we did, actually. By my pole-dancing skills and looks, Ginger automatically assumed I was a stripper. There was no judgement in those bright green eyes when she asked which club I worked at. That’s why I admitted to the few unappealing adult clubs I had applied to and the appalling “interview” at one called Sin City. The one I had run out of. Her pixie-like face lit up, which was not the reaction I was expecting. Then she explained that she bartended at the well-revered Penny’s Palace and offered to get me a job. She asked about my experience and I, of course, lied. I told her that I had worked in Vegas.

I haven’t been back to Vegas since I was six. I have certainly never stripped there.

After my experience with Sin City, I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. But Ginger promised me that the owner, Cain, is like none other. The way she talks about him, I’d think he holds some sort of ‘boss of the millennium’ award.
But he’s still staring me down.
He hasn’t blinked, once.

I catch the almost indiscernible shake of his head before he offers in a clipped tone, “Charlie. Right. Hi.”
“Hi.” I was cool and confident coming in here, leveraging countless hours of acting classes to ready my wide, friendly smile. Now though, under this man’s steely gaze, I hear the wobble with that one tiny word. I step forward and hold my hand out.
His coffee-colored eyes finally pry themselves from my face to glare down at my hand—without moving—and I fight the urge to retract it. Ginger swore that this guy was first class but… he still makes his money off the sex trade. A lot of things get shaken under this roof and hands are probably not one of them. I never did shake the hand of that slime ball at Sin City—Rick— before he instructed me to climb onto his lap two minutes into my interview. I shouldn’t be surprised by this guy’s reaction.
These owners are all the same.

I take a breath, reminding myself that I’ve handled my fair share of degenerates and can do this.
Hell, I’m a degenerate.
As if snapping out of a daze, Cain finally accepts my hand in his, his coffee-colored eyes locked on mine. “Hi Charlie. I’m sorry. You just…startled me. You look a lot like someone I know.” There’s a pause. “Like someone I knew,” he corrects himself softly. His voice carries with it a smooth, educated sound, which surprises me, given our surroundings.

“Okay, well, I’ll just be at the bar, getting things set up.” Ginger scoots out of the office, closing the door behind her, leaving me alone with this man. I take a few calming breaths. I’m going to throttle her.
I don’t know what to expect now. Ginger didn’t tell me much about Cain, other than that he’s really nice and honest, he treats his employees very well, and if I’m going to dance in Miami, then Penny’s is the place to work. She did say that he sometimes comes off as intimidating but he’s just reserved. And he’s got a lot on his plate, running this place.

She certainly left out details about his physical appearance, I realize, as my gaze skates over his frame to see the well-defined curves beneath a fitted button down black dress shirt and black dress pants. As if that body isn’t enough, his face is flawless—angular cheekbones and a sharp jaw combine to give him a masculine yet almost pretty look. He’s like a sculpture—and about as opposite to Sin City Rick as you can get.

Basically, Cain is panty-dropping hot.

That your boss is panty-dropping hot is an odd thing to leave out of the equation. Cain’s the type of guy that makes you lose your words and your train of thought when he walks by. Except Ginger, it would seem.
But attractive or not, I’m feeling all kinds of uncomfortable right now, as Cain’s hard, intelligent eyes slowly roll over my body, appraising me. Taking a deep breath, I pull my shoulders back. I hold my chin up. I look him straight in the eye. I do all the things I know to do to appear confident. I will not cower under the intense scrutiny. If I’m going to be up on his stage, taking my clothes off for his customers, I can’t be unnerved by this.

And so I stand and let him pass silent judgment while I survey his office, taking in all the shelves, crammed with boxes. Aside from the large desk on one end and a black leather couch tucked into a corner, it seems like a storage room. Looking at him, I’d expect something sleek and tidy.

“Ginger said you have experience?” His tone is more gentle than it was when we first stepped in.
I answer without hesitation. “Yes, one year in Vegas. At The Playhouse.” I fight the urge to start twirling one of my loose blond curls. I know my tells and that’s one that says I’m lying. Ginger warned me, under no circumstances, to lie to Cain Ford, because he always finds out anyway and it pisses him off when he does. It’s kind of impossible to heed that warning though, given my situation.
Plus, I am a very proficient liar.

And I’m banking on him not doing an in-depth reference check. Short of divine intervention, he won’t find a Charlie Rourke that worked at The Playhouse in Vegas.

Because Charlie Rourke doesn’t exist.

Edit:

COOOVEEEERRRR!! It's beautiful!


Edit:

Woohoo!! The blurb is out!

"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."

I was wondering if Cain's story was going to be good. I didn't expect it to be but the blurb really helps. This sounds like it's gonna be great! K.A. Tucker, the things you write...

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars!
I didn't love this one like I did the first two. For one thing I didn't feel the connection between Cain and Charlie.
Cain's past is not pretty. Growing up with bad parents Cain takes to illegal fighting. When his family is murdered he decides to reach out to women that are in trouble like his sister was and opens a strip club. He's a really good guy. He doesn't cheat the girls out of their money. He encourages them to go to college. He does not tolerate drug use. So when one of his girls says she has a friend that needs a job Cain tells her to bring her in. He never expects the ghost of his past to be staring at him.
Charlie is trying to get away from her step-dad and she needs money fast. How else can you make a lot of money fast? You strip.
I felt bad for Charlie. Sam was scary. She had some balls to be able to do what she had to do. I could see why she never opened up to Cain. But I still wanted her to.
Cain never watches his girls strip until Charlie shows up. Then every night he's out there staring Charlie down. Charlie is a nervous wreck striping so she comes up with a way to make her time on stage better. Pretending that it's just Cain in the room.
These two start flirting with each other. But everybody knows Cain never sleeps with his girls.
After a scare at the club with Charlie things start to heat up between Cain and her.
Now I liked them both but I just didn't feel the love between these two.
Maybe it was because at the beginning of the book Cain had several one night stands. Maybe it was because Charlie never really opened up about herself like Cain did. Maybe it was because some of the shit that Cain was thinking about during sexy times. I don't know. lol I just wasn't feeling this one.
I liked it but I didn't love like TTB and OTL.
The ending was pretty decent. I liked how it got wrapped up. I did however roll my eyes when Charlie's real name came out. That was just weird to me. lol
Oh well...we can't love them all. haha! I will hopefully get to Bens book soon! I'm scared. He's a huge whore. Hahaha!!

[Beeg Panda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I met Cain Ford 3 books ago. Was itching to read his story because he's just one of those alphas you KNOW has a helluva story to tell.
*
*
*
I didn't heed the Kindle Store category this book is placed in. I just assumed it was a Romance first and foremostly. Its is however, listed as > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Sagas.
Of course I see this AFTER I've read the book. It makes sense NOW, in hindsight, that its categorised as a Saga, not a Romance.
*
*
*
Love triangle: the H, Cain Ford. The h, Charlie (not her real name). And a dead woman called Penny. The deceased love of his life. Whom this book is pretty much focused on, going by the numerous mentions (I'd lost count after the 50th) of her in the book. (Apart from when his place of business is being referred to: Penny's Palace. He named his business after her, yes)
*
*
*
He gets involved with his other heroine, the one very much alive and well. She introduces herself as Charlie. Not her real name. She's a strong girl. I like her although her life choices are ....different ....and she's in hiding and hasn't been open about herself from the start. Still...I like her. Very much. She's worthy.
*
*
*
So:
Penny, whom he immediately thinks of the minute he first sets eyes on Charlie.
“..........I find myself staring at my past. At Penny.”

Penny, whom he hasn't recovered from losing. (She was killed before they could start a more lasting relationship)
“Here I was, thinking I had put that tragedy behind me and moved on. Until tonight, a Penny lookalike walks in and blows my recovery to smithereens.”
*
*
*
And then the comparisons:

Right at the start of book when he thinks of Charlie:
“.....the strange concoction of intrigue, hope, and lust that’s so much stronger than just a waiting naked body should provoke—hit me. The one I have felt only once before. When Penny walked into my office. I went hard as a rock in an instant.”

About 20% in:
“She dances just like Penny did.”

About 35%
He agrees with this statement: “She’s as good as Penny was.”
*
*
*
Some of the tributes and declarations:

“the tattoo on his neck, behind his ear reads “Penny.”

“Even now, as Cain seems to be engrossed in conversation, his hand continues rubbing his neck, over that tattoo.”

I'd have preferred this intense confession of love and proposal of marriage reserved for the present heroine, Charlie, but alas, its his heartfelt thoughts about a moment with his precious Penny.
“I was in love with her and I selfishly wanted her for myself.
So I spilled my guts. I dropped to my knees, my hands wrapped around her legs, begging her not to marry him, to stay with me, to give me a chance.”
*
*
*
Yet I persevere because, heck I like the way this author writes. I like that I don't have to pick my way through numerous distracting mistakes and I like that the editing is spot on. So refreshing for a change. I like Charlie and I'm hoping that she will be the one to shine through for him. My Romancelandia style, anyway.
*
*
*
Thennnnnnnnn. Things are looking up between himself and Charlie:
About 58% in:
“I can’t believe it. I’ve never felt this. Not even with Penny.”

About 70% in:
“You’re not a replacement for anyone,”

“I acknowledge that she could shatter me worse than Penny did.”
*
*
*
I so so SO much wanted the THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK to be about Charlie ONLY. So there's at least ONE thing she doesn't have to share with Penny. (There are other "four seconds" references not pertaining to Penny, yes.)

But alas......before the 1/2 way mark:
“I wish I had swept her off her feet in the first four seconds that she walked into my life. I wish a lot of things . . .”

Yeah....he's thinking about Penny....
*
*
*
And by now I've pretty much realised that Denial is a river and I'm drowning in it: On the last page just before the epilogue:

He says to Charlie, after he sees her ID:
“I’m in love with a woman and I don’t even know what name to call her by.”

To which she replies:
“I think I’ll always see myself as Charlie with you, but . . .” I begin, my fingertips tracing the ink on the side of his neck. So coincidental. Or maybe not at all. “. . . I’ll also answer to Penny.”

***shudder****
*
*
*
Our hero is eager to marry "Charlie":
“If it were up to Cain, my legal name would already be Penny Ford.”

Like I say, she's a strong girl this one. Certainly made of stronger stuff than me cos I kinda like knowing I'm one of a kind to my life partner.
*
*
*
There's a HEA.
For him and Penny II.
At least he calls her Charlie and not Penny. Verbally, anyway. Lawd knows which one he could be calling out in his mind."

[Mac]

I would personally like to see raegan and grant's story

[Ramona Popescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are no words to describe how much I loved this book. I am a big fan of Kathleen’s work and every story is pure joy for me. Her talent is amazing and out of this world, bringing the reader a genuine and raw life lesson for him to cherish a long loooong time and pass it to others.

Although I loved Kacey and Olivia, I cannot prevent from falling deeper in love with Charlie and Cain’s story, because it was something else, something that kept me up all night and made me read the book in only 24 hours:) There was something addicting to it and I just dived right into the amazing plot and shared so many moments with this wonderful characters.

Our hero, Cain, lost his family at a very young age due to drugs. After that, he swore he will never be part of that world and that he will protect the victims of drug abuse no matter the cost. With the money earned from illegal fighting, he started a strip club, which became a very profitable business. When mixing feelings with business leads to tragic outcomes, Cain is strongly affected and changes his perspective upon love. Suffering from that lost, he continued to focus on helping broken souls, and founds a new strip club “Penny”, which became a home for girls who need a job, but also someone to take care of them. It might sound a little strange, but his intentions are most than honorable:)

From the moment Charlie walked into his office searching for a job, Cain is lead back in time, to his lost love. The resemblance is outstanding and this is what keeps his attention on the beautiful blonde, who is keen on working at Penny’s. After hiring her, Cain is even more attracted to her and he knows Charlie is hiding something, but he can’t help falling for her, even if he fought strong against it. What initially began as a deja-vu, something that remember him of the past, became something stronger than he even imagined.

Did I mention I loved the book? I can go on forever talking about the plot, but because I have a “no spoiler policy”, let us focus a little on the characters. As we are accustomed to, Kathleen brought together 2 very different personalities and gave them unity. Cain, even if suffered a lot in his life, managed to find a purpose and a mission in this business and considers he doesn’t need anything else. He never had a real relationship and this thing with Charlie scares him dearly. The way he opened up to her, confessing stuff from his past, his fears and insecurities, made me admire him so much and even if he did some mistakes, he is a true hero, inside and outside. Even if he was so afraid of letting go, he took that step with her and by the half of the book, we could explore a new Cain, more gentle, tender and opened to possibilities.

Charlie, as like Cain, is a very complex characters, with a normal past, but a very tormented present, that is haunting her and forcing her to do things she doesn’t want. She thinks that her only leaning point is her stepdad, but soon, her believes will change and Charlie will become someone else, someone with free will and capable of taking decisions by and for herself. For her age, she is extremely strong, but there were times were I wanted to just enter the book and talk some reason into her. She also fought Cain a lot, but eventually she left her emotions rule, which was a must in this relationship, from both sides. I wanted her to step up earlier, to break this vicious chain, but in the same time I could connect with her fears and only hope for the best to come in the end.

I loved this couple, their chemistry, their vulnerability together and apart, the way their romance progressed, the way Cain fought for Charlie, the way they made mistakes but found each other in the process. I tell you, this book is addictive, with a very intelligent plot, but with a strong message, more mature and darker that the first books from the series. I liked that we got to see the old squad reunited, happy and helping our couple figuring things out. This family element is very important to me and in this series I think it was the primal bonding piece that held the characters together. What I love about Kathleen is that every book has a different focus, never repeating or boring. Every story is a new experience and this book left me speechless, heartbroken, emotionally wreaked and extremely happy to have chosen it as my next read.

Top 5 books of 2017? “4 Seconds to Lose” made the list:)

5 stars!!



For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com

[Ilze · Rating 2 out of 5]

✮It really pains me to write this review and give this book only two stars, but we have to be honest, right?

I will start by saying that I absolutely loved the first two books of the Ten Tiny Breaths series, and K.A. Tucker is one of my favorite authors! However, this book was a real letdown for me. I don't know, maybe it was because previous two books were really great or maybe it was because it took me such a long time to finish it...

I started reading the book on December 4th, 2013 and I was somehow stuck on 72%. I just could not get over Charlie being a weak, lying girl with poor me syndrome. BUT, back then, since I could not finish the book I decided to let it stay on my 'currently reading' shelf, so I can get back to it later and maybe fall in love with it. Unfortunately it didn't happen. Yesterday, I decided, that I finally have to finish it and I did, but I think I hated Charlie as much as I did before.

Short summary of the blurb: Cain owns a strip club, and one day a gorgeous young women walks through his door. Although, Cain has a “no sleeping with the staff” rule, he easily bends it for Charlie. Soon, both develop feelings for each other, but the problem is that Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist and the girl pretending to be her is involved in some really bad stuff.

I did like the idea of the story, but I felt like the execution wasn't really working. 18-year-old girl working as a drug trafficker? REALLY? Despite the unbelievability factor, I kept reading, and I thought maybe she is some kind of bad-ass who can do it anyway and protect herself while doing it. But, no, she was pretty much helpless and in the hands of the other drug traffickers/ drug dealers/ drug buyers or whatever criminals. And, yes, it was disappointing. Plus, Charlie never really 'grow on' me, even though she cared about her new found friends and Cain, I just really couldn't get over the fact that she kept lying. She kept lying till the 80% mark (I think), and not because she choose to come clean, but because she run into Cain when she was on her 'job.' How can you love somebody and lie to them 24/7? I just...

Anyway, ending was really predictable and I don't even know why I bother reading it. Of course, Charlie will run away and, of course, big bad uncle will go after Cain and, of course, there will be 'I forgive you for everything' HEA.

Lastly, I gave two stars for the book, because I really liked Cain despite of his bad taste in women, he was a great hero. Also, I loved seeing other characters from the previous books. I think their 'get-togethers' were the best part of the book. Nevertheless, I still love the author even though, I didn't like the book, and I will continue with these series!!! ♥

✮This book, wasn't for me, but if you were thinking of giving it a try - you should!

pre-reading thoughts
I loved the first two books, and I can't wait for this one!

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars!!

The third installment in the series, Four Seconds to Lose sets itself apart from the other books by being darker and grittier. This is Cain's story.

Cain is the owner of strip club, Penny's Palace, where Kacey previously worked as a bartender. We also know from previous books that Cain opened Penny's after one of its dancer was brutally murdered. It was hinted that Cain and Penny, the girl who was murdered, had a thing. Here, the circumstances surrounding Penny and Cain were explained well. In fact, the whole angle is played up quite a bit especially in connection with Charlie, the heroine of this story. Plus, we finally get to know the mysterious Cain, his past, his motivations and see him fall in love.

Charlie is drug mule. She drops off drugs from one point to the other. And kicker is that, her boss is her own stepfather. Through Charlie's own recollection, we find out how she got into this business and how desperate her situation has become. She was manipulated by her own stepfather and by the time she realized it, she was in too deep that she had no other choice but to buy herself time to escape. Her latest assignment brought her to Miami, away from her stepfather for the first time. With a new name and a new identity, she plans her escape. Part of her plan involves saving up enough money so she can literally disappear. This brought her to Penny's and right into Cain's world.

I must say, this is my favorite book in the series. I loved that it's darker and more complex than the previous two books. The characters, especially Cain, was more fleshed out. The romance really stood out for me also. Cain, being a broken character that he is, isn't looking for love. Instead, he is compelled to save every girl that's worked for him. With Charlie, as much as he wants to save her, he also wants her. Their story works really worked for me. The fact that the angst was coming from the outside and not self-inflicted was refreshing.

So why only four stars? Well, the middle part dragged a bit for me. And then the Penny connection, with Charlie's real name being Penny and the fact that she looks like her diminished the romance for me a little bit. I didn't mind the physical similarities but the her name being the same with Cain's supposed first love left a bitter taste in my mouth. :(

Other than that, this was really an entertaining and engrossing read. :)

[Bindi Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Slow burn of intense attraction and i ADORED the hero, but i hated how everything was resolved at only 90% of the book. Would have loved to see the main characters indulge in each other without secrets pulling them back.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

K.A. Tucker has not disappointed me yet. I’ve been wanting to read Four Seconds to Lose for ages and it was definitely worth the wait. I loved it!

I’ve been intrigued by Cain from the first time we met his in Ten Tiny Breaths. He’s mysterious and intense and we know he has a tragic story, so finally learning more about him and getting in his head was amazing.

I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality
I believe you don’t have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person’s life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to with them over,
And seconds to lose them. —Cain

Cain’s life and upbringing was anything but perfect. He had a bookie/brothel running mother and drug dealer father and was forced into underground fighting before he was even fully-grown. Now, at twenty-nine he’s running Penny’s, a strip club and determined to keep things as legal and clean as possible. Cain is unlike other strip club owners. He’s respectful to his dancers and never crosses the line. He doesn’t necessarily even like the club, but he feels responsible for his employees. It’s especially because of his past, he knows these girls will dance (or worse) no matter what so he wants them to have a safe place to do it while helps to get them away from this lifestyle.

I hate this business, some days. Lately, I hate this business all days.
…
I’ve seen too many of them fall fast.
And trying to catch them over and over again is so very exhausting.

Cain has been able to keep his private life separate from the club all these years, but when a new dancer, Charlie come into the club his restraint is tested. He’s never had a hard time staying away from the women at the club before, until her. There’s something different about her yet she reminds him of someone from his past.

If Penny’s death did anything, it stopped me from ever getting distracted from my purpose in this business. It sure as hell isn’t love.

Charlie is looking for a way out. She’s gotten into some trouble and wants nothing more than to make some quick cash and be on her way. When she walks into Penny’s, she’s never stripped before. She’s an actress and is willing to do it as a means to an end and also a punishment for the shady business she’s been involved in.

I know exactly what I want to do with my life. End it and begin a new one.

From Charlie and Cain’s first meeting, there is some serious tension but neither is interested on acting on it. Cain, because of his rules and Charlie because she’s not who she says she is and knows she won’t be around long. When Charlie begins dancing nightly, Cain can’t resist coming out of his office to watch her, something he never does. Charlie can’t help but focus on him and him alone while she does her entire routine, effectively driving them both insane. The sexual tension is crazy and was so much fun to watch.

”How are you enjoying the show?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.
“It’s quite the game you’re playing, Charlie.”
“And do you like playing it?”
I hold the air in my lungs as he leans in toward my ear, his warm breath skating along my neck. “Yes, I do. Too much.”

I really loved the way their relationship progressed. Sexual tension is my favorite thing ever and it was really well done here, but when it all happens it’s pretty awesome. These two are HOT together and it was so great to see how committed Cain is to giving things a real shot. He’s never gotten involved or known true intimacy, so I was really freaking happy for him (but also really nervous that everything might blow up in his face). I just love him. He has so much going on inside himself with his past and guilt over people he’s lost. He’s definitely an alpha. Stoic, intense, controlled, but he’s incredibly caring and he’s sexy as hell and I loved getting his point of view, along with Charlie’s.

“She’s the woman who stole my heart right out from me before I even realized she had her hands on it.”

There is a good amount of suspense present throughout the book. Charlie is hiding so much from Cain and I was a bundle of nerves waiting for all to be revealed to him. I just kept wondering how it was going to happen and what he would do when he found out. I loved all the possibilities and ultimately thought how everything played out was really well done. Except Charlie’s real name being Penny… just way to CHEESY for me! It was great to see the characters from past books, I especially loved seeing Cain’s relationship with Storm and also Ben’s incessant teasing. I am really loving this series and can’t wait for his book next!

Audiobook notes: I read some of this on my kindle, but I mostly listened to the audio. Sebastian York was the PERFECT Cain. His voice is very deep and manly and it just felt perfect for how intense Cain is. I also liked Elizabeth Louise for Charlie because she sounds like a young woman without sounding childlike. This was a great one to listen to on audio!

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

4--Second Chance--Stars!!

“I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them.”

Four Seconds to Lose is Cain and Charlie's story.

Cain's past was riddled with pain, loss, hurt and evil. He's tried hard to move on from that past. To not let his past become him. To be better. To be more.

Cain owns a strip club.

"All I see are girls who need a second chance. Girls who need someone to protect them because no one ever has."

Cain buries himself in his job. Never developing relationships with women. Lying about who he is and what he does. Afterall, what woman would want to be with someone like Cain? With his past? That owns a strip club?



One day Charlie walks in needing a job. Charlie reminds Cain of his past. Of someone he once loved and lost. And he won't let that happen again.



Cain keeps his distance from Charlie. He doesn't date the girls that work for him. Cain can tell that Charlie is hiding something. Who she is? Something painful from her past?

Charlie's life is full of lies. She's trying to break free from her past. Trying to find a way out. To escape. For freedom. For a life....her own life.

“For all that I hate about what I’ve done, there’s one thing I can’t regret. It led me to him.”

Every day the lies build. Charlie gets in deeper and deeper. Cain won't let what happened in his past happen again. He won't let Charlie go. But being with Charlie is dangerous for Cain. And Charlie won't let anything happen to Cain.



Eventually Charlie's past catches up with her....what will happen when Cain finds out who Charlie is? And what she has been forced to do? Can Charlie ever be free from her past? And have a future with Cain?

"We are simply two good people with equally flawed pasts, looking for perfect futures.
And I think we’ve found it, in each other."

I have to say, I was hesitant to read this one based on all of the mixed reviews. But I ended up enjoying it. It was definitely slower paced and on the long side. But I was never bored. The MCs didn't annoy me. I thought it was a good addition to the Ten Tiny Breaths series and I look forward to reading Ben's book!

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed the first books of this series, so I was looking forward to getting Cain, the controlled strip club owner’s story. Four Seconds to Lose was definitely darker than the first two, but just as addictive.

Cain is a noble type strip club owner. Sounds contradictory, right? I know but as I got to know him through this series and this story that’s exactly how I’d describe him. Motivated by the murder of his sister, Cain strives to make up for the past by running a club where girls could have a safe, protected environment to dance and make a lot of money. Where he can, he helps the girls shift into other forms of employment. Cain also has a strict, self-imposed hands off policy with his employees. Well, that’s until Charlie walks through his door.

Charlie has her own issues. Big, BIG, issues that made my stomach turn just thinking about them. After losing her mother when she was just six years old, she’s been in the care of her stepfather, Sam, who on the surface seems like a good guy. And yet, over the years, little details add up to showing that Sam is anything but good. Sam arranges for Charlie to make “deliveries” to some extremely scary people! When one of those deliveries turns very ugly, Charlie knows she must get permanently away from Sam and his shady operations, and to disappear right, she needs a lot of money quickly. This brings Charlie to Penny’s, Cain’s club, and even though a relationship is the last thing Charlie needs or wants, she slowly falls for Cain.

The trouble Charlie is surrounded by is deep and scary. In fact I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this read because of it. I loathed Charlie’s stepfather and it was clear he had no actual love for her. Charlie did take some small assistance from Cain but I seriously wished she would’ve confided in him or even her friend Ginger way sooner than she did, and get some help. Cain was so honest with her and laid out his past which was not squeaky clean either so I’m not sure why she held back. I’m not one who likes to be stressed out while I’m reading so this affected my rating. The story and writing were solid and captivating, but my enjoyment was hindered because of Charlie holding back.

I will say the romance was full of chemistry with lots of built up sexual tension. I do love a good slow burn, so that was satisfying. I’m happy with how everything turned out, and some of the last twists at the end surprised me. If you’re looking for a New Adult read that’s more than just a sexed up YA book, K.A. Tucker is a great choice.

You can find this review and more on The Readers Den.


A copy was provided by Atria Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelena]

just received my copy!!!!!!!
Oh-MY-STARS!!!!!!!!

[Geo Marcovici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce carte! Cu siguranta a fost intensa si pe muchie de cuțit!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspenseful, slow burn romance with a lots of sexual tension. I really enjoyed Cain and Charlie's story.

[Beatrice Masaluñga · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you remember Cain Ford, he's the owner of Penny's --a strip club where Kacey Cleary bartended. His character intrigued me because he got this mysterious vibe. He's lethal man with a dark past and anyone who messes with or his employees, he'll take you down. He's a man of few words, generous, sexy and unpredictable. He only trusted a few people and inexperienced on dating life. He only prefers no-strings-attached.

When Charlie Rourke stepped in his club looking for a job as a stripper, he find it difficult to control his attraction. There's something about Charlie that makes him drawn to her. What he didn't know, Charlie is involved in a drug syndicate. She's used as a pawn by his stepfather, Sam "Big Sam" Arnoni for drug shipments. She needs a job to save up money so she can get away for good. She so sick of being trapped with illegal deeds and wants to live a normal life with a real identity. The last thing she wants is to be involve with Cain but the attration between them intensifies, it trumps every problem they have. With the reality catching up, both of them are in danger and their relationship can fall because of it. Will they be able to redeem themselves and have a happy ending?

Four Seconds to Lose is exceptionally great! I think the plot is better compared on the previous books. Maybe because I'm into romantic suspense. Though this book dragged out a little, it's well crafted and it keeps you interested on the story, making it difficult to put down. I love Cain and Charlie's intimate connection. The way tease each other at first, goodness! The tension is so palpable! The ending is really clever Charlie's real name is Penny Miller. Same as Cain's former stripper and had a relationship with. His club was inspired by her name. and proved that they're destined for each other. That puts a smile on my face.

P.S.

I forgot to add yesterday: Aside from being excited to Ben's book, I really want Storm and Dan have at least a novella. I adore those two 😭❤️ I'm happy for them

Final rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Saving Stars!



Finally!! This was my first K.A. Tucker read!! An author I had been wanting to read for years but she kept hanging out in the depths of my TBR. By just a few pages in, I could tell that this woman is a born writer.

"I believe you don’t have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person’s life. You have seconds. Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them."

This book has been out for a few years, and already has a ton of reviews so I'll keep this short and sweet! Basically, Charlie is the daughter of a ruthless mobster and drug trafficker. She's coerced into doing things that no parent should ever want their child involved in, much less force them to do it. But Charlie doesn't have a choice. She does, however, have a plan.

"I know exactly what I want to do with my life. End it and begin a new one."

Cain is the GORGEOUS, protective strip club owner with an overwhelming need to play the role of the hero whenever possible, in order to make up for his very troubled past.

I absolutely adored Cain!! He made the book great for me. He had all these rules in place and is super structured about never getting involved with one of his dancers, never even being out on the floor to watch the girls perform, but one by one, he breaks them all for Charlie.



The sexual tension between Charlie and Cain is OFF THE CHARTS!!! Charlie is super vigilant and rightfully so, given her situation, while Cain knows that she has a secret but doesn't care. He just wants to earn her trust. And oh YOWZA that first kiss!!!



The book has a dual POV between the H and h which I so loved. We get to see Cain struggle with his insane desire for Charlie combined with his fierce need to protect her.

“Are you always such a gentleman?” A smirk touches Cain’s lips. “No . . . I’m not. And you’re certainly not making it easy on me right now.” Swallowing the conflicting thrill and nerves inside me, I ask, “And how would I go about making it impossible on you?”

This wasn't a 5-star read for me because, I thought it could've used more steam for one, but also, I can't really tell you why, actually. It's not that it was slow or boring but, it didn't hold my attention at all times like I wish it could've. However, I haven't read any of the previous books in the series. There are a lot of scenes re-visiting with characters from the two earlier installments of the book that I am sure longtime fans of the series would've loved, whereas I was ready to get back to the two main MCs.

I wish Cain and Charlie could've had some more page time together too.

But, I am a total romantic suspense lover and the ending is all kinds of romantic suspense complete with dirty mobsters, DEA guys, and drug cartels in one big bloody mix.

I picked this book up because I was in the mood for a book about a stripper and the guy that swoops in and saves her...I know, random, right? Like a Cinderella story, I guess. And while Charlie definitely doesn't come from nothing, Cain does save her so, in that sense, it was TOTALLY what I was looking for! Oh, and, it's a bit taboo too! Cain is over a decade older than Charlie. I love me a good taboo romance! :)

And OMG, what a secondary character in NATE!!! I loved this boy so hard! Is he getting a book or is this series finished? I know I am kind of late to the party here but I so badly want this battered teddy bear to get his own HEA. <3

On to Five Ways to Fall next!

"For all that I hate about what I’ve done, there’s one thing I can’t regret. It led me to him."

[Helen Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, this third book in the series is my favourite so far! It’s deliciously angsty, and has quite a bit of suspense throughout. I’ve been intrigued by Cain since we met him in the first book, and his backstory is just as dark and twisty as I’d hoped it would be!
Charlie is a uniquely written and fascinating heroine. She’s a great actress, skilled at hiding what she’s really feeling and pretending to be someone she’s not. Her backstory is just as intriguing, though I won’t go into details here, because there are major spoilers.
Charlie and Cain’s love story is super sweet and I couldn’t put it down! The only thing this book was missing was scenes with Dr. Stayner, who I grew to love so much in the first two books in this series. I was kind of hoping that maybe Kacey would have given Cain a referral to him, and he could have given his two cents worth. I guarantee that Cain and Charlie would have gotten together a lot quicker had Dr. Stayner been up to his usual meddling!
Despite the gaping hole in this book that is Dr. Stayner, Four Seconds To Lose was a thrill ride from start to finish. 5 stars!

[Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality.
I believe you don't have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person's life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to win them over, And seconds to lose them.


Once again, even after all this time, K.A. Tucker managed to astound me.

[Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Fantastic. Seriously. My favorite of the series so far (and that's saying a lot because I loved Ten Tiny Breaths)

I ADORE Cain. He was an incredible, perfect mix of sexy alpha and sensitive guy. *swoon*

I also loved Charlie. She didn't fall into any of the stupid heroine pitfalls that seem to plague most of the books I read these days - and dispute her very dramatic circumstances, I found her to be a very relatable character.

The plot was great, the romance was great, the characters were fabulous (and I cannot wait for Ben's book). Sold writing. Couldn't ask for more.

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - my fave of the series so far! Cain 💕

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Initial reaction:

Changed my mind, I'll probably finish this out to the rest of the series, but I'm still not hooked because of so many problems with the narrative in measures. Hopefully I can expound on that in this review shortly.

Full review:

Nooo, I don't want to lose four seconds, I actually LIKE those four seconds! Whyyyy?

Kidding. =P I figure I'd start this review on something of a lighthearted note because this is going to be a tough review, and by tough I mean...I don't like writing this, but I feel I have to be honest.

I'm still finding myself following K.A. Tucker's narratives despite my better judgment. "Ten Tiny Breaths" I had so many issues with I still don't like thinking on it, "One Tiny Lie" was probably the closest to the narratives in this series that I actually liked for a time, but at some point it derailed and went towards the familiar tropes which really didn't strike me well for the way it handled that progression. And I wasn't here for the sexual assault/harassment among other problematic depictions in this book, long story short. I found some of them to be triggering for me personally and that had a hand in one of my first adverse gut reactions to this book. Thankfully, I read it a second time through to give it another chance and see if it was depicted realistically and not gratuitously, but I don't think the second time around went much better than the first.

When you have depictions like this:

"Sal didn’t rape me in the traditional sense, as surprising as that is, given everything else he did to me. Sometimes I still get flashes of his rough, callused hands as they delved into my body. When I didn’t react—not a sound, not a tear, even when I should have cried out from the pain—I guess he got bored. Like a cat batting around a mouse that doesn’t run. He called me a cold bitch and turned his back on me to check the delivery, giving me time to pull my pants back up. At the time, I was relieved that he let me go without taking full advantage. Most men would have."

And this:

“Come on, hurry it up,” Eddie barks. Bob’s rough hands squeeze my ass on their way up to my shirt, then under my shirt, where they linger.

Deep breaths.
I am not really here.
This will be over soon.

Though I don’t enjoy this any more than the attention to my lower region, it doesn’t jog the same horrific memories. Still, when a fingertip digs under my bra and starts sliding back and forth over my nipple—the lascivious flicker of a smile touching Bob’s lips—I decide I’ve had enough.

Then, Houston, we have some big, big problems here, and I honestly don't know if I want to go into just how much. It just saddens me for the portrayal, and I won't linger on it because I can't. I just cannot.

"Four Seconds to Lose" had two characters who were heavily indulgent in themselves and flawed to no end, but over the course of watching their journeys, the plot was...Captain Obvious. I kept waiting for the big "zing" moment and by the time I reached the end I thought "That's it? Really? Predicted that by Chapter 3...ish."

I suppose for the genre, this isn't really straying from the formula so maybe I expect too much from this genre doing SOMETHING different for a change. Sadly, with this narrative, it wasn't to be. Some interesting things in the set-up, but largely the execution dropped the ball.

Meet a bartender and a purported con-artist. At least that's where this book begins. You have a guy who runs a strip bar and a girl running from her past. Guy thinks girl looks like girl from his past and gets flustered when she comes in for a "job". (Meaning she strips for him, but only partially.) Girl thinks guy is hot and doesn't think twice about his hesitation other than the fact that it's job related. Things get complicated rather quickly.

Cain's actually a recurring character in this series, the owner to the bar Kacey worked at in the first book. At least I can say I got more into his head this book (for better and worse). He employs his dancers in an attempt to "save" them from rougher lives in other venues. Not a bad guy (ehh...), but it was difficult to see his character in turns past some measure of a saving grace and for some problematic references (was anyone else creeped out by the fact he thought Charlie was a 14-year old at one point?). I did like that he didn't find certain domestic abuse among other references for humor funny - he really does respect women, but I had a hard time connecting with his character - mostly because of his "obsession" with Penny.

"China" actually had more of a backstory in this book, but I can't say I was impressed or really that much more into her character taken apart from the stereotype (but at least I recognize she's more than just a placeholder character, here - not that much more likable, but meh). Ginger was so painful to watch for contribution in parts that I thought she was more of a caricature of a lesbian character than anything else. Some of the humor surrounding her character felt forced and displaced. One of the times when she made mention of saying "if I wasn't a lesbian" made me want to hurl my ereader across the room because it's like...there's not an understanding of how sexuality works here for characterization and it's blatantly obvious. And sad to me because the chance to recognize diversity would be well noted in a work for NA. (Then again... with "China" and the Native American dancer from the first book's inclusion - I didn't have much high hopes with equal portrayals.)

Charlie was hit and miss with me for character (there are a few other characters that were far, far more convincing for me in the con artist on the run note, but I'm going to avoid direct comparisons). I was so glad to see Storm/Nora in this book (I'd be an advocate of her getting her own story as she's one of the more fascinating characters in this series, but then again - I saw what happened to Livie's character and I kind of DNW. =().

The chemistry between Cain and Charlie develops gradually, but Cain is very protective of Charlie because of her insinuated similarities to the girl he lost, Penny. While we're at it, can we talk about NA stereotype #9762 - protagonists who are obsessed with dead (or supposedly dead lovers)? Is this a trend or something because I find it insanely creepy? Guy (or girl) ends up losing the love of their life in some tragic circumstance and is beside themselves. They obsess to some odd extent (Cain, in this case, has a tattoo and even named his club after said girl.) They are afraid to love again until some other prospect comes along that makes them doubt.

Or in the case of this book, she's really right there. Charlie = Penny. Little too convenient for a happy ending, if you ask me, especially given the context.

Why is this a thing? I don't understand, man.

I did find I became more invested when some of the details surrounding Charlie's past and criminal life came up, but it was still so underdeveloped (even to the point where some reveals were just ludicrous) and the characterizations in this tale so threadbare save for a few that I just couldn't get into it.

I'm going to try the next book in this series, despite the "strike three" this came across as for my experience. Seriously, I'm just going to try, but honestly - I'm still not very impressed by this series for its problematic portrayals and assertions, and that keeps me from even remotely seeing the fruits of its portrayals for romance among other things.

Overall score: 1/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Atria Books.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Seconds To Lose was the third book in the series and it seemed to me, the hardest to read. I got stuck with it for a month... It just didn't connect with me.
And this is not a good thing, considering that the first 2 books in the series were so good and made me devour their pages.
Anyway, about this book: Charlie and Cain had a rough start and a complicated story (both of them). But sometimes a complicated past, is the remedy to a broken heart. In this case, it was.
Sam... I have no words for this man. But I have a description. You know that bad guy in the movies that always calls, but you can never see his face? Sam was just like this. The mean, invisible character.
However, the writing style gave a bonus to this book. Except the last part with Sam. I needed more information about the cartel and Sam in the ending. I guess 4 stars are enough.