Group Read: Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

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Connected
Connections #1
By:  Kim Karr
Published:  May 7, 2013
Published By:  Penguin
Source:  Publisher
Mature Content:  18 & up

GR's Summary:

What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice? 

Suffering from a past full of tragedy, Dahlia London's soul has been left completely shattered. Happily ever after is a far cry from reality in her world. But, when she is reconnected with her past, the bonds that form are irrefutable.

When River Wilde, lead singer of The Wilde Ones, comes back into Dahlia’s life, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her soulmate. 

Struggling with confusion as old connections fade and new ones begin, Dahlia's grief begins to lift--but guilt remains. River wants to be the one to mend all that is torn within her. 

But with a past that is never really gone, can their future survive?

*****TORN will complete the duet.  Due out October 1st, 2013!*****

Lindy's Thoughts:

Connected, by Kim Karr, was a crazy, suspenseful, super fast whirlwind of a ride!  Wow, I'm in complete and utter shock over the way the first installment ended!  I was intrigued by this book the moment that I saw the book cover!  I was expecting a hot, wicked romance, with steamy love scenes, and a swoon-worthy male character.  What I got was so much more that I could have ever imagined.  Connected is told primarily through Dahlia, the main character's perspective, with the end of the story told in River's point of view.  She has known great loss, and heartbreak in her lifetime.  She lost both of her parents at the young age of 14, along with her only aunt in a small plane crash, and lived with her uncle until college.  She knew Ben, and his family since she was a young child, along with Ben's best friend Caleb.  Grace (Ben's mother,) and Serena (Ben's sister) became Dahlia's surrogate family.  Ben has been the only love that Dahlia's ever known.  She lost her virginity to him, and knew that they would spend their lives together.  They went to U.S.C together, and were inseperable.  Then, one chance meeting in a bar, when she went out to have a girl's night with her best friend Aerie, brought her in to the life of River Wilde for a brief moment in time.  She couldn't help but stare into his eyes speechless, and she felt an instant connection that she had never experienced before.  As he returned her stare, River was instantly drawn to her, and felt the same intense connection.  Dahlia and River ended up talking, taking shots, flirting, and hitting it off.  Then, River got called on stage to perform with his band and told her to stay put, so that he can talk to her after he was done performing.  Dahlia left immediately after he went on stage, because she had a boyfriend (Ben), and was worried about what she might do if she stayed.  After this, she never saw River again, stayed with Ben, and they only broke up for a brief period in time in college, when she found out that he was cheating on her.  After about three months they got back together, and their relationship continued smoothly for years.  

The story then fast forwarded to where Dahlia had just finished Grad school, and Ben was working as a writer for the newspaper.  They were engaged, and about to attend an awards ceremony for Ben.  However, they never made it to the ceremony, because an attempted car jacking went wrong, and Ben ended up murdered in front of Dahlia.  Dahlia ends up going through a devastating mourning process, where she doesn't leave the house, won't sleep in the room she shared with Ben, loses a lot of weight, and goes in to a deep depression.  Grace, Serena, Caleb, and Aerie became really worried about her.  They are the only people she ends up keeping in contact with after Ben's death, and they constantly would call, and stop by to check on her.  Dahlia had always had a passion for music, and photography, and used to work with Aerie interviewing and photographing musical artists, before Ben's death.  Aerie convinces Dahlia, that she needs her to go to las Vegas, and interview none other than River Wilde, the guy she had such an intense connection with years ago.  Dahlia doesn't want to go, but after Aerie's persistence, agrees to do the layout.  When she arrives, she doubts that River will remember her, or that the connection they felt four years ago will still exist.  She's wrong!

I thought that this story was going to be a very cut and dry romance, and boy was I wrong!  There was so much suspense, drama, secrets, and information that came to light little by little, in the story.  I could not put Connected down!  It had everything that I look for in a story!  It was fast-paced, had interesting characters, great descriptions, and the love scenes were amazing!  They were very graphic, sensual, and erotic!  Dahlia and River's love story was breathtaking!  I couldn't stop swooning over River.  He was the complete package ladies!  He was gorgeous, a talented artist, amazing lover, and treated Dahlia like his queen!  He told her how beautiful and special she was constantly, and wrote her songs!  These two were amazing together!  They flirted, laughed, played games, had deep conversations, and a lot of steamy, and adventurous sex.  They enjoyed the same kind of music, the outdoors, and went running, and hiking together.  They were not only compatible, but had such a strong, and beautiful connection, which was great to watch.  I enjoyed the secondary characters, but we don't learn more about them beyond a superficial level.  I'm speculating, but I think this is because the author is going to continue the series with these characters having their own story.  I also would have liked to learn more about River's past, and family life, but I'm hoping to learn a lot more about him in the second book, Torn.  Connected, has been added to my favorites list, and is a memorable story that will stick with me for years to come!

My Rating:

I give Connected by Kim Karr, 4.5 Outstanding, Erotic, Suspenseful, Thrilling, and Orgasmic Stars!  Read this book!  If you love a steamy romance, laden with elements of mystery, suspense, erotic and explicit sex scenes, and a swoon-worthy rockstar, you need to check out Connected!  It is a new favorite of mine, and I am so excited to continue the Connections Series!  I specifically recommend this series for readers out there who enjoy the way romance is written by authors such as J. Lynn, Abbi Glines, Elizabeth Reyes, and Jennifer Probst, but combined with secrets, and suspense!  If you haven't already, add Connected to your TBR pile, you won't regret it!

My Favorite Quotes:

"Shaking my head in disagreement, I decide not to engage in our little who-loves-who-more game because I know I'll win.  I'll love this girl more than anybody has ever loved anyone."  (eARC, Loc. 3260)

~River

"As I easily slip inside her, her arms lace around my neck and her legs wrap around my body to pull me closer and I know this is the woman I always want to be with."  (eARC, Loc. 3643)

~River

"Watching her now, so natural, so beautiful, I know why it only took that one meeting so long ago to know she owned me.  It's like I was hers from the very first time I looked into her beautiful eyes."  (eARC Loc. 3759)

~River

The Way Ria Sees It

What The H Just happened?! Okay, okay I’m always going on and on about how much I love music and the authors who put music it in their books, and it means so much, and blah blah blah!!  Well!! Let me tell you, when I saw Ms. Karr’s play list I was soooo delighted!! I knew right away this would be one of the good ones!! I felt “Connected” to all of the characters!  The story was practically perfect for me!  Everyone pulled at my heart strings, and Ms. Karr’s writing made me truly fall in love!  I felt as though I lived through Dahlia’s eyes rather than just read her thoughts! Know what I mean? 

Love + Deceit + SoulMates + Loss + Renewal + 2nd Chances = Connected! I highly HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book  ERMERGERD!!! 

C-onsequences, something potentially dangerous occurs, Dahl runs from her desires, because they have the weight of destruction.

O-dd, still the same man she grew up with, suddenly nothing he does is the same...Has he changed, or is there something more lurking?

N-emesis, a shadow, a foe, he will take everything that Dahl has left, now she is truly alone.

N-aked, abandoned, alone, desperate, unconsolable, Dahlia is a sullen broken shell of what she once was.

E-ndure, pain and agony, then the regrets, she realizes she needs to face her fears and begin to let go and rebuild.

C-hance, a job turned reunion will ignite her soul with a passion Dahlia thought long dead. 

T-ruth, cards on the table River will ensure his beautiful girl Dahlia remains by his side. 

E-bullience, Dahlia and River’s days become full of joy, together they are complete.  However, secrets loom in the horizon plotting to destroy their amazing connection. 

D-estined to be together, and almost torn apart, these two will make a decision that will affect every one of their loved ones!!

HOLY.FU*#ING.CLIFFHANGER.BATMAN!

ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!  Y’all know how I FEEL about cliffy’s. The first word that comes to mind is loathe!  Well, believe it or not, I rather enjoyed this one!  Towards the end, I was like AW!!  I love these two, then at the very end I was like, “Oh snap!  Sh*@ just got.REAL.”  But I wouldn’t change it!  Fo' Nothin!!  Seriously, LOVED, LIVED, LAUGHED, AND CRIED, with this book!!  I highly, highly recommend this one to anyone that likes to fall in love and experience steamy scenes.

My Favs

Dahlia

Smart and sexy, she knows what she wants!  How on earth could you not fall in LOVE!!  She has lost everyone that has ever meant anything to her, and she is still an amazing person that everyone wants to be around!  Okay, I’m going to briefly talk about something that most won't.  Dahlia was actually attracted to someone else!  HELLO?!  That's kind of big since we are always hearing about the virginal perfect people, who never ever make mistakes!  Dahl felt real, ya know?! 

River

Hubba Hubba Hubba!!  Wow, the moment this guy walked onto the scene, I was mesmerized, and I just knew there was something special about him!  I was beyond floored to be right!  River felt the same “Connection" to Dahlia, as she felt towards him.  I LOVED every moment of their love story!!  He is so sexy, and he is willing to do anything for their relationship. 

My Rating

4.0 Sexy boy, Second chance, Green Eyed, Rock Star Love Filled Stars!!!  I highly recommend this book!!

Ro's Take on this Journey:

To say Connected, by Kim Karr is one of the most compelling, suspenseful, intriguing, sexually explicit novels I have ever read, is an understatement!!!  It is filled with lies, deceit, fate, on the edge of your seat, kind of fast paced reading.  I loved this novel beyond words!  The story is like a devastatingly haunted love triangle.  Connected is written in the Dahlia (Dahl) London's, (the main character) point of view.  Dahl has been a loner for quite a few years.  Her parents, and favorite Aunt were killed one night in a plane crash, and her whole world was set upside down.  Dahl was sent to stay with her Uncle to live throughout her high school years.  He was a provider, but not very loving outwardly.  Dahl met Ben, (her fiancé) when they were 5 years old.  Ben's mother, (Grace) treated her like a daughter, no different than her own daughter, Serena, and they all became one big happy family.  Eventually the puppy love developed into real love as they grew older, and Ben was always there to protect Dahl through all her ups and downs in life.  They were inseparable.  It was a very natural progression in life, but not a "knock your socks off" kind of love.  Ben and Dahl both go to College at USC, and live together in a house they purchased.  They become engaged, and hang out a lot with their best friends, Caleb and Aerie.

One night the boys go out to get drunk, so Aerie talks Dahl into going out to a club to see a band called, The Wild Ones.  When they are at the club, a guy named, River Wilde, (the lead singer in the band) comes face to face with Dahl, and neither one can take their eyes off the other.  Dahl is unnerved.    They drink together, have shots, and some small talk, but River is very taken with Dahl, and they both feel the Chemistry that envelopes them when they barely touch one another.  Dahl is overtaken by River's mesmerizing eyes, and their hypnotic effect on her.  She is panicking, when River asks her to wait for him after his set ends so they can go out and get to know each other.  But, once River leaves to perform on stage, Dahl grabs Aerie, and makes a run for it before she does something she already knows she will regret.  After all, she asks herself, what is she thinking, she has a great guy at home waiting for her?  Dahl was completely confused from experiencing something foreign to her, and the guilt eats her up alive, cause she has never felt these intense feelings with Ben.  It was an overwhelming connection that both Dahl and River felt at the same time...like soul's connecting, and neither had any idea how to react to it.

Ben and Dahl continue with their relationship, and Dahl never tells Ben what happened that night.  At one point, Dahl catches Ben cheating on her when she finds a note on the internet, and separates from him for a few months.  She takes him back, because of her own guilt over her indiscretion with River, though not much happened.  Ben becomes a very noteworthy investigative reporter, and Dahl graduates, and becomes a photographer for the rich and famous musicians, bands, and such.  She works for Aerie, and also does interviews.  Ben begins acting a little out of character for a couple of weeks.  The two of them spend a lot of time on the beach, surfing, takes her to lunch a few times, and buys her flowers.  Ben is a surfer boy, well built, and very good looking.  Ben can't do enough sentimental things for Dahl all of a sudden, and he starts doing kind and lovable things, including getting Dahl a very special bracelet he makes her promise she will never take off.  Dahl accepts, and though suspicious over Ben's new behaviors, enjoys them, and doesn't question his motives.

On the night Ben is suppose to receive some achievement awards for his writing, Ben and Dahl get intercepted at a signal by masked men, and Ben gets shot dead in front of Dahl.  From this point on Dahl retrieves into herself, and will not talk to anyone, won't eat, drink, run, dance, sing, or live.  She is a complete mess, and Ben's family, Aerie, and Caleb are scared to death for her.  Her depression is so deep, she believes she see's Ben at night, and is next to him in bed, only to find he is not there when she awakens.  She has nightmares over and over again about the crime that took place.  Aerie finally convinces Dahl to do a job for her in Vegas, and she comes face to face with her gorgeous soulmate, River Wilde once again.  From this point the sparks fly.  These two characters have so much in common with each other.  They run to shake out the nerves, they loved one upping the other, the dares flew, and the consequences of losing were yummy!  They both had an addiction to rock band shirts from the early era, (which reminded Dahl of her beloved father.)  They both loved the same bands, and music, and played name that tune with each other at a price.  Though there are instances of guilt for having a second chance at happiness, Grace convinces Dahl that she needs to live again.

These two characters, Dahl, and River are electrically charged kryptonite on a plate!   The kept each other on their toes, and adored each other.  River couldn't do enough to show her all he felt for her, and he was sooo swoon worthy girls!!!  The love scenes are erotic, orgasmic, titillating, PDA's, outrageous!!!  And I loved every minute of it!  I couldn't put this novel down.  Ms. Karr did a fantastic job with the prose, descriptions were phenomenal, made you feel like you were right there.  This was a fast paced novel, with great characters.  River has a lot of dark secrets we have yet to unveil, but am hopeful to read about them in the sequel, Torn, in this series  Connected is full of erotic scenes, that jump off the page, and off the charts!!!

I give, Connected, by Kim Karr, 5 Brilliantly, Love Entranced, Scorching Hot, Erotic Filled Stars!!!

Casting

Connected Book Trailer:

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About the Author:

I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. In college I majored in English and wanted to teach at the college level, but that was not to be. I went on to get my MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and recently decided to embrace one of my biggest passions - writing.

I wear a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer mom, taxi driver, and just the all around go-to person of the family. However, I always find time to read. One of my favorite family outing when my kids were little was to take them to the bookstore or the library. Today my oldest child is seventeen and no longer comes with me on these now rare and infrequent outings, but honestly I don’t need to go on them anymore because I have the greatest device ever invented, a kindle.

I believe in soulmates, kindred spirits, and Happily-Ever-Afters. I have many favorite things ranging from books – to movies – to words. I love to drink champagne and listen to music. I hope to always stay young at heart.

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Excerpt for Torn (Connections #2):

From Ms. Karr's Blog