Kim Karr

What if a “Once in a Lifetime” could happen twice? In Dahlia London’s world, happily ever after is a far cry from reality. Her soul has been left completely shattered by tragedy. But a surprising reunion with someone from her past is about to give her a reason to love again… When rock star River Wilde comes back into Dahlia’s life, their super-charged connection runs deeper than either of them ever expected. The more time they spend together, the more intense their relationship becomes, and Dahlia believes at last she has found her soul mate. But as old bonds fade and Dahlia’s grief begins to lift, her guilt and confusion remain. River desperately wants to be the one who mends what’s been broken—but with a past that refuses to stay buried, is it possible for their future to begin?

Connected

Anna Ureta

I had my stipulations as I was reading this book.
 THIS BOOK HAS RUINED ME – FOR ALL FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.
 I’m doomed, doomed I tell you.
 I haven’t read a book so perfect in a while. I couldn’t tell if I was nauseated half the time, or if I was gushing; perhaps a bit of both. The entire time I was reading it I could picture fellow reader’s who’ve read this book, wanting to have a life-like Dahlia’s. At least everything past the first couple of chapters…
 Kim Karr has created a romance and a man, so perfect, beyond all expectation, that it has ruined me for all future relationships.
 
Some people believe you only get one chance at a happily ever after, and for Dahlia London that seemed true. She had a wonderful family, an amazing boyfriend, the best of friends, and a bright future ahead of her. However, several tragedies in her life left her broken, empty, and more dead than alive. Thanks to a chance meeting, Dahlia is reunited with a man she met in college, now turned rock star, River Wilde. Reconnecting with a man she met one time in college sparks feelings that she didn’t know she had in her and finds herself falling for him faster than she thought possible. While River loves her more than he’s ever loved anything in his life, he wants to be her everything, help her heal the wounds that have managed to stay hidden. If Dahlia wants to be with him, she’s going to have to start opening up and finally letting someone who loves her in.
 
My legs are shaking and my stomach is doing flip-flops as I make my way to the conference room. I’m not a nervous person by nature, but the fact that I asked myself, Could love at first sight be real? when I met him that night makes me nervous as hell. The silence in the office adds to my anxiety; the only sound is my shoes clicking across the tile floor.
 
I got chills reading this book. MAJOR CHILLS. I feel like this entire review is just going encompass how beautiful and amazing and wonderful River Wilde is. This man, and Kim Karr, have probably ruined hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of women. Gentlemen, you really need to start picking up these novels, and mother’s, you should start suggesting these books to your sons at a young age. This man has everything that it just makes you want to die. Money helps, but it isn’t just that. It’s the love he carries for Dahlia. River practically worships her, and will do ANYTHING to make her happy, while taking the time to show her how much he loves her. He’s silly, he’s fun, he’s down to earth, and he’s attentive – what more could you ask for!? NOTHING THAT’S WHAT!
 
After all of the tragedy that occurred in her life, after all the people she loved had been taken from her, the least this girl deserves is time to heal and a wonderful romance, to fill the void in her broken heart. Unlike River, Dahlia takes a longer time to open up than he does, feeling guilty for being with a man after having been with her fiance for so long – which I think is perfectly logical. I couldn’t be happier for Dahlia and the love she eventually grows into with River.
 
“…A scar will appear and that means the extreme hurt and unbearable pain is over, your wound will be healed – but don’t ever let your heart close. Leave it open, let someone else in.”
 
My only criticism, were the chapters time jumping that made the story feel rather choppy. At first it flowed so well, having the first half of the book span over a couple of days, but the following chapters jump dramatically and the pacing felt awkward. However, understanding time spacing is very important. It would be extremely unrealistic for events to happen overnight, or in a span of several months, which is why I understand Karr’s decision to create such big time jumps between major events in order for the story to seem realistic.
 
What got me was the end. The end of the book, the Epilogue is the kicker. If you thought Connected was boring and slow, think again. I pretty much flipped out while reading the Epilogue, and can’t wait until I read the sequel, Torn.
 
Connected is a beautiful novel that tells a beautiful love story between a couple who really are ‘soul mates’. If only every relationship could be as great as this one there would be no such thing as divorce. Just skip everything that happened in the first few chapters.
 
5/5 Hearts of Love

Check out more of my reviews at http://www.akiikomorireading.com

What if a ?Once in a Lifetime? could happen twice? When River Wilde comes back into Dahlia London's life the connection is irrefutable. After a lifetime of tragedy has left her broken she doesn't expect to ever find her happily ever after. Yet when she and River reconnect, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her true soulmate. But relationships aren't only about love and connections. Grief takes its toll, guilt is hard to shed, and secrecy harbors doubt. Together these emotions are a lethal combination. With the past never really gone, can the future survive?

Chelsea Bates

Ho. Ly. Smokes. 

What did I just read? 

That was amazing. 

To start with I just want to say that Kim Karr did an amazing job with this book. I could literally feel every emotion felt by Dahlia and River and even Ben. For a writer to be able to do that is just an amazing talent in itself. 

The book. Dahlia is one of the strongest female characters I have read about. Her life is one of tragedy, but she does not let that get to her. She leads a life of love and passion and happiness. To be attached to a character so closely that you feel her emotions and her pain through the book is an amazing read. I was crying by 15%. 


  "Dream as if you will liver forever, live as if you will die today."


Dahlia loses her family at a young age, but she has Ben. Ben is her life line, her best friend, her lover. She finds happiness with him and lives her life loving him. One Halloween night she's out in a bar and she meets River. The connection is insane. Their passion jumps off the page just from one kiss! So she leaves the bar. 

Three years later, Ben dies. Five years later, she meets River once again like fate. 

Watching Dahlia overcome her depression and loss in life with River is just so great. I couldn't put the book down. 


  "It's happiness growing, overshadowing the sorrow. I feel my darkest days slipping away, right here, right now, with him -- and I'm paralyzed"


After saying all this, you need to know, there is a huge cliffhanger. And when I say huge, I mean HUGE. It's good though. 

All I'm claiming is Team River. 


  "I never imagined I could feel so connected to anyone as much as I feel connected to you. I knew I loved you from the moment I saw you. How coud I not? Loving you is as easy as breathing"

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
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I'm kinda kicking myself for taking so long to begin reading this series. I've seen it around and read some great reviews about it, but just never jumped in for some reason. When I was offered a chance to read and review two of the upcoming titles, I decided to dive right into the series and get caught up before reading the new books. 
Connected is a beautiful story of second chances. Dahlia's fiancé Ben, the man she's been in love with all her life, is murdered and she's left trying to put the pieces of her life back together without the one person who has always been there for her. She decides to embrace every day and take the opportunities presented to her. It's one of those opportunities that brings her face-to-face with River Wilde, the rock star she had an intense first meeting with a few years ago. Even though she was committed to Ben, she's never really stopped thinking about River and things pick up quickly between them as they both get a second chance at love. 

I loved Dahlia and River. Their chemistry was intense and it was obvious how much they cared for each other. There was a bit of drama with their new relationship, but most of it was from outside sources. Dahlia's guilt and grief adds to it, of course. But the main focus of this book truly is on the relationship growing between Dahlia and River. For some reason, despite how much I liked the characters, this just wasn't enough for me. I felt like the book moved VERY slowly at times and it was difficult to remain focused on the story and the emotions. I expected more feels from this one because of the nature of the story, but while I enjoyed it, it just fell a little short in the feels department. 

This is one of those cases where I wish I have half-stars because, while I believe Connected deserves three and a half stars, I just can't round it up to four. I enjoyed the characters and the passion they shared. The second chance at love was beautiful. But, I just felt like the book moved too slowly to really be considered a four-star read for me. There are a couple twists that sucked me in and surprised me and the intense cliffhanger ensured I would continue on this series. I mean, I HAVE TO know what happens next.

While the small details about this story might escape me after some time, I know the characters won't. Connected was a good, enjoyable and sometimes emotional read. I just wanted a little bit more. But don't let my expectations keep you from reading this one. Seriously.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

3.5 STARS

I’ve just finished Connected, and HOLY CRAP, what. an. ending! Now that is the way to end a book with a bang. I already knew there would be a dreaded cliffhanger at the end of Connected, but it still blew me away! Loved that ending, and I’m dying to read Torn right away, but for now, my review!

Dahlia London has a great life–she’s got a loving boyfriend, she’s doing what she loves–and she never thought she could have wanted anything different until she meets River Wilde. Gorgeous, rock star River Wilde. As soon as their eyes meet, they form a connection, something deep and real… but Dahlia has a boyfriend. Their chance encounter seemed like a once in a lifetime thing. Dahlia walked away from River before anything could happen between them, but five years would pass before they ever saw each other again. During those five years, Dahlia’s life is shattered the day her boyfriend Ben is killed in front of her.

Connected was a bit hard to get into in the beginning. I couldn’t relate much with Dahlia and the story didn’t grip me until the scene where Ben is killed. From here, the book picks up and pretty quickly I was immersed in Dahlia’s story. She’s been dealt such a hard hand in life–she’s lost everyone she loves: her parents and now her boyfriend. She’s broken and torn up about Ben’s death, and it’s a long time before she goes back to reality. And one reason why she’s getting back up on her feet is River. Dahlia never thought she’d see River again, the man who awakened things in her that were never awakened before, not even by Ben. But now Dahlia has an opportunity to see River again, and she takes it.

“I feel like fate has brought us together again. I also believe that one night, so long ago, just wasn’t the right time for us. But tonight is.”

River and Dahlia’s reunion is so sweet. It’s so obvious that they adore each other, and it was as if the past five years never even passed. They still have that fierce connection between them, and it’s so easy for them to fall into conversations and relate with one another. Music is a huge part of the book, and not just because River’s a rock star. Music is also a part of Dahlia, and I loved reading about their connection over it. And soon, Dahlia and River fall head over heels in love with one another. Dahlia still can’t forget Ben, but she’s moving on–Ben will always have a piece of her heart, but she’s making room for River in it.

Oh my goodness–River is just the sweetest man ever! I thought he was the kindest person ever (who more than occasionally is dirty) for not trying to replace Ben. He knows how important Ben is to Dahlia, and instead of trying to take over who Ben was to Dahlia, he supports her in everything and helps her move on. River is the first to fall for Dahlia, since he has no reservations, unlike Dahlia. His words and actions are so heartwarming–River is really just the SWEETEST!

“I never imagined I could feel so connected to anyone as much as I feel connected to you. I knew I loved you from the moment I saw you. How could I not? Loving you is as easy as breathing.”

Most of the book is told through Dahlia’s POV, but then for the last maybe 30%, we’re treated with River’s POV, which I loved! I connected with him much better than I did with Dahlia. I just overall liked River more–Dahlia I’m on the fence about. I didn’t love her but I didn’t hate her either. But *sigh* River is just completely swoonworthy!

“Just know you’ll always be my once in a lifetime.”

Connected is a wonderful love story filled with passion and a little heartbreak. I didn’t LOVE it as much as I wanted to, but I had a fantastic time reading. And oh my god, that ending! Even though the book is a 3.5 for me, that ending is definitely worthy of a 5.

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