Connected (Connections #1) - Kim Karr HOLY MOTHER OF EPILOGUES! seriously? Did I just read that right? SERIOUSLY!
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I had a tough time rating this book as I was reading it. The prologue sucked me in with 5 stars. As I read further it dropped to 2 stars, 40% in I went back up to 3 stars...But that epilogue, my god! It wouldn't be fair to rate it anything lower than a solid 4 stars after that.

Dahlia: image

River: image

First let me start with the things that I loved.

The way that Dahlia and River first meet. I don't think I will ever see a hot guy in a beanie without getting a hot flash after that.

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River has now been added to my list of sexy musician book boyfriends (yes I have one, don't judge me!)

The story begins in 2006, and continues into present time. They way that the author broke up the time periods and transitions was fantastic. The writing had a very natural flow and was very easy to keep up with.

Dahlia goes to a bar with her friend after a frat party while still at college. While there she meets an incredibly alluring boy named River. They share an amazing connection, but at the end of the night Dahlia walks away because she has a boyfriend whom she loves, Ben.

Let me just say that I LOVED how the author introduced and then brought Dahlia and River together. I get so sick of reading about indecisive girls and love triangles. It so frustrating for me to read about the girl stringing one man along while still being unsure about the other. I am so glad that this is not the way it happened in the book. I will not go into detail as to how it did, because it would give away too much.

I really enjoyed the way that Kim Karr was able to spin and intertwine music and lyrics into her writing. It really made the story that much more enjoyable. I swear, I had a soundtrack in my head for every chapter I read.
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There is even a homage to Kellan Kyle and Jake Wethers. I may have had a small fangirl episode when I read those.

The passion between Dahlia and River is scorching hot but at the same time passionate and romantic


"I swear I won't stop until your legs are shaking and every hotel guest on this floor knows my name"


There were a few tear jerking moments as well...
"Don't leave me," I yell as he walks down the path leading to another life. Turning and glancing at me over his shoulder, his eyes are no longer gleaming their perfect shade of green; they're cloudy, hazy even. "I'm not," he says as he keeps walking. "You left me, beautiful girl"
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"One day, if you change your mind...just know you'll always be my once in a lifetime"


River and Dahlia had a connection that was undeniable, it jumps at you from the pages. I couldn't help but feel their connection. The author did such an incredible job portraying this.

"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"


Now as for the things I DIDN'T like

There was a lot of lines in the book, that I will refer to as "the cheese factor". I didn't find them romantic, or sexy, or beautiful. They were just painfully cheesy.

Take for example, River's excessive overuse of the word 'beautiful'. During their first love scene, that is pretty much all he tells her...over, and over, and over, and OVER again. These lines were in a span of 5 pages...

"You are so beautiful, perfect really"
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He whispers in my ear as his lips explore my neck, "You're so beautiful," and that is my undoing.
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"You're perfect, really


GAH! I got so tired of reading this page after page. I really wanted another endearment to come from River's repertoire...but alas.

"You're so beautifully sexy, perfect really"
...
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look?"



imageYes, we get it!

There were a lot of these types of lines in the book. They drove me nuts after a while. Truly, I was tempted to rate the book 2 stars because of it. Thank goodness for the epilogue!

It does end in a cliffhanger, but not THAT type of cliffhanger. I will not say too much about it, because it is a major spoiler. I really REALLY did not see that coming! Wow! Just Wow!

While this book is not going to be on my favorites list of rockstar reads like The Mighty Storm, or Thoughtless, Reckless, and Effortless; it was still a very good book. There were some things that drove me a little crazy, but overall, it was a very enjoyable romance.