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I experienced a lot of mixed feelings with this book. In fact at the beginning I was quite put off with the novel because it looked to me like it was going to turn into another 'Thoughtless', i.e something that condoned cheating. I have a very low tolerance to cheating so you can imangine my reaction. But with that one decision to walk away Dahlia won me over. I found myself loosing track of where I was and what I was doing. It was something that touched me deeply and I really enjoyed it.
I loved how the Author incorporated 'soul-mates' into the story regardless of the fact that I'm a skeptic when it comes to this. I loved the relationship between River and Dahlia and actually found myself understanding why they had to meet the way they did. It was a really inspirational story about over coming a loss and learning to move on from that.
Kim Karr did an amazing job with this and I'm excited to see how she will let the story progress. She really took you on an emotional roller-coster . On a side note I knew there was something off with Ben, and Caleb as well, there's going to be a lot of drama in the next book.
I loved how the Author incorporated 'soul-mates' into the story regardless of the fact that I'm a skeptic when it comes to this. I loved the relationship between River and Dahlia and actually found myself understanding why they had to meet the way they did. It was a really inspirational story about over coming a loss and learning to move on from that.
Kim Karr did an amazing job with this and I'm excited to see how she will let the story progress. She really took you on an emotional roller-coster . On a side note I knew there was something off with Ben, and Caleb as well, there's going to be a lot of drama in the next book.
I loved how the author mentioned Jake Wethers and Kellan Kyle from other books :) Great book can't wait to read the next one!
Le sigh, River Wilde! I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long! Now I need to get straight onto Torn.
Don't know if it bothered anyone else, but that first quarter of the book when River kept on saying "you're perfect, really" over and over again. Made me want to throw my kindle at the wall. Was glad that stopped, and I really did love this story.
But now am scared to read Torn after reading that epilogue!!!
Don't know if it bothered anyone else, but that first quarter of the book when River kept on saying "you're perfect, really" over and over again. Made me want to throw my kindle at the wall. Was glad that stopped, and I really did love this story.
But now am scared to read Torn after reading that epilogue!!!
This book wasn't really as good as I was hoping it would be. Unlike a lot of contemporary books I've read, in Connected we actually meet Dhalia's "old" boyfriend before she meets River, where the main story starts. When the book starts Dhalia is dating her boyfriend Ben and is happy and in love with him. One night she meets River at a bar but runs away before she can act on the desire that she seems to be overwhelmed with. A few months later, when she is engaged to Ben, Ben dies. Just like that. Well, not just like that, but you get what I mean. At this point I was kind of disappointed because I liked Ben. I wasn't torn up or emotional or anything, but I was wondering how the book would proceed.
The next few chapters are set up so that it's like one day later, two months later, six months later, and then about two years later (if I can remember correctly). This didn't work for me. It felt like the author was trying to speed through the stages of grief so that Dhalia could get on and meet River. Again.
When Dhalia does finally meet River it feels like one minute she is trying not to drown in grief and then the next she is happy and chipper, ready to hop into bed with River. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with her moving on - I completely agree - but the transition felt like a snap decision, not very realistic.
However, I didn't really have that many problems with River. He's a sexy yet irresistably sweet singer in the band The Wilde Ones and has never forgotten Dhalia from that night in the bar two (ish) years ago. So when he sees here he takes it as a sign of fate and is determined not to let her go again. While their relationship felt slightly rushed, Dhalia and River were extremely cute together and had great chemistry. You can see that even though River doesn't really know Dhalia that well, he does really care for her; this made me like him a lot and placed me quite firmly on Team River, despite my early like for Ben.
This isn't a book where the two main characters struggle to overcome their pasts or issues (and I mean that in the nicest way possible), which made it kind of appealing. Once they were together I was fairly confident they would stay that way and didn't fret for half of the book, worrying that they would break up.
Sadly, the writing really started to annoy me towards the end. All of the chapters felt choppy, like they had had been sliced and diced, then stuck together, without all of the pieces there.
At the end the plot starts to heat up a tiny bit more in a way not directly related to the relationship. I don't want to give too much away but I didn't see the ending coming and although I didn't particularly love this book, the ending makes me want to find out what happens next.
All in all Connected wasn't amazing but it had a sexy guy and some spicy scenes which always makes me happy. However, I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for a quick contemporary romance, since it's a series and Dhalia and River's story continues in the next book. I probably will check out the sequel, purely based on the ending.
Adult
3/5 stars
The next few chapters are set up so that it's like one day later, two months later, six months later, and then about two years later (if I can remember correctly). This didn't work for me. It felt like the author was trying to speed through the stages of grief so that Dhalia could get on and meet River. Again.
When Dhalia does finally meet River it feels like one minute she is trying not to drown in grief and then the next she is happy and chipper, ready to hop into bed with River. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with her moving on - I completely agree - but the transition felt like a snap decision, not very realistic.
However, I didn't really have that many problems with River. He's a sexy yet irresistably sweet singer in the band The Wilde Ones and has never forgotten Dhalia from that night in the bar two (ish) years ago. So when he sees here he takes it as a sign of fate and is determined not to let her go again. While their relationship felt slightly rushed, Dhalia and River were extremely cute together and had great chemistry. You can see that even though River doesn't really know Dhalia that well, he does really care for her; this made me like him a lot and placed me quite firmly on Team River, despite my early like for Ben.
This isn't a book where the two main characters struggle to overcome their pasts or issues (and I mean that in the nicest way possible), which made it kind of appealing. Once they were together I was fairly confident they would stay that way and didn't fret for half of the book, worrying that they would break up.
Sadly, the writing really started to annoy me towards the end. All of the chapters felt choppy, like they had had been sliced and diced, then stuck together, without all of the pieces there.
At the end the plot starts to heat up a tiny bit more in a way not directly related to the relationship. I don't want to give too much away but I didn't see the ending coming and although I didn't particularly love this book, the ending makes me want to find out what happens next.
All in all Connected wasn't amazing but it had a sexy guy and some spicy scenes which always makes me happy. However, I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for a quick contemporary romance, since it's a series and Dhalia and River's story continues in the next book. I probably will check out the sequel, purely based on the ending.
Adult
3/5 stars
DNF
When I was younger, I listened to the audiobook and actually really loved it (so it may be more of a starter read) - but, I think, as time has changed I now know that there are better, more beautifully crafted, books out there that are more worthy of my time. Connected is just one big meh to me - and I wasn't interested in reading it again. More on my complaints later...
Dahlia London lost her boyfriend tragically and suddenly two years ago. Walking in her own head ever since, she's unable to move on from the catastrophe.
Enter rock star River Wilde (No, not a stage name. His actual name) who seems to be holding all of said answers. Dahlia, as part of her job, goes to interview him. Having met him before he was famous, she is at first a little hesitant to do so. However, that connection easily resurfaces, and it can't be denied, so Dahlia and River instantly become attached to each other.
I didn't like Dahlia.
Although she has an awful background, losing her parents and boyfriend, I still didn't want to read on in her head. Her background? It's nothing new. Somehow, I believe that I've become desensitised to death in books (of parents and exes especially) because it's just overdone - a cliché if you will - and it's always car crashes for parents.
The only reason Dahlia could be with River was because her boyfriend was conveniently dead. I don't even know if there was a point in there being a boyfriend at all to be honest. His only purpose was to be the cause of Dahlia's grief and a barrier between she and River the first time they met. Couldn't the author have come up with something a little more creative? Did Dahlia and River have to know each other from before? No really... the only point it came in was with Dahlia's reluctance to go and see River and when he admits that he remembers her.
Dahlia was also a Mary Sue - so us readers can relate to her and "connect with her"... It didn't work, because she lacked personality and that annoys me. She's totally oblivious to the fact that Ben is more than likely cheating on her, her feelings for River are INSTANT, and is unprofessional because River is too dazzling. Any journalist, even if they are insanely attracted to whom they are interviewing, wouldn't postpone the job at hand to do what she did. Sleeping with the client? NO!
At the very least, I should be rooting for the love interest, but NO. River has some personality, sure, and is very touchy feel-y (something I like in a guy because it shows confidence), but he fell flat. He's just typical. His only positive is that he doesn't pressure her into having sex. That's it for me. BUT, when they first met, he kisses her at a bar without even asking her permission or if she had a boyfriend already - but Dahlia flirted back, so I guess that's fair judgement on his part and awful on hers.
Due to not liking either character, I couldn't even root for their relationship. It was stupid to me, and so unrealistic. They weren't in love, they were in lust. Dahlia defended their quick connection, hinting to love after a couple of days, to being connected, soul mates, love at first sight - all that kind of crap.
Yes, I do believe in soul mates, no I don't believe in love at first sight. I believe that you can be instantly attracted to somebody at first sight, yeah. But love? That takes care, trust, respect and effort - you need to get to know the person possibly even better than they know themselves. You need to be able to understand the person too - and River tries, but Dahlia blocks him out... because she feels guilty over having sex with River despite thinking her boyfriend is dead. If you feel guilty, STOP! Did she? No.
They at least get to know each other before claiming they're in love, right?
Wrong!
Understanding their quick connection would've been easy if they'd gotten to know each other previously - that night at the bar, perhaps? But did they? No. All they did was make small talk and kiss.
They get to know each other after several sessions of sex - no pillow talk involved. All they do before a this car ride is talk about what a deep connection they have and how strange it is - how fate works. It's not exactly fate, though, is it - Dahlia accepted a job where she had to go and interview River.
So the last thing I could root for is the plot, right?
The first couple of chapters were interesting, but after those: what plot?
After Dahlia meets River, all that happens is sex, sex, sex, sex.... more sex! That interview she's really there to do? Forgotten.
The sex scenes didn't even vary, because they were all copied and pasted pretty much. Nothing happens when they're together. Is River ever busy, you know since he's a famous rock star now? Nope. He's always got free time despite being on a tour (I think). Do we ever meet his band mates? Of course not! That would be too interesting.
I don't understand the point in the twist I remember happening. It's just a set-up for a second book Torn (which I stupidly bought, because I remembered liking the first one at age 12 or something). The twist is the only thing that really happens at all - and it's at the end. Sorry, but no.
The whole book was repetitive. I even started a tally from page 143 to when I DNFed it at page 185 of how many times Dahlia commented on how good looking River was. I got 10 times, which is far too many in the span of 42 pages! She did it even more before page 143... I mean, why? What's more, River couldn't think of anything else to call her except "beautiful". Hello? River? Thesaurus? Synonyms? No? Fine.
If I got £1 for every time he said something along the lines of: "You're so beautiful." I could be as rich as him. I could be even richer if we count Dahlia's obsession with his appearance. I'm sure those things continue.
Rant over.
When I was younger, I listened to the audiobook and actually really loved it (so it may be more of a starter read) - but, I think, as time has changed I now know that there are better, more beautifully crafted, books out there that are more worthy of my time. Connected is just one big meh to me - and I wasn't interested in reading it again. More on my complaints later...
Dahlia London lost her boyfriend tragically and suddenly two years ago. Walking in her own head ever since, she's unable to move on from the catastrophe.
Enter rock star River Wilde (No, not a stage name. His actual name) who seems to be holding all of said answers. Dahlia, as part of her job, goes to interview him. Having met him before he was famous, she is at first a little hesitant to do so. However, that connection easily resurfaces, and it can't be denied, so Dahlia and River instantly become attached to each other.
I didn't like Dahlia.
Although she has an awful background, losing her parents and boyfriend, I still didn't want to read on in her head. Her background? It's nothing new. Somehow, I believe that I've become desensitised to death in books (of parents and exes especially) because it's just overdone - a cliché if you will - and it's always car crashes for parents.
The only reason Dahlia could be with River was because her boyfriend was conveniently dead. I don't even know if there was a point in there being a boyfriend at all to be honest. His only purpose was to be the cause of Dahlia's grief and a barrier between she and River the first time they met. Couldn't the author have come up with something a little more creative? Did Dahlia and River have to know each other from before? No really... the only point it came in was with Dahlia's reluctance to go and see River and when he admits that he remembers her.
Dahlia was also a Mary Sue - so us readers can relate to her and "connect with her"... It didn't work, because she lacked personality and that annoys me. She's totally oblivious to the fact that Ben is more than likely cheating on her, her feelings for River are INSTANT, and is unprofessional because River is too dazzling. Any journalist, even if they are insanely attracted to whom they are interviewing, wouldn't postpone the job at hand to do what she did. Sleeping with the client? NO!
At the very least, I should be rooting for the love interest, but NO. River has some personality, sure, and is very touchy feel-y (something I like in a guy because it shows confidence), but he fell flat. He's just typical. His only positive is that he doesn't pressure her into having sex. That's it for me. BUT, when they first met, he kisses her at a bar without even asking her permission or if she had a boyfriend already - but Dahlia flirted back, so I guess that's fair judgement on his part and awful on hers.
Due to not liking either character, I couldn't even root for their relationship. It was stupid to me, and so unrealistic. They weren't in love, they were in lust. Dahlia defended their quick connection, hinting to love after a couple of days, to being connected, soul mates, love at first sight - all that kind of crap.
Yes, I do believe in soul mates, no I don't believe in love at first sight. I believe that you can be instantly attracted to somebody at first sight, yeah. But love? That takes care, trust, respect and effort - you need to get to know the person possibly even better than they know themselves. You need to be able to understand the person too - and River tries, but Dahlia blocks him out... because she feels guilty over having sex with River despite thinking her boyfriend is dead. If you feel guilty, STOP! Did she? No.
They at least get to know each other before claiming they're in love, right?
Wrong!
Understanding their quick connection would've been easy if they'd gotten to know each other previously - that night at the bar, perhaps? But did they? No. All they did was make small talk and kiss.
They get to know each other after several sessions of sex - no pillow talk involved. All they do before a this car ride is talk about what a deep connection they have and how strange it is - how fate works. It's not exactly fate, though, is it - Dahlia accepted a job where she had to go and interview River.
So the last thing I could root for is the plot, right?
The first couple of chapters were interesting, but after those: what plot?
After Dahlia meets River, all that happens is sex, sex, sex, sex.... more sex! That interview she's really there to do? Forgotten.
The sex scenes didn't even vary, because they were all copied and pasted pretty much. Nothing happens when they're together. Is River ever busy, you know since he's a famous rock star now? Nope. He's always got free time despite being on a tour (I think). Do we ever meet his band mates? Of course not! That would be too interesting.
I don't understand the point in the twist I remember happening. It's just a set-up for a second book Torn (which I stupidly bought, because I remembered liking the first one at age 12 or something). The twist is the only thing that really happens at all - and it's at the end. Sorry, but no.
The whole book was repetitive. I even started a tally from page 143 to when I DNFed it at page 185 of how many times Dahlia commented on how good looking River was. I got 10 times, which is far too many in the span of 42 pages! She did it even more before page 143... I mean, why? What's more, River couldn't think of anything else to call her except "beautiful". Hello? River? Thesaurus? Synonyms? No? Fine.
If I got £1 for every time he said something along the lines of: "You're so beautiful." I could be as rich as him. I could be even richer if we count Dahlia's obsession with his appearance. I'm sure those things continue.
Rant over.
Two words: River & swoon! I absolutely loved this story & I don't know if I can handle waiting for the Fall to read what's going to happen next! Get on it, Kim Karr! Can't wait to read more from you...you rock!
I just can't even review this yet. My mind is still spinning! Definitely moving to the favorites shelf.