Saturday, March 23, 2013

Kim Karr's Connected Blog Tour

 

 
I'm WAY BEYOND excited to be apart of Kim Karr's Connected Blog Tour! Ladies I freaking LOVED this book I wish I could eloquently put this book into more words but I'm seriously BEYOND speechless STILL at the ending of this book! I think my review will speak for itself! Oh and I think the cover to Connected ROCKS! I love the COVER and the fact the cover features an actual couple who are together and very much in LOVE! That ladies is AWESOME !!!
 
 
Cover design: Okay Creations
  
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 soul mate. 
 
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?
 

************************** My Review of Connected*******************************

 
First, I must THANK Kim for the ARC of Connected in exchange for an honest review. Ladies, I didn't know what to expect when I received Connected beyond knowing that there was a "boy in the band." In my typical fashion that had me..................................... Well, that was just the beginning of my emotional journey that led me to hell sometimes, my happy place other times, my "WHOA MOMMA" other times and a seriously WTH just happened moment. Dahlia's life with her loving parents was picture perfect in the beginning. Her love of music is highlighted in the book along with going to concerts with her father, who also LOVED music, at Cows Palace, where he worked. The book is seriously surrounded by music in every aspect ~ from the playlist featured Chapter's to the Chapter Title's with lyrics. Being a HUGE geeky Rock Star Romance girlie that loves anything to do with music this was a BONUS for me. But don't think I'm about to provide a review of such a book ~ oh no, this book was so much more. When we first "meet" Dahlia she is a senior at Stanford along with her BFF and boyfriend Ben. Aerie cracked me up when the book opened and she had Dahlia accompany her to a local bar to hear a band play. Ben has been a permanent fixture in Dahlia's life since she was in Kindergarten what started out as a friendship to last a lifetime turned into love, a love that held such promise, and also some secrets that were exposed and almost drove Dahlia away. But let's get back to the beginning of Connected. Dahlia arrives at the bar and hears the most beautiful voice she's every heard and I would say she was entranced but with the Halloween partiers at the bar she couldn't get a good look at the stage. As she's at the bar waiting to order some adult beverages , not that Aerie needed any more ;), she turns and... Well, HELLO to you MR. FREAKING GORGEOUS GREEN EYE'S! This is our first introduction to the infamous River Wilde and ladies he will.... This "connection" and staring fest isn't one-sided in any way, shape or form. River is just as strongly attracted to Dahlia as she is him. The author did a wonderful job describing, form Dahlia's POV, their first interaction right down to the teasing, flirting, and immediate electricity between the two. If this was me I'd..................... But Dahlia feels that River is "dangerous" and one look from him and he can see into her soul and oh yes, Ben, remember him, Ben her loving boyfriend. So like any good girlfriend she skedaddles with Aerie back to Ben's Frat House after leaving River, the lead singer of The Wilde Ones, with an implied promise she'd wait for him after his show. Well fast forward a few years. Dahlia's graduated from Stanford and Ben has began his start as an "amazing" journalist and they are getting ready to go to an award ceremony where Ben will be recognized for a story he investigated and broke; but Ben is being very sentimental and wants a little...................................... it's his "show" so who cares if he is late! Well on their way the unthinkable happens. Something that had me....................... just like Dahlia had and then something that had me............... Oh Lord, barely into the book and my heart is breaking already... I love that okay I'm a little masochistic went it comes to my books. The book then details Dahlia's life for the next 2 years ~ if you could call it a life. It will leave you ................................ but we all process differently and THANKFULLY she starts to barely turn that corner on her own when Aerie has a "job" for Dahlia. Before everything went down Dahlia worked as a cover photographer for Sound Music which is where Aerie happens to work. Well Dahlia agrees to go meet with an up-an-coming artist ~ interview and photograph him. Oh yes, it's HIM ladies ~ it's OUR RIVER. Will he remember Dahlia? Is there really that "connection"? or was that one time a "fluke". Now that his band is making it will he want anything to do with Dahlia? That's for you ladies to read and to read IMMEDIATELY. There's so much I would love to tell you about Connected but the LAST thing I will do is provide spoilers ~ never have ~ never will. So let's just say the meeting had me................................. and you betcha there was some of this.............................. okay LOTS of that! But I was fine with that! As one of my updates I mentioned I never knew doing this................................. could be so much fun! I can't wait for you to read that part. I literally laughed and swooned and then thought WOW too bad toothpaste makes me gag :) River does talk Dahlia in to returning to LA with him and she meets up with his sister, Bell, and brother, Xander, at the bar, Smitten's, that he band rehearses at. She also has the chance to meet the other two members of River's band, Phoenix & Garrett. We get a little of this.................................................... before we really get to meet Xander and the first meeting between Xander & Dahlia had me wanting to ................................... and then I was ...................................................... and right away I was feeling for Dahlia.....damn here I went again.. it just gutted me and when River finds out about Xander's little pow-wow and Dahlia's reaction I felt like I was going to have to do this to our Dahlia....................................................... but a little bit of................................................. and some talking in true River fashion and ................... which will have you melting like I did gets us through this first "hurdle" and River accompanies "his girl" back to Palo Alto back to the house where Dahlia resided with Ben back to memories that Dahlia has battled with throughout the book. When they arrive I GUARANTEEE you will do the same thing I did......................... again I'm freaking teary eyed but don't mistake this as complaining because NOTHING beats a book that pull everyone of my emotions out of me. These two might not have it "easy" but damn they are meant to be together and we get to watch the relationship bloom. It's around the 70% mark of the book that up until that time was told from Dahlia's POV that the author gives us a TREAT one I never saw coming! The story switches to Rivers POV cue up the .................................. yes, yes, yes, yes, this was perfect and exactly what I needed!!! You will find up until we are in River's head that he is so damn perfect with his "beautiful girl, sexy girl, overall HIS girl" his terms of endearment towards her DID it for me! I loved how he never let a day go by without expressing his feelings for Dahlia and how he viewed her. Simply PERFECT ;) Okay so we are in River's head and boy I loved it there. But wait there is some he alludes to, while really in his head, that had me ........................................................... River will do anything for Dahlia! He takes out for Valentine's Day which leads to a little discussion between the two about River and his band and where they had been and who they had met that had me...... I was FREAKING stoked and loved what Kim did!!! You will see when you read it and of course, River and Dahlia's chemistry between the sheets is so darn explosive you will need to either take a cold shower, grab a loved one and "get it on" or be like me not wanting to put the book down and use that Kindle to fan yourself. Now back to how I was feeling from this point on. After V-Day I was ....................... Happy oh I'm so Happy it's perfect!!! Then darn it something happens that left me........................................................ yes again! But that didn't even COMPARE to the end of the book. All the crying in the world couldn't have done that ~ I was left....... then WTH ~ turn pages back read again ~ NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! ~ OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! well.............................................. I literally couldn't talk, no joke, I had to process I did a lot of.. and slowly started to do a little of this............................. to finally I was ................................................... Just AMAZING and WOW! WOW !WOW ! My mind is blow right now!!! Kudos to Kim Karr for delivering an ending to a book that left me without one damn word flowing through my itty brain. Kudos for giving me a read that I seriously had to process before I reviewed that I had to go back and read the ending AGAIN to be sure I did read that correctly. I'm quite surprised my Kindle is intact. Connected is a 5 star book for me! I loved the journey it took me on. I loved that I questioned if we get a second chance at finding our "one" true love. I loved that it made you question love at first sight and soul mates! Kim Karr has done a brilliant job in successfully taking me on that metaphoric ride that when I was HIGH I was oh so HIGH when I was low well I was low. I felt the pain that Dahlia experienced.. The loss of loved ones that had me taking deep breaths at the beginning of the book so I could breathe through my cathartic cry fest but I did laugh as much as I cried and I did smile as much as I cried. I recommend that you purchase Connected as soon as possible. I had to purchase it I have to own that's how much I loved it! I really want you to experience this book because it is an experience. I want you to pay attention to the song's selected for each Chapter and the lyrics that are provided at the beginning of each Chapter because this will enrich your experience! Kim did a FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC job intertwining the love of music into Dahlia & River's story which by the way continues in October 2013! Ughhhhh, don't want to wait but I have a feeling it will be worth it!

************************************************************************************

How about a little "taste" of Connected for those of you who haven't read it? Here's an excerpt from Connected ~ that I freaking adore................................

“Good morning,” she says stretching her arms and smiling at me. She settles back down snuggling into me and gives me a good morning kiss. I love it when in the middle of our kiss I can feel her smiling. 
She pulls away still grinning and says, “Ready?”
Looking down the sheet at myself I smirk, “Yeah I’m ready.” Okay so I guess she wants to skip the foreplay this morning. “Great! Lets go then,” she says pushing me out of bed as she hops off and heads to the bathroom. “Dahlia! No, really? In the rain? Now?” is about all I can say because I was so ready but not for running.


***************************************************************************************
Connected is available and to purchase follow one of these links:
  

 
 
 
Links to follow Author Kim Karr:
 
 
 
 
 
Here's a little more information about Kim Karr:
 
Kim Karr lives in Florida with her husband and four kids. She’s always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, she wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. She went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise her family. Kim currently works part-time with her husband and recently decided to embrace one of her biggest passions—writing.

Kim wears a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of her family. However, she always finds time to read. One of her favorite family outings was taking her kids when they were little to the bookstore or the library. Today, Kim’s oldest child is seventeen and no longer goes with her on these, now rare and infrequent, outings. She finds that she doesn’t need to go on them anymore because she has the greatest device ever invented—a Kindle.
Kim likes to believe in soul mates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-After's. She loves to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart.


 
****************************  GIVEAWAY ****************************************
 
Kim Karr has graciously donated a signed copy of Connected as well as an e-copy of Connected to giveaway as part of her Blog Tour.  Rafflecopter below runs through March 26th! Winners will be notified via e-mail!!!!! Good Luck!!!
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. Awesome review! I cannot wait to read this one!

    To answer the rafflecopter question of what music has influenced my life, I would have to say classic rock. I grew up listening to it and found that it never gets old.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The type of music has to be one republic, life house, I like a bit of everything but I would say alternative music American pop rock!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really want o read this!!

    Classic rock is my favorite! Still! (Though I'm starting to enjoy some country)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fast rock music influences my driving LOL other than that I am a Country music type of girl for life influence!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. All types of music has influenced my life. It depends on what I am doing in my life at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I dont really know... I know, if I hear a song, sometimes it really impacts me, and makes me think. But, I like country and pop and very mainstream music.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That was one of the most fun reviews I have ever read! Loved it! I can't wait to read this book :)

    Classic rock has most definitely influenced my life the most. I grew up within the era of its creation and I just favor it above everything else.

    ReplyDelete
  8. R&B Music has mostly influenced my life, because I loved it from an early age... and I love ballads as well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. There is nothing like a good Ballad to make you think about life. I love all genres of music and my interests have changed but hearing someone express their emotions through their music influences me greatly.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Music, well I like ask kinds of music, but the kind of lean towards alternative rock, it inspires me when I'm writing, and helps me through rough times of my life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love all kinds of music and a lot of it has affected me in one way or another. Rock & Country are my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think different types of music has influenced my life. I like a little bit of everything. I know way back when I was dating my hubs he would sing certain songs to me and they still mean a lot when I hear them.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It depends. But 30 seconds to mars has been a big part of ym life :)
    ps: Nice review :)

    by Alexandra

    ReplyDelete
  14. R&B music has most definitely influenced my life the most :) And I still love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. 90's music puts me in a good mood :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great review! Music hasn't played a huge part in my life but I do love some of all genres!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh I'm into all kinds of chart music.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mumford & Sons is life changing. Seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lucas Carpenter was life-changing for me, in particular. It gave me a very interesting three years and kept me going.

    Thanks for the chance! (:

    ReplyDelete
  20. That review was hilarious. You were point on. Those pictures had me cracking up because I was feeling all those things when I read the book. Great Review :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I do love your reviews Kim...I love love love country music because they mainly speak about love, broken hearts, and the country and that is me in a nutshell just a down to earth country girl who loves love and anything romantic!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love all kinds of music my influences come from rock!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. As always, great review! Looking forward to this book! I love any music that makes me feel and that I can sing my heart out to (while alone of course, I would never damage any ears like that...LOL)

    ReplyDelete
  24. It would have to be American pop rock..Great giveaway..Thanks!! Tina M.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 80's!!! All the way! Especially Alternative!

    ReplyDelete
  26. A wide variety of music has and still does influence my life. Music moves me, and can immediately change my mood. From "Unchained Melody" to "Stay" I can relate and feel something deep. From The Boss to Whitney to NIN to Maroon 5, there is no set generation, genre or group that specifically moves me...if it speaks to me, it just does. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Though I listen to a wide variety or music I would have to say that Rock has influenced the most. It's the sound I always come back to.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I listen to a lot of different types of music. I can't say that any one type of music has influenced my life. I listen to music for enjoyment and for comfort.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love rock and alternative music....really love Metallica, NIN, Tool, Seether to name a few. About 4 years ago i started learning to play guitar which has been a blessing for me. Music is emotions and when i had a rough day i love to come home and lose myself on my music...nothing cooler than playing a mean guitar riff that you wrote. Playing other peoples music is cool but to play your own bad ass!
    andieleah78@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Rock, Alternative, Pop and recently country

    ReplyDelete
  31. all kinds! I truly listen to it all

    ReplyDelete
  32. Music in general has influenced my life. I listen to all genres and have always been surrounded by it in some form or another. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for the giveaway! I hope to win!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I listen to a variety of music genres, but the most influential probably have been classical, pop, alternative, and classic rock.

    ReplyDelete
  35. All types of music has influenced my life. I am a mood music kinda girl. When I'm angry I want hard rock, when I'm happy I want dance music, when I'm sad country or Tejano (Spanish), and when I'm drunk I want a mix of classic hits and dance music. Certain songs remind me of certain moments in life, like Miley Cirus "The Climb" reminds me of my husband crying at our daughter's sweet 16 dancing the father/daughter dance with her to that song. So many songs!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I listen to all kind of music. For me listening to music is a way of de-stressing :D

    Awesome review like always! Can't wait to read this one !

    mikki_dicampo(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would say music has helped me more than influenced me. There have been lots of songs by all different artists that have helped me through many stages of life...Madonna, Def Leppard, Tracy Chapman...the list goes on.

    ReplyDelete
  38. It depends on my mood and the setting. I will listen to anything that grabs me.

    sexyliltinkerbell20@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think that the type of music can really depend on my mood, what's going on in my life, and who is around. Usually any type of music can effect me if the timing is right.

    jessica.cross05@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I have a pretty stressful job, so classical and jazz music help me relax and de-stress :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love all music but hip-hop allows me to get my grove on.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I don't have just one favorite..but I guess one would have to be r&b and hip hop. I just love the beats! =]
    alyssaxchen14 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love all music but I was more of a POP music girl growing up... Now I have music A.D.D and I can go to hip hop to rap to country to pop in a matter of 5 mins.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Depends on my mood...but would have to say Rock...classic, hard, hair bands, super ballads...as long as the drums and guitar are thumpin' and screaming!!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wow that review was something else!! I am so looking forward to reading this thank you for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Just started reading and I'm already crying! Damn, girl! i think I need to start reading other genres, these books are killing me and my emotions!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks for the giveaway!!! The music... i think that is rock or pop

    ReplyDelete