The story before the love story….
When he lost the only woman he’d ever loved, it
seemed there was nothing left to live for.
Even as a boy, all Ben Covington ever wanted was
to spend forever with Dahlia London, the beautiful girl next door...then one
life-altering decision tore them apart and he was forced to leave her.
Now, despite having returned to win her back,
he’s still alone. She’s with someone else—someone she’s never going to leave.
Resigned to a future without his former
girlfriend, Ben numbs his broken heart in a haze of liquor and women. But then
the only woman who ever even turned his head while he was with his girl
reappears unexpectedly. And he’s never forgotten their one incredible night
together. But will Ben’s destructive behavior destroy his future with her
before it even begins?
Arc received
from author in exchange for an honest review
4.5 Stars
Finally…
The Story I’ve longed for…
The lying, cheating
bastard that is Ben Covington – the man most have come to resent in the
Connections Series, tells his story. Alas, an insight into the dysfunctional mind
of a character that both frazzled my emotions and caused great angst. Why was I
anticipating his story? Because deep down, I believed there was hope for him –
that there was more to his persona. I wanted to believe that Karr’s giftedness
could change how I felt about the man who claimed to love Dahlia, yet destroyed
all love’s beauty by surrendering to lustful temptations, lies and deceits. And
as suspected, placing my trust in this author’s hands had me walking away pleased.
Now, it wasn’t easy for
me to come to terms with Ben’s character. After reading “Torn” I wanted to gut
him like a fish and fillet his balls. But something nagged at me – A teeny-tiny
part of my heart wanted to reach out to him. I can’t imagine why since I found
his actions truly deplorable. Nevertheless, I took the plunge, put my
apprehension aside and dove head first into Ben’s world.
And what I discovered
surprised me.
He forced me to
understand his pain, his turmoil.
I was sorrowful for how
he single handedly destroyed all the good in his life. Convinced that he loved
Dahlia, but somehow lost his way and regrets the pain he had caused. That things happen for a reason and his temptation may be his salvation. His losses pulled on my heartstrings. In “Blurred”,
we see all the fractured pieces of his drunken life; His struggle to crawl up from
rock bottom; His quest for closure and redemption; His willingness to turn his
life around to be a better man; To earn the affections from his seductress, Bell. It was admirable.
I learned that I don’t
have to love a character to enjoy their story, but simply appreciate their
strife and path to betterment. I did not walk into this story adoring Ben. However,
I connected with his blurred and broken soul and now wholeheartedly believe
that he is worthy of a second chance. Kim Karr has done the impossible. The
“bad guy” she created morphed into a character that does deserve a chance to
achieve a “happily ever after” in my opinion. This was no small feat; Ben still
behaved like an ass throughout most of this story. He needs to work hard to win
me (and Bell) over in “Frayed”. Nonetheless, all the struggles I experienced reading his
tale were well worth it.
I realize “Blurred” will
be difficult for some readers. My advice, if you are a fan of the series, place
trust in Karr’s vision and the path she will set forth for her characters. The
journey will begin with a blur, but will end with clarity into the heart and
soul of Ben. For me, the experience was gratifying. Another great read from the
imagination of Kim Karr. Looking forward to the next installment…the story of
Bell and Ben in “Frayed”.
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I live in Florida with my husband and four kids.
I've always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in
college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went
on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my
family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one
of my biggest passions—writing.
I wear a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife,
soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of the family.
However, I always find time to read. One of my favorite family outings use to
be taking my kids to the bookstore or the library. Today, my oldest child is in
college and my twins are juniors so they no longer go with me on these outings.
And although I don't need to go to the actual store anymore because I have the
greatest device ever invented—a Kindle, I still do. There's nothing like a
paperback. So now my four year old and I make dates out of going to the
bookstore--it's time I love and cherish.
I like to believe in soulmates, kindred spirits,
true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. I love to drink champagne, listen to
music, and hopes to always stay
young at heart.
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