Release Day Launch & Review: No Attachments by Tiffany King

Waves of Fiction is so excited to be a part of the Release Day Launch for this wonderful new book by Tiffany King!

No Attachments by Tiffany King

Published: April 30th 2013

ARC provided by the publisher/author

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

About the book:

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

 

My Thoughts:

One of the best New Adult books I've read - absolutely loved this one!! First of all I have to thank the author and Inkslinger for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I am forever grateful because this book is now a favorite of mine!

Ashton is on the run from her past, having moved to a small town with a bucket list of things she wants to do in her lifetime. Not once did I ever figure out what exactly it was that she was running from and the suspense kept me dying to read more and figure her out. In the few months she’s been in town, she has made a few friends who are wonderful to her, including the owner of the general store where she works.

A night out with her two friends presents an opportunity to cross off one of the items on her list – to have a one-night-stand. And the lucky guy she targets is Nathan. A guy who claims he’s a journalist just passing through town on his hunt for a story, when in reality he’s been hired by a man to find Ashton and disclose her whereabouts . Their first night ‘together’ proves to be a flop – but there’s something about Ashton that keeps Nathan from turning her in and leaving town. Even though he’s sworn off women and relationships – there’s something different about her that calls to him and makes him want to know her better and find out the real reason behind her running away.

Neither one of them are interested in a relationship – both having past issues that prevent them from ever wanting to fall in love. So they agree on a ‘no attachments’ affair – that will quickly turn out to be more than they bargained for. When they start to realize their feelings are stronger than planned, a chain of events occur that challenge their love and relationship – stemming from what Nathan is really doing in town and what Ashton has been hiding from him.

I will say that although it sounds like serious angst – it’s written in a way that doesn’t drag it out and made it bearable for me. Also – what some would consider an ‘insta-love’ really didn’t feel like that to me. They date each other and their times together seemed so real to me that I never felt it was a rushed relationship. I am a big believer in finding love quickly, whether you want to admit that’s what it is, and once you have that – you don’t want to spend another minute without it or that person. Nathan and Ashton made me believe in their love and their relationship. It was beautiful, romantic, often comical and so amazing that I had a smile on my face the entire time I read this book.

Not to mention Nathan is SWOON-WORTHY. He was an incredible character written to perfection. The way he tried so hard to win Ashton over, often failing miserably with their disastrous and hilarious few dates. But he never gave up and when things got difficult, he showed his true feelings and commitment and completely melted and won my heart several times over. And I can’t forget the total chemistry these two had together – it was very hot and steamy! When they finally have their moment, it did not disappoint.
And Ashton is a kick-ass heroine who doesn’t whine or get annoying ONE TIME! I loved her! She’s hilarious, and despite having gone through some serious heartache in her life – she is fun and upbeat and just made me smile.

I can’t begin to say how much I loved every single minute of this book. The story unfolded so beautifully and sucked me in immediately that I didn’t want to put it down. I felt so many different emotions while reading it – especially at the point in the book where it threw me for a loop. Not only was it a wonderful romance with enough steam thrown in – there were some serious laugh-out-loud moments. The banter between Ashton and Nathan was perfect and so realistic. And the tender and serious moments were a total surprise that I was not expecting going into reading this book – but made it all the more wonderful! I wanted to weep at times because these two were so PERFECT together and I was cheering them on to get their HEA.

A MUST READ - make sure to get your copy asap!

5 Suns

About the author:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads

 

Giveaway time!  Enter to win a signed copy of NO ATTACHMENTS, a signed 16x24 foam board NO ATTACHMENTS poster, and a NO ATTACHMENTS charm necklace!

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Blog Tour, Interview & Review: The Best Man by Ana Blaze

Today at Waves of Fiction we are participating in the blog tour for The Best Man by Ana Blaze hosted by Entranced Publishing.  As part of this tour we have a very special interview, giveaway as well as a  review to share with you!

The Best Man by Ana Blaze

Published on April 29, 2013 by Entranced Publishing

Book Trailer: Here

Purchase: Entranced Publishing / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

About the book

Beth Chase is too busy planning perfect weddings to worry about the lack of action in her own love life. But if she was looking for a man, she wouldn’t be looking at Colin Pratt. Her boss swears that Best Man Colin is a quiet scholar and science fiction writer who couldn’t possibly cause a fuss at his own brother’s wedding. He’s clearly never met the man in question. Snarky, sexy and more than a little inebriated, Colin is the final obstacle between Beth and the last perfect wedding she needs to make partner. Of course, when she helps him into a taxi at the end of the night she has no idea that he’s only just begun to poke holes in her professional exterior. Colin might have the skills to seduce a romance professional, but can he convince her that he’s the best man to share her happy ever after?

My Thoughts:
So sweet!  The Best Man was just what every romantic wants in a story.

I love weddings and there is a part of me that has always wished I would have been a wedding planner.  All the hustle and bustle and craziness just calls to my inner romantic.  Since I chose a different career path I rely on books like The Best Man to scratch my wedding planner itch and this book did just that.

This is a short story about Beth, a wedding planner, and Colin the drunken best man.  I mean seriously what more do you need to know?  Oh wait Colin is British with an incredible accent..okay now there if that doesn't make you want to read it I don't know what will.

These two get into a few hilarious moments and their banter was awesome.  Colin is the like the little engine that could!  The more Beth tried to push him away the more he pushed back.  I loved seeing his determination and I liked that Beth questioned everything since it was really fast.  I think the author did a fantastic job with her characters and I for one am a fan.

These stories always have a formula and even though I have read it before I still enjoyed the story.  If you are looking for a quick romance read with humor then you won't regret picking this one up!

3.5 suns

Interview

Welcome Ana!

Hi. Thanks for having me and The Best Man on Waves of Fiction. I really like your sunshine rating system.

1. Please describe your book in five words or less.

Sweet. Sexy. Snarky. Nerdy. Fun.

2. What is it about Beth that draws Colin to her instantly?

She’s very confident and that is definitely something that Colin is attracted to. He likes strong women.
And as much as Beth gives off an air of professionalism and competence, but Colin sees these glimpses
of humor and kindness and he wants to see more. She’s a bit of a mystery for him.

3. Colin was hilarious and I loved his banter! Where did you come up with his character?

Thank you. I love that about him too. Colin was inspired by a bunch of people real and fictional. There’s
definitely a bit of my husband in there and some William Thacker from Notting Hill. I like that he is a
genuinely nice guy, that he was kind of overlooked by woman in the past, but a little attention from
Beth was enough to inspire the emergence of his flirty alter-ego.

4. The Best Man centers around a wedding planner, have you ever wanted to be one?
I think it would be a lot of fun! It would be a lot of work of course, because there is so much pressure
to have things perfect at weddings. But I’d love to help people put together big parties celebrating love
and fun and family. I did a lot of things for my own wedding myself, including the flowers, and I’d love a
chance to do it again.

5. What are you currently working on?

I am really excited to have another novella coming out from Entranced Publishing. It’s called A Late
Thaw, it takes place in rural Vermont and features a hunky Christmas tree farmer. I just signed the
contract recently and I expect to be working on edits soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

About the Author:

Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive
husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian
food, IKEA, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television
and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar
resting on the bookshelf in her office.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway time!

One lucky reader will win The Best Man ebook and a goodie pack to share with the best man
or woman in their life. The pack contains candles, Godiva chocolate, Tuscan lavender soap,
Sensual Massage Oil from The Body Shop and two lip treatments from The Body Shop. It
will come packaged in a pretty photo box.

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Extras!!

Mr. Right, a free novella by Ana Blaze, is available now at Smashwords.

Find out more HERE!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: His Risk to Take by Tessa Bailey

His Risk to Take (Line of Duty #2) by Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: May 2013 by Entangled Publishing Brazen

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

The greater the risk, the hotter the reward…

Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation on the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control—until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler.

Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into O’Hanlon’s Pub and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her—risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs?

 

About the Author: Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

Entangled has generously provided a $50 Amazon Giftcard as part of Tessa Bailey’s Cover Reveal! Yay!! Just fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!!

Blog Tour: Because of You (Playing with Fire #2) by TE Sivec

Today, Waves of Fiction has the pleasure of joining Madison Says for a blog tour of 
Because of You by TE Sivec. 

For our stop, we have the book details, a review of this awesome installment, and a tour wide giveaway. Enjoy!!

Because of You (Playing with Fire #2) by TE Sivec
Release Date: April 29, 2013
Expected publication: April 29th 2013
Purchase Link: Amazon

About the book
Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes

a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way. He’s struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly. When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow, he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice does he have?


Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she’s never felt more alone in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter’s life and will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using her daughter to get there. When an overly­amorous fan’s letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside their differences before the letters become a reality and someone’s life is in jeopardy.


Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good.


Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.

My Thoughts
It’s easy to forget about all of the bad memories when the one shining light in your life is back and brighter than ever. It’s easy to forgive the hurts and disappointments when the only thing you’ve ached for is standing right there in front of you.

Because of You is the second installment in Tara Sivec’s Playing with Fire series, and I’m happy to share that she’s done it again. Brady and Layla’s story was a perfect representation of what Sivec does best… which is to command the reader’s attention and entertain us with a well-developed plot and extremely likable characters.

For fans of her Chocolate Lover series, again I must say - don’t expect to get the laugh out loud moments and silly scenes that had us cringing and guffawing in laughter. With Because of You, plan to engage in a storyline that’s filled with steamy moments, serious action and constant intrigue.

I will admit that despite this being the second installment in the Playing with Fire series leaving me to assume that I should know what to expect, I was still somewhat waiting for Sivec to bust out her funny side. However, I think it’s just fun to know that Sivec can shift her style with grace, but still deliver those hints of what else she’s capable of. Talented author!!

In Because of You, we meet Layla Page Carlysle a pop star sensation with a stalker that has become increasing more dangerous. As a result, Brady Marshall is hired on as a Private Investigator to track down the man whose threats to Layla force her staff to take serious notice.

Brady has a tainted past with his career. He was part of a blotched Navy SEAL assignment that resulted in some of his close friends being killed. And later when he took on a position in the police department, a wrong move cost him his partner and two innocent victims in a domestic violence call. Needless to say, Brady has a tough weight to balance on his shoulders that only gets more complicated when his sister and niece come to him for protection.

When he lands Layla’s assignment, Brady feels he has a lot to prove with no room for error. As Layla and Brady spend more time together, they strike up a complicated romance that not only endangers the person he’s assigned to protect, but also the people that have come to depend on him.

Truly a great story that had me furiously turning the ePages with enthusiasm. I loved that Sivec altered her narrative style in this book, which was alternating first perspectives between Layla and Brady. It was exciting to see through the eyes and minds of these two as their action packed story unfolded. First person narrative is Sivec’s strong suit and I hope she continues to capitalize on it.

Brady Marshall… oh Brady Marshall!!! What a treat! As much as I loved Garrett in book one of this series, which was a LOT, I loved Brady ten times more in this book. His passion, commitment and flaws made for the perfect complement to Layla’s broken and empty life. I loved seeing these two come together and battle their demons with courage.

Overall, I’m a huge fan of Sivec. She has the ability to make me laugh, keep me entertained and hook me with her characters. She’s proven her skill as a writer IMHO and I can’t wait for her next installment. Pure joy!

5 Suns

About the Author
T.E. Sivec is the pen name for Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she delves into a more serious genre that is her absolute favorite to read ­ romantic suspense. She loves reading a book and feeling her heart speed up with anticipation and wanted to be able to give that feeling to her fans.
T.E. lives in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a full­time writer.

Follow this Author

Website  |  FaceBook  |  Goodreads

As part of the blog tour, the host and author are giving away a swag pack, which will include a signed paperback copy of Because of You as well as a tote bag and lots of other fun goodies! :)

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Be sure to visit the other blogs on this tour!

Cover Reveal: Until I Break by M. Leighton

Until I Break by M. Leighton

Release date: May 14th 2013 

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About the book
Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control.

And she doesn’t exist.

Samantha Jansen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn’t know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She is scarred—deeply scarred—by a past she can’t let go of and a present she can’t make peace with.

Samantha’s dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare.
When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.

Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her.

The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both. 

About the Author 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Follow this Author

Blog  |  FaceBook  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Email

Blog Tour: Slow No Wake by Dakota Madison

Waves of Fiction is excited to join AToMR for the promotional event of Slow No Wake by Dakota Madison. For our stop, we have the book details, an exciting excerpt and a giveaway to share with you. Enjoy!

Slow No Wake by Dakota Madison
Published April 1st, 2013 Publisher Short on Time Books
Purchase Link: Amazon

About the book
After finding her sister in bed with her fiancé, 25-year old Lexie Wilkins decides to relocate to southwest Florida to start a new life and escape relationships all together. What she doesn’t expect to find are two attractive kite surfers, who both want her.

So much for Lexie’s vow for her fresh start in Florida: a no wake zone. Having two guys in her life is sure to make waves.

Eddie is the captivating bad boy, who lives next door. Daniel is Lexie’s sweet and ruggedly handsome co-worker. The differences between the two men are just as extreme as their sport…

Who will she choose?

About the Author

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Follow this Author

Website | Twitter  |  Goodreads

Book Excerpt

I knocked lightly on the door and when Daniel looked up he seemed surprised to see me. Not pleasantly surprised, as I had hoped, but he didn’t look unpleasantly surprised either. He just looked confused.

“I think we need to talk,” I said as I entered his office and closed the door behind me.

He nodded and I took a seat.

“I just want you to know that I was eating lunch by myself when Ricky introduced himself and asked if he could join me. We were just talking.”

He nodded again but didn’t say anything. I noticed he had put up a bit of a wall between us. It felt cold and uncomfortable.

“I’m not interested in Ricky, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

His look was sullen. “Ricky has a way with women.” 

“He’s not really my type,” I said. “And I’m interested in someone else.”

I looked into his eyes and the intensity between us started to melt the ice that had formed. He started to bite his bottom lip, a habit I found extremely attractive. Anything that brought my attention to his lips made me think about kissing him.

“And just who is the lucky guy you’re interested in?” he asked, knowing full well it was him.

“We’re going out Saturday night,” I said.

“Is that so?” he said as the heat between us continued to intensify. I was suddenly glad there was a desk separating us. “I’m jealous.”

I grinned. “You should be. This guy is the full package.”

I could see his face grow red with embarrassment. “The full package, huh?”

I nodded.

“I hope this guy doesn’t mind that we’re meeting for lunch tomorrow.”

“I think he’d be terribly jealous,” I said playing it up as much as I could. “He hates to see me with other men.”

I was surprised when Daniel touched my hand. I instinctively glanced up at the door to make sure it was still closed. He grazed his index finger along my thumb and then each of my fingers. The act was so sensual it took my breath away. “I’m really looking forward to Saturday night,” he said as he continued caressing my fingers.

“Me, too,” I managed to get out with the limited breath I now seemed to have.

I felt like crawling over the desk and into his lap. I tried to distract myself by looking around his office. I noticed for the first time that his walls were covered with framed posters of guys in the ocean on boards attached to kites. I assumed they were kite surfers.

He must have noticed me examining his art work. “I like to kite surf,” he said.

“Are the posters of you?” I asked. It was difficult to tell who was actually doing the kite surfing in the photos.

“Some of them,” he said. “Some of them are my friends.” He pointed to one across the room from me. “That one’s Ricky. The one next to it is my roommate.” He pointed to two close to me. “Those two are me.”

I nodded. I wondered if that explained the rough hands and calluses.

“You should watch us sometime,” he said. “We’re all pretty good.”

I nodded. “Okay, sure.”

I stood. “I’d better get back to work,” I said. “Please don’t freak out when you see me talking to Ricky. You know we have to work together.”

“I know,” he said. “It’s just…” I could see him thinking. “We have a history. I know how he is with women.”

“Please don’t worry,” I said, and we left it at that.

AToMR is offering one lucky Waves of Fiction follower a chance to win an eBook copy of Slow No Wake by Dakota Madison. Open International. Good luck!

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Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Kim Karr of Connected

Today on Waves of Fiction, we are excited to have Kim Karr author of Connected with us!  She was gracious enough to stop by and answer some of our questions. Thank you Kim! 

As part of our spotlight, we also have a review of the book where Arlene and Crystal share their thoughts on this exciting first installment of the Connections Series. Lastly, don't miss out on the giveaway. Enjoy!

Connected by Kim Karr

Published on March 22, 2013

Purchase: Amazon

About the book

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 soulmate.

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?

Arlene's Thoughts:

“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.”

Wow!! I feel like my head just got whacked with a 500 pound sack of clusterf&ck bricks! I did NOT see that ending coming! That last little bit tossed me off my reading chair.... In shock!

Well played Kim Karr. Well played. You're good!

Okay, now that I got that out of the way let me tell you about this book...

For Dahlia tragedy had marked her path from a very young age, but she’s always had her best friend Ben by her side. After the death of her parents and later her uncle, he was the only family she could come to rely on. As time progressed, their friendship grew into love and their plans for a perfect happily ever after were right on track. That was until someone crossed Dahlia’s path to shift her belief in the one relationship she’s always come to count on.

One night during a college fraternity party, Dahlia leaves Ben behind to hit the local bar with her best friend. That night she meets River and an undeniable chemistry explodes between them making them well aware of the attraction that can’t be denied. When Dahlia agrees to meet River after his performance, she decides that the best thing is for her to leave the scene before she makes a mistake that will cost her more than she’s willing to sacrifice.

Five years later, tragedy hits Dahlia once again, and she goes into a deep depression trying to overcome the devastation of a horrific loss. When she finally begins to pick herself back up and put her life back together, her first job assignment has her colliding with River, the guy she left behind so many years ago giving them a second chance at their “once in a lifetime.”

First off I have to say, I absolutely loved the chemistry between River and Dahlia. Their shared moments, conversations, and off the charts chemistry made their attraction for one another feel very real. River was absolutely perfect in this story. His actions and moments of sincerity won me over despite how much I initially came to like Ben. I loved the shift in perspective between Dahlia and River. It was captivating to see into both of their minds and hearts. The narrative was perfect for this book.

In addition, I really enjoyed River’s backstory and gradual climb to fame. He came across grounded but still had that rock star quality I find appealing. He definitely commanded the stage in this book and he blended perfectly with Dahlia. As much as I loved these two together, they have a huge obstacle to overcome, so I can’t wait to see how they deal with the tough times ahead. I’m definitely rooting for them.

Also, the turns and twists of this story were incredibly executed. I did not, for one moment, believe I had a handle on the flow of the storyline and I was proven right at the very end. What an ending! Color me shocked and incredibly impressed with the brilliance of the twist. Well executed and perfectly timed.

Overall, Connected is an incredibly addicting read. I powered through this book quite quickly because I couldn’t seem to put it down! I loved the pacing, the chemistry between the characters, and the explosive turn of events at the end. Sign me up for book two! I can’t wait to see how Dahlia, Ben and River’s story continues.

 4 Suns

Crystal's Thoughts:

This book has totally blown my mind!  I honestly even after several days have no words for how shocked I am after that explosive ending!

After losing her fiance, Dahlia is broken.  Ben had always been there for her and even though they didn't have the perfect relationship he was all Dahlia had ever known and was the only one there for her during her childhood.  When tragedy strikes Dahlia is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life.  After awhile her best friend decides it is time for her to move on and schedules her to do an interview with a new and upcoming band.  What Dahlia doesn't know is that the lead guitarist in the one guy who tempted her back in college.  River was the one and only guy Dahlia felt a connection with and now with Ben gone Dahlia is scared more than ever.

River and Dahlia have CHEMISTRY!  These two were probably one of the hottest couples out there and River *sigh* he was exactly what Dahlia needed.   She needed help and River never pushed her.  It was really heart touching to see her moving on and just the simple things would touch me.  One of the biggest scenes that brought tears to my eyes was when Dahlia gave her ring to Bens mom.  Talk about a tear jerker!  There were a lot of scenes like this throughout and they were written beautifully.

I really enjoyed their story, but I can't lie I kept waiting for something to happen.  It all seemed too easy and just when I thought I knew what the big blow up would be Kim Karr completely blindsided me!  I still think things are going to come out about Rivers sister Bell, but it will not be as intense as I first thought since something even bigger took hold of the story,

I really liked seeing inside of Rivers head at the end. I am really hoping that we get his POV in Torn. His side needs to be told!

I am totally intrigued by this book and I cannot wait for Torn.  I think things are really going to become explosive!

4 Suns

Author Interview

Welcome Kim!

For those who haven't had a chance to read Connected quite yet, how would you describe your novel in 5 sentences or less?

Connected is a story about finding love when you think there is none left to find. It will make you believe in love at first sight and that people really do have soul mates, or at least I hope it does. =)

How did you first envision the plot for Connected? Did that change at all as you continued with the writing process?

The night The Voice premiered on NBC in April 2011, I watched it and fell in love with the show and Adam Levine. I started to think about his journey with Maroon 5 and the number of years it took him to gain fame. I had been thinking about writing a book but hadn’t come up with a storyline that intrigued me enough. For some reason, that night the story of Dahlia, River, and Ben came to mind. The name of book was different as well as character names, but the plot never veered.

Your book is heavily influenced by a great compilation of music! If you had to choose one song that best represents Connected, what would that be?

Between the Raindrops by Lifehouse

Ben, Dahlia and River are extremely captivating characters! Name one trait (good or bad) about each one that stands out for you.

Ben – driven
Dahlia – confident
River - playful

What is it about Dahlia that draws River to her?

Besides a physical attraction, her personality—she’s unlike any girl he has ever known.

There is something about Caleb that doesn't add up. Will he play a large part in Torn?

Caleb will have a part in Torn.

Okay, now let's talk about that cliffhanger! First off OUCH!!! That was one of the best cliffhangers we've come across, so hats off to you Ms. Karr. Well played! Without being too spoilery, when you first started writing Connected, did you have that end goal in mind, or did you see it concluding another way?

First, thank you so much =)  I actually wrote the Epilogue before I started writing the book. I always knew the ending!!

If you can help ease our angst a bit, can please share a teaser quote with your fans? Preferably a River one if possible. ;)

“So where does all this leave us?” ~River

Lastly, we see there are additional installments in this series. Can you give us some insight into how the series will progress? Will Dahlia, River and Ben's story continue for all of the books or do you plan to share other character storylines as well?

Dahlia’s journey ends in Torn. Connected and Torn are a duet. Frayed centers around Bell. Mended is about a to be named character. Flawed is Aerie’s story, and Perfected is about Xander.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Arlene and I cannot wait to read Torn!

About the Author
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 soulmates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. She loves to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart.

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 Giveaway time!  Kim Karr is graciously offering one lucky Waves follower an eCopy of Connected. Simply fill out the rafflecopter and be sure to share a thoughtful comment about the book or author interview. Good luck!!

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