Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Review: Blurred, by Kim Karr





Synopsis
A Connection Series Novella featuring Ben Covington

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?




Review
4 out of 5 stars

Ben hasn't really ever had the opportunity to tell his story.  We've only really heard things from Dahlia's perspective, and even from the very first book I knew she and Ben weren't meant to be together, but with Ben in the picture Dahlia would probably never allow herself the opportunity to open herself up to the possibility of a relationship with River.  So I guess what I am saying is I think my feelings for not liking him stem more from him being a road block to River and Dahlia's HEA than his cheating.  I am not condoning the cheating, I'm just pointing out I did't really like him even before I learned of his secret tryst.  I also never really felt he was sincere in his attempt to reconcile with Dahlia, his actions always seemed abrasive and selfish.

I think the most important thing this novella accomplished was giving us a great look into the back story of Ben.  It helped me understand him better as a person.  He really did love Dahlia and sacrificing his "life" and their relationship is not the only time he put Dahlia first.  She is all he ever knew love to be, from friends to lovers they were always together.  So, when he first crosses paths with Belle the chemistry between them wasn't something he was seeking, but rather something he knew could be dangerous and tried very hard to avoid.  Like when Dahlia first meets River and you just know these two are destined it's the same with Ben and Belle.

While Blurred sets the story up nicely for Frayed, I am still not convinced Ben is entirely ready to appreciate a love like he could find in a relationship with Belle.  His return from the dead, loss of Dahlia and death of his mother has left him in a very bad place.  Even on his road to self-destruction and rock bottom I still found him to be selfish and hard to like.  He and Belle have so much potential but he has so much more growing to accomplish.  But, I love Kim Karr's writing and I cannot wait to see how she makes me fall in love with Ben and eventually pull for him and Belle to get a HEA of their own, because yes, I do know it's going to happen...she is that great of a writer!


No comments:

Post a Comment