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Frayed by Kim KarrMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange for honest review
☆☆☆☆☆ 5 "Rosebud" Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Exposed. Raw. Vulnerable. These three words could simply define BEN CONVINGTON. In Blurred, we got a taste of what lies behind the eyes of Ben. Simply, he was a lost man trying to find himself. A man for searching for redemption, forgiveness, love, and happiness. The once blurred life of Ben Convington begins a new journey where the past and present are no longer blurred but begins anew. The journey of redemption and love may not be perfect. The edges of of the heart may be FRAYED but it still beats like any other love. It is strong, meaningful, and true. No love is perfect and so begins the tale where Ben Convington and Bell Wilde as they rediscover and rekindle a romance that cannot be burned or forgotten. It is a love that withstood the testament of time, lies, and secrets. A love like no other. A love and life that’s full of second chances. A love that is FRAYED but in the eyes of Ben and Bell, it is their perfect kind of love.
ONE NIGHT of passion and lust was all it took to change and alter the lives of Ben Convington and Bell Wilde. One night that will forever be ingrained in their heart and mind. A night where a red haired beauty with emerald eyes stole the heart of one naive and lost surfer boy. A night that cannot be forgotten. A night that will be traced back to the present where the lines are no longer blurred but frayed.
“Lies, half-truths, what he doesn't know. What I'm afraid to tell him--not only because I have no idea how he'll react but because reliving our past is just too painful. It's the very reason this, him and me, can never work."
Ben is a man who has experienced it all from love and happiness to hate, disgust, sadness, anger, and loneliness in a blink of an eye. A man who had his life stolen and is finally getting that second chance to get it right. They say the beauty of life is that it always offers you a second chance. It is called Tomorrow. Well for Ben Convington, his fresh start finally came when he no longer looked back at his once blurred life but finally accepted the truth. The truth of the matter, Ben is a man seeking redemption and he finally earned it in the eyes of the people who truly loved him from his sister, nephew, brother-in-law, and his best friend, Caleb. And of course, Dahlia London. It is said sometimes second chances works out better than the first because you already learned from your mistakes. And so, begins the tale of Ben trying to grasp and hold onto that second chance. His second chance with Bell Wilde.
Regardless of the space, distance and time, Bell could not escape from Ben. The memory from that one night of passion that happened years ago was forever burned into her heart and mind. When Bell and Ben are thrown back into each others life, the passion they once had still burned bright. It was a chemistry and bond that could not be extinguished or explained. Her heart only spoke one name, Ben. He completely owned her from the moment she laid eyes on him. For so long, Ben thought he belonged to Dahlia but it took him some time to see it was not true love. And his true love was the emerald eye beauty. His S’belle. His Rosebud. His Bell.
“So I make sure he sees nothing but absolute certainty in my eyes. And then just like that, he grabs my face. Our mouths meet, our tongues collide, and we breathe each other in. We kiss with a hunger that I’m almost certain can never be satisfied. Time slips away as our hands move freely roaming over each other in ways they shouldn’t in a public place. With my heart thundering in my ears, my pulse racing, and my breathing out of control, I never want this moment to end.”
Bell and Ben’s relationship is a kind of love that has no words. A love that cannot be explained but felt. A love that is raw, passionate and vulnerable. A love that is REAL. Years of pain, heartbreak, loss, and floating by, Bell and Ben were two lost ships fated to meet again. Two people finding their way back home. And most importantly, finding their way back to each other’s heart. If I were to describe Ben and Bell’s relationship, this Chinese proverb comes into my mind:
“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break.”
Frayed by Kim Karr is by far my favorite book of the Connection Series along with Blurred. This book had all the elements of what I LOVE in a book. It had redemption, second chances, and love. I will say Ben Convington captured my heart. #TeamBen The emotional tale of Ben finding his way, admitting his faults and seeking redemption is a true testament of why I love him. I have always been a big fan of characters who have been overlooked and overshadowed and so I was beyond happy that Ben and Bell finally got their spot to shine and get their story told. Their romantic tale may not be a fairy-tale but that’s what makes their emotional journey as couple so special. It was raw, realistic, and vulnerable. Life is not perfect. The truth hurts. And so Ben and Bell had to work hard to get their HEA. And the emotional growth of these characters was what truly captured my heart. Ms. Karr did an amazing job in showcasing the struggles, inner turmoils and emotional journey that Ben and Bell had to endured. Their journey to the HEA truly showcased what true love is. It was about acceptance, forgiveness, and respect. Ben and Bell were connected from the beginning. A connection that was torn from secrets and lies but kept them dazed. Fast forward to years later, it was a love that was destined and meant to be mended. A love where the past, present and future were blurred. But one thing is for certain, it was a bond that was frayed along the edges but what really mattered was that bond was whole and intact. A love that is flawed , raw and true. A love that can only be perfected by Ben and Bell. And that is all that matters.
So if you are looking for a book that makes you believe in second chances in life and love and redemption, then I highly suggest you go read Frayed. Ms. Karr did an amazing job incorporating crucial past events and was able to weave them into the present. She reminded us all to not judge a book by its cover. Ben and Bell deserved to have their story told. Mistake were made. Secrets and lies were exposed. Redemption and forgiveness earned. And love was found. And lastly, I want to thank Ms. Karr for showing us thats its okay if life gets blurry and a little frayed. The important thing is that you survive and overcome all the odds that stood in your way. And Ben and Bell did just that. They survived a love that was frayed along the edges.
Frayed by Kim KarrMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Kathleen
✩★✩★✩5-Rosebud Stars✩★✩★✩
*ARC given by the author in exchange for an honest review*
The chemistry between them was something you can't deny. It's something that just pulls at them to be together. I feel like I just crawled into the book and felt the lust and desire ignite between the two. Belle is forbidden to touch, she just so happens to be Dahlia's sister in-law. Dahlia is married to her brother River. The way Ben feels about Belle is like he just took a potion that makes him think of no one but Belle. In everything that he did, she's there in his head. He is struggling to focus because of some sort of spell she's put him on.
The flashbacks and the presents play out in Ben's and Belle's head and it did nothing to help them avoid each other. It's what they both planned on doing in the beginning, but somehow, everything's all forgotten once they are in each other's presence. The chemistry they had for each other was scorching hot. Belle thinks it's getting a bit too overwhelming when it came to her relationship with Ben...the no strings attach. Well, let's just see how long she can hold off since Ben doesn't think it'll work out and eventually she'll be begging for him to take her.
The journey, Kim Karr took us with Ben and Belle was an unforgettable one. It was unique in it's own way. It may not have been perfect, but it was realistic. People's day to day lives, we make mistakes after mistakes, but it's up to us...how do we rise above the mistakes and how to make it right. The process may not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. I can't wait to read more of your work, Ms. Karr.
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