Review - Dazed

Title: Dazed

Series: Connections #2.5

Author: Kim Karr

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Publish Date: April 1, 2014

Review Source: eARC provided for Review



Jagger Kennedy never went looking for fame, he just fell into it. After scoring a major modeling contract, his clean-cut good looks and charm catapulted his career. But when his actress girlfriend breaks his heart, he moves to L.A. to try his hand at acting. He’s not looking for love—he just needs to make a change.

Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her dazed and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about Jagger that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.



To keep from losing the woman who’s changing his world, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…

Let's put it to you this way, there aren't enough bars for Kim's books.  Dazed is no exception!  Kim has this ability to just capture my attention with every book and every character she writes about.  I am spellbound when I read her work and speechless when it's finished.  I never want it to end!

Dazed is the story of Jagger Kennedy (River Wilde's Cousin) and Aerie Daniels.  Jagger is a model who didn't choose to be one he just fell into it naturally being as his family is tied to Hermes, one of the biggest fashion houses in the world.  But Jagger really wants to get into the world of acting now that he's gotten his face out there for a few years.  He has relocated to the L.A. area and is living with River and his new wife, Dahlia, when he meets Aerie (Dahlia's best friend).  

Dahlia has everything in her life perfectly put together, all the way down to her beautifully decorated condo in Laguna Beach.  After a few really tough years and having her heart broken when she was young, Aerie has all but sworn off men completely.  She is completely unprepared for Jagger to walk into her life.  You could say it all begins with a cup cake and Alice in Wonderland.  Trust me, you'll find out soon enough why that's significant and how true it is!

Jagger is sexy and so is Aerie.  When the two get together on the page it zaps you.  You feel the heat and their raw need to be with one another.  Their love is all consuming and makes them do crazy and very real things.  Jealousy is prevalent and though you always wish the main characters wouldn't jump to conclusions, it's what makes it relatable because we all do it even though we wish we could push that little green monster off our shoulder.

I absolutely loved everything to do with this story and though it was a Novella I feel like I could probably write this review forever.  But I won't be cause I'd spoil everything and leave you with no reason to read it and what fun would that be, right?!  So go, pick up Connected, Torn and Dazed, now available from Kim Karr!  You won't be disappointed!

Excerpt from Dazed
Connections #2.5 by Kim Karr
© 2014 by Kim Karr
Published by the Penguin Group
Release date: April 1, 2014

Aerie Daniels
    There’s something deliciously perverse about staring through the clear glass. All of
my senses engage as I wait in line—the fragrance that fills the air as the fire crackles
beneath the foil wrapped treats wafts under my nose, the beauty in each and every small
package as they line the shelves with tiny dots and colored sprinkles mesmerizes me, the
sound made as the silver sheet is peeled back to reveal the magnificence it holds
captivates me, and the anticipation of the taste makes my mouth water. Ummm… just
thinking of the first bite into the moist brown exterior with its bittersweet Belgian
chocolate complimenting the flavor of the Madagascar bourbon vanilla that oozes from
its inside has me trembling. The black and white cupcake—it’s simply perfection.
    Amidst the skyscrapers in Los Angeles’ South Park neighborhood, Sprinkles is a
gem tucked away for those of us who seek out a small piece of heaven. I don’t come here
often, but when I do it’s for that one special treat. The menu describes it as, “Yin and
Yang.” An ancient proverb that says, “Complementary opposites, such as light and dark,
day and night, and masculine and feminine, seemingly may exist as contrary forces, but
are actually interconnected.” Simply put, it says one gives rise to the other and it’s true—
opposites attract. Without the vanilla inside, one could not possibly crave the chocolate
outside—looking at the two parts united has me drooling.
    “You know what they say about staring through the glass,” a deep husky voice says
from behind me.
    His words tingle my skin and my gaze snaps up. “Excuse me?” I stop short, in a
daze, not even sure what he just said I was so lost in my thoughts.
    He chuckles. “You know what they say about staring through the glass,” he repeats.
    My eyes blink and come into focus on the upward tilt of his full lips. Then my eyes
move to his smooth pale skin flecked with a light stubble, his nose seemingly sculpted
even with a slight imperfection in its slope, large eyes with the most unusual gray color
swirling from within, and chocolate brown colored hair framing his face in pieces—I’m
not sure if he has just rolled out of bed or if product molds it just so. Either way, he is
utterly beautiful.
    “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Just be careful so you don’t fall in like Alice.” He smiles, displaying his bright
white teeth.
    “Again, I’m sorry but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I notice his eyes
sweep over me and my heart starts pounding.
    “Through the Looking Glass,” he responds in a dangerously husky voice.
This time when he speaks I catch an accent, ever so slight but extremely sexy.
It reminds me of how Robert De Nero talks, just not as loud or fast. I continue to stare,
unable to respond. I notice that his physique is long and lean. He’s dressed in worn jeans
that fit him perfectly. His orange laced hiking boots scream I don’t conform. A pair of
tortoiseshell sunglasses hang from the V of his gray sweater, which clings to his body
perfectly. And an outdoor vest tops the outfit. It throws me off. It makes him look more
like an Abercrombie model than a James Dean type. It’s a navy blue down and quilted
one with a silver zipper. I don’t know why, but something about his outfit, about this
man, captivates me.
    “Number 98,” calls the girl from behind the counter.
    He steps closer. His warm breath whispers across my neck. “Through the Looking
Glass is the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. When Alice gets too close to the glass, she
falls in and starts on a crazy journey,” he tells me as his arm waves in the air with a green
ticket on display. Stepping closer, his gaze cuts from mine to the glass case as he hands
his number to the clerk whose wearing a cute brown apron with the word Sprinkles
scripted across it.
    “Can I have a dozen of the black and white cupcakes?” he asks.
    Suddenly alarmed, my eyes dart to the case as I watch the single remaining row of
beautifully crafted cupcakes diminish until there are none left. My irritation flares as I
glance at my number—97.
    The beautiful stranger hands the clerk his credit card and waits to sign the slip.
    “I was number 97, my number was before yours,” I say as he’s handed the bag that
holds his treasure.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Here let me get the sales clerk’s attention so you don’t have to take
another number,” he says.
    I want to stomp my feet. I want to scream. I don’t want her attention. I don’t want
another number. I want the cupcakes that he stole from me.
    “Miss,” he calls draping his perfectly fit body over the case. She looks his way and
with a charming grin he says, “Can you help this lovely lady? She missed her number
being called.”
    “Of course, I’m so sorry. How can I help you?” the girl asks averting her eyes from
the man who looks like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine, over to me.
    He smiles at me with a face that belongs on a billboard. “Don’t fall in.”
    I swear he’s goading me. But then he tips his chin and a sexy, smoldering grin passes
over his lips and I’m not so sure anymore. He turns to look at me one more time before
he exits, and excitement flushes over my face. I nod a slight cursory acknowledgement,
then he disappears and disappointment washes over me—he’s gone. Crap. The cupcakes
are also gone. Double crap. And now I’m left wondering if he saw me staring at that
flavor? Did he distract me on purpose so he could purchase them first? Urrr…I’m so
angry right now I consider walking out, but when the clerk asks me what I’d like I settle
for the Vanilla Milk Chocolate cakes—they are the mirror reflection of the black and
whites, with vanilla cake and chocolate frosting, but they are not nearly as good.

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.

Connected was my debut novel and is currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble , iTunes and Kobo.

Torn is the sequel to Connected and was just released on October 1st, 2013. It is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

To see the remaining books in the series, check out my Goodreads page.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

~ Kim

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