Mended

When we were first introduced to Xander in Connected, I took a liking to him instantly and I was ready to read his story. Never did I think I would end up falling harder for him than River Wilde. River’s older brother stole my heart in Mended, where his story of heartbreak and second chances is told. Ivy and Xander have so much history together and those two will have you crying, laughing and aww-ing. They met in high school and fell in the deepest kind of love possible. There are certain things that push them apart and they’re forced to leave each other’s lives. Now years later they both seem to be living a great life, but when they meet again, they realize just how big of a hole their lives have. It goes without saying but Kim Karr knows her stuff when it comes to writing romance. This is my favorite couple by far. Their chemistry and connection was one of the strongest I’ve ever read. They have the kind of love where you have no doubt it’s true love. The sexual scenes were more than just sex oriented, they were such beautiful moments that I almost felt as if I was intruding on their special moment. This book also goes beyond the romantic relationship. The bond between family and friends is also focused on. You see the past trying to tear a family apart, and that same family sticking together to make sense of it all. Friends watching out for one another and being there for comfort, even if it’s simply in silence. That was one of the reasons why this book felt so real and alive to me. It went above and beyond the definition of contemporary romance. If you haven’t started this series yet, what in the world are you waiting for?!?! This series is getting better and better with each book, and you don't want to miss out.

In Mended we finally get to dive into Xander's head and get to know what he is like and view the world from his point of view. I have been a fan of the Connections series from the beginning, River and Dahlia hold a special place in my book loving heart, and Kim Karr does and excellent job of interweaving all the characters we meet in the first two books into these new break away stories. One of my favorite things about Kim Karr's writing is the emotion she puts into all of her characters, the story and the overall vibe of the book. I love a story about high school sweethearts reconnecting and Xander and Ivy's story does this well. Kim Karr tells stories that can break your heart, piece it back together and then make it sing. I really enjoyed getting to know Xander! Getting this story from mostly his point of view was a fantastic treat, you get inside his head and you get to keep the connections to the characters from the previous books along this journey. Ivy and Xander were an interesting couple and Kim Karr named this book perfectly: Mended. Mended, is exactly what needs to happen for Ivy and Xander to get over the past mistakes and realize that what they had together never really went away. Watching these characters reconnect was a treat to read, the balance of drama and emotion was on point and Kim Karr gives the reader just what we are looking for when we slide into a romance story. However, this is a Kim Karr book so you know the journey to love isn't an easy path and there are a few twists in this book that will leave you surprised, heartbroken and shocked. Kim Karr is an author that not only gives you a great story about Xander and Ivy, she also blends other characters together into Mended that we have fallen in love with in the first two and a half books. I loved getting to see River and Dahlia and peek in on how their lives are going, as well as getting snippets of Aerie and Jagger. This series is a series that never disappoints and leaves you craving more. I can't wait to see how all of the "Connections" keep weaving in future stories! If you are a fan of the Connections series then Mended is a wonderful treat for you to add to your collection and you will finish this book with a smile and a wish for future books to come out faster. However, fear not, if you haven't read any of this series before you can still read and enjoy Mended, but be warned, after finishing Xander's story you will want to go back and read this series from the beginning! I say 1-click Mended on June 3rd!