Dazed (Connections Series, Book #2.5)
By: Kim Karr
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19187334-dazed
A Connection Series Novella featuring Aerie Daniels and Jagger Kennedy (River Wilde's cousin)
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 needs to make a change, and the last thing he’s looking for is love…
Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her stunned, and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about him that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.
To keep from losing the one woman he can’t bear to be without, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…
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 needs to make a change, and the last thing he’s looking for is love…
Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her stunned, and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about him that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.
To keep from losing the one woman he can’t bear to be without, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…
If you missed the Torn Epilogue (which introduced us to Jagger), click here to read--->http://www.authorkimkarr.com/1/post/2014/03/torn-epilogue-from-paris-with-love.html
*ARC provided via NetGalley for an honest review*
This is a quick, spicy with a side of sweet read! For those who have followed the series, you will know Aerie as Dahlia's best friend. We also are introduced to Jagger, River's cousin. When Aerie and Jagger meet, it isn't under the best circumstances. Let's just say, nothing should ever come between a girl and her cupcakes!
My impression of Aerie after reading Connected and Torn was that she was a strong, poised woman. It didn't seem as though she was battling any demons. She was truly a BEST friend to Dahlia through everything she dealt with in those first two books. But Dazed gives you a closer look into Aerie's life, and you realize looks are very deceiving. She isn't as put together as she appears. There are things from her past that still haunt her.
Jagger is a new character for this series and I am VERY happy about his appearance! He is downright yummy, which seems a given since he is River's cousin, right?! But he is so much more than that. He just has this presence about him that draws you in and you can't help but fall for him!
I loved watching the relationship between these two grow. Aerie had really closed herself off from truly living. But with Jagger's help, she slowly starts to realize all the things she has been missing out on. Including the big "O". Especially that!! But no relationship comes without complications and such is the case with Aerie and Jagger. Do they have what it takes to work through what is thrown their way? Or will they fizzle out before they even really have a chance to begin?
Dazed is a great addition to the Connections Series. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book, Mended. It is Xander's story and I know it is going to be HOT!
Connections is a great series, you can read this story as a stand alone without reading them first but to enhance your experience, I recommend you read them all the same.
Aerie is best friends with Dahlia, Dahlia has recently married her gorgeous man River and they live up in the Hollywood hills. She goes to Dahlia & River’s for dinner one night and the hottest guy with gorgeous grey eyes is there, Jagger. He is River’s cousin and is staying with them whilst he is auditioning for a movie.
There is a skin tingling attraction between Jagger & Aerie and it kind of freaks her out a bit, she is experiencing feelings she is not used to. Aerie is not a relationship type of girl and she is quite routined and focused on her job. She had a bad experience as a teenager with a guy and it kind of clouds her ability to see herself worthy of love.
Jagger is completely unexpected and the connection they have is really sweet. Aerie thinks it’s all to good to be true, she thinks he could have anyone he wants so why her?
Jagger is such a sweetheart and he knows what he has with Aerie is worth fighting for, he won’t take no for an answer. He wants his Alice to fall into the looking glass and join him on their crazy journey together.
I give this story 4 cupcake stars.
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.
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