After reading the previous books in the Connected series, I was not too sure if I was that keen on reading Ben Covington’s story – not so much because of what he did when he went away, as a difficult as it was, I could understand it, but more so because of the way he acted when he returned, and tried to ruin Dahlia’s happiness – again.

But I was wrong. So, so wrong.

Ben's story was heartbreaking from the get go. He has done things in the past that have hurt not just Dahlia but his family and friends also, and he is beating himself up about them pretty badly. He is struggling to forgive himself, especially for how much he hurt Dahlia, and my heart broke for him over and over again.

"I had thought I would not only be her first, but also her lat. And now hearing she's going to be marry another guy has torn my heart apart."

I loved that, as hard as it was to read, that we got more of what happened that night with Ben and S'Belle. The attraction between them in that one night makes you kind of think that yeah, maybe Ben and Dahlia weren't meant to be together afterall. I mean, she had to have something to tempt him to cheat right? I know that is no excuse, but look where it eventually got Dahlia.

I felt so much for Bell. As much as she was drawn to Ben, she kept away because of Dahlia and River's relationship. She was conflicted with her loyalties to herself and to her family.

I also loved the fact that Ben and Dahlia are finally starting to put their relationship back together. So hard to forgive what has happened, but harder to lose your best friend over it. I hope we get more of them repairing what looked to be so destroyed.

We did not get much of present day Bell in this novella, but boy what we did get was pretty explosive. Even though more than once through this series I have felt that neither Ben nor Bell really deserved their HEA after the way they treated people, I am curious to see how this all plays out. Am still not convinced either of them can get past their own selfishness to make a real go of a relationship?

So Ms Karr, I am impatiently waiting for Frayed to see how this all plays out.