cover image Frayed

Frayed

Kim Karr. NAL, $14 trade paper (436p) ISBN 978-0-451-47068-3

The fourth Connections new adult novel (after Mended) is angst-filled and compulsively readable. Nearly six years after Ben Covington and Bell Wilde shared a night of passion, they run into each other at an awards banquet. Ben wants a relationship. Bell reluctantly acknowledges their fierce sexual chemistry, but insists on a no-strings-attached, friends-with-benefits arrangement or nothing at all. Determined to change her mind, Ben begins a concentrated plan of seduction involving erotic role-playing, romantic dinners, and light domination. But it turns out that Bell is hiding a huge secret that will almost certainly derail their budding relationship. Karr’s world is filled with imperfect yet relatable characters, a familiar but well-written story, and hotter-than-hot sex scenes. [em](Sept.) [/em]