Connected Reality

by A.V. Donaldson, Tina S. Transformation, Brody Butcher

A connected reality story.
Take a dive into the madness that happens when one man lives multiple double lives across parallel realities.
Each chapter reveals another piece of his deception.
How far will one go to find love?
How far will one go to destroy a life for their own greed?

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2026

About the author

Author A.V. Donaldson is a writer of murder and mayhem. She currently resides in Texas with her husband, three teenagers, and a lap full of adorable cats. When she's not writing she's...okay well, she's always writing. She enjoys Halloween and all things spooky, photography, traveling, the mountains, chocolate cake and pizza, but her favorite thing is visiting Salem on Halloween. It's the most magical place on Earth.
She also suffers from a rare brain abnormality called Chiari malformation and hopes to spread more awareness to the disorder. She is a brain surgery survivor and credits her condition for creating the insanity she writes.

Reviews

[Daniel Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Connected Reality and WOW… this was such a fun, fast-paced, and super unique read! 😍🔥

What made this book stand out so much was the way it was written with multiple POVs by multiple authors, and somehow it worked PERFECTLY. Each character had their own distinct voice, and you could really feel the individuality in every chapter. It didn’t feel messy or confusing at all… it felt smooth, creative, and honestly impressive.

The plot kept me hooked the entire time, and I loved how everything slowly started connecting until it all came together in the end. Overall, this was such a great read, entertaining, and just the kind of book you fly through without even realizing it.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick fast paced thriller written with multiple POVs and several authors collaborating!

I love reads like this, each segment provides you with the flair from the author but also a cohesive storyline.

Let me know your thoughts on the MMC when you read it😏

[Tina A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connected Reality has me five-star reeling! The first paragraph (and first character POV) alone is a total 'glass shatter' moment—I actually had to double-check that I read it right. Nicholas Cole is, without question, one of the most unapologetically despicable MMCs I’ve read. 'Womanizer' doesn't even touch it!

It turns the typical dating app story into an absolute next-level nightmare. The plot flows seamlessly, revealing more layers of deception with every chapter. This is my second read in two months with such a fresh and thrilling construct: a single-story collaboration where top indie authors lend their unique voices to relay-style chapters, with each character’s POV crafted by a different author. Connected Reality is the ultimate way to sample their talent in this quick, 94-page propulsive sprint!
* AV Donaldson
* Tina S. Transformation
* Ali Toothman
* Brody Butcher
* Brooke Montoya
* David E Anderson
* Jennifer K.L. Wolf

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

rounding up from 4.5 stars

This was an engaging novella where multiple authors collaborated to create one fluid thriller. Each author took on a character with each character being connected by a common entity. I'm loving this concept that allows the reader to hear the story through a variety of voices.

[Gail Clouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several authors come together to write one fluid story, each writing a chapter. Nicholas is a terrible man who preys on women through the dating app he created, uses them and takes what money he can from them. With all the red flags, will he be caught? I enjoyed Connected Reality!

[Kari Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well-written story told in multiple pov by several authors. It was a great concept and was well executed.

From page one, you will hate the MMC. He is vile and despicable and preys on women that he meets through a dating app he created.

All of the women have some degree of vulnerability that he uses to his advantage. How long can he get away with his scam? How many people will be hurt by what he does?

If you like a quick, fast-paced thriller told from multiple pov's, I recommend this one.

[Larae Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!!

This book was genius. How these Authors do this I'll never understand. Dive into the life of one guy who thinks he is a winner. The lady's just may have something different in store for him. Most definitely a 5+ star read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mind-bending, connected-reality story that pulls you straight into the chaos. This book dives headfirst into the madness of one man living multiple double lives across parallel realities, and every chapter peels back another disturbing layer of deception.

The concept is ambitious and executed beautifully—each reveal made me question what was real, what was manipulated, and how far someone will truly go for love. Or worse… how far they’ll go to destroy another life out of pure greed.

Twisty, unsettling, and impossible to put down. If you love psychological depth mixed with parallel realities and moral darkness, this one delivers hard.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun and unique read

“Connected Reality” is such a fun and unique read, with each chapter written by a different author yet woven together seamlessly. I loved how well the story was developed despite the multiple voices. It explores deception, greed, and just how far some people are willing to go in the search for love. The shifting perspectives kept things fresh and engaging, making it hard to put down. A creative and entertaining collaboration that really works.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been spending a lot of time on KU lately, catching up on this author after getting pulled into the Craving Murders series. Yes, I am still sitting here asking… where is book three? To kill time, I started working through her other books during my three-week staycation. On the outside, I looked put together, lounging around in cute designer pajamas, completely relaxed. On the inside, I was unraveling a little more with every chapter.
Let’s start with Connected Reality. That man is an absolute scumbag. The kind of character that makes you physically tense while reading. I was genuinely irritated and wanted to stab him myself. THE ONLY PART I LOVED was where the women in this anthology did not sit back and take it. They handled him in a way that was both brutal and satisfying.
Easy five stars. What I am noticing with this author is that she does not follow the usual path. Her storylines feel different. There is a level of originality that stands out, and it is not something you see often anymore. She is willing to go there, and it shows. As I keep going through her work, one thing is clear. She is building something that does not blend in with everyone else. She is absolutely a force to be reckoned with.

[Marci Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and how it showed the connection of everyone! Through the machinations of one despicable man the lives that were ruined was astounding however it also showed the interconnectedness of everyone to each other even the detective. It was a wonderful book. It’s a short novella and I highly suggest it!!

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connected Reality is sharp, trippy, and wildly addictive. Seven authors deliver a layered, mind-bending read that keeps you questioning truth, motives, and identity. With razor-sharp twists and a bold, collaborative voice, it pulls you into a web of deception that never lets up—dark, inventive, and impossible to predict.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am OBSESSED with this book! I made sure to know absolutely NOTHING about it when I started this, (I do NOT recommend doing this unless you know your OWN triggers!) and I absolutely freaking LOVED it!! These authors did an AMAZING job as usual!! It definitely deserves 5 stars, I will DEFINITELY be reading this again!

[Jaime Tragesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this story flowed. Each chapter is written by a different author giving a unique perspective for each character.

I am not sure I have ever despised a character more than I did Nicholas. From page one I knew I would dislike him.

[Laura Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, fast-paced thriller with a most despicable main character written by multiple authors with multiple POVs that blended the storyline together perfectly ! I loved it and read it in one sitting.

[Kelli Bilderback · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a fun and unique read by some amazing authors.

[Cassandra Joy Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome quick fun story by some of the best indie authors. Definitely check it out !

[Mike C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple authors made an amazing story. Love seeing each of their styles come out through the book. Was an awesome shorter read.