Shooting Scars

I really enjoyed this follow up to Sins & Needles & I fully admit that I've pre-ordered the final installment Bold Tricks already. Yes, it was that good.

Picking up where we left off in Sins & Needles, the action rolls on as Ellie has left with Javier to save Camden, his ex-wife Sofia & their son, Ben. I already felt all was not well because I didn't like or trust Sophia from the first book. Sadly, Camden is not as suspicious a person as I am. Had he been, he would have seen the betrayal coming. Even though I expected it, it was hard to read & watch the events unfold over poor Camden. That made my Sophia hate deepen & I really hope she gets her comeuppance in the final book. I am unashamedly #Team Camden & he did not disappoint in this show more book. I do worry for him because of how far he's willing to go to safeguard Ellie (I'm still cringing from the tattoo gun interrogation). It's like he's trading away little pieces of who he is & becoming someone else. I'm not entirely sure their relationship won't be the sacrifice for her safety.

Now to Ellie. She is still my hard to love heroine. Actually, she pissed me right off in this book. She has some serious problems & makes what I consider a fairly unforgivable error but I still want good things for her & can't help rooting for her. When she messes up, she goes big. I get why she is flawed & damaged but I keep wanting to know where her final line is. What's the point she won't cross no matter what anyone says to her or where she is in the moment. Oddly enough, it seems Ellie is trying to work that out too, so I'll have to hang in and see.

I am so not a Javier fan. I don't care about his obsession, damage or that he loves Ellie in his own way. None of that sways me because I really don't trust him & cringe when Ellie gives anything he says credence. He's never fully honest with her, fully admits that he may do her actual harm & especially after Uncle Jim, I just can't be bothered with his whole thing. But, I don't want him dead. I need him around because he causes me such consternation & annoyance that there'd be no story without him. There were many instances in this installment where he made me want to toss my Kindle across the room & if anything fatal happens to Gus, I'm holding him responsible & will want Camden & Ellie to make him pay.

Speaking of Gus, he is awesome & I hope we see him again in the final book. I'm wondering if the woman that he was in love with was Ellie's mother. The Coffeemate thing was great & added a great bit of suspense in that moment. Overall, there was a good amount of suspense in this book. I did feel a bit of a lull waiting for Ellie to connect to Travis between the hideout fish shop & the hotel in Veracruz but everything did seem necessary. The final reveal at Travis' home was a thrill & all I can say is I really need to know how the thing with Ellie's parents resolves. I think I'm more concerned about that than the Travis situation. Anyway, great second installment & I very much look forward to the last. show less

[b:Shooting Scars|17230559|Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy, #2)|Karina Halle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371224737l/17230559._SY75_.jpg|23745834]
Scars to Your Beautiful
Again, I find myself reading an author I am not familiar with. I actually enjoyed Karina Halle’s writing style and that is what made me want to continue this trilogy. I feel like I have to start out with - You MUST read Sins & Needles before you read this book. It's not even a question. So please don't try reading Shooting Scars without reading Sins & Needles first! Once again, this was a crazy ride and the characters are so much fun to read. Javier Bernal is bad! He's so very bad, but I constantly find it impossible to show more hate him even thought I probably should. I understand that there is a book called On Every Street that I should have read and that is all about Javier and Ellie but I have yet to purchase it. Now let’s ignore my statement and go back to Javier, shall we? He is your sexy bad influence and it is so well received. Javier in my eyes plays the dark role of Ellie’s past that collides with her present head on. I found myself feeling like he always has his own agenda and then he does the unthinkable and I think oh maybe he has a heart. Ellie is my emotional roller coaster in this series. I go from being mad at her to feeling sorry for her because she is constantly a pawn in someone’s games and it is never anything good. Now to talk about Cam who I absolutely adored. I can't say enough about him. I love him because he is real, he is crazy, he is intense, he is dark and he is genuine in his love, he's a standup guy, and wears his heart on his sleeve. He was my swoon worthy character who has wicked skills with a needle. I will be continuing this series for sure. show less

This is a fantastic follow up to Sins and Needles.
I have heard that some people having been calling Ellie names because of her decisions in this book. But the fact of the matter is she was so confused on what to do, on who she is.

Shooting Scars picks up where we left off. Ellie is with Javier, going with him in order to help and protect Camden. But Javier has plans for her, big plans. She has a choice but in true Javier form no one really ever has a choice with him, something always comes back to bite you in the ass.

After everything that happened at the end of book 1, you would think that Ellie is done with him, but it's not long before she finds herself falling back into old habits with Javier. This is where some have major issues show more with Ellie. I won't lie I was mad at her, I am Team Camden, but in saying that I am also Team Ellie, I understand why she became confused. He was different, she was different. But that spark they had 6 years ago was still there, threatening to spill over. They never add closure with the way she left. Add to the fact that she also thought Camden wasn't coming for her. She thought she was bad. Javier called her Angel, so if she was his Angel she must be a bad angel. This is what he constantly reminded her, that she was bad, that they were kindred spirits. My feelings toward Javier haven't changed. He's still a heartless man. I think he will be the end of Ellie if she decides to be with him. Being in love is about bringing out the best of each other. Javier wants to bring the black to the surface for Ellie. I think in his own twisted way he does love her, or maybe it's obsession and the need to own her. I know many readers also love him and think he's just the bees knees... But there are some things you just can't forgive, sometimes people are not capable of redemption nor deserving. Had Javier had a different past, even just with Ellie things could be different. But I don't think he is her soul mate. Hell he even says himself that he doesn't have a soul.

Camden, oh how I love you. Camden is really a badass is this book. There wasn't one time I didn't love him. He is loyal to a fault. Even to undeserving people Sophia, that bitch he was willing to give up everything to protect her and Ben.. But she was also after revenge. . I like seeing the other side of Camden. Yes his darkness is scary, but he is willing to do anything and everything to make sure Ellie is safe. He's practically been in love with her most of his life. Now they bring out the best in each other. Ellie helps Camden control his darkness and I think because of his love for her and having experienced her it makes him stand up and not take any shit anymore. For her, he makes her wants to be a better person. He helps her find the good in herself and makes her believe it is possible for her to be better. I love Camden and the lengths he went in this book, how much he has grown. I do hope that him and Ellie end up together. But mostly I hope that whatever happens that they are both happy with the decisions made.


Like I said earlier I am Team Camden, but more importantly Team Ellie, yes I know she might not make the choice that I hope for, but she will do what she knows is best for her and the life she wants. I do think under all the cons and mistakes she's made in life she is still good. Part of me thinks she is still a scared 11 year old little girl, not sure what to do. Waring with being true to herself or burying who she is through cons.

I am anxiously awaiting Bold Tricks! I feel like this ended abruptly once everything fell into place. Final thoughts- Shooting Scars doesn't disappoint, it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Great 2nd book.If you haven't started reading it yet, don't hold off any longer.

Karina Halle- thanks for giving a new meaning to tattoo gun! WOW! But I have to say it gives him so much of an edge! show less

Once I started reading -- I could not stop. This ain't no Disco. Karina Halle is not messing around. This book/series is amazing. I can see her screenwriting skills peek through in the pacing of this book. It grabs you from the first words and never lets you go like a really good cable series(I would totally watch this show.) Full on, eyes glued to your ereader until it is over. Then you are breathless, confused and wondering how the hell this is going to play out. I will not spoil this book and if you are reading this you have already read On Every Street and Sins and Needles, right?! If not stop reading right now and go buy them and get started. Ellie, Camden, Javier and Gus...I will miss you until October.

It all started with a bared window, a closet full of clothes and a witch of an ex.

Still Team Camden !

Well no surprise Javier was wicked, manipulative and murderous. He was also somewhat human. Yeah that sucked for me and Ellie. He worked at her self image. He chewed around the edges of the little bit of confidence she had. He was a total nightmare that could also be a dream. I like him less I think ? I wanted him to die, wait no I didn't. I'm confused.
Camden, was an inked knight in a green GTO ! He was more, more guts, more honest, more rugged, more abused, more betrayed and more broken. Cam, believed, he trusted, he did not really doubt, not really. He had to become what he didn't want to be, to save the one he loved. ~sigh~ What a show more great guy.
Ellie, well she spend some time thinking with her lower body. I was mad, really, really mad at her for being so stupid. But I must be fair, she is a severely damaged girl, with big trust issues. She did what she did because she thought that's all there was.
The gang went to Mexico, to drug cartel heaven. Thing went crazy, two of them got shot, other's were killed. The ones most hated may be the only ones that can be trusted. How messed up is that.
Even so I'm left wanting to know more.


My addiction. I need more, but.... show less

*I gave this audiobook a B+ for the writing and narration at AudioGals*

Shooting Scars, the second book in the Artists Trilogy, continues Ellie Watt’s dramatic story and her internal struggle between love and revenge. Before you dive into this one though, I highly recommend that you read or listen to both the novella prequel, On Every Street, and Book 1, Sins and Needles, as each contains essential background material to a full understanding of this character driven, action-filled, suspense romance.

With its intricate plot structure and good versus evil symbolism, Karina Halle continues to surprise and fully hook her audience with her completely unpredictable roller coaster of a ride to self-discovery. Further enhancing the quality of show more this listen is the addition of narrator Peter Coleman. Mr. Coleman joins Veronica Den, who narrated On Every Street and Sins and Needles, adding a new dimension of credibility and talent to this production, making this a great title to enjoy in audio format. But be forewarned, Shooting Scars ends in another mind bending cliffhanger, so only listen to this one if you are prepared to commit to also listen to Bold Tricks, the final book in the Artists Trilogy.

Shooting Scars begins where Sins and Needles ends: Ellie has just turned herself over to Javier Bernal, the evil drug lord and her former lover, in exchange for his release of her present lover’s (Camden McQueen’s) son and ex-wife. Ellie, who was raised to be a con artist, attempted to make Javier her mark, but instead he became her first lover, completely changing her life by immersing her in his, until she left him six years ago when she caught him cheating. Given that she stole a large sum of money and his treasured car before leaving him, Ellie has been on the run ever since. Now back in his grasp, she is completely devastated. Not only has she lost Camden, the only other man she has ever allowed herself to care for – in fact a man who she thinks she may be falling in love with – but she also fears why a cold-hearted killer like Javier, a man who has such a deep (even if completely wrong) pull on her heart, has gone to such extreme measures to hunt her down.

Little by little Javier starts revealing his true plans and desires for Ellie. Convinced that Camden, her path to goodness, is lost to her forever and determined to keep Camden safe, Ellie begins to again allow Javier to exercise his mysteriously dark pull on her heart. But Camden McQueen is not prepared to let Ellie go that easily, and is willing to lose himself to the dark side, if that’s what it takes, to bring Ellie back to the light. Teaming up with Gus, one of Ellie’s close family friends, he starts a wild mission to track down and save her. So begins the fight between good and evil, love and revenge, and the reality that lies somewhere in between.

This was a difficult novel for me to rate. While I was fully mesmerized by it and couldn’t put it down, listening to all ten hours in about a day and a half, definite aspects of an A listen, there were others – particularly of Javier’s relationship with Ellie – that I didn’t want to like. Even though it follows the good versus bad theme, proving just how bad Javier truly is, it nonetheless bothered me that Javier didn’t follow the typical alpha hero conventions, instead willingly exposing Ellie to danger in order to prove just how bad she is. I love alpha heroes but they have to be protective, not just overbearing and controlling. Still I get the underlying message, and it did hook me, even as it caused me to wince at times. And then there is Camden, not your typical alpha hero in the least, but nonetheless bearing the protective qualities of one. If only I could combine them both, and perhaps, in the end, that factors in to Ms. Halle’s final message. Guess I will need to read the last installment, Bold Tricks, to ultimately be able to fully figure it all out!

For the entire review, including the narration discussion, see AudioGals at: http://www.audiogals.net/2014/07/shooting-scars-by-karina-halle/#more-22847 show less

A love that starts out under a lie is bound to kill you, and sometimes you lived to tell the tale.



4 action packed suspenseful stars!



Ok wow first off I was leaving a blazing trail of fire to get to this book. I wanted it, I needed it like I need the blood running through my veins. Ellie, Javier and Camden has leached into my mind and I was desperate to find out what happens after Javier captured her.

I was a little disappointed that she started going back to her old Javier loving self again and I HOPED and prayed that it was the Stockholm Syndrome,that Gus suspected, because let's face it he is a weasel that cares for no one in my opinion.



Camden wow my heart stayed with him this entire book. Going after her, leaving everything behind and show more getting his heart broken. I really wanted to slap Ellie a few times I admit.

She's embedded herself in my skin, like a tattoo I could never give myself.



But alas she falls for Javier's charms....or does she?



"Whatever.... thing... you two shared it's over. He may have his tatto on you, but so do I."

The ending kinda irked me a bit I admit....I mean CAMDEN grow a pair and stop letting Javier have his way. But in the end they all join forces to put an end to Travis....or so that is HOW IT ENDS!!! I really do despise cliffhangers....sigh.

SOOOOOOOO I lie impatiently waiting waiting waiting for the final book.

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