[Review & Giveaway] Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

Title: Shooting Scars
Published: Aug. 20th, 2013
Author: Karina Halle
Pages: 265
Rating:


From Goodreads:Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

Told in dual POV from Camden and Ellie



MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review.
This book may contain slight spoilers for Sins & Needles and On Every Street.


I started reading this book thinking that I knew what was going to happen. I was so damn wrong. The Artists Trilogy is ultimately Ellie's story, and I think after reading On Every Street I forgot that. I got all twisted and fell in love with Javier without really thinking about what happened[or who he is beyond sexy]. This is not a love triangle, there is no Team Camden or Team Javier, there is only Team Ellie. Ellie gets to make her own choices, and mistakes, and whether you're in love with Camden or Javier is irrelevant. Ellie's journey is bumpy and full of some serious fucking heartbreak and the masochist in me loves every word of it.




Lately, it seems like I've read a lot of books about damaged girls. Most of them curl up in a ball and cry about it, but not Ellie Watt. Ellie was used by her parents, disfigured by an evil cartel leader, and abandoned. She takes everything life has served her in stride. Sure, she's a criminal, but there's something about her that makes me love her. In this book Ellie is with Javier and shit happens. This is another moment where I thought I knew what Ellie would do, but Karina slapped me back to reality and reminded me that what I thought didn't matter. That's pretty much all I will say.

Side note: Why are male characters redeemable, but female characters aren't? Why are we so quick to love the asshole, cheater, abusive douches of literature but we don't offer the same love to our flawed women? I bet there will be some people who drool over Javier[he's a killer, people] but hate Ellie because she does questionable things. I do not like this double standard. Don't hate Ellie because she isn't perfect, neither are you. *steps off soapbox *



Camden is definitely the most changed of the group. He is determined to find Ellie the moment the car pulls away with her in the back. He is willing to do anything it takes to get her back and he does it without hesitation. I'll admit I didn't give much thought to what he might do to get Ellie back, so I was shocked at the things that happened. Camden McQueen is a changed man, that's for sure.



Javier is pretty much exactly what he seems to be, so stop hoping for some redemption. Javier Bernal is bad man, who does bad things. He kills people, he kidnapped Ellie, and he has plans for her. I got a better idea of who Javier is in this book. In On Every Street Ellie[Eden] is in love with him, and since that book is told through her POV it's very easy to fall for him too. But Ellie is no longer under love's spell and she knows better. Javier is a dangerous[but sexy as hell] man and while Ellie may still have something lingering in her heart, and vagina[let's be real], she knows he's not good.

I was so glad that SS was written in dual POV. A lot of my favorite moments were with Camden and Gus. The ending was one of the best “holy shit” moments for me. Yes, there is somewhat of a cliffhanger but Ellie's story isn't one that can be told within two hundred something pages, and quite frankly I kind of needed a break from the mind fuckery that happened.

This isn't a pretty series all wrapped in pink ribbon, this is a crazy intense story that will probably break me before it's over. Shooting Scars is not an easy read, but it's definitely worth the pain.




AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY!


This one is going to be easy, no strings attached. Just leave a comment below with your email address and I will pick FIVE WINNERS to get an ebook copy of Shooting Scars on 9/1!

Giveaway closes 9/1 at 5PM EST. Any comments after that time will not be included. Winners will be chosen at random.