Review: A Love Triangle that Gives a Whole New Meaning to the Fight Between Good and Evil!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2014
The powerful, emotionally charged conclusion to the Artists Trilogy, Bold Tricks continues Ellie Watt's quest to resolve her past and possibly find love along the way. With a constant battle between good and evil and the predominant gray in between, the Artists Trilogy is an amazingly creative story that will keep you constantly questioning just how far you would go for love, power and revenge. Before you dive into this one though, I highly recommend that you first read the novella prequel, On Every Street, book 1, Sins and Needles, and book 2, Shooting Scars, as each contains essential background material to a full understanding of this character driven, action-filled, suspense romance.Bold Tricks starts where Shooting Scars leaves off. Javier Bernal, an evil drug lord and Ellie's first love, has just rescued Ellie and Camden Mcqueen, the only other man that Ellie has ever loved, from near certain death at the hands of his nemesis, Travis Raines, the leader of a rival cartel. Ellie previously had, with Javier's help and persuasion, decided to finally seek her revenge on Travis, the man who scarred her both physically and emotionally, when as a child she was caught in his house trying to perpetuate a scam at the behest of her gypsy parents. Unfortunately, her failed attempt only succeeded in her awareness that Travis is holding both her mother and Gus, a "family friend", captive.This brings the Ellie, Javier and Camden love triangle to a head as they decide to all join forces to rescue Gus and Ellie's mother. Javier convinces Ellie and Camden that he is willing to help them provided they help him shepherd Violetta, Javier's sister, to a safe place out of the reach of Travis' long grasp. Skeptical of Javier's true intentions, Ellie and Camden tacitly determine to accept Javier's help as they know he's their best chance of being able to again infiltrate Travis' grounds.Meanwhile, Camden tries to remain emotionally stoic and just resign himself to ensuring that Ellie survives this mission, but along the way his undeniable feelings keep peeking through little by little. Observant of this behavior and still convinced that Ellie could still be his dark queen, Javier too attempts to persuade Ellie that he is the right man for her. Who will win Ellie's heart in this fight between good and evil and light and dark? And what is Javier's true mission? Can love ever be enough for him or are power or revenge his true motivators? Moreover, if Camden ends up triumphant in the quest for Ellie's heart, will he ever be his "good" self again, or have the dark deeds that he has had to commit in his adventure to save Ellie forever changed him such that the man Ellie loved no longer exists? So many questions here and your feelings as to how it will all end will keep changing as you undoubtedly devour Bold Tricks.I can't recommend the Artists Trilogy enough. Karina Halle has an exceptional talent with her way with words. Nearly every paragraph is imbued with symbolic meaning and her attention to detail and plot development are above reproach. She knows just how to tow the line of acceptable mores and uses her gift to both amaze and astound her readers. Without a doubt, I'd say this is one of the best reads I have read all year!