Review: Spectacular. Absolute Must Read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 20, 2013
I will admit that I get nervous when I open the next book in a series. There is always that thought of What if? What if it's not as good? What if I don't like where the author takes me? What if I don't feel the connection? What if I just plain hate it? Even though I'm a fan of Karina Halle and everything she puts out there, I still go through my "what if" scenario when I'm about to dive into one of her books. I almost think that I am even more nervous opening her stories because she manages to step up her game each and every time. So the expectation is just at a much higher level. Is it fair to have her upon that pedestal, to expect more from her then I do another author? It's probably not fair, but let me just tell you, SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT.Shooting Scars picks up exactly where Sin's leaves off. Ellie and Camden are separated by a deal Ellie has made with the devil. She has agreed to sacrifice her freedom so that Camden might get his second chance at happiness. We don't know why Javier has essentially kidnapped Ellie, and while I will admit I was torn over my feelings for him in On Every Street (another credit to Karina for making me question my loyalties and my personal morals), the look we get of Javier here is certainly not the same man that stood before us six years ago.Javier has hardened even further and the lengths he is willing to go to for revenge take this story to some dark, gritty places. This man is so consumed with righting the wrongs; he has lost sight of everything it has cost him in the process.I admit that I sympathize with Ellie throughout most of the story. She's a girl that has never been able to depend on anyone. She is far from perfect. Her insecurities plague her, and continue to be used against her. There are times throughout our journey that I want to just scream at her (okay, I might have actually done this) and then I remember she has nobody to turn to, has never been able to rely on anyone. The one time she let her guard down her heart ended up shattered.There are hints here of her innocence and longing to become a new, better person, glimpses that give the reader hope that she really is trying to escape her past. That she might actually be able to change her ways and step into the proverbial light so to speak.Camden, my dear sweet, hot, sexy, tattooed, no-holds-barred Camden. His devotion to Ellie is so intense that at times I question if he is losing his identity in the process of searching for her. He never wavers, always believes, and sacrifices everything to find Ellie. The depth of his love for her makes him even sexier to me this go-around.The story is told in an alternating POV, and I LOVED IT. Karina is one of the few authors I know that can give a male POV and have it really flow. It feels authentic and original. You read it and totally forget that a woman is writing it. IT'S THAT GOOD. Seeing the emotional turmoil Camden goes through and the sacrifices he is willing to make for Ellie play out makes you feel as if you are part of the story. Karina has the unique ability to take you there with her characters. You feel every bit of turmoil and angst that they do. They literally come to life. It's one of the many joys of reading Ms. Halle's work.This story was raw, powerful, intense, and riveting. It has so many twists and turns that you almost feel as if you've been on a roller coaster. The chemistry between Javier and Ellie and Camden and Ellie is off-the-charts. As soon as I picked this up, I was unable to put it down. Once again, Karina has blown me away, and I will be counting down the days until Bold Tricks is out.P.S. I'm still Team Camden... was there ever a doubt?P.S.S.  ❤I also have a ton of love for Gus.❤