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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
4 stars!
This was an amazing ending for a great story. I think it was perfect the way everything happened in this third book, I enjoyed it better than the second.
Like in the previews books, this one was full of action and mystery, and even though some parts were predictable you never knew what could happen. There were sexy moments too, very very hot, and Camden stole my heart once again.
I'm so glad I read this trilogy, and I recommend it if you are looking for something different, intense and intriguing.
This was an amazing ending for a great story. I think it was perfect the way everything happened in this third book, I enjoyed it better than the second.
Like in the previews books, this one was full of action and mystery, and even though some parts were predictable you never knew what could happen. There were sexy moments too, very very hot, and Camden stole my heart once again.
I'm so glad I read this trilogy, and I recommend it if you are looking for something different, intense and intriguing.
Now that's how you wrap-up a trilogy! ^.^ "Bold Tricks" by the amazing [a:Karina Halle|4785031|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1333997846p2/4785031.jpg] not only met but exceeded my expectations. Over the four installments (three full-length books and one novella), "The Artists Trilogy (TAT)" was like a tattoo--I was unsure about it, not knowing if lead character Ellie Watt would grow on me and if the story was going to suck me in, but after moments of second-guessing myself, I couldn't get enough of Ellie and Camden McQueen...especially Camden...or their story, and now, they've left their indelible mark on me and, I'm sure, countless other readers. ^.^
This third book in the series, fourth overall, picks up immediately after the explosive events of book two, "Shooting Scars". Ellie, Cam, and perennial bad boy Javier Bernal find themselves unlikely allies but with somewhat different goals. Ellie and Cam want to get Gus back and rescue Ellie's mom, Amelia, from Travis. Javier wants Travis dead, allowing him to take over the Zetas, the cartel that Travis heads. Things are still awkward between Ellie and Cam and she desperately wants to prove to him that her heart belongs to him and him alone. Javier is willing to do anything and use anyone to get what he wants.
Whatever little affection I had for Javier after "Shooting Scars" totally went kaput in "Bold Tricks". I found myself increasingly disliking him as the story progressed. Yes, maybe there was a teeny tiny, itsy bitsy part of him that actually cared about Ellie and Violetta (his youngest sister who readers get to meet in this book) but that doesn't change the fact that the man is ruthless and couldn't care less who he has to get through to achieve his goals.
Everything that needed to be resolved was aptly handled with this final installment. The epilogue was the cherry on top of this action-packed and original trilogy and had me grinning like a loon. ^.^
"Bold Tricks" gets five out of five stars and would highly recommend the entire series to anyone wanting something out of the box in the contemporary romance genre. ^.^
This third book in the series, fourth overall, picks up immediately after the explosive events of book two, "Shooting Scars". Ellie, Cam, and perennial bad boy Javier Bernal find themselves unlikely allies but with somewhat different goals. Ellie and Cam want to get Gus back and rescue Ellie's mom, Amelia, from Travis. Javier wants Travis dead, allowing him to take over the Zetas, the cartel that Travis heads. Things are still awkward between Ellie and Cam and she desperately wants to prove to him that her heart belongs to him and him alone. Javier is willing to do anything and use anyone to get what he wants.
Whatever little affection I had for Javier after "Shooting Scars" totally went kaput in "Bold Tricks". I found myself increasingly disliking him as the story progressed. Yes, maybe there was a teeny tiny, itsy bitsy part of him that actually cared about Ellie and Violetta (his youngest sister who readers get to meet in this book) but that doesn't change the fact that the man is ruthless and couldn't care less who he has to get through to achieve his goals.
Everything that needed to be resolved was aptly handled with this final installment. The epilogue was the cherry on top of this action-packed and original trilogy and had me grinning like a loon. ^.^
"Bold Tricks" gets five out of five stars and would highly recommend the entire series to anyone wanting something out of the box in the contemporary romance genre. ^.^
***NO SPOILERS***
The Artists Trilogy has been one of my favourite series of all time. Really. It has broken all my rules about contemporary romances, love triangles, "bad boys"... everything. I have loved Ellie, Camden and Javier; they have made me sad, frustrated and angry at times, but damn, have I loved them. As soon as this third and final installment was made available to me, I snatched it up with an eagerness that will only be understood by those people who have truly fallen in love with a series and waited desperately for the next book. And I want to give this book five stars. Or four at least. I want to rate it higher to express my love for the whole series, for the characters and for this author who's given me such a crazy story to love. But I'd be lying. Because [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667], though not enough to kill my love for the trilogy as a whole, was a real disappointment for me.
The primary strength of this series has always been, in my opinion, its ability to break my own rules. I have always been highly critical of the romance genre and love triangles; so, for this series to come along and give me both of those at once but make me love them, well, that's really quite an achievement. And one of the main reasons that this love triangle works so successfully is because of the way the author keeps the two men on equal footing. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, they both fulfill an important role in Ellie's life so that the reader is genuinely unsure which one she will be able to live without. I finished the second book wondering how it would be possible for [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667] to take me from where I was (having no clue who Ellie would pick) to cementing my love for one of the men over the other (or at least convincing me of Ellie's cemented love). The answer: it didn't.
Halle has never had any problem putting her characters through several levels of hell. I knew that. I loved that. I expected to be taken to hell in this book and possibly have my heart ripped out along the way. But - and perhaps this is the most disappointing thing of all about this final installment - things were too easy. Ellie's decision was too easy for her. She's spent such a long time being tortured by her conflicted feelings for Camden and Javier that it felt like something of a cop-out to turn it around so quickly, so easily and so early on in the book. The characterisation of the man she didn't pick began to unravel too quickly; everything he did felt like an excuse as to why Ellie shouldn't pick him and at odds with the multifaceted character we've come to know and love. It would have been more realistic and far more satisfying to have Ellie choose between the two men who were on equal footing (even if our hearts were broken by it), than for her to face a choice suddenly made easy and obvious by the actions of one of the men.
Then we come to the issue of the choice she makes. I was willing to accept either and prepared myself to deal with whichever man Ellie ended up with. But I did not expect this book to take such a cheesy turn. "Cheesy" is a word I never thought could be applied to the Artists Trilogy. So imagine my surprise when Ellie's decision was quickly followed by the dialogue dissolving into the usual romance-y sweet nothings and cringy metaphors. While this book wasn't a complete disappointment, the romantic side of it was. And, for once, this is a series where the romantic aspect has been my favourite part, so it was doubly disappointing.
Still, there are a lot of positive things to say about [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667]. The writing has the author's addictive signature all over it, the characters are witty and hilarious as usual, and the action is at a series high. The drug cartel subplot plays an even bigger part in this book and it makes for a number of heart-stopping scenes of tension. The demons Ellie has been battling for most of her life finally surface for one last fateful showdown and a number of unexpected truths are revealed. I can't say that I wasn't wildly entertained by this conclusion and I know that I'll be looking out for everything Ms Halle writes in the future.
And I can't help but feel guilty about my rating and reaction to this book.
The Artists Trilogy has been one of my favourite series of all time. Really. It has broken all my rules about contemporary romances, love triangles, "bad boys"... everything. I have loved Ellie, Camden and Javier; they have made me sad, frustrated and angry at times, but damn, have I loved them. As soon as this third and final installment was made available to me, I snatched it up with an eagerness that will only be understood by those people who have truly fallen in love with a series and waited desperately for the next book. And I want to give this book five stars. Or four at least. I want to rate it higher to express my love for the whole series, for the characters and for this author who's given me such a crazy story to love. But I'd be lying. Because [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667], though not enough to kill my love for the trilogy as a whole, was a real disappointment for me.
The primary strength of this series has always been, in my opinion, its ability to break my own rules. I have always been highly critical of the romance genre and love triangles; so, for this series to come along and give me both of those at once but make me love them, well, that's really quite an achievement. And one of the main reasons that this love triangle works so successfully is because of the way the author keeps the two men on equal footing. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, they both fulfill an important role in Ellie's life so that the reader is genuinely unsure which one she will be able to live without. I finished the second book wondering how it would be possible for [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667] to take me from where I was (having no clue who Ellie would pick) to cementing my love for one of the men over the other (or at least convincing me of Ellie's cemented love). The answer: it didn't.
Halle has never had any problem putting her characters through several levels of hell. I knew that. I loved that. I expected to be taken to hell in this book and possibly have my heart ripped out along the way. But - and perhaps this is the most disappointing thing of all about this final installment - things were too easy. Ellie's decision was too easy for her. She's spent such a long time being tortured by her conflicted feelings for Camden and Javier that it felt like something of a cop-out to turn it around so quickly, so easily and so early on in the book. The characterisation of the man she didn't pick began to unravel too quickly; everything he did felt like an excuse as to why Ellie shouldn't pick him and at odds with the multifaceted character we've come to know and love. It would have been more realistic and far more satisfying to have Ellie choose between the two men who were on equal footing (even if our hearts were broken by it), than for her to face a choice suddenly made easy and obvious by the actions of one of the men.
Then we come to the issue of the choice she makes. I was willing to accept either and prepared myself to deal with whichever man Ellie ended up with. But I did not expect this book to take such a cheesy turn. "Cheesy" is a word I never thought could be applied to the Artists Trilogy. So imagine my surprise when Ellie's decision was quickly followed by the dialogue dissolving into the usual romance-y sweet nothings and cringy metaphors. While this book wasn't a complete disappointment, the romantic side of it was. And, for once, this is a series where the romantic aspect has been my favourite part, so it was doubly disappointing.
Still, there are a lot of positive things to say about [b:Bold Tricks|17284874|Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)|Karina Halle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092848s/17284874.jpg|23903667]. The writing has the author's addictive signature all over it, the characters are witty and hilarious as usual, and the action is at a series high. The drug cartel subplot plays an even bigger part in this book and it makes for a number of heart-stopping scenes of tension. The demons Ellie has been battling for most of her life finally surface for one last fateful showdown and a number of unexpected truths are revealed. I can't say that I wasn't wildly entertained by this conclusion and I know that I'll be looking out for everything Ms Halle writes in the future.
And I can't help but feel guilty about my rating and reaction to this book.
4 - You are my Moon stars!
So, Ellie was kinda bad ass in this final installment. The writing was brilliant, and at times a cheese-fest but overall Karina Halle is awesome. Even when she was trying to pin us against Javier. It didn't work! Even when Violetta was explaining his immoral and sad childhood. I still held hope that Javier is good at heart. It's a tough world, especially when you are part of a drug cartel.
The entire book had you on your toes. It was a constant action packed, angst-filled horror show. Every single turn had something happening that was against the characters, that tested their willpower. Death, was at every turn.
In the end, we all have our happily ever after (depending on what team you rooting for) and the Epilogue was sweet.
So, Ellie was kinda bad ass in this final installment. The writing was brilliant, and at times a cheese-fest but overall Karina Halle is awesome. Even when she was trying to pin us against Javier. It didn't work! Even when Violetta was explaining his immoral and sad childhood. I still held hope that Javier is good at heart. It's a tough world, especially when you are part of a drug cartel.
The entire book had you on your toes. It was a constant action packed, angst-filled horror show. Every single turn had something happening that was against the characters, that tested their willpower. Death, was at every turn.
In the end, we all have our happily ever after (depending on what team you rooting for) and the Epilogue was sweet.
The final book in this trilogy was even more amazing that I imagined! It was nonstop action from the first page until the last. There were car chases, shoot outs, helicopter chases, and bombs. Then, just when things appear to have quieted down, Karina pulled out the biggest twist yet. My heart was in my throat until the last pages. Ellie finally became the person that she wanted. Camden continued to be the smoking hero. I love that man! Javier was well....Javier. Anyone that believes he was not true to character, paid little attention to him throughout the other books.
I am really sad that this series has ended. It has truly been of my favorites, ever. I holding out hope that she will give us more Derek!
"I love you. And I'll have you. Keep you. Own you. You belong to me, only me, from now on."
"You own my heart. Please let me have yours."
I am really sad that this series has ended. It has truly been of my favorites, ever. I holding out hope that she will give us more Derek!
"I love you. And I'll have you. Keep you. Own you. You belong to me, only me, from now on."
"You own my heart. Please let me have yours."
I hate to start a review saying that I'm a little disappointed. It's a little strong a sentiment anyway. I'm not really disappointed because I wasn't surprised by anything that happened in this book. If anything it actually met my expectations. Maybe that was why it felt just a little bit dull.
That just about sums up both Javier and Camden perfectly. Probably the best line in the whole book, besides my last quote of Javier's.
If you haven't read the first two books, read no further.
In this final installment Javier, Ellie and Camden are working together in an effort to save Gus. Tensions run high between Javier and Camden, and Ellie is wrecked inside over where her relationship with Camden is at.
What can I say about this one to sum up the feelings... the relationships were there between the characters, but maybe it was just too much? I understand how much love is between them, but maybe it was the words used. Maybe it was that the thoughts were of how much they loved each other, and then the sex was always so raunchy. It was contradictory. I see nothing wrong with raunchy sex, but when you're wrapped up in need and a longing love it's weird for me as the reader to hear the heroine look at the love of her life and think "how could I not want that big perfect cock". I just wrinkled my nose. It wasn't what I imagine someone would think about their true love in that moment. Sometimes sure, but not in THOSE moments.
Also, the ending seemed to just drag on and on and on. Really, in Wendy's perfect world the book would have ended when. Everything after that could have given us a 4th book, one that flushed it out a little more. I felt like it was another case where an author was dead set on the idea of a trilogy and smashed too much into the final novel to accomplish it.
I think, for me, it fell apart a bit in Bold Tricks.
I still love Karina Halle though, I'm still a fan, I still will read everything else she writes, and I'm still crazy about Camden. Even with all those complaints I give it 3.5 stars, I just think this one could have used slightly better pacing
"The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength."
That just about sums up both Javier and Camden perfectly. Probably the best line in the whole book, besides my last quote of Javier's.
If you haven't read the first two books, read no further.
In this final installment Javier, Ellie and Camden are working together in an effort to save Gus. Tensions run high between Javier and Camden, and Ellie is wrecked inside over where her relationship with Camden is at.
What can I say about this one to sum up the feelings... the relationships were there between the characters, but maybe it was just too much? I understand how much love is between them, but maybe it was the words used. Maybe it was that the thoughts were of how much they loved each other, and then the sex was always so raunchy. It was contradictory. I see nothing wrong with raunchy sex, but when you're wrapped up in need and a longing love it's weird for me as the reader to hear the heroine look at the love of her life and think "how could I not want that big perfect cock". I just wrinkled my nose. It wasn't what I imagine someone would think about their true love in that moment. Sometimes sure, but not in THOSE moments.
Also, the ending seemed to just drag on and on and on. Really, in Wendy's perfect world the book would have ended when
Spoiler
she saved Camden from Travis, sacrificing her mother, and killing TravisI think, for me, it fell apart a bit in Bold Tricks.
I still love Karina Halle though, I'm still a fan, I still will read everything else she writes, and I'm still crazy about Camden. Even with all those complaints I give it 3.5 stars, I just think this one could have used slightly better pacing
Before reading :
I WANT IT NOW!
Andddd.....
After reading :
Can't believe it's over!
I WANT IT NOW!
Andddd.....
After reading :
Can't believe it's over!
I like the way this series makes my adrenaline pick up. The chase, the crazy insane paths these characters take. It's really completely nuts. There is no way to just quit in the middle of a chapter and go to sleep. The whole book is a cliffhanger.
The mess that is Javier, Camden and Ellie is so tangled, twisted and perverse it makes it hard to pick a clear best choice. I thought Ellie was TSTL. Javier was just the worst of the bad. Camden, well, he was too good to be in with these two. I never got a solidified version of any of them. There views, direction and goals are so blurred. The mystery is divine. The tension is hot, sexy, unpredictable and destructive.
I don't like these people and still I my interest could't be denied. I fell into the drama and wanted more. I wanted more while I seethed at them. I drop books usually when I feel this way. WTH is going on ? The story and action scenes were outrageous. Yes, the sex was steamy but that's not what drove me. I had so many emotional outbursts following them along I might be an adrenaline junkie. I don't know why I liked it, needed to read it.
It ended well, the way I wanted at least so I'm happy.
The mess that is Javier, Camden and Ellie is so tangled, twisted and perverse it makes it hard to pick a clear best choice. I thought Ellie was TSTL. Javier was just the worst of the bad. Camden, well, he was too good to be in with these two. I never got a solidified version of any of them. There views, direction and goals are so blurred. The mystery is divine. The tension is hot, sexy, unpredictable and destructive.
I don't like these people and still I my interest could't be denied. I fell into the drama and wanted more. I wanted more while I seethed at them. I drop books usually when I feel this way. WTH is going on ? The story and action scenes were outrageous. Yes, the sex was steamy but that's not what drove me. I had so many emotional outbursts following them along I might be an adrenaline junkie. I don't know why I liked it, needed to read it.
It ended well, the way I wanted at least so I'm happy.
This review can also be found at: http://thepaperbackaddict.blogspot.com/
***Spoilers***
I hate that there are only three books in this series.. Ellie's parents were con-artists, and taught her at a very young age how to get what she wanted by taking advantage of others. At eleven, she experienced first hand the tragedy of her parents greed, when she was caught trying to rob a cartel boss. He poured acid down her leg, scarring her for life, and robbing any chance that she could walk away and live a normal life. From that point on, she was drowning in her need for revenge, allowing it to shape all of her decisions, and her life.
Camden McQueen loved Ellie Watt from the first moment he met her as young teenagers. They were both outcasts, who came from terrible families, and the only friend each other had. Her need to fit in, to be normal, allowed her to make a terrible decision, hurting Camden, and losing the only person who ever loved her for her.
When they run into one another several years later, their only thoughts are their schemes to get what they want. Ellie wants money, and Camden has plenty. Camden wants a new life, and Ellie has the contacts to make that happen. What starts out as a strained truce, turns into love like neither has ever known.
Too bad Javier, Ellie's psycho ex-boyfriend is not content to sit back, and allow her to live happily ever after. In the end, everyone gets what they deserved, and I couldn't be happier with how it all played out!!
***Spoilers***
I hate that there are only three books in this series.. Ellie's parents were con-artists, and taught her at a very young age how to get what she wanted by taking advantage of others. At eleven, she experienced first hand the tragedy of her parents greed, when she was caught trying to rob a cartel boss. He poured acid down her leg, scarring her for life, and robbing any chance that she could walk away and live a normal life. From that point on, she was drowning in her need for revenge, allowing it to shape all of her decisions, and her life.
Camden McQueen loved Ellie Watt from the first moment he met her as young teenagers. They were both outcasts, who came from terrible families, and the only friend each other had. Her need to fit in, to be normal, allowed her to make a terrible decision, hurting Camden, and losing the only person who ever loved her for her.
When they run into one another several years later, their only thoughts are their schemes to get what they want. Ellie wants money, and Camden has plenty. Camden wants a new life, and Ellie has the contacts to make that happen. What starts out as a strained truce, turns into love like neither has ever known.
Too bad Javier, Ellie's psycho ex-boyfriend is not content to sit back, and allow her to live happily ever after. In the end, everyone gets what they deserved, and I couldn't be happier with how it all played out!!
Really liked the first book and the novella in this series, but started to get annoyed with the main characters somewhere in the second book. By the third book, I really didn't even care what happened anymore and just wanted the series to be over. The third book in this series just didn't do it for me. There were a lot of cheesey one-liners that were supposed to be serious but left me laughing out loud because they were so stupid. Also, if I had to read one more unnecessary sex scene, written for no apparent reason other than to draw in readers that want to read such ridiculousness, I was going to pull my hair out. Kind of disappointed with this book, since I typically like this author.