[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 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.

( )

Holy, holy, holy, HOLY SHIT! Even knowing the end was a big cliffhanger, I was not prepared for that! We've now seen the evil side of Camden and the (probably fake) sweet side of Javier. What in the hell is Ellie going to do? About choosing, about her parents, and what about poor Gus???

I need the final book! Like, NOW! Dammit, Karina!!! You are killing us! ( )

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 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.... ( )

I am obsessed with every single one of these screwed-up characters. ( )

Two things...First, Never use Coffee Mate...ever!! Second, my loyalty towards Javier will not change even if that means laying in the dirt bleeding out next to him! Until the end! Though I hope it won't come to that. This was probably my least favorite book of the series. I can see what Karina was trying to do but it won't work!! #Team Javier! ( )