Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy)

Ellie is a grifter, a conartist, a hustler, a swindler, a scammer, a cheater, a crook, a thief. And she has gotten herself in over her head. She is on the run from Javier, a drug lord and her ex. She runs into her past. Cameden. Someone who she treated horribly when she was younger. But he just might be able to help her now.

This is an amazing and brilliantly written story. The characters are imperfectly perfect. Nobody is innocent but you find yourself rooting for them anyway. So many lies. So much distrust. You never know which way this story is going to turn.

I am convinced that Karina can do no wrong. I was originally a fan of her Experiment in Terror series but can now add the Artist Trilogy to that list.

What a super sexy, high energy book that will take you on a trip with a con artist, a tattoo artist, drug lords, and lots of suspense and surprises.The book is about both Elle & Camden in the past and the present. They are both so alike and find themselves in situations where they will need one another.
Elle is an amazing character, she is strong and yet so vulnerable, deeply affected by the life she has lived growing up in a con artist family. Camden is a super cool hot and sexy tattoo artist guy that you can't help but be attracted to.
This story is simply about needing to be free of your past so that you can find your true self.

Even knowing that a book is the first (or second?) in a trilogy, I am always disappointed when it turns out to be an installment. That's why I only gave it 4 stars. Unless you're prepared to get the next one or two (apparently there's a prequel novella so I'm not sure if that counts as book 2) you won't know what happens to these great characters and it's frustrating because the story is extremely compelling and well written and passionate. I read all night and got to the last page and was "That's it..it's over?" Now I have to wait a month to find out what happens, if I remember to look for it. This book is sad and sensual..no comic relief. The characters are flawed and not always likeable but for some reason quite loveable.

This is a must read. Karina Halle has this awesome ability to make bad characters loveable and I fell in love with Ellie and Camden. Even when things went haywire, I still loved them. There are a few quotes that made me stop and take a breath (literally)

"You're not bad, Ellie. The world is bad and you're just trying to survive in it."

and

"Beautiful, sad, wounded, and lost," he continued. "A freak, a work of art, a liar, and a lover."

I swear to god I'm going to be one of the first people to buy Book #2 when it comes out in May, I need more Ellie, Camden, and even Javier. I need to know what is going to become of these three and the consequences of the sacrifice made at the end.

I absolutely love this book! Purchased it recent after the original publish date, only because I absolutely love the authors paranormal series, Experiment in Terror, and as usual, she never disappoints me!
I very much enjoy the suspense and thrill throughout the entire story, and Karina's characters are always very 3 dimensional... meaning they have strong qualities and are often very flawed, but in a perfect sort of way. I would (and have) recommended this book, this entire trilogy, to others! And after the unbearable cliffhanger, I have been impatiently awaiting the next of the series, which is finally due out in just a few short days!
Please, check this book out, its really worth it! And you will find yourself seeking out other awesome titles by Karina Halle.

This is a great book!! So different from the other books that I have been reading within this genre. Very few books surprise me anymore with where the storyline goes but this one had me surprised a few times. Love both of the main characters and I am always so anxious to read more and truly hate putting it down. Super cliffhanger ending!! So glad I have the prequel and the second book waiting for me and not too much longer for the third book in this series to come out. Would definitely recommend to anyone who needs a break from the normal happenings in contemporary romance books.

Sins and Needles was fantastic and unpredictable. Every character was loveable and made me feel compassion or empathy for them even though they all had their dark side or their inner demons. They each were doing things that made me want to scream "Noooo!" to them because I knew they were following the demands of those inner demons; meanwhile striving to be better people. Any time I can connect to the characters in such a way, I know it is a good book.

This book not only contains romance, but also a little suspense and action is thrown in there that just gives the reader a wild ride. It was just phenomenal and I am on pins and needles waiting for the next book to be released.

I started this book not knowing what was going to happen. I liked hoe Camden was cute but not perfect and I loved the EMO past in high school. Ellie irritated me a lot and there were parts of the book that I yelled out loud at her to get her head out of her @ss. She made some poor decisions, and it was a good enough book that they bothered me! I wanted her to change.

The end was a fast-paced adventure that had a bit of everything. I didn't expect this to be a BOOK ONE, so that was disappointing, but I will for sure be reading book two to see how they get out of the mess.

I can, beyond any shadow of doubt, say that Karina Halle has become my favorite author. From EIT to The Devil's Metal, I am engrossed book after book... Each one a mental thrill ride all of its own. Sins & Needles, though, is quite possibly the best yet. I could not put it down, which is saying a lot when you have life going on around you. I love how the author isn't afraid to let us "get to know" these super raw, gritty, off-beat characters. There's just perfection in the beautifully tragic story of Sins & Needles.

What a unique and exciting read!

Yes, it's another book with scars and emotional baggage, but there was something different about this one.

The switch between then and now was well balanced and gives the reader a good sense of who the characters really are.

I can usually see the twists coming a mile off but the twist in Sins and Needles was a nice little surprise and took the book to a whole other level.

So why isn't it a 5 star? The ending disappointed me and I felt like I wanted something more!

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is an amazing series!!!!!!!! If you buy the first you will be hooked and wont ever want it to end. The characters are extremely realistic and the story is not your typical romance. There are a lot of ups and downs and I hated to see that I was done with the book. I had to have more. Make sure to not only get this series but also the new book Dirty Angels because it is just as amazing!!!! Karina Halle knocks it out of the park with her amazing stories and my only disappointment is that the series is finished. Do yourself a favor and buy these books. You will be extremely happy that you did. I give it an A++++++

Wow, I thought this was going to be another cheap knockoff trying to re-create 50 shades of Grey. The title is misleading but in an oh so good way. This was not smut, this was a great book about finding oneself. It had mystery, love, passion, heartbreak, and yes, sex. But the writter didn't use the sex scenes to make it a book, the book was wonderful and the sex was (although steamy) just a part of the book, helping the reader to feel the emtions going on with the main story. I loved this book. I loved, loved, loved Cameron. This is a must read.

What an explosive and fast paced book!! I had trouble putting it down and was glad to be able to go right to "Shooting Scars" without delay! (October 15 is the release date for the third book...can't wait!!!). I really enjoyed Karina Halle's writing and development with this story. It drew me in and wouldn't let go - definitely a book of extremes for both the emotions and actions of her main characters. I also listened to "On Every Street" by Dire Straits for the first time and must say it's a catchy tune!

I just finished reading this book for the second time. I wanted to make sure I did not miss one single thing. It was just as good the second time as the first. I love the way the history of the two characters is given in this book, it makes reading it that much more exciting. You know where the characters have been and learn where they are going. As usual Karina Halle does an awesome job. This book kept me reading and WOW some of the turn of events was quite surprising. A great romance with a dark and dangerous path to travel. I LOVED IT!!!!

This was a great read! It has suspense, drama, love......

Ellie grew up following her parents footsteps, being a con-artist. It isn't necessarily what she wants to do but it's what she knows.

Camden went to school with Ellis and knows all about her. Both their lives cross paths again. They end up needing each other in many ways.

Are they able to help each other get out of troubled pasts? Are they able to move on with a better future?

Can't wait for book 2!

I really loved this book. I normally read the usual steamy, typical romances and this was very different. It had romance and the twists & turns I didn't see coming. What a ride! I'm not into the gangster con type stories but can't wait to read the next one.

I read On Every Street first and it's not crucial that you read it before Sins & Needles. I loved this book too and glad I read it.

Please hurry up and release the next one!!! I am waiting on so many sequels...

This story is so much more than the average story to make you feel good. It is full of action and will keep you guessing. If you are looking for a light, fluffy read then you should wait and read this one later. If you are looking for a book that will pull at all of of your emotions and take you on a wild ride then you will love this one. This book has a lot of real life situations in it. It also gives you a look into lifestyles that you don't usually read about.

This was SHOUT-IT-FROM-THE-ROOFTOPS good. GRAB-YOU-BY-THE-SEAT-OF-YOUR-PANTS good. I'm still reeling from the range of emotions felt within the last 5 chapters of the book, and I think that I lost all rational, logical, and coherent thinking back on page 1 or 2 somewhere. You know when something is SO GOOD that its almost TOO GOOD? It's beyond my realm of description, but I can promise you that this is a MUST READ. I know that it's only January, but I'm quite certain this is going to rank high in my top reads of 2013. (That is, until the next book comes out) The characters were believable, lovable, enviable, beautifully broken, wonderfully written, and absolutely took my breath away. If you're looking for sunshine and daisies, this aint the book for you. This is raw, gritty, captivatingly unstable, devastating, daring, and addictive. I'm talking, unhappily-ever-afters, beautiful disasters, and the mother of all MINDSCREWS. Buckle up, cause you're about to step onto a merry-go-round of effed-upness with this book, but I can guarantee, its a ride you'll never wanna get off of! SO GOOD.

This books reads like a fast paced movie with many twists and turns.
The suspense is genuine and clever, making readers wanting to move to the next chapters ever so quickly towards the end.
The characters and roles are so well depicted in the story, Karina brings them to life like.
My wife & I enjoyed this book and hope some day, we'll get to watch the movie.

Meanwhile, we look forward in keeping the suspense going with: On Every Street

First I want to say I absolutely love this Author! I have not read a book of hers yet I didn't love. I will say after reading EIT I was nervous about reading her other works... Well They rocked as well! It was worth every min! As for those complaing about the cliffhanger ending.. Really????? It's book one of a trilogy... Of course there is going to be a cliffhanger. Yep this was a doozy but still come one! A trilogy people! I guess I love anticipation of waiting for the next one more than a few of you do.... It's the best! Karina rights awesome books so READ THEM!!! ALL OF THEM!.. NOW! what are you waiting for for cripes sakes? Go.. order the books!

Yes, just like the many tattoos. Their story grabbed me and took me on a thrill ride. The author made me feel their pain as well as rediscovering each other on every page. I didn't care for the then and now of the story at first but it really had to be told that way. Lifting away the layers to discover what events made them who they are today.
I am looking forward to what the author brings us next.

4.5 STARS

"Sometimes when people pigeonhole you, you end up being the pigeon."

Well I certainly can't think of this book as that pigeon, that's for sure.

I've finally caved in because all the cool kids in my feed have read this and have urged me to eff the cliffhanger ending and just jump in, the water is fine.

So expectations were high and with the frustrating string of reads I've been having, the disappointment potential was even higher. But boy did this one deliver. Though, I must say, any book with a road trip set in the desert makes me all go a-flutter. I think its all the sexy sand and sweating that does me in, go figure.

I think this is the book a lot of other "edgy" writers strive (and more often than not, fail) to be. There's a whole lot of material out there telling the story of damaged characters by saying they're damaged then left the reader to just swallow and choke on that with the usual saccharine trope. But this one didn't shy away from the mechanics of damaging these characters. Which makes that lead in your gut as you read on a little bit heavier.

The character sketches of both Camden and Ellie were so layered and textured that it's hard to predict how the plot will twist a certain way. It's always a thrill to read a new author (for me), when everything is still unpredictable. When you don't know yet if she's building up these wonderful characters only to slay your vested emotions to shreds and how she's gonna do it. And what would be the soundtrack of your tears then.

I loved Camden's vulnerability as a character. It's hard to encapsulate all his nuances and much easier to simplify him as the weird kid from high school who grew up smoking hot and a little southwest of adorkable. There was this particular scene in Camden's apartment, when his dad comes by that made me realize just how different, how apart this book was from the rest. Ellie's damage is so much greater, I feel, than Camden's that its quite a wonder how one could have hope for someone like her. I don't even know if she has some default setting that she can come back to should she be able to get away from it all.

"She fell to the hopes that maybe she could love this strange beast, even though she was more of a monster than he was. She believed that maybe the affection of the weirdest boy in school - her friend - was better than no affection at all."

"You've never seen my scars." My voice was barely audible, even in my own head.
"No, I haven't. But I've seen what they've made you."

I'm gonna stop my gushing because Karina Halle sounds like a really cool chick and I don't want to fangirl myself to embarrassment. I don't usually cast book characters but I'm gonna need to put it out there how much Gael Garcia Bernal fired up my Javier fantasies.

"He smelled like a million misleading memories."

Am I sick for wanting to hear Javier's POV in the next book? Oh and yeah, the cliffhanger? What cliffhanger?

For those of us addicted and drowning in adult romance or even erotic stories, this book is a breath of fresh air! I could not put it down. What I especially loved was how she crafted the 2 main characters--while not entirely sympathetic maybe, I was completely invested in them right away. I can't wait to read the rest of the story. I don't want to say anything else because it's better being surprised by how it all unfolds.

Loved many aspects of the book ... an intricate story, great dialogue, engaging characters, layers of observations and backstory. It ends in a cliffhanger that didn't leave me feeling hung out. I am not a fan of most cliffhangers (they often feel like an incomplete story), but the characters and plot evolved so much in this book that I felt it is a great standalone read. That said, I can't wait to red book 2!

I mainly purchased this since Im an avid reader and finish a book a day in the romance/mystery genres. This is realatively new and had good reviews. Now, I know why! There are alot of posts here rehashing the plot, I won't go that deep. Just adding my two cents to run and buy the book. It was really really good. There are maybe 4 books out the hundreds I have red that deservce 5 stars. This is one of them.

Karina Halle has absolutely gone over the top with this one. Sins & Needles tears at your heart, leaves you with a cliffhanger, and makes you beg for more by the very last page. I'm not sure I can even put into words all the emotions I was going through without giving away the spoilers but this book was just that good and should not be read just once before the second book comes out in May.

Ellie is on the run, again. After screwing over the wrong guy she decides the safest place to hide is under the only name she hasn't used to scam someone, her real name. She heads back to her the place she grew up to visit her uncle, and to figure out a plan. Then Ellie runs into Camden McQueen. It's been years since they last spoke, and the last thing Ellie expected was for things to get complicated with him.

“I took the application from him, our fingers brushing against each other. I felt a spark, electricity.

No, literally.

“Ow,” I said, as I snatched my hand and the application away from him.

He grinned sheepishly and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sorry. I'm a good conductor.”

And that's just the beginning. When Ellie sets her sights on conning Camden things don't go as planned. Camden has her figured out and now he's making her an offer she has to accept. But when Ellie's past comes back to haunt her they have to trust each other to get away alive.

Sins & Needles is an absolutely stunning book. I know a book is good when I get to that last page and I scream “No!”. And I was yelling more than just that one time. The storyline never slowed, and the heat between Ellie and Camden could melt the panties off a prude. My favorite part was the twist that completely blindsided me. I was reading along, enjoying the sexy tension and then BAM! I was hit with the twist. I can hardly explain my love for this book, but I will try.

Karina Halle created characters flawed and messed up, but she somehow made them loveable too. In a typical novel the male would be the “bad guy”, but this book switches it up. The chemistry, holy balls of fire was there chemistry, between Ellie and Camden had me drooling and panting[quite the image, huh?]. And this isn't the kind of tension and teasing with no pay off, there is pay off. So much amazing pay off... I can get lost just thinking about it again.

“That is what I thought of you, Ellie. Heartless, reckless, selfish, and cruel."
He was back to shooting me when my armor was down. I turned my face away from him, not wanting to let him see the hurt in my eyes. He reached up and put his fingers under my chin, bringing my face forward again, forcing me to look at him.
"Beautiful, sad, wounded, and lost," he continued. "A freak, a work of art, a liar, and a lover."
His gaze was starting to eat away at my insides. Razor-blade butterflies whirled in my heart.
"I hate you, Ellie Watt," he whispered, lips coming closer to mine, "because I still love you after all these years.”

Ellie is the product of her parents, two grifters who care more about the chase than their own daughter. With the life she's lived it's hard not to understand how she could become so jaded. I'm sure there are some who might think the stuff Ellie does is inexcusable, and at some points it was, but I still loved her. I have said it a million times, I am a sucker for a flawed character, and Ellie is so wonderfully flawed.

“That's the trouble with pain, Ellie. If you're lucky, you can wear it for all the world to see. Most people have their pain deep inside, in places no one ever goes. Not until it's too late.”

Camden... I don't even know where to begin with him. From the moment Ellie laid eyes on him in the coffee shop I was sold. I have a things for wounded boys, especially the ones with tattoos. His passion left my breath hitching and my heart trying to break free of my chest. He will go down as one of my all time favorite book boyfriends.

All of this, plus an amazing storyline, make for one of the best books I've read this year. I was shocked more than once, cried more than once, and fell in love completely. And that cliffhanger ending was one of the best/worst. This book earned every one of the five stars. I am not so patiently waiting for the next book in the series.

The book reminded me of the movies Domino and Smokin' Aces. I loved the gritty and honest emotions. The author did a fantastic job. Story line flowed and I would get so into Sins and Needles I would forget I was reading a book and not watching a movie. It is definitely an adult book. Sec isn't often but it is HOT! I have recommend this book and will continue to do so. Can't wait for the next one!

Crossed over to the Artists Trilogy from EiT.

Very satisfied to make the jump. Ellie and Camden are engrossing, complex, fully vivid characters. A plot line that draws you in.

If you are intrigued by the rougher edges of society, and like characters who entrance you, you might enjoy this Trilogy.

You should buy this book! The characters are believable. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end and leave you thirsting for more. I didn't like all of the choices the characters made, but I still rooted for them. That is a challenging thing for an author to be able to do and is a testament to her superior writing skills. I'm just sad that I have to wait for the next book!

2015 Reading Challenge Haiku Review

Ellie is a cheat
Camden is angry and sweet
Javier is skeevy

Resilient and hopeful
Bad deeds will catch up with you
Tattoos car chase fear and death

I thoroughly enjoyed Sins & Needles!! The story line is different from most books. I love Camden...and Ellie too!! Camden is your bad boy, tattoo covered, sexy man and Ellie is really an enjoyable female character. She isn't whiny or annoying. I totally recommend you reading this book...I love it and think you will too!! I am looking forward to next book in the series.

"I was going to rob Camden McQueen."

My feelings were all over with this one. I loved the whole premise of her being a con artist, and on the run. And when she gets close to a hot tattoo artist who she used to know in high school, she begins developing feelings for the guy but that doesn't stop her from going through with her plan to rob him.

That created a whole lot of conflict that I really enjoyed.

I'm on the fence about the hero. I just didn't understand him. He appears tough, but then he "wails" when his father comes over and bullies him. Yes, "wails" like an upset child. He was a goth as a teenager and wore black lipstick and the whole shebang. Yeah, he was real, but not really the cool and collected type of hero I like.

There was a whole side of this story that I didn't like: the severe insecurity of having a scar on the heroine's leg. And I know it's supposed to be deep and all, but I'm just like "who cares?" So you have a scar, some people are literally starving right now.

Then the multiple flashbacks that take us back into high school where bullies rule and sad heroes and heroines try to fit it. I honestly skipped over almost every flashback, which was every other chapter.

The story is angsty and full of suspense. But in the end, the subject material just wasn't for me. Although I did find the writing well done, and the love/hate relationship between the H and h entertaining. The conflict was spot on, and I'm sure lovers of suspense who aren't afraid of lots of flashbacks will enjoy it.

First time I've read this author. The writing flowed very well with good character development. It's not a pretty story so don't expect a harlequin romance. I'm not one to give away the story but if you are looking for a "romance" that's a little more gritty with flawed H/h, this is it. You won't be disappointed. I will say the ending is a cliff hanger. Gee thanks, Karina.