Sins & Needles - Karina Halle

What it’s about:

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

 

My thoughts:

This book made me sad. Sad for a couple of reasons.

1. This one has been on my TBR list for a while now and I finally convinced my library to borrow it from another library and I waited 2 weeks for this book to come in and was terribly let down after reading it.

2. Ellie is can’t make up her mind about anything. She wants to quit scamming, but then scams. She doesn’t trust Camden (rightly so) but then she has to take a chance sometime right? WRONG!

3. Strange plot twist in the middle of the book that had me scratching my head wonder WHY? Why do this? I was with the book, hell I was loving it up until the plot twist, then I got sad.

4. Victims. Everyone is a victim in this book. I understand the necessity and character development I really do, but where is the strength that these people possess? They are all getting the shaft by someone else, or even victims of their own demons. In my opinion, the only true person that I feel sorry for in this book is Ben. Poor Ben. Especially at the end of the book. I won’t give away anything, but damn it. Why drag a kid into it?

5. Cliffhanger ending. Do we have to keep doing this? I’ve had enough of waiting for a year for the next release. Can’t someone just give me a good solid ending and I’ll be happy. Please? Pretty please with sprinkles on top?

 

Positive things about this book:

 

1. Camden is a total hottie. He might be a little off his rocker, but that is pushed aside for his ripped bod and tattooed covered skin. Plus, he plays in a band. Who wouldn’t want to jump on that ride?

2. Steamy sex with Camden. ‘Nuff said.

3. Fast entertaining read. Yes it made me a sad panda, but it sure as hell did not stop me from devouring this book in an afternoon just to see what happened. It was a quick read and held my attention even if I was SMH through the second half of it.

4. Good music references. Two examples that stood out to me are Nine Inch Nails and Dire Straits.

 

I need to sit on this one a bit before I decide if I want to read the second book in this trilogy. I have a sneaky feeling that this book is going to add in another one of my book pet peeves and throw in a love triangle with the “evil” Javier and I don’t know if I am willing to go through that right now. Maybe in a few weeks I’ll revisit Camden and Ellie and see if they get their HEA.