Narrated by Veronica Den
Editor’s note: This review contains spoilers for the first two books in The Artists Trilogy.
In Bold Tricks, we pick things up pretty much exactly where they left off in Shooting Scars. Ellie, Camden, and Javier are on the road together, planning to get Javier’s sister to safety, and then rescue Gus from Travis and his men. All three have reasons to distrust one another, so this is anything but an easy alliance.
Ellie hates herself for what she allowed to happen. Even if it was just for a little while, she allowed herself to fall under Javier’s spell, something she swore she’d never do again. She knows he’s ruthless and self-centered, but she lost sight of that. She feels responsible for Gus’s capture and Camden’s pain.
For his part, Camden has no idea what to make of Ellie. He has loved her since their high school days, but no one can hurt him like Ellie can. Now, he’s traveling deep into territory of the drug lords with no idea with whom Ellie’s loyalties lie.
And then, there’s Javier. All through this series, Javier remains somewhat of an enigma. He loves Ellie, but how long will that last? What will happen if Ellie chooses Camden over him? As I listened, I found myself constantly questioning Javier’s motives. I just couldn’t see him acting in anyone’s best interest but his own.
Once again, narrator Veronica Den brought Karina Halle’s characters to life. Everyone was distinctly voiced. I found her interpretation of Camden to be slightly different than in previous books, but I got used to it quickly, and was once again sucked into the story. Still, Camden sounded a little deeper, a little geekier, and, in some ways, less sexy.
Her depiction of Ellie was no different than I remembered. I feel like I know Ellie Watt. She struggles with her own self-worth. She’s strong, resourceful, stubborn, and passionate. There aren’t many people she cares about, but she’s very protective of those who have managed to make it past her walls. Ms. Den allows the listener to see all of this, as she reads not only the conversations Ellie has with other people, but her innermost thoughts and fears.
I give Ms. Den special props for her portrayal of Javier. He speaks in a taunting, slightly whispery voice, laced with a Hispanic accent. His obsession with Ellie shone through flawlessly. I never found Javier exactly likable, but I couldn’t keep from being compelled by his character. Part of this is due to Ms. Halle’s wonderful writing, but Ms. Den also gets credit.
I loved this series from beginning to end, and Bold Tricks was just as action-packed and sensual as I expected it to be. When the book ended, I was sad to say goodbye to characters I had come to care about, characters who are definitely flawed, but who grow and change along the way. Ms. Halle crafted a story I’m not likely to forget any time soon.
Given the fact that I hated to see this series end, I was relieved when a friend informed me that Ms. Halle has a new trilogy, Dirty Angels, which is a spin-off of The Artists Trilogy. The first book, entitled Dirty Angels, came out in print in mid-June. Sadly, I see no sign of an audio copy. There’s always hope though.
Shannon
Narration: B+
Book Content: A
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Escalated fighting
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Bold Tricks was provided to AudioGals for review by Hachette Audio.
