Review: On Every Street by Karina Halle

On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy 0.5)

by Karina Halle

Purchase Links: Amazon 

 

Blurb by Goodreads

 

 

When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.

 

 

 

 

OMG!! Do not read if you like HEA endings. This is one of those novels you are either going to love it or hate it. For me I loved it. I am still in shock by how freakin amazing On Every Street was. Karina Halle is an amazing story teller that had me balling my eyes out towards the end. Wow! What a intense and freakin-fantastic read. Karina Halle has an amazing writing voice and sure knows how to throw in a little something I never saw coming. Not many authors can do what she did and pull it off but she did. If it was not for the amazing writing style that got me feeling what the characters were feeling, I would of not liked how it ended. I was right there smiling, crying and getting all hot an bothered with Ellie and Javier. I would of mostly likely been a tad upset. But she sucked me in from the beginning with a good, refreshing plot, likable and realistic characters.

On Every Street is a Prequel to Sins & Needles. I have yet to read Sins & Needles since On Every Street came out first. On Every Street is the story how Ellie became how she is, a Con Artist. I loved how Ellie the Heroine is a Con Artist as I never read the main character to be this. She has a huge problem as she is falling in love with Javier who is her mark and her in to get to the bad guy she wants to hurt badly for hurting her when she was young. She needs to do this so she can put this all behind her, but she never thought that she would fall in love while trying to get her revenge. I loved her character and thought she was strong will to go to the extreme to get her revenge especially after living with Con Artist Parents. Kudos to Karina Halle for giving just enough detail on her past, training time with Gus (her parents good friend) on training her to be a good Con Artist and leading up to moment she meets her mark Javier.

I want to take sexy-tattoo-hero- Javier home and have my wicked way with him. I found it amazing how this criminal, who has no problem killing some one in cold blood, be a sweet and caring person to Ellie.

 

"I need you, my angel. And I'll do anything and everything to keep you."

I loved how he could tell she was broken on the inside and had no idea what made her broken but he wanted to be the one to fix her.

 

"Why am I good to you?" he repeated, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. "Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together."

 

Their chemistry is hot right from the beginning. The sexual tension got me hot and bothered. I was not a huge fan of how the first sex scene was done, especially how she is a virgin. The first sex scene is still hot and got my girly bits tingly but it is a mild BDSM and felt since she was a virgin it should of been done with out BDSM. I love a dominate hero in and out of the bedroom and Javier is for sure a yummy dominate hero. Karina Halle nails Javier dominate character. I for sure needed a cold shower especially after the beach scene. I felt like I was right there with Ellie doing what he told her to do during their foreplay.

Payday can not get here sooner as I need to know how Ellie’s life will turn out after On Every Street with Sins & Needles. Things are unanswered and unresolved and hope it plays a role in the rest of the series. I felt like things are not what they seem to be as in the little surprise Karina Halle threw was not 100% solved. My heart is still broken after reading this and I need closer. Please Karina Halle not let this be how it ends for Ellie and Javier.

 

 

 

 



NA Review: Because Of Low by Abbi Glines

Because Of Low (Sea Breeze #2)

by Abbi Glines

Purchase Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

 

Blurb by Goodreads

 

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there.

 

Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

 

 

 

 

After reading Fallen Too Far (Too Far #1) I had to dive right into another Abbi Glines novel. I decided to start with Because Of Low (Sea Breeze #2) as it had better reviews than Breathe (Sea Breeze #1). It is a 3 star - Liked It, but still not as amazing as Fallen Too Far (Too Far #1), 5 Star - Perfect.

 

Because Of Low was an enjoyable read and was good but it just did not Wow me. I liked the characters and Abbi Glines knows how to write a loveable and likable hero and heroine. I liked Marcus Hardy as he was a sweetheart. But that was about it. His character seemed to be on the softer side. He was a swoon worthy hero especially when he helped out Low with her niece but he just did not Wow me.

 

I loved Low’s character more. She was a strong will heroine who had to put up with her mean sister. I loved how she put her little niece first and the only reason she put up with her sister is because the love she has for her niece.

 

Now Cage is the one that got my attention and really made the book for me. Cage is Low’s best friend and her rock. His character was more intense than Marcus. I loved his alpha male attitude with a sweet side, especially when it came to Low. There is no love triangle. Cage truly believes that Low is the one he is going to marry. Has issues with his room mate Marcus falling for Low.

 

There is a huge secret that has to do with Marcus and Low but it is revealed early on and already knew what it was. The only problem Low and Marcus did not know. I was hoping it to be held out longer. When Marcus and Low have to deal with this new secret it is at times a little heartbroken. I was not always feeling the sexual tension. For a New Adult novel the sex scene was sweet.

I was not lost since I did not read Breathe (Sea Breeze #1). Abbi Glines does a great job continuing the story with Marcus from book 1 that I had a good idea what happened with him. Because Of Low is an easy read and read it in one sitting. I like it enough to continue with the series and excited Cage is up next in While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3).

 



YA Review: Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer

Elemental (Elemental #0.5)

by Brigid Kemmerer

Purchase Links:  Amazon Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Blurb:

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn’t have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn’t just want her to stay away from him.

They want him dead.

 

 

I have been wanted to read Storm and thought I would start with Elemental since I have not read this series. I liked Elemental and love the Romeo and Juliet theme with enemies falling in love.

When Michael and Emily first meet it was not on good terms. She wanted to beat him over the head with a golf club.

He leaned in. “I come here every Wednesday and Friday.”
Emily Nodded.
“You going to try and kill me every time?”

Michael is dangerous with his power, if he loses control he can be sent away. There is a mix up with him and Emily’s brother. Emily soon realizes he is not as bad as her brother and parents make him out to be. He is actually sweet, caring and just trying to live a normal life.

I wanted to know more about how they got their powers. There is no back story on how these bad guys can come and take him away.

I enjoyed reading about Michael and Emily. I wish there was more to their story. The ending left me wanting to know how they would of kept there relationship going with both parents as enemies. I did get to read the first chapter in Storm at the end and off course it left me wanting more. I had to buy it. Brigid Kemmerer has a great writing voice. The characters felt real. I look forward to reading about the rest of the brothers.