Dirty AngelsAuthor: Karina Halle
Series: Dirty Angels #1
Publication Date: June 15, 2014
Format: eBook
Pages: 309
Source: Purchased
For Luisa Chavez, a twenty-three year old former beauty queen, a better life has always been just out of her reach. Sure, she’s had men at her feet since she was a young teenager but she’s never had the one thing she’s craved – security. Having grown up in near poverty, her waitressing job in Cabo San Lucas can barely let her take care of herself, let alone her ailing parents. Every day is another unwanted advance, every day is a struggle to survive.
When Salvador Reyes, the depraved leader of a major Mexican cartel, takes an interest in her, Luisa is presented with an opportunity she can’t afford to pass up. She’ll become Salvador’s wife and exchange her freedom and body for a life of riches – riches she can bestow upon her deserving parents. But Luisa quickly finds out that even the finest wines and jewels can’t undo the ugliness in her marriage, nor the never-ending violence that threatens her every move.
Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.
As it is, being the wife of Salvador makes her an ideal target for rival cartels and there’s one particular man who needs Luisa as part of his cartel’s expansion. One particular man whose quest for power has destroyed lives, slit throats and gotten him out of an American prison. One particular man who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.
Unless she ruins him first.
I finally read Dirty Angels! Okay, I absolutely love The Artist Trilogy, but wasn’t exactly gaga over Javier, so I put this book off. It’s a spin-off, but can be read on it’s own. Of course, it’s even better when you read them in order, though. Anyway, I wasn’t in too much of a hurry to read this until I saw Halle’s newest release and the way it connects the two series, then there was no holding me back! I shouldn’t have waited, because I love Dirty Angels! This isn’t a hearts and flowers romance. It’s ugly and gritty and violent, and oh, so freaking good!
Javier is one messed up dude. If you’ve read the other series, then you understand the shit he will put people through. To tell you the truth, I’m still not gaga over Javier, but I still love his character. It was interesting being in his head and experiencing his conflicting thoughts, especially when it came to Luisa. It was easy to understand why Javier was drawn to her. She isn’t perfect, but she has an innocence about her. At the same time, she has a darkness waiting to break free, and it was fun getting to see it peek through.
This book isn’t exactly for the faint of heart or easily offended, which is a big reason I love it. I enjoyed the crazy, effed up journey these two experience. Now I’m eager to read the next book!
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Each book in The Artist Trilogy is $0.99
The entire Dirty Angels box set is $0.99
Awesome review as always!
I loved this book, Christy. So happy that you loved it too. Halle’s latest “The Sin Duet” sounds awesome. Are you planning to read them? 😀
Btw, have you read “Cruel & Beautiful” by Terri Laine and A.M. Hargrove? It is amazing.
Heck yes, I’m going to read TSD! 😀 I haven’t read C&B, but just checked and it’s on my TBR/wishlist already. Will have to bump it up.
Oh, I do love it when inspite of my feelings about a character I can enjoy a book and even find that character fascinating. I’ve not read any of her books yet, but I’m glad to get your thoughts, Christy.
what happened to her? I thought former beauty queens have this nice cushy modelling job or some sort later
Crazy effed up journey, why not
Oh my this sounds amazingly intense!! And Javier, you have me curious about him too!
I never realized how many books Karina Halle has and how different they all are. I like dark, crazy stuff and that is a good price for those books!! Great review!
Nice review! This book sounds good and the former beauty queen as a waitress not a movie star or model!!
I’m so behind on this series! So glad it is still going strong with the spin offs!
This sounds good. I am finally getting ready to listen to her Experiment in Terror series.
Hmm, I’ll have to add this one to my wish list because it sounds interesting and very different from what I’d normally read. Thanks for the review, Christy!
I love when I put a book off because I don’t think it’s going to be my favorite and end up absolutely loving it. I like dark and gritty, and this book sounds super intriguing! I’ll have to add this to my list. So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
That sounds really good. I never understood why these women think they can marry a bad guy who’s rich and think it’ll work out.
I like the sound of this. Never read anything from this author before. I need to look into this one, thanks for sharing.
So glad to see you enjoyed this one. I hate when I put off a book from an author I love and then end up loving it. It makes me mad at myself for not reading it sooner!
Ooh I like that title! Javier sounds like one messed up dude…
I’ve not read the series that this spins off from. I do want to read this book!
I haven’t read this author before. I have to admit that your warning at the end of the post is really making me want to read it 🙂
I need to read all of these books – and Karina Halle in general. I own one of her books!
-Lauren
I tried a book by this author that I really liked but I haven’t tried more. I should
I don’t know…Karina Halle’s and Tarryn Fischer’s scare me. Lol. The angst! The angst!
Ooooo, this sounds great! I will be adding it and the entire series to my WL 🙂
I’ve seen these books around and have wanted to try them. I’m so going to grab those books for $0.99 each. That is a great price. Thanks for the heads up.
Hmm…. I don’t think this is for me right now. I am hitting the old UF hard right now since I am in a bit of a slump again. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I never read these kind of books, Ive been curious about what they are about tho and there are several on my TBR that I have been eyeing. Glad you still enjoyed it, even if you werent a fan of the male interest
Loved Javier from The Artist Trilogy and was so excited he got his own book. It all kinds of amazing. Will admit I still have yet to read book 2 in this series.
I enjoyed the The Artist Trilogy and Javier was on of my favorite characters… lol. I will have to add this to my TBR list. Happy Reading