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Dirty Angels #3
Dirty Promises
"This book is going to leave scars. I'm infatuated and repulsed and impressed all at the same time. A twisted tale well done." - NYT bestselling author Jay Crownover
Blood. Sex. Revenge.
It ain't easy being king.
Drug lord Javier Bernal has sliced and diced his way to the top of the Mexican drug trade, presiding over the country's largest cartel. But his rise to power comes at a brutal price: the death of his sister, Alana. Devastated and wracked with guilt, he turns away from his new wife, Luisa, forcing their marriage into a steady decline. But it isn't until she's pushed into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, his right-hand man, that Javier realizes everything he's lost.
And it isn't until he learns the truth about Alana, that he realizes everything there is to gain.
Blood will spill.
Cities will burn.
Heads will roll.
Because Javier will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
And what he wants is raw, ruthless revenge.
The most dangerous man is the one with nothing left to lose.
Dirty Promises is the last and darkest book in the Dirty Angels Trilogy. It is recommended that you at least read Dirty Angels before this one.
Blood. Sex. Revenge.
It ain't easy being king.
Drug lord Javier Bernal has sliced and diced his way to the top of the Mexican drug trade, presiding over the country's largest cartel. But his rise to power comes at a brutal price: the death of his sister, Alana. Devastated and wracked with guilt, he turns away from his new wife, Luisa, forcing their marriage into a steady decline. But it isn't until she's pushed into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, his right-hand man, that Javier realizes everything he's lost.
And it isn't until he learns the truth about Alana, that he realizes everything there is to gain.
Blood will spill.
Cities will burn.
Heads will roll.
Because Javier will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
And what he wants is raw, ruthless revenge.
The most dangerous man is the one with nothing left to lose.
Dirty Promises is the last and darkest book in the Dirty Angels Trilogy. It is recommended that you at least read Dirty Angels before this one.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2015
54 people are currently reading
3149 people want to read
About the author
Karina Halle
122 books19.6k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
March 29, 2017
Wow! Karina Halle wasn't kidding when she said that this was the darkest book that she's written. I knew when I opened up this book to find a couple of pages of forewarning from the author about how dark and disturbing the content was, that this was going to be a book that I loved. It certainly did not disappoint!
I have been a die-hard Javier fan from the start. There is something about him that I just can't resist. He definitely isn't a nice guy by any means, but I find him absolutely irresistible. In fact, I'm still pretty peeved with Ellie for choosing Cam over Javier. I don't think that I'll ever get completely past that.
Unlike 'Dirty Deeds', 'Dirty Promises' is centered on Javier and his wife, Luisa. While Javier was never a "good guy", this book gives us a front row seat to his downward spiral into the depths of his depravity. The fact that his life as a cartel leader had corrupted him was hinted at in the last book, but I couldn't even begin to fathom how far gone he was.
After the way things worked out in 'Dirty Deeds', Javier is a broken man. His violent, gory actions are extreme, even for him. He pretty much succumbed to madness.
While Javier is acting out his most brutal and depraved fantasies, he has completely neglected his wife. Luisa has tried to be patient and has done her best to overlook Javier's indiscretions. However, there comes a point when she can no longer do so.
Of course, Javier has an enemy in his midst working to capitalize on Javier's anguish. Betrayal after betrayal, this book completely gutted me. Aside from the sheer brutality, my heart wasn't prepared for the emotional pain that this book would deliver. I was absolutely gutted by this story.
Even as the Javier fangirl that I am, I found it hard to forgive him for some of his actions in this book. No doubt about it, they were despicable. Luisa's actions were easier to understand when confronted with the reality of what Javier put her through. I liked her before, but my heart really went out to her in this book. If there was anyone that was the "victim" in this scenario, it was definitely Luisa.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most intense dark stories that I've read in some time. I actually cried as Luisa suffered, which doesn't happen very often. It was gritty, depraved and highly emotional. As disturbing as Javier's world is, I cannot get enough! I loved this book!
I have been a die-hard Javier fan from the start. There is something about him that I just can't resist. He definitely isn't a nice guy by any means, but I find him absolutely irresistible. In fact, I'm still pretty peeved with Ellie for choosing Cam over Javier. I don't think that I'll ever get completely past that.
Unlike 'Dirty Deeds', 'Dirty Promises' is centered on Javier and his wife, Luisa. While Javier was never a "good guy", this book gives us a front row seat to his downward spiral into the depths of his depravity. The fact that his life as a cartel leader had corrupted him was hinted at in the last book, but I couldn't even begin to fathom how far gone he was.
After the way things worked out in 'Dirty Deeds', Javier is a broken man. His violent, gory actions are extreme, even for him. He pretty much succumbed to madness.
While Javier is acting out his most brutal and depraved fantasies, he has completely neglected his wife. Luisa has tried to be patient and has done her best to overlook Javier's indiscretions. However, there comes a point when she can no longer do so.
Of course, Javier has an enemy in his midst working to capitalize on Javier's anguish. Betrayal after betrayal, this book completely gutted me. Aside from the sheer brutality, my heart wasn't prepared for the emotional pain that this book would deliver. I was absolutely gutted by this story.
Even as the Javier fangirl that I am, I found it hard to forgive him for some of his actions in this book. No doubt about it, they were despicable. Luisa's actions were easier to understand when confronted with the reality of what Javier put her through. I liked her before, but my heart really went out to her in this book. If there was anyone that was the "victim" in this scenario, it was definitely Luisa.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most intense dark stories that I've read in some time. I actually cried as Luisa suffered, which doesn't happen very often. It was gritty, depraved and highly emotional. As disturbing as Javier's world is, I cannot get enough! I loved this book!
September 12, 2015
4.5 PATRON STARS
”After everything, he was still everything.”
Please take Karina Halle’s warning in the beginning of this book very seriously. This is the most brutal and disturbing novel she has written to date. No joke friends.
"Check your morals at the door, keep an open mind and enjoy the ruin and resurrection of Javier and Luisa Bernal."
This was a great final installment that at times I had to take a breather from the torture scenes and and well I’m just going to say it, I waited the whole book for an Ellie and Cam cameo and sadly there isn’t one. I just wanted to stick it to Ellie and show off Javier’s kick ass wife, Luisa, The Queen.
Javier is my favorite character of this series and The Sins and Needles Trilogy. I can pretty much forgive just about anything this villain does. His arrogance, the way he speaks and carries himself, is so very damn sexy and pretty funny as well.
”Orange flattered me anyway.”
Javier is crippled by his sister’s death and has pulled completely away from Luisa. He has taken up with other women for sex and torture time. His grief, anger, and blood lust is uncontrollable.
”They all died because I kept climbing.”
The story is told mainly in Javier and Luisa’s POVs with a few scattered chapters from Esteban. Esteban has big plans for himself and he manipulates Luisa’s grief and makes the ultimate play to be the Patron.
Javier and Luisa’s trust in one another is shattered and our drug power couple fall completely apart.
”I hated her, yet I still loved her. And if I dwelled on it anymore, it was going to tear me apart. But maybe I needed to be torn apart, just for a minute, because I deserved shit just as much as she did.”
The story is very intense and fans should leave a good chunk of time aside because this is a story you will frantically be reading while taking the much needed gore breather breaks. There’s so many shocking scenes that will have you reaching out to friends to discuss and then there’s some very hot intimate scenes.
”We were both so fucking dirty.”
No one is quiet like Javier when they are being tender. I think it's because he catches you totally off guard. Even though he’s a really bad guy, there’s still something so very endearing about him that makes me swoon. Even if a reader isn’t a fan, you have to admit he’s a man of his word and never lies. He loves family, he loves his wife, and he loves power, and not in that especially in order.
”When Javier was cruel, he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming.”
”You know that you could never be ugly to me.”
I can’t stress how much I truly love this couple. Their destruction was so very crushing especially after all that they had have faced in the past. Yet, their resurrection was remarkable. I’m hoping that this isn’t the end and that somewhere in the future these characters will stalk Karina Halle and have more to share with fans.
”I wanted him forever or I wanted nothing.”
*ARC provided by Karina Halle in exchange for an honest review*
”After everything, he was still everything.”
Please take Karina Halle’s warning in the beginning of this book very seriously. This is the most brutal and disturbing novel she has written to date. No joke friends.
"Check your morals at the door, keep an open mind and enjoy the ruin and resurrection of Javier and Luisa Bernal."
This was a great final installment that at times I had to take a breather from the torture scenes and and well I’m just going to say it, I waited the whole book for an Ellie and Cam cameo and sadly there isn’t one. I just wanted to stick it to Ellie and show off Javier’s kick ass wife, Luisa, The Queen.
Javier is my favorite character of this series and The Sins and Needles Trilogy. I can pretty much forgive just about anything this villain does. His arrogance, the way he speaks and carries himself, is so very damn sexy and pretty funny as well.
”Orange flattered me anyway.”
Javier is crippled by his sister’s death and has pulled completely away from Luisa. He has taken up with other women for sex and torture time. His grief, anger, and blood lust is uncontrollable.
”They all died because I kept climbing.”
The story is told mainly in Javier and Luisa’s POVs with a few scattered chapters from Esteban. Esteban has big plans for himself and he manipulates Luisa’s grief and makes the ultimate play to be the Patron.
Javier and Luisa’s trust in one another is shattered and our drug power couple fall completely apart.
”I hated her, yet I still loved her. And if I dwelled on it anymore, it was going to tear me apart. But maybe I needed to be torn apart, just for a minute, because I deserved shit just as much as she did.”
The story is very intense and fans should leave a good chunk of time aside because this is a story you will frantically be reading while taking the much needed gore breather breaks. There’s so many shocking scenes that will have you reaching out to friends to discuss and then there’s some very hot intimate scenes.
”We were both so fucking dirty.”
No one is quiet like Javier when they are being tender. I think it's because he catches you totally off guard. Even though he’s a really bad guy, there’s still something so very endearing about him that makes me swoon. Even if a reader isn’t a fan, you have to admit he’s a man of his word and never lies. He loves family, he loves his wife, and he loves power, and not in that especially in order.
”When Javier was cruel, he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming.”
”You know that you could never be ugly to me.”
I can’t stress how much I truly love this couple. Their destruction was so very crushing especially after all that they had have faced in the past. Yet, their resurrection was remarkable. I’m hoping that this isn’t the end and that somewhere in the future these characters will stalk Karina Halle and have more to share with fans.
”I wanted him forever or I wanted nothing.”
*ARC provided by Karina Halle in exchange for an honest review*
September 14, 2015
IT'S LIVE!! AMAZON http://amzn.to/1FJ9fr9
5 DARK STARS
The word amazing isn't enough to describe how good and how much different this story is!It's one of these books that you haven't read before!It's so dark,cruel,brutal and violent!I was on the edge of my seat throughout this reading, not knowing what to expect..and I was afraid for what will happen..
He was the King and she was his Queen but now their marriage is falling apart..Javier has become cruel due to the fact that his sister is dead and he is pushing away Luisa because he believes that way will keep her safe..Luisa is feeling that she is loosing her husband but she wants him back..and she will do anything to have him back!
This story is so captivating,brilliant and compelling!So be prepared for a wild ride..
Javier wasn't my favorite hero until I read Dirty Angels in which book I fell in love with him!He has his own personality and he is original!Sometimes he is cruel and you don't know what to expect from him especially in this book he surprised me a lot!But apart from this I like him from his brutality!Luisa is a strong woman!In this book she did a mistake but still most of the times I feel sorry for her.Nobody is perfect...Javier and Luisa have their issues and both are fucked up but still there is something in them that can keep them together!
I will say again and again,Karina Halle is a God for me!I love her books and with this one she proved for one more time what an amazing author she is!!She is talented and she knows how to captivate you!!If you are looking for prince charming,butterflies and hearts no this book isn't for you!But if you are a fan of Dark romance this is exactly what you need!!
5 DARK STARS
The word amazing isn't enough to describe how good and how much different this story is!It's one of these books that you haven't read before!It's so dark,cruel,brutal and violent!I was on the edge of my seat throughout this reading, not knowing what to expect..and I was afraid for what will happen..
He was the King and she was his Queen but now their marriage is falling apart..Javier has become cruel due to the fact that his sister is dead and he is pushing away Luisa because he believes that way will keep her safe..Luisa is feeling that she is loosing her husband but she wants him back..and she will do anything to have him back!
This story is so captivating,brilliant and compelling!So be prepared for a wild ride..
Javier wasn't my favorite hero until I read Dirty Angels in which book I fell in love with him!He has his own personality and he is original!Sometimes he is cruel and you don't know what to expect from him especially in this book he surprised me a lot!But apart from this I like him from his brutality!Luisa is a strong woman!In this book she did a mistake but still most of the times I feel sorry for her.Nobody is perfect...Javier and Luisa have their issues and both are fucked up but still there is something in them that can keep them together!
I will say again and again,Karina Halle is a God for me!I love her books and with this one she proved for one more time what an amazing author she is!!She is talented and she knows how to captivate you!!If you are looking for prince charming,butterflies and hearts no this book isn't for you!But if you are a fan of Dark romance this is exactly what you need!!
May 29, 2020
Javier Bernal is the bad guy I couldn't help but love in The Artists Trilogy, his ruthlessness, arrogance and complexity was enthralling - like a moth to a flame I was drawn to him.
An anti-hero was still a hero in the end, but I would never be more than a villain.
Dirty Angels furthered my infatuation with this man. He and Luisa became one of my favorite couples - flawed and passionate, I loved these two together. Going into Dirty Promises, with Karina's warning, I was worried. What was to become of these two? Javier is dealing with the grief of losing his sister, consumed with rage, he's blood thirsty and determined. He is also worried about looking weak and pushes Luisa away, convinced it is the best for them both. But with an opportunist waiting in the wings, the distance between Javier and Luisa results in the ultimate betrayal.
Honestly, I don't want to say much more in regards to the storyline. Dirty Promises is a thrilling ride, and each reader should go in as blind as possible. (But please take the author's warning seriously - this is not a fluffy story, it is dark.)
An addicting and brutal tale featuring my favorite cartel leader. Dirty Promises is the ultimate adrenaline rush, with my heart racing - this story had me white knuckling my kindle more than once. Terrifying and intense, a 'romance' that breaks all the rules - rape, torture, infidelity - will Javier and Luisa survive this last adventure?
"This is your empire. Go build it."
And so I did.
*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
March 14, 2017
Dirty Promises is the 3rd book in Karina Halle's Dirty Angels Trilogy and part of her The Artists Trilogy.
I've really enjoyed the two trilogies so far but Dirty Promises was .....hell to get through........in fact, I nearly gave up halfway!!!!
The storyline was a total throbbing migraine..............
I am not sure how I feel about Javier and Luisa right now!!! Sorry, but I can't continue with any further ranting........just ending with ........this was a total disappointment!!!
I've really enjoyed the two trilogies so far but Dirty Promises was .....hell to get through........in fact, I nearly gave up halfway!!!!
The storyline was a total throbbing migraine..............
The violence......after a while I gave up on how many rapes there were in this story.
I am not sure how I feel about Javier and Luisa right now!!! Sorry, but I can't continue with any further ranting........just ending with ........this was a total disappointment!!!
February 8, 2017
4.5 Stars!!
'Dirty Promises' is the third and final installment in Karina Halle’s series entitled 'Dirty Angeles' and features the couple for the first installment in the series Javier Bernal and his wife, Luisa. This installment was without a doubt my favorite installment in the series. It was darker, more brutal, more disturbing and I devoured it in one sitting.
Since one of his younger sister, Alana, died several months ago Javier is a shell of a man. He is destroyed, not knowing very well how to deal with his grief. He blames himself for her death, feeling lost and lonely even if his wife is trying to help him as much as she can. Even if he’s grieving he takes care of his business, becoming more dangerous and unpredictable. He pushes Luisa away, convinced he is best for both of them for him to stay away from her. He is a horrible husband. He is cold, cruel and also unfaithful.
Luisa is hurt. She wants her husband back. Ever since she became his wife she has been Javier’s confidante helping him with the businesses. Javier’s behavior pushes Luisa into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, Javier’s right-hand man. Esteban is an evil man who plans to use everyone in his way to become ‘The Patron’.
What a thrilling read this turned out to be! Karina Halle delivered a very dark, gritty and gory conclusion to Javier and Luisa’ s story. Don’t expect rainbows and unicorns reading this installment/or the first. Expect the unexpected and a very unconventional love story. This installment like the first, where these two characters’ story begins was addictive. It was written in multiple POV and for one reason or another it kept me glued to the pages.
I loved these two characters, individually and together. Javier’s portrayal was once again fantastically done. I loved his character – his personality, his humor, everything really. Luisa was the perfect match for Javier in every-damn-way. My heart broke for her at some point and I have to say he was an admirable main female character. I simply loved her strength!
Javier and Luisa’s conclusion was intense, suspenseful and like the other installments in the series fast-paced.
Overall, a fantastic read!
'Dirty Promises' is the third and final installment in Karina Halle’s series entitled 'Dirty Angeles' and features the couple for the first installment in the series Javier Bernal and his wife, Luisa. This installment was without a doubt my favorite installment in the series. It was darker, more brutal, more disturbing and I devoured it in one sitting.
“An anti-hero was still a hero in the end, but I would never be more than a villain.”
Since one of his younger sister, Alana, died several months ago Javier is a shell of a man. He is destroyed, not knowing very well how to deal with his grief. He blames himself for her death, feeling lost and lonely even if his wife is trying to help him as much as she can. Even if he’s grieving he takes care of his business, becoming more dangerous and unpredictable. He pushes Luisa away, convinced he is best for both of them for him to stay away from her. He is a horrible husband. He is cold, cruel and also unfaithful.
"It takes a monster to know a monster.
He was the worst of us all."
Luisa is hurt. She wants her husband back. Ever since she became his wife she has been Javier’s confidante helping him with the businesses. Javier’s behavior pushes Luisa into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, Javier’s right-hand man. Esteban is an evil man who plans to use everyone in his way to become ‘The Patron’.
“I didn’t think I had it in me anymore. To feel. To bleed. More than that, I deserved this hurt. I knew I did. But it didn’t change a thing. It didn’t stop my heart from plummeting to its death.”
What a thrilling read this turned out to be! Karina Halle delivered a very dark, gritty and gory conclusion to Javier and Luisa’ s story. Don’t expect rainbows and unicorns reading this installment/or the first. Expect the unexpected and a very unconventional love story. This installment like the first, where these two characters’ story begins was addictive. It was written in multiple POV and for one reason or another it kept me glued to the pages.
I loved these two characters, individually and together. Javier’s portrayal was once again fantastically done. I loved his character – his personality, his humor, everything really. Luisa was the perfect match for Javier in every-damn-way. My heart broke for her at some point and I have to say he was an admirable main female character. I simply loved her strength!
"When Javier was cruel he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming."
Javier and Luisa’s conclusion was intense, suspenseful and like the other installments in the series fast-paced.
Overall, a fantastic read!
September 26, 2015
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
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These are bad people. They do bad things. They are immoral. Depraved. Ruthless and brutal.
Take heed of Karina Halle's warning because not only did this story test my limits as to how much brutality I could handle, but it also reminded me that not every story has to follow a certain set of rules for it to be considered a beautiful love story because for me, Dirty Promises was exactly that.
A marriage between the king of one of the biggest cartels in Mexico and an ex-beauty queen who is his match, both in and out of the bedroom, is severely tested when Javier learns of the death of his sister. With his family being targeted one by one, he uses all the built up anger and rage to cause mayhem and destruction to anyone who gets in his way of becoming the best kingpin he can be.
Luisa has always ruled by his side, ever since she became his wife she has been his confidante, lover and advisor, but in the gritty reality that has become her life, she feels that she is losing her husband and she is at a loss as to what to do.
Javier is cruelly pushing her away and not only that but he's losing the trust of his right hand man Esteban. Not a man to be kept down, he is set to raise his power no matter what the cost, and despite her heartache, Luisa will do anything in order to get the man she married back from the darkness that has taken over his mind.
When blood-thirst, envy and a lack of trust on all sides gets added to the mix, we are left with a story that will only get worse before it gets better.
This book was tough to read, the blood and gore of it all, not to mention the humiliation suffered by both parties, was hard to bear but the journey was well worth it. It was worth the pain and the disgust and the heartbreak to get to the end.
This story was perfect for Javier and Luisa and I can't imagine it going any other way than how it did. I could read about these two all day, I love Javier's humour and Luisa's strength. Together they were an extreme force of lust and passion and love that is hard to compete with. If you were a Javier fan before, you will probably hate him reading this book, but you will also fall in love with him all over again.
Dirty Promises is a dark romance that will have you on the edge of your seat, and by far Karina's best work since The Artists Trilogy, I am so in love with this book that it has been proudly placed on my all time faves shelf.
This is the final book in the Dirty Angels trilogy, told in the point of view of Javier, Luisa and Esteban.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Now LIVE!
Amazon US | Amazon UK
These are bad people. They do bad things. They are immoral. Depraved. Ruthless and brutal.
Take heed of Karina Halle's warning because not only did this story test my limits as to how much brutality I could handle, but it also reminded me that not every story has to follow a certain set of rules for it to be considered a beautiful love story because for me, Dirty Promises was exactly that.
"It takes a monster to know a monster.
He was the worst of us all."
A marriage between the king of one of the biggest cartels in Mexico and an ex-beauty queen who is his match, both in and out of the bedroom, is severely tested when Javier learns of the death of his sister. With his family being targeted one by one, he uses all the built up anger and rage to cause mayhem and destruction to anyone who gets in his way of becoming the best kingpin he can be.
Luisa has always ruled by his side, ever since she became his wife she has been his confidante, lover and advisor, but in the gritty reality that has become her life, she feels that she is losing her husband and she is at a loss as to what to do.
Javier is cruelly pushing her away and not only that but he's losing the trust of his right hand man Esteban. Not a man to be kept down, he is set to raise his power no matter what the cost, and despite her heartache, Luisa will do anything in order to get the man she married back from the darkness that has taken over his mind.
When blood-thirst, envy and a lack of trust on all sides gets added to the mix, we are left with a story that will only get worse before it gets better.
This book was tough to read, the blood and gore of it all, not to mention the humiliation suffered by both parties, was hard to bear but the journey was well worth it. It was worth the pain and the disgust and the heartbreak to get to the end.
This story was perfect for Javier and Luisa and I can't imagine it going any other way than how it did. I could read about these two all day, I love Javier's humour and Luisa's strength. Together they were an extreme force of lust and passion and love that is hard to compete with. If you were a Javier fan before, you will probably hate him reading this book, but you will also fall in love with him all over again.
"When Javier was cruel he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming."
Dirty Promises is a dark romance that will have you on the edge of your seat, and by far Karina's best work since The Artists Trilogy, I am so in love with this book that it has been proudly placed on my all time faves shelf.
This is the final book in the Dirty Angels trilogy, told in the point of view of Javier, Luisa and Esteban.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
September 14, 2015
LIVE early -> http://amzn.to/1gmZpnZ
Dirty Promises is a fictional ride into the cartel where you have to check your morals at the door. The world of the cartel is brutal and the characters lack morals. A romantic story won’t be found between the pages but instead one of love and fortitude.
The wife of a drug king. The queen of corruption.
Luisa’s world is crumbling around her after some tragic news in Dirty Deeds (book 2). The ability to cope with the bleak outcome has lead to amoral copy mechanisms. Normally when this kind of stuff happens in my romance books I hate the characters but in books where it’s part of their world I can accept it as part of their lifestyle.
Family was everything. Family got you killed.
Javier’s family is his weak spot and his enemies know it. Loving others left you vulnerable to rivals. Javier has lost so many family members that the threat of losing more has caused him to go in a tailspin.
He was a living nightmare.
This book isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s dark and gruesome at times. I personally loved it. Ms. Halle shines in her dark and dirty romances.
...her crown tarnished but wearable.
Luisa may be Javier’s queen but she dirties her crown along the way in this book. The ugly side of the cartel touches Luisa and tries to tear her down. Luisa really comes into her own as a strong woman by the end of the book. No more just being arm candy for Javier - she battles back to claim her ‘crown.’
It’s no dirty secret that I’ve been team Javier since the Sins & Needles trilogy. I like my men dark and dirty.
*********************************************************
Dirty Angels series is a spin off of The Artist Trilogy series. Each series can be read as a standalone series. No prior background knowledge is needed to read Dirty Angels.
Timeline between the two series:
{#1 TAT} Sins & Needles
{#2 TAT} Shooting Scars
{#3 TAT} Bold Tricks
{#1 DA} Dirty Angels
{#2 DA} Dirty Deeds
{#3 DA} Dirty Promises
SERIES:
Release date: September 15, 2015
Pre-order | order ➜ http://amzn.to/1gmZpnZ
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book 2 is $.99 ➜ http://amzn.to/1hyVWUC
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Dirty Promises is a fictional ride into the cartel where you have to check your morals at the door. The world of the cartel is brutal and the characters lack morals. A romantic story won’t be found between the pages but instead one of love and fortitude.
The wife of a drug king. The queen of corruption.
Luisa’s world is crumbling around her after some tragic news in Dirty Deeds (book 2). The ability to cope with the bleak outcome has lead to amoral copy mechanisms. Normally when this kind of stuff happens in my romance books I hate the characters but in books where it’s part of their world I can accept it as part of their lifestyle.
Family was everything. Family got you killed.
Javier’s family is his weak spot and his enemies know it. Loving others left you vulnerable to rivals. Javier has lost so many family members that the threat of losing more has caused him to go in a tailspin.
He was a living nightmare.
This book isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s dark and gruesome at times. I personally loved it. Ms. Halle shines in her dark and dirty romances.
...her crown tarnished but wearable.
Luisa may be Javier’s queen but she dirties her crown along the way in this book. The ugly side of the cartel touches Luisa and tries to tear her down. Luisa really comes into her own as a strong woman by the end of the book. No more just being arm candy for Javier - she battles back to claim her ‘crown.’
It’s no dirty secret that I’ve been team Javier since the Sins & Needles trilogy. I like my men dark and dirty.
*********************************************************
Dirty Angels series is a spin off of The Artist Trilogy series. Each series can be read as a standalone series. No prior background knowledge is needed to read Dirty Angels.
Timeline between the two series:
{#1 TAT} Sins & Needles
{#2 TAT} Shooting Scars
{#3 TAT} Bold Tricks
{#1 DA} Dirty Angels
{#2 DA} Dirty Deeds
{#3 DA} Dirty Promises
SERIES:
Release date: September 15, 2015
Pre-order | order ➜ http://amzn.to/1gmZpnZ
currently book 1 is free ➜ http://amzn.to/1jblmjS
book 2 is $.99 ➜ http://amzn.to/1hyVWUC
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
November 26, 2015
6 STARS
Acutally, 6 stars won't be enough. This is Karina Halle at her best! I am in awe of her sick, twisted, lovely dark & dirty mind. Is it wrong that I love her depravity so damn much? Complete PERFECTION!
Is this a dark read? Yes.
Is it full of sexually graphic & violent scenes? Yes.
Does the corruption, greed and lust border on insanity? Yes, yes, yes.
Have you ever researched Mexican drug cartels? Even a basic internet search will confirm that Dirty Promises is completely realistic - and possibly even a little tame in comparison. The world of a Mexican drug lord is no walk in the park.
Javier Bernal is not meant to be an easy to like guy. He will not bring you flowers or tell you that your hair smells pretty. He won't whisper sweet nothings, write poetry or build you a sandcastle. He will not seduce you! ... at least not in the typical romantic fashion.
But he does return loyalty, and will always keep his promises ... Even when they're really fucking disturbing. And, let's not forget that he may just kill you in the sack, (mostly) figuratively speaking, of course.
Javier. He is Patron. He is my KING.
I don't think I would be able to pick between this or Dirty Angels for my favorite Karina Halle book. Without question, this is one of my top picks for the year. Karina Halle is a masterful, chameleon of a writer. Every single thing she writes is like a revelation to me. I just can't say enough about her talent & my devotion to the worlds that she creates.
What else can I say? If you haven't read this series yet, you are seriously missing out. Get on it!
Thank you to the author for advance access to this fucking fantastic book!
Acutally, 6 stars won't be enough. This is Karina Halle at her best! I am in awe of her sick, twisted, lovely dark & dirty mind. Is it wrong that I love her depravity so damn much? Complete PERFECTION!
Is this a dark read? Yes.
Is it full of sexually graphic & violent scenes? Yes.
Does the corruption, greed and lust border on insanity? Yes, yes, yes.
Have you ever researched Mexican drug cartels? Even a basic internet search will confirm that Dirty Promises is completely realistic - and possibly even a little tame in comparison. The world of a Mexican drug lord is no walk in the park.
Javier Bernal is not meant to be an easy to like guy. He will not bring you flowers or tell you that your hair smells pretty. He won't whisper sweet nothings, write poetry or build you a sandcastle. He will not seduce you! ... at least not in the typical romantic fashion.
But he does return loyalty, and will always keep his promises ... Even when they're really fucking disturbing. And, let's not forget that he may just kill you in the sack, (mostly) figuratively speaking, of course.
Javier. He is Patron. He is my KING.
I don't think I would be able to pick between this or Dirty Angels for my favorite Karina Halle book. Without question, this is one of my top picks for the year. Karina Halle is a masterful, chameleon of a writer. Every single thing she writes is like a revelation to me. I just can't say enough about her talent & my devotion to the worlds that she creates.
What else can I say? If you haven't read this series yet, you are seriously missing out. Get on it!
Thank you to the author for advance access to this fucking fantastic book!
September 25, 2015
Full review now posted: Sept 24th
5 dirty stars
Luisa's life as wife to Javier Bernal, one of the greatest drug lords in Mexico, had been nice, until a tragic loss in Javier's family. Javier is now changing, becoming more cruel, more souless, but mostly what hurts the most is that he becomes distant.
She used to be his partner in crime, helping him with his business, but now Luisa feels lonely and betrayed by the man she loves and vowed to stay by his side for the rest of their lives.
Esteban's plan is working and Luisa is going to fall into his arms, while she's seeking for the things she's missing with her husband.
How do I begin to describe Dirty Promises? I've been trying for days to put my emotions into words, but they seem to fail me. I'll start saying that this book was very intense, the suspense was killing the ever loving life of me, the frustration hitting high.
While Esteban was plotting behind Javier's back, I was very worried, but I was trying to sooth myself with the knowledge that nothing would escape Javier's notice, especially by someone like Esteban. But Javier wasn't the same man after the latest loss in his family. He is a changed man and Esteban takes advantage of this.
I was so torn, so sad to see this amazing couple drift away slowly but steadily. I couldn't believe that Esteban would succeed and as the book progressed I was getting more and more antsy and frustrated. My emotions were all over the place, because things were changing and I didn't like that.
I'm not going to say any more about the plot, but I will just say that I really enjoyed this wonderful journey. Karina has a real talent when it comes to words and her magic writing took me with her once again. I especially loved her aknowledgements note and the little surprise that she's planning for us. I can't hide my excitement & my impatience now that I know about this future project.
Copy was gifted by the generous Arabella. Thank you! <3
5 dirty stars
Luisa's life as wife to Javier Bernal, one of the greatest drug lords in Mexico, had been nice, until a tragic loss in Javier's family. Javier is now changing, becoming more cruel, more souless, but mostly what hurts the most is that he becomes distant.
She used to be his partner in crime, helping him with his business, but now Luisa feels lonely and betrayed by the man she loves and vowed to stay by his side for the rest of their lives.
Esteban's plan is working and Luisa is going to fall into his arms, while she's seeking for the things she's missing with her husband.
How do I begin to describe Dirty Promises? I've been trying for days to put my emotions into words, but they seem to fail me. I'll start saying that this book was very intense, the suspense was killing the ever loving life of me, the frustration hitting high.
While Esteban was plotting behind Javier's back, I was very worried, but I was trying to sooth myself with the knowledge that nothing would escape Javier's notice, especially by someone like Esteban. But Javier wasn't the same man after the latest loss in his family. He is a changed man and Esteban takes advantage of this.
I was so torn, so sad to see this amazing couple drift away slowly but steadily. I couldn't believe that Esteban would succeed and as the book progressed I was getting more and more antsy and frustrated. My emotions were all over the place, because things were changing and I didn't like that.
I'm not going to say any more about the plot, but I will just say that I really enjoyed this wonderful journey. Karina has a real talent when it comes to words and her magic writing took me with her once again. I especially loved her aknowledgements note and the little surprise that she's planning for us. I can't hide my excitement & my impatience now that I know about this future project.
Copy was gifted by the generous Arabella. Thank you! <3
September 17, 2015
5 She Was Mine. Just Mine. Always Mine Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Promises-...
In Dirty Promises Javier & Luisa are on top as King & Queen of one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico, but it takes sacrifice & hard work to be the Patron. Javier has suffered so much loss as a result of his success, & he is now slowly unraveling. He is consumed by anger & guilt and wants others to suffer as he is. Unfortunately his pain is affecting his relationship with Luisa. Javier feels he needs to keep her at a distance for her own good. He thinks he has a black soul, & that he's no good for Luisa anymore.
Luisa is hurt Javier is shutting her out, & just wants her husband back. It's crushing her that he's pushing her away & she is determined to get him to pay her attention again, even if it's only his wrath she gets. Javier has done terrible things, but never made apologies for who he is. He is ruthless, intelligent, charming, brutal, & immoral, but with Luisa he can be tender & extremely loving. She misses the passion that has always been between them & wants her Javi to return to her.
-After everything, he was still everything.
-When Javier was cruel he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming.
-He was a possessive man through and through and he needed to own me both body and soul.
-Javier was it. If anything went wrong, if it all went south, there wouldn't be anyone else. I wanted him forever or I wanted nothing.
While Javier isn't being himself & is distracted by the job, one of his men is jealous of him & wants everything he has. We get a lot of action & plenty of gore. If you can't handle dark & twisted this may not be for you, but if you can then OMG what an amazing thrilling ride! This is one of those books that you have to forget your morals & immerse yourself into this different world of corruption & vengeance where everyone has a monster lurking inside dying to do bad things. Lol, the couple that tortures together stays together! ;))
-I love you, Luisa. Even when I thought I didn't have it in me, I do. I love you.
-"You really are the woman for me, aren't you? Have I ever told you that there's nothing sexier than seeing bloodlust in your eyes?"
-I saw in her what I saw in myself, something dark and frightening and unstoppable.
I first met Javier in On Every Street. I read all 7 books in this series in a row & each one was just as fabulous as the last. Had me on the edge of my seat & were full of excitement! At times I haven't always liked Javier's behavior, but I always felt a pull in my heart for him & all he has endured in his life. I've really enjoyed seeing how he's evolved through the years & with each book I loved him even more! He is such a complex character. He will be so ruthless, but then so gentle, & oh his capacity to love. This man loves like he does everything else in life, giving 100%! I was so happy he finally found his queen. A strong woman that was worthy to stand beside him & accepts him as he is. They make an incredible team & are unstoppable together.
-"You're my queen."
-"My beautiful queen."
-I couldn't imagine life without him, couldn't belong to anyone but him. My king, my king, my king.
(ARC provided by author)
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Promises-...
In Dirty Promises Javier & Luisa are on top as King & Queen of one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico, but it takes sacrifice & hard work to be the Patron. Javier has suffered so much loss as a result of his success, & he is now slowly unraveling. He is consumed by anger & guilt and wants others to suffer as he is. Unfortunately his pain is affecting his relationship with Luisa. Javier feels he needs to keep her at a distance for her own good. He thinks he has a black soul, & that he's no good for Luisa anymore.
Luisa is hurt Javier is shutting her out, & just wants her husband back. It's crushing her that he's pushing her away & she is determined to get him to pay her attention again, even if it's only his wrath she gets. Javier has done terrible things, but never made apologies for who he is. He is ruthless, intelligent, charming, brutal, & immoral, but with Luisa he can be tender & extremely loving. She misses the passion that has always been between them & wants her Javi to return to her.
-After everything, he was still everything.
-When Javier was cruel he was brutal, but when he was tender, it was almost more disarming.
-He was a possessive man through and through and he needed to own me both body and soul.
-Javier was it. If anything went wrong, if it all went south, there wouldn't be anyone else. I wanted him forever or I wanted nothing.
While Javier isn't being himself & is distracted by the job, one of his men is jealous of him & wants everything he has. We get a lot of action & plenty of gore. If you can't handle dark & twisted this may not be for you, but if you can then OMG what an amazing thrilling ride! This is one of those books that you have to forget your morals & immerse yourself into this different world of corruption & vengeance where everyone has a monster lurking inside dying to do bad things. Lol, the couple that tortures together stays together! ;))
-I love you, Luisa. Even when I thought I didn't have it in me, I do. I love you.
-"You really are the woman for me, aren't you? Have I ever told you that there's nothing sexier than seeing bloodlust in your eyes?"
-I saw in her what I saw in myself, something dark and frightening and unstoppable.
I first met Javier in On Every Street. I read all 7 books in this series in a row & each one was just as fabulous as the last. Had me on the edge of my seat & were full of excitement! At times I haven't always liked Javier's behavior, but I always felt a pull in my heart for him & all he has endured in his life. I've really enjoyed seeing how he's evolved through the years & with each book I loved him even more! He is such a complex character. He will be so ruthless, but then so gentle, & oh his capacity to love. This man loves like he does everything else in life, giving 100%! I was so happy he finally found his queen. A strong woman that was worthy to stand beside him & accepts him as he is. They make an incredible team & are unstoppable together.
-"You're my queen."
-"My beautiful queen."
-I couldn't imagine life without him, couldn't belong to anyone but him. My king, my king, my king.
December 22, 2015
~5 Dirty Stars~
"Dedicated to the ones with the black hearts and dirty souls."-Halle
Dirty Promises is the third book in Karina Halle's Dirty Angels Series. This book has an intoxicating blend of action, passion, violence, romance, heartbreak, and brutality. It was ugly. It was raw. It was perfect! Readers should pay close attention to the NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR in the beginning of the book. Ms. Halle was not exaggerating!
"The two of us sat on our thrones, king and queen, with the kind of ease you’d find from an old married couple on a broken down porch, mosquitos buzzing hungrily at their ears. But the mosquitos drew more blood each time. One drop here, one suck there. Eventually you’d be hollowed out. It didn’t matter how content you were, how little they took. Bloodsuckers never rest until they’re full."-Javier
Luisa and Javier were last seen as the queen and king of the Mexican Cartel. They had been ruling in unity and were viewed by all as a mighty force of nature. Now everything has changed. The death of Javier's sister has left him spinning in a tailspin. Life isn't always fair in love and war.
"Rage. It fueled me. It whipped me. It begged me. I would not stop until everything was mine again. Until the heads rolled on the dusty floor."-Javier
As Luisa and Javier navigate the murky waters of deceit, their marriage is failing. No one can be trusted. Nothing is as it seems. Luisa and Javier become dirty from sins against each other and sins against themselves. Javier is clinging to his empire and will stop at nothing to maintain his reign as King. Can he survive and still have Luisa seated next to him?
"Family is everything. That is the creed in this country. But that creed gets others killed. And it slowly kills you. Your family is the first thing you’ll lose. Your soul will be the last."-Javier
Although I would love to explore the plot more with you in this review, the truth is I feel like you need to experience each moment for yourself. I will just share that I started the book in the afternoon and stayed up all night to finish it. So make sure you have some time to devote to all things Javier because he will dominate every minute he has with you!
"In Javier’s case, I likened his soul to a dirty window. The glow was muddled, and what did come through was in little cracks and smudges. But those little cracks held the brightest light, piercing through the darkness and shining a spotlight in some of the blackest places of the heart. Javier had those cracks, that sharp light, and it was blinding sometimes. I felt I was special just to witness it."-Luisa
Overall, I simply cannot rave enough about this read. Karina Halle has certainly raised the bar and busted through the roof with this masterpiece. She paints an authentic "vivid" picture of the brutality of living in the drug lord lifestyle. It is so vivid I could almost taste the blood in my mouth after it rained all over my face. The read is written in mostly dual POV (with a third POV from the villan's perspective). Each violent act is described with precision so there is no question as to the level of brutality these characters are experiencing.
"Our marriage had been obliterated, and this was all that was left. I was going to hold on to that until my fingers were raw."-Javier
The characterization of these characters is in a caliber of it's own. Meaning every aspect is explored thoroughly to include physically, emotionally, spiritually, and (my favorite) sexually. Because these characters have been growing and developing over the coarse of many years, we see every flaw and perfect imperfection. The tempo is fast paced and the dialogue is rich with texture. Personally, I have been a fan of Javier from the beginning of his creation in Sins and Needles Series (Don't worry Camden is still my number one man!). It takes a great amount of talent to take a villan and make him sexy and even tender. Additionally, Luisa is full of fire and a perfect match for Javier (well besides me of course). The emotions evoked in this read are intense. I certainly don't feel like this series is for everyone. However, if you enjoy a good action romance with steamy sex, intense characters, and a complex plot than this is the series for you. Karina Halle really exceeded expectations with this ending. I will never forget Luisa and Javier! I imagine they are still living on and ruling the world!
"It was only him and it was only me. King and Queen. That’s all that existed in this rusty, bloody space, between these two tortured, filthy souls."-Luisa
~BR with WAR and CC...thanks for allowing me to watch!~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"Dedicated to the ones with the black hearts and dirty souls."-Halle
Dirty Promises is the third book in Karina Halle's Dirty Angels Series. This book has an intoxicating blend of action, passion, violence, romance, heartbreak, and brutality. It was ugly. It was raw. It was perfect! Readers should pay close attention to the NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR in the beginning of the book. Ms. Halle was not exaggerating!
"The two of us sat on our thrones, king and queen, with the kind of ease you’d find from an old married couple on a broken down porch, mosquitos buzzing hungrily at their ears. But the mosquitos drew more blood each time. One drop here, one suck there. Eventually you’d be hollowed out. It didn’t matter how content you were, how little they took. Bloodsuckers never rest until they’re full."-Javier
Luisa and Javier were last seen as the queen and king of the Mexican Cartel. They had been ruling in unity and were viewed by all as a mighty force of nature. Now everything has changed. The death of Javier's sister has left him spinning in a tailspin. Life isn't always fair in love and war.
"Rage. It fueled me. It whipped me. It begged me. I would not stop until everything was mine again. Until the heads rolled on the dusty floor."-Javier
As Luisa and Javier navigate the murky waters of deceit, their marriage is failing. No one can be trusted. Nothing is as it seems. Luisa and Javier become dirty from sins against each other and sins against themselves. Javier is clinging to his empire and will stop at nothing to maintain his reign as King. Can he survive and still have Luisa seated next to him?
"Family is everything. That is the creed in this country. But that creed gets others killed. And it slowly kills you. Your family is the first thing you’ll lose. Your soul will be the last."-Javier
Although I would love to explore the plot more with you in this review, the truth is I feel like you need to experience each moment for yourself. I will just share that I started the book in the afternoon and stayed up all night to finish it. So make sure you have some time to devote to all things Javier because he will dominate every minute he has with you!
"In Javier’s case, I likened his soul to a dirty window. The glow was muddled, and what did come through was in little cracks and smudges. But those little cracks held the brightest light, piercing through the darkness and shining a spotlight in some of the blackest places of the heart. Javier had those cracks, that sharp light, and it was blinding sometimes. I felt I was special just to witness it."-Luisa
Overall, I simply cannot rave enough about this read. Karina Halle has certainly raised the bar and busted through the roof with this masterpiece. She paints an authentic "vivid" picture of the brutality of living in the drug lord lifestyle. It is so vivid I could almost taste the blood in my mouth after it rained all over my face. The read is written in mostly dual POV (with a third POV from the villan's perspective). Each violent act is described with precision so there is no question as to the level of brutality these characters are experiencing.
"Our marriage had been obliterated, and this was all that was left. I was going to hold on to that until my fingers were raw."-Javier
The characterization of these characters is in a caliber of it's own. Meaning every aspect is explored thoroughly to include physically, emotionally, spiritually, and (my favorite) sexually. Because these characters have been growing and developing over the coarse of many years, we see every flaw and perfect imperfection. The tempo is fast paced and the dialogue is rich with texture. Personally, I have been a fan of Javier from the beginning of his creation in Sins and Needles Series (Don't worry Camden is still my number one man!). It takes a great amount of talent to take a villan and make him sexy and even tender. Additionally, Luisa is full of fire and a perfect match for Javier (well besides me of course). The emotions evoked in this read are intense. I certainly don't feel like this series is for everyone. However, if you enjoy a good action romance with steamy sex, intense characters, and a complex plot than this is the series for you. Karina Halle really exceeded expectations with this ending. I will never forget Luisa and Javier! I imagine they are still living on and ruling the world!
"It was only him and it was only me. King and Queen. That’s all that existed in this rusty, bloody space, between these two tortured, filthy souls."-Luisa
~BR with WAR and CC...thanks for allowing me to watch!~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 12, 2018
1.) Dirty Angels ★★★★★
2.) Dirty Deeds ★★
Well, this is the worst book I've read all year. I can't even believe Karina Halle would write this monster. She's trying to pretend it's dark and edgy, but it's disgusting and repulsive. She tried way too hard, and is way too over the top. This book was so bad, this is going to be a rant more than a review with everything I'm feeling right now.
2.) Dirty Deeds ★★
Well, this is the worst book I've read all year. I can't even believe Karina Halle would write this monster. She's trying to pretend it's dark and edgy, but it's disgusting and repulsive. She tried way too hard, and is way too over the top. This book was so bad, this is going to be a rant more than a review with everything I'm feeling right now.
September 26, 2015
Type: Book 3 of 3 from Dirty Angels series
POV: Shifting - Multiple
Rating:
Javier Bernal was a broken man after losing his sister. He fueled his devastation by unleashing it to anyone and everyone. With his attention ruthlessly focused on expanding his empire, his relationship with his wife Luisa started to crack.
And that crack didn’t go unnoticed to his ever determined right hand man, Esteban Mendoza. With stakes high for both his professional and personal life, Javier had to fight for his right to be King.
Javier has been my main man since I first read about him in Sins & Needles. But then he broke my heart with his personality change in Dirty Angels. Now with Dirty Promises, he’s back, in a way what made me drawn to him in the first place – the ambitious and merciless crime boss that he was.
Javier’s ruthlessness turned me on like no other heroes ever could. He desire for power and revenge trumped anything else. But at the same time while loyal to his cause, he still had the capability to use his heart.
I never liked Luisa since the first book. Her character felt forced then, but now she was more believable. I still didn’t like her, but I did felt sorry for what she had to go through.
Esteban was a character I liked since the beginning. Even though he was untrustworthy, I like the persona he portrayed (as mentioned in the quote above). I love that he seemed light and carefree with a hidden darker edge. I also appreciate his ambition which reminds me a lot of Javier.
I must say I’m happy Karina Halle is back doing what she can do best – the thrill and the suspense. There was never a dull moment throughout the book. The violence and the depravity might not be something that everyone could handle, but they were not misplaced. It was a reality of what life in crime is like.
There were not much sexy times but they were memorable for sure. There was one particular scene towards the end that got me all hot and bothered. My only wish is for it to go much further than that. If only it wasn’t interrupted…
Dirty Promises was thrilling and suspenseful, keeping you on your toes while possibly making you cringe and turned on at the same time. If you like your book fast pace, full of vile characters and disturbing scenes, this one could be a winner.
Series order:
★ ★ ★ (F)BR with my Javigina twin CC and Liz ★ ★ ★
(Liz was made perfectly aware not to touch Javi or there will be consequences haha!)
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
POV: Shifting - Multiple
Rating:
Javier Bernal was a broken man after losing his sister. He fueled his devastation by unleashing it to anyone and everyone. With his attention ruthlessly focused on expanding his empire, his relationship with his wife Luisa started to crack.
And that crack didn’t go unnoticed to his ever determined right hand man, Esteban Mendoza. With stakes high for both his professional and personal life, Javier had to fight for his right to be King.
Javier has been my main man since I first read about him in Sins & Needles. But then he broke my heart with his personality change in Dirty Angels. Now with Dirty Promises, he’s back, in a way what made me drawn to him in the first place – the ambitious and merciless crime boss that he was.
Your family is the first thing you’ll lose. Your soul will be the last. Luckily, I didn’t have much of either anymore.
Javier’s ruthlessness turned me on like no other heroes ever could. He desire for power and revenge trumped anything else. But at the same time while loyal to his cause, he still had the capability to use his heart.
I never liked Luisa since the first book. Her character felt forced then, but now she was more believable. I still didn’t like her, but I did felt sorry for what she had to go through.
He hid under the persona of being young, dumb, careless man and even though he certainly wasn’t smart, his capacity for inflicting pain and suffering was beyond my understanding.
Esteban was a character I liked since the beginning. Even though he was untrustworthy, I like the persona he portrayed (as mentioned in the quote above). I love that he seemed light and carefree with a hidden darker edge. I also appreciate his ambition which reminds me a lot of Javier.
It’s funny how far revenge can drive you, you’re willing to give up so much for just one sweet taste.
I must say I’m happy Karina Halle is back doing what she can do best – the thrill and the suspense. There was never a dull moment throughout the book. The violence and the depravity might not be something that everyone could handle, but they were not misplaced. It was a reality of what life in crime is like.
There were not much sexy times but they were memorable for sure. There was one particular scene towards the end that got me all hot and bothered. My only wish is for it to go much further than that. If only it wasn’t interrupted…
Dirty Promises was thrilling and suspenseful, keeping you on your toes while possibly making you cringe and turned on at the same time. If you like your book fast pace, full of vile characters and disturbing scenes, this one could be a winner.
Series order:
★ ★ ★ (F)BR with my Javigina twin CC and Liz ★ ★ ★
(Liz was made perfectly aware not to touch Javi or there will be consequences haha!)
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
September 27, 2015
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
O. M. G. There are simply no words to describe this story and do it justice. A dark, gritty read start to finish, I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience for the most part because I found myself enjoying things I most definitely shouldn’t have, and I am now convinced that Karina Halle could make me jump out of an airplane with a handkerchief instead of a parachute, because she makes Quentin Tarantino look like Walt fricking Disney. If you’re not afraid of an unconventional love story, one that won’t just push the boundaries of your comfort zone, but completely incinerate them, and still leave you smiling like a fool, I can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough. But like you’d take your shoes off at the door, walk into this story free from everything you’ve ever come to expect in a romance and allow yourself to enjoy the ride…in all its wicked depravity. Because with superb writing such as this, you won’t even want a seatbelt.
The love story between Luisa and Javier Bernal has never been a hearts-and-flowers kind of romance, their turbulent affair forged in the cauldron of the violent Mexican drug cartels, but while they were once partners and confidantes, the past year and a half has created a deep fissure in their marriage, turning them into two strangers living under the same roof. Once a ruthless, cunning, merciless man who was also capable of great tenderness towards his wife and loyalty towards his men, his twisted code of morals dictating his every decision, Javier’s grief over losing his beloved sister Alana has now turned him into a loose cannon. Unpredictable and blood-thirsty, violence has become his only outlet, making him no longer trust himself around his wife. Believing that there is no place for love in his life and that his feelings for her have become his ultimate weakness, the only thing capable of hurting him any further, he pushes Luisa away, seeing emotional distance as the only way of protecting them both.
Heartbroken and lost, Luisa keeps hoping Javier would find his way back to her, even though the loss of his affections is slowly making her lose herself and her purpose in this new life. She remains willing to forgive him for all his mistakes, to give him all of her, whichever way he needs it, just to have his love back. The distance between them, however, only seems to grow as time passes, driving Luisa to make desperate mistakes of her own.
But while they are both busy licking their own wounds, a snake in the grass lies waiting, ready to strike and take all they’ve built together away from them. And once he does, this story explodes into an out-of-control inferno of events, each more shocking than the next, yet each fitting of this story and of these characters. This book is prickly, confronting, brutal more times than not, but it never pretends to be something it’s not, consistently zealous and out-of-the-box, and forever true to its premise. Stories like these are what nightmares are made of, but Ms Halle still manages to add a compelling human dimension even to the scariest of her monsters. And to paint even the most depraved of actions with a romantic brush. Gory, twisted, horrific from the get-go, this is not a fairy tale, each of these characters inherently flawed and damaged, but the beauty of this story lies in their self-awareness, in their ability to adapt to their circumstances, to forgive each other, to constantly push the limits of their own moral codes and keep redefining themselves in the process. Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in this story with an open mind—you might end up loving it just as much as I have.
See this review on my blog! | Follow me on Facebook! | Follow me on Twitter!
Buy eBook ➜ http://amzn.to/1KQ58ku
“We were terrible people who did terrible things to each other. We were slaves to hate because hate was strong and we sacrificed love to fuel it.”
O. M. G. There are simply no words to describe this story and do it justice. A dark, gritty read start to finish, I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience for the most part because I found myself enjoying things I most definitely shouldn’t have, and I am now convinced that Karina Halle could make me jump out of an airplane with a handkerchief instead of a parachute, because she makes Quentin Tarantino look like Walt fricking Disney. If you’re not afraid of an unconventional love story, one that won’t just push the boundaries of your comfort zone, but completely incinerate them, and still leave you smiling like a fool, I can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough. But like you’d take your shoes off at the door, walk into this story free from everything you’ve ever come to expect in a romance and allow yourself to enjoy the ride…in all its wicked depravity. Because with superb writing such as this, you won’t even want a seatbelt.
“The wife of a drug king. The queen of corruption.”
The love story between Luisa and Javier Bernal has never been a hearts-and-flowers kind of romance, their turbulent affair forged in the cauldron of the violent Mexican drug cartels, but while they were once partners and confidantes, the past year and a half has created a deep fissure in their marriage, turning them into two strangers living under the same roof. Once a ruthless, cunning, merciless man who was also capable of great tenderness towards his wife and loyalty towards his men, his twisted code of morals dictating his every decision, Javier’s grief over losing his beloved sister Alana has now turned him into a loose cannon. Unpredictable and blood-thirsty, violence has become his only outlet, making him no longer trust himself around his wife. Believing that there is no place for love in his life and that his feelings for her have become his ultimate weakness, the only thing capable of hurting him any further, he pushes Luisa away, seeing emotional distance as the only way of protecting them both.
“She had become my family, my confidante, my lover, my friend. She had become everything to me, in bed and outside of it. But she was a weakness, my weakness. She was what the would go after next, the last thing I could possibly lose. Unless I lost her first.”
Heartbroken and lost, Luisa keeps hoping Javier would find his way back to her, even though the loss of his affections is slowly making her lose herself and her purpose in this new life. She remains willing to forgive him for all his mistakes, to give him all of her, whichever way he needs it, just to have his love back. The distance between them, however, only seems to grow as time passes, driving Luisa to make desperate mistakes of her own.
“Please. Be rough. Hurt me. Make me bleed. Give me something.”
But while they are both busy licking their own wounds, a snake in the grass lies waiting, ready to strike and take all they’ve built together away from them. And once he does, this story explodes into an out-of-control inferno of events, each more shocking than the next, yet each fitting of this story and of these characters. This book is prickly, confronting, brutal more times than not, but it never pretends to be something it’s not, consistently zealous and out-of-the-box, and forever true to its premise. Stories like these are what nightmares are made of, but Ms Halle still manages to add a compelling human dimension even to the scariest of her monsters. And to paint even the most depraved of actions with a romantic brush. Gory, twisted, horrific from the get-go, this is not a fairy tale, each of these characters inherently flawed and damaged, but the beauty of this story lies in their self-awareness, in their ability to adapt to their circumstances, to forgive each other, to constantly push the limits of their own moral codes and keep redefining themselves in the process. Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in this story with an open mind—you might end up loving it just as much as I have.
“It was only him and it was only me. King and Queen. That’s all that existed in this rusted, bloody space, between these two tortured, filthy souls.”
See this review on my blog! | Follow me on Facebook! | Follow me on Twitter!
Buy eBook ➜ http://amzn.to/1KQ58ku
September 16, 2015
And BOOM that's how it's done.
Well shit.
Fuck.
Dayum.
Aye Dios Mio.
WTF.
Awwww.
Get him! Get him!
That is the jist of what you'll be thinking when reading Dirty Promises. This book will push at your comfort zone. It's not easy. It's brutally honest on how the cartels work and with how the characters you've come to love or hate portray themselves.
Way back when Karina introduced us to Javier Bernal, we knew how his mind worked. He's conniving, vindictive and dramatic but he's also a lover, a fighter and the king to his domain. In Dirty Promises, Javier is not in a good place. He's losing his family and a little of his sanity(whatever is left of it). He takes us to a dark dark place where we hope he finds the light to bring him out of his hell. Luisa, his wife, is his light. She tries to light the path to Javier back to her even if it takes a little of her soul. Luisa is one the bravest and courageous heroines I've come across. What she endures at the hands of evil men is not comprehensible because of the brutality of it. Javier and Luisa are living in their own secret hell but when they break free; it's to show the world they come out guns and knives wielded out to fuck you back.
Now. One character that I had hoped would get his story was Esteban. Him? I didn't see coming. Yes, I knew he wanted Javier's domain but fuckamotherfuckingfuckduck how did I not see what he was capable of. In the short story Dark Paradise, I thought I saw the good in him. Esteban was just a greedy bastard who got what was coming to him.
As always, I love the way Ms. Halle tells her stories. They're done flawlessly and creatively. You will not read the same story with any of her books. She has the knack for writing and it's highly entertaining
*ARC provided by author*
Well shit.
Fuck.
Dayum.
Aye Dios Mio.
WTF.
Awwww.
Get him! Get him!
That is the jist of what you'll be thinking when reading Dirty Promises. This book will push at your comfort zone. It's not easy. It's brutally honest on how the cartels work and with how the characters you've come to love or hate portray themselves.
Way back when Karina introduced us to Javier Bernal, we knew how his mind worked. He's conniving, vindictive and dramatic but he's also a lover, a fighter and the king to his domain. In Dirty Promises, Javier is not in a good place. He's losing his family and a little of his sanity(whatever is left of it). He takes us to a dark dark place where we hope he finds the light to bring him out of his hell. Luisa, his wife, is his light. She tries to light the path to Javier back to her even if it takes a little of her soul. Luisa is one the bravest and courageous heroines I've come across. What she endures at the hands of evil men is not comprehensible because of the brutality of it. Javier and Luisa are living in their own secret hell but when they break free; it's to show the world they come out guns and knives wielded out to fuck you back.
Now. One character that I had hoped would get his story was Esteban. Him? I didn't see coming. Yes, I knew he wanted Javier's domain but fuckamotherfuckingfuckduck how did I not see what he was capable of. In the short story Dark Paradise, I thought I saw the good in him. Esteban was just a greedy bastard who got what was coming to him.
As always, I love the way Ms. Halle tells her stories. They're done flawlessly and creatively. You will not read the same story with any of her books. She has the knack for writing and it's highly entertaining
*ARC provided by author*
September 12, 2015
Holy hell, for everyone who said Javier was too soft…THINK AGAIN! I was in shock and yet I couldn’t look away. There were moments I was literally cringing at the cruelty and brutality in Dirty Promises. However, as I read I was captivated by the story and heart broken, well, I was just a complete mess of emotions.
This is the final installment and when things begin I was immediately gutted at seeing Javier and Luisa and how their relationship was. Javier is devastated by his sisters death, he is a strong man, but he is broken now. Luisa is at a loss and feels helpless in her need to save and bring him back.
I absolutely will not spoil this story, it would be a HUGE injustice to you as a reader to not allow the story to just play out. The only warning I will give you is this book is not for the faint of heart. However, it’s super entertaining and will have completely engaged.
This is a difficult one for me to rate because in terms of entertaining and the story line it’s brilliant! However, my poor little heart broke for Javier and Luisa. I wanted more for them after all they have been through, seeing the events in this book tore me apart and completely broke my heart!
Should you read this book? ABSOLUTELY! If you are a fan of this series and Javier you have to read this.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is the final installment and when things begin I was immediately gutted at seeing Javier and Luisa and how their relationship was. Javier is devastated by his sisters death, he is a strong man, but he is broken now. Luisa is at a loss and feels helpless in her need to save and bring him back.
I absolutely will not spoil this story, it would be a HUGE injustice to you as a reader to not allow the story to just play out. The only warning I will give you is this book is not for the faint of heart. However, it’s super entertaining and will have completely engaged.
This is a difficult one for me to rate because in terms of entertaining and the story line it’s brilliant! However, my poor little heart broke for Javier and Luisa. I wanted more for them after all they have been through, seeing the events in this book tore me apart and completely broke my heart!
Should you read this book? ABSOLUTELY! If you are a fan of this series and Javier you have to read this.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2015
In Dirty Promises we are reunited with Javier Bernal! [applause, bows, kisses, blows …and anything else he may want me to do!! lol] Ok - now that I have that out of my system, let’s get serious and always dirty!
In the third and final book of the Dirty Angels series, Javier and Luisa are confronted with unexpected challenges. Javier is at the top of his game as El Patrón but is not prepared for death of his sister, Alana, and the betrayal of his wife. In his grief, Javier retreats to himself and shuts out everyone from his life. While Javier is always prepared for a fight, with his defenses down, he does not see the underhanded signs of Esteban, his number two, scheming and clawing his way to the top. Esteban’s plan seemed failsafe except he miscalculated Javier’s range of intellect, keen foresight and untethered darkness.
“Rage. It fueled me. It whipped me. It begged me. I would not stop until everything was mine again. Until the heads rolled on a dusty floor.”
From the beginning, you can feel the tension mounting. Javier is a man that lives by a certain civilized code and to protect his family and business, Javier plans to seek vengeance. However, when Este is able to pierce the bond of the one person he is closest to, Javi will not back down until he holds the bloody heads of his enemy. While his wife, Luisa, struggles to remain by Javier’s side as his queen, she must make decide where her loyalties lie. There were times when I wanted to kill Luisa and Esteban, but the plot unfolds in such a way that I couldn’t have been more pleased with the lead up and the conclusion.
“You’re embedded in my skin. And you’re embedded in mine, he said. Deeper than you’ll ever know.”
As always, Javier is a domineering and kinky man who has sex unabashedly. What I like about Luisa is that she is always willing and craves Javier’s deviance. In particular, there is one scene that nearly gave me heart palpitations because it was so hot and unexpected. The possibilities were so limitless! lol!
“Now I had his attention. He looked like he wanted to murder me, which made me smile wider. He thought he was in control here? He was wrong. In this play, I had all the power. I always did.”
The writing style is signature Karina Halle - effective, engaging, humorous and sexy with an undeniable grasp of her characters. I loved the action and suspense and I felt like I was immersed in Javier’s world! Javi is ever commanding and if you already like him, your loyalties will be solidified after reading Dirty Promises. I highly recommend this book!
Until the next book, Javier will remain locked in my dungeon. lol.
*This was a (F)BR with warhawke, aka my Javigina twinsie, and Lonestar Liz who directed our little ménage!
March 18, 2017
Damn! When Karina Halle said this was the darkest book she has ever written she wasn't joking!! Kidnapping, interrogation, torture, drugs, murder, rape, the taking off of body parts... yeah, it was intense. Ms. Halle went to dark places in this world of Mexican drug cartels and I will never again question why she took a time out and explored contemporary romance for a while. Dark is definitely where her true talent lies but Ms. Halle can't live there and after reading this I would never ask her to.
Dirty Promises was serious sh#t but it was freakin' amazing. I could not wait to get back to this book every time I had to put it down. This was the violent, sorrowful, vengeful, but epic fight for power that the books in the Dirty Angels Trilogy have been individually leading up to. The fact that I loved this book in particular so much made me feel just as dirty and bloodstained as these characters. If you enjoy Karina Halle's writing, specifically her darker writing, you seriously need to get on this trilogy. Now!
My favorite quote:
"The desert demanded our respect, and in return, it would clear your head and remind you how damn insignificant you really were."
Note: Dirty Promises fits into Karina Halle's world of dark romance in the following order:
The Artists Trilogy (published 2013)
#0.5-On Every Street
#1-Sins & Needles
#2-Shooting Scars
#3-Bold Tricks
Dirty Angels Trilogy (Spin-off, published 2014-2015)
#1-Dirty Angels
#2-Dirty Deeds
#3-**Dirty Promises**
Sins Duet (Spin-off, published 2017)
#1-Black Hearts
#2-Dirty Souls
December 6, 2020
For people looking for safety.
Well there is none
There helpless cheating h cheats with H right hand man
H lets his right man fuck his wife in front of him to get the truth out that h and right man are fucking
Rape/ gang rape
Killing
Well there is none
There helpless cheating h cheats with H right hand man
H lets his right man fuck his wife in front of him to get the truth out that h and right man are fucking
Rape/ gang rape
Killing
September 23, 2015
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
"He was the worst of us all. And I was going to rip him from limb to limb, tear him from ass to mouth, skin him alive and piss on his broken bones until I lost all traces of whatever humanity I had left. I was living, breathing wrath and I was never going to stop."
Bloody Fucking Brilliant!!!!! That's all I have to say about Dirty Promises by Karina Halle. Dirty Promises was everything I craved, wanted, and needed in a dark romance. Karina Halle did an amazing job with this book. If you wanted raw carnal anger, revenge, war, lust, hate, and a bloody massacre then you got this in this book and so much more. With Karina's brilliant and wickedly evil twisty ways, she had you gasping at scenes but couldn't help but entranced by what was happening in the story line. For the life of me, I could not put this book down.
I seriously was on the edge of my seat with this book. It took me down a dark, twisted, fucked up journey but I had to know what laid ahead for Luisa and Javier. Dirty Promises was one of those books that can't be properly reviewed because you need to read this book. Experience everything from it's dark, raw, and brutal nature. Love isn't pretty especially when you got monsters and evil lurking. When darkness takes over and you are blinded by hate, sorrow, revenge, jealousy, and anger, promises are broken. And so the story of Luisa and Javier is one journey where the queen and king must get dirty. They must learn to crawl out from their own personal hell and bury the demons of their past and guilt in order to stand atop of their kingdom. So will Javier be standing alone to rule his kingdom or will he have his queen by at his side? The only way to find out...is for you to get you dirty and read Dirty Promises.
"Your pussy is mine, your soul is mine..Your heart is mine. You're all mine. Every part of you, Luisa, every part."
Dirty Promises is definitely gonna make my list of one my favorite dark romance books that I have read. This book made me cringed and yet I couldn't stop reading this spellbinding raw and dark read. I was dangerously addicted to this book. I loved Karina's writing and storytelling. She has a bewitching way of enchanting and pulling her readers into the book. Every pain, darkness, hatred, anger, jealousy, love and hope was felt throughout this book. All there is left to say is go read Dirty Promises. Take a chance on this mind-blowing, dark, and twisted book that has the power to rip and shred your heart to pieces but slowly Ms. Halle would stitch it back together.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Karina Halle
"He was the worst of us all. And I was going to rip him from limb to limb, tear him from ass to mouth, skin him alive and piss on his broken bones until I lost all traces of whatever humanity I had left. I was living, breathing wrath and I was never going to stop."
Bloody Fucking Brilliant!!!!! That's all I have to say about Dirty Promises by Karina Halle. Dirty Promises was everything I craved, wanted, and needed in a dark romance. Karina Halle did an amazing job with this book. If you wanted raw carnal anger, revenge, war, lust, hate, and a bloody massacre then you got this in this book and so much more. With Karina's brilliant and wickedly evil twisty ways, she had you gasping at scenes but couldn't help but entranced by what was happening in the story line. For the life of me, I could not put this book down.
I seriously was on the edge of my seat with this book. It took me down a dark, twisted, fucked up journey but I had to know what laid ahead for Luisa and Javier. Dirty Promises was one of those books that can't be properly reviewed because you need to read this book. Experience everything from it's dark, raw, and brutal nature. Love isn't pretty especially when you got monsters and evil lurking. When darkness takes over and you are blinded by hate, sorrow, revenge, jealousy, and anger, promises are broken. And so the story of Luisa and Javier is one journey where the queen and king must get dirty. They must learn to crawl out from their own personal hell and bury the demons of their past and guilt in order to stand atop of their kingdom. So will Javier be standing alone to rule his kingdom or will he have his queen by at his side? The only way to find out...is for you to get you dirty and read Dirty Promises.
"Your pussy is mine, your soul is mine..Your heart is mine. You're all mine. Every part of you, Luisa, every part."
Dirty Promises is definitely gonna make my list of one my favorite dark romance books that I have read. This book made me cringed and yet I couldn't stop reading this spellbinding raw and dark read. I was dangerously addicted to this book. I loved Karina's writing and storytelling. She has a bewitching way of enchanting and pulling her readers into the book. Every pain, darkness, hatred, anger, jealousy, love and hope was felt throughout this book. All there is left to say is go read Dirty Promises. Take a chance on this mind-blowing, dark, and twisted book that has the power to rip and shred your heart to pieces but slowly Ms. Halle would stitch it back together.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Karina Halle
September 11, 2015
Give this book all the fucked up, dirty, bloody stars!
Dirty Promises may be Halle's best writing since Sins & Needles. It's definitely the most exciting. The most brutal. The most uninhibited.
Javier was never a good guy, but he's moved beyond just a bad guy. He's vicious and focused so thoroughly on rage and revenge that he almost misses what is unraveling right in front of him. Almost.
Luisa is caught up in a marriage falling apart, a cartel on the brink of either exploding or imploding and a spiderweb of betrayal and deceit. Javier should be her foundation, but he's more like the cracks in it, due to his distractions.
All of this leads to one extremely violent story. Don't take that violent warning lightly. This is a savage tale and Halle leaves few characters untouched.
There was a time or two where my stomach turned with nausea, a time or two where I felt a bit of the blood lust of these characters and a time or two where I thought I probably should seek professional counseling for the sheer delight I got out of what was happening.
I will caution readers not to skip right to this book. You definitely want to read Dirty Angels and Dirty Deeds first. I would go as far as saying you need to read the entire Artist Trilogy, complete with the On Every Street novella, first. But that's not quite necessary. You can start Dirty Angels without that, I just don't know that you will get the same Javier experience. And if you like dark heroes, you want the full experience.
This isn't a book for all readers, but if you can handle some absolutely horrific, inhuman and heartless acts of murder and violence...all in the name of love, loyalty and revenge...pick this one up, you're bound to enjoy it.
Dirty Promises may be Halle's best writing since Sins & Needles. It's definitely the most exciting. The most brutal. The most uninhibited.
Javier was never a good guy, but he's moved beyond just a bad guy. He's vicious and focused so thoroughly on rage and revenge that he almost misses what is unraveling right in front of him. Almost.
Luisa is caught up in a marriage falling apart, a cartel on the brink of either exploding or imploding and a spiderweb of betrayal and deceit. Javier should be her foundation, but he's more like the cracks in it, due to his distractions.
All of this leads to one extremely violent story. Don't take that violent warning lightly. This is a savage tale and Halle leaves few characters untouched.
There was a time or two where my stomach turned with nausea, a time or two where I felt a bit of the blood lust of these characters and a time or two where I thought I probably should seek professional counseling for the sheer delight I got out of what was happening.
I will caution readers not to skip right to this book. You definitely want to read Dirty Angels and Dirty Deeds first. I would go as far as saying you need to read the entire Artist Trilogy, complete with the On Every Street novella, first. But that's not quite necessary. You can start Dirty Angels without that, I just don't know that you will get the same Javier experience. And if you like dark heroes, you want the full experience.
This isn't a book for all readers, but if you can handle some absolutely horrific, inhuman and heartless acts of murder and violence...all in the name of love, loyalty and revenge...pick this one up, you're bound to enjoy it.
December 29, 2022
4.5 Mexico's violent reality STARS
Honestamente no se como Karina logro tan gran reto, entrar en las mentes de personajes tan perversos y depravados como lo son Javier, Luisa y Esteban. Sin duda la prosa de Karina es lo mejor del libro, releo todas las frases que subraye y wow se me pone la piel de gallina. Todo se siente tan real y crudo.
No esperaba menos de la historia final de nuestros King and Queen of Corruption.
Cada que leía las escenas mas gore y grotescas de este libro, no podía dejar de pensar "Es la misma escritora que hace un par de días me tenia suspirando con un personaje que rescataba perros de la calle, la misma autora que dono dinero de sus ganancias para ayudar centros de rescate."
Sin duda este es el libro mas fuerte que he leído de Karina, y en general es una historia que sobrepasa el dark romance.
Y eso es lo que hace sentir la historia tan real, porque los que hemos visto de cerca la manera tan despiadada que actúan los narcotraficantes mexicanos sabemos que lo que retrata este libro es tan real que deseamos que no lo sea.
Un final épico, lleno de sangre, explosión y depravación.
También quiero dar un minuto de silencio por Juanito, el pobre solo fue victima de las circunstancias, sufrió, sufrió y murió de la misma manera. No lo merecía, pero es lo mas triste del narcotráfico todos son inocentes, todos son culpables.
Algo que si me arruino un poco la historia fueron los pequeños errores referente a la cultura mexicana y los errores del huzo de español. No Karina el nombre Vincente no existen, lo correcto serian VICENTE, nadie en México llama federale a un FEDERAL, o Bandito a un BANDIDO y Hiberto, la verdad en ese caso no se que trataba de decir la escritora pero si les aseguro que nunca he escuchado de alguien llamado así. Y en las cárceles mexicanas los reclusos no utilizan jumsuits color naranja.
En conclusión: No se que decir de la historia, no la disfrute y tampoco celebre el triunfo de Javier y Luisa, porque soy incapaz de ver el narcotráfico mexicano como algo que se pueda idealizar o verlo de otra forma que no sea más que asco. Pero sin duda es uno de los mejores libros que ha escrito la autora en los ultimos meses.
Larga Vida a Karina Halle.
"They all died because I kept climbing. Family is everything. That is the creed in this country. But that creed gets others killed. And it slowly kills you. Your family is the first thing you’ll lose. Your soul will be the last."
Honestamente no se como Karina logro tan gran reto, entrar en las mentes de personajes tan perversos y depravados como lo son Javier, Luisa y Esteban. Sin duda la prosa de Karina es lo mejor del libro, releo todas las frases que subraye y wow se me pone la piel de gallina. Todo se siente tan real y crudo.
No esperaba menos de la historia final de nuestros King and Queen of Corruption.
Cada que leía las escenas mas gore y grotescas de este libro, no podía dejar de pensar "Es la misma escritora que hace un par de días me tenia suspirando con un personaje que rescataba perros de la calle, la misma autora que dono dinero de sus ganancias para ayudar centros de rescate."
Sin duda este es el libro mas fuerte que he leído de Karina, y en general es una historia que sobrepasa el dark romance.
Y eso es lo que hace sentir la historia tan real, porque los que hemos visto de cerca la manera tan despiadada que actúan los narcotraficantes mexicanos sabemos que lo que retrata este libro es tan real que deseamos que no lo sea.
Un final épico, lleno de sangre, explosión y depravación.
"You wanted to be me so much that it actually drove you insane. That’s when I realized you were nothing more than a pathetic piece of shit, an ugly fucking dog that wouldn’t stop following me around, sniffing the Alpha for scraps, licking my balls to win favors. And that’s what you still are. Only now you’ve had a taste of what you could have become. And now you’ll know what it’s like to die a complete failure with the taste of my balls still in your mouth.”
También quiero dar un minuto de silencio por Juanito, el pobre solo fue victima de las circunstancias, sufrió, sufrió y murió de la misma manera. No lo merecía, pero es lo mas triste del narcotráfico todos son inocentes, todos son culpables.
Algo que si me arruino un poco la historia fueron los pequeños errores referente a la cultura mexicana y los errores del huzo de español. No Karina el nombre Vincente no existen, lo correcto serian VICENTE, nadie en México llama federale a un FEDERAL, o Bandito a un BANDIDO y Hiberto, la verdad en ese caso no se que trataba de decir la escritora pero si les aseguro que nunca he escuchado de alguien llamado así. Y en las cárceles mexicanas los reclusos no utilizan jumsuits color naranja.
En conclusión: No se que decir de la historia, no la disfrute y tampoco celebre el triunfo de Javier y Luisa, porque soy incapaz de ver el narcotráfico mexicano como algo que se pueda idealizar o verlo de otra forma que no sea más que asco. Pero sin duda es uno de los mejores libros que ha escrito la autora en los ultimos meses.
Larga Vida a Karina Halle.
December 30, 2015
It's LIVE http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Promises-...
I missed dark and gritty Karina. It's her best grit and gore to date. Leave your boundaries at the door, this isn't your mama's romance. The drug cartel world isn't full of rainbows or ponies but betrayal, blood and hunger. Full review to come!
I missed dark and gritty Karina. It's her best grit and gore to date. Leave your boundaries at the door, this isn't your mama's romance. The drug cartel world isn't full of rainbows or ponies but betrayal, blood and hunger. Full review to come!
September 18, 2015
★★★★4.5 Bloody Stars★★★★
"Family is everything.That is the Creed in this country. But that Creed gets others killed.And it slowly kills you.Your family is the first thing you'll lose.You're soul will be the last".
What the hell was that?!! I truly believe that this author is crazy.A genius yes but straight up crazy.I had my hand over my mouth for the most part of this book and I gotta tell you I didn't know whether I wanted to throw up or just start chugging pepto bismol.
Javier Bernal is still grieving the loss of his sister Alana.He's taking every measure to ensure his wife's Luisa safety and that means pushing her away her as well.Not really the best plan but he sees it as one and he's doing everything he can to enforce it.Along with his grieving process,he also became more brutal and strong headed in ruling his empire.If you think that Javier was bad in "Dirty Angels" you are going to crap a brick in this one.
Luisa Bernal loves her husband and enjoys being "Queen" and ruling by her husband's side.Lately that has not been the case with the most powerful couple.Javier is not only pushing her away but leaving her out of "the business".All Luisa wants is to get back to what they were before Alana's death.But Javier has different plans.
I have to say that I haven't been this shocked while reading in book in a long time and this really took me out of my comfort zone.I was fine before reading this,going about my day.Then BOOM!! Yes I read the warning and ignored the hell the hell out of it.Why? Because I've read books where the author warns you about it and quite frankly I get disapointed.It's never dark enough for me or I end up getting bored to tears.But this? Man I should've listened. I'm sorry I didn't listen!!
This book was BRUTAL.I'm not saying it was a little bit brutal,I'm talking this was some next sh*t.Ms.Halle was on some SH*T but my god I freakin loved the hell out of every dirty filthy moment.I got sucked into Javier and Luisa's world I felt like I was there.Every heartstopping moment, every vile and cringeworthy act that took place, I FELT.IT.
Last but not least,I liked seeing Javier's internal struggle with everything.Yes he was a monster and he ruled his empire with an iron fist but he loved Luisa.He would've done anything for her and sacrificed everyone for her. I really wanted to give this 5 stars but seeing as I'm still a picky bitch,I had one issue with this book.If it wasn't for that problem,this would've easily been a 5 star read for me.
"I hated her and I still loved her.And if I dwelled on it anymore it was going to tear me apart.But maybe I needed to be torn apart, just for a minute,because I deserved shit just as much as she did".
Now for everyone that's going fo read this book,please do what the author says and check your morals at the door.This story is NOT for the faint of heart or weak stomach.I think I need therapy right now or a support group.SOMETHING.
"Family is everything.That is the Creed in this country. But that Creed gets others killed.And it slowly kills you.Your family is the first thing you'll lose.You're soul will be the last".
What the hell was that?!! I truly believe that this author is crazy.A genius yes but straight up crazy.I had my hand over my mouth for the most part of this book and I gotta tell you I didn't know whether I wanted to throw up or just start chugging pepto bismol.
Javier Bernal is still grieving the loss of his sister Alana.He's taking every measure to ensure his wife's Luisa safety and that means pushing her away her as well.Not really the best plan but he sees it as one and he's doing everything he can to enforce it.Along with his grieving process,he also became more brutal and strong headed in ruling his empire.If you think that Javier was bad in "Dirty Angels" you are going to crap a brick in this one.
Luisa Bernal loves her husband and enjoys being "Queen" and ruling by her husband's side.Lately that has not been the case with the most powerful couple.Javier is not only pushing her away but leaving her out of "the business".All Luisa wants is to get back to what they were before Alana's death.But Javier has different plans.
I have to say that I haven't been this shocked while reading in book in a long time and this really took me out of my comfort zone.I was fine before reading this,going about my day.Then BOOM!! Yes I read the warning and ignored the hell the hell out of it.Why? Because I've read books where the author warns you about it and quite frankly I get disapointed.It's never dark enough for me or I end up getting bored to tears.But this? Man I should've listened. I'm sorry I didn't listen!!
This book was BRUTAL.I'm not saying it was a little bit brutal,I'm talking this was some next sh*t.Ms.Halle was on some SH*T but my god I freakin loved the hell out of every dirty filthy moment.I got sucked into Javier and Luisa's world I felt like I was there.Every heartstopping moment, every vile and cringeworthy act that took place, I FELT.IT.
Last but not least,I liked seeing Javier's internal struggle with everything.Yes he was a monster and he ruled his empire with an iron fist but he loved Luisa.He would've done anything for her and sacrificed everyone for her. I really wanted to give this 5 stars but seeing as I'm still a picky bitch,I had one issue with this book.If it wasn't for that problem,this would've easily been a 5 star read for me.
"I hated her and I still loved her.And if I dwelled on it anymore it was going to tear me apart.But maybe I needed to be torn apart, just for a minute,because I deserved shit just as much as she did".
Now for everyone that's going fo read this book,please do what the author says and check your morals at the door.This story is NOT for the faint of heart or weak stomach.I think I need therapy right now or a support group.SOMETHING.
September 16, 2016
Good god that was brutal, extremely ugly, unbecoming, and holy cow it was captivatingly epic. Again, why I put reading this series off so long, I'll never understand. Javier & Luisa are a force to be had. Yes I was forced to skim over some areas of this book, I had to, it was just that bad but I Absolutely loved this story. And if I could have been Luisa when she got her revenge, I would done exactly what she did to that jerk!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
A book that was definitely worth the pain of reading, I'd do it all over again =)))
A book that was definitely worth the pain of reading, I'd do it all over again =)))
September 28, 2015
(Dirty Promises)He wanted everything I had, he was always that way. When you combined that with the fact that I had been screwed by my partners and co-workers before in this business, I knew I always had to keep Este at arm’s length.
All hail to Karina Halle in this epic conclusion to Dirty Angels! Dirty Promise picks up where Dirty Deeds left off. Same heart pounding action packed excitement, twice the amount of tear jerker drama and one riveting end that will leave your jaws punching holes into the floor!
Javier wasn't just a bad man, he was the man. The top dog, head enchilada, the whole fucking kitten kaboodle in the drug mafia cartel! Yeah that man, the reining king!
(Dirty Promises)Esteban might have been building an army of depravity, but now I had mine and then some. I had everything except my boot on his throat and I was going to get that next.
Luisa for all purposes was the queen of the cartel, Javier's wife but just because you'd made it to the top didn't always mean you were well off. She might have been his equal once upon a time, but that's the problem with fairy tales, they never last.
(Dirty Promises)He had hit me. It was a slap across the face and I probably should have expected it, but he’d never hit me before. For all the painful, twisted things he’d done to me — that we’d done to each other — he’d never done this. It wasn’t his style to hit women, a slap or not. I didn’t know what his style was anymore. But now, now I feared it. I feared him.
All hail to Karina Halle in this epic conclusion to Dirty Angels! Dirty Promise picks up where Dirty Deeds left off. Same heart pounding action packed excitement, twice the amount of tear jerker drama and one riveting end that will leave your jaws punching holes into the floor!
Javier wasn't just a bad man, he was the man. The top dog, head enchilada, the whole fucking kitten kaboodle in the drug mafia cartel! Yeah that man, the reining king!
(Dirty Promises)Esteban might have been building an army of depravity, but now I had mine and then some. I had everything except my boot on his throat and I was going to get that next.
Luisa for all purposes was the queen of the cartel, Javier's wife but just because you'd made it to the top didn't always mean you were well off. She might have been his equal once upon a time, but that's the problem with fairy tales, they never last.
(Dirty Promises)He had hit me. It was a slap across the face and I probably should have expected it, but he’d never hit me before. For all the painful, twisted things he’d done to me — that we’d done to each other — he’d never done this. It wasn’t his style to hit women, a slap or not. I didn’t know what his style was anymore. But now, now I feared it. I feared him.
September 6, 2015
I might have to go back through and re-read this just for quotes on GR. But basically, I loved this book so much it made me a little concerned for my mental well being. This is NOT a sunshine and romance book. Not even a little. These people are FUCKED UP. And I loved every single horrible torturous minute.
I don't know where to begin ... ever since we met Javier in Sins & Needles or On Every Street (depending on the order you read them in) I have been in lust. Not in love; Javier is not a man you want to fall in love with. He is a bad bad man. But he is beyond fascinating and sexy and intriguing. And when he finally (I thought) got his own version of a HEA in Dirty Angels I was satisfied. Not that I don't want more Javi of course, I mean HELLO. And we do get a few brief glimpses of him in Dirty Deeds, and things were not looking ... well let's just say we found out some things going on behind the scenes that let you know things were going to get worse before they had a chance to get better. And in the Mexican drug cartels there is no promise of things getting better. (See what I did there? The book is called Dirty PROMISES ... ok I am easily entertained)
Luisa and Javier have not had an easy time of it since we really knew what was happening with them. If you read Dirty Deeds, you will know what I am talking about. If not, you learn pretty early on. Javier, not having the emotional stability to deal with that, redirects his energy to "other activities" ... *coughwomencough*. And even though Luisa on one level understands, it still hurts. Add to that that someone in their inner circle has plans to take over the cartel, and wants to use Luisa however he can ... well things go from bad to worse in less time than it takes to do a line of coke. (For the record, I am guessing here. I have never actually done coke OR tried to take over a cartel.)
Now is a good time to mention ... you PROBABLY don't want to be eating anything while you read this book. It is ... let's just say bloody. And gory. And full of body parts missing from the bodies they belong to. I have a strong stomach and there were a few bits that made me squirm. Which makes the fact that I LOVE this book so disturbing. I mean, what is wrong with me that a book about people cutting people into pieces, torture, murder, killing, drugs, and all sorts of other nasty bits is one of my favorite reads of 2015? I had a normal childhood, my parents love me, I've never been kidnapped ... *books appointment with psychologist ASAP*
With all that said, Halle continues to amaze (and let's be honest, scare) me with her writing style. For most of this book I felt like a fly on the wall, watching things happen in real time. I really shouldn't be surprised anymore, having read (and loved) everything she has written to date, but sometimes I am still astonished with how she pulls you into the story and makes you bear witness to the horrible, and sometimes beautiful, things her characters do to each other and themselves.
As for Luisa and Javier ... I am not going to tell you if they work things out. I was guessing all the way through and I want to keep you guessing as well. And Javier, my love, this is not goodbye, but so long for now. Whether or not you turn up in any future books, I will always have you to reread over and over again.
I don't know where to begin ... ever since we met Javier in Sins & Needles or On Every Street (depending on the order you read them in) I have been in lust. Not in love; Javier is not a man you want to fall in love with. He is a bad bad man. But he is beyond fascinating and sexy and intriguing. And when he finally (I thought) got his own version of a HEA in Dirty Angels I was satisfied. Not that I don't want more Javi of course, I mean HELLO. And we do get a few brief glimpses of him in Dirty Deeds, and things were not looking ... well let's just say we found out some things going on behind the scenes that let you know things were going to get worse before they had a chance to get better. And in the Mexican drug cartels there is no promise of things getting better. (See what I did there? The book is called Dirty PROMISES ... ok I am easily entertained)
Luisa and Javier have not had an easy time of it since we really knew what was happening with them. If you read Dirty Deeds, you will know what I am talking about. If not, you learn pretty early on. Javier, not having the emotional stability to deal with that, redirects his energy to "other activities" ... *coughwomencough*. And even though Luisa on one level understands, it still hurts. Add to that that someone in their inner circle has plans to take over the cartel, and wants to use Luisa however he can ... well things go from bad to worse in less time than it takes to do a line of coke. (For the record, I am guessing here. I have never actually done coke OR tried to take over a cartel.)
Now is a good time to mention ... you PROBABLY don't want to be eating anything while you read this book. It is ... let's just say bloody. And gory. And full of body parts missing from the bodies they belong to. I have a strong stomach and there were a few bits that made me squirm. Which makes the fact that I LOVE this book so disturbing. I mean, what is wrong with me that a book about people cutting people into pieces, torture, murder, killing, drugs, and all sorts of other nasty bits is one of my favorite reads of 2015? I had a normal childhood, my parents love me, I've never been kidnapped ... *books appointment with psychologist ASAP*
With all that said, Halle continues to amaze (and let's be honest, scare) me with her writing style. For most of this book I felt like a fly on the wall, watching things happen in real time. I really shouldn't be surprised anymore, having read (and loved) everything she has written to date, but sometimes I am still astonished with how she pulls you into the story and makes you bear witness to the horrible, and sometimes beautiful, things her characters do to each other and themselves.
As for Luisa and Javier ... I am not going to tell you if they work things out. I was guessing all the way through and I want to keep you guessing as well. And Javier, my love, this is not goodbye, but so long for now. Whether or not you turn up in any future books, I will always have you to reread over and over again.
September 19, 2015
Two Words people: JAVIER BERNAL
6 "I'm Javier's Dirty Angel" STARS!
DARK, GRITTY, SEXY.
DIRTY PROMISES continues with Javier and Luisa story. And let me tell you something, these two are not your typical couple. What can you expect from a drug lord and his queen?
If you believe that you can find a happy ending when you are living in a world where pain, violence and the thirst of blood and power are your everyday things, turn around because this is not the way. Dirty Promises is not full of rainbows or unicorns but betrayal, it is a love story written in blood, where loyalty can be bought. Because when you are part of the cartel drug world, trust, is something really hard to find and keep.
Alcohol was my partner while reading this book, because this is the type of book where you find scenes that are going to leave you speechless, so you need something to give you support. And maybe, there will be people who feel ashamed for loving it but not me.
I developed a strong bond with the characters and the storyline because I'm Mexican, and it was fascinating to read the way Karina describes their lives in México. Reading her words knowing that everything I was reading was true, God, it was kind of shocking. I mean, those things happen in my country and no one gives a shit about it. Karina did excellent research, everything she put into this book, described perfectly what happens in Mexico. The details of each scene, the behavior of the characters, every-fucking-thing. With this, I'm saying that Dirty Promises is utterly realistic.
I fell in love with Javier in the Artists Trilogy and in this series he took my heart and carved up his name on my back. He was unfaithful, murderous but my loyalty remains the same.
My queen, Luisa, such a feisty woman, she is one of my favorite heroines ever. She has been through so much already and things just get worse for her. Their relationship is not as easy as you would think, it is full of pain. After some events that took place in Dirty Deeds, Javier tried to push Luisa away and she almost lost the battle. Things got complicated and dirty and they both do things to hurt each other and that maybe in the end will destroy them.
There were moments when I just wanted to scream because the feelings were too much, the rage, the sadness, the pain. I was heart broken, a complete mess of emotions. Dirty Promises was extraordinarily amazing and I loved every word.
I have only read Karina's Contemporary Romance books so, when I started reading The Artists Trilogy and then Dirty Angeles, I just couldn't stop. I read the books in one week, they were incredible and I was so impressed because not every author has the talent to switch up from one genre to another and witnessing it was absolutely amazing. I'm in awe of her, of her versatility in writing. Going from sweet to blood and gore it is not an easy thing, and she is so good at it that I think it is what she does best, an experience you are only going to get by reading this book.
6 "I'm Javier's Dirty Angel" STARS!
DARK, GRITTY, SEXY.
DIRTY PROMISES continues with Javier and Luisa story. And let me tell you something, these two are not your typical couple. What can you expect from a drug lord and his queen?
If you believe that you can find a happy ending when you are living in a world where pain, violence and the thirst of blood and power are your everyday things, turn around because this is not the way. Dirty Promises is not full of rainbows or unicorns but betrayal, it is a love story written in blood, where loyalty can be bought. Because when you are part of the cartel drug world, trust, is something really hard to find and keep.
Alcohol was my partner while reading this book, because this is the type of book where you find scenes that are going to leave you speechless, so you need something to give you support. And maybe, there will be people who feel ashamed for loving it but not me.
I developed a strong bond with the characters and the storyline because I'm Mexican, and it was fascinating to read the way Karina describes their lives in México. Reading her words knowing that everything I was reading was true, God, it was kind of shocking. I mean, those things happen in my country and no one gives a shit about it. Karina did excellent research, everything she put into this book, described perfectly what happens in Mexico. The details of each scene, the behavior of the characters, every-fucking-thing. With this, I'm saying that Dirty Promises is utterly realistic.
I fell in love with Javier in the Artists Trilogy and in this series he took my heart and carved up his name on my back. He was unfaithful, murderous but my loyalty remains the same.
My queen, Luisa, such a feisty woman, she is one of my favorite heroines ever. She has been through so much already and things just get worse for her. Their relationship is not as easy as you would think, it is full of pain. After some events that took place in Dirty Deeds, Javier tried to push Luisa away and she almost lost the battle. Things got complicated and dirty and they both do things to hurt each other and that maybe in the end will destroy them.
There were moments when I just wanted to scream because the feelings were too much, the rage, the sadness, the pain. I was heart broken, a complete mess of emotions. Dirty Promises was extraordinarily amazing and I loved every word.
I have only read Karina's Contemporary Romance books so, when I started reading The Artists Trilogy and then Dirty Angeles, I just couldn't stop. I read the books in one week, they were incredible and I was so impressed because not every author has the talent to switch up from one genre to another and witnessing it was absolutely amazing. I'm in awe of her, of her versatility in writing. Going from sweet to blood and gore it is not an easy thing, and she is so good at it that I think it is what she does best, an experience you are only going to get by reading this book.
July 18, 2016
...the brutality of our compound, the screams or the breaking hearts or the ending marriages or the lives full of bad choices...
There are no happy endings within the drug cartel wars of Mexico. There is only pain and violence and the thirst for power. Sometimes there is momentary peace before the bottom falls out and blood is shed once again, the cycle of pain and violence, the struggle to survive never-ending. Dirty Promises is a love story written in blood. It's that never-ending cycle of carnage and violence, fear and bloodlust, peppered with moments of peace and hope, before hope is lost yet again. If you're looking for roses and rainbows, this is not the way. The silver linings in this story are of the barbed wire variety... sharp and ugly and unforgiving.
Javier is absolutely despicable in this book. He's bloodthirsty, murderous, unfaithful, unhinged. And yet, still, I rooted for him. My loyalty to this depraved, sadistic monster remains unchanged. I know people will say he's unforgivable, irredeemable, a lost cause, that there's no excuse for his behavior in this book. I call bull shit. Javier is a deplorable human being on a good day. I'd expect nothing less from him when he's reached the lowest point of his life. And that's what this book is. It's the ruination of Javier Bernal. It's his undoing. The death toll rises at his hand, yet another Bernal sister is dead and it's Javier's fault, his enemies are closer than he ever imagined, his marriage is unraveling (to put it very, very mildly.) I'm not exactly holding my breath for Javier to find a good therapist. This is Javier Bernal we're talking about. Furthermore, this is Karina Halle we're talking about. Just when I thought there was no way this series could get any darker, any more brutal, any more twisted, Halle shows up with her arsenal full of bold tricks (<--- you see what I did there? ::winks::) and demonstrates that the depths of depravity she's willing to delve into for the sake of an unforgettable storyline are limitless.
We were slaves to hate because hate was strong and we sacrificed love to fuel it.
I can't lie. I'm a little afraid of Karina Halle after reading this book. Knowing now what her brain is capable of churning out... it ain't right. If I had half of these thoughts and ideas rolling around in my head, I'd beat them back with a stick and then I'd find a priest. Instead, Halle slaps a pretty cover on her wicked musings and turns them into one of the most evocative, dark and twisty works of literary genius I've read this year and I'm bowing at her feet. How something can be so gloriously perfect and so sickeningly disgusting all at once, I can't even begin to understand. But it can be done, it's evidenced here within these pages. Dirty Promises is not for the faint of heart. There were moments I literally dry heaved. But if you can handle gruesome violence, deplorable acts against human beings both the good and the bad, utter ruin and devastation of characters you hold dear, well then you're golden. If you loved Javier before, you'll love him even more now (after you get past hating him and wanting to rip his face off.) If you hated him all along, well... we can't be friends. This book is everything I never knew I wanted and so much more.
...there is a line between ambition and lunacy, between, well, evil and pure evil...
Karina Halle is one of the most superbly talented writers I've had the pleasure of reading and every single book she delivers to her audience is better than the last. Her writing evolves and morphs around each vastly different, deeply evocative storyline she executes. I feel as though I say it every time, but this might be her most flawless, stunning writing to date. Dirty Promises, from cover to cover, is a hauntingly dark tale of drugs and sex, greed and bloodlust, murder and revenge. I felt as though I was being squeezed, pummeled, pulled through the ringer so that everything I could ever dream to feel was left on the floor in front of me after I finished. Everything from frustration and visceral pain, to lust and love and hope, to pure unadulterated hate, I felt it all. I felt sick yet whole, disgusted yet relieved. I felt seduced, utterly rocked, and completely satisfied. With her beautiful prose and gritty plot, Halle eeks out every drop of emotion a reader can possibly feel until there's nothing left. Dirty Promises is ugly and phenomenal and I loved every word from beginning to bittersweet end.
There are no happy endings within the drug cartel wars of Mexico. There is only pain and violence and the thirst for power. Sometimes there is momentary peace before the bottom falls out and blood is shed once again, the cycle of pain and violence, the struggle to survive never-ending. Dirty Promises is a love story written in blood. It's that never-ending cycle of carnage and violence, fear and bloodlust, peppered with moments of peace and hope, before hope is lost yet again. If you're looking for roses and rainbows, this is not the way. The silver linings in this story are of the barbed wire variety... sharp and ugly and unforgiving.
Javier is absolutely despicable in this book. He's bloodthirsty, murderous, unfaithful, unhinged. And yet, still, I rooted for him. My loyalty to this depraved, sadistic monster remains unchanged. I know people will say he's unforgivable, irredeemable, a lost cause, that there's no excuse for his behavior in this book. I call bull shit. Javier is a deplorable human being on a good day. I'd expect nothing less from him when he's reached the lowest point of his life. And that's what this book is. It's the ruination of Javier Bernal. It's his undoing. The death toll rises at his hand, yet another Bernal sister is dead and it's Javier's fault, his enemies are closer than he ever imagined, his marriage is unraveling (to put it very, very mildly.) I'm not exactly holding my breath for Javier to find a good therapist. This is Javier Bernal we're talking about. Furthermore, this is Karina Halle we're talking about. Just when I thought there was no way this series could get any darker, any more brutal, any more twisted, Halle shows up with her arsenal full of bold tricks (<--- you see what I did there? ::winks::) and demonstrates that the depths of depravity she's willing to delve into for the sake of an unforgettable storyline are limitless.
We were slaves to hate because hate was strong and we sacrificed love to fuel it.
I can't lie. I'm a little afraid of Karina Halle after reading this book. Knowing now what her brain is capable of churning out... it ain't right. If I had half of these thoughts and ideas rolling around in my head, I'd beat them back with a stick and then I'd find a priest. Instead, Halle slaps a pretty cover on her wicked musings and turns them into one of the most evocative, dark and twisty works of literary genius I've read this year and I'm bowing at her feet. How something can be so gloriously perfect and so sickeningly disgusting all at once, I can't even begin to understand. But it can be done, it's evidenced here within these pages. Dirty Promises is not for the faint of heart. There were moments I literally dry heaved. But if you can handle gruesome violence, deplorable acts against human beings both the good and the bad, utter ruin and devastation of characters you hold dear, well then you're golden. If you loved Javier before, you'll love him even more now (after you get past hating him and wanting to rip his face off.) If you hated him all along, well... we can't be friends. This book is everything I never knew I wanted and so much more.
...there is a line between ambition and lunacy, between, well, evil and pure evil...
Karina Halle is one of the most superbly talented writers I've had the pleasure of reading and every single book she delivers to her audience is better than the last. Her writing evolves and morphs around each vastly different, deeply evocative storyline she executes. I feel as though I say it every time, but this might be her most flawless, stunning writing to date. Dirty Promises, from cover to cover, is a hauntingly dark tale of drugs and sex, greed and bloodlust, murder and revenge. I felt as though I was being squeezed, pummeled, pulled through the ringer so that everything I could ever dream to feel was left on the floor in front of me after I finished. Everything from frustration and visceral pain, to lust and love and hope, to pure unadulterated hate, I felt it all. I felt sick yet whole, disgusted yet relieved. I felt seduced, utterly rocked, and completely satisfied. With her beautiful prose and gritty plot, Halle eeks out every drop of emotion a reader can possibly feel until there's nothing left. Dirty Promises is ugly and phenomenal and I loved every word from beginning to bittersweet end.
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