ac223's review against another edition
2.0
Bleh... so/so... alright... ok... mediocre... Anyone of these words can be used to describe Bargains & Betrayals. I think I am done with this series, not enough action, adventure, romance, or anything really to keep me hanging on.
kfpdx's review against another edition
4.0
I am love this series!!!!
Bargains and Betrayals starts off right where the last book left off. Full of drama, romance, action. I couldn't put it down.
I cant wait for the next book in this series to come out.
Bargains and Betrayals starts off right where the last book left off. Full of drama, romance, action. I couldn't put it down.
I cant wait for the next book in this series to come out.
oliviah9's review against another edition
4.0
[4.5 GOLD STARS!!]
This book is probably my favorite so far in the series!
There were so many plot twists that I didn't see coming and the writing was flawless for the most part. Very happy with this read!!
This book is probably my favorite so far in the series!
There were so many plot twists that I didn't see coming and the writing was flawless for the most part. Very happy with this read!!
jmfernandez's review against another edition
4.0
*No big spoilers*
All in all, it was pretty good.
Let me say this; I didn't give this book three stars because I didn't enjoy it. Actually, I'm going to bump it to four right now, because I did like it. I was just not as empressed as I hoped to be.
To be honest, I liked it a lot. But it wasn't NEARLY as good as the first two. 13 to Life was fantastic, and Secrets and Shadows really built on Jessie and Pietr's relationship. I didn't feel like this book added as much to them as the first ones did, and the plot in this one lost me a little. Maybe I'm just too flakey to keep up; I don't know, because I didn't realize I was flakey until two unrelated people happened to call me it in the same day.
Sorry, getting off topic. Point is, this book was good. There were certainly parts where I couldn't have put it down. But, in comparison, it just wasn't as good as the last one.
And there were typos. But that's only to be expected of the first print of a book that couldn't have been in editing more than three months, given that Book 2 came out in February.
I still love Pietr. And Jesse. And Amy and Max. And ... well, you get my point ^-^
All in all, it was pretty good.
Let me say this; I didn't give this book three stars because I didn't enjoy it. Actually, I'm going to bump it to four right now, because I did like it. I was just not as empressed as I hoped to be.
To be honest, I liked it a lot. But it wasn't NEARLY as good as the first two. 13 to Life was fantastic, and Secrets and Shadows really built on Jessie and Pietr's relationship. I didn't feel like this book added as much to them as the first ones did, and the plot in this one lost me a little. Maybe I'm just too flakey to keep up; I don't know, because I didn't realize I was flakey until two unrelated people happened to call me it in the same day.
Sorry, getting off topic. Point is, this book was good. There were certainly parts where I couldn't have put it down. But, in comparison, it just wasn't as good as the last one.
And there were typos. But that's only to be expected of the first print of a book that couldn't have been in editing more than three months, given that Book 2 came out in February.
I still love Pietr. And Jesse. And Amy and Max. And ... well, you get my point ^-^
zombiemom54's review against another edition
4.0
I really like this series. Lots of action and romance. Just good.
erika_briggs's review against another edition
4.0
Could have been better. Still good though, I guess
overflowingshelf's review against another edition
5.0
I just want to start out by warning you this is a long review but I do not care because I have a lot to say about this wonderful little book. It’s also completely free of spoilers from previous books and this book. And it’s a long review filled with lots of love.
I did not think it was possible for me to love the 13 to Life series anymore than I already did, but Bargains and Betrayals proves I can love it even more. And boy, do I love it. I have previously reviewed both 13 to Life and Secrets and Shadows here on the blog and have confessed my love for them, but Bargains and Betrayals blew me away. Everything about Bargains and Betrayals was spot on: the writing, the characters, the story. Everything.
So initially I was a bit worried about this book because Shannon Delany decided to do something a little different in the third book in this series which was to tell the story from both Jessie’s and Alexi’s point of view. Up until this book, the story had been told only from Jessie’s point of view so this switched worried me a bit. However, as I was reading, I realized this decision worked perfectly. It was really interesting to learn more about Alexi and see a different perspective on the story. There was a lot about Alexi that I did not know about before this book but I learned through his point of view. One thing that Shannon Delany was really good at was deciding when to switch between the point of views of the two characters. Every time the story jumped from Jessie to Alexi or vice versa, it made perfect sense and the story continued to flow as one. I really hope that Shannon Delany continues utilizing multiple point of view in future books in this series because it really adds to the writing and the story. And I would really like a book that has Max’s perspective, but that’s just cause I love Max.
Shannon Delany’s writing in this book was her best yet. I feel like the writing in this book was the strongest it has been in the series. Shannon Delany was able to balance the really serious scenes with some hilarity which I always love. But seriously, this book had so many beautifully written in lines and phrases that I was in love. I actually have a list of them because they were just perfect. One of my favorite quotes in the entire book was “Sometimes are hearts should rule our heads.” It just really describes the feeling of the book for me and was such a great line in the scene. I definitely feel like that as this series has gone on the writing has gotten stronger in each book and truly, the writing was the best in this book so far. It flowed perfectly and had some really heart breaking scenes and lines.
Bargains and Betrayals was one of those books that I was very emotionally invested in. So much, that at points I was yelling at the book because I did not want characters to do something that I knew they were going to do anyways. I was very into this book, so into that I found myself talking to (in a good, not crazy way). Which leads me to the story. The stakes were definitely the highest they have been for Jess and Pietr and the Rusakovas. I’m going to keep this spoiler free for previous books, but if you know what happened in Secrets and Shadows I bet you can figure out why. A lot of what happened in Bargains and Betrayals I seriously did not see coming. I should have know from the title that there would be huge bargains and huge betrayals, but seriously, I did not think some of those bargains would ever occur, nor some of those betrayals. This book changes everything for the characters. A lot of things happen that will have a huge impact on their lives in the following books. I really want to talk about some huge spoilery things in the book, but will hold back because you need to experience them on your own. The story will keep you on the edge of your seat and even have you yelling at some of the character’s choices.
One of my favorite things in this book was the character development. Jessie, Pietr, Alexi, Max, Kat, Amy, Derek, Sarah, Wanda, and Leon have come so far since 13 to Life and there growth is really apparent in this book. Pietr and Jessie have come so far. They are drastically different people because of what occurs in Bargains and Betrayals. I really like the people Jess and Pietr have become. I love how both of them are willing to put those they love first. New depth has been added to the characters in this book. I just want to say, I still love the same characters, like Jessie, Pietr, Max, Kat and Alexi but my hatred for some characters * cough * Derek * cough * grew even more. I felt like some of the decisions the characters made in this book really will define them in coming books and change who they are.
Also, I really need to talk about Pietr and Jess’s relationship in this book. It was perfect. Seriously, this is what their relationship should have been from the beginning. Jess and Pietr truly care for each other and I felt their relationship really shows that. When you see what each of them risks for the other, what they give up for each other, it tugs at your heartstrings. Also, there was a certain scene in this book that was done perfectly and made me extremely happy and you will definitely know what it is when you read it.
Now, I have to sit back and wait until Destiny and Deception comes out. And once again, the wait is going to be torturous because of the ending. Shannon Delany really knows how to write an ending that leaves you wanting more. When I got to the ending of this book, I did not realize there was no more pages left and then burst out “What?” because it just another killer ending. I want Destiny and Deception now to find out what happens next!
Bargains and Betrayals is by far the best book in the 13 to Life series. If you haven’t read this series I HIGHLY recommend you pick it up and read it. Each book gets better and better and I cannot wait to see where Shannon Delany takes the story next in Destiny and Deception.
I did not think it was possible for me to love the 13 to Life series anymore than I already did, but Bargains and Betrayals proves I can love it even more. And boy, do I love it. I have previously reviewed both 13 to Life and Secrets and Shadows here on the blog and have confessed my love for them, but Bargains and Betrayals blew me away. Everything about Bargains and Betrayals was spot on: the writing, the characters, the story. Everything.
So initially I was a bit worried about this book because Shannon Delany decided to do something a little different in the third book in this series which was to tell the story from both Jessie’s and Alexi’s point of view. Up until this book, the story had been told only from Jessie’s point of view so this switched worried me a bit. However, as I was reading, I realized this decision worked perfectly. It was really interesting to learn more about Alexi and see a different perspective on the story. There was a lot about Alexi that I did not know about before this book but I learned through his point of view. One thing that Shannon Delany was really good at was deciding when to switch between the point of views of the two characters. Every time the story jumped from Jessie to Alexi or vice versa, it made perfect sense and the story continued to flow as one. I really hope that Shannon Delany continues utilizing multiple point of view in future books in this series because it really adds to the writing and the story. And I would really like a book that has Max’s perspective, but that’s just cause I love Max.
Shannon Delany’s writing in this book was her best yet. I feel like the writing in this book was the strongest it has been in the series. Shannon Delany was able to balance the really serious scenes with some hilarity which I always love. But seriously, this book had so many beautifully written in lines and phrases that I was in love. I actually have a list of them because they were just perfect. One of my favorite quotes in the entire book was “Sometimes are hearts should rule our heads.” It just really describes the feeling of the book for me and was such a great line in the scene. I definitely feel like that as this series has gone on the writing has gotten stronger in each book and truly, the writing was the best in this book so far. It flowed perfectly and had some really heart breaking scenes and lines.
Bargains and Betrayals was one of those books that I was very emotionally invested in. So much, that at points I was yelling at the book because I did not want characters to do something that I knew they were going to do anyways. I was very into this book, so into that I found myself talking to (in a good, not crazy way). Which leads me to the story. The stakes were definitely the highest they have been for Jess and Pietr and the Rusakovas. I’m going to keep this spoiler free for previous books, but if you know what happened in Secrets and Shadows I bet you can figure out why. A lot of what happened in Bargains and Betrayals I seriously did not see coming. I should have know from the title that there would be huge bargains and huge betrayals, but seriously, I did not think some of those bargains would ever occur, nor some of those betrayals. This book changes everything for the characters. A lot of things happen that will have a huge impact on their lives in the following books. I really want to talk about some huge spoilery things in the book, but will hold back because you need to experience them on your own. The story will keep you on the edge of your seat and even have you yelling at some of the character’s choices.
One of my favorite things in this book was the character development. Jessie, Pietr, Alexi, Max, Kat, Amy, Derek, Sarah, Wanda, and Leon have come so far since 13 to Life and there growth is really apparent in this book. Pietr and Jessie have come so far. They are drastically different people because of what occurs in Bargains and Betrayals. I really like the people Jess and Pietr have become. I love how both of them are willing to put those they love first. New depth has been added to the characters in this book. I just want to say, I still love the same characters, like Jessie, Pietr, Max, Kat and Alexi but my hatred for some characters * cough * Derek * cough * grew even more. I felt like some of the decisions the characters made in this book really will define them in coming books and change who they are.
Also, I really need to talk about Pietr and Jess’s relationship in this book. It was perfect. Seriously, this is what their relationship should have been from the beginning. Jess and Pietr truly care for each other and I felt their relationship really shows that. When you see what each of them risks for the other, what they give up for each other, it tugs at your heartstrings. Also, there was a certain scene in this book that was done perfectly and made me extremely happy and you will definitely know what it is when you read it.
Now, I have to sit back and wait until Destiny and Deception comes out. And once again, the wait is going to be torturous because of the ending. Shannon Delany really knows how to write an ending that leaves you wanting more. When I got to the ending of this book, I did not realize there was no more pages left and then burst out “What?” because it just another killer ending. I want Destiny and Deception now to find out what happens next!
Bargains and Betrayals is by far the best book in the 13 to Life series. If you haven’t read this series I HIGHLY recommend you pick it up and read it. Each book gets better and better and I cannot wait to see where Shannon Delany takes the story next in Destiny and Deception.
pegahe's review against another edition
4.0
*not really a review*
I was okay with 13 to Life, really liked Secrets and Shadows but I wasn't as fond of Bargains and Betrayals.
The story was all over the place. I was often confused, lots of scenes ended upbruptly without explanation and the characters for the most part annoyed me. Like Alexi- I honestly didn't care about him much at all. I'd rather have had Pietr's POV but that's a personal preference.
I didn't relate very much and many parts felt rushed... but the last hundred pages were interesting. That was why I read the book and while I'll read the series- for that fun little bit that is pure awesome.
Overall, I was disappointed but not so much that I won't read Destiny and Deception. I'm curious to see where this series goes.
I was okay with 13 to Life, really liked Secrets and Shadows but I wasn't as fond of Bargains and Betrayals.
The story was all over the place. I was often confused, lots of scenes ended upbruptly without explanation and the characters for the most part annoyed me. Like Alexi- I honestly didn't care about him much at all. I'd rather have had Pietr's POV but that's a personal preference.
I didn't relate very much and many parts felt rushed... but the last hundred pages were interesting. That was why I read the book and while I'll read the series- for that fun little bit that is pure awesome.
Overall, I was disappointed but not so much that I won't read Destiny and Deception. I'm curious to see where this series goes.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this was an awesome 3rd book, and that ending, well, that's going to be something to read the next book! Can't wait to!