Review: Bargains and Betrayals

Title: Bargains and Betrayals

Author: Shannon Delany

Series: 13 to Life #3

Release Date: August 16^th, 2011

Number of Pages: 302

Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

Source: Bought

Locked away at Pecan Place, Jessie finds her situation to be even more dangerous than she feared. While she struggles to maintain her sanity and discover answers about the group that seems less and less like any legitimate government agency, Pietr fights to keep their relationship alive. But very aware that his mother’s time is running out, Pietr makes a deal he doesn’t dare tell Jessie about. Because the deal Pietr’s made could mean the death of far more than his tenuous relationship with the girl he loves.

This third book starts right where the second book ended up, which made me happy. Yet, this book didn’t live up to its predecessor. There was simply too much drama. There was the story with Jess in the asylum. Then there was the story line with Amy, Max and Marvin. Finally, there was the story line of Pietr trying to get his mother out. There was just too much going on, and it went on all over the place.

Pietr was a little too much in this book. Too hormonal, too emotional, too impulsive. He always thinks the worst of himself, which at some point made me say, “we get it, you think you’re a monster. Can you move on?” Even with Jess, I didn’t like the way he acted. It was slightly obsessive. She’s telling you to stay away because they’ll kill you. No, he comes back. Sigh.

Jess also ended up annoying me, because she was kind of over the top with her love for Pietr. I know you love him and all. Still, please try to keep yourself safe instead of spending all your time worrying about him. He’s a werewolf. He has crazy strength. He can take care of himself. You can’t as much.

I really like the story line with Max and Amy. I was happy that she was finally getting some respect and love from someone who deserves hers back. I think Max was really a sweetheart with her, which I wouldn’t have thought from book one.

There’s one thing I didn’t really understand, and it was the point of view in the chapters. Why did they have to rewrite all the time whose point of view it was, even if it was the same through one chapter. I don’t need to be reminded when it doesn’t change. Also, Alexi and Jess don’t have the same story line for most of the book, which makes it easier to know which one is narrating the story.

Even if I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the others, I still like it. I still believe Shannon Delany is a great writer, making me excited for the fourth book coming out next year. I’m already excited to know what will be going on, because the couple of line I read about it kind of freaked me out.