Bargains and Betrayals (13 to Life #3)
Shannon Delany
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: Pages: August 16, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4.5 stars

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.

Bargains and Betrayals was a book I was highly anticipating after Secrets and Shadows. I thought everything was set for the ultimate 3rd book, and it would all just go. It was! Bargains and Betrayals was everything I had hoped for and more.

I pretty much read this one in one sitting – I didn’t want to put it down. The story was absolutely addicting. Bargains and Betrayals definitely took a different turn from the prior 2 books. There are alternating perspectives – told from both Jessie and Alexi’s points of views. At first, I wasn’t sure what I thought of this. It turned out to work marvelously, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alexi better, a character that I didn’t feel like I knew too well before this book.

The plot was utterly addicting. There was so much going on. It was so much action, and I just kept hoping no one would interrupt me while I was reading so I could continue with my reading, to figure out what would happen next.

I really enjoyed the characters in Bargains and Betrayals. I loved the little bigger of a role Sophie played in this one, I think she is just too fun of a character. I also really love Max! I also liked Jessie a lot more in this book – I thought she really grew a lot throughout the course of the book.

Shannon Delany sure ends with a punch, as Bargains and Betrayals ends with the most painful ending in the series yet. The wait Destiny and Deception will be a long one indeed. This is an absolute must read!

This is cross-posted from YA Books Central. See my review on YABC’s site here.