Review #14 - Sweet Valley High #14 - Deceptions by Francine Pascal

Whose gonna drive you home, tonight ?,

In an unexpected change of personality from Elizabeth, she willing embarks on a forbidden endeavour with the seductive Nicholas Morrow when she agrees to go on a date (she sees this as act of kindness, I see it as the sign of a break-up with Todd) to the most expensive restaurant in Sweet Valley the following Sunday. 

She figures that she'll be okay because it's Todd's mothers birthday that day so he won't want to hang out with her. She decides not to tell anyone about the date except Enid as a confidant and advice giver.

Jessica, unaware of this misdeed,  decides that taking computer lessons from Sweet Valley's resident expert (surprisingly not Winston :o, but a never previously mentioned randomer Randy)will lure Nicholas to her (his family owns a colossal computer cooperation).

She takes the lessons too far when she gets him to hack into the schools database in order to change her grades. They both end up getting caught but fortunately Liz's persuasion powers prevent them from being punished.

Elizabeth goes on her date with Nicholas (they both decide that they should just be friends which is the only reason Liz went in the first place) and Todd's at the restaurant to celebrate his mother's birthday. 

Panicking, she pretends to be Jessica and he believes her until he goes to her house to apologise to
her for mistaking Liz as Jess at the restaurant, Jess reveals she never left the house that evening.

Todd and Jess are both unsurprisingly furious but Jess decides that any boy who prefers Liz to her is unworthy of her attention anyway.

Todd, however, hasn't forgiven her that easily and the silence between them is lethal when Elizabeth is asked to review his teams championship basketball game. Todd plays badly because his mind is on Liz, not the game.

Nicholas, saviour to the masses, explains to Todd at half time that it was his fault Liz betrayed Todd because of his pressurising.With this revelation boosting his confidence Todd wins the championship.

Liz  is on a sorrowful walk home refusing to go to the celebratory party for fear of seeing Todd when Todd finds her, of course,  and they have a passionate make up kiss.

But it's practically law that Sweet Valley has to end on heart-stopping cliff-hanger and this one was definitely one to beat them all. The twins are at the party when they get a phone call from their parents who explain that Tricia, Steven's girlfriend who has leukaemia, is in intensive care and she could die at any minute!

This ending hit me like a ton of bricks - "Not Tricia.How will Steven survive ? Who will Jessica bitch about now ?" was all I could say for 5 minutes afterwards. I think I'll cry if she dies.

The side story was hilarious and the main story was excellent for this month  but I'm waiting for a Sweet Valley book where Jessica's the star - it's been all about Liz lately and I bet Jess is not best pleased.

Can't wait (yet am also dreading because of the death aspect) for #15 !

Verdict : 5 stars !

Babysitter's little sister review next time,

Mimi

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Review #9 - Sweet Valley High #13 - Kidnapped ! by Francine Pascal

I always feel like, Somebody's watching me,

Although it failed to triumph the greatness of the previous book in the series (see my review) it was still one of the best Sweet Valley High books because of it's stellar ingredients : drama, far-fetched plot, a crazed stalker on the loose and Jessica's seductive flirting - which just about puts her on the same wave length in craziness and danger as the stalker.

The plot continues directly from the previous book : 

Elizabeth has been kidnapped by a mental orderly, Creepy Carl, at the hospital where she's working as a candy striper. 

Unaware of these events, Jessica leaves for the rich,new and attractive Morrow's party where she meets Regina. She's the only Sweet Valley High character I know with a disability (she's deaf) and the star of a similar Sweet Valley High book #26 - Hostage which is just as good.

There's also Nicholas, her brother whose in college who Jessica has her sights set on - don't get your hopes up a Jessica, have you read the plot of the next book ? 

After days in darkness and days of Jessica crying, Elizabeth is saved due to a slip up at the hospital where Carl mistook Jessica for Elizabeth - yet more proof why being a twin is better.

The novel ends with Elizabeth meeting Nicholas who gazes at her adoringly upon sight and Liz knows she's in for trouble.

Basically, it was like a slightly inferior version of my favourite Sweet Valley book - Sweet Valley High #7 - Dear Sister.

Another thing that made me love this book even more was that it's got me obsessed with the Sweet Valley High tv show because the three part episodes of this were absolutely amazing. 

They add in the additional story of Carl (or as he is known in TV show, Peter) escaping from prison after being arrested for kidnapping Liz and kidnaps Jess. Still not as good as the books though but equally satisfying.

Can't wait for #14 - Deceptions !

Verdict : 5 Stars !

Look forward to a series review soon of the Saturday Night series,

Mimi

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Review #6 - Sweet Valley High #12 - When love dies by Francine Pascal

It must have been love, but it's over now,

Posted a day early because plans fell through. No picture unfortunately because I only own the 3 in 1 that it's in so you'd be getting a picture of Deceptions.

My opinion :

It seems like ages since I've read a Sweet Valley High, since December I've only read Sweet Valley Twins books, and what a good decision it was to pick up this one, that I received for Christmas, to remind myself how far-fetched and loveable they are.

This has to be one of my favourite Sweet Valley High book and maybe from every Sweet Valley series one of the best. In my opinion books 5 to 30 are the best from the SVH series are the best for plot in my opinion as the book proves.

Both twins work as Candy Striper's at the hospital, Elizabeth to actually help out and Jessica to swoon a hospitalised SV resident celebrity. 

Karma's a bitch (and so's Jessica) so Elizabeth ends up working on the ward that the aforementioned  celebrity is on and ,downside, a creepy stalker who keeps asking her strange  questions and watching her when he thinks she's not looking. Meanwhile Jessica's plan has majorly back-fired, again..., so she's working on the maternity ward run by a witch of a woman.

This doesn't stop Jessica from going to see the celebrity and stirring up trouble by accidentally injuring him every time she tries to make him swoon.

Elizabeth discovers the real motive for Jessica's volunteering and seeks revenge by getting the celebrity to fake propose to Jessica. Hilariously, Jessica actually considers marrying him but changes her mind - how convenient for the sake of the series.

The book also focuses on their brother's, Steven, girlfriend's ,Tricia Martin, dilemma - Should she tell everyone she's got leukaemia ,including Steven ? 

The answer is yes and Tricia realises this after a lot of  unnecessary crying and a break-up. They make-up after Steven's short- lived relationship with Cara Walker , one of Jessica's best friends (can you guess who set them up in the first place ?), crashes and burns.

The ending is probably the best part of the book - Elizabeth is kidnapped by the mental orderly who has been stalking her all week ! This is the focus of the next book which I literally want to read right now - it might be even better !

Verdict : 5 out of 5 stars !

Coming soon : Fear Street #3 - The Overnight by R.L Stine Review,

Mimi

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