For Jessica and Elizabeth, the sweet life begins at 30…From Francine Pascal, creator of Sweet Valley High and author of the New York Times bestselling Sweet Valley Confidential, comes the third novella-length installment of the groundbreaking, six-part, e-serial, The Sweet Life, continuing the adventures of beautiful blonde twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and the gang from Sweet Valley.Three years after the events of Sweet Valley Confidential, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield are back in Sweet Valley and inseparable once more. But Jessica, now a mother, finds her marriage to Todd in jeopardy after she makes a terrible mistake. Meanwhile, reality TV star extraordinaire Lila Fowler’s fame-seeking scheme backfires in the worst way. And the scandal threatening to tear Elizabeth and Bruce apart only gets worse when the District Attorney gets involved. The Sweet Life #3: Too Many Doubts races to a shocking ending that will leave readers clamoring for more!
Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
Welcome to "Digging More Holes than 'Holes'" or The Sweet Life #3, "Too Many Doubts."
Sigh.
When we last left our Fly Dunces of Sweet Valley, things were getting just a trifle messy. This one does end in a cliffhanger, natch, but it doesn't really make much progress from Lies and Omissions. It was rather boring.... kind of like all the Sweet Valley books not about Jessica and Elizabeth (and even some that were about them).
So let's get Lila out of the way. I hate to say that, but she is no longer the Lila that was actually lovable. Now that Jessica has "matured" (I believe in everyone's redemption except for Jessica Wakefield's) Lila has been turned into the borderline sociopathic character. Her plot in the last "book" (a term that should always be used loosely with Sweet Valley) involved her dropping the bomb to her reality TV costars that she was pregnant. She only says this, of course, so that she can win Ken back after treating him horribly in Part 1. Jessica actually hates the idea and asks Lila if she is going to keep up her charade. Lila says it's working fantabulously, so why not? By being "pregnant," Lila has managed to gain the upper hand over Miss Size 12 Ashley Morgan. Most of The Real Housewives of Sweet Valley are siding with Team Fowler. Lo and behold, Ken actually does take Lila back, truly believing that she is pregnant. Lila plans to cry miscarriage soon enough. I, for one, can't wait to watch that bomb blow up in her face. Once she has Ken back in her perfectly manicured talons, she notes that he is the closest she has gotten to love. I wanted to cause Francine pain right then and there. Lila used to be delicate and more than capable of love. Tisiano? Bruce fucking Patman? Shit, Lila had some epic romances. And SHE was the one calling Jessica's bullshit, not the other way around. If Lila cannot even truly care for Ken, then how can we care about them as a couple?
Steven and Aaron pop up again in the plot to cause a bit of drama. It was the only exciting thing to happen until you realized that it really wasn't that exciting after all. It's still the same old nurture this way vs. nurture that way in Casa Wakefield/Dallas. Then we learn that they have hired a nanny for little Emma, aka the new Jessica Wakefield. I've already forgotten the nanny's name, because it's some ridiculously stupid concoction of a name that is only given to nannies. Anyway, she was the only nanny who passed the test for baby Emma. So Nanny takes her to the park one day and thinks about how much she LOVES kids. Until she sees her adult friend and realizes that she wants adult conversation. This woman's name is Melissa and apparently Nanny knows her. They talk as Nanny puts Emma in a swing and then Melissa tells her (Nanny) she forgot her phone on the bench. She says that Nanny should go get her phone while she watches Emma. Nanny is as stupid as everyone else in Sweet Valley, so she leaves the baby with this woman she kinda sorta but not really knows. So, as you can imagine, when she comes back the baby, and Melissa, are gone. So 911 is called and Steven and Aaron freak out for five seconds until Nanny describes the woman and Steven realizes that Melissa is not really Melissa but instead the woman who was the surrogate of Emma! Now that the police have a lead Steven is confident they will find them. (Based on what, evidence of the Sweet Valley Police Department's good work?) No need. "Melissa" soon drops off baby Emma on the doorstep saying that she is sick of the baby's wail. We are told that this surrogate is a golddigger but she doesn't even leave a ransom note! Well, Francine, that was a MAJOR fail. So Nanny is out, a new daycare at Steven's workplace is in, and a happy ending for Casa Wakefield/Dallas is in order. Neither Aaron nor Steven has to stay home from work anymore. Funny that the women in this story still have to.
So, how are things going in the saga of Jess/Todd? Well, they aren't. It's Blahsville. Jessica is still going out with Liam for kicks (but yet her heart isn't in it!) while Todd has made Sarah Miller the new fixture in his home. Todd feels somewhat responsible for Sarah's loss of her job, and when she comes to him with nowhere else to run he quickly obliges. Jessica and Todd may have a kid caught up in all this (poor Jake!), but they are both monumental idiots. Instead of talking to each other they both keep seeing the one person the other person hates the most. And then they don't understand why their efforts to win each other back don't work. D'oh. I'm also about as fed up with Jessica as I am with Lila, but in a totally different way this time. Francine included more reflection on the "old" Jessica in this book than we actually saw of the "new" Jessica. If Jessica really HAS changed, why does Francine have to keep hammering home about her old sociopathic ways? It's a very tough line to toe, and it's just not working here. I can't buy it. Is Jessica really in love with Todd? Or does she just miss the constant affection and partnership? After all, she admits she's only with Liam because she needs the attention. She still has no trouble ignoring Liam's actual feelings in the matter. Jessica and Todd came together in secret and that's just how Jessica likes to operate. It seems that things aren't as fun now that they aren't sneaking around. Jessica IS relentless in her pursuit to get Todd back, and yet she's still with Liam and, completely like her old self, unwilling to cut him loose. Jessica has never backed down from a challenge. So again I ask, is it really love or is it just the chase she's after? There's never been anything admirable about Jessica Wakefield. She sails over to Todd's house finally prepared to beg for him back. She wears a formfitting mini and "sky high" heels. I'm guessing this is because her personality isn't charming him at the moment. She arrives only to find Sarah Miller at the door in a see-through nightie. Sarah gloats, and I sigh. This is getting so boring.
And then the big (over-hashed) subject of this book: Liz and Bruce. The story opens with Robin calling Liz and telling her that Bruce was just at her house threatening her. So it looks like I was wrong... Robin is Robin. I could have sworn in the last book that Liz and Robin were across town when Bruce allegedly found her house. But, with the help of his PI, he really found the one that Liz signed the lease for. Speaking of, his PI quickly discovers about Liz and the lease (hehe) and tells Bruce, who is properly devastated. Bruce heads home and Liz joins him soon after only to be treated to one of his many rages. He grabs her arms a little too tightly and she fleas and he freaks out at what he's done. As per usual, they don't talk for the rest of the book and instead just mope around about how much they miss each other (so fucking talk then!!). In their fight Liz mentions Bruce's mom's "condition." That condition would be bipolar. Bruce got upset that Liz may be right, maybe HE has bipolar too. Tragic a revelation as this is, it doesn't excuse Bruce's past rapist tendencies which, of course, are nowhere to be found in this book. So much for continuity. Hmmm, Liz, could it be that you are doubting Bruce because he once tried to rape YOU?! Don't think too hard about it, though. You might cause your perfect blonde hair to sprout split ends. Anyway, none of the rest of this plot is even interesting except for the cliffhanger, which is this: Bruce is considering running away. He is charged with a felony, but Annie Whitman thinks she can get them a plea deal. She is on her way over to tell him this when she is met with Bruce's maid at the door. The maid informs Annie that he HAS taken the coward's way out. He has left the country in his private jet. Annie is shellshocked. She knows there's no hope for him now. After all, only guilty men run.
So, there you have it: the latest machinations from the mind of Francine Pascal. Yikes. She said in a recent interview with Robin of thedairiburger.com that Margo could still be alive if she (Francine) wanted her to be. That's all I ask out of this Sweet Valley resurrection: that Margo Black gets resurrected too.
The hot new eSeries Sweet Valley Confidential just keeps getting juicer! In installment 3, Too Many Doubts, Elizabeth is still struggling with the allegations that her boyfriend Bruce Patman assaulted and attempted to rape a young woman at a bar. She even begins to help the alleged victim, knowing she is putting her relationship with Bruce in jeopardy. But she just has too many doubts that Bruce might not be telling the whole truth, and trusts her reporters intuition to help uncover the truth. Jessica is still struggling from her fallout with husband Todd when the were so close to finding a reconciliation, but she is still hanging on to a shred that they will find their back together – until a half naked female answers his door.
With more plot points and scandals (such as Lila Fowler faking a pregnancy for her new reality show!) these installments are so much fun to read! With this book I got the feeling of being rushed a few times, and didn’t like how things would wrap up so neat and tidy – sometimes just a bit too quick to seem real. In this one, for example, the kidnapping of Steven and Aaron’s daughter. I almost think that could have been deleted from the story all together. But as always, this one is ended in a cliffhanger, and I’m quite curious to see how Bruce’s story is going to play out. On to the next....
Continuing the saga of Liz, Jessica, Todd, Lila, Bruce, and the rest of the Sweet Valley gang at 30...
We pick up where the last book left off. Bruce has been (gasp!) arrested, Jessica wants to hire a former classmate to be his defense attorney, and Liz is being her usual meddling self - and she's about to be busted for it!
It was pretty awesome to see Liz get called out on her "I must find out the truth! It's not meddling, it's journalism!" routine. How many times did she pull this in the Sweet Valley High series with basically no repercussions? I'm still amazed that I failed to see how irritating she was back in the day.
Anyway, Jess and Todd are having their own problems, and both are making bad decisions yet again. Perhaps this is why they deserve each other. In this installment, Todd's a bigger idiot than Jessica, which really shouldn't be surprising. The best part came when Todd went to the store to pick up disposable razors (disposable razors!!!) and, after a turn of events, wants to punch someone. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the Todd Punch! But alas... it did not happen. At least not yet. I feel like a punch may be in one of the future books (or so I hope).
Lila's plot was, as usual, awesome, filming her reality TV show while she struggles to hang on to Ken. She's scheming more than ever to get what she wants (and I love it!), and even Jessica worries that Lila's going too far. This novella was too short to give Lila's plot as much page time as I wanted. Perhaps this could have been rectified by getting rid of the lame subplot that bogged down this installment: Steven and Aaron.
As the twins' older brother, Steven was always there in SVH (and the rest of the Sweet Valley series), but plot lines starring him were always lackluster. This was no exception. Steven and Aaron have a baby, they hire a nanny, and the baby goes missing. The entire plot was so quick and wrapped up before it really got started - also before I even started to care about it. It had no bearing on the rest of the book and was just a page-filler. Why?!? These novellas are short enough already! Don't waste valuable page space on Steven without giving us more of the rest of the gang! Definitely the low part of this series so far.
But then the book got back on track, with Liz further investigating the charges against Bruce and starting to wonder who is lying. Jessica's loyalty to Bruce is so refreshing, especially when compared to Liz's "I think I believe you but I don't really know" attitude toward her boyfriend.
Can't wait for next Sunday and the next installment!!!
In The Sweet Life: Too Many Doubts book three, Bruce Patman is losing it. Elizabeth has left him. Liz was suppose to have Bruce's back. Bruce can not just sit around and do nothing. He hires a private investigator to find the intern. The private investigator tracks down Robin. Bruce decides to confront Robin himself. This can only be bad news for Bruce.
Meanwhile, Sarah may have been fired from the Tribune due to Jessica but Sarah is finding confort in the arms of Todd. Jessica and Todd may have split but that does not mean that Jessica can not have some fun of her own. She and Liam are getting cozy. Liam is every woman's dream, so why can't Jessica stop thinking about Todd.
In this book, Lila is winning me over. Although, she is still spoiled, her estranged husband, Ken is showing Lila that he will not take any bull from Lila. Classic line by Lila "Are you kidding? All of life is high-school " This line when Jessica and Lila are talking about Lila's fake pregnancy.
While I did like seeing Steven Wakefield and his partner, Aaron and their daughter, Emma. I felt like their story did not fit with the rest of the story line and was just more of a side note. I am getting more invested in the characters story lines. I hope that Bruce finds the truth. I believe that Bruce is innocent and saddened that Elizabeth can not see this. Jessica may be up to her old tricks but she and Liam do not belong together. Lila will be found out about her fake pregnancy.
The lamest of the E-serial so far. This line made me laugh out loud though: "[Elizabeth] calmed down Robin with a Tylenol PM." Elizabeth Wakefield, drugging people, who saw that coming. It was an over-the-counter drug though, so I guess that is still very Elizabeth Wakefield of her.
In traditional Sweet Valley fashion, this third installment opens right where The Sweet Life #2: Lies and Omissions ended. Plenty of drama abounds here - from new problems like a kidnapping, to a "pregnancy", to further development of the legal drama and continued heartbreak for both of the Wakefield twins. And though I originally disagreed with these pairings (well, not the Jessica-Todd relationship - in those secret high school diaries they had quite the fling, but I never liked it in the high school ones when Elizabeth and Bruce were together - I always preferred him like he was in the SVU books, with Lila. They were such a fun couple! And poor, poor Ken Matthews... perhaps pro-football has given him some brain damage?? Why else would he appear like this??), they are definitely growing on me. I am enjoying these new additions to the Sweet Valley world much more than I thought I would - and I do hope that they are extended beyond the currently scheduled releases! I don't think I'll ever get sick of Sweet Valley!
This instalment features a totally ridiculous baby plot, that introduced and resolved in three very short chapters. I'd wondered why there was a totally pointless Steven chapter in the previous part, but this explains it. Of all the ridiculous things going on in this book, that was probably the most ridiculous. Also, the way they're describing baby Emma and 'the Jessica gene' makes it sound like she's going to grow up to be a psychopath. If this were a film, or tv series, I'd suspect that they were using this device so there could be a new series, based on grown up Emma and all the mental things she gets up to. As this is a book, that's come from a series that managed to have the twins in High School for about a decade then I have no idea why this crazy baby stuff is in there at all.
The ongoing ridiculous stories with Elizabeth, Bruce, Jessica, Todd, Lila, and Ken, get more convoluted and daft in part 3. But at least they're actually developed and are entertaining trash, rather than the 3 chapter baby drama that just seems haphazardly thrown in.
Continuing in Too Many Doubts, we discover that things just aren't adding up in the Bruce Patman vs Robin Platt rape case. As Elizabeth went undercover as Laura the therapist to hear Robin's side of the story, what will Bruce's reaction be when he discovers the truth and feels betrayed ? Will we see the old SVH Bruce re-appear ? Hearts stop beating,as tragedy strikes Steven and Aaron Wakefield when their daughter Emma is kidnapped. Is it to do with the Patman case or something entirely different ? Jessica has reached the end of her marriage , is it time to move on with the willing Liam or will she try and give it one more shot at winning Todd back ? Book #3 will leave the reader wondering as the title suggests , it seems alot is going down in Sweet Valley and as a result will have everyone questioning everything they do or say.
Too Many Doubts picks up with the ‘Lies and Omissions’ in book two. Once truths are revealed, Jessica and Elizabeth need to decide who they believe and what they are going to do. Elizabeth has removed herself from Bruce in order to get some ‘perspective’, but the mere fact that she had to doubt him has caused more damage than she ever imagined. Jessica is trying to mend her broken marriage by sticking to her word (and grand gestures), only to have her nemesis (or one of them at least) open the door when she went to see Todd.
There’s not much progress in the overall story with this book, and it’s just a bit of filler to satisfy the ‘one ebook a week’ guarantee that was provided at the start of the series.
No Todd in this book at all really. Disappointing. Also, the random two second plot line with Aaron and Steven seemed trite and stupid. Why even bring it up? Their plot line bugs me. This book seemed so focused on the Bruce/Elizabeth plotline, which is the least interesting, in my opinion. I'm going to finish up all six of the books, but they seem to be more and more melodramatic and over the top- but I guess that is just Sweet Valley!
I'm trying to not fly through these books, but it's really hard not to. I grew up with these girls and to have them be my age going through life experiences that are similar to mine and friends around me (except for the whole rape accusation thing) is awesome!!! I really hope the author puts out more of these for us loyal fans! I hate that this is the second to the last one!!
It's so nice to see that the SVH gang have all matured so well, no longer making impulsive, thoughtless and/or selfish, out and out idiotic life choices. Oh wait, no, that's Bizarro world Sweet Valley! THIS Sweet Valley population hasn't grown up in the least!!! If only it would all work out magically in the end...but that'll NEVER happen, I'm sure!
There's nothing really new to say about this book that I didn't cover in writing about the other two. It stays on the same Sweet Valley path, with again a few obvious story lines. I do have to say though I'm getting more into being back in Sweet Valley. As soon as I finished this one I wanted to read the next, whereas the first two I read I wasn't sure if I'd continue with the series.
the more I read these books the more I find myself enjoying them. At least in the way that its written. its a fast paced story and good for the usual stop and go I have to deal with. my only issue with this edition is the Steven Wakefield baby story. it came out of nowhere and instead of being built on was over even quicker then it began. otherwise this was a decent read.
I can't read anymore of these. They are terrible. Obviously my love for these books aren't what they used to be, or the series just isn't what it used to be because I can't stand the writing or any of the characters (but mostly the awful, awful writing!)
Compulsively I feel the need to finish the series and see what happens. Just had a random thought on whether it's just bad and she keeps changing what I expect from characters I know or I really just grew out of this entirely and can't relate anymore. Sighs.
This really just phoned it in. Nothing really happened and it could have/should have been included with Book 2 or Book 4. Lots "...and this happened...". Eagerly awaiting the next but maybe I should have waited for the entire series to be released in one volume. This was only 92 pages.
I am done with this series. The book drags along and only gets better towards the end, then leaves you with a cliffhanger. Even though I bought the ebooks on sale, I am glad that I didn't invest in buying the entire series. Time to move on to other books with more substance.
New developments help characterize all the major players. Classic Sweet Valley! Can Elizabeth find any faith in her, now ex, boyfriend? Looking forward to read how Lila's plan will work and how Jessica will take her new enemy out of the game.