“What is it, Ash? What’s wrong?”
“You must hurry. You don’t have much time.”

     This week’s Question:Once you begin a book, do you feel compelled to finish it? Or have you been known to give up in the middle of a book, to walk away from a book that is just too annoying, boring, etc.?

     My answer:For the past year of reading requested reviews, I have had to put some books aside into the DNF pile. I will read, at a minimum of 50-100 pages and if I haven’t been pulled into the story line by then, I give up. There are so many books to review and read, that if I am struggling to read a book that does not interest me, my thinking is, that I am wasting time where I could be reading the next book in my pile.

Rules Of Betrayal by Christopher Reich
Published by Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-53154-2
At the request of Doubleday, a HC was sent, at no cost to me for my personal opinion
  Synopsis (from book’s jacket): In 1980 an American B-52 bomber transporting a top-secret weapon crashes high on the peaks of a remote mountain range on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Nearly thirty years later, deep in the unforgiving, Taliban-controlled Lashkar Province of Afghanistan, Dr. Jonathan Ransom is making amends for the violence in his past. The woman he married, Emma Ransom, a.k.a. Lara Antonova, is in fact a spy and an assassin who used his job with Doctors Without Borders as her cover story. Now she is missing-most likely in the hands of a charismatic and violent arms dealer who goes by the name Lord Balfour. Emma is also being hunted by two conflicting shadow agencies-Division in the U.S. and the FSB in Russia.
  After Ransom is nearly killed in a stunning double cross in Tora Bora, he is summoned by Frank Connor, the power broker a the helm of Division, and presented with an impossible choice. Jonathan must undertake a harrowing one-man mission into Balfour’s lair to save Emma or stand by while a weapon of mass destruction is acquired by the most dangerous terrorist in Afghanistan-an unforgettable true believer known as The Hawk.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I wasn’t a big fan of government espionage storylines, but when I read the synopsis, I thought that I might enjoy this read. I was surprised that within the first few pages, I was not only enjoying it but was also pulled in. I didn’t realize, when I accepted the request for review, that this was the 3rd book in a series. Not having read the first two, I feel that this book can stand on it’s own. For a spy thriller, it did hold my attention at times but then, there were some parts where I lost interest. This is my opinion, and my opinion only, rating this book is difficult. For those that enjoy this type of novel, it would probably receive a 4/5. But since I am not a big fan of espionage, I would give it a 2/5 because I did struggle through some of the book. So to be fair to the author and those that enjoy the double agent storyline, I will average it out.

Rules Of Betrayal by Christopher Reich
Published by Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-53154-2
At the request of Doubleday, a HC was sent, at no cost to me for my personal opinion
  Synopsis (from book’s jacket): In 1980 an American B-52 bomber transporting a top-secret weapon crashes high on the peaks of a remote mountain range on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Nearly thirty years later, deep in the unforgiving, Taliban-controlled Lashkar Province of Afghanistan, Dr. Jonathan Ransom is making amends for the violence in his past. The woman he married, Emma Ransom, a.k.a. Lara Antonova, is in fact a spy and an assassin who used his job with Doctors Without Borders as her cover story. Now she is missing-most likely in the hands of a charismatic and violent arms dealer who goes by the name Lord Balfour. Emma is also being hunted by two conflicting shadow agencies-Division in the U.S. and the FSB in Russia.
  After Ransom is nearly killed in a stunning double cross in Tora Bora, he is summoned by Frank Connor, the power broker a the helm of Division, and presented with an impossible choice. Jonathan must undertake a harrowing one-man mission into Balfour’s lair to save Emma or stand by while a weapon of mass destruction is acquired by the most dangerous terrorist in Afghanistan-an unforgettable true believer known as The Hawk.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I wasn’t a big fan of government espionage storylines, but when I read the synopsis, I thought that I might enjoy this read. I was surprised that within the first few pages, I was not only enjoying it but was also pulled in. I didn’t realize, when I accepted the request for review, that this was the 3rd book in a series. Not having read the first two, I feel that this book can stand on it’s own. For a spy thriller, it did hold my attention at times but then, there were some parts where I lost interest. This is my opinion, and my opinion only, rating this book is difficult. For those that enjoy this type of novel, it would probably receive a 4/5. But since I am not a big fan of espionage, I would give it a 2/5 because I did struggle through some of the book. So to be fair to the author and those that enjoy the double agent storyline, I will average it out.

  Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany’s. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He’s perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can’t stay forever, though. On Jane’s eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she’ll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.
AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
  Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again–as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they’ve really been reunited.
AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
  Sundays at Tiffany’s is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany’s takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher, agent
and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the above. No items that
I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
Winner will be chosen via Random.Org.  Winners will be notified via email.
Winners must respond with 48 hours (2 days).  I am not responsiblefor lost
or damaged products.  I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
This was a slow week.  Isn’t it funny how, even though we have enough to read, we still look forward to seeing the mail carrier on a daily basis, wondering if any goodies will be delivered!!

Questions:
1. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Just one
2. Where will you eat on Thanksgiving?

Eating at the in-laws.

3. Would you rather go to a party or host a party?

This is a hard one because I enjoy both.  For 24 years we hosted an “Italian Christmas Eve” that everyone looked forward to.  The night started with a sit down dinner for immediate family and very close friends that included the traditional 7 fish dinner.  Then around 10pm, we would host an open house with more goodies until the wee hours into Christmas morning. 
Both of my son’s friends would warm up the left overs and said that it had become their tradition too.

4. How many purses (for the guys..wallets) do you own?

Too many

5. What is your favorite kind of seafood?

Baked stuffed with a couple of baked stuffed shrimp on the side.  I eat a lot of fish.

  Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany’s. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He’s perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can’t stay forever, though. On Jane’s eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she’ll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.
AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
  Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again–as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they’ve really been reunited.
AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
  Sundays at Tiffany’s is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany’s takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher, agent
and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the above. No items that
I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
Winner will be chosen via Random.Org.  Winners will be notified via email.
Winners must respond with 48 hours (2 days).  I am not responsiblefor lost
or damaged products.  I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
This was a slow week.  Isn’t it funny how, even though we have enough to read, we still look forward to seeing the mail carrier on a daily basis, wondering if any goodies will be delivered!!

Questions:
1. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Just one
2. Where will you eat on Thanksgiving?

Eating at the in-laws.

3. Would you rather go to a party or host a party?

This is a hard one because I enjoy both.  For 24 years we hosted an “Italian Christmas Eve” that everyone looked forward to.  The night started with a sit down dinner for immediate family and very close friends that included the traditional 7 fish dinner.  Then around 10pm, we would host an open house with more goodies until the wee hours into Christmas morning. 
Both of my son’s friends would warm up the left overs and said that it had become their tradition too.

4. How many purses (for the guys..wallets) do you own?

Too many

5. What is your favorite kind of seafood?

Baked stuffed with a couple of baked stuffed shrimp on the side.  I eat a lot of fish.

Elise said… 20  Thanks. GFC follower

An email has been sent and winners will have 48 hours to respond with their information or another winner will be chosen.