Sunday, August 15, 2010

Rules of Betrayal Review and GIVEAWAY

Surgeon Jonathan Ransom and his secret-agent wife, Emma, return in this third installment of Reich's Rules series. Working in Afghanistan for Doctors without Borders, Jonathan has an accidental encounter with a terrorist, from whom he barely escapes. Back in the U.S., he is recruited by his wife's agency. Emma has disappeared while investigating the possible acquisition of a nuclear weapon by a terrorist cell, and now her only hope of rescue lies with her husband. Does Jonathan have the skills to become a spy and save the woman he loves? Of course, betrayal is the name of the game here. Reich's ability to craft tense story lines and to populate his high-concept spy thrillers with fully developed main characters quickly have made him one of the new masters in the spy game. It's a bit disappointing, though, that Jonathan gets drafted into the game this time, because it's more fun if he's an outsider. That nitpick aside, this is still a fine effort from the reliable Reich. The number-one rule about his Rules novels: read them. --Jeff Ayers

My Take: Honestly, this is just a fun, easy read.  When I say easy, I mean I skipped over the technical stuff.  There is a nuclear weapon of sorts in the Afghan mountains.  Apparently, Jonathon and Emma Ransom have already made their debut in two other books.  Also apparently, there are rules of betrayal.  They aren't very nice and I wouldn't suggest using them.

The book begins with a group of mountain climbers who witness an airplane crash.  It is also apparent that one of the climbers has ulterior motives for getting to the top.  End scene.

Emma and Jonathon are not together.  Although they are still married, Jonathon seems to have this altruistic streak in him.  He's a doctor and wants to help the citizens in war-torn Middle Eastern countries.  This gets him kidnapped and then the trouble really starts.  Jonathon is your typical NGB. (Nice Guy But...) The qualifier is that Jonathon is far too gullible.  Fortunately, he does have some pretty good instincts, as proven in previous novels.  Perhaps he can be used as an agent?

Meanwhile, Emma gets herself into some trouble.  Emma happens to have a history of working as a double agent for both the United States and Russia.  It's a little unclear who her boss is at this point.  It doesn't really matter because she's in dire circumstances, too.

The story is fast paced, entertaining, and contains some really interesting twists.

4 stars

Win it! Make a comment with your email address
Extra entries if you are a follower.  Give me a separate comment.

Extra, extra comment if you spread the word by social media.  Another comment.

Extra, extra, extra comment if you fill in the blank to the following statements:

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life (that's yours, the reader), I would want (fill in blank) to play me and (fill in blank) to play my husband/lover/slave.

I'll start.  I'd play myself, of course, if Brad Pitt would play my love toy.

Ends August 26th

2 Winners!

*This book was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.  For reasons I can not fathom, nobody wants to pay me for my sage words.

37 comments:

Mystica said...

Thanks for this review. This is new to me.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Menagerie Soaps said...

I'm a follower and would love to enter! Thank you

lisa.2713 at gmail dot com

Amy DM said...

I just became a follower--not sure why I hadn't done that before. I already subscribed.

Amy DM said...

I just twittered this. Not sure how to prove it....If you follow me on twitter, you'll see it.

Amy DM said...

Oops. Forgot the first comment: I definitely want to win this. :)

I too skip the technical stuff from time to time when reading novels like Tom Clancy. Glad to hear someone else does too.

laiah1773@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me...erinj773 at gmail dot com Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

Here's an extra :) I just became a follower. (Erin/Embejo)

Anonymous said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life , I would want Claire Danes to play me and James McAvoy to play my husband.

Amy DM said...

Ok, finally:
Brooke Shields or Sandra Bullock would play me. Of course Brooke Shields would have to act short (somehow). My husband would be played by Keifer Sutherland--oh yeah! I would of course be available for stand in practice sessions.

Misha said...

Please enter me if the giveaway is international. I would love to read the book.
Thank you
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Misha said...

I am a follower and an email subscriber.

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Misha said...

Extra entry 1

Blog
http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/p/giveawayscontests.html

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Misha said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life , I would want Scarlett Johanssen to play me and Johnny Depp/Ian Somerhalder to play my husband. I am greedy lol

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

CountessLaurie said...

Do you feel that this book can stand alone or should the reader go back to the first two books first?

And that was a poorly constructed sentence, but I am too lazy to change it.

l.moore.j at gmail.com

CountessLaurie said...

I follow you. And am very suprised that NO ONE wants to pay you for your sage words. Seriously!!

CountessLaurie said...

Hmmm. I am slacking on the social media stuff. But I am putting a good word out on Facebook as we speak... email me if you wanna be facebook friends :-)

CountessLaurie said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life, which is a lot like Lord of the Rings only without the ring, the elves, the ents, middle earth and the hobbits, I would want to play me and Ewan McGregor to play my lovah!

skkorman said...

I would love to read this book—please enter me to win!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

valerie2350 said...

this sounds like a fun book

valerie2350 at hotmail dot com

valerie2350 said...

follower :)

valerie2350 at hotmail dot com

skkorman said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life, I would want Emma Thompson to play me and Daniel Craig to play my husband/lover/slave.

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net




+1 entry

Anonymous said...

I just became a follower seen you like to read just as much as I do...yippe! Bridget

rowanvamp0 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I also subscribed to you as well
Bridget

rowanvamp0 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life I would want Rachael McAdams to play me and Keanu Reeves to play my husband.
Bridget
rowanvamp0 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Would love to read this.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Cheryl B said...

Thanks for the review!

cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

I'm a follower on google friend connect.
Cheryl B
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

tweeted about it here:
http://twitter.com/cln1812/status/21941537344
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

If a movie was made about me, I'd want Angelina Jolie to play me and Brad Pitt to play my husband!
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Read for your future! said...

The book sounds interesting count me in!
chaarmedone1512@aol.com

Read for your future! said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life I would want Melissa Gilbert to play me and Julian McMahon to play my husband/lover/slave YUMMY!
chaarmedone1512@aol.com

Read for your future! said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life I would want Melissa Gilbert to play me and Julian McMahon to play my husband/lover/slave YUMMY!
chaarmedone1512@aol.com

Read for your future! said...

If a movie was ever made about my exciting and thrilling life I would want Melissa Gilbert to play me and Julian McMahon to play my husband/lover/slave YUMMY!
chaarmedone1512@aol.com

3.

LAMusing said...

I love you "skipped over the technical stuff' HEHE! Please enter me.
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

in the movie - I play me, Sean Connery my lover

adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

headlessfowl at jteers dot net

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower.

headlessfowl at jteers dot net