Review
Campbell Scott and Hope Davis share narrating duties, with each performing the gender-appropriate dialogue and point of view. The dual-duty format works well. Both performers bring skill and energy to the production, and their dialogues between same-sex characters sound as though still more readers are involved. The authors' use of plot twists and red herrings continues to the end of the story, and that, combined with Campbell and Davis' skill, keeps listeners on edge until the last word.
-- "AudioFile"
With the irresistible attraction of the greatest Hitchcock thrillers, Honeymoon is a sizzling, twisting tale of a woman with a deadly appetite and the men who dare to fall for her. In his sexiest, scariest novel yet, James Patterson deftly confirms that he always 'takes thrills to the next level.'
-- "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review"
Patterson and cowriter Roughan's novel has all the trademarks of a Patterson-only thriller-short, suspenseful chapters; quick, punchy sentences; and a breakneck pace-and it delivers enough adrenaline that fans will likely forgive the novel's occasional implausibility.
-- "Booklist"
What a honey of a story it is!...Honeymoon is sexy and scary.
-- "Associated Press"
This story has elements of Hitchcock's Vertigo, and its page-turning quality is in a class of its own.
-- "Independent"
Solid and enjoyable...Megaseller Patterson...again shows his usual flair for brisk narrative, strong suspense, and genuine twists...O'Hara and particularly Nora stand as two of Patterson's most complex characters...Nearly impossible to stop reading...This is one canny thriller...Patterson's millions of fans will be most pleased.
-- "Publishers Weekly" About the Author
James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to Guinness World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977 James Patterson's books have sold more than 300 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Honeymoon
By James Patterson Howard RoughanGrand Central Publishing
Copyright © 2005 James Patterson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-446-69626-5
Chapter One
NORA COULD FEEL Connor watching her. He always did the same thing when she packed to leave on one of her trips. He'd lean his six foot three frame against the doorway to his bedroom, his hands buried in the pockets of his Dockers, a frown tugging on his face. He hated the thought of their being apart. Usually he wouldn't say anything, though. He'd just stand there in silence as Nora filled her suitcase, occasionally taking a sip of Evian water, her favorite. But that afternoon he couldn't help himself.
"Don't go," he said in his deep voice. Nora turned with a loving smile. "You know I have to. You know I hate this, too." "But I already miss you. Just say no, Nora - don't go. To hell with them."
From day one, Nora was captivated by how vulnerable Connor allowed himself to be with her. It was in such sharp contrast to his public persona - a very rich and hard-driving hedge-fund manager with his own successful company in Greenwich, with another office in London. His puppy-dog eyes belied the fact that he was built like a lion. Powerful and proud.
Indeed, at the relatively young age of forty, Connor was pretty much king of all he surveyed. And in Nora, thirtythree, he'd found his queen, his perfect soul mate in life. "You know I could tie you up and keep you from leaving," he said jokingly.
"That sounds like fun," said Nora, playing along. She lifted up the top of her suitcase, which was lying open on the bed. She was searching for something.
"First, though, could you maybe help me find my green cardigan?"
Connor finally chuckled. He got such a kick out of her. Good jokes, bad jokes - it didn't seem to matter. "Do you mean the one with the pearl buttons? It's in the master closet."
Nora laughed. "You were dressing up in my clothes again, weren't you?"
She headed for the cavernous walk-in closet. When she returned, green sweater in hand, Connor had moved to the foot of the bed. He stared at her with a grin and a twinkle in his eye.
"Uh-oh," she said. "I know that look." "What look?" he asked.
"The one that says you want a going-away present." Nora thought for a moment before flashing a grin of her own. She dropped the sweater on a chair and slowly walked up to Connor, purposefully stopping just inches from his body. She was wearing only her bra and panties.
"From me, to you," she whispered in his ear, leaning in. There wasn't that much to unwrap, but Connor took his time anyway. He gently kissed Nora's neck, then her shoulders, his lips tracing an imaginary line downward to the jutting curves of her small, pert breasts. There he lingered. One hand stroking her arm, the other reaching around to remove her bra.
Nora shivered, her body tingling. Cute, funny, and very good in bed. What more could a girl ask for? Connor knelt and kissed Nora's stomach, his tongue lightly drawing circles around her little wink of a belly button. Then, with a thumb resting on either side of her hips, he began to roll down her panties. He charted the progress with kiss after kiss after kiss.
"That's ... very ... nice," whispered Nora. Now it was her turn. As Connor's tall, muscular frame straightened out before her, she began to undress him. Quickly, deftly, but sensually.
For a few seconds they stood still. Perfectly naked. Gazing at each other, taking in each and every detail. God, what could be better than this?
Suddenly Nora laughed. She gave Connor a quick, playful shove, and he fell back onto the bed. He was fully aroused. A prodigious human sundial lying there on the duvet.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Honeymoonby James Patterson Howard Roughan Copyright ©2005 by James Patterson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Beautiful, talented, rich Nora Sinclair seems to have it all, except for a heart. FBI Agent John O'Hara learns that lesson almost well enough to kill him. Campbell Scott and Hope Davis share narrating duties, with each performing the gender-appropriate dialogue and point of view. The dual-duty format works well. Both performers bring skill and energy to the production, and their dialogues between same-sex characters sound as though still more readers are involved. The authors' use of plot twists and red herrings continues to the end of the story, and that, combined with Campbell and Davis's skill, keeps listeners on edge until the last word. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
