30 Days

Starred review from June 8, 2015
In this delightfully tender erotic romance debut, set in present-day Toronto, Canada, D'Abo deftly crafts an enticing situation. Alyssa Barrow's husband died of cancer when she was 33. He left Alyssa with a packet of cardsâwhich, she discovers, contain instructions for "Alyssa's 30 Days of Sex"âand an invitation to use them once she felt ready to move on. Two years later, Alyssa finds a willing participant in her new neighbor, recent divorcé Harrison Kemp, and they agree to work through the cards, but with one caveat: their arrangement is solely about sex. Both still struggle with baggage from the past and are very reluctant to start a new romantic relationship. But as they delight in intensely satisfying sensual activities, Alyssa and Harrison begin to develop a friendship, and more. The premise could have become awkward or maudlin in less skilled hands, but D'Abo makes it feel charming and plausible. Well-developed and engaging characters, major and minor, lead to conflicts that feel both realistic and fresh, and difficult subjects are handled with empathy and gentle humor. Romance fans will delight in this sweet and spicy expedition. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Starred review from July 1, 2015

Alyssa Barrow lost her husband and high school sweetheart Rob two years ago to cancer. Widowed at 35 and finally ready to move on, she opens his last letter to her and discovers a 30 Day Sex Challenge--daily cards with fantasies and sex acts to help Alyssa reignite her sex life. Fortunately, hot new neighbor Harrison is a more than willing participant. With commitment issues of his own, he seems the perfect fit for a one-month fling. But it's not just lust that sparks between the two, and before they know it, Alyssa and Harrison run the risk of wanting more from their little game. Will they stick to their rules, or settle down and stop running away? Though it bears heavy undertones, this book handles grief and lust with balanced finesse as it depicts Alyssa struggling to reconcile the thrill of a new partner with the guilt of leaving her late husband behind. The "sex cards" device provides naughty fun not only for the characters but for readers as well, allowing for a variety of sexual acts and an element of surprise as each new dirty dare is revealed (though there is a slightly abrasive running implication that only penetrative intercourse constitutes "real" sex and thus serves as the endgame for the couple). VERDICT Perfect for folks seeking a well-written, hot read with substance.

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