30 Nights

May 2, 2016
In this steamy, but somewhat awkward sequel to 30 Days (2015), the cards outlining “Alyssa’s 30 Days of Sex” fall into the hands of Glenna O’Donald, a 28-year-old research assistant at a college in Toronto. In recent years, her focus has largely been on her job, but when her beloved great-grandmother dies, she decides it’s time to have some adventures. She begins journeying through the cards’ instructions with a coworker, sociology professor Eric Morris, whom she’s been lusting after for a year. Their sensual studies are intense and fulfilling, and Glenna quickly finds herself growing attached to Eric. The sex scenes are delightfully stimulating and kinky, but Eric remains more reticent than is comfortable for either Glenna or the reader, and the lack of communication leads to conflict. Furthermore, the lighthearted erotic exploration clashes with the weighty concerns that the couple blunders into, from issues with Glenna’s best friend, Jasmine, to tensions inherent in a workplace romance. The erotic aspects of the story are well worth reading, but the rest leaves much to be desired.

July 1, 2016

In this follow-up to 30 Days, ambitious university research assistant Glenna O'Donald chooses the lab over love, and lust, every time. However, a confluence of events soon breaks her habit: her great-grandmother dies suddenly, leaving Glenna a note with sage advice to take life's chances. After the funeral, she stumbles upon index cards abandoned in the graveyard containing a month's worth of daily sex romps. Though the cards burn a hole in her drawer (and her conscience), Glenna can think of nothing better than testing them out with gorgeous professor Eric Morris. Much to Glenna's surprise, Eric is just as eager to play her game as she is. But when emotions rise, Glenna finds her play partner receding into the fog of his haunted past and her predictable life very nearly derailed. Author d'Abo infuses a quirky story with equal elements of drama, humor, and hot, unconventional sexcapades. VERDICT Hardworking, cautious Glenna will hit a familiar note with many; d'Abo ("Eternal Bond" and "Long Shots" series) and "finds a creative way to pass the infamous sex cards along to promising new characters in this entertaining sequel.

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