30 Days

The 30 Series, Book 1

By: Christine d'Abo

Narrated by: Zoe McKay

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

For years, Alyssa has been going to bed with a memory. Is she ready to wake up with a fantasy?

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates, but not Alyssa Barrow. She met Rob at 19, and they were set to live happily ever after - until he became ill. In his final days, Rob urged his beautiful, young wife not to abandon happiness - or pleasure. He even left her a special gift, a sexy game plan to help her move on: 30 cards with instructions for 30 days of passion. "You'll know when the time is right," he'd said.

Now it's two years later, and when Alyssa meets her hot new neighbor, Harrison Kemp, she begins to think the right time is right now.... From his sculpted thighs to his devilish grin, Harrison is the kind of man women want. Before she can lose her nerve, Alyssa tells Harrison about her long-ignored cards...and asks him to help her fulfill them. It's a favor he's more than happy to, um, perform. With his skillful touch and the hot press of his lips against her skin, Alyssa finds herself reawakening to life - and a host of other sensations.

But what begins as not-so-innocent fun soon grows into true intimacy, and Alyssa realizes she's opening herself up not just to sex...but to love. When it comes to a future with Harrison, what's really in the cards?

Saucy, heartwarming, and insightful, 30 Days explores the agony - and the ecstasy - of starting over and how a little encouragement - and a little courage - can go a long way....

©2015 Kensington Publishing (P)2015 Insatiable Press

Critic reviews

"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." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Perfect for folks seeking a well-written, hot read with substance." ( Library Journal)

Strange, Violent and Degrading

At first the premise showed promise; Alyssa (35) is encouraged by notes from her late husband Rob to have sex again after his death. Unfortunately, what should have been a loving gesture turned into a twisted and clinical oddity.

Alyssa, motivated by survivor's guilt, felt obligated to follow the notes in such detail that it was creepy and controlling rather than liberating and natural. When 1 of the 30 notes involved physical abuse I really wondered if Rob had actually loved his wife. What man insists that his widow submit to being beaten?

While I felt great sympathy for her loss, I was disappointed that Alyssa was taking orders from a dead man rather than learning to be assertive and independent. She stupidly chose her new neighbor Harrison as her temporary sex partner without knowing anything about him except that he had a nice ass.

I didn't understand why Harrison was so willing to blindly obey the writings of a dead man he had never met, particularly when those orders included striking an innocent woman. Any man would liked and respected women would have refused to hurt Alyssa.

The sexual interludes between Harrison and Alyssa were stilted and degrading, not erotic or sexy. Their attempts at physical intimacy without any emotion were sad and depressing, prompting me to quit listening about half way through.