30 NIGHTS is book two in the 30
Days series by
Christine d'Abo. I was disappointed to read on Goodreads
that d'Abo does not have any future books in this series
planned. This series features a set of sex cards written
by a dying man for his wife to use after his death to get
herself "back in the swing of things" with 30 days' worth
of index cards, each with a separate instruction on it for
something sexual to do by herself or with someone else.
What a fun idea for a series! I love that the cards were
left by the widow on the man's grave for another person to
find and use, after the widow was finished with them at the
end of book one, 30 DAYS.
Glenna O'Donald is a research assistant who is working
for an absolute jerk in the Communications department at a
university. She has been pining for the last year after
Professor Eric Morris, who has an office in her building.
Glenna's great grandmother, Great Glenna, has just died,
and left a letter for Glenna encouraging her to take some
risks and do something wild and out of her comfort zone.
Glenna fortuitously finds a set of cards at Great Glenna's
funeral, left at another gravestone, with 30 days'
suggestions for fun and sexy things to do. The cards are
labeled by day -- for example, Day one: masturbate. Glenna
decides to take her great grandmother's advice, and boldly
(yet anxiously) involves Eric in using the cards. Glenna
is a very real-seeming character, with reasonable doubts
and emotions, and it is easy to connect with her.
Eric has his own issues to deal with. He had a bad
previous relationship, and has no interest in becoming
emotionally involved with another woman. He agrees to go
through the sex cards with Glenna, with the understanding
that this will just be about sexual gratification without a
real relationship. Hah! We all know how well that plans
works in a romance book! I like the fact that Eric's prior
relationship issues make sense, rather than seeming
overblown and manufactured for the plot. Eric is a great
guy, and I like him as a person, as well as liking him as a
partner for Glenna.
Despite the erotic basis of the book, the emotional
connection that Glenna and Eric develop seems well fleshed
out and totally believable. The anxieties and setbacks
involving our hero and heroine develop the plot well beyond
the bedroom. I'm disappointed to know that this might be
the end of the series, and hope that the author considers
reviving it in the future. D'Abo's 30 NIGHTS will get your
motor revving and tug on your heartstrings.
Baring your body is simple--but baring your soul might just
change everything…
The last thing Glenna O'Donald expected to stumble upon in a
cemetery was a pack of index cards. And not just any
cards--each one contains instructions for a seriously kinky,
no-holds-barred sexual encounter. Glenna, an over-analytical
research assistant by day, is suddenly tempted to conduct
some nocturnal experiments of her own. Especially when
gorgeous university professor Eric Morris offers to be her
lab partner.
Soon Glenna begins meeting with Eric once a week to try out
the suggestions that intrigue her most. In between those
daring nights of sensual exploration are work days filled
with laughter and flirting…until Glenna fears she's getting
in too deep. For all the pleasure she's giving and
receiving, Glenna wants more than skin-on-skin
interaction--and Eric realizes he's about to lose the
intimate connection he didn't know he needed. Can they find
the courage to take this game to the next level?
As hot as it is heartwarming, Christine d'Abo's fresh, witty
novel proves that practice makes perfect, and that some
games are worth playing…