By the Book by Dee Dawning
Bookstrand Publishing
Contemporary
Short Story, M/F, M/F/F, F/F, Ménage
Review by Hibiscus

Danny Williams is pleasantly surprised when one Friday night, Sarah, his comely wife, proposes a game to engender fresh excitement into their flagging sex life.

Handing Danny a copy of the erotic Lascivious Liaisons by Madame X, she suggests they re-enact a sex scene from the book once a week. After acting out the first scene for a heated night of sex, skeptical Danny is convinced and looking forward to the next 'By the Book' night.

However, unknown to Danny, Sarah has a plan within a plan. After several 'By the Book' nights, things start to unravel and events swing beyond Danny's control, ultimately changing their lives...forever.

♥ ♥ ♥

This story was sizzling from start to finish. I know that there are a lot of books out there that can help married couples but I doubt that there is one like Lascivious Liaisons by Madame X. I can see a wife or husband wanting to bring a little extra back into a marriage and looking for help in a book. When Danny and Sarah act out chapters in the book, I loved how the story flowed from the book to their reality.

The details in each scene made me feel as if I were in the story. I could feel how Danny was hesitant at first and how he eventually loosens up. I could feel how his mind was working and his worry when he could not find Sarah on Center Street. The descriptions of the people, rooms and places they were in were vivid. Tish, Sarah's friend and their neighbor, is the only secondary character in the book who plays a part in the storyline. She also is described in detail.

My very favorite parts of the book are the famous quotes that start each chapter. I just loved Joan Rivers, Steve Martin and Grocho Marx. I enjoyed this delightful tale of jump starting a marriage by the book. It's well worth a read.