Three Days in New York City [Paperback]

Forty-year-old Elizabeth is a frustrated artist turned corporate lawyer. She's in a dead marriage, and her children are ready to fly off to college. So she boards a train, leaving behind her sports obsessed husband for a three-day tryst in New York City with a colleague from the London offices of her firm.

Elizabeth and Richard, her self-assured and highly polished lover for the weekend, have been planning this affair for years, ever since they worked a case together and struck up a friendly-cum-naughty e-mail relationship. But this will be the first time they meet in person. On the train, Elizabeth's anticipation is balanced by her nervousness, both of which get turned up notches higher when Richard calls her on the way and tempts her even more.

Elizabeth has been playing the part of the sex-vixen online with Richard, and she's terrified he's going to discover that she's really a tame, married woman. But these aren't Elizabeth's only doubts and insecurities. And as her weekend with Richard unfolds, not only in a hot and sexy fashion, but also in a shower of comedic mishaps, Elizabeth is forced to confront her true inner desires regarding the direction of her life.

This was a steamy read, for sure. But it was also touching and humorous. There's a wee touch of Bridget Jones in Elizabeth, in that when it comes to endearingly embarrassing and offbeat situations, Elizabeth is a magnet. Some of her adventures will have you laughing out loud, but the jokes don't come at the expense of the dignity of the character. Instead of turning her into a caricature, she simply seems more real and vulnerable, while somehow also showing a witty determination. Elizabeth is a charming lead - a strong and vibrant woman who's finally starting to look for a life for herself after a lifetime of caring for her family.

Her partner in this adventure is at first a dashing Brit who charms her and the reader with his confidence and swagger. But as the time with them unfolds, it's not long before Elizabeth digs deeper to discover her own true nature and desires, but also his. And it's exactly this escalating mismatch that makes things so delicious not only emotionally, but also during the explicit and juicy sex scenes.

Elizabeth is on the adventure of a lifetime here, and she'll pull you along and show you the city, and herself, in this torrid, tantalizing first novel by Robin Slick.

I knew this book was going to be a fun ride, but I wasn't prepared for HOW fun. It was like buying a ticket for the merry-go-round and winding up on some super-powered roller coaster. Be ready for whiplash.

Robin Slick introduces us to Elizabeth, an unhappily-married attorney who thinks the cure for her middle-aged angst is acting out the sexual fantasies she's been having online with a debonair business associate from England. That he turns out to be a horse's ass is just the beginning of the fun. She indulges his wild sexual appetites, asking herself how the hell she got in this position--literally and figuratively--while working out the problems in her life.

This book goes way beyond steamy erotica to tickle you in your tenderest spots, offering wry observations and hilarious scenarios as Elizabeth completes her journey of becoming the person she needs to be.

Like the best roller coaster rides, the book is over way too soon. When you finish, you might just want get back on the front car and take the ride again. Or maybe just wait for the sequel. In any case, buy this book. And don't forget to strap yourself in.

STORY BRIEF:
Elizabeth is married, 39 years old, and has two college age boys. She has been having internet sex chats with Richard for several months. Richard is married and British. They agree to meet and spend three days in New York City to act out their sexual fantasies. The story is told from Elizabeth's point of view. Through much of the story she is self conscious, nervous, anxious, fearful, shy and intimidated. She is having a lot of sex with Richard, but she isn't enjoying it because of her anxious feelings. She describes Richard as gorgeous, brilliant and an incredible lover, but she is bored when listening to him talk about rugby, the Royals and his Jaguar cars. She is bored when she accompanies him shopping for clothes. When they separate for a few hours due to his business meeting, she is impatient for him to leave and doesn't look forward to his return. When he does return, they continue their sex games. When the three days are done, she is glad to be going home.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
There is a lot of sex, but it's not as much of a turn on as other erotic books because Elizabeth is so anxious. For example, she worries about what her body looks like. She tries to avoid being in the bathroom with Richard because the lights are too bright and he will see more of her flaws. I didn't find the book humorous but some readers might. The more interesting part is seeing how having an affair based only on sex can be unfulfilling. Toward the end, Elizabeth realizes more about herself and becomes less tentative with Richard. Before I read it, I thought this book was under the umbrella of romance novels, but now I don't think so. The couple does not get together at the end, they separate. And, the ending is happy only because she is glad that it's over and she is going home. As an essay on an unfulfilling affair, I guess it's ok, meaning 3 stars. Although I wouldn't recommend it for myself.

DATA:
Story length: 126 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic with light bondage, sex toys and rear door activity. Number of sex scenes: 11. Total number of sex scene pages: 34. Setting: current day New York City. Copyright: 2006. Genre: erotic fiction.