Zen and Sex

by Dermot Davis

Martin is a 24 year old guy who falls in love with a 38 year old woman. He has to grow so fast emotionally that he feels like he just got hit by a speeding bus. Not only is Frances fourteen years Martin's senior, but she's all about putting Zen into relationship, which involves every guy's worst nightmare: talking about your feelings, being conscious of your thoughts and above all, unabashed, honest communication at all times. Martin has no idea what he is getting himself into and the sharp learning curve that's required of him especially when he's thinking sex but she's thinking Zen.

WARNING: This book contains irony, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm and heavy doses of wit. Not suitable for readers expecting a traditional rom-com where the male character is a billionaire or some other fantasy variation of an alpha male. In fact, when it comes to love, the main character, Martin, has been described as a bumbling idiot... so please be warned.

Genres: Romance, Humor, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Sexuality, Adult, Comedy

162 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2013

About the author

Dermot is an Irish writer who splits his time between Ireland and the US. His creative work encompasses varied genres and styles with a special focus on human themes and characters transformed by life experience. He is a Gold Medalist Winner in the 2015 READER'S FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD, a SOMERSET AWARDS FIRST PLACE WINNER 2013, a First Place Winner in the 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS and a Finalist in the 2013 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS. As a playwright, Dermot is a recipient of the O.Z. Whitehead Award which was co-sponsored by Irish Pen and the Society of Irish Playwrights

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short book but contains multitudes. The hero, Martin, is in despair about his ability to maintain a long-term relationship. Everywhere he looks he sees people romancing and dancing, especially his room-mate, Mike, who shares his life with a beautiful woman, Gloria.

After a number of failed match-making attempts he finally falls into a relationship with an older woman. At first leery, he realises that the age-gap doesn't matter and goes headlong into the relationship.

The book then examines what happens when two real people try to negotiate a relationship where each is uncertain about themselves and their feelings. Without giving too much away, the book is a comedy ... and comedies traditionally end happily. Otherwise there's not a lot to laugh about ...

Dermot Davis writes Martin from the first-person perspective, and this gives him the opportunity to delve the depths and scale the heights of Martin's roller-coaster. He writes affectionately and - it seems to me - accurately about the mental contortions that 'real' people go through as they work on their relationships. What's more, he makes Martin a fairly normal man in that he's actually reluctant to talk about or discuss the relationship with Frances. The idea of the 'difficult conversation' is anathema to him, preferring instead to bathe in the mutual love-in between them rather than analysis it into paralysis. Then, when he *does* want to talk about it, she's reluctant ... all very human.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who's experienced failure and success in their romantic life. You'll recognise your feelings and the feelings of other people as they're acted out. You'll experience the frustration, again, of dealing with a partner who seems to change his or her mind about how he or she feels. And you'll laugh copiously at Martin's attempts to find a way of having a real relationship with a real woman without giving up any essential parts of his own persona.

[Kevin Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book Zen and Sex. A few weeks ago I read The Younger Man, a story from the perspective of Frances, the female character, and was thrilled to discover that Zen and Sex featured the same characters. The story was similar but from the perspective of Martin, the male character. What a fascinating idea, I was gripped from the start, caught up in the psychological turmoil and humour of everyday life and complex relationships. The book was well written with some great life observations, humour and confusion that haunt all of us. It doesn’t seem to matter in which order these books are read, but I recommend you do read them both for a fully rounded view of human observations. I look forward to reading more books written by Dermot.

[Ariel Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always get a kick out of Men POV books about romance. There is just so much truth in it. I laughed several times out loud, and even read some passages to my husband. I liked the older woman dynamic, however, I found the female character slightly annoying. I was almost rooting for him to find someone else, and was okay with her not being in the picture in the end...Zen Lesson learned- Still the main character 'Martin' was very likable, and I enjoyed his commentary throughout the entire book.

[Joecool Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t beat around the bush….I absolutely LOVED this book! I absolutely felt like I was inside Martin’s brain and he was a real man with real feelings. I think that many more men than will admit have the same insecurities and long for that lifetime companionship.

I loved that we felt his anxiety and went through the build up to worst case scenario with him. I know I do this myself often and you can have yourself so worked up for no apparent reason. There were many times throughout the book that I wanted to tell him to breathe…..but I think that is why it felt so real and genuine to me.

I read some of the other reviews about the book before I started because I like to know how my perception matches up. I felt like Dermot Davis gave us a true glimpse into a real persons mind….the thoughts are not always PC nor are they necessarily what we really feel. Sometimes you are just working up a scenario in your head that is truly the “worst-case” and then you are surprised by the true outcome once you have a chance to talk with the person.

Something I would definitely be interested in reading (if there is any thought of more on Martin and Frances), would be the same story from Frances’ perspective. 

[Peter John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying that this is far from my usual read, there are no explosions, no alien invasions and no vampires. It's a book about relationships and love, so I opened it tentatively and was very pleasantly surprised; it caught my attention from the first page. Dermot Davis has a very smooth and easy to read style of writing which flows down the page effortlessly.

Martin is a man looking for love, in fact he's looking for the look of love but it's love itself he's really looking for. After a series of unsuccessful dates he meets Frances, a woman 14 years older than him and 14 years more mature.

The characters feel very authentic and Martin's thoughts and feelings seemed very familiar, not unlike my own during my early twenties I'm willing to admit. Strewn with great observational and character based humour Zen and Sex was an unexpectedly good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Whether this book would fit in with your usual reads or not, I highly recommend it and it deserves a place on anyone’s bookshelf. Dermot Davis is a great wordsmith and I'm looking forward to his next excellent work.

[Lourie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a romantic comedy from the male perspective was Amusing. Martin who is a romantic at heart just doesn’t want to go to his ex-girl friends wedding alone. How many times have we heard this plot from the female perspective? After a succession of failed dates he meets Frances who much to his chagrin has been a witness to the failures.

I won’t say that this book rocked my world I will say that it was short quaint and fun. From the love sick roommate with the obnoxious girlfriend to the cougar looking to get her life back on track it hit all the dating pitfalls. I personally found there to be a ring of truth to it.

It is well written and moves fast with short chapters so perfect for the reader who is short on time yet craves a little romantic comedy.

[AKA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading romance from a guy's perspective and Mr. Davis definitely delivered with Martin. His thoughts, feeling and just general way of dealing with women was so spot on to me. I didn't quite get why a twenty four year old was so hot to find a serious relationship, but that's just me I guess. I liked this one so why only three stars? It's supposed to be a romantic comedy and I didn't find it to be overly funny or romantic (the only really "funny" passages were the ones that I think we're supposed to be romantic).

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin is invited to his ex-girlfriend's wedding and cannot be seen as a loser without a girlfriend. On a mad dash to find a perfect (of course being 24 and a man that means a hot woman) girlfriend,he meets Frances who isn't quite what he was hunting for. Thirty-eight year old Frances naturally comes with life experience (or baggage if you ask a man), and an interest in Zen philosophy that soon Martin will embrace eventually. It's a funny novel told from his perspective and I enjoyed the age difference, the gap in maturity. I would have enjoyed hearing the thoughts of Frances but maybe that's unfair, after all there are many novels written from the female's perspective.
Men think differently, particularly at Martin's 'green' age of 24. So while he does come off as shallow, I have to admit a lot of 'guys' in their twenties do seem quite similar to Martin. Men and women are not looking for the same thing at the same time, it's the universe's little not so funny joke on us all.
What I enjoyed about this comedy/romance was that it isn't the same as, dare I say it, chic-lit. It's nice for a change to read from a man's perspective, even if he comes off as a jackass at times.
Martin and Frances give us a lot of laughs as they both grow in the novel and I think women will enjoy it as much as men, but differently of course...

[Cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting, even delightful read. I would recommend this book to any romantic, hopeless or not. There is reasonable, moderate sexual play without kink. The story has characters that feel very real. The male protagonist starts out as a very stereotypical guy on the prowl for a replacement girlfriend after a breakup. There are many twists and turns before he finds an interesting one who is more than what he expected. The repetition of his unsuccessful romantic interactions follow him again and again. This time his needs and the feedback he gets cause him to modify and retry his efforts, many times. These searches for a successful relationship are comical but feel very true and resonate with me, and I'm sure, many people in the singles scene. The author ends the story with an abrupt HEA that happily satisfies.

[Nick Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally a reader of romantic comedies, generally preferring my fiction with a dash of zombies, aliens or elves, but this tightly written and very funny novel has won me over.
Martin, the protagonist, is witty, likeable, and very human - as an insight into the male psyche the book is worryingly accurate. Don't give away all our secrets, Dermot! The first person style and insight into Martin's inner workings remind me happily of the brilliant UK comedy Peep Show as well Nick Hornby's work. The dialogue is snappy and realistic, and the plot is fast moving; as someone who has just slogged his way through A Dance With Dragons, I can't tell you how relieved I was to read a book that doesn't outstay it's welcome.

Excellent work! More please!

[Nicole Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was in the mood for a romantic comedy, I'll admit that I wasn't really expecting much from this one. What do men know about writing a romantic comedy? It turns...quite a bit. I enjoyed the guided tour through the male mind. I found myself chuckling again and again. Most of all, I was rooting for the most unlikely romance of all because when it's love, it can be so unexpected.

The best part of this is that there is so much more depth to this story than I imagined I would experience. And now I find myself stuck in the head of Martin, wishing I knew what happened next. Zen and a Sequel? A Sequel and Sex? I'm all for it. Mr. Davis, start on that immediately.

[Andrew Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love first person narratives and this is a great one. I laughed from start to finish. Being a bloke myself I thought Mr Davis was spot on with some of the observational humor he expertly intertwines with the story, and his insights into the male mind when it comes to the subjects of love and sex are humorous and thoughtful. This book also reads very nicely (which is always important for me) the story flows and it is a pleasure to read. Doesn't matter if you're into this genre of novel or not, everyone can connect with the ideas and themes in this work of literature, and laugh at the same time. More please.

[Linda S Amstutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin is a romantic. He’s consumed with finding love – in real life and through his camera lens -- and he has idealistic opinions of what love should be. After several false starts via online dating, Martin finds Frances – the older woman who is more experienced, more sophisticated but comes with more baggage. ZEN AND SEX is a fun ride through the land of romantic comedy. The writer tells this story with speed, and humor. I have to admit, it’s a guilty pleasure to read about love and romance through the heart and mind of a male character. Mr Davis tells us what the men – or at least one man –thinks of this game called Love. I highly recommend this book!

[Jeanie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things I really, really liked about this book. First, this book had me cracking up big time in such a good way!!! Second, I really liked that this book was told from a regular/typical male POV. I especially liked the character of Martin, who is the hero of the story, but he's not the striking, dashing, drop dead-gorgeous, swoon-worthy book hero you always read about in romance books. He's typical, average, regular... REAL. And I really really liked that about him. He was funny but he was so real to me and I couldn't help but cheer for him and want what he wanted. Really cute story. I really liked it!

[Sylvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting because it's a man's point of view written by a male author. So real in how guys interact. Also it's not all about sex as other male authors have written. (A certain Japanese author comes to mind!). Some English errors like their instead of they're which good editing could have prevented. All in all a nice small novel worth reading.. And most important it starts with the letter Z for my 2013 Alphabet Challenge.

[H Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny. Really like this clever little book with an interesting twist on the romantic comedy genre. It was fun getting inside Martin's head. It was laughable and really nifty that Martin, the guy after the sex, turned out, in some ways, to be more authentic than Frances. I hope the author writes a sequel. Seriously.

[Dermot Davis]

WARNING: This book contains irony, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm and heavy doses of wit. Not suitable for readers expecting a traditional rom-com where the male character is a billionaire or some other fantasy variation of an alpha male. In fact, when it comes to love, the main character, Martin, has been described as a bumbling idiot... so please be warned.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never suspected so much going on in a male´s head :-)))
After reading this book, I am feeling exactly the way the young man on the cover looks like!

[Nicolas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love romances, but your primary pet peeve is female characters who are doormats, you may enjoy it. If you love romances, but your primary pet peeve is men who are disinterested in relationships, you may like it. If you like romances with a hint of eroticism, but nothing anatomically explicit or kinky, you may like it.

I, personally, did not like it. My wife did not either.

The writing itself was well done, although it could use a proofread, as there were a fair amount of little errors, relationship not a relationship, or relationships, etc. and superfluous words that were obviously little leftovers from editing. There weren't enough of these to really slow me down, though, and it was, for the most part, really well written and presented. It's engagingly written, and a little humorous, though I found very few parts laugh-out-loud funny. As you'll see, though, I think my overall ambivalence to the characters meant I wasn't as receptive to the humor as you may be.

My wife read probably a third of it over my shoulder, in chunks, but didn't read the full thing, because every time she tried reading it with me, she'd end up storming into the next room and growling for a half hour. She felt that all of the characters were selfish, or abrasive, and it was painful to read Martin's mullings on singledom. I can see the seed of truth to his frustration at rejection, but those parts did feel overlong, and I could see why she thought that those sections were needlessly hostile to women. She also felt that Frances' character was too controlling, and the communication she demanded was one-sided, and that there was nothing to balance that hypocrisy.

I think she was personally offended, too, because she felt that so much of the writing perspective had an anti-woman bent, not just a "rejected single guy" slant. She said "I can see why Martin's single, if he truly thinks he's entitled to polite attention from every woman he hits on, regardless of how intrusive he's being, and looks down on the women who ARE willing to be with him as being stupid, eager to cheat on him with the next man they see, or being too demanding because they *gasp* dared to make their needs known in the relationship, when he was too cowardly or uncommitted to put his own forth! It's insulting to develop your female lead character based exclusively by putting down other women, to build her up.'Unlike OTHER women, she's doesn't abandon the guy she's with at parties. Unlike OTHER women, she's sexually open. Unlike OTHER women, I can have a good conversation with her. Unlike OTHER women, she's one of the guys!' " I, uh, got much more of an earful than that, that I won't repeat here. There were obscenities, philosophical discussions of feminism, and personal anecdotes about the street harassment and violence that women deal with, that springs from that same sense of entitlement to a woman's attention. I live with a forceful one.

Her misgivings aside, I didn't really care for the characters, either. Martin's perspective was just too keenly targeted towards talking about love-drama, and he never really felt dimensional. He seemed to have a bit of a victim complex I found unpleasant to read, even he was with other guys. None of his friendships or history seemed well developed, and I found myself tuning out his thoughts on his hobbies, because they always, inevitably tied back into his current relationship (or lack of relationship) drama.

Frances, despite her well developed background, just felt one sided, vacillating between being demanding, controlling, and restrictive, while demanding painful honesty, openness, and obedience from her partner. Not someone you want to spend time around, no matter how attractive they are, or how bad you feel when you learn about the skeletons in their closet. Even attending her mother's party didn't add any real nuance to her treatment of others. In the narrative, Martin focused on his own awkwardness in her social circle, without any mention of her telling family stories, introducing him to non-comedic family, or showing any real vulnerability or individuality of hers.

I didn't understand why it ended the way it did. It felt like neither of them actually grew through the story, and I had the sense that immediately after the close, they were going to go back into the same unhealthy patterns that had shaped the conflicts in the story in the first place. The ending was anticlimactic, because they never actually confronted the issue at the climax. It wasn't a satisfying ending, although it supposedly ended on a happy note.

Only thing to say, really. Read the sample. If you like following Martin's perspective, you'll probably enjoy the full thing. If you dislike him from the beginning, like my wife did, then you'll probably dislike the full book. There's a lot of fun humorous elements, and it's decently well written, but if you don't like the characters in a romantic comedy, you won't have any reason to root for them to reach their happily-ever-after.

[Annette Gisby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin is a photographer in the doldrums after his girlfriend dumps him as she didn't want to get too serious too young, and then has the nerve to send Martin an invitation to her wedding three weeks hence. Martin's room mate Mike and his girlfriend Gloria set out to on a quest to get Martin hooked up with some drop-dead gorgeous woman before the wedding to go as his date.

Trying and failing to impress women in bars, even talking to them on a park bench, Martin reluctantly tries out the Internet dating scene, all of them ending in disaster. He takes each woman to the same restaurant, and is left there alone time and time again. Frances is a slightly older woman who is also at the same restaurant and the same table time and time again and they soon get talking about Martin's bad dates and things develop from there.

I've never read a romantic comedy, or chick-lit, would this be man-lit as it's written by a man? Well, whatever the label, it's quite an amusing read about Martin's adventures in trying to get the woman of his dreams, or at the start of the book, any woman.

The book is written in Martin's first person point of view, and also almost entirely in the present tense. I don't usually go for present tense in longer works as I don't think it flows as well as past tense for novels, however it did give Martin's quest a bit more immediacy here so once you got into the flow it wasn't too bad.

Martin is likeable most of the time, but since we're in his head for the whole book, we don't get to see what other people are thinking, just what Martin thinks about them and some of his thoughts are not what you'd call politically correct. He has a strange attitude towards women, particularly when he's looking for his Internet dates, he only wants to date the beautiful ones and it makes him seem quite shallow, when he isn't, not really and a lot of the time every time he sees a beautiful woman, he's thinking of how best to come on to her. Not how to get to know her better, but how soon he can bed her. Maybe all men think like that, but it made him seem less sympathetic than he could have been.

Frances was wonderful and I would have loved to have been inside her head for some of the book. Mike and Gloria were excellent sidekicks too. A good, fun light-fun light-hearted read but with some depth too.

Review copy supplied by author.

[Henry Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is humorous if you're able to laugh at a protagonist handicapped by immaturity and inexperience in the war between the sexes. His name is Martin, and he's a competent photographer, professional enough to distance himself from subject and scene, but not so apt at relationships with the opposite sex. In that game, he ranks as an amateur, emotionally immature, unable to make sense of the experience. As the novel opens, his latest girlfriend has just dumped him. He reflects upon his situation, realizes he is troubled in love, feels need for involvement, envies male friends who seem successful, wonders what the secret is. He consults how-to guidance, ponders various pickup techniques, gets involved in computer dating, has bad experiences. After one such, an attractive female witness to his latest shows sympathy and interest, and a relationship develops. Her name is Frances, she is more accepting of him as a person than the others, also older, a divorced veteran with an attractive young daughter. More importantly, she adheres to Zen philosophy, becoming fully aware in all endeavors, including sex; her yen for Zen puts a damper on Martin's yen for sex. They go though a sort of courtship, traveling together, meeting friends, getting to know one another better, yet no sex. Complications ensue when he returns a salacious DVD to the daughter (one of its actors), who tempts him; no spoilers allowed, so read the book for details. The book is well written. This said, I found it difficult to like the characters, which may have been the author's intention. Martin, the narrator, sometimes comes across as a self-absorbed jerk. I was tempted to side with the older, seemingly wiser woman he falls for, though she was cruelly manipulative with poor Martin, and her daughter's feckless behavior raised questions about her fitness as a parental role model and human being.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read other book reviews at Book Junkie Joint.

A stereotypical case of trying to look good for an ex.

This story reminded me of that ever-common plot point in romantic movies where a person tries to act like he/she has moved on from a previous relationship by appearing with a new love interest. After all, nothing says "I've moved on" better than a new love, right?

Anyways, personally, I did not really like the story all that much. Although it's labeled at a romantic-comedy, I just wasn't all that convinced with the comedy aspect. Sure, there were scenes that were good, but those weren't really common in the book. Oh, and despite the "sex" in the title, there really wasn't much going on, but I appreciate that the author didn't include too much graphic details about the sex scenes.

Now, for the characters. There were times when Martin, from whose perspective the story was told, sounded a little trying hard. What's more, Martin reminded me of Ted Mosby from the TV show How I Met Your Mother -- someone desperate to find a woman to love that he goes the extra mile to meet someone, which is just sad, but of course, I know that this is a reality for some people.

Then there's the new woman in his life, Frances -- older, more experienced, more mature and into zen. I don't really get what her thing is. I can't even relate to where she was coming from half the time. And it's a little pathetic that she has Martin in the palm of her hands.

The only good thing about this book is that it has a happy ending. That's it. I have to admit that it was a bit of a struggle for me to finish reading it. Nonetheless, it was a good way to pass some time.

[Kara Jorges · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not very often that I see a romance novel written from the male point of view, so when I was offered a copy of this one for review, I was immediately interested. I got sucked in right away by the protagonist’s voice, and I absolutely loved it.

Twenty-four-year-old Martin is facing a dilemma when he receives an invitation to his ex-girlfriend’s wedding. He knows she just wants to rub his nose in her happiness, so the only way to fight back is to show up looking happy with a hot date. The only problem is that Martin doesn’t have any romantic prospects. He gets on a dating site and takes out a few women, but all the dates are disasters. He notices an older woman observing with a certain level of amusement, and after his last dating fiasco, they strike up a conversation and start seeing each other.

Frances is fourteen years older than Martin, and going out with her is a completely different experience than women his own age. As Martin navigates the waters of dating in a more grown-up world, he makes hilarious observations about both himself and Frances, as well as the people in her life and the younger women of his past. Since I started dating a 25-year-old man when I was 36, it was particularly poignant for me, and I enjoyed following the train of Martin’s thoughts.

Any woman who wants some clue as to the inner workings of the male mind should read this book. Any older woman interested in dating a somewhat younger man should definitely read this book. Just anyone who wants to read a fun, heartwarming romance that doesn’t follow the typical formula should read this book. I loved it and can’t wait for the author’s next!

[Wendy Janes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin is a photographer in his mid-twenties. He has three weeks to find a date for his ex-girlfriend’s wedding. After a series of disastrous encounters he meets Frances who is gorgeous and looks much younger than her true age. Will she be his wedding date, or maybe more?

The author’s affection for Martin shines through, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this endearing character. The first-person narrative gives an immediacy to his romantic musings and his insecurities. Many of Martin’s conversations with Frances are interspersed with his thoughts, which works perfectly to bring the couple to life and demonstrate just how out of his depth he is. I love the scenes where Martin veers from feeling that his relationship is perfect to suddenly not being able to understand why it’s floundering.

I think Frances’ family provide more of the laugh-out-loud funny moments, with a high-farce party scene that culminates in an overheard phone conversation taking my vote for the comedy highlight of this story. However, my favourite scene is where Martin and Frances first get together. I know I won’t do it justice by attempting to explain why it works, so all I’ll do is recommend that when you get there, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

It’s refreshing to read a romantic comedy that I’m sure will appeal equally to men and women.

I’d like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of this book.

[Dorothy Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin is a professional photographer, who has an apartment with his best friend Mike. Mike's girl friend, Gloria, is there so often that it feels like she lives there. Poor Martin is mooning over a broken heart. Listening to Mike and Gloria having sex in the next room only adds to his misery. His girl friend, Roxanne, dumped him. She has the nerve to send Martin an invitation to her wedding, three weeks hence. Mike, Gloria and Martin set out to find a gorgeous babe for Martin to take to the wedding. Martin tries the online dating scene. We listen in to his hilarious innermost thoughts as he suffers through date after date in the same restaurant at the same table. Witness to all of this is Frances, a lovely single woman, dining a few tables away. She and Martin lock eyes and she sends him a gorgeous smile. From that time on, a "relationship" developes between the two with its attendant ups and downs, each one funnier than the last. This book is a delicous adult romp, although the characters sometimes act like children. I recommend it.
Dorothy May Mercer, Author

[William Dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should have read the description on this book, but I thought I had a good handle on what it was going to be about based on the title. Then I got through the first chapter, and I was sure I knew how the story was going to go. Then I got to the end of the second chapter and I knew I was in for something I wasn't expecting, and that is something I love in a book.

Zen and Sex is full of twists and turns, just as any relationship will be. Martin is twenty-four and looking for the perfect woman to take to his ex-girlfriend's wedding, but he wasn't expecting to meet Frances.

Frances is thirty-eight with lots of baggage from past relationships, but she likes this younger man and is willing to take a chance on him, especially if she can get him on track with her Zen approach to life.

The Zen is what really makes the story interesting because it influences the entire story. How do they make their choices and how to they live the moments that they have together? You'll have to read it yourself to find the answers to those questions, and I recommend that you do just that.

[Annie Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

  Zen and Sex by Dermot Davis its a quick and easy read. Somehow the author managed to get the character fully developed right off the bat, and kept the interest level high without resorting to high-tension gimmicks.  Reading the main character Martin in his introduction of himself was surprisingly easy. In fact, I felt like I knew Martin as a good friend before I even knew his name. I loved how true to life he was and how relatable his goals were.  This book is written like an honest chronicle, with bursts of humor and simple, although intelligent, language. I found only one negative thing I would mention: I felt it wrapped itself but, but not as strongly as I'd have liked.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book good, enjoyable reading about you 23 year old Martin whose trails and troubles of not feeling good enough in bedroom department and thinks hes all failure, He meets frances who's older and more experienced and into Zen (men from mars and women from venus). Frances hopes it puts all her sex troubles in perspective but causes too much trail and tribulation for Frances. Martin relationship ends after attending sex seminar and hes finds hes has a really zany interest in her . They meet up a t friends wedding and do a show of Dirty Dancing the game back on

enyouable and a zany read,

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a romance, which had some erotica and ironic comedy. The main character is a photographer who is heartbroken over his last break up. He receives an invitation to her wedding and goes about finding a date to the wedding.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining read. I wasn't expecting it, but there was a deeper message intertwined with the sex, romance and comedy.