On a steamy hot day, when Ayo Montgomery is suffering debilitating cramps, is in desperate need of air conditioner repair, and has little desire to look attractive or wear anything other than a loose flowing cotton house dress, an undeniably beautiful man shows up at her house. She had scheduled the appointment with him, relying on a friend's recommendation that Bilal Abdul Salaam was a reliable appraiser. But she hadn't been forewarned about his handsome exterior, nor was she prepared for the inexplicable pull that sparked her curiosity and infuriated her at the same time.

Thus begins a well-scripted and engaging romantic tale of love and dedication. The phrase "opposites attract" must be used to describe the relationship between the main characters. Ayo is Christian, Bilal is Muslim. She is older and accomplished, having established a cosmetics career and successfully raised her son. He dreams of her body as fertile ground for his future family, sees the possibility of beginning new things with her.

Niambi Brown Davis does a very good job here. The characters are well drawn, touching and sincere. The challenges presented are realistic and introspective, forcing the reader to examine their own preconceived notions and stereotypes in the face of love and companionship. I enjoyed Mrs. Davis decision to explore the families reaction to this budding love affair. She examined the mother-son relationship and the explosive response of Ayo's son. She also painted a lovely picture of Bilal's twin sister and her family, allowing us to watch Bilal carefully and lovingly indulge his neices.

I must admit that my patience ran low with the negative insults hurled at Bilal based on his religion. In a metropolitan area such as Washington D.C., interacting with a Black Muslim man shouldn't be as rare or as much of a culture shock as was portrayed here. Especially in light of how professionally astute and well-educated Ayo was. Additionally, while I was proud that Mrs. Davis represented an upright Muslim man in search of a clean and righteous path, sometimes Bilal's explanations felt stiff and awkward. On a couple of occasions I almost had the impression that Bilal was a foreigner explaining his country, rather than a second generation Black Muslim whose parents were initially Nation of Islam before becoming orthodox.

Nevertheless, Davis' debut novel is touching and charismatic. FROM DUSK TO DAWN is a true romantic journey, reminding us that real love withstands adversity and, ultimately, is a gift to be cherished.