A Tale of Two Lovers

This sexy historical romp opens with a bang, as 19th-century gossip columnist Julianna, the prematurely widowed Lady Somerset, stumbles upon what she thinks is a taboo-breaking affair involving Lord Roxbury, an enigmatic rake who has bedded half of London (the female half). The scandalous report that Julianna pens in her London Weekly column quickly lands her in hot water with Roxbury. As the only son of a wealthy earl, he's just been given an ultimatum: marry in a month or lose the family fortune. Just when he needs his reputation the most, Julianna has crushed it to bits with tabloids accusations. With the clock ticking, Roxbury's roving, increasingly desperate eye turns in the lady of letter's direction, giving her%E2%80%94and society%E2%80%94quite a shock. "Nothing could impel me to marry him," Julianna protests. "I will not bind myself to another degenerate rake..." Rodale (A Groom of One's Own) has an intimate understanding of aristocratic England and a particular flair for rendering sumptuous period details, lingering sensually on hot-house gardens of imported blooming flowers, for instance. With one delicious plot twist upon another, Rodale's latest will keep readers guessing until the last bud is plucked. (Apr. 26)