Diamonds in the Rough

Da Costa, known for erotic romance, lures readers into her latest tale as a plain spinster finally meets her match. In late-19th-century England, distant cousins Wilson and Adela Ruffington engage in a sizzling encounter while attending a house party. Both Adela and Wilson remember all too well their mutual deflowering seven years prior. Witty repartee spices their love scenes and adds levity to the romance, which becomes more real when Wilson decides that they should wed and asks Adela’s mother’s permission—before checking with Adela. While Wilson’s initial reasons for wanting to marry Adela mostly involve passion and money, he soon realizes that the enjoyable trysts with his wife have started to mean more to him than mere lusty encounters. Fans of historicals who enjoy more spice in love scenes will be drawn to this intellectual hero and fiercely independent heroine. (June)