Claudia is a recent widow who still feels the fundamental desires of a young woman’s body. When she meets an enigmatic stranger with amnesia, literally washed up on her doorstep, Claudia begins a roller coaster sexual relationship heightened by the elements of the unknown and mysterious. The young man soon identified as Paul claims he has only vague recollections of his past, keeping Claudia on her toes through unconscious nightly ramblings. Through it all, Paul and Claudia will work to find the answers to Paul’s foggy memory. Claudia enlists the help of her friends, both medically and socially, to help bring Paul back to his rightful awareness of himself, and through it all she has to wonder how she’ll eventually fit into his real world.

With two extremely sensual lead characters who are guided by their sharp minds and tempted by their hearts and bodies, The Stranger is a gripping fantasy story in a world of “what could be” giving the right circumstances. Claudia is a strong heroine, sure in what she wants and needs, but realistic about how she should be handling her affairs. When she meets Paul, she is aroused by her intense attraction to him even as she knows to be slightly wary. Claudia is not completely honest about all she that could be, but she knows she must allow Paul the space and opportunity to figure himself out. In the meantime, Claudia is discovering new things about herself and those who have always been around her. I enjoyed the development of both these characters, and as usual I was impressed by Ms. Da Costa’s vibrant world of secondary characters and events. This is another great erotic story by Ms. Da Costa.

Reviewed by: Jacque