Southern Discomfort — Rita Mae Brown

Here is the story of Hortensia Reedmuller Banastre, a beautiful woman entrenched in old money, white magnolias and a loveless marriage -- until she meets a gorgeous young prizefighter. Against a panorama of such memorable characters as Banana Mae Parker and Blue Rhonda tree (two first-class whores) and Reverend Linton Ray (a man of the cloth who wears his clerical collar too tightly for anyone's good), Hortensia must learn to survive the hurricane of emotions caused by her scandalous love. How she triumphs against all odds is warm, touching and beautiful human drama -- an intense and exuberant affair of the heart.