The Nicest Guy in America

It's easy to forgive the awkward premise of Benson's latest (The Way Home), because her protagonists--her heroine especially--are so appealing. Kimberla Washington, a reporter for the D.C.--based Urban Style, has been put in charge of her magazine's new ""Nicest Guy in America"" contest. The improbable part is that the men must be nominated by women who have dumped them. Reggie Stevens, a computer consultant in Atlanta who receives multiple nominations, is understandably reluctant to participate. He thinks women say they want nice guys when, in fact, they want the opposite. For her part, Kim thinks nice guys like Reggie say they want nice women when in fact they want ""Jet Magazine swimsuit types."" The emotional misunderstanding between the two is much more subtle and interesting than the usual romance conflict, and that's what makes this stand out. (Oct.)