Energetic prose and snappy dialogue spice up Porter's (Wild Flower, etc.) frothy romantic confection. When Hanscomb Harbor gift shop owner Maddie Copeland befriends elderly billionaire James Madison, she hardly expects to be named the sole heir to his vast fortune after his death. Maddie doesn't want James's estate, his golden retriever (she's scared stiff of dogs), or the lobster-shaped urn that holds James's ashes. But she will be stuck with it all unless his grandson, Hank Madison, takes a six-week sabbatical from the family advertising firm to relax in Maddie's home town. If Hank, a workaholic by nature, can successfully take a vacation sans cell phone, pager and fax machine, he will reclaim his rightful fortune. If not, he loses it all. At first, Hank figures Maddie is just another gold-digging blond bombshell. After a while, he begins to understand that his grandfather merely wanted to force Maddie and himself together. Since Maddie doesn't want James's money and Hank does, all they can do is make the best of an awkward situation while trying to ignore the attraction simmering between them. Some readers will enjoy the book's cute, albeit stereotypical cast, but uninspiring main characters and an overdone plot will leave others longing for something more substantial. (Sept.)
