Courtship of the Cake

Topper’s second Much “I Do” About Nothing contemporary is entertaining, but it falls short of the high mark set by Dictatorship of the Dress. When beautiful Dani meets Mick at her sister’s wedding, they share one hot night, but he goes missing the next morning, along with many of the wedding gifts. Shortly thereafter, Dani takes a job as a masseuse for famous singer Nash. There’s no chemistry between Nash and Dani, but his health and home life are in desperate need of revitalization, and he asks Dani to pretend to be his wife. They head to Nash’s hometown to meet a host of predictable characters, including Quinn, the resentful mother of Nash’s child. Coincidentally, Mick (who seems to have bedded every women in the county since his unforgettable tryst with Dani) also happens to live in that same town. The constant flipping between Dani and Mick’s perspectives is confusing at times, but this tale’s secrets and romance satisfy. Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates. (June)