Benjamin returns with this second entry to her Love by Chocolate series (Chocolate Secrets
) with a run of the mill romance. Since accomplished chocolatier Chloe Brandeau inherited her aunt's ancient apartment building and its misfit tenants, she's been hemorrhaging money even though her business is doing well. Swirling in the background is her friends' chatter that she needs to find a man, and she also has a very attractive offer on the apartment building from an attractive developer, Ethan Behar. After Ethan's intermediaries return rebuffed but enchanted by Chloe's chocolates, he goes to see what all the fuss is about. Yes, sparks fly, and Ethan must decide between the deal and the dame, and Chloe must decide if she can trust him. While the chocolate bits are cute, the leads are razor-thin (Ethan is perfect to the point of parody), and there's never even a sliver of doubt about how things will play out. There are muted hints of a story that could be original and fun, but Benjamin fails to find it. (Apr.)
