Courtship of the Cake
Much “I Do” About Nothing, Book #2
By Jessica Topper
ISBN: 9780425276853
Author’s Website: www.jessicatopper.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
From the author of Dictatorship of the Dress comes a new novel about a woman who’s vowed to never walk down the aisle—and the two men who’ll do anything to get her to say “I do”…
“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride” has suited Danica James just fine…until the mysterious man who crashed her sister’s wedding steals her heart, leaves a slice of groom’s cake under her pillow, and then disappears.
Hoping to forget her unforgettable fling, Dani takes a job as a backstage masseuse for a rock music festival, not expecting the tour’s headlining bad boy to make an offer she can’t refuse. Nash Drama needs a fiancée—and fast…
Mick Spencer is the best wedding cake designer in New Hope and the town’s most eligible bachelor. But despite the bevy of bridesmaids he’s sampled, Mick can’t get the evening he spent with Dani out of his mind.
So when she shows up for a cake tasting at the Night Kitchen—with his former best friend’s ring on her finger—Mick vows to charm the woman of his dreams into choosing a sweet and sinful ever after, with him…
Review:
Courtship of the Cake was an enjoyable albeit long read. As an introduction to this author, I was able to ascertain that I liked her writing style and she incorporates just the right amount of sizzle for my reading enjoyment.
One thing I must say, and it is more about the presentation of the book. It was one of the hardest books to read electronically in a long while as I found it very difficult to tell when the person speaking and/or thinking had changed at various junctures throughout the book. It was not a consistent problem, but intermittent, which made it relatively frustrating. However, I did my best to make sure it did not deter from the content of the book.
Dani (Danica) is a likeable character with bad mojo with respect to her love life. She met the “one” at her sister’s wedding in New Orleans, but before they could even really get started…he leaves…after the first night. Dani is trying to get over Mick, but it is just not happening. So, when the opportunity arises to work as a backstage masseuse for Nash Drama (legendary rock singer), Dani jumps at the chance. Maybe this will be enough to keep Dani busy and starting to get over the one who left. Along the way, Dani actually comes to like the bad boy Nash Drama! Dani excels at bringing the good out in people. When she oversteps her boundaries on the job and is let go mid concert tour, Nash hires her to be his personal masseuse…he just can’t live without her. At one point in the tour, the band is heading to Canada, but Nash does not have the clearance…so he is on hiatus for one week. During this time, he is to return to his home town to receive a key to the city. He asks Dani to play an unusual part in this side trip…his fiancé. His reasoning…she has “magic mojo hands” and he needs them on him every day.
Dani is the level headed one within her circle of friends…there is a saying that, when a dilemma occurs, is said amongst her friends:
“Listen to that little voice inside your own head for once, will ya? W-W-D-D? What would Dani do?”
And frequently we are reminded of W-W-D-D. This seems to be the motto when events take a turn south and Dani must make life work. Well, this saying is never more prevalent than when Dani and Nash return to his hometown and who does Dani encounter? Mick of course. And then the fun starts. And trust me…you will enjoy the story from here on out!
I was pleasantly surprised to find as the characters were developed, they became more robust and satisfying to follow, and I enjoyed the storytelling more. I became invested in the intertwined mix of their lives. As the love triangle emerges, some of the stunts pulled by Mick were just priceless. He will not fight fair to win. All I can say is, read away to find out how this all ends. Nash is a much deeper character than I would have imagined at the beginning of the book and I have to say that I enjoyed his journey.
Other notable characters…Logan and his mother – Quinn, Bear and Angie. You will also get a chuckle when Jimmy comes into the cake shop and raring for a fight! Steam out of his ears, madder than a hatter. I certainly chuckled. The humor was also a big component for my overall enjoyment.
So this second book in the series (though essentially a stand-alone title in its own right) is filled with a bit of romance (though certainly not in the beginning unless you count in Dani’s daydreams), more women’s fiction than romance, humor, conniving and all around good fun.
I heartily recommend this book and will most certainly go back and read book one!
