Susan Elizabeth Phillips has, in recent years, exposing her readers to books not only romantic but funny as well, and the basic premise of all the books in the series comes out of that time honored approach of throwing opposites together. As both her husband and her sons (and presumably their circle as well) are jocks, one of those opposites is often a sports figure, as is the case here with football star Cal Bonner. Cal Bonner, rising 34 or so, likes sweet, beautiful blond bimbos. Or sweet, beautiful brunette bimbos. As long as they're younger than 22, he's not fussy.

Till he runs into Jane, a brilliant physicist who wants a healthy but stupid father for her child and who decides Bonner, whose good looks are a nice bonus, would be perfect. If you get past the plot's implausibility and anti-intellectualism, you're in for a good time—I knew I was going to enjoy this book as soon as I encountered the reaction of the hungover cocktail waitress to Jane's art posters. It helps that I'm familiar with a certain denial the artist made and that I know enough about art to strongly suspect said denial was a load of b.s. But the works aren't esoteric, and anyone with even the most basic knowledge of 20ca painting will immediately get the joke.

Most of my difficulties with the book have to do with the way I regard very smart people, which you can read in the rant (if you really want to) but suffice it to say these characters are appealing, full of funny and often combative dialog, and if their angst doesn't come off as quite believable, at least it makes internal sense and moves the story along.

And some of the stunts the characters pull just had me roaring. For a wholesome outing as breezy as cotton candy and fairground popcorn, Phillips is a sure bet. Three stars.

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