Nothing Personal [Paperback]

Jaci Burton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2008

It was nothing personal, just a business arrangement. Ryan McKay is a multi-millionaire with a problem. He needs a bride to fulfill the terms of his grandfathers will. Unfortunately, the one he chose just bailed on him and hes hours away from losing his company. Enter Faith Lewis his demure, devoted assistant. Ryan convinces Faith to step in and marry him, assuring her their marriage is merely a business deal. Ryan is certain he can keep this strictly impersonal. After all, hes the product of a loveless marriage and for years has sealed his own heart in an icy stone. Despite Faiths warmth, compassion and allure, hes convinced hes immune to her charms. Faith will do anything for her boss, but marry him? The shy virgin sees herself as plain and unattractive, a product of a bitter mother who drummed into her head that she wasnt worthy of a mans love. But she agrees to help Ryan fulfill the terms of his grandfathers will, hoping she doesnt lose her heart to him in the process. But love rarely listens to logic, and what follows is anything but business.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jaci Burton is addicted to paranormal stories and has been writing for Ellora's Cave since 2003. She is married to a man who keeps her fantasy life enriched.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Samhain Publishing (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605041076
• ISBN-13: 978-1605041070
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award winning author of over 50 books. She lives in Oklahoma and spends a fair amount of time on the back of her husband's Harley, where she often gets lost plotting her next story as the warm (and sometimes cold) breeze whips her face. She loves gardening, reality television, is a sucker for romantic comedies, and completely loses track of time when reading a great book. She's a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you'll find in all her books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing Personal, June 26, 2008

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nothing Personal (Paperback)

Ryan McKay has a monumental problem. He has to get married within five hours or lose control of McKay Corporation. Feeling there was no other choice, he asked his ever-loyal assistant, Faith Lewis, to play the role as his wife. They only have to be married for a year, but she has to give him a child naturally. Faith had always found her employer very attractive, but she didn't know if she could spend a year with the man and not involve her heart. She knew she had nothing to offer him as she had spent her entire life trying to blend in with the woodwork. Her mother never missed an opportunity to tell her that she was plain, and would never be remarkable to anyone. Knowing he had no capacity to love anyone, she was worried about how she would maintain her distance from him emotionally without getting her heart crushed.

Ryan thought Faith was attractive under all her camouflage, and couldn't believe the transformation in her as they said their vows. Even though their marriage was going to be in name only, she had transformed from the baggy clothes women she was hiding, into Cinderella. He couldn't figure out why she worked so hard to hide herself from the world, but he was going to figure it out.

They found settling into married life difficult as they had the world looking in not to mention his cousin James and the company attorney monitoring their every move. It surprised Ryan how attracted he was becoming to Faith, the feelings growing stronger every day. It was no longer just a business arrangement for them, but he promised her they would not have sex for two months so she could get to know him and feel comfortable. When they finally gave into lust, it surprised and scared them both. As they struggled with their emotions, and the attachment that grew, enemies conspired to separate them.

I really enjoyed this book! Ryan and Faith make a very likeable couple, and the characters are well written. People that never put them first subjected them both to dysfunctional parenting, and they suffered for it. Trust is extremely difficult for both of them, and they give it reluctantly. Emotional story that will pull at the heartstrings. A very worthwhile read.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies, May 8, 2008

By 

Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Nothing Personal (Kindle Edition)

Ryan McKay needs a wife in the worst way. His grandfather's will states that he must marry to retain possession of the family business. With numerous people depending on him, he only has a few hours left to meet the terms. Things look promising until his supposed bride refuses to sign the prenuptial agreement. Finding himself back to step one with time rapidly running out, Ryan turns to the one person who has never let him down; Faith Lewis, his personal assistant.

In love with her boss for years, Faith has watched a plethora of women revolve through Ryan's life time and again. However, time is running short for Ryan, and Faith knows how much the family business means to him. Trying to create a list of women who would marry Ryan immediately, Faith is shocked and secretly elated when Ryan proposes. She knows he did so only out of desperation, but she still can't help but be tremendously pleased.

Neither Ryan nor Faith anticipates falling love. They also don't count on two enemies bent on tearing them apart.

A book like NOTHING PERSONAL reiterates all my reasons why I love Ms. Burton's writing style. Whether I am reading her latest paranormal or contemporary, I can count on a wonderfully emotional treat. NOTHING PERSONAL was that and more. I found myself cheering on Faith from the sidelines one minute and considering belting Ryan on the head the next. With both main characters shy about vocalizing their feelings because of past hurts, their love was all the more special.

Revised from a previous release, NOTHING PERSONAL is poignant, steamy, and ultimately satisfying. I enjoyed every aspect of this book. Jaci Burton's talent and writing continues to grow, and I love watching her blossom into an author of worth. She is on my auto buy list, and there she will remain!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and Sensitive Romance Story, November 2, 2008

By 

LeaF (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nothing Personal (Paperback)

Ryan McKay is filthy rich, good looking and ruthless in business. Due to a weird clause in his grandfather's will he has to marry and produce an heir within a year or he loses control of `McKay Corporation', the family business. Ryan had a `bride' lined up but at the last minute she decides she wants no part of the `arrangement' and bails leaving him desperate to satisfy the conditions of the will. Ryan was raised by parents who were in a loveless marriage and is quite cold avoiding any relationship commitments with a woman.


Ryan turns to Faith Lewis, his devoted executive assistant and `right hand' asking her if she will marry him, entering into an impersonal business arrangement for one year at which time they would divorce and go their separate ways. Ryan wants nothing to do with a baby so he is quite supportive of Faith having full custody of the child they would make together and she would be provided with more than enough money to support them both.


Faith is shy virgin who dresses in unbecoming clothes and sensible shoes. She has always harbored a secret crush for Ryan who has seen her as a competent assistant, nothing more. Faith accepts Ryan's proposal with the provision that he keep his distance for two months to allow her time to come to terms with being sexually intimate with him and adjust to their `arrangement'.


The will's provision even specifies that there be two chaperones, Stan, the family lawyer and James McKay, Ryan's cousin who are to make sure the `newlyweds' share the same bedroom. It is quite a crowd!


Faith is a beautiful demure woman and when Ryan sees her in the wedding dress left behind by the runaway bride he suddenly notices his conservative assistant in a different light. Ryan sets about on a mission to seduce his new wife but despite the fact they are sharing a bedroom he is thwarted at every turn. The story is laced with sexual tension and Ryan is continually surprised by Faith's sensitivity and compassion. She is also quite funny and enjoys the `simpler things', whereas he has always been formal and accustomed to the `niceties' of life. Ryan is stunned by the simple act that finally wins Faith's trust.

The love scenes in this book are beautiful and tasteful in keeping with the story. Jaci Burton is known for writing great love scenes, and `Nothing Personal' is no exception.

Something I really like about Jaci Burton's books is her ability to write antagonists a reader loves to hate. James McKay is a spoiled, devious, nasty, slimy man, whose main goal is to wrestle control of McKay Corporation from Ryan.

Faith and Ryan's `business arrangement' blossoms into a deep love that takes both of them by storm, however significant complications do intercede and I was left wondering until the last chapter if their love would endure.

`Nothing Personal' explores my favorite theme, the boss and previously unnoticed employee who become lovers. This book is not a steamy erotic romance, but if you enjoy a sensitive romantic story exploring a timeless theme I think you will find Faith and Ryan's story very enjoyable.