Customer Reviews

Nothing Personal

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Nothing Personal is like a throwback to a bygone era of romance novels and I mean that in a good way.

Ryan McKay and Faith Lewis get married because he needs to get married to keep his company and she's the loyal assistant who is willing to do whatever is needed to help him. It helps that she's sort of in love with him too.

Of course, the marriage is supposed to be "nothing personal". Just a marriage for a year, get pregnant (hopefully), and then separate.

This being a romance, the reader already knows the ending, but I was surprised how tame the writing was. Given that this is the same author who wrote Riding Wild (Wild Riders), I expected a lot more in the steam department, but perhaps Ms Burton wanted a change of pace and with Nothing Personal, it was definitely a change of pace.

I would have given this novel a four-star rating because I did enjoy it, but I do have to admit that I felt like I never really got to know the characters as well as I would have liked.

As cliched as it is, I like the marriage of convenience plot device and Ms Burton does a nice job of pacing so that our hero and heroine work towards their "big night". And I don't mind that the "misunderstanding" that all romances are required to have wasn't much of an misunderstanding.

Yet, there was something lacking. I can't put my finger on it plotwise, so I have to conclude that I just didn't quite connect with Ryan and Faith. They are nice characters, but I have to admit that Ryan's dastardly cousin had more charisma than he did. If Ryan and Faith had been developed just a little more, I think this would be a 4-star read.

That said, I did enjoy reading the novel. It wasn't earth shattering great, but it was a pleasant way to relax for a few hours.

Two lonely people, who noticed each other, and never acted upon it, until fate steps in.

Ryan needed a wife, on the quick of a dime, and he knew "old reliable," (Faith) would bail his behind out. However, he never knew his "plain Jane," assistant would strike up the match to kindle his desire for her.

Faith is unlike any woman Ryan has ever laid in bed with. She's never been with a man before, and is willing to give Ryan one of the most precious and special gifts a woman could bestow upon a man, her virginity. Only if he waits three months to receive it. Since Ryan prefers his women seasoned, the allure of being Faith's first becomes extreme intriguing to him. And intensifies the endless sparks of fire, in the realm of passion he feels for her. With no signs of ever dissipating, even when he does enter her hidden treasure.

Ryan thought he knew all he needed to know about getting a woman in bed, lavish jewelry, luxurious trips to exotic places, & etc., well he was DEAD WRONG!! Like any woman, Faith enjoyed the gifts she received from Ryan, however, they were impersonal and didn't quite come from the heart. In the long run, it was she who seduced him, with her naivety and inexperience. Having him to discover his true feelings and experiencing things he never knew existed between a man and woman, LOVE.

I can understand why certain people believe this novel is a typical Cinderella Story, yet it's extremely exciting to discover the dynamics between these diverse individuals. Faith isn't poor, she's exceptionally content and financial stable with the life she's lead until marrying Ryan. And Ryan is exceedingly reserve regarding his feelings for anyone, he would absolutely prefer to be impersonal with everyone he comes into contact with. Yet he is tremendously honorable.

Faith had been infatuated with Ryan since the day he interviewed her for her job, and he had been fascinated with Faith even before her transformation, yet to catch a glimpse of his beautiful duckling in her wedding dress. It is then, at that precise moment, their adventure begins.

I utterly believe I'm going to be obsessed with the other novels written by Ms. Burton. She's going to become one of my favorite new authors. I highly relished the way she wrote these characters, they were relatively easy to understand, the reasons for their solitude. And their trials and tribulations were true to real life, and nothing seemed to be off base. Instead of other writers, who leave the reader wondering, what in God's name were they trying to describe. Not the case with Ms. Burton, well done. This novel DESERVES WELL BEYOND A 10 STAR RATING!!

Sugar DaddyBlue-Eyed DevilJinxedWild ConquestTame Horses Wild HeartSecrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)When Strangers Marry

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.

If Ms. Burton ever decides to switch genres, moving from writing her current erotica/romantica books to writing Harlequin Presents books, Nothing Personal is testament to her ability to do it.

This book really reads like a HP novel: (1) hero (coldhearted, multimillionaire boss) marries heroine (his shy, virgin assistant) to fulfill the terms of his grandfather's crazy will and save his business; (2) heroine gets a makeover and "blossoms" under hero's influence; (3) hero's iciness thaws under heroine's gentle care; (4) (un)expected Big Misunderstanding throws them apart; (5) Conflict is solved; (6) true love vows are exchanged, smooch fest begins... and they live happily ever after.

What can I say? It was formulaic and predictable, but I kind of liked it. Ryan's reaction to Faith's "blossoming" was (unintentionally?) funny - he seemed to like the word "wow" a lot - and he could be charming when he put his mind to it. Faith was too naïve to ring true and I came to the conclusion that she did need to wear glasses all the time - and not only for reading - due to the way she used to see herself in the mirror before Ryan "revamped" her.

Overall, this wasn't a bad read. I'd have enjoyed it better if Faith's innocence wasn't so annoying, though.

This book was reminiscent of an old time Harlequin Romance. It was sweet, pleasant and very unexpected in these times. I was surprised to find myself enjoying it in spite of the far fetched premise.

I personnally enjoyed this book. Yeah, it's kind of a storyline that been used over and over again by different authors, but I'm a sucker for true love and happy endings. This might not be a must buy, but I would grab it if it's on sale.

I read this book sometime in October. This was the first book I read by this author. I was very interested in how the author go the two main characters to fall in love with each other. It was a very good romance book to read.