Nothing Personal

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.

I don't know what book the other two reviewers were reading, but this book reads like a 1980's Harlequin Romance. Rich, handsome, unemotional man and plain, young virgin who has been secretly in love with him for the past 5 years....Please. Save your money.

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.

[[ASIN:1605041076 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 [[ASIN:0425219313 Riding Wild (Wild Riders)]], I expected a lot more in the steam department, but perhaps Ms Burton wanted a change of pace and with [[ASIN:1605041076 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.

I have enjoyed many of Ms. Burton's books yet I found this one very humdrum and a bit juvenial. Faith was just a bit to naive to be believable, working for this man for 5 years and living in Las Vegas, I mean come on!!! Now if this was taking place in the 50's or even the 60's then I could understand, yet now in the 21st century, even though she came off the farm and had such a repressive mother!

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.

not as steamy a read as i like but it was very easy reading; reminded me more of some of the older romance novels from a while back; first book that i read by jaci burton; i am going to try more and see if i like them any better than this one.

Quick read, excellent example of love finding you when least expected.

Good author.

She's been in love with him since he started working for him five years ago. He sees his assistant who can be the answer to all of his problems. Contracts are signed and vows are exchanged. Trying to boost her self esteem and shut the gossips down in the office he buys her a whole new wardrobe and makeover, he realized she is truly a beautiful woman he may actually have feelings for. Suffering, what she thinks is the ultimate betrayal after she finally gives herself to him, she runs. Only to find out she is expecting and he actually loves her. Loved this book and would definitely recommend it to a friend.