A Book in My Back Pocket

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.

Another thing I like about Jaci’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.