Title: Nothing Personal
Author: Rosalind James
Series: The Kincaids #2
Published: October 18th 2013
Page Count: 289
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating: ★★★★
Book Blurb:
By the author of the bestselling Escape to New Zealand series--When you wish upon a star . . .
Alec Kincaid has never met the obstacle he couldn’t overcome—or the woman who could resist him. And it’s not going to happen now, not with his star shining more brightly than ever in the high-stakes arena of San Francisco’s software industry.
Desiree Harlin doesn’t believe in fairy tales, and she doesn’t waste time wishing. She’s learned the hard way that dreams don’t come true. And with her reputation and hard-won security on the line, succumbing to temptation isn’t an option.
But things aren’t always what they seem. And even stars sometimes fall.
Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.
Excerpt:
She’d spooned up every bit of the rich broth, the chunks of beef and vegetables, had dipped a second and then a third piece of bread in olive oil. Alec had watched it all without comment, while dispatching his own dinner with an alacrity that confirmed to Desiree that he really hadn’t had dinner yet tonight.
And when they’d finished, he’d insisted, together with Giuseppe—of course the waiter’s name was Giuseppe, because this wasn’t romantic enough, the white tablecloth and the single red rose and the candle and the worn brick against her shoulder—he’d insisted that she order cannoli for dessert.
“Just one,” he coaxed. “If you don’t want it, you don’t have to eat a single bite. But I think you need to taste whipped cream tonight.”
“Don’t you think she needs some whipped cream?” he demanded of the waiter, who smiled back at him, sensing, Desiree thought through a satisfied haze of red wine, succulent beef, and way too much potent testosterone, a truly magnificent tip.
“Definitely, the signorina needs whipped cream,” Giuseppe agreed. “And we have the best.”
She wasn’t sure how you had better whipped cream than anyone else, but when the dessert arrived, she had to concede that this was the best.
Amaretto, one still-sane corner of her practical brain suggested, but that sensible voice was drowned out, oh so rapidly, by the sensation on her tongue, the silky smoothness of cream, the almond sweetness of the liqueur, the delicate drift of pastry and the deep dark pleasure of chocolate. And Alec, watching her as she allowed the rich concoction to drift between her lips, over her tongue, down her throat. Watching her, enjoying the sight of her enjoying herself, as if it were his tongue. His throat.
By the time he’d slapped a hand against the door of the cab that had again been waiting when they’d stepped out of the restaurant’s front door, leaped back onto the sidewalk and raised that same hand in farewell, she’d been so lost in fatigue, wine, and lust that she could only sit back against the scarred leather and thank heaven that she hadn’t actually kissed him. Or begged him.
My Review:
This is an intricately written novel by an adult for adults. James melds the workforce with the world outside the workplace to create a masterpiece you won’t be able to put down. That said, at the beginning the story flitted around so much between the different aspects of everyday life for the two main characters that it was a bit hard to get into. This straightened out quickly and then I could barely put it down.
The chapter titles instead of numbers actually add to the story. They add a sense of foreboding without giving anything major away. James references things that many may not recognize but that definitely add to the storyline if you do. I mean, really, anyone who can reference Star Wars is a star in my books. Allusion and metaphor definitely make their play in this novel, drawing you further and further into the mural that James paints for her audience.
The characters in this novel are quite well developed. At the same time, they aren’t over developed. You get to know everyone as real people. You also get to know them as you would if you were in the same situation.
This charismatic novel will keep you captivated from cover to cover, you’ll enjoy it at the beginning and love it at the ending. It is a life changing story that really makes you think. I’d definitely read more by this intriguing author.
About the Author:
Rosalind James is the author of the Kindle-bestselling "Escape to New Zealand" series (currently five titles strong), as well as the new U.S.-based "Kincaids" series. Her first book,"Just This Once," has sold tens of thousands of copies in the year since it was published, eventually reaching #85 in the Amazon store. A marketing professional and publishing industry veteran, Rosalind has lived all over the United States and in a number of other countries, traveling with her civil engineer husband. Most recently, she spent several years in Australia and New Zealand, where she fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the culture of both countries. She loves trying new things in her writing, most recently the mystery and suspense in "Nothing Personal."
Rosalind credits her rapid success to the fact that “lots of people would like to escape to New Zealand! I know I did!”
Website:
http://www.rosalindjames.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rosalindjamesbooks
Twitter: @rosalindjames5
