Review: One of the Best Books I Have EVER Read!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 17, 2014
I have read hundreds of romance novels and I'd have to say that this book is in my top three favorites. You have Marisa who on the surface appears to be a flighty, beautiful blonde with no real depth. Then you have Luke who is rule-driven and is her uber-boss.  He owns the company after all.  She refers to Luke as a cyborg because he seems so anal retentive about rules being followed. Their best friends are getting married and Luke asks her to dance. Marisa doesn't like him so she doesn't want to. Luke has to dance with her because that's what he's supposed to do, so saying no isn't really an option for him. She finally gives in and it isn't what you'd expect in a usual book. This is when you see the first glimpses that things aren't "quite right" for Luke though it sets the stage for their mutual attraction and decision to keep far, far away from each other.  Of course that doesn't work out either.  One thing leads to another and without giving spoilers, a relationship blossoms.Luke is so rule-driven because he has OCD and because he lost a relationship in the past due to his condition. His parents showed no compassion, only frustration so he feels he has to keep his condition a secret from Marisa.  She'll leave him otherwise. By following all the rules and routines he has set up, he is able to control the urges to some degree. His business rivals, if they found out, would see this as a weakness and would exploit it. And the more he cares about something, the worse his compulsions become. And he starts to really care about Marisa. There are some parts of the book that are just cute and funny, and maybe that makes me a horrible person because I saw some humor in them.  But there are some heartbreaking ones as well as Luke spirals.  You feel his devastation and humiliation as well as her sorrow at being unable to help him because he won't let her.The book was extremely well written and illustrates just how hard it must be for people with OCD. It certainly has opened my eyes and I'd like to think that I'd be more compassionate if I am ever to interact with an individual with the affliction. Thank you Jackie Ashenden for a wonderful book. I will re-read this again and again.