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His Very Personal Assistant #1

The End of Faking It

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A teenage romance-turned-nightmare has taught Penny Fairburn that faking it is the only way to go. It's not until she's asked to assist gorgeous Carter Dodds in her office that she discovers how wrong she's been!

Carter can have any woman on a plate, and likes the smorgasbord approach! But after some scorching nights with Penny, "no-strings" Carter has changed his tune—Penny's not faking anything in his bed, but getting her to admit her true feelings for him out in the real world is a whole new challenge.…

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

19 people are currently reading
102 people want to read

About the author

Natalie Anderson

615 books545 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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5 stars
20 (14%)
4 stars
45 (32%)
3 stars
49 (35%)
2 stars
21 (15%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Saly.
3,437 reviews579 followers
July 12, 2011
The book didn't work for me, atleast the first part, the heroine blows hot and cold and the hero even calls her a tease, she dresses provocatively and dances too much, yeah we do get hints that she has issues about getting in too deep and hurting people so she keeps it simple, but this may work for a guy with me but not a heroine I guess, or maybe it was the way she behaved, she dances with the hero then so many other guys and wonders why the hero left and didn't wait for her?
Then they talk about exclusivity as well. She also has issues with control when it comes to sex.

The hero Carter was also just okay. The book just didn't click with me I guess. I mean who behaves the way they do when a stranger walks into your office?
Profile Image for Susan in Perthshire.
2,212 reviews119 followers
October 19, 2023
Natalie Anderson is a clever and sensitive writer and the story of Penny and Carter is emotional and dramatic and beautifully written. But Penny’s traumatic story is so serious, so painful and so deep seated that reading the book was painful too. Watching someone who’s locked into a self destructive mindset is not fun.

This didn’t feel like the normal romance and I regret that because I read Mills and Boon for romantic escape not for psychological pain and angst.

I was glad we got a happy ending but the journey there was so much hard work. Great characters and clever plot but a difficult read. I felt drained by the end.

If this had been women’s fiction, I would probably have rated it 5 stars because of the quality of NA’s writing. However, as I said, this is not what I look for in Mills and boon. So, kudos to NA but as a Mills and Boon romance, it failed - but still a cracking read if you’re in the right mood!
2,753 reviews128 followers
August 15, 2018
Three and a half stars.

Penny Fairburn and Carter Dodds meet at work. He's been brought on as a consultant to investigate some financial inconsistencies; she's a personal assistant to the CEO. They share an immediate visceral attraction, but Penny's reluctant to dabble in a workplace fling, plus a teenage disaster has convinced her that faking it is the only way to go.

Once Carter learns this, he's determined to show her how much better the real thing is. And something about the lovely Penny makes this previous playboy want to do some settling down.

Natalie Anderson pens a great Presents--emotional and sexy, The End of Faking It is one delicious read.
341 reviews3 followers
October 28, 2025
Started out ok. Got exponentially better as it progressed. HEA with more realistic timelines!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
464 reviews55 followers
July 16, 2011
UK RIVA edition

The hero Carter has agreed to help an old family friend find the employee responsible for stealing company money, and when he find the heroine Penny working late he thinks it's her. After this misunderstanding is cleared up he starts to notice Penny. There is an immediate spark between them but Penny is reluctant to get involved with Carter, she is always in control when it comes to her trysts and recognises that Carter is not the type to let go of control. Penny is still haunted by a relationship in her teen years that went horribly wrong and she has vowed never to get in too deep with men again. Carter is also not interested in commitment and they agree to a short term fling while Carter is in town. Penny is shocked by her complete loss of control with Carter and tries to distance herself from him, while Carter senses Penny's fragility and realises he wants more than a fling.

This is a wonderfully crafted and emotional book. Natalie Anderson has created an amazingly complex heroine in Penny; her issues are not at all contrite yet she doesn't play the 'wounded woman' act, this makes her character feel very real. Penny's back story is very sad and this is written with sensitivity. As for Carter, let me just say that he is the perfect hero, strong and caring all-in-one package! The development of the relationship has a fantastic pace, and when the conflict came I was holding my breath for how it would be resolved. The ending does not let you down either.

Natalie's characters sparkle, the dialogue is fresh, the love-scenes are racy and there is the right amount of emotion to make this book have a powerful punch.

A great book.

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
Profile Image for Bungluna.
1,134 reviews
March 19, 2014
Several reviews here point out shortcomings with the heroine of this book. For me, it was the hero that didn't work.
1,008 reviews
July 14, 2011
i've decided to be a lot more critical of the hp books i read. it takes forever into the book to find out why the heroine is the love 'em and leave 'em type. the book is better than some i've read lately but not worth a re-read
Profile Image for Tonya Warner.
1,214 reviews13 followers
July 27, 2011
Penny does not want love. Sex, yes, but she does not feel she deserves love. Carter is willing, at first, to take Penny up on her no-strings affair, but he decides he wants strings, love, and everything else to do with Penny.
Profile Image for Amanda.
5 reviews
August 24, 2011
i liked this book..I just had to know what happened when she was a teenager..they wait till almost end of the book to tell you though.lol.. I like how the H can read her so easily..
Profile Image for Dana.
140 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2012
I would have given this book a better rating if I didn't fall asleep in the beginning. The beginning of the book is BORING, the end was great!
Profile Image for Anna.
21 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2015
I realy loved loved loved loved it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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