Secret Admirer by Susan Napier (HP 1554)

Back Cover:

Grace under pressure.  Running into a potential business partner late at night in a broken elevator - when one was wearing a glamorous fur with nothing on underneath - was awkward, but Grace Blair was cool enough to handle a hot situation. 

Her poised, controlled demeanor belied the insecurity she felt taking over her late husband's business empire, but Scott Gregory was able with one caressing glance to strip away all her pretenses.  Especially since the handsome New Zealander had made it clear from their first inauspicious meeting that in business, knowledge was power - and that he knew exactly what he wanted. 

Favourite Scene: (gasp! I can picture him growling this out, control gone!) 

"I'm as sober as you are!"  

"For your sake, I hope that's a lie, Grace," Scott ground out savagely. "But if it is true then maybe you've done me a favour. If you were teasing me deliberately I don't have to feel guilty for what I'm about to do." 

Another Fav Scene: (I love the way the hero says "by the way") 

"Making love in the morning obviously suits us both... and in the evening, and at night. By the way, what are you doing at lunchtime?" 

Another Fav Scene: (the 29 year old hero tells the heroine he just gave her his virginity)

"Couldn't you tell Grace? Was my gift such a paltry thing? I thought one's partner could always tell"  ...  "You were my initiation Grace. I gave you my virginity, you gave me my manhood"  (Janet is left sputtering) 

Yet Another Fav Scene:

"Us. Together. Steak. Thick. Rare. I'm ravenous."  For a moment Grace thought that he was comparing their carnal activities to the carnivorous pleasures of a juicy prime-beef fillet and then she realized he was selecting from the menu. 

Yet Another Fav Scene: (he's refusing to have sex with her again, until she'll commit to it being love)

"If you loved me as much as you say you do you wouldn't be able to do this!" ... "That desperate, huh, Grace?" His voice slid an octave lower, a husky thrust of desire. "I know exactly how you feel. But we virgins believe in upholding our principles and respecting our bodies --"  

My Review: Holy hell.  This book had me screaming with shock and laughing at times.  Susan Napier just kept pulling punches!  Weee!  The chemistry was insane between them, and this is the first HP I've ever read with a virgin hero, this just put a whole different slant to the dynamic between them.  It was delightful.  I re-read their first time three times, because knowing after the fact that he was a virgin, it made everything take a different glint.  I feel like I should send SN a medal and thank her for a great book that kept me on my toes. 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars, hell... the punches kept coming!  I'm gonna label this a KEEPER

Thanks KatherineT!