The Virgin Secretary's Impossible Boss

by Carole Mortimer

By Carole Mortimer

Linus Harrison's masculine aura is a little too much for his sensible, bespectacled PA Andrea. He makes her heart beat quite erratically! And the last thing Andi expects is to have to spend a weekend alone with her wild, irrepressible boss. . .

Billionaire Linus loves a challenge, and relishes the chance to undo Miss Prim and Proper's buttoned-up exterior. It only takes one snowbound Scottish night to ignite the flames of the devilishly handsome businessman's desire. . . With sparks flying, how can Andi resist?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

I have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.

I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.

I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man

Reviews

[MelissaB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! This book was pretty bad! It had a lot of exclamation points! And a heroine who was a virgin but wanted the hero so bad that she had to be mean to him so she didn't feel the urge to beg him to ravish her!

Yeah, the writing was very bad and the story was dumb. Here is an example of the crappy writing:

"He wanted Andi. Now!
But they had too many clothes on still.
Both of them!"

Basically, don't waste your time. I am giving two stars because the characters she created were not bad but the writing and story were not good at all.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book suffered from a lack of good romantic tension. I just didn't feel much of a spark between Andi and Linus, which was disappointing, since there was good potential. I think this book is one of those identity crisis books where if it had been written twenty years earlier, I think Mortimer would have felt the levity to go there and make Linus the meaner, manipulative hero who propositioned the heroine and went through with it. It would have made for more intense drama. On the other hand, this isn't a very modern book where the couple just have their sex without commitment or any desire to commit either, where both characters felt free to cross the line between employee and employer. So, we ended up with somewhere in between and it feels and read awkward.

I feel like I am always a little hard on Harlequin Presents that lack drama and romantic tension. I feel like this is such a hallmark of this series, so I miss it keenly when it's not there. I'm not just a drama-hound. I love books that are very emotionally intense, which is another good thing about this line of books. In this case, I didn't get either. The characters weren't that engaging to me. I would have liked it more if Linus had been more of a possessive/obsessive hero and more of a pursuer than he was. Or if he had an unrequited love for Andi. I think he mainly just was attracted to her and finally decided he wanted to act on it. And Andi certainly wasn't going to pursue him. So the romance didn't really gain a lot of momentum. I think if the author just went there more, it would have been better. I get a little bored with run of the mill contemporary romance, which this felt like. Not enough oomph to keep my interest. Or at least more of an emotional hook. Instead, it's just fair to middling.

[Vintage]

Eyes started rolling when the heroine freaked out that they had to share a room due to blizzard. She wanted her boss to sleep on a bench.

DNF when she didn't know what Sassenach meant. You are an educated, upper crust chick from England, and you have never heard the word before? Um nope.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snowbound in Scotland!

★★☆☆☆ I should really start letting go of my “snowbound” fantasy. This was a good place to start.

His mouth tightened. “Do you want us to continue working together?”

She grimaced. “I don’t think what I want comes into it, do you?”

“Oh, I think that it does.” He nodded slowly, pale gaze unreadable.

This is the new millennium, isn’t it? Pretty bad when the guy is more aware of woman’s rights that she is.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Virgin Secretary's Impossible Boss" is the story of Andrea and Linus.

The h is recovering from the death of her father and fiance, when the H swoops in, rescuing the h's mother from homelessness and saving her legacy, in return for her being his PA.
An year later, they both have been hiding their attraction for one another. H dates OW, h hides behind her dead fiance. When one trip leads them to be trapped in a snowstorm, and later in a single hotel room, both are forced to finally acknowledge their feelings. Soon layers of feelings are exposed, and they both realize their love and affection for one another.

Kind and caring hero, fragile and secretive heroine, lots of attraction, miscommunication and drama, leading to a HEA. I really, really adored the hero- came from humble beginnings, selflessly cared for heroine, did not expose her ex, gave her time to recover, took care of her mother, adored his aunt..I mean what's not to love?! The heroine was ok, and the epilogue was sweet!

SWE/Unsafe
3.5/5

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steamy with low angst, ends with a nice epilogue.

[Emona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and charming read with spectacular ending to the wonderful International Billionaire series.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was another one where the review is kind of tricky because I kind of liked it, and I kind of didn't. I just wasn't feeling as much as I thought I should. There were moments that I did feel, and they were the highlights of the book, but in the grand scheme of things I wasn't moved or touch really. I want feel all the way through from page one all the way to the end, but I didn't with this one. In fact a majority of the book I did skim because for most part I wasn't moved, therefore not interested in the overall story.

What I did like was the concept, but not the execution. It could have been so much better. Boss to PA romance is probably my number 3 favorite romance trope of all time. So, I thought it was a good start, and the set up where Linus bullied Andi into working for him gave a little twist to the book, and I appreciated that. And then they worked together and sexual tension ensued, but it wasn't as alluring or drawing as I would have liked. I felt it, but I think I should have felt more especially with the friction between them due to their attraction to one another. More a gasping kind of thing where it just would have upped the anticipation level would have been better I think. Even though there was a will they won't they factor, it didn't really up my anticipation instead foregone conclusion.

I will say that I liked how they bounced off of one another. There was plenty of playful banter between them, and it was fun and at times. I did really like them together. They were cute together and very sweet. It felt like a nice tender relationship, and at times it was beautiful like when they were stranded for two nights in the snow storm that provided some really romantic moments between them. It was really sweet, and I really liked those moments between them.

Now they were sweet all the time, they had some steamy moments together. I really loved all their love scenes that they had together even if it was just makeout scenes. They were very enjoyable. The were sexy and sweet at the same time. There was a bond between them that beyond the physical. It was about feelings and emotions that connected them together. To me this was the highlight of the book.

What this story really lacked for me was the intensity between Linus and Andi. There wasn't any really. Yes, they were fighting their attraction to one another, but there was really nothing behind that. They were just being stubborn. There was no real deep rooted emotional reason they couldn't be together, which was the reason it wasn't as intense. It was a nice change for me, but I like my intensity in romance, and I just didn't feel it here. Their relationship was almost too easy, making it less interesting.

Even though I liked Linus and Andi as a couple, I was in different to them as individuals. In fact they felt very dull to me. There was no interest that would cause me to root for them, care for them, or even like them. They were just there. The aunt was more interesting than they were.

Also I found it really hard to believe that he was in love with her by book's end. I believed he wanted and wanted more time with her to get to know her, but there was no indication that he was already there and totally in love with her. That conclusion kind of felt rushed to me, therefore making it less believable.

Overall this book was sweet and tender and did have some beautiful moments to it, but it wasn't as consuming or compelling as other books I have read in the Harlequin Presents line. It wasn't gut wrenching. It wasn't intense. It just didn't have the overall feel that I want when read a romance. There were some high points but for the most part it wasn't the most exciting book ever. I think it would have been better if the angst was upped a degree or two. There needed be something extra in there to give a bit more punch.

[Mtve41 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and indulgent. The mcs have good chemistry and they keep it tampered and don’t give in to temptation too soon. The h is grieving her father and fiancé passing away. She’s offered a PA position by a man who will also help with their family finances post her father’s death and consuming debt. The h agrees and realizes that she has to play it cool and controlled around the H, her boss, who is hot blooded and known to be around town.

There’s a business meet where the MCs travel together and are stuck in a storm. Closed spaces and cold dreary nights with a warm wood burning fire and brandy leaves them unhinged and they almost have a go at it. Almost.

I thought they had a decent enough relationship except with most Carole Mortimer hs, they are slightly churlish and argumentative and talk back to death. Like she just has to have the last word and spoil the mood be it for verbal foreplay or comparing business notes. I tried to like the h really hard but she couldn’t shut up for the life of her and had to put down the man each time she said something.

The H is nice and gentlemanly and has the hots for the h but the h is strict and understandably so because she still grieving her dead fiancé as well as the v-card she was holding on to at late twenty eight.

Their first time is on the dinner table and that leaves them both grumpy and regretful. There’s a bit of a reveal on the reality of the h’s fiancé and she’s no longer delulu and accepts her new feelings for her boss. There’s sweet HEA and an epilogue. Nice and sweet.

[DamsonDreamer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this a bit weird and disjointed. There's quite an explicit sex scene when she loses her virginity. It takes place on a kitchen table and she goes down on him and hops on top for the ultimate as well. I felt that her sexual assertiveness didn't sit all that well with her virginal status. I remain bewildered that the 36 year old, experienced H is knocked sideways by her sucking his nipples - 'as she pleasured him in a way no other woman had.' You have to wonder what all his other women were doing. Anyhoo. In this and other ways it was a bit odd for me.

[Melluvsbooks]

DNF @ 40% - boring

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story starts with Linus Harrington offering Andrea Buttonfield her dream job with more perks than she can shake a stick at and she resents that he's bullying her into it. But she reluctantly accepts. A year later, Andrea has started finding her boss attractive, but he's still pretty much immune to her. He tells her she's coming along on his trip to Scotland to buy a castle. She's nervous about this because of her attraction, but she goes. Things conspire to throw them together in the least professional ways possible...like a snowstorm forcing them to share a bedroom, or her sleeping in his old bedroom at his aunt's house and the rugby game they go to together. Of course, these circumstances aren't as daunting as Linus's determination to be unprofessional. He decides Andrea is sexy as hell and he can't keep his hands off her. But Andrea is determined to stay professional and maintain her working relationship with Linus, since he doesn't have a good track record with relationships and she's pretty sure he'll never love her.

This was kind of ridiculous in its set up. First of all, I couldn't imagine why Andrea was so upset at having to work for Linus. She kept wondering what the downside was, but there wasn't one. He only wanted her to work for him. And this lady had no background in betrayal so her skepticism was a bit unfounded. More than that though was Linus's plans for a trip to Scotland. What professional with his PA stays in his aunt's home and goes to a rugby game with her? It's not as though they were friends, so why were these plans even considered acceptable. Andrea spotted them as inappropriate right off the bat. And Linus was a walking contradiction to himself - he'd get all pissy that Andrea was uncomfortable in a situation and he'd yell something about how he was an adult male and could keep his hands to himself without a problem - and then he'd prove himself wrong and be mauling her (not that she minded...until after the fact). This must have happened three times and each time he seems absolutely irritated that she doesn't trust him to be professional. Gee. I wonder why? Andrea was pretty insightful when it came to Linus, but he was clueless about his own behavior. And it angered him every time she called him on something like that.

And Linus does spend a healthy portion of the book pretty pissed off with Andrea. For that matter, Andrea spends most of the book feeling waspish, defensive and on guard. I don't think, except for odd moments and the rugby game, she ever let her guard down and just enjoyed her time with Linus. So it was really difficult to see these two with an HEA. It felt too much like they were constantly fighting. And Andrea's arguing the seemingly smallest battles definitely got on my nerves - and Linus's. This kept my attention for the most part, but I think I was more annoyed than entertained.

******
Accidentally reread this. And while I was prepared to round up to a 3 for noticing a lot more sexual chemistry between these two, Linus's actions still pretty much deserve the 2 star rating. I was constantly irritated with him and his anger at Andi just because she's trying to protect herself - he seems to forget that she's got a perfect job, a house for herself and her mother (rent-free) and a housekeeper because of this job. If she sleeps with him, she loses it, so maintaining a professional demeanor is really in her best interest, not to mention his track record with women would mean she'd throw all that away for a meaningless affair on his part. The fact that he can't see that is troublesome. The fact that he keeps getting angry at her for it is even worse.

[Tia · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book that should never be read. Agghhh...... God knows why I even picked up this book. What made me think that i will even appreciate this book. I have no f******** idea.
So what did i just read?????? A man who cant keep his hands of a woman and a woman who, as the title suggested, was a virgin. If anything could be more worse this is a story of a boss and employee.
They are stuck in an inn and have to share a bed and room with each other.
And just like in any stereotypical romance novel involving a virgin, the hero becomes annoyed and then has his caveman instincts get ignited as he realizes that he is the only lover the woman had and hence was to have a happy ever after with loads of kids with the woman.
So my advice is please do not read it unless and until you are a hopelessly romantic person and even after that I'm not sure whether you will like it or not.
Bad story. Bad writing style. Bad character. Bad plot. In short bad read.

[Yunita Taman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun reading. I found the characters are so lovable. A desperate young woman who thought that she has lost everything when her fiancee and father died at the same time and a really handsome billionaire who thought that he doesn't need love. They two have a good chemistry. I really enjoy the couple fight and of course the warmth of their love.

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sentite bene: lei (la chiameremo “Segretaria”) lavora da oltre un anno per lui (che chiameremo “Capo”). Capo che solo dopo tutto questo tempo, pur lavorando per ore e ore a stretto contatto con Segretaria, si rende conto - durante un viaggio di lavoro in Scozia in sua compagnia - di quanto Segretaria sia gnocca e di quanto difficile sia riuscire a resisterle. Il motivo non ci è dato saperlo, forse Capo è semplicemente cieco. Segretaria ha ventisette anni ed è vergine, pare una lady di ghiaccio e pure noiosa a pacchi, ma chissà perché all’improvviso Capo ha movimenti tellurici nelle mutande per ‘sta tizia. Lui non sa di questa sua particolare condizione e nemmeno la sospetta poiché Segretaria è rimasta “vedova” a un passo dal matrimonio di un tipo che chiameremo “Simmental” (il doppio cognome altisonante ci somiglia). Simmental è diventato un ideale munito di piedistallo con cui Segretaria confronta quotidianamente quel dongiovanni senza scrupoli di Capo, nonostante un pochino le scateni un leggero prurito in zone inesplorate. Durante il viaggio sono costretti dalle condizioni meteo a dormire nella stessa stanza per due notti e un Capo in versione troglodita inaspettatamente balza ignudo come mamma l’ha fatto dalla sedia su cui stava dormendo (!) al lettone di Segretaria, ficcandole due metri di lingua in bocca. Segretaria che fa? Urla? Fugge? Scalpita? Nitrisce? Nient’affatto: lo arpiona per i nudi fianchi e se lo limona per benino. Poi ovviamente ha la crisi da impudicizia e si rintana come una lumaca sotto le coperte, maledicendo sia lui che se stessa. Questo tira e molla di seduzione (seduzione???) va avanti per tutto il viaggio finchè lui spazzola via le ragnatele dalla donzella sopra al tavolo della cucina. Con un barlume d’intelligenza si rende conto del misfatto e quasi gliene dice di tutti i colori per non averlo avvisato della sua innocente condizione. Piuttosto avrei sfruttato il neurone per infilargli un preservativo, ma evidentemente Carole non si preoccupa né delle malattie sessualmente trasmissibili né di eventuali gravidanze. Son cose da nulla, insomma. Capo e Segretaria proseguono la loro vita comportandosi in tutti i modi più stupidi ed esasperanti che la nostra intelligenza multi-neurone ci può suggerire, fino all’epilogo finale in cui convolano a ingiuste nozze e coronano il loro sogno con un bel bebè in arrivo. Olè.

[Maximo David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Libro sensual para mujeres del subgénero: billonarios, veamos!

Pasa de un billonario que la colma de regalos a otro similar, pero con quien establece una dinámica de maltrato y tensión constante. El intento de sensualidad queda ahogado por discusiones permanentes y, al ser los propios personajes el conflicto, el interés se diluye rápidamente.

Las secuencias sexuales (muy pocas, pensé que sería más “dirty”) son tan exageradas que terminan siendo graciosas, y eso fue lo más divertido del libro. Algo del estilo: “Él la miró y ella tuvo tres orgasmos. La volvió a mirar y tuvo cuatro”. Al ser tan directa y explícita, no hay escalada que culmine en pasión desbocada, de un párrafo a otro ya están en los bifes y listo, todo concluye. Parece escrito por un adolescente.

Fue una lectura entretenida, pero no de la forma que la autora probablemente aspiraba, y definitivamente me voy a quedar con un montón de frases para citar completamente fuera de contexto.

[RomLibrary]

TAKE ONE VIRGIN SECRETARY, SNOWBOUND WITH HER RUTHLESS BOSS ...

Linus Harrison's masculinity is a little too much for his sensible, bespectacled assistant, Andrea. He makes her heart beat like crazy! And the last thing Andi expects is to have to spend a weekend alone with her wild, irrepressible boss ...

Billionaire Linus loves a challenge and relishes his chance to undo Miss Prim and Proper's buttoned-up exterior. It only takes one snowbound Scottish night to ignite the flames of the devilishly handsome businessman's desire. With sparks flying, how can Andi resist?

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi through the sale of the Tarrington estate has lost her home to Linus Harrison.
Hence she ends up working for him as his PA so she and her mother can live in the gatehouse.
But sparks fly as an attraction is slowly growing between her and Linus so how will she cope with a weekend away in the highlands snowed in, I'm close proximity with Linis and no escape...
A sweet and enjoyable romance.

[Dianars · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a kind of adult novel with a light plot in my opinion. I read this novel in one sitting and it really isn't a story to make people think.
light and the type of novel that is not heavy to read

[RODOLFO HOLLANDER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in two days

Very well written. Keeps your attention at all times. Really enjoid reading it. The book balances romance with sex in a way that you end up feeling happy with life
.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their relationship is really cute!

[Euphemia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. Found the Hero to be a bit too tough for my liking ..... but a good read

[thadine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story begins just after the deaths of Andrea Buttonfield's fiancé and father in a car accident. Andrea is forced to sell her family home to Linus Harrison who offers to hire her as his personal assistant and allow her mother to live in a smaller house on the property. We then skip ahead a year, and Andi and Linus have become friends. We know this because he is now allowed to call her Andi (with an i - how can you tell when you are speaking?). He wants them to go on a business trip to his native Scotland, thus setting the scene for romantic hijinks. This is where things start to fall apart.

Andi has now had time to get over her dead fiancé, and has started to notice that Linus is hot stuff. On the other hand, Linus has always known that Andi is hot, but she's also the best PA he has ever had, and he doesn't mess around with his employees. They get caught in a snow storm and have seek shelter in the first building they find. This happens to be a pub whose owners graciously allow Andi and Linus to rent their daughter's bedroom for a couple of nights. Andi is unbelievably rude and paranoid about sharing a room with Linus. She blames it all on the attraction she feels for him, but I just can't picture anyone speaking to their boss the way she does. He does find it insulting, but he accepts a lot more than I can imagine anyone taking from an employee. They have a few passionate moments, culminating in them doing the nasty on a kitchen table. She runs away to "think", he realises he loves her, and they get married and live happily ever after.

This book had potential, but I really didn't enjoy it. The whole relationship just didn't gel for me, from the moment Linus pressures Andi to work for him (which is never explained), to Andi's weird behaviour, through to Linus' sudden and abrupt proposal.

[Laini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re read this. This alpha male is not unreasonably cruel. I loved this book the second time around.

Heroine secretly is attracted to hero so she pretends to be all prim and proper to hide it because he's a no commitments kind of guy. As usual.

Hero is secretly obsessively attracted to miss prim and proper and they keep trying to fight it until he's taken her virginity and he didn't know she was a virgin.

I found the lat few chapters of this really emotionally satisfying which rarely happens with these short books. The minute she realises she can't work for him anymore, the minute he realises he won't get to see her every day again... I really felt the way it shook him up.

Great story and the intimacy was approached very tastefully.

[Liz Stevens]

Dear lord, this book has the most annoying female I've run across in a long while. I swear, I haven't found a single freaking thing to like about her at the halfway point. She's whiny, argumentative, and lashes out constantly at the hero (her boss). I just can't read any more. I don't even care. I like Linus, the hero, he was trying at least, but damn, I would have had to choke this chick.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was just ok for me. I felt the heroine to be flat sort of boring. Why did the hero take so long to notice her. and why was he creeping around her mom?

[TSN ☮ · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Don't be ridiculous" is what Andy says multiple times and it is more or less what I think of large part of this book. :)
But it is a nice sweet romance.

[Calysta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read, I appreciated the lack of unnecessary melodrama and the lack of cruelty. I liked both leads.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

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