Penelope Lane, or Penny to her nearest and dearest, has looked at Jesse Fox in admiration for months. If only she had the courage to approach him, for he is everything she could wish for in a man. Handsome, successful, outgoing, career driven, sexy…Alas, the women who grace his arm are every bit as good looking and successful as he is. In contrast, whilst Penny loves her administrative job at the news network they both work for, she is flat chested and has no hips. She is a plain Jane. Watching Jesse get dumped – publicly – by his latest beauty makes Penny feel angry at his humiliation. She wants to bring a smile to his face. But how? When their boss, Bernard King, decides to have a Christmas in July event and puts Penny in charge of organizing it, Penny sees the Secret Santa exchange as a way to accomplish her goal. She will be Jesse's Santa, but it will not be socks and slippers she gifts him with. Her gifts will be naughty, thought up with the intention of driving Jesse crazy with lust. But will her plan work? Will she work up the courage to reveal her true identity to Jesse? Do her gifts wind up making her as horny as she hopes to make Jesse?

Jesse, an investigative reporter, is intrigued by his Secret Santa. Ah heck, why not tell it as it is? She's driving him crazy! He cannot figure out who she could possibly be, yet he is determined to find out. His fantasies are red hot, though missing a face. The gifts he receives daily only make his temperature and desires skyrocket further. The mystery surrounding his Secret Santa is one he cannot work out. How in the world do the presents turn up on his desk without anyone seeing who put them there – even when he keeps guard all day? He eyes nearly every woman with suspicion, and each clue terminates another suspect from his list. But was his Santa even one of his suspects to begin with? Will he be disappointed or even more intrigued if and when he finds out who she is? Is he only interested in a short, hot fling or, unheard of for him, something more?

I confess, I am a Rose Middleton junkie. Where's the nearest rehab clinic? Having devoured nearly all of the books Ms. Middleton has published – and in very short order - I have fast run out of her tales and will soon be going cold turkey till her next release. EEK! Help! I have enjoyed all three that I have read so far. One Foot Forward, Tantaliser and Can You Keep A Secret? are books so superbly written, any sane author would love to claim them as their own. I know I will be keeping my copies in amongst my favourite stories and will definitely reread them all at some point in the future. Can You Keep A Secret? is a fantastic, scorching contemporary romance about a woman who is unsure of herself, wary of approaching the guy she is half in love with and insecure about her appearance. Doubtless, many women out there may identify with Penny's character. When presented with a chance to bring a smile to Jesse's face, and perhaps even get under his skin, Penny snaps up the opportunity quicker than you can say Secret Santa Exchange. Can You Keep A Secret? is a true sensual delight, and if you haven't discovered Middleton yet, I urge you to get cracking!


Reviewed by: Elizabeth