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That Thing Called Love (Razor Bay #1)

by Susan Andersen (Goodreads Author)

3.49 of 5 stars 3.49 · rating details · 596 ratings · 100 reviews

He’s the last man on earth she should want…

For a guy she’s fantasized about throttling, Jake Bradshaw sure is easy on the eyes. In fact, he seriously tempts inn manager Jenny Salazar to put her hands to better use. Except this is the guy who left Razor Bay—and his young son, Austin, who Jenny adores like her own—to become a globetrotting photojournalist. He can’t just walt...more

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published July 26th 2012 by Harlequin (first published January 1st 2012)

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Aug 01, 2012 Jess rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, for_review

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 2.5/5

Jake has been absent from his son’s life from almost his birth, leaving him in his Grandparents care when he left to go to college at 19. He became a photographer, traveling around the world and never stopped to go see his son. I’m not going to lie, the hero dug a huge hole for me right off the bat. Now, his son, Austin’s Grandparents have both died and the woman in Austin’s life, Jenny, is his temporary guardian. She’s known him since h...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 2.5/5

Jake has been absent from his son’s life from almost his birth, leaving him in his Grandparents care when he left to go to college at 19. He became a photographer, traveling around the world and never stopped to go see his son. I’m not going to lie, the hero dug a huge hole for me right off the bat. Now, his son, Austin’s Grandparents have both died and the woman in Austin’s life, Jenny, is his temporary guardian. She’s known him since he was a toddler and thinks of him just like a brother. She’s tried to get word out to Jake about what’s happened but two months go by before he shows up in their small Washington town. He wants to get to know his son and eventually move him across the country to New York to live with him.

Like I mentioned above, I was so pissed at the hero early on. Yes, he was a young 19 year old when he and his girlfriend, who he married, had a baby. His wife died right after childbirth, and yes he had no support from her parents, or his deadbeat dad who’s completely absent. So when his wife’s parents said they would care for Austin so Jake could go to college he jumped at the chance. I kind of get that. What I kept expecting to come out was that he made strong attempts to see his son, made trips to Washington to be a part of life, but something outside of his control got in his way. Either the Grandparents were a little more devious then anybody knew…something. I wanted there to be some reason that wasn’t Jake’s doing that kept him from his son. But, no. He couldn’t be bothered to keep in touch with Austin, to get to know him and yet all the sudden, once the Grandparents have died, now he wants to step up? Good thing kids are a little more direct and sure, even hostile because Austin doesn’t make it easy for Jake. Rightfully so.

Jenny knows that Jake is here for a short time to get to know Austin before moving him away from the only home and people he’s ever known. She’s not related to Austin, so she doesn’t have a leg to stand on if she tried to fight for custody, and for Austin’s sake, she tries to bridge the gap between he and his father. It doesn’t go smoothly at first, Austin needed a dad in life for years and at 13, he’s not going to jump up and down now that dad is in the picture. But all he’s ever wanted is to know Jake, and Jake slowly works his way into Austin’s life.

Also along the way, Jake starts to have feelings for Jenny and vice versa. They try to keep it simple, sex only (which takes forever to build up) and their sex scenes are sweet and allow Jake to show more emotion then he does in other aspects of the book. I really enjoyed Jenny. She’s true and good and just wants what’s best for Austin. It will kill her to see him leave with Jake but she knows he needs his dad in his life. She opens herself up to Jake and considering her life growing up, having a father in prison and mother who slowly wasted away until she died, Jenny worked hard as a teen to keep a roof over her head and the bills paid even when she had no one looking out for her. Jake didn’t have a great childhood either, but at least Jenny is willing to take a chance with her feelings. For awhile, it felt like Jake was willing to risk his heart as well, but when a hero starts out as a jerk, I usually think, great (!), because this will make his journey all the more sweet. But Jake was still saying and doing jerky things up until almost the end of the story and I just did buy it. I wanted a happy ending for Jenny and for Austin, and I’m glad Jake got his HEA as well, but only because it was wrapped up into the happiness for Austin and Jenny.

I am so intrigued by Jake’s half-brother Max. He’s broody, a bit angsty, and I want to know more. I also really enjoyed Austin and his small side storyline with his first crush, Rachel. I’m curious to know more about Rachel as well because she shows up half way through the story to live with her Aunt and Uncle (the parents of Austin’s best friend) while her mom battles cancer. Not much else is given in the way of details, so I really hope this gets expanded on more in the future.

This ended up being an ok read for me. I enjoyed Jenny, the small town setting the story is set in and Austin was fun to read about. Jake just wasn’t a hero I could get behind and cheer for. He would start to get me on his side, making attempts to right all the wrongs he did with Austin, and then things would get heavy and emotional and to protect himself he’d say something mean or cutting to Jenny and I just thought she could do so much better. He did end up on a path of being a real father to Austin which was nice to see, it just wasn’t enough for me to really enjoy his character. (less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Lesley rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like most of Susan Andersen's books, and this one was no exception. It wasn't my favorite of her books, but it was a solid start to what looks to be another good series. I thought the subject matter of the hero having been a father at a very young age, and coming to terms with that, as well as the choices he had made, 13 years later was handled well. Jenny was a likeable heroine who was strong and yet sweet, flawed but respectable, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two of them.

What I did...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

I have been enjoying the works of Susan Andersen for a while now and this one ranks right up there as one of my favorites from her. Something about this book seems different than her past writing and it really stands out as one of her best. The characters of this book are simple and everyday people. I loved the fact that Jenny was not some supermodel or something. She is on the petite side and while they can joke with her about her size she will not accep...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Rhonda rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 STARS It is a good romance but it had too much swearing and sex for me personaly. I like the characters,the town, storyline. Austin is 13 years old and his Grandpa that raised him died a few months after his grandma died. He is staying with who Jenny Salazar has been almost like a sister to him. The lawyer says he needs to contact Jakes Austin's father before she can be made permant guardian. Austin never remembers meeting him. Jake Bradshaw is a photographer for National Geographic and was on...more 3 STARS It is a good romance but it had too much swearing and sex for me personaly. I like the characters,the town, storyline. Austin is 13 years old and his Grandpa that raised him died a few months after his grandma died. He is staying with who Jenny Salazar has been almost like a sister to him. The lawyer says he needs to contact Jakes Austin's father before she can be made permant guardian. Austin never remembers meeting him. Jake Bradshaw is a photographer for National Geographic and was on a photo shoot in the back of beyond and did not get back to Razor Bay for 3 months after the funeral. Jake now gets to be a father and wants to take him back to New York city to live with him. He always wanted to get out of Razer bay. His senior year in high school he became a dad and a widower left with a crying baby. His in-laws suggested that he accept the scholarship he earned and they would raise Austin. Jake took the scholarship and did not look back. Jenny came to town at 16 to work at the hotel that Austin's grandparents owned. She was supporting her and her mother after thier father was sent to jail for a ponzie scheme. She worked up to manager and they became like grandparents to her. She did not let them spoil her like they wanted to. She was missing them too. She was also left with 7% of the business and to manage Austins till he was ready for it. Jake had a half brother he met for the first time on the playground at school where he was bullied because Max believed his father would have stayed with him. By that time his father had left Jake & his mother to move onto another family. Once he left he ignored the previous children he had. Austin did not want anything at first with his father. Jenny was unselfesh and wanted them to grow closer for Austin sake. She could not deny that Jake was good looking and hot. Thier are a lot of different relations that are being worked on slowly and I was really into the story. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest reviews from Netgalley. Harlequin HQN (July 31, 2012) 384 pages (less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: galleys-arcs

4.5 stars
That Thing Called Love – Susan Anderson

*ARC SUPPLIED BY PUBLISHER*

This is book one in the Razor Bay/Bradshaw brothers series and it really was a heck of a start. This book was at times funny and light and then sometimes you would read another few chapters and it would turn a bit more serious. The characters are fully fleshed and very likeable for the most part. Jake who is the “bad” guy (sort of!) is a more complex character and can be both. The secondary characters are described with...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: didi-reviews, publishersent

DiDi's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

I went into this book with an attitude that I WOULD NOT in any way like Jake, I mean really a man leaving his son for 13 years? I could grant him leeway when he was 17 and scared, but as he matured into a man the thought of him waiting that long to be a “daddy” is unacceptable. SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!! Susan Andersen made me fall in love with Jake, it took me a while, but I couldn’t fault him once I saw his dogged determination and the emotions he went throug...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, netgalley

I really liked this one--a well-written contemporary romance with substance. I loved the characters of Jenny and Austin--Jenny was a strong character, and her relationship (as a sister/guardian) with Austin was great. The parts from the teenager's POV were cute (though I know no self-respecting 13-year-old would want to hear that, it's true--Andersen's teenage "voice" was spot on)--and though Jake took a bit more warming up to, once you do the man is very warm. Hot, even. ;-) Seeing things from...more

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May 30, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, chic-lit-romance, net-galley

I have read a few of Susan Andersen's books in the past and have had a hit or miss experience with them. In this case, I enjoyed the book and found myself wanting to read more from her. It's the first book in a new series about a little town called Razor Bay (which reminds me for some reason of the little quaint towns in Cape Cod, MA). Jake Bradshaw has returned home to Razor Bay after a long time of being absent and a long time after his son (Austin) needed him. Austin's grandparents have both...more I have read a few of Susan Andersen's books in the past and have had a hit or miss experience with them. In this case, I enjoyed the book and found myself wanting to read more from her. It's the first book in a new series about a little town called Razor Bay (which reminds me for some reason of the little quaint towns in Cape Cod, MA). Jake Bradshaw has returned home to Razor Bay after a long time of being absent and a long time after his son (Austin) needed him. Austin's grandparents have both suddenly died within a short length of time and he is all alone in town. Well, it's more like he has no direct blood relatives left in town but there is his "sister" Jenny who has sworn to take care of him. When Jenny finds out that Austin's father has been contacted, she doesn't really believe he will come back after all why would he when he's been absent for Austin's whole life. So she can't believe what's happening when she looks up to see an adult version of Austin standing in front of her asking who she is and where his son was. Jenny decides to do what's best for Austin even if it's bound to break her heart and in the process she begins to accept that maybe Jake isn't such a bad guy after all.

I have to say I really adored Austin's character. He was such a sweet kid with a huge streak of vulnerability in him. After all, he's only really wanted a father all his life and when Jake finally strolls back in he doesn't know how to react to that. In fact I think he handled the whole situation really well. Jenny was also a really sweet but fiery character. She's quick to defend Austin and to lay waste to any bs that Jake throws her way. The two of them together were actually really comical and it was amusing to watch them fight their attraction to eachother.

The reason I didn't give this one the full five stars was that I kept getting this weird sense of deja vu. I actually checked the publication date on this to see if I was reading a re-print because at times it felt so eerily similar to something I had read already. But this is most definitely a new book, and it just bothers me a little that I was confusing it with something else because of similarities. I still can't figure out what the other book is though. But oh well.

If there's another one in this series, I'll definitely check it out as I'm curious to what will happen to Max and to see who he ends up with.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Hsiau Wei rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, books-read-in-2012

This book is the 1st book of the Razor Bay series and tell the story of Jake who returned to his hometown to claimed for his child; Austin who he left with his in law after the death of his wife. As both the grandparents has passed on, Jenny whom is like a sister to Austin was granted a temporary guardianship by the grandfather in his will to take care of the hotel and Austin and is also a trustees to Austin's inheritance. When Jake returned home, he just want to take Austin back to Manhattan an...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Janna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review will also post for www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com

Reviewed for Netgalley

3.5 Stars

Blurb:
He’s the last man on earth she should want…
For a guy she’s fantasized about throttling, Jake Bradshaw sure is easy on the eyes. In fact, he seriously tempts inn manager Jenny Salazar to put her hands to better use. Except this is the guy who left Razor Bay—and his young son, Austin, whom Jenny adores like her own—to become a globe-trotting photojournalist. He can’t just waltz back and claim Aust...more This review will also post for www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com

Reviewed for Netgalley

3.5 Stars

Blurb:
He’s the last man on earth she should want…
For a guy she’s fantasized about throttling, Jake Bradshaw sure is easy on the eyes. In fact, he seriously tempts inn manager Jenny Salazar to put her hands to better use. Except this is the guy who left Razor Bay—and his young son, Austin, whom Jenny adores like her own—to become a globe-trotting photojournalist. He can’t just waltz back and claim Austin now.
Jake was little more than a kid himself when he became a dad. Sure, he’d dreamed of escaping the resort town, but he’d also truly believed that Austin was better off with his grandparents. Now he wants—no, needs—to make up for his mistake. He intends to stay in Razor Bay only until he can convince Austin to return with him to New York. Trouble is, with sexy, protective, utterly irresistible Jenny in his life, and his bed, he may never want to leave…

It took me a while to warm up to this book. Jenny, who is Austin’s temporary guardian, mind you not even related to him, held a grudge worse than some single parents who became that way after a one night stand. Jake can do nothing right in her mind, for all she knows is he should just stay out of Austin’s life perminantly, cause he never found the time before to actually be a father to Austin. Then, when Jake knocks on her door for the first time looking for Austin, she tries to deny the instant attraction she feels for Jake and then proceeds to make her feelings of him known almost instantly. Jake, isn’t a saint either, at first. He walked away from his son 13 years ago and while he may have looked back, he would be distracted and forget about him all over again. He is here now and he knows he needs him son to warm up to him and he knows Jenny is the way to make that happen. What he isn’t prepared for is the attraction he feels for her.

I was all prepared to hate Jake because of how he treated Austin for 13 years, but then Jake kind of sneaks his way into your heart and I actually started routing for Austin and him to have a true father son relationship. Jake made mistakes… he knows that, but what Jenny doesn’t realize is that there were reasons why he left unknown to her and that no matter what her wishes are, Jake is Austin’s father and she is a non-relative with temporary guardianship. I honestly didn’t warm up too Jenny until the very end of the book. In my opinion, she acted like judge, jury and executioner when it came to Jake, and even though she loved Austin like a little brother she overstepped her boundries on how she acted.

My heart broke for Austin, and I could understand how he acted towards Jake in the beginning but when he finally warmed up to his dad my heart melted all over again. It took time and hard work by Jake but he finally got the relationship with Austin.

The sexual tension between Jake and Jenny builds and builds until it finally combusts one night. Neither wants to admit at first that there is more than just hot sex between the two, because Jake doesn’t do infinite relationships and Jenny doesn’t think love can actually exist after how her parents had treated her. It doesn’t help that even when her and Jake are together she still constantly judges him or goes ice cold towards him. I will admit, while there wasn’t an over load of sex in this book, and personally I hate when the author keeps you hanging constantly, the build up to their first time is well worth the wait.

This books shows that people can make mistakes when they are younger because of situations not known, be judged unfairly. It is how they step up and prove themselves that they are not that person is what makes them work their way into your heart. The author makes you want to step back and relook at how you may have judged others without knowing the full story.

I believe this book is the first book in a new series called Razor Bay/Bradsaw Brothers series. I am interested to see what happens between the other characters that were introduced to us in this book.
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Nov 28, 2012 Kelly Moran rated it 2 of 5 stars

Razor Bay Inn manager Jenny Salazar wants nothing more than to help young Austin through the ordeal of losing his grandparents. With his mother gone, Jenny has always been like an older sister to him, and all they have now is each other. But when his globe-trotting photojournalist father, Jake Bradshaw, returns to the resort town claiming he wants to suddenly be a part of his life, things change on a dime.
I normally love Andersen, but for the first time ever, I just didn't love this one. Not wit...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Lauren Murphy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars

That Thing Called Love is the latest romance novel by Susan Andersen set in the small coastal town of Razor Bay.

Jenny Salawazar is the manager of the Razor Bay Inn, she’s sweet and loyal but not someone to be messed with. She’s also become the full-time guardian of 13 year old Austin, who was raised by his maternal grandparents after his father abandoned him shortly after the death of his mother. Jenny too was taken in by Austin’s grandparents and raised like a daughter; she has a close...more 3.5 stars

That Thing Called Love is the latest romance novel by Susan Andersen set in the small coastal town of Razor Bay.

Jenny Salawazar is the manager of the Razor Bay Inn, she’s sweet and loyal but not someone to be messed with. She’s also become the full-time guardian of 13 year old Austin, who was raised by his maternal grandparents after his father abandoned him shortly after the death of his mother. Jenny too was taken in by Austin’s grandparents and raised like a daughter; she has a close bond to Austin and vows to provide him with a good life in Razor Bay.

But her maternal plans are thrown to the wind when Jake Bradshaw- Austin’s estranged father- returns to town and claiming guardianship. He charms Jenny into helping him to strengthen his relationship with Austin and inevitably she agrees to do whatever is best for Austin. Jake is confident, candid and very, very attractive. The usually sensible Jenny finds herself taking big risks with her heart where Jake is concerned and is surprised by her newfound sexuality.

Jake was a fairly well-developed hero, he has a lot of unresolved issues from his childhood pertaining to his unreliable father. He fears he will not live up to the expectation of being a real father to Austin. Jenny has some of her own childhood issues but seems to have overcome these and is in a better place emotionally. She is attracted to Jake’s candidness and the way he makes her feel as a woman, while Jake is attracted to the Jenny’s caring and grounded nature. The conflict that kept them apart was realistic as Jake inevitably intends to return to the city, taking Austin with him. However, I didn’t really believe the emotional connection between Jenny and Jake.

I particularly found the dialogue in this novel difficult at times. It felt as though it was used to info dump at times and it created an unnatural vibe between characters, especially with Jake and his half-brother Max. Though the sex scenes were very descriptive and ripe with tension, again there was a little too much talking for my liking!

Despite these little nuances, I did enjoy this story; its small-town feel and the sexual chemistry between Jenny and Jake. I also enjoyed the little sub-plots that incorporated Austin’s friendship and first kiss. It’s worth picking up a copy of That Thing Called Love for a light, easy read with some steamy scenes.

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Jul 29, 2012 Kristen rated it 2 of 5 stars

That Thing Called Love is Susan Andersen’s latest release and the first in her new Razor Bay trilogy.

Jake Bradshaw left Razor Bay when he was eighteen and set off for college. Now he’s a globe-trotting photo journalist. He never liked small town living and never looked back, even though he left his infant son in the care of his maternal grandparents. He’s back now and wants to rectify his past mistakes.

Jenny Salazar knows heartbreak. A father involved in Ponzi schemes, a mother who could never...more That Thing Called Love is Susan Andersen’s latest release and the first in her new Razor Bay trilogy.

Jake Bradshaw left Razor Bay when he was eighteen and set off for college. Now he’s a globe-trotting photo journalist. He never liked small town living and never looked back, even though he left his infant son in the care of his maternal grandparents. He’s back now and wants to rectify his past mistakes.

Jenny Salazar knows heartbreak. A father involved in Ponzi schemes, a mother who could never get over the embarrassment; Jenny has been taking care of herself since she was sixteen. Jenny was also taken in by Austin’s grandparents and now is like a sister to him.

When Jake comes back to Razor Bay to make up for past mistakes and become a part of his life, Jake is not the only one who will have to come to terms with under the surface wounds of the past. And if he feels a little something for the cute Jenny, well, he can stay away from her, can’t he?

I haven’t read much of Susan Andersen. I’ve liked a couple of her books but this one just didn’t work for me and I had a lot of issues with the characters that ultimately made my enjoyment non-existent.

I didn’t connect with the characters; I had a hard time getting past Jake abandoning Austin. I know he was just a kid himself when he left, but at some point, didn’t he have to grow up and realize he made a mistake. He could have made some kind of commitment to his son and now he’s coming back makes me think if Austin’s grandparents had lived forever, he never would have come back. Jake didn’t come back of his own free will, he came back because Austin’s grandparents died. It puts a shadow over his sincerity for me.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between Jenny and Jake. The sex scenes were just that, there was no romance. I don’t need the whole wine and candles bit, but I enjoy a little depth to the more amorous scenes and I like the build-up, how the relationship progresses. I didn’t get that here. I felt it was disjointed and nothing more than sex. Jenny herself is knocking at Jake’s door for a booty call.

I did really like Austin and I think Andersen did a great job capturing a thirteen year olds point of view. He was realistic and loveable. I loved his story and his relationship with Nolan and Bailey. I actually loved to see his relationship with Bailey blossoming and probably enjoyed it more than Jenny and Jake’s story.

Overall, That Thing Called Love missed the mark for me, the characters were forgettable and the storyline was hard to come to terms with. Not something I would recommend to readers.
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May 16, 2013 summer rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

the story's about Jake Bradshaw, returning to the small town of razor bay after staying away for 13 years, or basically his son's whole life, and Jenny Salazar, who's the one taking care of his son, Austin, after the death of his grandparents.

first off, Jake is definitely a jerk. he got a girl knocked up in his teens. he married her but then she died and he just basically skipped out of town on the wings on a scholarship. yeah, he was 19, he didn't even love the girl, he was not ready,...more 3.5 stars

the story's about Jake Bradshaw, returning to the small town of razor bay after staying away for 13 years, or basically his son's whole life, and Jenny Salazar, who's the one taking care of his son, Austin, after the death of his grandparents.

first off, Jake is definitely a jerk. he got a girl knocked up in his teens. he married her but then she died and he just basically skipped out of town on the wings on a scholarship. yeah, he was 19, he didn't even love the girl, he was not ready, i get all of that. but no single peep from him for 13 years?? just because?? the reason given was not compelling enough. if i was the son, i would've greeted him with a high kick on his super pressed ass. as it was, he only got a death stare. Jenny, on the other hand, is likable enough. she goes through some shit of her own with her family and it made her a strong, independent woman. she is protective of Austin but can't really throw any weight around when it comes to dealing with Jake because she has no legal right over him whatsoever, being a nonrelative.

so yeah, the beginning leaves much to be desired, mostly regarding how Jake is introduced with thoughts like, 'It’s a damn shame the kid’s too old to buy a pony.' and the way he deals with his frustrations?? being an ass?? i wanted to smack him. then he goes and gives his son that picture. yep, the icicles around my heart melted a little right alongside Austin's.

it was a nice journey, them going from having nothing to do with each other to slowly inching their way together. at least, i thought it was believable. even going through the usual bumps along the way. i also liked the way the relationship between Jake and Jenny progressed while they were dealing with all of these. i like the fact that it didn't really jump on what was developing with the father and son relationship.

i didn't get the great epiphany that Jake had though. it felt so sudden and out there. that so-called push that propelled him to change for the better, while in theory it is very compelling, but the way it was written just left me with that what the heck kind of moment. sad to say it fell flat with me, how the author went about it. kind of too much like trying to wrap up a gift in a hurry, it ends up looking a little askew.

nonetheless, it was a great read. good for curling up in a corner and delving into a uncomplicated, nice story.(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Dana rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, disappointing, favorite-author, susan-andersen, stand-alone, hero-i-hate, waste-of-time, own-and-will-never-read-again, i-reviewed, 2012, cheesy-cover-art

Jake and Jenny
What a disappointing book. This is the first SA book I haven't been able to read cover to cover. I found myself skipping the last 30 pages or so to find out the ending (which was so predictable).
Jake and Jenny had zero chemistry. Jake is a sleazeball. I don't care about your angsty need to break free of your small town chains. You have an effing child, man up. I couldn't get over how he played such a victim in this book. Please, what about Austin?
Jake and Jenny's characters had n...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Bekah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-reviewed, 2012-reads

Susan Andersen is an author that I loved reading way back when. I loved her books Obsessed and Present Danger. They are dark, sexy, and gritty. She quickly left dark and gritty and became funny, cute and lighthearted. Suffice it to say I really want dark, edgy and sexy back!

Jake is a famous professional photographer who has traveled the world over all the while neglecting his home of Razor Bay – and more importantly his son whom he left behind. He hasn’t been a father figure in any sense of the...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Marcia Berg Haskell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, family, romance

"He’s the last man on earth she should want…

For a guy she’s fantasized about throttling, Jake Bradshaw sure is easy on the eyes. In fact, he seriously tempts inn manager Jenny Salazar to put her hands to better use. Except this is the guy who left Razor Bay—and his young son, Austin, who Jenny adores like her own—to become a globetrotting photojournalist. He can’t just waltz back and claim Austin now.

Jake was little more than a kid himself when he became a dad. Sure, he'd dreamed of escaping the...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying I’m a big fan of Susan Andersen and I’ve previously enjoyed many of her titles. I’m not sure if I enjoyed this one as some of her previous works but it was still light, fun, and enjoyable. Both of the characters, Jenny and Jake, had some flaws that I found just a little irritating and I’m not sure if I 100% felt the connection between the two. I did love Austen and watching this young boy (13 years old) have to deal with so much in such a short time added to the overall st...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Maria Haile rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Susan Andersen's books and this is no exception! Sexy,funny and tender, this contemporary romance delivers on all levels.The characters experience personal revelations in their growth as friends to lovers. The hero, Jake Bradshaw, is a charming, gorgeous and selfish photojournalist who left his son to be raised by his in-laws. He is deeply resented by the the heroine, Jenny Salazar, a feisty young woman who has loved his son, Austin, since he was three years old.She is very protective of...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Daphne Trumps rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review, romance, series, adult

Gone Pecan

“Shit.” He looked at her more closely. “You’re hammered.”

“I am,” she agreed and, smiling happily, scooted down to his end of the couch She climbed onto her knees facing his right side. “I’m feeling way better than I did when I got home.” She angled a friendly arm across his chest, curling her fingers over his shoulder. He was so warm and hard-bodied. “Let’s get it on.”

“What? No!” He lunged to the edge of the couch, knocking her loose.

Jake lost his wife when he was 18 years old and left...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Flavia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, original-language, ebooks

That Thing Called Love racconta la storia di Jake Bradshaw e Jenny Salazar. Jake è un famoso fotogiornalista che a diociotto anni ha lasciato Razor Bay per sfuggire ad un triste passato. Solo che oltre alla sua città di origine, si è lasciato alle spalle anche Austin, il figlio appena nato, che ha invece affidato ai nonni materni. Ora che Austin è rimasto senza famiglia, Jake ha deciso di farsi avanti e assumere quel ruolo di padre che aveva sempre sfuggito. Peccato però che sulla sua strada inc...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, romance

That Thing Called Love
Razor Bay Book One
By Susan Andersen

When Jake Bradshaw was a teenager his girlfriend ended up pregnant, Jake tried to do right by the girl he loved and his unborn child by getting married and taking on a job that would help him support his new family and passing up on his scholarship and a chance to leave the small town he had come to loathe, when his wife dies and his mother and father in law offer to take his son so he can pursue his college education Jake jumps at the cha...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Jessica rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

The writing, English and constant annoying slang that was not very common was very annoying throughout this book. The kissing scenes spent more time focused on internal conversation than actual feeling a connection through any sort of description. This contributed with the difficulty connecting to their relationship. Plus, the sex scenes were pretty strange. Not so much the sex, but how they acted. What they talked about during.

The idea of the story line was fine. I was just so distracted by so...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Review:
Flat out, this was a good book. On the surface, Jake is "that guy"...you know, the one that no girl wants to meet. He abandoned his son 13 years ago without a single look back. Since then, he's been globetrotting the world becoming a world famous photographer for a National Geographic-like magazine.

In reality, Jake was only 18 when he left Austin in the care of Austin's grandparents after Austin's mom and Jake's wife died from complications from Austin's birth. He was scared and overwh...more My Review:
Flat out, this was a good book. On the surface, Jake is "that guy"...you know, the one that no girl wants to meet. He abandoned his son 13 years ago without a single look back. Since then, he's been globetrotting the world becoming a world famous photographer for a National Geographic-like magazine.

In reality, Jake was only 18 when he left Austin in the care of Austin's grandparents after Austin's mom and Jake's wife died from complications from Austin's birth. He was scared and overwhelmed and since then has decided that Austin is better off without him. That all changes when Austin's grandparents die within a few months of each other. By the time the news gets to Jake, Austin has been living and adjusted to life with his pseudo-sister (they aren't really related, but Jenny came to live with the grandparents shortly after Austin was born and she was 16 at the time), Jenny. Confused yet? Don't be...it's much simpler to understand than I make it sound....LOL!

Jenny convinces Jake to give Austin some time to get to know him before whisking him off to a new life in NYC and in the meantime, they all start to get to know each other better. That was the best thing about this book...watching these three characters develop their relationships...so good! And I LOVE that Jake is a photographer...it added some fabulously fun details to how they see each other.

I love how Jenny is tough on Jake and finally tells him to suck-it-up. I was standing up applauding her because I was to that point in the book too. Probably my only complaint in this book....he held onto that for too long, but that's also where the conflict in the book comes from so it's kind of hard to change that and still have the book. ;o) Also, I loved the glimpses of Jake and his half-brother, Max, together. Another relationship mended in this book and it was so fun to watch them together learning how to interact as adults. I'm hoping there will be another book someday featuring Max. He needs an HEA too!

I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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Sep 06, 2012 Gina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Normally, I love Susan Andersen's wit, but the characters in this book let me down big time. Jake abandoned his son to go to college and now 12 years later reappears to take custody when the boy's grandparents die within months of each other. Jenny moved to Razor Bay after Jake disappeared and has become extremely close to Austin. She hopes to become his legal guardian. Then Jake swoops in, intent on moving the boy to NY with him. While Jake had a decent reason to leave the child behind, there's...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Shelley Baynton rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 06, 2012 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

* Originally Posted at Romancing Rakes For The Love Of Romance

Jenny Salazar has known Austin since he was a baby. She loves him as a little brother and is given temporary guardianship after his grandparents die while they try to locate his absentee father, Jake Bradshaw. Jake was 19 when he left Austin with his grandparents to college. But his life as a photojournalist didn’t allow for his son to be with him and now 13 years later he needs to step up and be a father.

When he shows up two months a...more * Originally Posted at Romancing Rakes For The Love Of Romance

Jenny Salazar has known Austin since he was a baby. She loves him as a little brother and is given temporary guardianship after his grandparents die while they try to locate his absentee father, Jake Bradshaw. Jake was 19 when he left Austin with his grandparents to college. But his life as a photojournalist didn’t allow for his son to be with him and now 13 years later he needs to step up and be a father.

When he shows up two months after the funeral he finds himself facing off with a petite spitfire. Jenny refuses to let him waltz into Austin’s life and take him away. He agrees to get to know Austin but Austin wants nothing to do with him. As he tries to win his son over Jake finds himself trying to win Jenny over too.

Jenny knows that Jake plans to take Austin away to New York. She also knows that getting involved with him isn’t a good idea. He plans on taking away someone she loves but she finds herself getting pulled into Jake.

I am usually a HUGE fan of Susan Andersen but this just didn’t do it for me. I wanted to like Jake. I kept waiting for him to redeem himself with his son, and he does, sorta. Yes, he was young when he left Austin, and yes he had a bad childhood but he was just a little too self-centered for me. Plus, I swear at some points he’s still a 19-year-old guy. I loved Jenny and how she stood up to Jake in the beginning. She truly loves Austin and wants what’s best for him.

But by far, Austin stole the show. He pushed against Jake as his father but you got glimpses of him as a vulnerable boy who missed his father. Then there was his little crush on Bailey that had me sighing.

While I loved Jake and Jenny’s relationship I wanted more from Jake and Austin. That was a big part of the story that just didn’t flow for me. I loved meeting Max, Jake’s half brother, and their evolving relationship and hope that we get more of Max in the future. I enjoyed him more than Jake.

Favorite Quote
“But you cop to the pretty and nice?”
“Hell, yeah.” She gave him a cocky smile. “Surely you’ve heard I’m Razor Bay’s reigning beauty? It’s common knowledge. And I’m so nice, goodness sheds from me like stardust. There’s often a stampede to collect the glittery wake I leave everywhere I go.”

Overall

That Thing Called Love just fell a bit flat for me. We get a lot of the past thrown at us, both Jake’s and Jenny’s that made the story a bit disjointed at points. Yes, some is necessary to understand their motives but I just didn’t connect with it. I wanted to love this so much but I just couldn’t. Not my favorite Susan Andersen book.
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Aug 19, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This took me a lo-o-ong time to get into; I kept laying it aside to read other books, but I finally got into it and I ended up loving it. I just thought the plot and all the main characters just fit together perfectly. I also thought all the conflicts were very well wriiten and very credible. No one was either all good or all bad, they all felt very balanced. Jake was a little slow to wake up and interpret his feelings, but of course, came through in the end. I thought Austin, in particular, was...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Sand rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun. A good 'beach read'. Excellent dialogue writing, very accessible. Her characters talk, even to themselves, like people you know. It's a romance so the plot was predictable but the characters were mostly likable and not too 'cardboard cut-out'. The two main characters are okay, her best friend and his half-brother are pretty cool but by far the best-written, most well-formed and natural characters in the book are the three teenagers. Ms. Andersen did a superior job of detailing them, their i...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Dee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, arc-net-galley, harlequin, harlequin-hqn, reviewed-netgalley

Review Now Posted

3/5 Stars

This is a story about Jenny Salazar, Jake Bradshaw and Austin Bradshaw. I will include Austin as we got to read a lot about him and his thoughts and feelings etc, so it was definitely a book about the three of them.

Jake was returning to Razor Bay after a 13 year absence. In high school his girlfriend Kari had got pregnant and although he had a scholarship set up he did what was right and they got married, but sadly she died fairly soon after Austin was born. Kari’s pare...more Review Now Posted

3/5 Stars

This is a story about Jenny Salazar, Jake Bradshaw and Austin Bradshaw. I will include Austin as we got to read a lot about him and his thoughts and feelings etc, so it was definitely a book about the three of them.

Jake was returning to Razor Bay after a 13 year absence. In high school his girlfriend Kari had got pregnant and although he had a scholarship set up he did what was right and they got married, but sadly she died fairly soon after Austin was born. Kari’s parents (Emmett & Kathy Pierce) offered to look after the child whilst Jake went away and got his education and he jumped at the chance. The only problem was that he never came back and Austin was raised by his Grandparents. Sadly Emmett & Kathy have now passed away and 13 year old Austin is living with Jenny. At the age of 16 Jenny was taken under the wing of the Pierces, and the then 3 year old Austin soon became attached to her and looked upon her as his sister.

Jake is determined that he will not live in Razor Bay again and that the boy must go and live with him in New York, but he agreed with Jenny to give Austin a couple of months to get used to him before uprooting him. Needless to say in this time Jake and Jenny initially fight their attraction to each other but soon give in and in the end get their HEA.

I did enjoy the story but I just didn’t love it, for me there were a few issues/problems that I just couldn’t get past. I really liked reading about Austin and I had loads of admiration for Jenny but I just couldn’t connect to Jake’s character. I never really got over the fact that he had no contact with his son. I understood why he went away to get his education, after all he was still very young himself, but for me personally I just didn’t like that he never looked back nor did he stand up and take responsibility for Austin. In the end his in-laws completely cut him out of Austin’s life as they were tired of seeing the boy get his hopes up which were completely dashed.

I didn’t feel any romance between Jenny & Jake and in fact in one scene where Jenny knocks on his door he asked her why she was there and her answer was ‘a booty call’ and that’s what all of the sex scenes felt like, for me there was just no connection…I think if I had of felt a connection between them then I would have enjoyed it more, but for me it was just run of the mill and just didn’t hit the mark!

Having not read any Susan Andersen before I didn’t know what to expect but I had seen some fairly good reviews on previous releases, hence the reason I thought I would give this a go. The problems that I had were personal to me and therefore other readers will probably not have an issue with them, but because of them I couldn’t rate this book higher than 3/5 stars.

If I was asked if I would read this author again I would probably say no, but that decision would be on the basis of this story alone and in order for me to be fair to the Ms Andersen, I really do think that I need to read at least one other of her books before making that decision.

ARC kindly supplied by Harlequin via Netgalley
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About Susan Andersen

I grew up in a household with two brothers, a daddy, and my grandfather. Too many men, in other words. They diluted M'ma's influence by diverting my attention to things like the danger of answering nature's call in the dead of the night. I've got a hint for those of you raised in a less spit-and-scratch world: check before you sit, because chances are that seat is gonna be up. And they don't even...more I grew up in a household with two brothers, a daddy, and my grandfather. Too many men, in other words. They diluted M'ma's influence by diverting my attention to things like the danger of answering nature's call in the dead of the night. I've got a hint for those of you raised in a less spit-and-scratch world: check before you sit, because chances are that seat is gonna be up. And they don't even have the grace to be embarrassed about it. According to my sweet baby boy, if you're the minority sex in the household, you oughtta be putting it up for them. Sigh.

Having brothers was a mixed bag. When anybody messed with me they were always quick with an offer to beat them up. That was sorta nice, although I personally believe it had more to do with the fact that guys just like to fight than with any towering concern for my welfare. You might think that's cynical but guess who the target was if no one else was around and they were tired of fighting each other? I must've spent half my childhood locked in the bathroom, screaming, "Dad's gonna get you when he gets home." I know, I know, nobody likes a stoolie. But it was either that or have my block knocked off on a regular basis, and trust me, Daddy was the best deterrent going.

A smart woman probably would've gone away to an all-girl school or moved in with some girlfriends at the first opportunity. Me, I got married to my high school sweetie. And the tradition continues. Our only kid (who hasn't been a kid for quite some time now) is the aforementioned sweet baby boy, and except for an Irish setter we had for eleven years a long time ago, even our pets have all been male. I just try to stay afloat whenever I find myself in the deep end of the testosterone pool, and if you don't think that isn't a trial sometimes, I'm here to tell you- it can be hell.

Then again, it can also be heaven. In fact, it mostly is. But listen, don't tell my guys I 'fessed up to that, okay? Trust me, it's difficult enough already, just trying to stay one step ahead of the game.(less)

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That Thing Called Love (Razor Bay #1)

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