Category Archives: Susan Andersen

July 13, 2014 · 11:56 pm

Review: No Strings Attached by Susan Andersen

no stringsTitle: No Strings Attached by Susan Andersen
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Some mistakes are worth repeating…

Tasha Riordan’s one night with Luc Bradshaw was the best of her life. The following two—when he left her to be thrown into a Bahamian jail on bogus charges—were her worst. Now, seven years later, the undercover DEA agent is back. Invading her town. Her restaurant. Her fantasies. She can’t trust a man who lied to her. Yet neither can she trust herself—not when their chemistry burns even hotter than before.

Learning he has two half brothers shocks Luc. Discovering they live in the same town as Tasha—that’s a different kind of thrill. Their mutual lust is still off the charts, but he can’t get her to listen to his side of what happened on that long-ago night. Good thing he’s got powers of persuasion that go deeper than words. Because nothing has ever felt this right….

The Review:

Susan Andersen’s No Strings Attached is the last of the Bradshaw brothers’ romances and in this outing (which is also set in Razor Bay), half brother Luc gets the surprise of his life when he meets Tasha Riordan, the woman he spent one glorious night with seven years earlier. Equally astonishing is her animosity towards him and her inexplicable belief that he is a low-life scumbag criminal. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Tasha clings to her mistaken belief in an effort to protect her heart but will their smoking hot attraction convince her to give Luc another chance?

Tasha and Luc have very different memories of their passionate encounter and Luc would like nothing more than to pick up where they left off. His confusion over her hostility towards him is quickly cleared up when she tells him the real story about what happened to her, but she stubbornly refuses to believe he is actually a DEA agent who works deep undercover. Tasha tries to avoid him as much as possible but her best friends are Luc’s brothers’ girlfriends and she is further dismayed to learn that he is her new renter. Confronted with irrefutable proof that Luc has been telling the truth about his identity, Tasha gives in to their desire but she is determined to keep their relationship casual.

I have been looking forward to Luc’s story since his introduction in Some Like It Hot and I love his character as much as I do his half-brothers Jake and Max. Luc grew up an only child who did not learn about Max and Jake until after their father’s death and he is very eager to get to know them. Although he likes both of his brothers, Luc is envious of Jake and Max’s close bond but he never lets his feelings get in the way of his burgeoning relationship with them. Luc’s career has kept him from romantic entanglements, but when it comes to Tasha, he soon realizes that keeping his distance is going to be impossible. Once he gets to the bottom of what really happened to her seven years ago, Luc has some important decisions to make about his future but will his future include Tasha?

I liked the glimpses of Tasha from the previous novels, but in No Strings Attached, I found it difficult to like her. Her stubbornness about Luc’s identity quickly becomes irritating and once she does believe him, she uses someone else to prove that Luc does not mean anything to her. Her indecisiveness is also very frustrating and she is constantly changing her mind about whether she wants him in her life or not. She also leaps to conclusions and lack of communication on her part leads to unnecessary misunderstandings between them. Although I dislike how Tasha handled her complicated relationship with Luc, she is quick to offer help to troubled teens Jeremy and Peyton and she has great friendships with her best friends Jenny and Harper.

Overall, No Strings Attached is an enjoyable read and it is a lovely addition to Susan Andersen’s trilogy starring the Bradshaw brothers. It can be read as a standalone story, but I highly recommend the previous novels as well.

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Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HQN Books, No Strings Attached, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Susan Andersen

July 25, 2013 · 3:56 am

Review: Some Like It Hot by Susan Andersen

Title: Some Like It Hot by Susan Andersen
Razor Bay Series Book Two
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

“Wrong for each other” never felt more right…

Even a lifelong traveler like Harper Summerville has to admire the scenery in Razor Bay, Washington. There’s the mountains. The evergreens. The water. And Max Bradshaw, the incredibly sexy deputy sheriff. Still, Harper’s here only for the summer, working covertly for her family’s foundation. And getting involved with this rugged, intense former marine would be a definite conflict of interest—professionally and personally.

Max’s scarred childhood left him determined to put down roots in Razor Bay, yet one look at Harper—a woman who happily lives out of a suitcase—leaves him speechless with desire for things he’s never had. He might not be big on talking, but Max’s toe-curling kisses are getting the message across loud and clear. Harper belongs here, with him, because things are only beginning to heat up….

The Review:

A heartwarming romance that will keep you smiling from ear to ear, Some Like It Hot is an absolutely delightful addition to Susan Andersen’s Razor Bay series. Harper Summerville loves traveling and meeting new people. Max Bradshaw has strong family ties to Razor Bay and has no intentions of ever leaving. Their electrifying sexual attraction brings them together but will Harper’s secrets and her wandering feet tear them apart?

Introduced in That Thing Called Love, Max and Harper are very appealing protagonists. Max is a multi-layered character with a surprising amount of depth. In the beginning, he is pretty serious and reserved but once he begins to come out of his shell, he is quite charming. Max still carries the emotional baggage from his childhood, but he uses his experiences to connect with the troubled teenagers at the boys club in town. Max and his half-brother Jake’s attempts to overcome their troubled past have successfully mended the rift between them and some of their scenes are the best ones in the novel.

Harper is a breath of fresh air and I found her an easy character to relate to. She has an enthusiastic and bubbly personality and her energy leaps off the pages. Harper is at odds with her mother over her vagabond lifestyle, and their relationship is loving but contentious. She has easily settled in to her (temporary) life in Razor Bay and she is quickly forming close friendships with her boss Jenny and another local Tasha. Although she is quickly growing to love her new life, Harper panics at the thought of settling in one place permanently.

Max and Harper initially harbor misconceptions about one another, and the slow buildup of their relationship allows them to get know each other. Underlying their growing friendship is a delicious sexual tension and in a refreshing change of pace, Max is the one who is hesitant to take their relationship to the next level. When they finally do give into their passion, their sex scenes are sensual yet full of emotion.

While their relationship is progressing relatively smoothly, Harper’s departure is drawing ever closer. Max is beginning to become suspicious of her seemingly furtive behavior and when he uncovers the real reason Harper is in Razor Bay, his insecurities cause him to lash out at her. Given his past, Max’s reactions are realistic and once his initial shock has passed, he is able to look at their situation more objectively. When Max proposes a compromise to Harper, will her fears keep them from reconciling?

While Some Like It Hot is well-written, some of the dialogue and phrases are a little outdated. I was fully immersed in the story and while it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the novel, it occurs often enough that I kept thinking there was no way someone that age would use that particular saying. It is an minor distraction but one worth mentioning.

A sweet, yet sexy, novel, Some Like It Hot is a perfect blend of family, friendship and romance. The cast of characters is diverse, beautifully developed and immensely likable. The plot is compelling and the conflict that arises between Max and Harper is believable and it is resolved fairly quickly. Late in the novel, the introduction of a surprise character with unexpected (and intriguing) ties to Razor Bay leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in Susan Andersen’s fabulous Razor Bay series.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinHQN, Rated B+, Razor Bay Series, Review, Romance, Some Like It Hot, Susan Andersen

July 24, 2012 · 3:56 am

That Thing Called Love by Susan Andersen

Title: That Thing Called Love by Susan Andersen
Razor Bay Series Book One
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

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….

The Review:

Most heroes in romance novels are cookie cutter perfect, but in That Thing Called Love, Susan Andersen takes a chance with a very imperfect character, absentee father Jake Bradshaw, and she beautifully redeems him into a dedicated family man who captures both Austin and Jenny Salazar’s heart.

Jake Bradshaw gladly accepted his in-laws offer to raise his son Austin while he pursued his college degree. But after breaking promise after promise to visit his young son, he agrees with his in-laws that he should stay out of Austin’s life. Austin is frequently in his thoughts, and Jake does think about going back to visit, but his guilt makes it easy for him to stay away. It takes the death of both of Austin’s grandparents to force him to finally man up and become a parent to his now thirteen year old son. But Jake is going to find that easier said than done when he is confronted with Austin’s indifference and fiercely protective guardian Jenny Salazar.

Did I like Jake Bradshaw in the beginning of That Thing Called Love? Not so much. But as I learned more of Jake’s background, the circumstances of Austin’s birth and Austin’s grandparents’ possible motives for keeping them apart, I became more understanding of how Jake was able to convince himself to stay out of Austin’s life. Even though he tried to deny it, his love for Austin was always obvious. What finally won me over? His ability to accept responsibility for his actions, his genuine remorse and his strong determination to finally be Austin’s dad.

Jenny Salazar is an absolutely fabulous and quite lovable heroine. She has overcome obstacles of her own and she has the backbone to prove it. She always acts in Austin’s best interests even though it will break her heart to let him go with Jake. She is sweet, charming and I like that she does not let her fear of getting her heart broken keep her from getting involved with Jake.

For all the turmoil and tragedy in his young life, Austin is a pretty well-grounded teenager. He is a normal kid enjoying a pretty carefree childhood. He is obviously conflicted about letting Jake in his life but he handles his unexpected and unwelcome appearance fairly well. With time, patience and persistence on Jake’s part, Austin slowly begins to accept his dad into his life.

That Thing Called Love is a charming love story with flawed and realistic characters. I have often wondered what could possibly motivate a parent to essentially abandon a child for someone else to raise and Susan Andersen provides valuable insight into what seem to be fairly valid reasons. I like that Jake took the time to fix the broken relationships in his life and that he was willing to give up a part of his dream for the people that he loves.

That Thing Called Love is a quick and easy read with a satisfying resolution that I think many fans of contemporary romances will enjoy. Ms. Andersen has an engaging writing style, and I am looking forward to the next installment of the Razor Bay series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinHQN, Rated B, Razor Bay Series, Romance, Susan Andersen, That Thing Called Love