That Thing Called Love

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 his POV--especially the past--definitely helped his case here; it's hard to see him as a good guy at first. His brother Max appears to be set up as a future hero, and I'll definitely be in line to read his story. My one and only complaint (and it seems to be a theme with the books I've read this past week for some reason) is that the protagonist who needs a wake up call to get us to the HEA gets it rather abruptly--not quite enough for the reader to feel cheated, thank goodness, just a smidge faster than one would have thought. Really, though, it's not much of a complaint. This is the first in a new series for the author, set in Razor Bay, Washington--a town I am looking forward to visiting again. ( )

This is the first book in the new Razor Bay series and it is a great start. Jenny Salazar has been the caretaker for her 13 year old “brother” Austen for several months since the deaths of his grandparents. Austin is not related to her by blood but since Jenny worked for his grandparents since she was 16 years old, they have grown up together. Jenny knows it is a matter of time before Austin’s father, Jake Bradshaw, comes back into Austin’s life but is surprised when he shows up unexpectedly.
Jake has not seen Austin since he was an infant. The 18 year old Jake had gotten Austin’s mother pregnant and did the right thing by marrying her and leaving all of his college dreams behind. When his wife died in childbirth, leaving him with a colicky baby, he panicked and took the grandparent’s offer to raise the child. He has not seen or interacted with Austin since. He is now a famous photographer who has traveled all over the world and is based in NYC. He lets Jenny know right from the start that he plans to take Austin to NYC with him and she convinces him to hold off telling Austin until they have developed some kind of relationship.
Needless to say, Austin does not react well to Jake’s appearance. He wants nothing to do with Jake and thwarts his efforts to connect at every turn. I think that Ms. Anderson does a great job of portraying the feelings of a young man who desperately wants a father but has been disappointed so many times that he is afraid to open his heart again. I like the fact that neither Austin nor Jenny cut Jake any slack and make him work for both relationships. I also appreciate that Austin is a typical teen with normal worries and not a bratty whiner.
What adds to the romantic tension is Jake’s long standing disdain for the life in Razor Bay and Jenny’s need for the roots and stability the town gives her. Jenny is in a really difficult position, not only does she stands to lose Austin, but if she gives her heart to Jake, she knows he can’t give her the life she needs. She also has to do everything she can to foster the relationship between father and son which just makes the situation have more potential for heartbreak.
I liked the character of Jake even though he should be a villain. As written, it is easy to understand why he made the choices he did when Austin was born. However, he still needs to be held accountable for his lack of communication as he got older. Jake matures emotionally in this book, with a few relapses but mostly with good results. He has another relationship to work on with his half-brother Max and that is almost a source of comic relief in the way they resolve their issues.
Great beginning to the series and it is perfectly set up for the next book due in 2013 and featuring Max. ( )

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 ( )

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 the same complexity as the main characters and Ms Anderson makes it easy for us to see how the next book or two is going to go. I know I am certainly anticipating the next book or two.

Jake, after 13 years, is back in Razor Bay to finally take responsibility for his 13 year old son who has just lost both his Grandmother and then a short time later, his grandfathers. What Jake hasn’t counted on is that his son Austen would have such a feisty temporary guardian.

Jenny should have known that Austen’s father would someday come back and claim him. What she didn’t expect is that Jake would be so damn sexy and smart and willing to atone for his past mistakes with his son.

Soon sparks are flying and Ms Anderson sure does know how to play on the readers emotions. She really uses a deft hand with the sexy teasers between Jake and Jenny and soon you will find yourself praying they will set the sparks off. And set the sparks off they sure do!

Can Jake learn from his mistakes and come to terms with the fact that the past doesn’t always define the future? Will he do what is right for his son or himself? Will Jenny and Jake learn to love each other? Well I’m not going to spoil this book for you, you are going to have to read it if you want to find out! ( )