Some Like It Hot
By Susan Andersen
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Harper Summerville may be a rolling stone, but she has
settled with surprising contentment into her new job as summer activities
director at the Brothers Inn in Razor Bay, Washington. She likes her job, she
likes her boss, Jenny Salazar, and she really likes the spectacular scenery in
Razor Bay. This liking encompasses both the spectacular views of the Olympic
Mountains and the fjord that is Hood Canal and the sightings of Razor Bay’s
sigh-worthy deputy sheriff, Max Bradshaw. But there is more to Harper
Summerville than the citizens of Razor Bay realize. She is not in Razor Bay for
the job, the scenery, or the deputy; she is there to covertly check out Cedar
Village, a home for at-risk boys, to see if it deserves a grant from her
family’s charitable foundation.
Max Bradshaw is a big, taciturn guy whose tough exterior
hides a heart larger and more vulnerable that anyone suspects. He is enjoying
his newly established brotherly relationship with Jake, the half-brother he
hated when they were kids. He is invested in seeing that the troubled boys at
Cedar Village get the kind of support that helped him turn his life around. He
keeps telling himself that Harper Summerville is not for him, but the chemistry
that sizzles between them every time they are together is hard to ignore. And
those times seem to happen often between Jake and his fiancĂ©e Jenny’s throwing
parties and Harper’s volunteering to help out at Cedar Village. But Max’s roots
in Razor Bay run deep, and Harper is there temporarily. Then there’s the matter
of the secret she’s keeping. The road to an HEA never did run smoothly.
An author known for her ability to evoke place in her books,
Andersen vividly and visually presents Razor Bay, and her affection for the
Pacific Northwest comes through clearly. Max lives up to the promise of a
rough-edged hero in need of a healing touch that won readers’ interest in Jake
and Jenny’s story (That Thing Called Love).
He’s my favorite kind of wounded hero: he has some heavy emotional baggage, but
he’s trying to move past it, nor drown in it. I had a more difficult time
understanding Harper. Her gotta-keep-movin’ obsession struck me as over the
top. I was also disappointed that the Cedar Village youths never come to life
in the way that Austin and his friends did in That Thing Called Love. I was surprised too since Andersen usually
does great kid characters.
Susan Andersen was writing smart, sexy contemporary romance
that evoked a smile, tugged a heartstring or three, and sent the sensuality
meter into the red zone when that kind of truly contemporary story was much
rarer than it is today. Some Like It Hot
is not her best book, but it is one that Andersen fans will likely enjoy. If
you are new to Andersen, this one is not her best. I recommend you start with That Thing Called Love or download a
copy of Head Over Heels, the first
book in her Marine series, or add her Baby series to your ereader, or grab a
copy of All Shook Up when it is
reissued in November. As for me, I like Razor Bay, and there’s that mysterious
connection between Jenny’s best friend Tasha and the third Bradshaw brother,
Luc. Count me in for their story.
~Janga
http://justjanga.blogspot.com
~Janga
http://justjanga.blogspot.com
I've not read any of her books. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI discovered Andersen with Head Over Heels and have continued to read her. Her Marine series remains my favorite.
DeleteI have her books, but haven't read any yet (the usual excuse), but am glad to know I have "That Thing Called Love" you recommended, guess I'll start w/ that one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janga.
It's a good place to start, dotland. Hope you enjoy her!
DeleteI so can't wait to read this! There are always fun and sexy reads. Definitely looking forward to this! Thanks Janga!
ReplyDeleteThere are always fun and sexy reads.
DeleteI agree, Ada. Some of her books I like better than others but she can usually be counted on to entertain me!
I think I have read just about all of her books. Some are better than always, but is always the case with all books and everyone likes diff things. But she is an autobuy for me. Thanks for review.
ReplyDeletepatoct@yahoo.com
This book is on my tbr shelf... I love when I get an early copy of the book... I love Susan Andersen's books. Cant wait to read it.
ReplyDelete