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You'd think being able to heal people with a touch would be a blessing. But to 17-year-old Remy O'Malley, it's more like a curse.
Every injury Remy heals becomes her own. She lives in fear of the day she's forced to mend a wound from which she can't recover--and she's desperate to keep her amazing ability a secret.
Enter Asher Blackwell, a scarred eighteen-year-old with dangerous powers of his own. Asher seems to know more about Remy's abilities than she does--and maybe more than he's letting on. If she opens up to him, she might find out what it truly means to be a Healer. But she'll also expose herself to capture by an old and very determined enemy. And if they catch her, they won't just injure her.
They'll kill her.
Corrine Jackson is a San Francisco transplant, having lived on both coasts from Southern California to New York City. For the last seven years, she has sharpened her marketing talents at Alcone Marketing, where she has won several industry awards. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in English, and is in her third year of Spalding University's MFA program. A recipient of a West Chester Poetry Conference scholarship, she is also the former Editor-in-Chief of two literary magazines, including Statement (CSU, Los Angeles) and Dash (CSU, Fullerton).
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the room, my movements piercing the alcoholic haze insulating Dean. He straightened to his full six-foot-three when he noticed me, his eye twitching when I stared back unblinking. Maybe he suspected I was a freak and it scared him. Maybe he was scared of himself, of what he wanted from me. I figured that's why he mostly hit my mother when I wasn't around.
Unknotting my hands from white knuckled fists, I hoped to defuse the tension before it exploded.
"You're home early," he said, his heavy-lidded stare straying over me without meeting my eyes.
Tall and plain, I was skinny with no curves, but that didn't matter. My skin crawled when his pale blue eyes tracked me through a room. I went out of my way to stay away when he was alone in the apartment, but sometimes he managed to corner me in the shadows of our dim hallway. Sick in ways I couldn't cure, he'd crowd me with his hulking body and laugh when I'd lurch away to avoid his touch.
The funny thing was that Dean looked like the grown version of that charming, innocent boy all the girls crushed on in high school. He had soft, blond curls and a friendly, open face that charmed the unaware. Perhaps that's what had attracted Anna to him in the first place.
"Maybe I should call ahead next time?" I mused. "That way you could plan to finish beating my mother by 9:05, I can arrange to have the ambulance here by 9:10, and we can all be in bed by midnight."
My flat voice held no sarcasm, only bitter resignation. Dean's hands tightened into fists that could feel like steel. I'd stayed too long, trying to protect my mother, but Anna loved Dean more than anything. More than me. Dean loved how my father's child support checks kept him drinking down to the worm at the bottom of his tequila bottles.
He stepped closer. "Gonna stop me, princess?"
My indifferent act never fooled him. After seeing Anna's unconscious body on the floor, I wished I could kill him. I shuddered in anticipation of the brutality to come and the moment I would touch Anna. Never taking my eyes from him, I slid sideways to keep the threadbare couch and scarred coffee table between us. Anna moaned, and Dean's gaze flicked to her, his lip curled in disgust.
"You think you're a man because you beat up women?" I taunted to distract him.
His smile raised the hair on my arms. It was a smile of warning—a smile to predict the weather by because hell was sure to rain down on its recipient. "You think you're better than me, kid, but you're gonna respect me." He whipped his belt from the loops of his dirty jeans. The buckle glinted in the light when he wrapped the black leather around his fist—a bright, shiny weapon.
Hate speared through me, along with paralyzing fear. Better to make him angry, I decided. Then, maybe, it would end faster. I sneered while sidling closer to Anna.
"Respect you? You're barely human. A pathetic coward. You want to hit me, don't you, Dean? Go ahead."
I'd never ridiculed him before and, within two feet of Anna's limp body, my courage faltered. Stupid. Stupid. He'll kill us both. At least the ghoulish waiting game would be over. He'd come close enough to touch me when I whispered, "I dare you to try."
He charged and pulled back his arm to hit me as I stepped in front of Anna. His fist landed in my stomach, and I tripped over her. My head bounced off the wall with a dull thud. Dean's hand clamped around my throat, stalling my fall to the ground as he pinned me, and I inhaled the stale mix of sweat and tobacco wafting from him. Cutting off my breath, he smiled and squeezed his fingers until the pain weakened my knees.
Anna rolled at my feet and screamed, "No!" She jumped on Dean, trying to drag him off me, her red fingernails biting into his forearm. Desperate for air, I clamped one hand on his arm and clutched my mother with the other.
My eyes squeezed shut. I'm dying, I thought. Then my ability to think fractured. The mental wall barricading my power collapsed and, without the defense, Anna's pain thundered through me, allowing me to see inside her body. I noted two broken ribs, a concussion, black eye, and bruises scattered all over her body. Dots of color popped against my closed lids in a spectacular fireworks show. My lungs constricted, and I embraced Anna's aches, healing them and grafting her pain to my own.
Dean's grip loosened as he stumbled beneath Anna's attack, and he yanked her hair to toss her away. She sobbed, and the storm inside me doubled and tripled in size. I had failed to protect her. Filled with rage, I imagined all my pain striking Dean down like fiery lightning.
Violent red light sizzled between my hand and his arm. His face froze in horror as his body jerked and convulsed. A loud crack splintered the air—his ribs breaking or mine—and I passed out.
* * *
I woke to a soft hand brushing the hair from my face and the scent of musky perfume. Anna. Fear cut through the hazy edges of sleep, and I sat up too fast. Ignoring my aching stomach muscles, I searched for Dean, but only Anna sat with me. Weak sunlight shone through the single window, and the scratchy sheets screamed hospital. So I didn't die.
My throat burned as I tamped down tears.
Anna watched me, and I assessed her injuries. There'd been no time to finish healing her with Dean's hand wrapped around my neck, and she would have hidden her injuries from the doctors. I seized her arm, ignoring her attempt to pull away in undisguised revulsion. My internal body scan revealed some older wounds she'd hidden since I'd healed her a few weeks ago. A sharp pinch of regret stung me, and then my emotions flew away as I opened my mind to absorb her injuries.
Anna winced, but I ignored this, too, helping her deeper bruises to heal. Her broken ribs I'd taken on already, but I couldn't heal her concussion. Head wounds did the most damage to me and were the most difficult for me to heal. My mother would have a pounding headache, but she'd survive to be beaten down another day. Finished, I sighed in relief. Soft, familiar blue sparks trailed from my fingertips down her arm as I released her.
She shrank back and started to cry. Frigid cold replaced the heat of energy that went hand in hand with the healing, and I shivered. She knew what I could do. How could she not know with the number of times I'd healed her since I'd discovered my ability at twelve? She hated my power and pretended it didn't exist, even while bruises sprouted on my skin, twins of those disappearing from hers.
"Where's Dean?" The rasp of my voice startled me, and I wondered if the damage caused by strangulation could be permanent.
"He's here, too. He ... he was hurt ... when he fell. His ribs are broken. The doctor says he'll be okay."
Her tone said she'd already convinced herself that the impossible had not happened. She touched my hand in a rare gesture. "Listen, baby. The cops ... They have a lot of questions about what happened. I told them it was all a misunderstanding."
That explained why she sat with me instead of Dean. She'd wanted to ensure I'd lie for her. I rolled away so I wouldn't have to look at her, and she brushed a tentative hand through my hair. She would tell me I shouldn't anger Dean. If I would just behave .. I'd heard this all a thousand times before. It was never Dean's fault when his fist cuffed her in the head. It was her fault for not getting him his beer fast enough. It couldn't be his fault he ground his lit cigarette into my arm. I should have handed over my paycheck from the video store.
Sure enough, she started talking about how things would be different when we got home. We had to try harder to be a family. Her words sickened me, and I covered my ears with a pillow, shouting Shut up! Shut up! in my head.
I must have slept after she left because the room had darkened, and my father had arrived.
Ben O'Malley had been MIA most of my life. Once, years ago, I'd called him, thinking he would come riding in like a knight in shining armor to save me. His secretary had told me he'd been too busy to come to the phone and promised to give him a message. He'd never called back. After that, I refused to talk to him when he made the obligatory birthday and holiday calls, until eventually, he'd stopped calling altogether.
Ben noticed I'd awakened and stood over me. "Remy? How do you feel?"
My eyes raked his tall frame, studying him for the first time in years. Any stranger could see I was his daughter. I had his height and wavy, thick hair that walked the border between curls and frizz, though his was a peppered black to my dirty blond.
"Remy?"
"What are you doing here?"
My father filled a cup with water from a pink pitcher sitting on the bedside table. Dropping a straw in the cup, he tilted it toward me. I wanted nothing more than to refuse that sip of water, but my throat burned. After drawing on the straw for a moment, I leaned back, and it occurred to me that my injuries should have healed by now. Whatever had happened with Dean had short-circuited my ability to heal myself, though I'd healed Anna without a problem.
My father's voice cut into my thoughts, and I frowned.
"The police called to notify me that my daughter had been admitted to the hospital," Ben said. "They suspected her mother's husband was responsible for her injuries, although Anna denied that."
The cops hadn't believed her lies. "So?" I croaked.
Ben's black brows drew together over navy eyes like mine. "What do you mean 'so'?"
"I mean, so what are you doing here?"
"I told you. They said you were hurt," he repeated, confused.
My rusty laugh sounded like an ancient engine turning over. "Where were you the last eight times this happened?"
His shock sliced deeply because he hadn't cared enough to know what happened to me. Ben sucked in a breath, his tan face ashen, and his voice tight with anger. "Why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you. Remy, I would've ..."
Shaking my head, I laughed again. He blamed me. "Right. You would've. Why don't you go back to your wife and your perfect family? You can remind yourself what a good father you are when you sign your next child support check."
I shut him out by closing my eyes, like I had with Anna. It was too much. My father's appearance, my mother and Dean, my erratic ability ... And the gnawing fear about how Dean would punish me for hurting him.
Then my father said, "You're coming to live with me."
Two days later, the March wind cut through my thin coat and whipped my hair out of its band as I sneaked out of my father's house. I headed for the deserted beach near the marina at the end of the street. Melting snow mingled with the sand and dirt to create puddles of watery mud. Rocks and broken clamshells littered the beach, and I picked my way over to a weathered log to sink down and watch a lone sailboat fly across the water. The water didn't work itself up to waves, but lapped the shore like a lazy tongue.
The forest with its naked ladies shivering without their autumn dresses, the blue water of the harbor, and the immense morning sky soothed my anger. My father had grown a conscience. Anna had cried when Ben told her he was taking me and to hell with the custody agreement. He did not ask if I wanted to go, but threw his weight around until I found myself on a plane to Nowhere-Frickin'-Maine.
Nobody cared what I wanted. It had been so long since I'd thought beyond surviving Dean, I wasn't sure how I would have answered. Three options lay before me. I could give up and let Dean win. Let him convince me I was worth nothing. Or I could run and try to make it on my own. My savings would get me a week of freedom in a cheap motel, but that was about it. Last option, I could accept my father's help. Maybe I could convince Ben to sign emancipation papers.
I'd have to keep my freak ability a secret if I stayed. That meant leaving my injuries alone because people would notice if the bruises disappeared from one moment to the next. Yet, I needed to know if my power to heal myself had returned. Crowds could kill if the stranger next to me carried a disease or illness I couldn't cure. Sometimes, their pain could reach out and grab me, no matter how hard I concentrated on blocking them.
To safeguard my secret, I'd have to pick a hidden injury, one of my taped broken ribs. Like I'd done a dozen times before, I pictured the broken bone and imagined it mending. A sharp stab speared my side as the bone fused, and I gasped even as the pain faded and my breathing flowed easier. I tipped my face to the sun in relief.
In the distance, a camera shutter clicked.
A boy about my age stood some yards away holding one of those large professional-looking cameras with all the mysterious attachments. My heart skittered as my attention shifted from object to boy.
Striking. If I'd had to pick one word to describe him, that would have been it. Tall and lean, he moved with ease, at home in his skin and sure of his footing. He'd tower over me, I noted with odd pleasure. Deep-chocolate brown hair fell in long waves to his neck. Sharp planes and angles defined his tanned face. Full, sensual lips and a square, shadowed jaw completed the rugged picture marred by a two-inch white scar that slashed through one eyebrow to the top of one high cheekbone.
And his eyes. I sucked in a breath. Even from twenty feet away, their dark green color reminded me of the woods that hugged the marina. The intent expression in those deep-set eyes held a trace of surprise as if he hadn't expected company on the beach. An all too recognizable air of resigned loneliness hung about him, prompting a
One of his thick brows rose, and I realized I'd been returning his stare for some time.
Sudden, wild embarrassment sent my gaze flicking back to the view of the harbor. Stupid, Remy. He was probably taking pictures of the scenery. I wondered if he would try to talk to me. Perhaps he'd say, "Do I know you?" Except it would not be a pickup line. Gangly and boyishly slim, I wasn't the kind of girl boys hit on. I was the girl who went to a high school for two years and managed not to have a single friend.
It didn't matter, anyway. He walked toward the water with long strides. At the edge of the shore he twisted from the view of the bay as if to determine his next shot of the backdrop of sky and forest behind me.
I peeked over at him, only to look away when I found him staring back. My heart stuttered until the meaning of that raised eyebrow penetrated. It's the bruises, I realized. This morning, the bathroom mirror had revealed a black eye and a grisly necklace ringing my throat, the mottled blend of purple and indigo betraying the impression of five fingers. My battered face had sparked the stranger's curiosity. Feeling like an idiot, I returned his stare with open defiance.
He didn't pretend he'd been watching anything other than me. As he gripped his camera in both hands, his stare traveled over my face and unkempt hair, and I tried to ignore him by studying the view.
Soon, the town yawned and began to wake, and the odd intimacy of the isolated beach faded as cars and people created a buzz of activity. A restaurant at the marina must have opened for business. The smell of brewing coffee and greasy diner food nearly doubled me over. My last meal had been a packet of peanuts on the plane the night before. My joints had stiffened in the brisk air, and it hurt to stand as I braced myself for the walk to Ben's home.
A shutter clicked for the second time, and I turned to see the boy aiming his camera at me. Pictures snapped in quick succession, and I was his subject. Not a person, but an object to be studied and captured on film.
Perhaps the boy thought I'd be flattered. I felt violated.
I moved without premeditation. He continued shooting pictures at my approach, adjusting the lens as I stalked closer. Maybe he was taller and more muscular, but the outrage vibrating through me evened the odds. An arm's length away, I stretched up to grab the camera. The boy shifted away and gave a surprised laugh.
Furious, I tried to grab it again, careful not to touch him. When he sidestepped me again, I slipped on the stones and landed on my back in the snow and mud. My body ached with the jolt, and I focused on the act of breathing.
I expected him to laugh again, but he crouched down on his heels at my side. "Are you okay?"
The anger disappeared, replaced by mortification when he leaned close, his worried eyes capturing mine. My thoughts splintered. I'd been wrong about the scar. It wasn't an imperfection. Every one of his features had been chosen with care by a master.
"I didn't mean to make you fall. I was protecting my camera."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Touched by Corrine Jackson Copyright © 2012 by Corrine Jackson. Excerpted by permission of KTEEN BOOKS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Anonymous
Posted February 27, 2013
Great book! Had so much to offer. Loved it!
Note that 2 more books will becoming out. While the plot ties up nicely, its not the end of the story!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 22, 2013
... but better written-- a fun, quick read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Remy O’Malley’s life isn’t easy. Her mother is married to an abusive man who only wants the child support check that her father sends every month. On top of that she has a mysterious power to heal people with touch. The side-effect to that is for every injury she cures it becomes hers. She has healed her mother over and over again and has even had to endure pain without healing to hide her abilities. After the worst beating of her life, Remy is sent to live with her estranged father and meets a boy just as strange as her, Asher Blackwell, only to find out that they are enemies. Asher is a Protector and immortal and his kind hunt down her kind.
I was instantly grabbed from page one. Right away I felt for Remy and knew that her journey was going to be tough. Being abused and being different without knowing why leads to some very deep scarring. This was about Remy’s turn to be healed. Even though I felt that Asher was not an original described character, I still enjoyed his story as well. He compliments Remy well and their growing attraction leads to some tense moments.
The intertwining of fantasy and reality was effortlessly done. The story managed to deal with real issues but adds the fantasy element that makes for an intriguing read. All the characters interact well together and support the main characters. Perfect read for the lovers of YA paranormal.
(ARC was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I HATE WAITING TO THE NEXT BOOK IN A GREAT SERIES!!!! I have to start off by saying I just love the name Remy. I know it's a silly thing, but a name can just set the tone for a book and the more I read, the more I unraveled the multifaceted girl behind the unique moniker. What I loved about Remy was that she was a beautifully balanced mix of strength and weakness. A also adored that she wasn't a block head. By that I mean that I've noticed a trend where the MC is almost too heavily vested in fighting off the good things that happen. Realistically, we all make some dumb choices in life, but for me there also comes a point where I roll my eyes and say...
"Seriously? Well, that was just stupid. My cat even understands that this person cares about you."
Remy wasn't stupid--she had her insecurities and many legitimate reasons to be cautious, but she also was able to embrace some of the good things that were happening to her. I found that I really enjoyed that as a reader--even as a person who likes a little angst in her books.
I also loved the premise of TOUCHED. The concept of healers and protectors really took the paranormal into a completely different direction for me. I am intrigued by books that make me peek over my shoulder because I start to wonder if there really could be folks walking around with "unusual hidden talents". I love to imagine worlds within my own existence and this book sparked that in me. TOUCHED was very fascinating and I can't believe that I'm going to have to wait to find out what happens next. Grrrrrr
Touched by Corrine Jackson was an amazing Paranormal novel. However I have to point out that it has a ton of similarities to Twilight, something that I know many readers didn't enjoy in this novel. Even with the lack of originality, I loved the characters, as well as the fast pace and development of the plot. Corrine is obviously a very skilled writer and even with the twilight similarities, in the end, I did enjoy Touched.
I hope I didn't scare you away with the Twilight similarity. This novel stands on its own. It has enough merits, such as the plot, characters, and writing, to label it as a great supernatural novel. Remy, the main protagonist, can heal people by touching them, however whatever injury she heals becomes her own injury and then has to heal herself. Other than this big downside to her healing touch, some injuries are too severe for her to heal herself from immediately, such as a gun shot wound, etc. So her power is restricted based on the severity of the injury. However Remy tries to help anyone who needs it, even though she knows she'll get hurt in the process. She always heals her mother after acting as a punching bag to her husband, Remy's stepfather. Remy was also the target of her abusive stepfather one too many times.
Finally, when things went too far, Remy's dad intervenes and takes her to live with him, his wife, and his daughter who is Remy's age. I am sure you are all thinking "uh oh.. cat fights" but NO! that actually didn't happen, even though I was preparing myself for the double standard or fakeness to be revealed at any point. However Remy's step sister was AWESOME! I loved her. She instantly befriended Remy, introduced her to all her friends and accepted her, no hidden agendas or underlying evil plotting anywhere. I also appreciating how fatherly her dad was as well as how sweet her stepmom was. I absolutely loved how welcoming her new family was. It was great to read about that. As for Asher, the love interest, he also has some supernatural.. traits, to say it simply. The romance between Remy and Asher, while it wasn't fast paced, it reminded me a bit of Bella and Edward from Twilight.. I know I know I promised myself I wouldn't bring Twilight up anymore, but I can't deny the similarities. I was able to get past that but I know some people who weren't able to.
I just have to point out, again, even with all the similarities, I did find it to be pleasant. Also, the whole aspect of Remy's stepfather stalking her and being this looming threat that never left her in the novel was very unique. She wasn't only facing threats from the supernatural world but also from people that were a part of her life for years. There is a sort of forbidden love in this story, because Asher is a protector and Remy is a Healer and it is not known for a Healer and Protector to be in a relationship, it reminded me a bit of Half Blood by JLA but without any regulations. Remy is an amazing protagonist, not a passive damsel in distress we often see in paranormal novels. I can't wait for the sequel and find out more about the history between the Healers and Protectors.
I really loved this book! It kept me interested throughout.
Poor Remy had it tough. She learned she was a Healer the hard way. She didn't really understand what she was until she met Asher. But she learns that he's has a secret and that he's different from normal boys. They shouldn't be together but they can't stay away.
I look forward to next book!
Anonymous
Posted March 12, 2013
The best way to describe this book would be torture. I hated but loved it. It was a great idea and had great characters, but it was sooooo slow. I wanted tto stop reading because it was not going anywhere. However, i needed to know what would happen, because the characters and idea was good. It was torture; i felt like i had to keep reading the book because at som point it had to get better. It did get better, but only at the very end. The end was amazing, crazy good. I just wish the author put more action in the middle of the book. So i liked this book, but it does not deserve more than three stars for being boring. Its confusing; good but boring.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 27, 2013
This book was amazing! I could not have enouth ! Cant wait till the next one!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 12, 2013
Loved it .
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Touched is an intense thrill-ride that you won't want to miss. This novel somehow manages to deal with social issues (extremely abusive/drunk step-father) while incorporating a fantastical element as well (Remy has a healing touch). The result is a surprisingly believable story with well-developed characters and a suspenseful, action-packed plot. I wasn't a huge fan of how the world-building took place. Regardless, I could not put this book down.
Remy was an extremely strong and inspiring character. This is really a story of her beginning to heal. While it was sometimes painful to see things from her perspective, it was extremely effective. I was deeply invested in her survival, and I really connected to and cared about her.
Asher was a bit Edward Cullen-esque at times. However, he wasn't a carbon copy of good ol' glitter pants. He stood on his own well, and I enjoyed getting to know him. He really surprised me in a few parts of the story, and I can't wait to learn more about him.
The other secondary characters were also well-developed, and we got to see a lot of them (which I liked). I really loved Lucy. She's pretty fantastic. I hope we get to see more of her in the future. I also liked Ben and Gabe quite a bit. Overall, the characters in this novel were top notch.
The plot, while at times resembled Twilight, again wasn't a carbon copy. A lot of things were different, but the romance between Asher and Remy started out a lot like Edward and Bella. However, they quickly came into their own identities and things were fine. Also, Remy was never as weak and pansy-like as Bella. Nothing in the novel was really surprising, other than one part that seemed to come out of nowhere. There was no build-up to one revelation ,and I was left sitting there thinking, "where did that come from?" Other than those few issues, though, the plot was action-packed and suspenseful, even if it was not mysterious. I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire story, and I stayed up all night reading this book. The pacing was perfect, and the story flew by. This was definitely a quick read. The ending tied things up nicely, but left some open ends for the sequel. No huge cliffhanger for this book, though, thankfully.
The world-building was done through a journal, and the whole thing was written in italics, which annoyed me. I don't know how it could have been handled better, but surely there was a better way. Maybe Remy could have summed up the stuff she learned. Also, the mind-reading aspect of things (you'll see what I'm talking about when you read it) was done a bit awkwardly. The way it was done seemed like Remy was narrating her life in her head as she went along instead of telling us the story later, though the story was told in past tense. That was kind of awkward.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were amazing, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a few issues that may, in fact, be cleared up before publication, but the issues were minor and did not interfere with the story much at all. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal romance. This is a bit different than your average fare, though you will be reminded of Twilight a bit with the romance. I hate Twilight, and I still liked this book, though. Therefore, I'd recommend it to people who love Twlight and people who don't. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry.
Anonymous
Posted December 21, 2012
This book is my favorite book. When I first finished it I was impressed but what made it my favorite is that even three weeks after I first finished reading it I'm still rereading my favorite parts and there are many. I don't think I have ever bookmarked a book as many time as I did for Touched. With thirteen of my all time favorite scenes whether they be romantic, comical or just plain funny, I love reading them.
The writing style was another major factor as to why this book is my favorite. Corrine Jackson is amazing in her descriptions and how flawlessly she made her story. The characters she creates are flawed which is what makes them amazing. I felt for all the characters, except for the bad guy but I never do. The way she mixes paranormal and realistic conflicts into her book is spectacular and is one of the many reasons I love this book.
The characters are some of the best I've read in a long time. Remy, our main character, has had a challenging home life but that changes when something happens that land her and others in the hospital. When her dad comes along to finally take her away she can't make herself trust him or his new family. With her issues in trust it makes her closed off but that all starts to change once she begins living in Blackwell Falls. Then we have Asher Blackwell and his siblings, who are all gorgeous but seem to be hiding something. While Asher is always surrounded by people he always seems so alone and that catches Remy's eye, however this doesn't mean she has to like it. With the spark of the two characters practically coming off the page I was feeling everything these character were feeling. What makes this couple one of my favorites is that they aren't perfect but together they complete each other. With the secondary characters adding comical relief I loved almost everyone is this book. Also, one of the rare things I found in this book was that they parents had a role in this book, a REAL one, not the ones where their supposedly close but are gone for weeks on end for work. The parents in this story actually have a role to play and I think Jackson unfolds there parts well.
While, some may say that this book resembles Twilight, I didn't see it. Yes, he can read her mind but so what?! This book actually has a real relationship with real problems, unlike Twilight where the characters were so dependent on each other without the other they fall into a several month depression.With all the action, romance, hilarity and all around amazingness this book is a MUST READ!
Favorite Quote(At the moment, since there are so many amazing ones.):
"GO ahead and sleep, mo chridhe. I'll take care of you."
Anonymous
Posted December 13, 2012
I absolutely adored every part of this book! I can't wait for the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while. Just from reading the synopsis I knew that I would love it. The only other book that I have read about a power similar to Remy’s was amazing. I figured there was little that could go wrong with such an awesome power. I was right!
Right from the beginning the book captured my undivided attention. I meant to only read a few pages and I ended up reading about 100 and staying up much later than I wanted to. It started with an attention grabbing scene and it just kept going at a fantastic pace. The story didn’t slow down or become boring at all. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. I loved the idea of the story and the “Healers” and “Protectors”. They were very interesting and very well explained, so that I didn’t feel lost at all.
While I loved the plot, what I loved the most about Touched were the characters. I’ll begin with the main character, Remy. She was a strong person and I admired the fact that even though she had gone through so much, she remained confident and sure of herself. Remy wasn’t weak and did her best to depend solely on herself. She was self assured and I just loved that.
Another character that I just have to talk about is Remy’s half-sister, Lucy. I am (most of the time) adamantly opposed to siblings in books. They’re usually useless and get annoying pretty fast. I see no need for them in most stories. However, in Touched, Lucy worked perfectly. She was awesome and what a great sister she was! Lucy had one of those amazing personalities that you are just drawn to. I immediately liked her as soon as she was introduced to the story. She ended up contributing to the plot and helped moved the story forward. I was very pleased with how she fit in, so props to the author!
Touched centered around Remy and her relationship with the love interest in the story, Asher. He was great. Like Lucy, I liked him right from the beginning. At first when I read about him I wasn’t sure that he would be the love interest as he seemed like a normal, typical guy. This captured my attention, because he didn’t seem over the top at all. As Remy’s relationship with Asher developed, I couldn’t help but love him too. He was absolutely perfect for Remy and I was so happy with how well they went together.
Overall, I loved everything about Touched. There was nothing that I would change and I thought that it was just amazing. I am looking forward to reading the next installments in the trilogy. I’m sure that they’ll be just as great as the first.
Some_Reading_Required
Posted November 27, 2012
*Thanks KTeen for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a honest review*
Wow! Touched had me going through all the emotions. Sadness. I teared up quite a few times during very emotional scenes between Remy and her dad, something which hasn’t occurred since Dobby’s death in Deathly Hallows (RIP I’m still recovering FYI). Hope. When Remy’s finally able to get away from her broken mother and abusive stepfather, I was exhilarated with the new life and other possibilities presented to her. Love. Not only did I slowly fall in love with Asher Blackwell with his sweet charm and protective ways, I quickly fell in love with Remy’s father, stepsister and stepmother. They were warm, caring and strong, the perfect tight-knit family. Suspense! There was always a sense of dread for the horrific obstacles to come. Basically I was very tuned into this story. It was easy to jump in and feel a close connection to Remy and the situations she goes through. Jackson’s writing style is great. She has a way of building the emotions and getting you deeply invested in the story.
I loved Remy the most because she was so real, reputable and strong. Having this unique ability to heal wounds, Remy, although secretly wanting to break free, has always stuck around to make sure that she’s there to heal her mother from whatever Dean, her stepfather, inflicts. Of course, like the premise says, this ability comes with a downside. Everything she heals in turn happens to her; burns, broken ribs, concussions and so much more become her own. Remy is able to eventually heal herself but still, it’s the commitment and sacrifice to protect the ones she loves that truly gets to me. She’d do just about anything to protect her family and friends.
I really enjoyed Touched’s healers vs. protectors story line. I found it to be very original and interesting. Basically there’s a select few with the ability to heal referred to as “healers” and others with other (don’t want to ruin the surprise) abilities making them the “protectors”. We know right off the bat that Remy is a healer and Asher is a protector. It’s pretty much a case of star-crossed lovers between the two because over the decades there has been a lot of warring between healers and protectors.
Here’s where I talk about why I only rated Touched 4 stakes. I hate to be one of those people who make the “Twilight” reference, because honestly most of the time I don’t see said reference(s). However, the correlations were undeniable. Thankfully Remy was no Bella, a character who always bugged me, but there was a lot of Edward-Asher similarities. They both: ran hot and cold, one minute wanting to be friends with the leading lady and the next expressing that they and their equally powerful and ability-ridden family were too dangerous to be around. It was almost the same courtship although Remy didn’t ditch her “normal” friends and Asher didn’t stalk her while she was sleeping (LOL).
The pacing also threw me off a bit. I was definitely invested in the story, enough to want to see it through to the end, however it took me a couple days to finish this one. It was easy to read a chunk here and there and then put it down.
Overall I loved Touched. Even with a minor quip here and there, it was still perfect. Jackson presented a new story with great possibilities. I’m eager to see where it goes in books 2 and 3. I felt like the promised protectors vs. healers story line never got the chance to play out in Touched but I can totally see it being the focus of the books to come. As long as the emotions keep running, the plot stays interesting and the pacing becomes a little more steady, I can totally see myself giving future books 4+ stakes. Remy is one of those characters that you can easily become invested in and I can’t wait to see the obstacles she’s gonna face in the future. After the showdown in Touched, I know she can face anything that comes her way. I look forward to seeing her beat those odds!!
Anonymous
Posted February 22, 2013
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Posted February 23, 2013
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Posted March 3, 2013
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Posted March 13, 2013
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Posted March 20, 2013
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Posted March 19, 2013
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Overview
You'd think being able to heal people with a touch would be a blessing. But to 17-year-old Remy O'Malley, it's more like a curse.
Every injury Remy heals becomes her own. She lives in fear of the day she's forced to mend a wound from which she can't recover--and she's desperate to keep her amazing ability a secret.
Enter Asher Blackwell, a scarred eighteen-year-old ...