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Only By Your Touch
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Anderson takes readers to a quaint wilderness town, where a man and a woman find a second chance at life—and love…
Determined to give her son Jeremy the childhood he deserves, Chloe Evans has left a tough past behind and is starting fresh in the charming resort town of Jack Pine, Oregon. But protecting Jeremy becomes a dicey proposition when he seeks out the most dangerous man in town to heal his sick puppy. Chloe has been warned to stay away from Ben Longtree. But there’s something about the gentle, untamed loner that intrigues her…
Long ago, Ben accepted his role as town outcast. Rumored to have once killed a man, he lives in splendid isolation with his forgetful mother, secretly employing his skills as a veterinarian to heal the wounded animals that mysteriously come to him. Now, Chloe’s sunny warmth and brave tenacity arouse desires he has long denied. And although Ben is notorious for his healing touch, it is Chloe’s hands—and heart—that have the power to save his battered soul.
From the Paperback edition.
Determined to give her son Jeremy the childhood he deserves, Chloe Evans has left a tough past behind and is starting fresh in the charming resort town of Jack Pine, Oregon. But protecting Jeremy becomes a dicey proposition when he seeks out the most dangerous man in town to heal his sick puppy. Chloe has been warned to stay away from Ben Longtree. But there’s something about the gentle, untamed loner that intrigues her…
Long ago, Ben accepted his role as town outcast. Rumored to have once killed a man, he lives in splendid isolation with his forgetful mother, secretly employing his skills as a veterinarian to heal the wounded animals that mysteriously come to him. Now, Chloe’s sunny warmth and brave tenacity arouse desires he has long denied. And although Ben is notorious for his healing touch, it is Chloe’s hands—and heart—that have the power to save his battered soul.
From the Paperback edition.
470 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2002
141 people are currently reading
1848 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Anderson
100 books2,946 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
November 2, 2020
This was a beautifully, sensitized and amazing tale of a town outcast and a traumatized woman. A very slow-burn romance which expresses a relation to any being which can be cherished. This book is going to be automatically liked by animal lovers for the character personality here openly described for his devotion to animals.
Triggers: barbaric injuries done to animals and one brutal descriptive death of an animal.
“It’s always been that way for me with wild things. They just come.”
Looking for a fresh start Chloe Evans and her six-year old son came to one corner of the country where life was very different from her abused past. Of timidity and courage she feared for her sons safety and worried that he won't get a normal life. Adopting a puppy made her son feel happy but that phase didn't last long for the puppy became deadly sick.
Ben Longtree was a surly man who has deep layers and layers of secrets. A half Indian by birth, his father was a drunken, abusive man who verbally and physically abused his mother and him. Ben has a special quality that brings the animals to him and he nurtures and takes cares of their injuries.
“If only we’d met a hundred and fifty years ago, I’d snatch you up, toss you over my horse, and ride off with you into the sunset.”
“I would have been a very uncooperative captive.”
A murder and charged with wrong accusation pushed Ben away to live in a desolate area by himself with his sick mother. He is also a veterinarian who takes cares for all the wild animals that seeks him out when injured. When a little boy comes to him requesting to treat his puppy Ben first rebuked him but "those big brown eyes that appealed to him in a way that defied explanation" and fearing the towns another made up calumniate accusation Ben relented for "there was no love quite so innocent, no devotion quite so absolute as that of a boy for his dog". Chloe doesn't escape the towns rumors and doesn't care about it only wants to stay clear of Ben. When Chloe panicks in search of her son and reaches his home to finds her son slurping a glass of lemonade and Ben treating the puppy she comes across a different side of Ben that the town didn't know. The story then picks up and we find someone is trying to frame Ben by killing/injuring the animals. Chloe suffers the burnt of the psychotic intruder for getting along with Ben. The story is so wonderfully narrated. Chloe's son is such a sweetheart. I enjoyed his moments with both Chloe and Ben. I lived among these characters. Loyal, tenderhearted of loving nature Ben's devotion to the animals makes me want to cry and hug him. The characters were properly evolved.
Catherine Anderson stories takes time and opens little by little. Amongst reading we start feeling for the characters and have happy feels. Only By Your Touch - the title holds a meaning. In this wilderness both Chloe and Ben find second chances with a little bit of comanche magic.
Triggers: barbaric injuries done to animals and one brutal descriptive death of an animal.
“It’s always been that way for me with wild things. They just come.”
Looking for a fresh start Chloe Evans and her six-year old son came to one corner of the country where life was very different from her abused past. Of timidity and courage she feared for her sons safety and worried that he won't get a normal life. Adopting a puppy made her son feel happy but that phase didn't last long for the puppy became deadly sick.
Ben Longtree was a surly man who has deep layers and layers of secrets. A half Indian by birth, his father was a drunken, abusive man who verbally and physically abused his mother and him. Ben has a special quality that brings the animals to him and he nurtures and takes cares of their injuries.
“If only we’d met a hundred and fifty years ago, I’d snatch you up, toss you over my horse, and ride off with you into the sunset.”
“I would have been a very uncooperative captive.”
A murder and charged with wrong accusation pushed Ben away to live in a desolate area by himself with his sick mother. He is also a veterinarian who takes cares for all the wild animals that seeks him out when injured. When a little boy comes to him requesting to treat his puppy Ben first rebuked him but "those big brown eyes that appealed to him in a way that defied explanation" and fearing the towns another made up calumniate accusation Ben relented for "there was no love quite so innocent, no devotion quite so absolute as that of a boy for his dog". Chloe doesn't escape the towns rumors and doesn't care about it only wants to stay clear of Ben. When Chloe panicks in search of her son and reaches his home to finds her son slurping a glass of lemonade and Ben treating the puppy she comes across a different side of Ben that the town didn't know. The story then picks up and we find someone is trying to frame Ben by killing/injuring the animals. Chloe suffers the burnt of the psychotic intruder for getting along with Ben. The story is so wonderfully narrated. Chloe's son is such a sweetheart. I enjoyed his moments with both Chloe and Ben. I lived among these characters. Loyal, tenderhearted of loving nature Ben's devotion to the animals makes me want to cry and hug him. The characters were properly evolved.
Catherine Anderson stories takes time and opens little by little. Amongst reading we start feeling for the characters and have happy feels. Only By Your Touch - the title holds a meaning. In this wilderness both Chloe and Ben find second chances with a little bit of comanche magic.
May 3, 2015
Overall rating: 5 "My Home" stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
HEA:
My review:
This was such a sweet and romantic story, but what else would I expect from a Catherine Anderson read? :)
Chloe Evans and her son Jeremy recently moved to the small town of Jack Pine, Oregon. This was going to be a new start for them after her divorce about year and a half ago. Her husband suffered a major accident over 2 years ago. He suffered from a severe brain injury that actually altered his personality. Someone who used to be the love of her life turned into a monster. She tried to stick it out and maintain their married vows - "in sickness and in health", but when his anger and violence wouldn't end, she feared for not only herself, but the safety of her 6 year old son. Jeremy is just ADORABLE.
Ben Longtree is an outcast in Jack Pine, Oregon. He has always been labeled as "different" due to his Indian Shoshone heritage. He also has a very special gift that causes animals for all breeds and all captivities to seek him out. Ben's father was a serious drunk that verbally and physically abused himself and his mother. So once Ben was able, he left Jack Pine and studied to become a vet. That is where he met and married his ex-wife. She was SO different than him, down to the fact that she was very scientific and didn't believe in healing touches - only modern medicine. When she found out about his special gifts with animals, she cheated on her and left him. He eventually went back home after his father's death to help care for his mother.
It was beautiful to see both of these broken souls finding love again in each other. They had a beautiful relationship once both were able to get over their fears. I loved how they stuck by each other in thick and thin. I loved Ben's interactions with Jeremy especially. I knew he would make such a wonderful father to Jeremy.
I will say that this was definitely a slow burn type of romance and the steam factor was about a 4/10.
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
HEA:
My review:
This was such a sweet and romantic story, but what else would I expect from a Catherine Anderson read? :)
Chloe Evans and her son Jeremy recently moved to the small town of Jack Pine, Oregon. This was going to be a new start for them after her divorce about year and a half ago. Her husband suffered a major accident over 2 years ago. He suffered from a severe brain injury that actually altered his personality. Someone who used to be the love of her life turned into a monster. She tried to stick it out and maintain their married vows - "in sickness and in health", but when his anger and violence wouldn't end, she feared for not only herself, but the safety of her 6 year old son. Jeremy is just ADORABLE.
Ben Longtree is an outcast in Jack Pine, Oregon. He has always been labeled as "different" due to his Indian Shoshone heritage. He also has a very special gift that causes animals for all breeds and all captivities to seek him out. Ben's father was a serious drunk that verbally and physically abused himself and his mother. So once Ben was able, he left Jack Pine and studied to become a vet. That is where he met and married his ex-wife. She was SO different than him, down to the fact that she was very scientific and didn't believe in healing touches - only modern medicine. When she found out about his special gifts with animals, she cheated on her and left him. He eventually went back home after his father's death to help care for his mother.
It was beautiful to see both of these broken souls finding love again in each other. They had a beautiful relationship once both were able to get over their fears. I loved how they stuck by each other in thick and thin. I loved Ben's interactions with Jeremy especially. I knew he would make such a wonderful father to Jeremy.
I will say that this was definitely a slow burn type of romance and the steam factor was about a 4/10.
March 24, 2017
This is such a heartwarming story that it touches and moves you on so many levels. It has a touch of the paranormal, but doesn’t really qualify as a full-blown paranormal. A single mom, with a adorable sickly 6 years old son moves to a small town to escape a traumatizing past, and the town’s misunderstood outcast meet and feel an undeniable pull. It was a classic case of two lost souls gravitating towards each other and forming a sweet and true bond, which really worked for me.
The h is an appealing mix of vulnerability, reserve and an inner toughness honed over a past marriage gone horribly wrong. Her ex, a loving husband and caring father had turned into an uncaring and violent man after a brain injury, turning her normal sane life into an unforeseeable hell. She tries to hang on to her vows but it becomes unbearable when the violence turns on her son, so she divorces him and flees. All her focus now lies on her asthmatic son and providing well for him. She gets a job at the local police dept. but that doesn’t last long because of an obsessive interest shown by a deputy. The failure of the system to believe a woman’s account in such cases was classic.
The H is part Shoshone and a vet who doesn’t practice formally. His ‘gift’ of communicating with animals was part of the appeal of the book. His wolf, Diablo and the cougar, Methuselah and other animals form an integral part of the story. He lives with his alzheimeric mom and menagerie of 'animal patients' in his isolated house up a mountain with vast surrounding forestland. He doesn’t mix well with the community who treat him like pariah, partly because they believe him to be freakishly attuned to animals and also because of a manslaughter charge against him.
The h’s son and the H bond over the treatment of the boy’s sick puppy, and so the h is also pushed into a daily interaction with the H.
I loved the way this couple slowly give in to the mutual attraction. The relationship develops very slowly but is beautiful and fulfilling to behold. Both have traumatic pasts, which hold them back but the h overcomes it sooner than him, but then he had bigger secrets to reveal.
The intrigue/suspense angle is added by the killing/maiming of wild animals by someone who wants to hurt the H on more than one level. The H tries to find out the culprit and at the same time treat and protect these wild animals. All the villainous goings on are tied up at the end, but it was never a big suspense anyways.
Most amazing was the way the author incorporates the H’s grandfather’s Shoshone beliefs and philosophy in explaining life and the difficult choices faced by the h and her son. His drawing an analogy between the soul leaving the h’s husband body after his brain injury and a butterfly leaving its chrysalis was poignant.
My favorite part of the book was the way the H loves and looks after his mom who breezes in and out of her mental fog. I don’t think any other H has ever proved to be a more loving son than him. Also the first vegetarian H I’ve read about.
Things that could have been done better –
The slow moving on of the relationship works initially, but gets to be a drag after ¾th of the book. Maybe a shorter, crisper version would have been even better.
The H should have been more assertive and proactively protected the h. He should have been more worried for her right from the beginning, when she escapes a rape attempt and then those threatening phone calls.It's only later that he gets really involved.
The H is initially shown to be an angry guy with a considerable chip on his shoulder, but is later shown to be a pacifist and realist.
He has a lot of past emotional trauma to deal with and is seen rehashing his past life a lots of time but is never shown to regret the death of another person at his hands.
The h is an appealing mix of vulnerability, reserve and an inner toughness honed over a past marriage gone horribly wrong. Her ex, a loving husband and caring father had turned into an uncaring and violent man after a brain injury, turning her normal sane life into an unforeseeable hell. She tries to hang on to her vows but it becomes unbearable when the violence turns on her son, so she divorces him and flees. All her focus now lies on her asthmatic son and providing well for him. She gets a job at the local police dept. but that doesn’t last long because of an obsessive interest shown by a deputy. The failure of the system to believe a woman’s account in such cases was classic.
The H is part Shoshone and a vet who doesn’t practice formally. His ‘gift’ of communicating with animals was part of the appeal of the book. His wolf, Diablo and the cougar, Methuselah and other animals form an integral part of the story. He lives with his alzheimeric mom and menagerie of 'animal patients' in his isolated house up a mountain with vast surrounding forestland. He doesn’t mix well with the community who treat him like pariah, partly because they believe him to be freakishly attuned to animals and also because of a manslaughter charge against him.
The h’s son and the H bond over the treatment of the boy’s sick puppy, and so the h is also pushed into a daily interaction with the H.
I loved the way this couple slowly give in to the mutual attraction. The relationship develops very slowly but is beautiful and fulfilling to behold. Both have traumatic pasts, which hold them back but the h overcomes it sooner than him, but then he had bigger secrets to reveal.
The intrigue/suspense angle is added by the killing/maiming of wild animals by someone who wants to hurt the H on more than one level. The H tries to find out the culprit and at the same time treat and protect these wild animals. All the villainous goings on are tied up at the end, but it was never a big suspense anyways.
Most amazing was the way the author incorporates the H’s grandfather’s Shoshone beliefs and philosophy in explaining life and the difficult choices faced by the h and her son. His drawing an analogy between the soul leaving the h’s husband body after his brain injury and a butterfly leaving its chrysalis was poignant.
My favorite part of the book was the way the H loves and looks after his mom who breezes in and out of her mental fog. I don’t think any other H has ever proved to be a more loving son than him. Also the first vegetarian H I’ve read about.
Things that could have been done better –
The slow moving on of the relationship works initially, but gets to be a drag after ¾th of the book. Maybe a shorter, crisper version would have been even better.
The H should have been more assertive and proactively protected the h. He should have been more worried for her right from the beginning, when she escapes a rape attempt and then those threatening phone calls.It's only later that he gets really involved.
The H is initially shown to be an angry guy with a considerable chip on his shoulder, but is later shown to be a pacifist and realist.
He has a lot of past emotional trauma to deal with and is seen rehashing his past life a lots of time but is never shown to regret the death of another person at his hands.
March 5, 2022
I'll say right off the bat that I went in expecting this to be bad. Mrs. Giggles called it a self-parody of Anderson's works, one review here said it was loaded with awful cliches, and the Magical Native American trope is outdated and racist.
The hero and the heroine both have tragic pasts, the heroine with her standard broken marriage and abusive husband and the hero with his abusive drunk dad. Jeremy's also a poor little ill boy with asthma, which turns out to be psychological-he developed it after his brain-damaged dad strangled him. Is that even possible? No, really, is it?
Chloe's ex Roger breaks the mold by having been a good man before an accident left him with brain damage, which made him a violent bastard. Chloe stuck with him for five years hoping he'd get better, but when he strangled Jeremy she fled. Eventually mom and son decide to treat Roger like he died in the accident so they can just think about the good times and not the bad. That's...a creative way to deal with it. Ben's Magical Native American Wisdom brought them to that conclusion, of course, but it's creative nonetheless. So props to Anderson for handling the Abusive Ex in a different way this time, even if it's still melodramatic.
This book is...not as hilariously bad as Cherish, but it hits so many Lifetime Movie cliches you could play a drinking game with it. I'm not sure if the treatment of Ben and his mother is racially insensitive or not, but the Magical Native American trope is definitely present. Chloe seems strong, but she's as weak and trembling as a newborn deer and Ben is the quintessential Misunderstood Woobie Hero. The romance is nothing to write home about, the business with Jeremy and poor little sick puppy is melodramatic, Bobby Lee is a shittastic villain and the whole "Chloe can't do anything about Bobby Lee" business is the entire town being force-fed Idiot Casserole. Bobby Lee can join all the other Obviously Evil Anderson Villians in a nice mustache-twirling contest. Fuck him.
It's definitely not one of Anderson's better works.
EDIT 3/5/22: Removed some of the needless ranting.
The hero and the heroine both have tragic pasts, the heroine with her standard broken marriage and abusive husband and the hero with his abusive drunk dad. Jeremy's also a poor little ill boy with asthma, which turns out to be psychological-he developed it after his brain-damaged dad strangled him. Is that even possible? No, really, is it?
Chloe's ex Roger breaks the mold by having been a good man before an accident left him with brain damage, which made him a violent bastard. Chloe stuck with him for five years hoping he'd get better, but when he strangled Jeremy she fled. Eventually mom and son decide to treat Roger like he died in the accident so they can just think about the good times and not the bad. That's...a creative way to deal with it. Ben's Magical Native American Wisdom brought them to that conclusion, of course, but it's creative nonetheless. So props to Anderson for handling the Abusive Ex in a different way this time, even if it's still melodramatic.
This book is...not as hilariously bad as Cherish, but it hits so many Lifetime Movie cliches you could play a drinking game with it. I'm not sure if the treatment of Ben and his mother is racially insensitive or not, but the Magical Native American trope is definitely present. Chloe seems strong, but she's as weak and trembling as a newborn deer and Ben is the quintessential Misunderstood Woobie Hero. The romance is nothing to write home about, the business with Jeremy and poor little sick puppy is melodramatic, Bobby Lee is a shittastic villain and the whole "Chloe can't do anything about Bobby Lee" business is the entire town being force-fed Idiot Casserole. Bobby Lee can join all the other Obviously Evil Anderson Villians in a nice mustache-twirling contest. Fuck him.
It's definitely not one of Anderson's better works.
EDIT 3/5/22: Removed some of the needless ranting.
January 4, 2016
I noticed several of my friends and given positive reviews for this book so I decided to give it a try. Here is my breakdown:
The pros:
* I love the characters - I think animal lovers (like myself) will adore this read
* It had a good balance of suspense
* It didn’t have an insta-love feel to it - the relationship between the hero and heroine was well developed
* Great character development
* Perfect epilogue
The cons:
* Quite over-priced at its current $7.99 price
Overall, this was a very sweet and satisfying romance with just the right balance of suspense. I will definitely check out more of this writers work.
August 4, 2020
A little long and slow at parts but WAY better than I thought it would be. This should be classified as a paranormal romance. Super awesome!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2024
There was a lot that I really liked about this book and some that I found a bit cheesy.
I liked the relationship between Ben and Chloe. He son was pretty cute. I did think the story dragged in several places. I appreciated that Ben cared so much about animals but it did get a bit cheesy.
Overall, it was pretty ok. Not my favorite book by CA, but won't stop me from reading more from her.
I liked the relationship between Ben and Chloe. He son was pretty cute. I did think the story dragged in several places. I appreciated that Ben cared so much about animals but it did get a bit cheesy.
Overall, it was pretty ok. Not my favorite book by CA, but won't stop me from reading more from her.
June 11, 2013
3 - 3.5 stars...I think.
Parts of this I loved, but whilst reading I kept changing my mind about how to rate it. To be honest I'm still a little unsure. Let me try and explain.
The romance was beautifully done, as always. Ben and Chloe were really likeable and their relationship development was sweet and romantic. With Catherine Anderson I expect the love to come before the physical, and truly, she is a master at this. With other authors you can sometimes feel that they have thrown in a bit of conflict, just for the sake of building the sexual tension which, in my opinion, is a waste of words if you can't keep it interesting. What's the point? But with Catherine Anderson it all happens very naturally. I'm enjoying the development and the dialogue so much, that I just fly through the pages and I forget that we haven't even got to the sex yet. This would usually frustrate me, as I say, but Catherine Anderson writes so compellingly, that she tricks me into forgetting!
I loved Jeremy, loved Nan, loved all the animals. Where can I get a wolf?
My reservations about this story probably come down to personal preference.
Firstly, I'm not keen on having God shoved down my throat. I don't object to religion in any way, in fact I used to be a big fan of it. I just don't want to feel like the author is preaching at me from behind her computer. This time it was a little too much.
Secondly, Chloe had some real too-stupid-to-live moments. Why on earth did she go out for dinner with Bobby Lee? I wouldn't have and I am not weary of men in the way that she was.
Lastly, would the Sheriff really be so callous when it comes to the safety of a single woman and child? Perhaps I myself am being naive here, thinking that law men do things by the book regardless of who the perpetrator might be. The UK is very different to the USA, in terms of police, and so maybe I fail to understand the cultural differences between the two, especially if you are talking big city versus small town. Small town is somewhat out of my range of experience. Certainly in the UK, with lots of governing bodies who you can complain to, it would be much harder to get away with that sort of failure to do your duty. I understand the difficulties of making accusations against someone who is trusted by the town, however, to ignore the accusation completely seemed a little bit too unbelievable. The Sheriff seemed like a good man, but that's not something I think a good man would do.
Parts of this I loved, but whilst reading I kept changing my mind about how to rate it. To be honest I'm still a little unsure. Let me try and explain.
The romance was beautifully done, as always. Ben and Chloe were really likeable and their relationship development was sweet and romantic. With Catherine Anderson I expect the love to come before the physical, and truly, she is a master at this. With other authors you can sometimes feel that they have thrown in a bit of conflict, just for the sake of building the sexual tension which, in my opinion, is a waste of words if you can't keep it interesting. What's the point? But with Catherine Anderson it all happens very naturally. I'm enjoying the development and the dialogue so much, that I just fly through the pages and I forget that we haven't even got to the sex yet. This would usually frustrate me, as I say, but Catherine Anderson writes so compellingly, that she tricks me into forgetting!
I loved Jeremy, loved Nan, loved all the animals. Where can I get a wolf?
My reservations about this story probably come down to personal preference.
Firstly, I'm not keen on having God shoved down my throat. I don't object to religion in any way, in fact I used to be a big fan of it. I just don't want to feel like the author is preaching at me from behind her computer. This time it was a little too much.
Secondly, Chloe had some real too-stupid-to-live moments. Why on earth did she go out for dinner with Bobby Lee? I wouldn't have and I am not weary of men in the way that she was.
Lastly, would the Sheriff really be so callous when it comes to the safety of a single woman and child? Perhaps I myself am being naive here, thinking that law men do things by the book regardless of who the perpetrator might be. The UK is very different to the USA, in terms of police, and so maybe I fail to understand the cultural differences between the two, especially if you are talking big city versus small town. Small town is somewhat out of my range of experience. Certainly in the UK, with lots of governing bodies who you can complain to, it would be much harder to get away with that sort of failure to do your duty. I understand the difficulties of making accusations against someone who is trusted by the town, however, to ignore the accusation completely seemed a little bit too unbelievable. The Sheriff seemed like a good man, but that's not something I think a good man would do.
November 1, 2015
This magnificent book literally took my breath away. Ben is one of a kind, and the part of him that has Shoshone blood is a blessing for his mother, Nan, who he has been caring for. His protective instinct also expands to Chloe and her six-year-old son, Jeremy. Ben, a veterinarian, lives on Cinnamon Ridge, land in Oregon that the author knows well. The scenery is lusciously wild. Someone has always been out to get Ben and wants him behind bars to pay him back for what was not of his own doing. Except for the few that really know Ben, the town talks about him and stays clear of him. Chloe, new to Jack Pine, Oregon, has not escaped the rumors. She, Jeremy, and Jeremy's newly acquired sick puppy meet Ben, his mother, and not to be left out, wild animals that Ben tends to. The story takes off like a bullet. There is grave danger due to the revenge one person has against Ben. The cruelty is aimed towards Chloe, and nothing would stop this maniac to include her young son, too. She has no choice but to trust Ben. The love that develops between Chloe and Ben is unlike any other that I have ever read. Needless to say, I highly recommend this bountiful story and know that it is close to Catherine's heart.
February 22, 2017
This was one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read, since I read the book summary I knew I would love it, and my gut is always right.
I loved both Chloe and Ben, and of course Jeremy, and Diablo XD (I'm a wolf biased), the way both people where in love with each other but had their own different reasons to be fearful kinda clench at my heart, specially Ben... His ex wife was a bitch honestly, just cause their is something that you can't explain or file and catalogue doesn't mean he's a freak.
Ben was the sweet kind easy to love kind of hero, and Chloe was the nervous restless single mother, and as I mentioned in other reviews I'm a hard core single parent themed lover so it's a huge bonus for me, and how Ben was children deprived and he and Jeremy instantly clicked, it was one scene I made stupid voices out loud, specially the first hug scene it was so ...*tearing up*
Anyway overall it becomes one of my most favorite books, so *thumps up* ^^
I loved both Chloe and Ben, and of course Jeremy, and Diablo XD (I'm a wolf biased), the way both people where in love with each other but had their own different reasons to be fearful kinda clench at my heart, specially Ben... His ex wife was a bitch honestly, just cause their is something that you can't explain or file and catalogue doesn't mean he's a freak.
Ben was the sweet kind easy to love kind of hero, and Chloe was the nervous restless single mother, and as I mentioned in other reviews I'm a hard core single parent themed lover so it's a huge bonus for me, and how Ben was children deprived and he and Jeremy instantly clicked, it was one scene I made stupid voices out loud, specially the first hug scene it was so ...*tearing up*
Anyway overall it becomes one of my most favorite books, so *thumps up* ^^
July 28, 2024
Entertaining and interesting in some ways, but had an overwhelming amount of problems:
racism, fatphobia, purely dumb behavior, sexual urges in inappropriate situations to the point of being inconsiderate, poorly formatted ebook, irresponsible sex & more
racism, fatphobia, purely dumb behavior, sexual urges in inappropriate situations to the point of being inconsiderate, poorly formatted ebook, irresponsible sex & more
December 10, 2020
4.5
My first Catherine Anderson book didn’t disappoint. This was so beautiful and emotional, and I loved every minute of it! The two main characters had both been through so much, and it was so great seeing them come together and heal each other. I especially loved seeing Ben become a father figure for Jeremy.
My first Catherine Anderson book didn’t disappoint. This was so beautiful and emotional, and I loved every minute of it! The two main characters had both been through so much, and it was so great seeing them come together and heal each other. I especially loved seeing Ben become a father figure for Jeremy.
October 8, 2013
3.25 stars
Catherine Anderson has a gift with her very easy-to-read style of writing. I read a few of her books years ago, remembered liking them and then went onto better things. But that ease of enjoying her characters was something that came back when I started ONLY BY YOUR TOUCH. And it has a strong start.
That said, there is quite a bit going on here. You have a Chloe, a single parent with a child, Jeremy, that has medical issues. She is divorced with baggage that comes back to haunt her. She has just moved to Jack Pine, Oregon, and is trying to make it as a dispatcher in the sheriff's office. Things happen and the good-old-boy system shines through making it difficult for Chloe to continue with her job.
Then there is Ben, a divorcee, who is also a healer/veterinarian. Except the townspeople are leery of him and they don't bring him any patients. So he takes care of the wildlife that lives on his acreage and is, in essence, a recluse. There are also some paranormal elements that eventually come into play.
Then there is Nan, Ben's mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. But very selective Alzheimer's with quite a few lucid moments. Oh, and Ben killed a man once. And he also has a hidden identity. And he is one quarter Shoshone so I had to consider this is a Native American romance since this part of Ben's past was frequently mentioned.
Add into the mix a stalker. A missing person who may be dead. And a very neat and tidied-up last chapter and epilogue.
The strength of this story was the heroine's indomitable spirit. Ben was a beta male who was suspicious of others but Chloe managed to break through that barrier. The downside to this romance was the many plot devices. Too many, and it worked both for and against the storyline. The story was alright but I can't really recommend the book unless you are aware of all the genres involved before you read this romance.
Catherine Anderson has a gift with her very easy-to-read style of writing. I read a few of her books years ago, remembered liking them and then went onto better things. But that ease of enjoying her characters was something that came back when I started ONLY BY YOUR TOUCH. And it has a strong start.
That said, there is quite a bit going on here. You have a Chloe, a single parent with a child, Jeremy, that has medical issues. She is divorced with baggage that comes back to haunt her. She has just moved to Jack Pine, Oregon, and is trying to make it as a dispatcher in the sheriff's office. Things happen and the good-old-boy system shines through making it difficult for Chloe to continue with her job.
Then there is Ben, a divorcee, who is also a healer/veterinarian. Except the townspeople are leery of him and they don't bring him any patients. So he takes care of the wildlife that lives on his acreage and is, in essence, a recluse. There are also some paranormal elements that eventually come into play.
Then there is Nan, Ben's mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. But very selective Alzheimer's with quite a few lucid moments. Oh, and Ben killed a man once. And he also has a hidden identity. And he is one quarter Shoshone so I had to consider this is a Native American romance since this part of Ben's past was frequently mentioned.
Add into the mix a stalker. A missing person who may be dead. And a very neat and tidied-up last chapter and epilogue.
The strength of this story was the heroine's indomitable spirit. Ben was a beta male who was suspicious of others but Chloe managed to break through that barrier. The downside to this romance was the many plot devices. Too many, and it worked both for and against the storyline. The story was alright but I can't really recommend the book unless you are aware of all the genres involved before you read this romance.
March 21, 2008
Once again, a wonderful read from Catherine Anderson. Her books never fail to capture me. She has a wonderful way of exploring characters and emotions, thoroughly engaging the reader. I didn't find this book as thoroughly enthralling and emotional as some of her other books, like Phantom Waltz and Summer Breeze, but I still loved it.
Lots of wonderful dynamics in this book. I loved Ben's character. As an animal lover myself, I loved his compassion for the animals he cared for. I just wanted to give him a big hug sometimes. The romance between him and Chloe is nicely done. There's a slow build-up that makes it more realistic than if they just jumped into bed with each other. I liked that they got to know each other first. They complemented each other well.
There was a minor suspense plot aspect that was a nice addition to the story. It gave the book some kick and some meat. And the reason behind the antagonist's action fit well with the story. But the story was mostly about the characters, their situations, and the romance, as with all Anderson's books. Just a good all around romance.
Lots of wonderful dynamics in this book. I loved Ben's character. As an animal lover myself, I loved his compassion for the animals he cared for. I just wanted to give him a big hug sometimes. The romance between him and Chloe is nicely done. There's a slow build-up that makes it more realistic than if they just jumped into bed with each other. I liked that they got to know each other first. They complemented each other well.
There was a minor suspense plot aspect that was a nice addition to the story. It gave the book some kick and some meat. And the reason behind the antagonist's action fit well with the story. But the story was mostly about the characters, their situations, and the romance, as with all Anderson's books. Just a good all around romance.
October 28, 2015
Wow, okay, let's play count the Anderson tropes.
Brave mama, check.
Marriage that ended badly, check.
Sweet kid who just wants his dear mama to be happy again, check.
Creepy stalker guy after mama, check.
Creepy stalker guy being in a position to do whatever the hell he wants (in this case, because he's the small-town police chief's son and no one believes he'd EVER do a thing like this), check.
Magical (literally!) Native American hero, check.
Hero's magic being of the only-good variety, specifically, used to heal the wounded--check.
Hero's magic incidentally helping with multiple orgasms too, check.
Desperate last-fifty-pages confrontation where all is revealed, stalker is taken permanently out of the picture, and Our Hero is welcomed into the community that for the last 350 pages has shunned him like whoa, check.
To sum up, I have never said "Oh come on, REALLY?!?" to a book out loud this many times.
Brave mama, check.
Marriage that ended badly, check.
Sweet kid who just wants his dear mama to be happy again, check.
Creepy stalker guy after mama, check.
Creepy stalker guy being in a position to do whatever the hell he wants (in this case, because he's the small-town police chief's son and no one believes he'd EVER do a thing like this), check.
Magical (literally!) Native American hero, check.
Hero's magic being of the only-good variety, specifically, used to heal the wounded--check.
Hero's magic incidentally helping with multiple orgasms too, check.
Desperate last-fifty-pages confrontation where all is revealed, stalker is taken permanently out of the picture, and Our Hero is welcomed into the community that for the last 350 pages has shunned him like whoa, check.
To sum up, I have never said "Oh come on, REALLY?!?" to a book out loud this many times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2012
I've read a few of Catherine's books and they are rather formulaic with boy/girl meets boy/girl and falls for them but denies the love because of external conflicts (usually in relation to a dramatic past one or both of them are trying to escape from) - but despite knowing the overall plot of her stories they are usually rather good. Light smut, nothing major, but enough fluff to make you go "awww" and want to be in a nice little relationship - at least whilst reading the story.
This one had a bit of a "sci-fi" twist, not involving aliens but mystic powers from a Native American. It also involved animals, which most of her books do, so that kept me happy as well.
If you are wanting a light easy and quick romance read I'd recommend this book overall - although there are other books of hers I'd recommend more (My Sunshine being my favorite of hers.)
- Jenni
This one had a bit of a "sci-fi" twist, not involving aliens but mystic powers from a Native American. It also involved animals, which most of her books do, so that kept me happy as well.
If you are wanting a light easy and quick romance read I'd recommend this book overall - although there are other books of hers I'd recommend more (My Sunshine being my favorite of hers.)
- Jenni
January 7, 2019
It was a decent book easy to read. The heroine, the hero, and their relationship were all good enough. But I couldn't enjoy the book as much as I should.
For one, I don't like stories which His intention may have been good, but he still took advantage of her, and it's unacceptable.
I also don't agree with some of the values of this book. With some books, it doesn't bother me much. With others, it does a lot. And this book was leaning toward the latter.
For one, I don't like stories which His intention may have been good, but he still took advantage of her, and it's unacceptable.
I also don't agree with some of the values of this book. With some books, it doesn't bother me much. With others, it does a lot. And this book was leaning toward the latter.
June 27, 2025
oh my goshhh guys this book is so good
catherine anderson NEVER disappoints wow.
the plot was so good ml was so sweeeet i love him so much fml is so sweet as well the last few chapters made me lover her so much. jeremy is absolutely adorable !
i also love love love her books bc the 🫣scenes are little like a lot of the time books try to force the 🫣 scenes and it’s not nice but her books have the perfect balance. only by your touch is definitely something you’d expect to have lots of smut but it was quite tame ! YAY
April 1, 2021
I loved all the animals and that touch of magic.
May 26, 2015
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Only by Your Touch is a little different than Catherine Anderson's other books I've read to date, because it contains a touch of the paranormal. I'd probably be more inclined to call it magical realism though, because it melds seamlessly into the real world setting of the story and is accepted by those closest to the hero, namely the heroine and his mother. Others, however, tend to view him, at best, as a rather odd duck, and at worst, they're so afraid of him as to spread vicious rumors. I loved this part of the story and found Ben's gift for healing to be very unique and appealing. I can't recall ever reading about a character who has this type of ability, and most especially not in a story that isn't firmly rooted in the paranormal sub-genre. On the flip side, Ms. Anderson is known for often adding a little suspense to her stories and this was one of them. One of the deputies from the sheriff's office where Chloe initially works begins harassing her, and it eventually gets more and more intense. At the same time, someone is shooting innocent wild animals on Ben's land. I considered the suspense to be lighter in that this part of the story is more predictable than most full-fledged romantic suspense novels. It's fairly obvious early on who the antagonist is going to be and that never changes. The only mystery left to unravel is why he's doing it. Even that gradually becomes pretty easy to discern, so there were no real surprises there for me. All in all though, Only by Your Touch was a very enjoyable read.
I can never seem to resist a sexy Native American hero, so I adored Ben in more ways than one. He's only ¼ Shoshone, but he looks full-blooded except for his blue eyes, and he fully embraces his Native American heritage. Part of that heritage includes the mystical healing ability that he inherited from his medicine man ancestor. Not only can he heal both humans and animals, but he also has a gift with animals. In fact, he's a regular Dr. Doolittle. The animals come to him when they're hurt or in pain and he can communicate with them on some level. The most vicious wild animals become tame as pussy cats when he's around, and they often come back to visit him after he's healed them. Ben hasn't always embraced his gift though. Harsh events from his past made him abandon the use of it for a long time, but he chose to become a veterinarian so that he wouldn't entirely be abandoning the animals. People simply don't understand his gift, so they make up wild stories about him being a witch and a murderer. He's also dealing with the fall-out of an abusive father who made his childhood miserable and an ex-wife who didn't understand him and was frightened of his ability. Because of these things, Ben doesn't trust people easily and is very much a loner, but at the same time, he's very lonely with only an ailing mother with dementia to keep him company in his big rambling house high up on the ridge. That all changes the day a desperate little boy brings his sick puppy to Ben asking for help, closely followed by his frantic mom, who Ben is more attracted to than any woman he's ever met. Despite never having any children, he's great with little Jeremy. He's an amazing son too, taking wonderful care of his sick mother. Best of all, he's very sweet with Chloe and protective of her. There's an underlying kindness and gentleness about him that is nothing like what most of the townspeople believe about him.
Chloe has her own share of bad experiences in the past. Like many of Catherine Anderson's heroines, she has experienced abuse, in her case, at the hands of her ex-husband. However, the circumstances of that abuse are pretty unique. Because of that, it took a lot of strength and fortitude on her part to leave a man she still cared about, but who was no longer the man with whom she'd fallen love. I think she did the right thing for both herself and her son though, and Chloe is an awesome mother. She works hard to make a living but still finds time to spend with Jeremy. She would also protect him with her life. She's still pretty skittish around men, so when she has to go retrieve her son from Ben's house and sees not only how big Ben is, but also the menagerie of animals surrounding him, including a mountain lion and a wolf he keeps as pets, she's understandably frightened, but still showed an admirable amount of backbone. From the beginning though, Ben intrigues her and stirs her desires, so I was glad to see that it didn't take long for her to recognize him for the good man that he was and stop believing the town gossip. Chloe also becomes equally as enthralled by all the animals as Jeremy is, which is something Ben has been missing in a partner. The only thing that gave me pause about Chloe is my frustration over what I felt were some poor decisions she made concerning Bobby Lee's behavior. I had a feeling they'd come back to bite her and they definitely did. I'll stop short of calling it TSTL, but several of her choices did seem rather foolish at the time. I realize though, that sometimes when a person is in that stressful of a situation, it can be difficult to think straight. She was also having trouble trusting Ben because he wasn't yet trusting her, but I can't help thinking that if she'd told Ben what was going on sooner, he might have been able to take better precautions to protect her. Given the good-ol'-boy's club that the sheriff's office seemed to be and the fact that Bobby Lee had it in for Ben, I suppose he probably would have found some other way to stir up trouble anyway, so I'm mostly giving Chloe a pass. It's certainly not her fault that a man chose to assault her, but I did still think she should have pressed charges right from the start. Of course, then there wouldn't have been much of a story.:-) I also have to admit that I really liked the way Chloe came into her own and stood up for herself (and Ben) in the end.
It's obvious right from the start that Ben and Chloe are quite attracted to one another, but they both play it very close to the vest for quite a while. Even after they kiss for the first time, they still hold back a lot. There is one scene where they share an extremely passionate kiss that seems like it's going to turn into a whole lot more and Chloe is totally into it. Then Ben pulls back, thinking he's pushing her too fast, but rather than saying that she's into it and wants it, Chloe completely shuts down. I know she was a little hurt by him stopping, but when couples don't communicate like this, it makes me more than a little frustrated. IMHO, they held back both their feelings and their trust a little too long, which led to some difficulties that could have been avoided. For me, trust is everything in a romantic relationship, so them having trust issues was very difficult to read. When they do finally get there and start opening up to each other, especially Ben, it was a very beautiful thing. It was also easier for me to forgive at that point, because it made more sense, but in the moment, it could be rather aggravating.
Aside from those moments when a solution to a problem seemed obvious and wasn't being pursued or the times when Ben and Chloe were refusing to open up to one another, which were the only reasons I knocked off the half star, I really enjoyed Only by Your Touch. Ben and Chloe were a perfect match and were really good for one another. Chloe's little son, Jeremy was as cute as a button and behaves very age-appropriately. Like his mom, he doesn't trust men easily, but with Ben it's different. He really looks up to the man and was very brave to approach Ben about caring for his puppy. As an animal lover, my favorite part of the story was the animals. Methuselah was just a huge kitty cat, and Diablo was admirably protective of Ben and those he loved. Then there were all the wild animals Ben was trying to heal of their wounds. Each and every one of them was a joy to read. I don't think I've read a book with this many animal characters in a long while, if ever, so that was a real treat. Ben's healing ability truly was an amazing gift and very easy to accept as being possible. I would certainly recommend Only by Your Touch to anyone who likes small-town contemporaries, Native American themes, animals, or a touch of magic in their romance reading.
"4.5 stars" Only by Your Touch is a little different than Catherine Anderson's other books I've read to date, because it contains a touch of the paranormal. I'd probably be more inclined to call it magical realism though, because it melds seamlessly into the real world setting of the story and is accepted by those closest to the hero, namely the heroine and his mother. Others, however, tend to view him, at best, as a rather odd duck, and at worst, they're so afraid of him as to spread vicious rumors. I loved this part of the story and found Ben's gift for healing to be very unique and appealing. I can't recall ever reading about a character who has this type of ability, and most especially not in a story that isn't firmly rooted in the paranormal sub-genre. On the flip side, Ms. Anderson is known for often adding a little suspense to her stories and this was one of them. One of the deputies from the sheriff's office where Chloe initially works begins harassing her, and it eventually gets more and more intense. At the same time, someone is shooting innocent wild animals on Ben's land. I considered the suspense to be lighter in that this part of the story is more predictable than most full-fledged romantic suspense novels. It's fairly obvious early on who the antagonist is going to be and that never changes. The only mystery left to unravel is why he's doing it. Even that gradually becomes pretty easy to discern, so there were no real surprises there for me. All in all though, Only by Your Touch was a very enjoyable read.
I can never seem to resist a sexy Native American hero, so I adored Ben in more ways than one. He's only ¼ Shoshone, but he looks full-blooded except for his blue eyes, and he fully embraces his Native American heritage. Part of that heritage includes the mystical healing ability that he inherited from his medicine man ancestor. Not only can he heal both humans and animals, but he also has a gift with animals. In fact, he's a regular Dr. Doolittle. The animals come to him when they're hurt or in pain and he can communicate with them on some level. The most vicious wild animals become tame as pussy cats when he's around, and they often come back to visit him after he's healed them. Ben hasn't always embraced his gift though. Harsh events from his past made him abandon the use of it for a long time, but he chose to become a veterinarian so that he wouldn't entirely be abandoning the animals. People simply don't understand his gift, so they make up wild stories about him being a witch and a murderer. He's also dealing with the fall-out of an abusive father who made his childhood miserable and an ex-wife who didn't understand him and was frightened of his ability. Because of these things, Ben doesn't trust people easily and is very much a loner, but at the same time, he's very lonely with only an ailing mother with dementia to keep him company in his big rambling house high up on the ridge. That all changes the day a desperate little boy brings his sick puppy to Ben asking for help, closely followed by his frantic mom, who Ben is more attracted to than any woman he's ever met. Despite never having any children, he's great with little Jeremy. He's an amazing son too, taking wonderful care of his sick mother. Best of all, he's very sweet with Chloe and protective of her. There's an underlying kindness and gentleness about him that is nothing like what most of the townspeople believe about him.
Chloe has her own share of bad experiences in the past. Like many of Catherine Anderson's heroines, she has experienced abuse, in her case, at the hands of her ex-husband. However, the circumstances of that abuse are pretty unique. Because of that, it took a lot of strength and fortitude on her part to leave a man she still cared about, but who was no longer the man with whom she'd fallen love. I think she did the right thing for both herself and her son though, and Chloe is an awesome mother. She works hard to make a living but still finds time to spend with Jeremy. She would also protect him with her life. She's still pretty skittish around men, so when she has to go retrieve her son from Ben's house and sees not only how big Ben is, but also the menagerie of animals surrounding him, including a mountain lion and a wolf he keeps as pets, she's understandably frightened, but still showed an admirable amount of backbone. From the beginning though, Ben intrigues her and stirs her desires, so I was glad to see that it didn't take long for her to recognize him for the good man that he was and stop believing the town gossip. Chloe also becomes equally as enthralled by all the animals as Jeremy is, which is something Ben has been missing in a partner. The only thing that gave me pause about Chloe is my frustration over what I felt were some poor decisions she made concerning Bobby Lee's behavior. I had a feeling they'd come back to bite her and they definitely did. I'll stop short of calling it TSTL, but several of her choices did seem rather foolish at the time. I realize though, that sometimes when a person is in that stressful of a situation, it can be difficult to think straight. She was also having trouble trusting Ben because he wasn't yet trusting her, but I can't help thinking that if she'd told Ben what was going on sooner, he might have been able to take better precautions to protect her. Given the good-ol'-boy's club that the sheriff's office seemed to be and the fact that Bobby Lee had it in for Ben, I suppose he probably would have found some other way to stir up trouble anyway, so I'm mostly giving Chloe a pass. It's certainly not her fault that a man chose to assault her, but I did still think she should have pressed charges right from the start. Of course, then there wouldn't have been much of a story.:-) I also have to admit that I really liked the way Chloe came into her own and stood up for herself (and Ben) in the end.
It's obvious right from the start that Ben and Chloe are quite attracted to one another, but they both play it very close to the vest for quite a while. Even after they kiss for the first time, they still hold back a lot. There is one scene where they share an extremely passionate kiss that seems like it's going to turn into a whole lot more and Chloe is totally into it. Then Ben pulls back, thinking he's pushing her too fast, but rather than saying that she's into it and wants it, Chloe completely shuts down. I know she was a little hurt by him stopping, but when couples don't communicate like this, it makes me more than a little frustrated. IMHO, they held back both their feelings and their trust a little too long, which led to some difficulties that could have been avoided. For me, trust is everything in a romantic relationship, so them having trust issues was very difficult to read. When they do finally get there and start opening up to each other, especially Ben, it was a very beautiful thing. It was also easier for me to forgive at that point, because it made more sense, but in the moment, it could be rather aggravating.
Aside from those moments when a solution to a problem seemed obvious and wasn't being pursued or the times when Ben and Chloe were refusing to open up to one another, which were the only reasons I knocked off the half star, I really enjoyed Only by Your Touch. Ben and Chloe were a perfect match and were really good for one another. Chloe's little son, Jeremy was as cute as a button and behaves very age-appropriately. Like his mom, he doesn't trust men easily, but with Ben it's different. He really looks up to the man and was very brave to approach Ben about caring for his puppy. As an animal lover, my favorite part of the story was the animals. Methuselah was just a huge kitty cat, and Diablo was admirably protective of Ben and those he loved. Then there were all the wild animals Ben was trying to heal of their wounds. Each and every one of them was a joy to read. I don't think I've read a book with this many animal characters in a long while, if ever, so that was a real treat. Ben's healing ability truly was an amazing gift and very easy to accept as being possible. I would certainly recommend Only by Your Touch to anyone who likes small-town contemporaries, Native American themes, animals, or a touch of magic in their romance reading.
June 1, 2009
Everyone wishes they could have a fresh start in life. Chloe is a single mother with a son named Jeremy moves to a small town called Jake Pine in Oregon. There she hopes to get away from the dark past along with her ex-husband. Chloe wants to raise her son in a good enviromet, but when she gets word that there's a strange Antive Amerian who goes by Ben living aroung town, she gets nervous. Rumor has it that he was a vet and can treat and even cure any animal that strangly appears in front of his door step. When Jeremy's new puppy get very sick, he goes to see Ben to het his pup treated. Chloe finds out where her son went from the babysitter and goes to pay Ben a visit herself. At first, she was scared because there was not only a wolf by her son but also a mountain lion. Ben assured her that they're harmless and that it's safe to have her son around them. Soon she decides that it would be for the best for the sick pup to stay, she agrees. However, Ben didn't want any money, he wanted her to promise not to tell anyone about the mountain lion. And that instead of paying with money, she help him with cleaning the cages until the pup got better. He was right to tell her not to say anything to anyone, because one of the guys she works with has an old grudge to settle with Ben, but just what is it? Why is this man so determined to have Ben go to jail? And why is he starting to hit on Chloe when he knows she's not intested? As the days go by, Chloe gets more used to being around Ben and the animals, even the wolf and mountain lion. Even Ben gets close to her and her son who is now dressing up like the Native American. One day he asks Chloe to have lunch with him, and he shows up in front of ther doorstep with a haircut and a new set of clothes. As these two get closer, someone is shooting animals around Ben's place and sralking Chloe whenever she's alone. She knows who's stalking her but everytime she calls the police, they make up some excuse saying its not against the law for an officer to check up on citizens in town. Well what about when they try to break ino one's home and threaten the wellbeing of their son? Thank god Ben showed up and convinced her to move in with him for her own safety taking along Jeremy. That's one problem sovled, but what about when she has to go to work and the strange shooter? He's still out there.
I thought this book was so amzing. Everytime someone's talking or thinking, I feel like I was them. There's so many emotions in here and has so many themes. Betrayal, Hate, Love, and Sorrow. A very heart- filled story.
I recomand this book to whoever likes a good ol' Romance novel and suspence thrown in.
I thought this book was so amzing. Everytime someone's talking or thinking, I feel like I was them. There's so many emotions in here and has so many themes. Betrayal, Hate, Love, and Sorrow. A very heart- filled story.
I recomand this book to whoever likes a good ol' Romance novel and suspence thrown in.
January 10, 2015
I have come to expect just so much when reading Catherine Anderson and I now realize I set too high of expectations; this book fell flat of all of them.
Chloe is a young woman with a little boy, Jeremy, who has just gotten a divorce after her husband suffered an accident which resulted in him having abusive tendencies. (Already, this aspect of the story felt strange—an accident creating a change in personality—but I persevered!) Chloe and Jeremy move to a small town and for reasons never fully explained to the reader she is on the run, presumably to escape her ex-husband (a part of the story which I thought would play a bigger part and actually doesn't have any impact in the plot). One of the first days in her new town she meets Ben, a social outcast who is a veterinarian and rumored to be doing illegal things on his property. When Jeremy's puppy gets sick and they cannot pay for its medical expenses, Jeremy decides to take his puppy to Ben's house to beg him to care for the puppy. Ben does, and decides that Chloe can pay back the vet fees by working around his property. The more time Ben and Chloe spend together, the more attracted they are to each other, but with both having been burned in past relationships, they are both reluctant to begin something. With the storyline including a side of suspense and magical realism, the story felt like it was pulled in too many directions to really do it justice.
I usually love magical realism and liked that it was added to this plot but felt it could have been done better. I love Ben's way with the animals and Ben as a character but wish so much emphasis wasn't placed on him being ¼ Native American as it seemed that his whole personality/character was explained just on his ethnicity. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, I just had too high of expectations and it didn't meet them. 2-3 stars for me.
Chloe is a young woman with a little boy, Jeremy, who has just gotten a divorce after her husband suffered an accident which resulted in him having abusive tendencies. (Already, this aspect of the story felt strange—an accident creating a change in personality—but I persevered!) Chloe and Jeremy move to a small town and for reasons never fully explained to the reader she is on the run, presumably to escape her ex-husband (a part of the story which I thought would play a bigger part and actually doesn't have any impact in the plot). One of the first days in her new town she meets Ben, a social outcast who is a veterinarian and rumored to be doing illegal things on his property. When Jeremy's puppy gets sick and they cannot pay for its medical expenses, Jeremy decides to take his puppy to Ben's house to beg him to care for the puppy. Ben does, and decides that Chloe can pay back the vet fees by working around his property. The more time Ben and Chloe spend together, the more attracted they are to each other, but with both having been burned in past relationships, they are both reluctant to begin something. With the storyline including a side of suspense and magical realism, the story felt like it was pulled in too many directions to really do it justice.
I usually love magical realism and liked that it was added to this plot but felt it could have been done better. I love Ben's way with the animals and Ben as a character but wish so much emphasis wasn't placed on him being ¼ Native American as it seemed that his whole personality/character was explained just on his ethnicity. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, I just had too high of expectations and it didn't meet them. 2-3 stars for me.
March 9, 2014
I found this book deeply troubling. Dark heroes are becoming popular these days, and we're more willing than before to forgive past transgressions, even murder under certain circumstances. But there's got to be a line and I'm afraid that this book crossed it. Ben killed a guy. The death was an accident, but he hit the man hard enough to kill him. He got angry, hit him, and killed him. It wasn't self-defense. It wasn't a freak accident. He HIT him in ANGER hard enough to KILL him. Then he got a high-priced lawyer to get him off on a technicality.
And now he doesn't want anyone to know he's a popular children's book writer under a pen name because if people found out he'd killed someone, they might not want their kids to read his books. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that but basically... yeah.
This book has astonishingly high reviews and I'm blanking on it. I love many of Catherine Anderson's books but I don't know what she was thinking here. Ben heals animals with his native american medicine man gift -- I could have really gotten behind that if it hadn't been for the fact that he killed a guy.
What makes this okay? I'm writing a book with a man who has killed before and it has left a dark stain on his soul and the heavy burden of guilt -- and most of the time he had no choice. Killers need reasons or redemption. Without one or the other (and maybe both), it's not okay.
And now he doesn't want anyone to know he's a popular children's book writer under a pen name because if people found out he'd killed someone, they might not want their kids to read his books. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that but basically... yeah.
This book has astonishingly high reviews and I'm blanking on it. I love many of Catherine Anderson's books but I don't know what she was thinking here. Ben heals animals with his native american medicine man gift -- I could have really gotten behind that if it hadn't been for the fact that he killed a guy.
What makes this okay? I'm writing a book with a man who has killed before and it has left a dark stain on his soul and the heavy burden of guilt -- and most of the time he had no choice. Killers need reasons or redemption. Without one or the other (and maybe both), it's not okay.
August 30, 2016
Chloe was a nervous single mother and Ben was a sweet character. He had a tragic past and did not trust easily. The romance bloomed slowly between them. Having Shoshone blood in him, he has some psychic power in him to heal animals. The wild animals come to him when they are wounded. It was an OK read for me as it had many clichés.
November 17, 2021
In love
Oh this book!! It’s my most favorite book from this author. I loved everything about it. The characters, the suspense, the ending! 🥰
This story is so touching. I laughed, cried, got mad, and was so happy. Catherine never fails to leave a mark with her stories. 😭❤️
Oh this book!! It’s my most favorite book from this author. I loved everything about it. The characters, the suspense, the ending! 🥰
This story is so touching. I laughed, cried, got mad, and was so happy. Catherine never fails to leave a mark with her stories. 😭❤️
July 7, 2010
Ben's explanation of why the father has changed is beyond words. How Ms. Anderson continuously manages to rip my heart out and I let her is anyone's guess. A beautiful story more so due to the relationship between man and boy than the romantic storyline.
February 2, 2012
Being a fan of Katherine Anderson, I thought this would be another good read. Not so much. I know it is fiction, but a man who can keep wild animals as pets and who can cure thier ills simply by his touch is just a little far fetched. I finished the book, but it was not one of my favorites.
March 6, 2016
Plutôt 3,5/5.
Ahhhhh le plaisir de retrouver les vieux Amour & Destin ! Il va falloir que j'essaye d'en retrouver des bons dans mes cartons !
Néanmoins, j'ai trouvé que le héros manquait un peu de punch, pas assez nerveux, mais l'ensemble est très agréable à lire.
Ahhhhh le plaisir de retrouver les vieux Amour & Destin ! Il va falloir que j'essaye d'en retrouver des bons dans mes cartons !
Néanmoins, j'ai trouvé que le héros manquait un peu de punch, pas assez nerveux, mais l'ensemble est très agréable à lire.
February 9, 2008
One of my favorite's so far. Just the story is sweet and rememberable. Some people do have a gift when it comes to animals and so it was not surprising that C.A> uses this premise for this story.
August 8, 2019
Another wonderful book from Catherine! Loved the characters and the plot. Simply beautiful and wonderful.
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