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Leila Marx #1
Touching Evil
With one touch, Leila can see it all.
Leila Marx is trying to put her life back together after her fiancé is murdered. When Detective Garrick Pearson enlists her help with a difficult case, she is thankful for the distraction and the opportunity to use her talents as a touch clairvoyant. Leila and Garrick delve into the mystery behind a series of missing teenage girls and mummified corpses while discovering their own growing attraction to each other.
Conner Hoffman is an intriguing lawyer and striking half-demon who enters Leila’s life unexpectedly. Although her visions are terrifying, she is fascinated by his charm and his legacy. When it becomes evident that the murders are linked to a paranormal event, Conner introduces Leila to a world unbeknownst to ordinary society. She suddenly finds herself immersed in supernatural politics, sorcery, and danger as she becomes the killer’s next target.
Staying alive will mean relying on friends, accepting the unbelievable, and trusting in her heart again.
Leila Marx is trying to put her life back together after her fiancé is murdered. When Detective Garrick Pearson enlists her help with a difficult case, she is thankful for the distraction and the opportunity to use her talents as a touch clairvoyant. Leila and Garrick delve into the mystery behind a series of missing teenage girls and mummified corpses while discovering their own growing attraction to each other.
Conner Hoffman is an intriguing lawyer and striking half-demon who enters Leila’s life unexpectedly. Although her visions are terrifying, she is fascinated by his charm and his legacy. When it becomes evident that the murders are linked to a paranormal event, Conner introduces Leila to a world unbeknownst to ordinary society. She suddenly finds herself immersed in supernatural politics, sorcery, and danger as she becomes the killer’s next target.
Staying alive will mean relying on friends, accepting the unbelievable, and trusting in her heart again.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
31 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Amber Garr
33 books450 followersAmber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is an award-winning author who, when not obsessing over the unknown, can be found reading or enjoying a good movie.
Learn more about Amber Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
Learn more about Amber Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 26, 2014
Given the high rating for this, and the number of awards mentioned for the author, I'm afraid I'm not able to resist getting a bit of fun out of Touching Evil. I picked it up when I was feeling really rotten, needing something light and fluffy rather than the good and maybe a bit heavy I had on hand.
A lot can be put down to the serious number of typos, grammatical errors and even vocabulary goofs, which went over my crankiness-producing threshold very quickly. A rather forced love-triangle didn't help much, and in ways this seemed to have every aspect of urban fantasy I don't like, while undercutting the ones I do. I mean, really - a touch clairvoyant helping the police while finding a group of supernatural beings in Baltimore should be fun, right?
A few bookmarked lines:
- We both wore jeans with black heels, but where my simple top and sweater was tasteful, hers was anything but. Being so tight and low-cut, I was surprised Ben let her out of the house. [Just how a husband should be.]
- His laugh consumed the room and I was surprised to find a smile on my face as I opened the refrigerator. [Happy not everything in the room had been gobbled up?]
- My world had changed as abruptly as it had the night Russ was killed. Everything I'd grown accustomed to and graciously accepted was torn away. [Miss Manners approved reality-acceptance FTW]
- [Heroine has been kidnapped, beaten up, badly hurt and is pretty definitely going to be killed.] While trying to disregard my physical pain I focused on my mental suffering. [Furthermore, her knee has actually been broken in not one, but three places, and yet she feels "profound satisfaction" at the thought that one of her tormentors has to wait for her when she goes up the stairs taking "each step two feet at a time"]
- [..] and when I realized that the different colored cloaks were delineating males from females, I finally understood the distinction between witches and sorcerers. Gender. [Oh, Leila.]
I really hated the fact that Leila didn't make anything of Conner's self-confessed ability to "sense what someone's desires or fears are" - an ability that exists to allow incubi "to seduce a human more effectively". She just hops straight to the assumption that he can smell her emotions like the werewolf, which seems fine and dandy with her. I find that a lot creepier than dog-like, myself, but this may only indicate my total lack of fitness for an UF love-triangle.
A lot can be put down to the serious number of typos, grammatical errors and even vocabulary goofs, which went over my crankiness-producing threshold very quickly. A rather forced love-triangle didn't help much, and in ways this seemed to have every aspect of urban fantasy I don't like, while undercutting the ones I do. I mean, really - a touch clairvoyant helping the police while finding a group of supernatural beings in Baltimore should be fun, right?
A few bookmarked lines:
- We both wore jeans with black heels, but where my simple top and sweater was tasteful, hers was anything but. Being so tight and low-cut, I was surprised Ben let her out of the house. [Just how a husband should be.]
- His laugh consumed the room and I was surprised to find a smile on my face as I opened the refrigerator. [Happy not everything in the room had been gobbled up?]
- My world had changed as abruptly as it had the night Russ was killed. Everything I'd grown accustomed to and graciously accepted was torn away. [Miss Manners approved reality-acceptance FTW]
- [Heroine has been kidnapped, beaten up, badly hurt and is pretty definitely going to be killed.] While trying to disregard my physical pain I focused on my mental suffering. [Furthermore, her knee has actually been broken in not one, but three places, and yet she feels "profound satisfaction" at the thought that one of her tormentors has to wait for her when she goes up the stairs taking "each step two feet at a time"]
- [..] and when I realized that the different colored cloaks were delineating males from females, I finally understood the distinction between witches and sorcerers. Gender. [Oh, Leila.]
I really hated the fact that Leila didn't make anything of Conner's self-confessed ability to "sense what someone's desires or fears are" - an ability that exists to allow incubi "to seduce a human more effectively". She just hops straight to the assumption that he can smell her emotions like the werewolf, which seems fine and dandy with her. I find that a lot creepier than dog-like, myself, but this may only indicate my total lack of fitness for an UF love-triangle.
September 5, 2013
***UPDATE: Love the new cover!***
***I've received this book from the author through the GoodReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. ***
I would first like to start off by saying that I enjoy reading. However, I was never one to enjoy reading a book when I felt as if it were a job to do so. So, with that being said, I felt obligated to read this book so that I could review it, and to me that made it feel like homework. Therefore, it took longer than it should have to actually settle down and read this novel.
And, despite the low rating, I did enjoy the book. It's just the things that I didn't enjoy were too overwhelming.
Touching Evil by Amber Garr is a story about a young woman named Leila Marx who is a touch clairvoyant, meaning she can see things about you by touching you or an object of yours. Her husband has been murdered and she is now on the road to recovery almost a year later. Her road to recovery consist of working with Detective Garrick and getting involved in an underground supernatural fighting force (I haven't a clue what to call this little group).
WHAT I ENJOYED:
I love the supporting characters that Amber has created in this book. The fairy was just so awesome and I wish there was more of him in the book. I liked the werewolf as well and like the relationship he's developed with Leila. The contrast between the vampire and his medium girlfriend was adorable. Leila's BFF, whose name is escaping me right now,reminded me so much of Ashley Greene's character Alice in the Twilight movies - not so much the flirting. I couldn't help but picture her when reading the parts that involved her.
I liked the way Leila was in her relationship with Detective Garrick, how he would be nervous when talking with her and she would be sort of childish when messing with him, and they were both just so giddy around each other. It was so cute! They became teenagers all over again.
I liked the fact that the book incorporated both Leila's "normal life and supernatural life and showing how they are slowly leaking into one another.
WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY:
Although I enjoyed the fact that the book spoke of both Leila's regular and supernatural life, I did not think it was balanced right. The whole beginning of the book was of her personal life and her being a touch clairvoyant. When it finally got to the supernatural part of her life, the book was more than halfway over.
I remember noting that my interest didn't peak until like page 120, give or take a few pages. The beginning was so slow. I knew about Leila and Garrick, but not much about Leila and Conner. The story led up to but I don't feel as if I really knew Conner enough to care about this "dun dun dun!" moment.
The whole supernatural underground fighting force was eye-rolling. I believe that their only purpose was to move the story in the direction that Garr wanted her story to move in and for her to be able to place any explainable/unrealistic happenings on the many supernaturals she created. They were placed for convenience and and there were too many of them all at once. If this is a series, I feel as if they could have been introduced throughout the series. For example, as much as I love the fairy, what was his point besides being witty and very comfortable in booty shorts and leather, and owning the porn shop that hosted the secret meetings? Why did we have to meet the sorcerer when he had no significance at all to the story? What was the point of Terez? Because her presence only annoyed the crap out of me. She was Leila's mentor but did nothing fascinating. It was like, instead of the secret academy for "gifted students" in YA novels, Leila was given someone who just so happened to have all the powers and knows how to control them. I truly dislike her. Grrr.
I once read some advice from an author who said when you're writing dialogue between two characters, don't stray away from he said/she said or using their names. Don't write: The little man raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you," asked Joe. This can confuse the reader into thinking that the little man and Joe are two different people. With that in mind, Garr does this A LOT. Like, a lot, a lot. I don't know if she thought Leila was being clever or she just thought that we as readers wouldn't be able to remember the names of her characters (since there were a lot of them). Too many times did I read Leila referring to what the fairy/vampire/medium/cambion were doing, instead of just referring to them by their damn names. It wasn't confusing for me but it sure as hell was annoying. We know what they are, who they are, and what they do. I don't need Leila Marx reminding me EVERY interaction what they are.
I also believe that Amber Garr has a habit, an a bad one if you ask me, of telling and not showing. I didn't notice this until the ending pages and there were two major incidents that happened that I believe to be very important to the story. The first was when Instead of showing us the interaction of Leila being questioned and how she and the cops react to the story, Garr tells us what the story is. We see no signs of skepticism or nervousness. The second time this happens is when But we don't get dialogue of this conversation. Instead, we get a brief summary of what Leila told Garrick, followed by his reaction.Because they were omitted, I feel as if the ending was rushed.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars (2.5, but I rounded up) instead of any other amount is because it's a good story, but had potential to be so much better. The majority of my dislikes were issues that I personally had and had a hard time with overlooking them. The story did get me interest enough to wonder what will happen in Leila Marx novels to come.
***I've received this book from the author through the GoodReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. ***
I would first like to start off by saying that I enjoy reading. However, I was never one to enjoy reading a book when I felt as if it were a job to do so. So, with that being said, I felt obligated to read this book so that I could review it, and to me that made it feel like homework. Therefore, it took longer than it should have to actually settle down and read this novel.
And, despite the low rating, I did enjoy the book. It's just the things that I didn't enjoy were too overwhelming.
Touching Evil by Amber Garr is a story about a young woman named Leila Marx who is a touch clairvoyant, meaning she can see things about you by touching you or an object of yours. Her husband has been murdered and she is now on the road to recovery almost a year later. Her road to recovery consist of working with Detective Garrick and getting involved in an underground supernatural fighting force (I haven't a clue what to call this little group).
WHAT I ENJOYED:
I love the supporting characters that Amber has created in this book. The fairy was just so awesome and I wish there was more of him in the book. I liked the werewolf as well and like the relationship he's developed with Leila. The contrast between the vampire and his medium girlfriend was adorable. Leila's BFF, whose name is escaping me right now,reminded me so much of Ashley Greene's character Alice in the Twilight movies - not so much the flirting. I couldn't help but picture her when reading the parts that involved her.
I liked the way Leila was in her relationship with Detective Garrick, how he would be nervous when talking with her and she would be sort of childish when messing with him, and they were both just so giddy around each other. It was so cute! They became teenagers all over again.
I liked the fact that the book incorporated both Leila's "normal life and supernatural life and showing how they are slowly leaking into one another.
WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY:
Although I enjoyed the fact that the book spoke of both Leila's regular and supernatural life, I did not think it was balanced right. The whole beginning of the book was of her personal life and her being a touch clairvoyant. When it finally got to the supernatural part of her life, the book was more than halfway over.
I remember noting that my interest didn't peak until like page 120, give or take a few pages. The beginning was so slow. I knew about Leila and Garrick, but not much about Leila and Conner. The story led up to but I don't feel as if I really knew Conner enough to care about this "dun dun dun!" moment.
The whole supernatural underground fighting force was eye-rolling. I believe that their only purpose was to move the story in the direction that Garr wanted her story to move in and for her to be able to place any explainable/unrealistic happenings on the many supernaturals she created. They were placed for convenience and and there were too many of them all at once. If this is a series, I feel as if they could have been introduced throughout the series. For example, as much as I love the fairy, what was his point besides being witty and very comfortable in booty shorts and leather, and owning the porn shop that hosted the secret meetings? Why did we have to meet the sorcerer when he had no significance at all to the story? What was the point of Terez? Because her presence only annoyed the crap out of me. She was Leila's mentor but did nothing fascinating. It was like, instead of the secret academy for "gifted students" in YA novels, Leila was given someone who just so happened to have all the powers and knows how to control them. I truly dislike her. Grrr.
I once read some advice from an author who said when you're writing dialogue between two characters, don't stray away from he said/she said or using their names. Don't write: The little man raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you," asked Joe. This can confuse the reader into thinking that the little man and Joe are two different people. With that in mind, Garr does this A LOT. Like, a lot, a lot. I don't know if she thought Leila was being clever or she just thought that we as readers wouldn't be able to remember the names of her characters (since there were a lot of them). Too many times did I read Leila referring to what the fairy/vampire/medium/cambion were doing, instead of just referring to them by their damn names. It wasn't confusing for me but it sure as hell was annoying. We know what they are, who they are, and what they do. I don't need Leila Marx reminding me EVERY interaction what they are.
I also believe that Amber Garr has a habit, an a bad one if you ask me, of telling and not showing. I didn't notice this until the ending pages and there were two major incidents that happened that I believe to be very important to the story. The first was when Instead of showing us the interaction of Leila being questioned and how she and the cops react to the story, Garr tells us what the story is. We see no signs of skepticism or nervousness. The second time this happens is when But we don't get dialogue of this conversation. Instead, we get a brief summary of what Leila told Garrick, followed by his reaction.Because they were omitted, I feel as if the ending was rushed.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars (2.5, but I rounded up) instead of any other amount is because it's a good story, but had potential to be so much better. The majority of my dislikes were issues that I personally had and had a hard time with overlooking them. The story did get me interest enough to wonder what will happen in Leila Marx novels to come.
January 25, 2021
(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk.)
Leila Marx is an artist, who works as a children’s book illustrator, and she’s also a touch clairvoyant, which means that she can get a feeling for a person or what is happening to a person when she touches a belonging of theirs.
Leila is still trying to get over the death of her fiancée, who was attacked and killed in an alley recently, but when her friend Garrick who is a detective asks for her help solving a case where girls are being murdered and turn up looking like mummys, she agrees to help.
Who is killing these girls? Can Leila really help? And can they find the murderer before it’s too late?
This was an okay murder-mystery story, with a touch of the paranormal.
Leila was a touch clairvoyant, so she tried to not touch people or their belongings too much. She was happy to help try to solve crimes, even when it meant that she had to do and see things that she maybe didn’t want to do or see!
There were an assortment of different supernatural creatures in this one, from witches to werewolves, and it was interesting how they all seemed to get along pretty well with each other. I wasn’t really expecting the appearance of all these other supernatural creatures in this book, so that was a bit of a surprise.
The storyline in this book was okay, and reminded me a bit of the TV show ‘Medium’, and the Sookie Stackhouse ‘True Blood’ and ‘Harper Connelly’ series. The story did feel fairly formulaic for this kind of thing, and didn’t really make for edge of your seat reading. I didn’t guess who the killer was, but the revelation wasn’t really all that exciting for me. I’m not sure whether I just wasn’t in the right mood for this one at the time or what, but this was only okay for me.
While this story was okay I didn’t like it as much as the author’s other ‘Syrenka’ series, but if you like murder-mystery stories then you will probably prefer this.
Overall; a murder mystery with a touch of the paranormal.
6 out of 10.
Leila Marx is an artist, who works as a children’s book illustrator, and she’s also a touch clairvoyant, which means that she can get a feeling for a person or what is happening to a person when she touches a belonging of theirs.
Leila is still trying to get over the death of her fiancée, who was attacked and killed in an alley recently, but when her friend Garrick who is a detective asks for her help solving a case where girls are being murdered and turn up looking like mummys, she agrees to help.
Who is killing these girls? Can Leila really help? And can they find the murderer before it’s too late?
This was an okay murder-mystery story, with a touch of the paranormal.
Leila was a touch clairvoyant, so she tried to not touch people or their belongings too much. She was happy to help try to solve crimes, even when it meant that she had to do and see things that she maybe didn’t want to do or see!
There were an assortment of different supernatural creatures in this one, from witches to werewolves, and it was interesting how they all seemed to get along pretty well with each other. I wasn’t really expecting the appearance of all these other supernatural creatures in this book, so that was a bit of a surprise.
The storyline in this book was okay, and reminded me a bit of the TV show ‘Medium’, and the Sookie Stackhouse ‘True Blood’ and ‘Harper Connelly’ series. The story did feel fairly formulaic for this kind of thing, and didn’t really make for edge of your seat reading. I didn’t guess who the killer was, but the revelation wasn’t really all that exciting for me. I’m not sure whether I just wasn’t in the right mood for this one at the time or what, but this was only okay for me.
While this story was okay I didn’t like it as much as the author’s other ‘Syrenka’ series, but if you like murder-mystery stories then you will probably prefer this.
Overall; a murder mystery with a touch of the paranormal.
6 out of 10.
November 30, 2012
It has been awhile since I have read not only a good mystery but one with a great paranormal twist too it as well. Not only did this have a paranormal element but it had all the creatures I love as well.
I fell in love with Garr's writing after reading her YA series, Syrenka, so I was pretty excited to see her writing in this new genre. I just knew it was going to be great and I am so glad that it lived up to all of my expectations.
Leila was a great character. She was strong and fierce when she needed to be and she took things in stride. Even though she was grieving she still remembered to live.
There were some fabulous secondary characters that made me laugh and smile numerous times with their actions or banter. Mac was a character and I loved his character. King stole my heart. Sarah was everything a bestie should be. Evie was great, Terez, Connor, Garrick, all of them were just great.
And the best part about this book was that even though it is part of a new series, this one didn't end with a million questions. This part of the mystery was done with but still left it open for a lot more to happen in the future.
Once again I think Garr created a new unique fun series that I for one will be picking up and reading as soon as they are released.
I fell in love with Garr's writing after reading her YA series, Syrenka, so I was pretty excited to see her writing in this new genre. I just knew it was going to be great and I am so glad that it lived up to all of my expectations.
Leila was a great character. She was strong and fierce when she needed to be and she took things in stride. Even though she was grieving she still remembered to live.
There were some fabulous secondary characters that made me laugh and smile numerous times with their actions or banter. Mac was a character and I loved his character. King stole my heart. Sarah was everything a bestie should be. Evie was great, Terez, Connor, Garrick, all of them were just great.
And the best part about this book was that even though it is part of a new series, this one didn't end with a million questions. This part of the mystery was done with but still left it open for a lot more to happen in the future.
Once again I think Garr created a new unique fun series that I for one will be picking up and reading as soon as they are released.
November 15, 2012
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There is only one way to describe my reaction to this book: blown away! I had never read anything by this author before, so I was very excited to have a chance to read her book!
Leila is an amazing character! There is so much going on in her life, and she seems to preserver through everything, you can't help but fall in love with this character! She has a lot to work through in this book before she can let her guard down, but I think by the end she sees the value in trusting again!
Connor was great. Between him and Leila I could literally not put this book down!
Connor or Garrett? I went back and forth on who I was cheering for. But then again either chocie would be considered great. ;)
It is so hard to talk about this book and not give away too much! If you have not gotten a chance to pick up a copy of this bok I suggest you do so soon! You will not regret it! I
can not wait for the next book nor can I wait to read more by this author!!!
There is only one way to describe my reaction to this book: blown away! I had never read anything by this author before, so I was very excited to have a chance to read her book!
Leila is an amazing character! There is so much going on in her life, and she seems to preserver through everything, you can't help but fall in love with this character! She has a lot to work through in this book before she can let her guard down, but I think by the end she sees the value in trusting again!
Connor was great. Between him and Leila I could literally not put this book down!
Connor or Garrett? I went back and forth on who I was cheering for. But then again either chocie would be considered great. ;)
It is so hard to talk about this book and not give away too much! If you have not gotten a chance to pick up a copy of this bok I suggest you do so soon! You will not regret it! I
can not wait for the next book nor can I wait to read more by this author!!!
September 30, 2012
The first book in my new urban fantasy series!
April 25, 2018
Good read
Wish I had a super power. Good book, humor, nice interplay between normals and supers. Will go for the next one¡ Thank you.
Wish I had a super power. Good book, humor, nice interplay between normals and supers. Will go for the next one¡ Thank you.
January 28, 2013
To see the full blog post with a giveaway click HERE
Leila Marx hasn’t been the same since her fiancé was murdered. What’s worse is that she saw it happen and there was nothing she could do about it. She is a clairvoyant and when she touches something she gets a glimpse of the past. On a rare occasion like with her finance, she can see future events. Her life is still on hold a year later until detective Garrick asks for her help. Girls are going missing and turning up brutally murdered. She thinks it’s going to be simple, touch something of the victims and she’ll know what happened and who did it. Turns out it’s not and what she sees will change her life forever. To top that all off Connor enters her life. She gets a creepy vision of him that she wished she could erase. After another girl goes missing, Conner decides to tell her the truth. What she learns is hard to believe, but she will stop at nothing to bring the girl home and bring down the sicko who is doing it. The question is, is she in to far over her head and will she make it out alive to see who the real killer is?
I’ve read other clairvoyant books before, but nothing like this one. The other one that I read, she could see into the future and this one see can see things when she touches objects. Which I think is way cool by the way. :D I loved the secret paranormal underworld and the mystery as well. This book had me laughing and crying throughout the entire book. Leila was very vulnerable during the book, but that didn’t stop her. With her not knowing much about her gift added to the story. I was learning with her how to use her gift and whatnot. Although the book was depressing in some parts, don’t’ let that stop you from reading it. This was an enchanting read and I can’t see what happens in the next one.
Leila- Like I said up top she is still coming to terms with losing the love of her life. Know it’s been a year since her dies, but I think she handled it pretty well. I mean how do you deal with that? I lost my granddad and it still hurts everyday. So I know how she feels. She is a very strong woman. She also handles the paranormal world well too. I would be freaking out. I guess it helps being what she is. I loved her determination. I hope she learns more about her gift in the next installment. :D
Garrick- I was hoping to get a little more information about him. We know that he is a good guy and he is not married. He is a detective and that’s about it. I want more background info on him in the next one.
Conner- We get a little more info about him. Like what he is and how old. Why he is the way he is. I really liked him under the circumstances. I think he really wants to change and become a better person, but for him that is impossible. L I really really hope he is in the next one. If not I’ll be very disappointed.
The Cover: When I first saw the cover I didn’t think it was anything special. When I finished the book, I was like this is the perfect cover for this book. It totally goes with the story and I love when a cover looks like a scene in a book.
3.7 Stars
Leila Marx hasn’t been the same since her fiancé was murdered. What’s worse is that she saw it happen and there was nothing she could do about it. She is a clairvoyant and when she touches something she gets a glimpse of the past. On a rare occasion like with her finance, she can see future events. Her life is still on hold a year later until detective Garrick asks for her help. Girls are going missing and turning up brutally murdered. She thinks it’s going to be simple, touch something of the victims and she’ll know what happened and who did it. Turns out it’s not and what she sees will change her life forever. To top that all off Connor enters her life. She gets a creepy vision of him that she wished she could erase. After another girl goes missing, Conner decides to tell her the truth. What she learns is hard to believe, but she will stop at nothing to bring the girl home and bring down the sicko who is doing it. The question is, is she in to far over her head and will she make it out alive to see who the real killer is?
I’ve read other clairvoyant books before, but nothing like this one. The other one that I read, she could see into the future and this one see can see things when she touches objects. Which I think is way cool by the way. :D I loved the secret paranormal underworld and the mystery as well. This book had me laughing and crying throughout the entire book. Leila was very vulnerable during the book, but that didn’t stop her. With her not knowing much about her gift added to the story. I was learning with her how to use her gift and whatnot. Although the book was depressing in some parts, don’t’ let that stop you from reading it. This was an enchanting read and I can’t see what happens in the next one.
Leila- Like I said up top she is still coming to terms with losing the love of her life. Know it’s been a year since her dies, but I think she handled it pretty well. I mean how do you deal with that? I lost my granddad and it still hurts everyday. So I know how she feels. She is a very strong woman. She also handles the paranormal world well too. I would be freaking out. I guess it helps being what she is. I loved her determination. I hope she learns more about her gift in the next installment. :D
Garrick- I was hoping to get a little more information about him. We know that he is a good guy and he is not married. He is a detective and that’s about it. I want more background info on him in the next one.
Conner- We get a little more info about him. Like what he is and how old. Why he is the way he is. I really liked him under the circumstances. I think he really wants to change and become a better person, but for him that is impossible. L I really really hope he is in the next one. If not I’ll be very disappointed.
The Cover: When I first saw the cover I didn’t think it was anything special. When I finished the book, I was like this is the perfect cover for this book. It totally goes with the story and I love when a cover looks like a scene in a book.
3.7 Stars
February 15, 2013
Since losing her fiance, Leila keeps busy illustrating children’s books and helping the police with the odd case here or there. She’s what you would call a touch-know or touch-clairvoyant. When she touches something, she gets visual information.
When she’s called in to help out with a puzzling murder investigation, she also becomes tangled up with a secret group. This group of people, and/or beings, know there’s a supernatural element involved in the murder.
Leila never would have believed the supernatural realm existed, and now she’s smack dab in the middle of it. Before long, she’s breaking and entering, working side by side with beings she believed were only fictional characters in books, and fighting for her very life.
This is her wake up call and she better be ready.
My favorite part of Touching Evil is the characters. Just about every type of supernatural being is in it. Leila is obviously the starring role, but these guys are the seasoning.
And her love interests. Yes, I said interests, as in plural. There is a bit of a love triangle, but Leila is not playing one off the other, or leading them both on. She is just attracted to each one in a different way and feels guilty that she’s having these feelings at all.
I like both of them. One’s a cop and the other’s, well, something else. They couldn’t be more different but they both have something to offer, something Leila needs.
A scene I liked:
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Mac standing on the porch, watching me approach the house. He jumped off the landing and over the three shallow stairs to pounce in front of me. Startled, I bit back a scream and then I got mad.
“What’s the deal?” Irritated, I put my hand on my pounding heart in response. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be the scary one.”
Once I composed myself, I almost had another heart attack when I noticed his outfit. The man certainly was too beautiful for his own good. Tonight he donned an unusual combination of tight black jeans and a gold mesh long-sleeved shirt overlaid on nothing but his bare chest…
Waving my hand while gazing up and down his body, I asked, “And what exactly are you supposed to be tonight? Did someone forget to tell me it was a costume party?”
Without warning, he swept me up in a bear hug and twirled me around in a circle. His seductive laugh made me shiver and when he kissed me full on the mouth, I froze. He ignored my discomfort and put me back on my feet…..
“Why? What’s wrong with my outfit?” He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “Is it too conservative?”
There are bits of this mixed throughout the book, keeping it light when it’s needed, breaking up the heavier moments like comic relief. I love this stuff.
I had a really fun time meeting all of Amber’s characters and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.
When she’s called in to help out with a puzzling murder investigation, she also becomes tangled up with a secret group. This group of people, and/or beings, know there’s a supernatural element involved in the murder.
Leila never would have believed the supernatural realm existed, and now she’s smack dab in the middle of it. Before long, she’s breaking and entering, working side by side with beings she believed were only fictional characters in books, and fighting for her very life.
This is her wake up call and she better be ready.
My favorite part of Touching Evil is the characters. Just about every type of supernatural being is in it. Leila is obviously the starring role, but these guys are the seasoning.
And her love interests. Yes, I said interests, as in plural. There is a bit of a love triangle, but Leila is not playing one off the other, or leading them both on. She is just attracted to each one in a different way and feels guilty that she’s having these feelings at all.
I like both of them. One’s a cop and the other’s, well, something else. They couldn’t be more different but they both have something to offer, something Leila needs.
A scene I liked:
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Mac standing on the porch, watching me approach the house. He jumped off the landing and over the three shallow stairs to pounce in front of me. Startled, I bit back a scream and then I got mad.
“What’s the deal?” Irritated, I put my hand on my pounding heart in response. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be the scary one.”
Once I composed myself, I almost had another heart attack when I noticed his outfit. The man certainly was too beautiful for his own good. Tonight he donned an unusual combination of tight black jeans and a gold mesh long-sleeved shirt overlaid on nothing but his bare chest…
Waving my hand while gazing up and down his body, I asked, “And what exactly are you supposed to be tonight? Did someone forget to tell me it was a costume party?”
Without warning, he swept me up in a bear hug and twirled me around in a circle. His seductive laugh made me shiver and when he kissed me full on the mouth, I froze. He ignored my discomfort and put me back on my feet…..
“Why? What’s wrong with my outfit?” He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “Is it too conservative?”
There are bits of this mixed throughout the book, keeping it light when it’s needed, breaking up the heavier moments like comic relief. I love this stuff.
I had a really fun time meeting all of Amber’s characters and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.
August 24, 2013
Review:
This is the first book tour I have been a part of and I have to say, I thought that it was a good experience. Because it was pitched a little like a paranormal romance, I almost passed it up since I am not big into the passionate thrillers out there. However, I was extremely pleased with the novel.
There were a few small things that I had a few issues with, but nothing too big. Just my quirky side revealing itself once again. Within the novel, there were several grammatically incorrect areas where things like "than" was used instead of "then", etc. My biggest complaint about the main character was that I never got a very clear image of what she looked like. Her thoughts and motives seemed to be clear, but I just kind of imagined what I thought her physical attributes were. The beginning of the book moved very quickly and I had a hard time following it. Since it was a dream sequence, that made a little more sense after I figured that out. Also, normally the novel would not start with a dialogue sequence because it throws the reader directly into the story without a clear sense of setting, personality of the main character, etc. Sometimes that can be rather disorienting and could turn off the reader. However, here, I did not feel that was too much of a hindrance.
What I really liked about this novel was the ease at which it read. It had a great flow and I didn't want to put it down. I was fully engrossed in the plot and wanted to know what was going to happen next. For me, I'm a big fan of old monster movies, so the beloved characters of werewolves, vampires, and witches brought a sort of nostalgic familiarity that I loved. However, I would have loved for that part of the storyline to have been fleshed out a bit more. Perhaps it was a set up for the next book in the series.
The struggle that Leila had between the two men was interesting as well. Two very different types of men and I actually thought that the romantic part of the novel would keep me from enjoying it. However, it didn't and I found myself wondering why she would choose the one man over the other.
Overall, I thought that this book was a very well written and captivating story. If you enjoy light supernatural thrillers with a dash of romance, then this book is for you. If you need a little more detail and a little bit more supernatural darkness, then this book may not be for you. Either way, I think that it is worth reading at some point.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I was given a copy of the novel for the book tour; I was not paid to give this review.
www.thepensivechronicler.blogspot.com
This is the first book tour I have been a part of and I have to say, I thought that it was a good experience. Because it was pitched a little like a paranormal romance, I almost passed it up since I am not big into the passionate thrillers out there. However, I was extremely pleased with the novel.
There were a few small things that I had a few issues with, but nothing too big. Just my quirky side revealing itself once again. Within the novel, there were several grammatically incorrect areas where things like "than" was used instead of "then", etc. My biggest complaint about the main character was that I never got a very clear image of what she looked like. Her thoughts and motives seemed to be clear, but I just kind of imagined what I thought her physical attributes were. The beginning of the book moved very quickly and I had a hard time following it. Since it was a dream sequence, that made a little more sense after I figured that out. Also, normally the novel would not start with a dialogue sequence because it throws the reader directly into the story without a clear sense of setting, personality of the main character, etc. Sometimes that can be rather disorienting and could turn off the reader. However, here, I did not feel that was too much of a hindrance.
What I really liked about this novel was the ease at which it read. It had a great flow and I didn't want to put it down. I was fully engrossed in the plot and wanted to know what was going to happen next. For me, I'm a big fan of old monster movies, so the beloved characters of werewolves, vampires, and witches brought a sort of nostalgic familiarity that I loved. However, I would have loved for that part of the storyline to have been fleshed out a bit more. Perhaps it was a set up for the next book in the series.
The struggle that Leila had between the two men was interesting as well. Two very different types of men and I actually thought that the romantic part of the novel would keep me from enjoying it. However, it didn't and I found myself wondering why she would choose the one man over the other.
Overall, I thought that this book was a very well written and captivating story. If you enjoy light supernatural thrillers with a dash of romance, then this book is for you. If you need a little more detail and a little bit more supernatural darkness, then this book may not be for you. Either way, I think that it is worth reading at some point.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I was given a copy of the novel for the book tour; I was not paid to give this review.
www.thepensivechronicler.blogspot.com
January 17, 2013
3.5 Stars
Touching Evil is a rather complex story. It’s the story of a woman who is still reeling from the fairly recent death of her fiance; a woman with a special gift that allows her to experience people’s emotions and flashes of recent past or near future events by touching them or an object that belongs to them. It is the story of Leila Marx, a touch clairvoyant, and how she finds herself assisting a couple of homicide detectives solve cases on occasion.
Things get even more complicated when Leila starts seeing strange visions that seem to come straight out of a fictional story, not reality. Leila enlists the help of her mentor, Terez (a full-on clairvoyant), to decipher why she is seeing these unusual things, only to discover that a supernatural existence is in fact real. And if that’s not bad enough, Leila is starting to develop feelings for two men when she’s not over the loss of her fiancé yet.
There are numerous supernatural beings in this novel including: witches and sorcerers, vampires, werewolves, demons and cambions, and fae. And let’s not forget about the mediums and clairvoyants. Yes, there are many, many things going on in this book.
Do not fear though, because the author never leaves us floundering or confused no matter the plentiful plot twists that arise – or the many characters that are introduced into the story. This book is really interesting. It’s full of suspense and surprise and most of the time I had no idea what was coming next. But I certainly looked forward to finding out. Touching Evil packs a huge punch in plot. And the romance doesn’t get in the way! I loved that aspect.
I didn’t rate this book higher because it is very inner monologue heavy – and I am a reader that needs more of a balance between that and dialogue. This is a matter of personal preference though, and many will disagree with me here. Another thing is that I wish some of the characters were fleshed out more, and that it touched more on the abilities of the supernatural. However, this is only the first book and that may be explained in more detail further into the series.
All in all, this is a really good book and I’m looking forward to discovering where Leila’s story leads next. I definitely recommend this one.
**I received a copy of this book from the tour host in exchange for an honest review. No incentive was offered or accepted for a favorable review or rating.
Touching Evil is a rather complex story. It’s the story of a woman who is still reeling from the fairly recent death of her fiance; a woman with a special gift that allows her to experience people’s emotions and flashes of recent past or near future events by touching them or an object that belongs to them. It is the story of Leila Marx, a touch clairvoyant, and how she finds herself assisting a couple of homicide detectives solve cases on occasion.
Things get even more complicated when Leila starts seeing strange visions that seem to come straight out of a fictional story, not reality. Leila enlists the help of her mentor, Terez (a full-on clairvoyant), to decipher why she is seeing these unusual things, only to discover that a supernatural existence is in fact real. And if that’s not bad enough, Leila is starting to develop feelings for two men when she’s not over the loss of her fiancé yet.
There are numerous supernatural beings in this novel including: witches and sorcerers, vampires, werewolves, demons and cambions, and fae. And let’s not forget about the mediums and clairvoyants. Yes, there are many, many things going on in this book.
Do not fear though, because the author never leaves us floundering or confused no matter the plentiful plot twists that arise – or the many characters that are introduced into the story. This book is really interesting. It’s full of suspense and surprise and most of the time I had no idea what was coming next. But I certainly looked forward to finding out. Touching Evil packs a huge punch in plot. And the romance doesn’t get in the way! I loved that aspect.
I didn’t rate this book higher because it is very inner monologue heavy – and I am a reader that needs more of a balance between that and dialogue. This is a matter of personal preference though, and many will disagree with me here. Another thing is that I wish some of the characters were fleshed out more, and that it touched more on the abilities of the supernatural. However, this is only the first book and that may be explained in more detail further into the series.
All in all, this is a really good book and I’m looking forward to discovering where Leila’s story leads next. I definitely recommend this one.
**I received a copy of this book from the tour host in exchange for an honest review. No incentive was offered or accepted for a favorable review or rating.
November 21, 2012
A murder mystery, a cambion and a gang of other paranormals. Sign me up. RIGHT AWAY! I loved the mixture of creatures present in Touching Evil. It was such a cool little group, I wanted to join in. I don't know what I liked more- getting to know the different characters in the scooby gang or trying to figure out the mystery. Either way, I am totally hooked on Touching Evil and I think Leila Marx may be my favorite new Urban Fantasy.
Leila is such an easy character to fall in love with. She has such a tough past, but she doesn't complain, she doesn't get all poor me over and over again. She has her sad moments (because HELLO she is human after all) but she has such admirable strength. I do wish I saw a little bit more development between her and Conner, but that is just me being curious about his cambion side. It seems like we saw the anger aspect to being half demon. Conner seemed to almost relish in torture and crime, but we didn't see too much of the more seductive, or should I say fun aspects of his cambion nature. I hope that is explored more in the next book. But I do know that what I saw of him I really liked. I just wish I got a little more insight from him. I feel like we got to know Garrick a little more, but maybe that is because he is an easier person to explain.
The rest of the gang of characters were cool, but they played a more secondary role so they didn't have nearly as much dialogue. They were still pretty well fleshed out though, which made them nice additions to the story. My favorite is King. I love the little protective streak he had towards Leila. It was too cute.
I really like the cover of the book and I think it fits the story so well. There is this darkness surrounding Leila a lot of the time. I really want her to be happy because she seems to be the center of a lot of very intense situations. I just want her to be able to smile once in a while. He sense of touch was delved into multiple times in the story but I want to explore Leila's reactions to it and see more of what she goes through in the next book. I am totally fascinated by everything in Touching Evil and I want more.
November 29, 2012
4.5 Stars
'Touching Evil' is the first book in an urban fantasy series that follows our heroine, Leila Marx, as she tries to heal after the murder of her fiance. She fills her days with illustrating books and occasionally helping the police with cold cases. Leila has the gift of being a touch clairvoyant - she is able to glean information from merely touching a person or an object. Only this time, the police need her help to catch a serial killer targeting teen girls. On top of the case and Leila's growing attraction to Detective Garrick Pearson, Leila discovers that all the creatures she thought were fairytales actually exist. A team of supernatural beings has come together to help Leila crack the police case she's helping on. Soon Leila finds herself the killer's next target. Will Leila and her newfound friends be able to stop the killer before it's too late?
I found this to be a fantastic start to an awesome new series. There's a ton of different things going on throughout the novel that it keeps the reader on their toes, but doesn't overwhelm or confuse them. I love the psychic aspect to the plot and the main character of Leila. The way that the author uses different topics and genres to tie all the storylines in the book together was seamless. There's tons of action, adventure, mystery, fantasy and even romance in the book. The characters were interesting and made up an unique cast for the series. The romance that blooms in the book wasn't too corny and didn't overpower the main plot, which I really liked. The writing itself was very well done and I enjoyed reading about the different characters, their histories, and their abilities. The plot was fast paced and had great twists that kept me guessing. Overall, this is a wonderful first book in a series that urban fantasy lovers will not want to miss. I'll definitely be reading the next installment.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Touching Evil' is the first book in an urban fantasy series that follows our heroine, Leila Marx, as she tries to heal after the murder of her fiance. She fills her days with illustrating books and occasionally helping the police with cold cases. Leila has the gift of being a touch clairvoyant - she is able to glean information from merely touching a person or an object. Only this time, the police need her help to catch a serial killer targeting teen girls. On top of the case and Leila's growing attraction to Detective Garrick Pearson, Leila discovers that all the creatures she thought were fairytales actually exist. A team of supernatural beings has come together to help Leila crack the police case she's helping on. Soon Leila finds herself the killer's next target. Will Leila and her newfound friends be able to stop the killer before it's too late?
I found this to be a fantastic start to an awesome new series. There's a ton of different things going on throughout the novel that it keeps the reader on their toes, but doesn't overwhelm or confuse them. I love the psychic aspect to the plot and the main character of Leila. The way that the author uses different topics and genres to tie all the storylines in the book together was seamless. There's tons of action, adventure, mystery, fantasy and even romance in the book. The characters were interesting and made up an unique cast for the series. The romance that blooms in the book wasn't too corny and didn't overpower the main plot, which I really liked. The writing itself was very well done and I enjoyed reading about the different characters, their histories, and their abilities. The plot was fast paced and had great twists that kept me guessing. Overall, this is a wonderful first book in a series that urban fantasy lovers will not want to miss. I'll definitely be reading the next installment.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2012
Before you jump me, I hadn’t read any books by this author before and I’d heard great things, so I really wanted to try for myself. I didn’t expect to become so in grossed in this book that I’m literally tripping over myself to read the next line. I’m utterly fascinated by Ms Garr’s writing. I will immediately remedy this earlier discretion and now go get everything her pen had ever touched!
So, Leila had me pretty heartbroken in the first part as you literally get to live through her every thought while she lives in everyone else’s every thought. But I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to know more and more as I read. I really really like Leila as the main character and I know I will immediately pick up her next story. I like that, although its hard and she is grieving, she is trying to have some type of thing you call life. And boy, did she pick a hell of a time.
I wanna talk about the storyline for a second. IT’S AWESOME!! I tend to like stories with a heavier mystery plot. I like reading to try and figure out who done it. I am very impressed with having some unfolding events with both the human world and the supernatural world. And as the story progresses, it becomes a wonderful web of crazy, it a good way! So again, fantastic writing here.
I need to say that I’m all about HAWT male pieces and you have a choice here LOL detective Garrett and the charming Conner. I don’t wanna day too much nor am I going to pick a team just yet because in this one instance, I would like for you to pick your own team first. But HAWT MALE PIECES!! Who cares which team hahahaha All I can say is I really enjoyed this one. My eyes were glued to the words from start to finish and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two and more of Ms Garr’s works. Go get them!! I say so a wonderfully surprising 5 BIG PAWS!!
So, Leila had me pretty heartbroken in the first part as you literally get to live through her every thought while she lives in everyone else’s every thought. But I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to know more and more as I read. I really really like Leila as the main character and I know I will immediately pick up her next story. I like that, although its hard and she is grieving, she is trying to have some type of thing you call life. And boy, did she pick a hell of a time.
I wanna talk about the storyline for a second. IT’S AWESOME!! I tend to like stories with a heavier mystery plot. I like reading to try and figure out who done it. I am very impressed with having some unfolding events with both the human world and the supernatural world. And as the story progresses, it becomes a wonderful web of crazy, it a good way! So again, fantastic writing here.
I need to say that I’m all about HAWT male pieces and you have a choice here LOL detective Garrett and the charming Conner. I don’t wanna day too much nor am I going to pick a team just yet because in this one instance, I would like for you to pick your own team first. But HAWT MALE PIECES!! Who cares which team hahahaha All I can say is I really enjoyed this one. My eyes were glued to the words from start to finish and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two and more of Ms Garr’s works. Go get them!! I say so a wonderfully surprising 5 BIG PAWS!!
February 2, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle - 30th January 2013:
RATING - 4 GARRICK & CONNER STARS!
This was quite a read. The more the pages turned, the more the story took on more elements.
Leila’s fiancé is murdered, I think there is more story to be told there. His seemingly senseless death brings Garrick and his partner into Leila’s life. She is a children’s illustrator. Although she does not do much of that in this book.
Leila helps Garrick on cases that they can’t solve. She is a touch clairvoyant.
Girls are going missing and turning up dead. Garrick needs answers and to stop this senseless killing. Leila is asked to help out.
Enter Conner the Scottish lad and lawyer. He is rather gorgeous and a set up date with her best friend and her husband.
I really love Garrick and Conner. They are like chalk and cheese but they both have what I call, book boyfriend pulling power.
There is a motley crew of characters that join the storyline. I really like King, Mac is a great guy, Blake is a tease and Gallus and Elise add to the group.
Terez is Leila’s mentor and quite a mysterious lady.
The motley crew hang out at Fantasy Villa.....woot!
There is a case to solve and Leila finds herself knee deep in some dangerous situations.
This was a great start to this promising series. I am rather torn between Garrick who is a sweetheart and Conner who is ..... humma, humma!
This book certainly took me places I was not expecting. I am rather looking forward to the next installment.
A very colorful group of enchanting characters and a couple of lads that are making a girl, who has lost the love of her life, start to think about a future and maybe a date or two.
Michelle
RATING - 4 GARRICK & CONNER STARS!
This was quite a read. The more the pages turned, the more the story took on more elements.
Leila’s fiancé is murdered, I think there is more story to be told there. His seemingly senseless death brings Garrick and his partner into Leila’s life. She is a children’s illustrator. Although she does not do much of that in this book.
Leila helps Garrick on cases that they can’t solve. She is a touch clairvoyant.
Girls are going missing and turning up dead. Garrick needs answers and to stop this senseless killing. Leila is asked to help out.
Enter Conner the Scottish lad and lawyer. He is rather gorgeous and a set up date with her best friend and her husband.
I really love Garrick and Conner. They are like chalk and cheese but they both have what I call, book boyfriend pulling power.
There is a motley crew of characters that join the storyline. I really like King, Mac is a great guy, Blake is a tease and Gallus and Elise add to the group.
Terez is Leila’s mentor and quite a mysterious lady.
The motley crew hang out at Fantasy Villa.....woot!
There is a case to solve and Leila finds herself knee deep in some dangerous situations.
This was a great start to this promising series. I am rather torn between Garrick who is a sweetheart and Conner who is ..... humma, humma!
This book certainly took me places I was not expecting. I am rather looking forward to the next installment.
A very colorful group of enchanting characters and a couple of lads that are making a girl, who has lost the love of her life, start to think about a future and maybe a date or two.
Michelle
February 2, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle - 30th January 2013:
RATING - 4 GARRICK & CONNER STARS!
This was quite a read. The more the pages turned, the more the story took on more elements.
Leila’s fiancé is murdered, I think there is more story to be told there. His seemingly senseless death brings Garrick and his partner into Leila’s life. She is a children’s illustrator. Although she does not do much of that in this book.
Leila helps Garrick on cases that they can’t solve. She is a touch clairvoyant.
Girls are going missing and turning up dead. Garrick needs answers and to stop this senseless killing. Leila is asked to help out.
Enter Conner the Scottish lad and lawyer. He is rather gorgeous and a set up date with her best friend and her husband.
I really love Garrick and Conner. They are like chalk and cheese but they both have what I call, book boyfriend pulling power.
There is a motley crew of characters that join the storyline. I really like King, Mac is a great guy, Blake is a tease and Gallus and Elise add to the group.
Terez is Leila’s mentor and quite a mysterious lady.
The motley crew hang out at Fantasy Villa.....woot!
There is a case to solve and Leila finds herself knee deep in some dangerous situations.
This was a great start to this promising series. I am rather torn between Garrick who is a sweetheart and Conner who is ..... humma, humma!
This book certainly took me places I was not expecting. I am rather looking forward to the next installment.
A very colorful group of enchanting characters and a couple of lads that are making a girl, who has lost the love of her life, start to think about a future and maybe a date or two.
Michelle
RATING - 4 GARRICK & CONNER STARS!
This was quite a read. The more the pages turned, the more the story took on more elements.
Leila’s fiancé is murdered, I think there is more story to be told there. His seemingly senseless death brings Garrick and his partner into Leila’s life. She is a children’s illustrator. Although she does not do much of that in this book.
Leila helps Garrick on cases that they can’t solve. She is a touch clairvoyant.
Girls are going missing and turning up dead. Garrick needs answers and to stop this senseless killing. Leila is asked to help out.
Enter Conner the Scottish lad and lawyer. He is rather gorgeous and a set up date with her best friend and her husband.
I really love Garrick and Conner. They are like chalk and cheese but they both have what I call, book boyfriend pulling power.
There is a motley crew of characters that join the storyline. I really like King, Mac is a great guy, Blake is a tease and Gallus and Elise add to the group.
Terez is Leila’s mentor and quite a mysterious lady.
The motley crew hang out at Fantasy Villa.....woot!
There is a case to solve and Leila finds herself knee deep in some dangerous situations.
This was a great start to this promising series. I am rather torn between Garrick who is a sweetheart and Conner who is ..... humma, humma!
This book certainly took me places I was not expecting. I am rather looking forward to the next installment.
A very colorful group of enchanting characters and a couple of lads that are making a girl, who has lost the love of her life, start to think about a future and maybe a date or two.
Michelle
March 22, 2013
I really enjoyed ‘Touching Evil’ it was a really unique read and Amber created such strong fascinating characters that drew you into the story along with such a sensational plot.
Girls are being kidnapped and there are absolutely no leads as to where they are being taken and by whom. Then days later an anonymous phone call leads the police to the missing girl’s grave.
She is badly decomposed and seems to be mummified and they can't figure out what is happening to these poor girls, but one thing is for sure; girls keep disappearing.
Detective Garrick called in Leila a clairvoyant to see if she can possibly give them any leads. The case quickly turns into something much darker than the police or Leila can handle by themselves. Leila then stumbles upon some help and understanding from an odd group of supernatural creatures she has only seen on TV. She must accept their help however, to save girls lives, but they cannot involve the police now.
It was a fascinating tale of adventure, suspense and magic. She had some really fascinating characters; the good ones had a lot of heart and great depth to them. The villains were written so dark and demented it will give you goose bumps.
I loved this book. There were supernatural creatures that I had never heard of. So that was pretty cool. I like how they all work together as well. That was a pretty cool idea. Another thing I really liked about Touching Evil’ is that it brought my two favorite genres together paranormal and suspense. I recently read a book that did that and I was blown away and I was thrilled that this one turned out to be a mix of the genres as well.
I really enjoyed the plot and it was a fast-paced, fascinating read. ‘Touching Evil’ is another amazing book from Amber Garr.
Girls are being kidnapped and there are absolutely no leads as to where they are being taken and by whom. Then days later an anonymous phone call leads the police to the missing girl’s grave.
She is badly decomposed and seems to be mummified and they can't figure out what is happening to these poor girls, but one thing is for sure; girls keep disappearing.
Detective Garrick called in Leila a clairvoyant to see if she can possibly give them any leads. The case quickly turns into something much darker than the police or Leila can handle by themselves. Leila then stumbles upon some help and understanding from an odd group of supernatural creatures she has only seen on TV. She must accept their help however, to save girls lives, but they cannot involve the police now.
It was a fascinating tale of adventure, suspense and magic. She had some really fascinating characters; the good ones had a lot of heart and great depth to them. The villains were written so dark and demented it will give you goose bumps.
I loved this book. There were supernatural creatures that I had never heard of. So that was pretty cool. I like how they all work together as well. That was a pretty cool idea. Another thing I really liked about Touching Evil’ is that it brought my two favorite genres together paranormal and suspense. I recently read a book that did that and I was blown away and I was thrilled that this one turned out to be a mix of the genres as well.
I really enjoyed the plot and it was a fast-paced, fascinating read. ‘Touching Evil’ is another amazing book from Amber Garr.
December 27, 2012
What worked:
I’ve been a huge fan of Amber’s writing since I read her Syrenka Series and Touching Evil did not disappoint! Leila is one of those characters where you just can’t help but like her. Normally, I shun any books with demons in them because to be honest, they scare the crap out of me. Even when I received a copy to review, I was still quite hesitant to give it a go, I cannot stress how much demons scare me!
Thankfully, I read Touching Evil and oh. my. goodness. It was great! You really get the urban fantasy
feel and every now and again it would remind me of Ilona Andrews or J.D Robb. That’s the kind of thing you should expect going into this book.
What I love most about Amber’s writing is that in the middle of those serious moments, she throws in a couple of witty comments that have me cracked up laughing! I would be frowning, completely caught in a scene and it would be like “Oh…oh no, this meeting isn’t going to go well….wait, did she just call them vigilante X-Men?”. Strong, female heroines and bringing out the inner geek in me are Amber’s forte.
What irked: I didn’t really feel much of a connection to Conner, I have to be honest. He just wasn’t my cup of tea, I prefer the nice guys :)
And I may have skipped over the summonings and medium stuff but that’s just because I’d end up afraid of my own home haha!
Recommended to: Fans of Urban Fantasy, Ilona Andrews and paranormal lovers. This is a totally original take on things that go bump in the night. I’d give this book …***4.5 Stars - It was really good, a definite re-reader!***
Thankfully, I read Touching Evil and oh. my. goodness. It was great! You really get the urban fantasy
feel and every now and again it would remind me of Ilona Andrews or J.D Robb. That’s the kind of thing you should expect going into this book.
What I love most about Amber’s writing is that in the middle of those serious moments, she throws in a couple of witty comments that have me cracked up laughing! I would be frowning, completely caught in a scene and it would be like “Oh…oh no, this meeting isn’t going to go well….wait, did she just call them vigilante X-Men?”. Strong, female heroines and bringing out the inner geek in me are Amber’s forte.
What irked: I didn’t really feel much of a connection to Conner, I have to be honest. He just wasn’t my cup of tea, I prefer the nice guys :)
And I may have skipped over the summonings and medium stuff but that’s just because I’d end up afraid of my own home haha!
Recommended to: Fans of Urban Fantasy, Ilona Andrews and paranormal lovers. This is a totally original take on things that go bump in the night. I’d give this book …***4.5 Stars - It was really good, a definite re-reader!***
July 6, 2013
Really enjoyed this one!
Leila has a special gift. She's a clairvoyant who can see into people's past and future with just one touch. Leila's gift turns out to be more of a curse at the start of the book when she sees her fiancee's murder. She's unable to save him, and it's this event that catapults us into a paranormal murder mystery that starts with a blast and keeps on running.
Garrick, the detective who worked on Russ's case (Leila's deceased fiancee)enlists Leila's help while working to solve a rash of related murders. Several girls have gone missing, the similarities: each body has been dessicated.
I enjoyed watching the slow growth of Garrick and Leila's relationship. She's lonely, but hesitant to start something new and Garrick is sweet, and nurturing, and truly cares for her. I feel for the guy, though. A lot happens in this story, and poor Garrick is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He takes quite a beating, lol.
Leila's other leading man is Connor. He's a cambion: half human, half demon. And man-oh-man, is he HOT! Connor takes on the role of Leila's protector as she immerses herself in the search for the killer. Not only is he gorgeous, super strong, and fast, but he has the ability to sense what a person feels, which at times betrays Leila's attraction to him.
I had a hard time deciding who I liked Leila with best. In the end, I think Garrick is the good guy the reader thinks Leila should be with, while Connor is the bad boy the reader secretly wants her to end up with.
The supporting cast is a fun mix of magical characters that add to the story. The pace was fast, the writing good. A great weekend read.
Leila has a special gift. She's a clairvoyant who can see into people's past and future with just one touch. Leila's gift turns out to be more of a curse at the start of the book when she sees her fiancee's murder. She's unable to save him, and it's this event that catapults us into a paranormal murder mystery that starts with a blast and keeps on running.
Garrick, the detective who worked on Russ's case (Leila's deceased fiancee)enlists Leila's help while working to solve a rash of related murders. Several girls have gone missing, the similarities: each body has been dessicated.
I enjoyed watching the slow growth of Garrick and Leila's relationship. She's lonely, but hesitant to start something new and Garrick is sweet, and nurturing, and truly cares for her. I feel for the guy, though. A lot happens in this story, and poor Garrick is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He takes quite a beating, lol.
Leila's other leading man is Connor. He's a cambion: half human, half demon. And man-oh-man, is he HOT! Connor takes on the role of Leila's protector as she immerses herself in the search for the killer. Not only is he gorgeous, super strong, and fast, but he has the ability to sense what a person feels, which at times betrays Leila's attraction to him.
I had a hard time deciding who I liked Leila with best. In the end, I think Garrick is the good guy the reader thinks Leila should be with, while Connor is the bad boy the reader secretly wants her to end up with.
The supporting cast is a fun mix of magical characters that add to the story. The pace was fast, the writing good. A great weekend read.
January 15, 2013
For my complete review: http://icanonlybehele3.blogspot.com/2...
(including a video trailer and a link to read the entire first chapter + bonus excerpt)
I loved everything about book! Here is a breakdown of my main two reasons why:
1. Nearly every aspect of the paranormal world is included in this book such as:
Clairvoyants, Mediums, Psychics, Fairies, Werewolves, Sorcerers, Witches, Vampires, Ghosts, Demons, & Cambions (product of a incubus and human, technically half demon)
2. It has not one but three mysteries build into one storyline that mostly tie in together;
o Who murdered Leila Marx’s fiancé?
o Who is kidnapping young girls and then killing them?
o Who wants Lelia and Garrick dead?
So, if that isn’t enough to convince you that this is a must read let me continue. Touching Evil has so many twists and turns that I could not figure out what would happen next; most novels that have the “who is the killer” theme are nearly always predicable, at least for me. I have also read a few novels that attempt to connect three or more different plot lines together but fail because everything becomes confusing or jumbled. That was not the case for this one, everything fell into place seamlessly. I also enjoyed Garr’s take on the supernatural, it’s not like anything I’ve read before. She blends many unique elements with a few classic stereotypes. I honestly cannot wait to read the next installment of this series!
(including a video trailer and a link to read the entire first chapter + bonus excerpt)
I loved everything about book! Here is a breakdown of my main two reasons why:
1. Nearly every aspect of the paranormal world is included in this book such as:
Clairvoyants, Mediums, Psychics, Fairies, Werewolves, Sorcerers, Witches, Vampires, Ghosts, Demons, & Cambions (product of a incubus and human, technically half demon)
2. It has not one but three mysteries build into one storyline that mostly tie in together;
o Who murdered Leila Marx’s fiancé?
o Who is kidnapping young girls and then killing them?
o Who wants Lelia and Garrick dead?
So, if that isn’t enough to convince you that this is a must read let me continue. Touching Evil has so many twists and turns that I could not figure out what would happen next; most novels that have the “who is the killer” theme are nearly always predicable, at least for me. I have also read a few novels that attempt to connect three or more different plot lines together but fail because everything becomes confusing or jumbled. That was not the case for this one, everything fell into place seamlessly. I also enjoyed Garr’s take on the supernatural, it’s not like anything I’ve read before. She blends many unique elements with a few classic stereotypes. I honestly cannot wait to read the next installment of this series!
February 6, 2013
Leila Marx is slowly putting her life back together after the death of her fiance. Leila is a clairvoyant and she spends her days illustrating children's books and doing some off the books work for the local police department. Detective Derrick Pearson is investigating her fiance murder and in the process getting closer to Leila. Sometimes Leila can "see" things just by touching a person or an object and Detective Garrick needs her help in a new case involving the disappearance of young girls. How will they deal with their growing feelings toward each other? Enter the fabulous and gorgeous Conner Hoffman who is also attracted to Leila. With two men attracted to her, she finds herself in a love triangle. One man is hiding a secret that will surprise and shock her. When Leila learns that she may be the next target, she has to rely on the help of faes, werewolves, mediums, sorcerers, and a cambion in order to find the killer.
This is a very good paranormal mystery book. I have been wanting to read this for some time and am happy I got the chance to participate in the blog tour. There are so many strorylines that develop within the pages of this book. From the death of Leila's fiance to the killer it is full of twist and surprises. I loved the relationship development between Leila and Garrick and would like to see more between them. What a wonderful first book in an exciting new series. I look forward to reading many more books by Amber Garr. I recommend this book for all.
This is a very good paranormal mystery book. I have been wanting to read this for some time and am happy I got the chance to participate in the blog tour. There are so many strorylines that develop within the pages of this book. From the death of Leila's fiance to the killer it is full of twist and surprises. I loved the relationship development between Leila and Garrick and would like to see more between them. What a wonderful first book in an exciting new series. I look forward to reading many more books by Amber Garr. I recommend this book for all.
August 11, 2013
This is a interesting paranormal mystery. I wasn't sure how it would pan out with Leila so wrapped in grief by Garrick and Conner are wonderful characters that help her over the loss of her fiance.
The story is about the abduction and murder of young women for the sake of trying to bring back Asmodeus (a demon who happens to be Conner's dad I know poor conner). There is betrayel seen in the book by loved ones that is just devastating to read. Your heart goes out for those that were betrayed.
Leila is a unusual character. I like her strong presence and spunk. She gives off a nice calmness while under she is spunky and full of vitality. She is lost since her fiance was killed and it is only until the attraction of two men that she begins to put her life back together.
Garrick is the detective working the case. He is a sweetheart. So kind and caring. His heart is worn on his sleeve especially when dealing with the families. He is determined to find the answers but also get Leila to go out with him. On that front though he shows understanding and patience.
Conner is oh my. Just oh my he is feisty and beautiful but scary too. He is fighting his inner demon and I mean that literally. What a great male character. He shows how when we have a moral compass we can fight the evil in us and the evil around us. He has a strong attraction to Leila and does anything he can to protect her.
A story that will keep you wondering and on the edge of your seat and rooting for either Garrick or Conner. Nice Read.
The story is about the abduction and murder of young women for the sake of trying to bring back Asmodeus (a demon who happens to be Conner's dad I know poor conner). There is betrayel seen in the book by loved ones that is just devastating to read. Your heart goes out for those that were betrayed.
Leila is a unusual character. I like her strong presence and spunk. She gives off a nice calmness while under she is spunky and full of vitality. She is lost since her fiance was killed and it is only until the attraction of two men that she begins to put her life back together.
Garrick is the detective working the case. He is a sweetheart. So kind and caring. His heart is worn on his sleeve especially when dealing with the families. He is determined to find the answers but also get Leila to go out with him. On that front though he shows understanding and patience.
Conner is oh my. Just oh my he is feisty and beautiful but scary too. He is fighting his inner demon and I mean that literally. What a great male character. He shows how when we have a moral compass we can fight the evil in us and the evil around us. He has a strong attraction to Leila and does anything he can to protect her.
A story that will keep you wondering and on the edge of your seat and rooting for either Garrick or Conner. Nice Read.
January 16, 2013
**4 Stars**
I received a copy for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
MY OVERVIEW: If you are looking for a good paranormal adult mystery that reads as easily as a young adult book… then this is the book for you. This book had a really nice flow to it. I have a hard time picking up adult books lately, cause they just don’t grab your attention right away like most young adult ones do; this one did.
PROS: I like how all the supernatural beings live “normal” lives amongst humans. The mystery was great. You really don’t know the who and why until the end. It really does keep you guessing. Oh, and I can’t forget Garrett. I really liked him. He was my favorite character! (Yup, team Garrett.)
CONS: Ok, don’t hate me for saying this… but I didn’t like Conner. He seemed to try too hard to be “normal” and it just didn’t feel right. I do wish that a little more had been left hanging, but then I can see that maybe she wants to do different storylines with each book. I just hope that Russ’ storyline continues.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: There are so many things that the author could do with this new series, and I really look forward to reading more!
I received a copy for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
MY OVERVIEW: If you are looking for a good paranormal adult mystery that reads as easily as a young adult book… then this is the book for you. This book had a really nice flow to it. I have a hard time picking up adult books lately, cause they just don’t grab your attention right away like most young adult ones do; this one did.
PROS: I like how all the supernatural beings live “normal” lives amongst humans. The mystery was great. You really don’t know the who and why until the end. It really does keep you guessing. Oh, and I can’t forget Garrett. I really liked him. He was my favorite character! (Yup, team Garrett.)
CONS: Ok, don’t hate me for saying this… but I didn’t like Conner. He seemed to try too hard to be “normal” and it just didn’t feel right. I do wish that a little more had been left hanging, but then I can see that maybe she wants to do different storylines with each book. I just hope that Russ’ storyline continues.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: There are so many things that the author could do with this new series, and I really look forward to reading more!
January 16, 2013
Touching Evil is a intriguing mystery that captured my interest and held it till I read the last word. It totally exceeded my expectations. I was thrilled that we get to meet mediums, fae , vampires, a werewolf, some sorcerers, witches, clairvoyants, and cambions throughout Touching Evil. I really liked that each character was important and unique. I enjoyed how I kept guessing who was kidnapping the girls and how the story progressed. I like how Leila uses her gift ~that when she touches someone or something she gets impressions from them~ Leila helps others and I found her act of selflessness endearing.
I found Conner and Garrett excellent helping Leila heal her heart. I was okay with the ending but my mind is still filled with questions. I am thirsting for more.
I honestly think I am becoming obsessed with this series as I just finished the book I find myself really wanting to read it again and again. I can't stop thinking or talking about it. I sure hope Ms. Garr is currently working on book two and is almost done so I can read it!! This is a MUST READ series.
Just FYI~ This does contain some violence and a few swear words.
December 7, 2012
Leila is a touch clairvoyant and the book begins with her suffering a terrible loss of her fiance'. But then she is called into the police department to assist on a difficult case. From there the story includes some supernatural characters, a couple different options for her love, and trying to solve some murders. Who will win her love? Will they solve the murders? Who will she trust? There are so many different directions this story could have taken. I have not read anything else by Amber Garr before but this book did not disappoint at all. The cover of this book is one of the best covers I have seen in a long time - it captures the story's essence so remarkably. I definitely will read more of the Leila Marx Novels by Amber Garr - I need to know what is next for her and the characters in Book One.
I received this book from the author via Bewitching Book Tours. All opinions, good or bad, are mine.
I received this book from the author via Bewitching Book Tours. All opinions, good or bad, are mine.
March 16, 2013
It was tough for Leila, being able to foresee her fiance's murder but not able to stop it in time. She's now helping the police with her powers in the investigation process and she has no idea what she was getting into and what she would encounter...
I find myself liking Leila as the story progresses. She's tough and just keeps going, using her ability to help solve difficult cases for Garrick. I'm also impressed with how Amber includes many different types of paranormal creatures in Touching Evil. They make great supporting characters! I appreciate the witty humor made in the story. That made the whole story enjoyable, besides the wonderful characters.
By the way, did I mention that I'm torn between Garrick and Connor? If I haven't, then I'm saying it now! I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the series--to more Garrick and Connor!
Disclosure: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I find myself liking Leila as the story progresses. She's tough and just keeps going, using her ability to help solve difficult cases for Garrick. I'm also impressed with how Amber includes many different types of paranormal creatures in Touching Evil. They make great supporting characters! I appreciate the witty humor made in the story. That made the whole story enjoyable, besides the wonderful characters.
By the way, did I mention that I'm torn between Garrick and Connor? If I haven't, then I'm saying it now! I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the series--to more Garrick and Connor!
Disclosure: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2014
Touching Evil was an excellent read! What I liked: the characters Ms. Garr created were quick-witted, likeable and multi-dimensional. I love a strong heroine – and Liela did NOT disappoint me.
If I had to compare this book to another story – it would be the Marvel Avenger’s movie (which I also loved!). The good guys in this story didn’t wear capes or suits of armor, but they were certainly unlikely allies. They included a sorcerer, witch, vampire, cambion, medium, fairy, werewolf, and telepath who all came together to help a few abducted humans.
The author’s ability to paint a vivid picture brought this story to life. I highlighted several quotes in the book while I read, but one of my favorites was: “The butterflies in my stomach turned to clawed falcons as I envisioned what we were about to do.”
If you love a book that is full of action, well written characters and a fresh plot – this one is for you!
If I had to compare this book to another story – it would be the Marvel Avenger’s movie (which I also loved!). The good guys in this story didn’t wear capes or suits of armor, but they were certainly unlikely allies. They included a sorcerer, witch, vampire, cambion, medium, fairy, werewolf, and telepath who all came together to help a few abducted humans.
The author’s ability to paint a vivid picture brought this story to life. I highlighted several quotes in the book while I read, but one of my favorites was: “The butterflies in my stomach turned to clawed falcons as I envisioned what we were about to do.”
If you love a book that is full of action, well written characters and a fresh plot – this one is for you!
May 25, 2013
Touching Evil was a fun read, packed with action, a little romance and a lot of intrigue. I was glad to have won a copy through a Goodreads give-away.
Garr does a great job of weaving together a hodge podge of 'mythical' creatures to form a sort of 'X-Men' like team of do gooders. I especially enjoyed the section where Leila spent some time researching each of the creatures; it helped me to understand the general differences between each of the gifted characters.
The story moved along at a good pace, however the ending almost seemed a little rushed, but did set up nicely for book two. I'm interested to see how the relationships develop between the characters as the story continues.
Garr does a great job of weaving together a hodge podge of 'mythical' creatures to form a sort of 'X-Men' like team of do gooders. I especially enjoyed the section where Leila spent some time researching each of the creatures; it helped me to understand the general differences between each of the gifted characters.
The story moved along at a good pace, however the ending almost seemed a little rushed, but did set up nicely for book two. I'm interested to see how the relationships develop between the characters as the story continues.
January 22, 2013
Amber pens "Touching Evil" in a well written plot that keeps you guessing and turning the pages. A great start to a new series! Her characters were very interesting mixing the supernatural beings with the humans. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and to see where the characters wind up. Highly recommended to all who love a good paranormal romance and murder mystery mix.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
August 16, 2013
This is my first book by this author and I will be back for more! This one took me on quite the adventure and I never knew what I was going to be hit with yet! I have fallen in book love with Daniel! Loved it!!!
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