Touch

Denazen #1

by Jus Accardo

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home. Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her.

It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy—and her father's "law firm"—than she realized.Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life.

And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe. A secret Kale will kill to protect.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy

400 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.

Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Reviews

[Jennifer Armentrout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable characters, heart pounding action, sizzling hot romance--TOUCH has it all! Definitely fresh and new. You need to read this book like yesterday. If not, I'll send Kale after you.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!

1000000000000000000000/5 stars!!!!!

My brain has exploded after reading TOUCH!!!
It has the best ROMANCE, best STORY, best COVER, best KICK ASS GIRL and most swoontastically, best SHIRTLESS GUY

First, our rocking girl Dez (I love that bitch!!) she is just




The best thing?? SHE LIVES TO PISS HER DAD TO HELL well, I love ma dad, but if I had a father like that, I would surely be worse than Dez ;p. She is totaly kick-ass, expert at sarcasm, a super sexy girl with a brain. One of the strongest and sexiest protagonists I'v ever know. Then, we have been given the world's most IDOTIC-HEARTLESS-ROBOTIC-I-LIVE-FOR-MY-JOB-AND-DONT-GIVE-A-SIX-FOR-MY-FAMILY kinda dad, that is, Dez's dad. I-WOULD-KILL-THAT-GUY-ONE-DAY-FOR-EVEN-THINKING-OF-HURTING-TOPLESS-KALE

K, now I would like to introduce you to the most innocent, cute, sweet, hot, sexy, looks-best-without-a-top guy, KALE



uhh, sorry, that happens to me when i think of him...

okaay, back to Kale (wearing a shirt now)He is so....Kale. I mean, your heart with literally melt while reading abut him. He is the cutest man killing machine. One sec he'll be the I'm-cute-little-guy-who-doesn't-know-about-DVD and then he'll be the I'm-super-sexy-dude-here-to-kill-for-Dez. You would actually keep your beating-like-a-boombox-heart at his feet. I bet after reading the book you will agree with me.



But when I saw the last page, I was like,




WHY DID YOU HAVE TO END THIS BOOK!!! WHY JUS??!! WHY!!???

Verdict: This book is a MUST READ. If you haven't read this, you know nothing of topless-sexy cute guys. It has a total addicting quality such as Kale. The pace is great, story line is great, romance is awesome (thanks to Kale), all in all, this is a PERFECT BOOK for EVERYONE. But warning, kids shouldn't read this, or they'll be drooling all over Kale.

HAPPY READING!!

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I was not a very big fan of this one. The book starts out with a great action scene, the beginnings of an intriguing mystery, and I really liked Deznee's punky look and sarcastic attitude. Unfortunately, I felt as though she believed everything she was told, asked far too few questions, ran away with Kale far too quickly, and she started to get a little too boy-crazy for my taste.

While some of the events are certainly fun and kept my interest at first, they seemed to be so loosely plotted that after awhile it seemed as though they were all just part of a connect-the-dots action checklist, with very little transition or emotional pause in between. The writing was also pretty uneven, the powers seemed underdeveloped, and the betrayals were far too easy to predict.

I would say this might've made a decent middle grade book, except that there is some non-explicit mature content that would make it less appropriate for that audience. Still, a number of my friends seem to be enjoying the book, so it looks like the entertainment factor may carry it through for many readers.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when you don't know what to expect from a book and it ends up being awesome. Touch was the perfect example. I picked this up thinking it would be just another passable YA paranormal, but it was fantastic. It reminded me a lot of the TV show Heroes - people with supernatural abilities get locked up by this agency who want to use them for testing or for their own purposes. The energy vibrating from the book, though, was very much like The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong - and had a similar plot line as well, but with it's own personality.

From the beginning, this book is exciting and very intriguing with tons of mystery and questions that keep you on your toes. I really enjoyed all of the characters. The protagonist, Dez, is determined and stubborn. I loved how the guy didn't take over for the heroine. The attention was always on Dez's story. There were guys in the novel, of course - just look at the hottie on the cover! - but they never down right took over.

The romance was very sweet. I found there was actually a lot of chemistry between Dez and Alex, as well as between Dez and Kale. Most of the book I was rooting for Alex, I found him much hotter. I think it's mostly due to Kale being a bit clueless. It made him seem juvenile compared to Alex. Kale was good for a laugh though. His innocence is hilarious. I loved that he has no sense of censorship; He just blurts out everything.

The best part of the book and what made it a 5-star for me, was the addictive quality of it. They're always on the run or making very risky plans. It was exciting through and through, and it was very hard to stop reading. The climax was also very satisfying. It wasn't abrupt and it wasn't overwhelming. It ended in a way that makes it obvious the story is not over but there is no cliffhanger. So now I can sleep better until the next book comes out. :)

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH HOT DAMN!!!!!!! *wiping off sweat* That was some crazy intense shit there! Sorry, for the foul mouth. But, HOLY HELL! Okay so seriously, I had no idea what to expect when I bought this. I stumbled upon it on my nook and saw it was like 5 bucks. So I figured, hey what the hell. I will give it a try. Not to mention, the guy on the cover. DO YOU SEE HIM??? Yea, he is definitely some eye freakin candy alright. So I went for it. After seeing mostly all FIVE STARS, I figure what do I have to lose? DAMN FREAKIN OH DEAR...HOLY CRAP..HOW DID I MISS THIS ONE? All went through my head while reading this. I had no idea what this was about and when I read the synopsis or whatever, I was taken aback at first thinking it would be boring. Oh hell no. This was anything BUT boring. Okay so......



Synopsis:


When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect."


My review:

So holy crap, again! I have to keep reiterating it because this book blew my mind. This story was everything you want in a YA/Paranormal romance book. Like part of the time I was screaming, jumping up and down, gasping for breath, cursing at the book (which yea it's pointless because it's not like it could hear me) but still. Also, I was in awe half the time. I mean our main hottie mc hotterson was HOT but he was so much more than that. He was so innocent, he was brainwashed as a child and a killing machine for these horrible people that used kids with "special" gifts. It was so sad. I cried half the time because he didn't want to be bad or kill anyone. Ugh, it broke my heart. Though there were funny moments too.

Deznee, known as Dez was the main heroine and damn she was hardcore too. She lived to piss off her overbearing detached asshole father and when she brings home this mysterious boy Kale, things take a wicked turn. Her father is the head man for this organization that uses these poor kids as weapons. Man did she ever miss that information. Well, she. Was. Awesome. Her skills and mad crazy persona gave her a Lara Croft Tomb Raider kind of appearance. She kicked some ass! I loved her character and her wanna-kill-my-dad-for-lying-to-me attitude, she was relentless! Go DEZ!!!!


Kale. Well how do I put him into words. Indescribable. Maybe. But he is amazing. An innocent sweet guy lost in a killer's body. He can't touch anything without it turning to dust. Imagine their shock when they realize Dez is the only person or thing he CAN touch without it obliterating into thin air. But with Dez's help, he escapes the horrors of Denazen, an apparent law firm her daddy works for. Yea, law firm my ass. More like a prison. But he is your typical *swoon swoon RAWR* kind of guy. And damn did I swoon! And drool. Dangit, I just did too. Maybe I should wear a bib when I read these books. :)

Together, Dez and Kale made an amazing team. Every minute with them was a surprise and a happy moment. She got to see his true self and fell in love with him because of his beautiful heart. They shared some O.M.G. intimate moments together that were to die for, and I almost wanted to say "To hell with her, TAKE ME"!!!!! Holy crap, for someone who doesn't know much about the world, he sure knows how to make a girl go GAGA, and weak in the knees. This was such an awesome adventure! I admire Dez for helping Kale escape the hell hole he was caged in. It was so sad to see what he went through and how bad they tortured him. It made me sick. Well anyway, I recommend this book to EVERYONE! There was alot of action, suspense, romance and comedic parts. FIVE STARS all the way!!! Now I can't wait for the sequel!!


FAVORITE QUOTES:


“He sat up straight, eyes wide, and touched the tip of his index finger to his cheek. "What was that?"
I blushed. "A kiss."
"That's what a kiss feels like?"
"Well, technically. There are a lot of different types of—"
"Show me."
"Show you what?"
"Show me some other kinds."
"You're asking me to kiss you?" ~Kale/Dez



“That was your past. I am your future." ~Kale


“I think I understand that now. I think I love you.”~ Kale



“I backed us up against the wall. “How I feel? You want to know?” I ran my hands over his face and tangled them into his messy hair. “This is unlike anything else. I’ve bungeed off buildings, I’ve skateboarded off roofs. I’ve even gone train surfing. Nothing comes close to the high I feel when I’m with you. You’ve been through horrible things, and yet you’re one of the kindest, truest people I’ve ever met. At first I thought it was because you were
safe. I could feel something for you because you couldn’t hurt me. Not the way Alex did. But it’s more than that. It’s you. Who you are. The way you are. Everything from your smile to the way you always say exactly what’s on your mind. Your soul, Kale.”

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"They do not control you. You don't kill for them anymore."
His voice came in soft, cracked rasps. "No, I don't. But I would kill for you. Only you."

I'm fascinated with stories in which people can harm another person with a touch. I loved the way it was executed in Holly Black's Curseworkers series, so I was happy to see a similar concept introduced in this book as well. Even though the first half of Touch started sort of shaky, I felt like the second half really stepped it up on the action. My hopeful guess is that book 2 will satisfy more by filling in some missing plot holes.

I'm not even going to go into my concerns about Deznee's (did anyone else go into horrific flashbacks of the name Renesmee?) blind reactions to things which she should have given more thought to. I acted much the same way as a teenager, so even though it made me uncomfortable to watch, it's probably for the fact that I had my own careless moments around the same time period. I even hid a "homeless" person in my home (long story), so I laughed with recognition over Dez's ridiculous lack of concern for her own safety.

Where I did stumble the most was trying to find something to like about Kale. His character kept reminding me of Brendan Fraser's character Adam in a movie titled Blast From the Past. The character in that movie was sealed inside of a bomb shelter for most of his life, so when he emerged into the present day, he was completely clueless to what life was like. For some reason, I found this to be more annoying than cutely endearing, in both that movie and in this book. I'm sure that everyone else loved Kale's innocence, but for some reason, his character frustrated me. When your male love interest says, "Why do you care if she lets me kiss her? She holds my hand now, not yours!" ...uh...that's just awkward.

I guess in the case of Dez and Kale, it's like the blind leading the blind. Kale instantly attached himself without limits to Dez, and Dez gave us this creepy gem.

There was something about him that made me feel alive. More alive than any rave or cheap thrill I'd ever chased before.

I'm just going to put it out there : most people don't self-reflect and self-diagnose like this. This is the kind of observation that someone else makes about you when they're about to stage an intervention on your ass. Well, maybe not the extreme crushing part, but the diagnosis of why you're chasing cheap thrills in the first place. Everyone's a critic, after all...

We also had this little moment which had me making a face :

Alex used to tell me he'd sneak in and watch me sleep. I always knew he was there, though, and feigned sleep, loving the idea of his eyes on me.

I think someone might have been a Twilight fan? Because the mention of costumed "Bella and Edward" characters didn't escape me.

Never fear though, this is no Twilight copy. If it was, I would have stopped reading.

To be fair though, if I have to point out the love/drug reference with every other book, I have to do it with this one as well : Kale was truly the one fix I'd never get enough of. My nirvana.

However, the second half turned it all around for me. Yay for super-powers and body-swapping and fun action sequences! There were even a few moments which had me laughing. I was really vibing on the second half of the book.

It was easy to get excited about the unique traits and abilities for the "sixes" (the characters with powers). Dez's power is pretty badass, but I think one other character might have something even more valuable. Can't wait to see where the next book is going to take us. If the second half of this book is any indication, it's going to be a fun ride. I love how fearless the characters are in their pursuit of what they want because it led us on some crazy adventures in this book.

And let's face it, a character who can death-touch has real possibilities. I want to see Kale break out these powers and start making people drop like flies.

I felt like I said more negative about Touch than positive, but I really did end up liking it in the end and consider this to be a great first installment for a series. It will be fun to crack open book 2 later in the week!

Did anyone else find themselves feeling sorry for Alex? It was probably just me, since he was sort of spun as heartless and cruel. I couldn't help but want to know more about him though. I think I was crushing on him more than Kale, which is probably warped of me. He was an interesting baddie though! (watch me chant) Alex! Alex! Alex!

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I THINK I HAVE SERIOUSLY LOST IT.

TOUCH IS AMAZING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE THIS REVIEW WITHOUT TURNING IT TO A FANGIRLING DIARRHEA WITH ME WRITING IN ALL CAPS (IN BOLD LETTERS) AND USING GIFS SUCH AS THIS...














I MEAN FOR REALZZZZZZ!


It's Crazy!!! With a capital C.


My fabulous friends from twitter, namely Janette, Kristy and Cindi pushed (Virtually, of course)me to read this book. They said it was awesome, but HOLY SHIRTLESS KALE!!! , I didn't know it was THIS AWESOME. SO NOT READY FOR THAT.

I will never doubt you again my friends..

Jus Accardo just blew me away with this. As in BLEW. ME. AWAY. LIKE. A. DANDELION. CAUGHT. IN. A. TORNADO. Touch is one of those rare books that kept me on the edge! It was full of kickass action, twist and turns that left my head spinning and HOT ROMANCE. Wait, that's a bit of an understatement. Let me show you what this "hot romance" did to me..



YES?

See that?

THAT ,my friend, are my teenage hormones exploding to the MOON!

Wondering now what led to all that?

Well, let me tell you...

Touch was told in the POV of a chick named, Dez. I LOVE HER. She's snarky, sarcastic, rebellious, badass and makes it her life mission to annoy his father to death! Don't get me wrong about the last part, I love my own dad to bits. I won't do anything to hurt him, but DEZ's FATHER? GOSH. If there was an award for the MOST CRACKED-UP-PSYCHOTIC-EVIL-HEARTLESS-SIMPLY-THE-WORST-FATHER-IN-THE-WORLD, I would hand it to him hands down, sobbing in dread and all. (And just when I thought Valentine from TMI series will have that award forever!) She stands up for what she believes in. She never backs down. She's just totally one of the strongest YA heroines I know.


And with such a strong heroine like that, she deserves nothing more than a SWOONTASTIC love interest. And that is no other than HELP ME! ALWAYS SHIRTLESS IN MY MIND Kale. This boy should not wear a top ever again is just HAWT. And the thing I love about him more is his shirtless self innocence. It's just so charming and adorable, and not to tell 1000000000X more swoon-inducing when he tells his sweet sweet lines to Dez. Eeeeepppp! You'll just know that everything that he says is true and unfiltered(Literally) and you can't just help and wait for your heart to melt in a puddle of goo. But then, he suddenly goes SMEXY mode. And all hell broke loose! SOMEONE CALL A FIRETRUCK AND AN AMBULANCE! KALE IS SHIRTLESS!! EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE AND YOUR HEART WILL BEAT ITSELF OUT OF YOUR RIB CAGE!!!!




calms self..

Sorry about that..

It was just PERFECT! From all the supporting characters (special mention to Brandt! I love him too), the plot, the occurrence of events, the writing style, hell, even the tiny bits such as the frying pan, Vans, and WWE citation! I LOVED EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT.



Now..

I won't be pushing you to read this book..

I would let SHIRTLESS KALE handle that...




Credits: That pic is not mine! It belongs to my wall ..I don't know really. But I got it from a link in Jacinda's blog. (Sorry, I don't know how to post a link here) But the pic is def not mine. Though I wish it was! ;)

[Mikky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at:


Fourteen year old me is doing the happy dance right about now! A series she adores is finally getting a continuation! The re-read almost a decade later just went magnificently well! Things can only go up from here.

As mentioned above, this is a re-read almost ten years in the making. I'm SO excited for the fourth book in this series to finally be released! Before I can get to it I'm making a point to re-read the full series. It's proven to be just as amazing as I vaguely remembered it being!

Apparently, fourteen year old me was an adrenaline junkie with books because boy does this book/story keep things up in the air and then decides to pull the rug from under you while you're looking up. All the plot twists and the secrets being revealed made for one heck of a heart attack inducing book.

I like to think that maybe in a fantasy world I'd be Dez. She's cool, helps her friends when they need it and even puts herself in danger for the people she cares about. If that isn't a good kid then I don't know what is, though I should mention she parties like there's no tomorrow and likes to make her father angry with it. You can't get it all good with no bad, right?

Kale is so innocent and sweet! When you get to know a little of his background it is soul-crushing! How could someone treat this sweet and at the same time dangerous boy like that? No one deserves that treatment. I loved how Dez took him under her wing. I can't wait to re-remember how they grow both together and apart as people.

I thought I had a vague recollection that the ending was going to be sob inducing and I'm glad I was wrong. It was sweet and heart-pounding all at the same! I'm both excited and nervous about the next book because I know deep, deep down in my soul that the crap is going to hit the fan various times before it gets to the light at the end of the tunnel.

My Favorite Quotes:

"You're a human being, not a weapon. You don't belong to anyone."

"Every event in people's lives shape their future. You cannot change these things."

"I loved proving people wrong - especially myself. I thrived on it."

[Wendy Higgins]

THAT was awesome. Action-packed with so many twists and turns that you don't know who to trust from chapter to chapter. And high-level sizzling sensuality. I adored Kale's mix of innocence and allure. And Dez's sassiness and spunk.
A super fun YA!!!

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As long as I know this" - he lifted our joined hands - "is mine to hold, I'll wait for you forever.”

Re-read: 20.12.15

Man I still love this book! It's still bloody fantastic, and Kale is still amazing! <3 I seriously love how fresh Kale is. How new the real world is to him, how he handles it. Simply amazing. Love it! Sure I'll re-read it yet again in the future ;)

“If I had the ability to touch anyone else in this world, I still don't believe I'd want it to be anyone but you.”

[Sandee is Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

His eyes were beautiful - ice blue and intense - and I found it hard to look away.

Oh fuck me...

Insta-love on the first few pages of this book!

Unbelievable.

At first, I thought it had potential, because I sort of (and I really mean the sort of) like the female character Dez short for Deznee or something. She was spunky. I liked that, but when I read further... her spunkiness got a little too much that it became really annoying.

Another thing, when she said those words up there... she lost me... that was about at around 2% of the book.. 2 fucking percent! That was breaking the record. And I thought, Bella had the worse case of insta-love.

Insta-love is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to books. I'm not saying that insta-love is always a bad thing, it's not. There are some authors who could execute that very well and with those instances, it is acceptable for me... But this book... I think that about explains it.

Here is how the typical insta-love book scenario goes:

Girl meets handsome, hunky boy with blue eyes.
Lovestruck girl gets smitten by hunky boy staring into her eyes.
Lovestruck girls thinks it must be love.
Hunky boy looks at girl and thinks she's the most exquisite thing in the entire planet universe galaxy.
Hunky boy thinks lovestruck girl's so fragile she needs protecting all the time this one hunky boy is totally right about...
Hunky boy vows to protect lovestruck girl until he dies which usually never happens, because authors don't usually kill their lead male character.
Lovestruck girl and hunky boy gets into trouble.
Lovestruck girl does something stupid.
Hunky boy saves the day.
Lovestruck girl and hunky boy lives happily ever after.

Does that sound familiar?

On this book, lovestruck girl saves hunky boy. Think lovestruck girl's impressive? Don't be.

I don't know why I rambled all about insta-love up there. It's just that... it gets so annoying sometimes that most ya books follow the same plot line add the stupid insta-love... it gets tiring to read about... *insert tons of random ramblings about how stupid insta-love is hlfdsahhgkahdglkjhgi*

anyway, on to the story shall we?

Dez, the Queen of Crazy Shit (that's what people call her... oh so she said.), decided to call it a night after doing some crazy stunts at a party.

Hair lashed like a thousand tiny whips along my face. The rough and rumbling texture of the barn roof beneath my board. Then nothing.

Flying. I was like flying. fucking idiot jumped off the top of a barn without anything to land on but cushy hays!

For a few blissful moments, I was weightless. A feather suspended in midair right before it fluttered gracefully to the ground.

Okay. So I sort of like her on these early parts.

Then, when she was walking him, she heard noises. Shouting. Then heavy footsteps. It was getting closer and closer to her. Then out of the blue, someone was tumbling down the hill who landed near the stream.

He'd landed in an odd angle. how odd was the angle? an odd obtuse angle? an odd right triangle?, bare feet and covered in several nasty looking slices. I squinted in the dark and saw he was bleeding through his think white T-shirt in several places as well as from the small gash on the side of his head. The guy looked like he'd gone ten rounds with a weed whacker.

If someone drops in front of you panicking and obviously, wounded... what are you going to do? I think the most human thing to do is help the person right? To ask if he's alright. To ask what happened. I know the guy could be a criminal. He could be a serial killer... and in that case running away, would be the best option... but do you want to know what the Queen of Crazy Shit did? she did the shittiest thing She took note of how good-looking the injured guy was. Thinking of whether he was from the part and if he was there, she would have remembered... Plus his hair was long... And he was missing he signature Parkview T-shirt tan... Give me a fucking break! Oh and he has well-defined arms and broad shoulders...

This guy obviously hit the gym - something the local boys could've used.

Uuuuhhh.. I mean come on. Are those really the things that girls think about when you see a severely injured guy? Really? I didn't like it Dez. Wrong move.

Anyways, so there. After all that, mysterious wounded guy demanded for her shoes. Yep. I'm not kidding. He asked for her shoes. She gave it to him and fallen on the mud during the process. Did hunky guy help her? Nope. He didn't.

So here's where the fun part stars. The people who were looking for mysterious, hunky guy caught up with him. too much time was wasted with Dez oogling Mr. Mysterious and Mr. Mysterious borrowing shoes Dez pointed the goons to the wrong direction and the bad guys were on their merry way of finding Mr. Mysterious, who were right there all along... hiding under their noses.

So... After the entire thing with the goons and the shoe borrowing... Mr. Mysterious finally says something...

"I'm hungry." He was staring again. "Do you have any food?"

So lovestruck girl leads hunky guy home. She felt that by doing this, she's getting even with her dad. Our girl has some daddy issues. Plus... I think she also have some wicked plans of her own...

But while the thought of pushing Dad closed to the edge gave me warm tingles, it wasn't my only motivation. I kind of wanted a little more time with the guy.Ooohh holllyyyhelllll puuuhhhlleeassseee... you don't even know where this dude came from or what he did with his life? Those arms... Those eyes...I'm not even kidding. She really said these..

Oh shit. I don't think I could continue with this anymore. That summary I gave, was just from the first chapter. While I'm a fan of fast paced book... This was just way too fast for my taste.

I had a lot of issues with the book. I didn't stop because this was a buddy read. And I wanted to, for once in my life, finish a buddy read. And I did. Only my friend didn't. We seem to share the same thoughts on this book. She gave up earlier than I did.

Okay so... Dez She was extreme... It seems that the author was trying so hard to make her look badass, but in the end, she just became really annoying for me. I like rebel girls, but there had to be a valid reason. I get that she and her dad stopped spending time together, but what she does to gain attention? I don't agree with. Take for example that stunt she did at the barn, that could kill a person done incorrectly. She does it all the time she says, but I don't buy it. Her dad has reasons, which I wouldn't reveal because... it's part of the story.. so I'm going to shut up now.

So.. yeah it's crazy. Hmmm. What else am I going to say about this... Uhhh.. Kale, that's Mr. Hunky's name. He's weird. He's not book boyfriend material at all. So, Kale has some sort of an ability. If I wasn't too lazy, this part should have been on the summary.. but there it goes... Kale's touch could kill people. Sounds familiar? Sounds exactly like my favorite series of all time! He was kept in a facility ever since he could remember. I remember a certain female who was kept in a facility too because of her deadly touch too so they could experiment on her. But Dez, was immune to his touch. WAIT WAS I READING SHATTER ME? ONLY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS? A SPINOFF MAYBE?

No, Sandee, you're reading Touched. And although, I initially thought this was similar to Shatter Me, it wasn't. There were plenty of similarities though, which I won't be enumerating, because... I'm fucking lazy. But there are quite a lot. Difference? This wasn't dystopian.

I like the writing - sometimes. This book was entirely on Dez' POV and like I said she was extreme... and it just gets annoying at first... then after a while, I started to hated her and her decisions... she did do some good towards the end though, so I was pretty impressed with that. Everything was wrapped up too perfectly and I didn't like that. It was too coincidental. Like how one person was some sort of psychic and she knew they would be able to accomplish the assigned task for Dez. And how Mr. Mysterious was someone special.

I don't know. This review's all over the place, because this book was too. I made notes, but just too lazy... I don't know why but writing this review... made me really lazy..

Anyways, if you've read this and liked it, good for you. But if you didn't like it and would like to talk about it... Leave me some comments below so we could discuss.

That's it for this review!

[Jacinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of Touch on my blog

My Book Boyfriend-Kale!

My 8 reasons why you should read Touch

Touch is one of my favorite books of 2011. There I said it. So don’t be surprised in December when Touch shows up on those lists! I have pre-ordered a paperback copy and I bought it for my Kindle. CRAZY!

I’m writing this review with my heart beating out of my chest and my hands shaking. I have plans to re-read all of this awesomeness again as soon as I’m finished writing this gushing review!

After the above paragraph, you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. From the first chapter, we are sent on a roller coaster into what I could only describe as a young adult novel with characters who have superhero type powers, but at the same time…entirely different. This seems to be the most fitting way for me to put into words the general theme of this book. Anything I say after the first chapter or so could contain TONS of spoilers, so I’m leaving anything related to this aspect of the story hush, hush.

Our main character Dez is totally bad a*#!!! I’m in love with every single thing about her! She is what a young adult female character should be! She’s rebellious and stands up for what she knows is right.

This book has more layers than a seven-layer dip! Seriously! Once I thought my brain had finally wrapped itself around what was happening, something new was in my face! I had no time to guess any major or even minor plot points! So many twists! The plot was face paced! I can’t believe the author shoved that much action and plot into only 2xx pages! Tons of action! I was wanting to devour every single word. Some action scenes can put me to sleep, not these!

ROMANCE! Dez & Kale! I won’t be able to say enough about these two, but it is one of the best romances in a book I’ve personally read about and enjoyed. Kale is sweet, cute, but more! You just need to read about him for yourself, I’m serious!

The ending was pretty freaking EPIC! Everything came together perfectly, so many different ties that we needed information about. No cliffhanger! That is a total plus, I was reading expecting to throw my e-reader out the window, but Jus Accardo saved us from having to endure torture waiting for book number two. She set the story up brilliantly for another book by adding new elements at the end…she’s just brilliant! Many first books in a series, I can easily pass up reading the subsequent books, but not with the Denazen series!

I will close this review saying I was left with a book high (yep HIGH as a kite!) once I finished that final sentence. If only every book left me and everyone with that same feeling…more people would be avid readers! If the summary didn’t convince you to pick up this book, hopefully my review has done it for you!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!
Loved this one!
Love Kale and how everything was new to him. How he stared at Dez! Swoon! He cracked me up too! Dez is one tough girl! Loved her too!
Full of action and had me on the edge of my seat a few times. Can't wait for more!

[Kayleigh {K-Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch Review on K-Books

I didn't really know what I expected when I started this book but if definitely wasn't that. Wow. I really enjoyed this book. I definitely didn't expect it to be so action-packed and I was pleasantly surprised with this book.

Dez has always believed her father was a lawyer, since her mother died giving birth to her, her and her father have never been close and she will do anything to piss him off. But then Dez meets Kale, the strange boy who seems to know nothing of the world and is confused and frightened but also fiercely protective. Suddenly Dez discovered that all is not how it seems and she is thrown into a fierce battle that is surfacing between her father's company and the Sixes; people with extraordinary powers who are being used as weapons. But Dez is not as she seems either, she is harbouring a deep secret, one she has fought to protect all her life.

I really enjoyed this book. It definitely wasn't what I expected but that, to me, is a very good thing. I definitely wasn't expecting some of the things that happened.
First off, Dez is one of my favourite heroine's. She is strong and won't take any crap from nobody. She's not afraid to speak her mind and if someone needs punching, well she's the one who'll do it. I love that you see her softer side while she is with Kale, and Kale sees a side of her not many people get to see.
I instantly fell head over heels for Kale. He is the sweetest guy ever. I don't think I have ever sat there and said awwwww so many times while reading one book, but I did with this one. Everytime Kale was speaking to Dez all I could do was go awwwww and yes I looked slightly weird sat there reading on my kindle saying awwww to it out-loud but I don't care. I just love Kale and I cannot wait to see how his and Dez's relationship grows in the next book.

The most surprising thing in this book for me was the ending. I definitely wasn't expecting it. All the way through the book Dez is set on one goal, I won't say what coz that would be a major spoiler and I hate spoilers in reviews, but I definitely wasn't expecting her to get it. I am a little confused as to what will happen in the next book as I definitely expected this to stretch throughout the series. I am really looking forward to the next book and I think this was a great start to a new series.

[Mery St. Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quiero a este chico U.U

[Arshiya Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

KALE...!!!!!! Damn he is sooooo innocent
I loved each and every part of kale
He sees everything in different light so I think the hero is perfect
For me the heroine is not so much
I don't like the part where she meet Alex when Kale locked up even if she knew Alex is in love with her
It's a good story though

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was such a great debut!
Touch is filled with action, intrigue, excitement and such tenderness that I never expected.

Dez is my kind of girl, she's a rebel, an adrenaline junkie, tom-boyish through and through and has some great sass. She was very easy to connect with, maybe it was just how she saw things or maybe it was the way she talked but I found myself really enjoying her from minute one. But Kale is what owned this book for me.
He has this incredible vulnerable side that you just want to hug the hell out of, but don't let that fool you, this boy also got some mad skills. Quick, strong, powerful and a true survivor. He's also known as a Six; a special person with certain powers, in this case Kale has a deadly touch. One touch can kill anyone and any living thing...only Dez seems to be immune. When these two are together I just wanted to sigh, such an adorable couple with some real sweet, amusing and sexy moments.

I really loved the plot concept and while it wasn't anything new, I still enjoyed what Jus Accardo brought into this genre.
The Denazen Corporation uses these people called Sixes who have special and/or deadly abilites and they force them to punish the people who are targeted. They are used as weapons. As assassins. Drowning in guilt and sick of his hand being forced (literally) Kale escapes and runs into Deznee. She figures that this would piss off daddy dear if she brought home some random guy but I don't think either of them were prepared for what happens when dear old dad comes home and knows exactly who Kale is. I don't want to spoil to much, but from then on this book is a whirlwind of thrill that completely had me sucked in.

The writing was really good, sure, it's a bit uneven and even a little rushed in the beginning, but once the story started to unfold I became very much invested in the story. I really liked the secondary characters, they each brought something new to the story and I really got a kick out the different abilities.
Lots of twist and turns, and that includes the ending as well so I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

All in all, this was a really great read. Fun, funny, pulse-pounding and basically kick-ass. A really great start to what looks like a promising series. I can't wait to read the next book!

Kale!<3

(Arc provided by Netgalley)

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch (Denazen # 1) by Jus Accardo

This is the first book I’ve read by Jus Accardo and I have to say that I am so glad that I had the chance to read it. Jus writing is excellent this story started off with a bang, the plot is great, character development excellent and all I can say is Jus Accardo has me hooked into the Denazen Series. This story is easy to read, fast paced and I couldn’t stop reading it till I was at the end.

We meet Dez, who is leaving a party and cuts through the woods, trying to get home before her father. In the woods she bumps into Kale who is running from something and she can see he needs her help so she offers to bring him to her house to get him away from whoever is chasing him. Dez knows this may cause some problems at home with her father but that doesn’t stop her. Dez is used to being in trouble acting out is typical behavior for her…… skateboarding, drinking pretty much doing whatever she wants all just trying to get her father’s attention.

As Kale and Dez get to know each other Kale is shocked he can touch Dez as his touch usually kills….but to make matters worse Kale and Dez end up on the run from Dez’s father when they realize he is not a lawyer like she thought but the head of the company that has been using Kale and keeping him locked up. They end up on the run and both agreeing they have to stop the Denazen Corp.

Touch is the first book in this series and it is a fantastic read, full of action, lies, secrets and of course romance. I have rated Touch a 4 star rating and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

[Rhea_Sways · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars...
I'm going to keep this review short. To begin with the story includes of various individuals with different powers and their fight against an institution that wants to use them all...


Yes, a very used plot but wait a second there is a really sweet hero who falls for a girl who is "special". OK sorry this does sound all familiar, but it's because it works and that is the reason I gave this book 3.5 stars. All books will have something or everything you have heard or read about although the author can make it unique. I do feel this is a promising opening to the series, it has good potential.

[Eunice · Rating 1 out of 5]

My father was always evil. I knew it from the day I was born. He was always so empty, so cold! We were never able to have that regular father-daughter relationship. Plus, mumsy is gone. I'm so sad. (In a bid for attention, I do all sorts of crazy things like jumping off a 15 meter barn into a swimming pool. Notice me daddy dearest! I still long for your attention even though you are totally evil.) Ohh! A boy with cut feet who came out of nowhere. Better yet, he's HOT. (You're being chased by suspicious men? I feel your pain. Let's run away together!) Oh wait a second, now he's telling me that my father is evil. Silly Kale! I knew that a long time ago. You are simply so funny! Denazen, an evil thing my dad is a part of? Didn't I say he was evil? Ohh! You're called Sixes. That is so interesting. I can totally believe everything you say because it is so believable. I've known you for about 5 seconds. You're touch can kill? Funny! It doesn't seem to be affecting me. But guess what soul mate? I've got abilities too! Watch me morph different objects into different things. Unfortunately, it comes with horrible side effects of pain and nausea. What! My dad has my mom too? Now he has really crossed the line. There's a Six called Reaper who can help me break my mother out? Let's go find him! A price? I have to find the whole list of Sixes? Golly! I've got the perfect plan! I'll just tell my dad I'm a Six and morph stuff for him. By the way, before I forget, I have an ex-boyfriend who still loves me. Love triangle or what? Now when Kale (who told me he loves me) is locked up in a cage, I have Alex. Yay! Don't worry Kale. I'm coming for you! It might take me a while though. Ya see, I'm a pretty big idiot. My father isn't the brightest bulb either. I guess it runs in the family. Now, I realize that maybe I could have broken into Denazen without telling my dad about my ability. Silly me!

BTW my cousin Brandt is totally awesome. But, now he's dead. I'll grieve for all of five seconds. 1,2,3,4,5. Okay, done! I'm ready to move on with life!

Note: Since Kale has been away from civilization for so long, he's portrayed as very clueless about love. He says stuff like "I think I might be in love with you." Another example of something is "Can I hold your hand?" I found it really infuriating. If the author thought that making him clueless would make him have more appeal, she was very wrong.

So, there you have it. I didn't like this book at all. Apparently, there's a second book. Joy! (NOT!)

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

After only hearing good things about Touch, I decided to give it a shot and hope for the best.

It. Blew. Me. Away.

In the heart-stopping-can't-put-this-book-down-what's-sleep? kind of way. And I'm calling it, this will make one of my top 2011 books easily.

Reasons to Read:

1. Stand Out Characters:
Kale and Dez completely caught me off guard as characters, and I love them for it. They're nothing like I expected, and break out of the common YA-protag mold. Dez has her own distinct voice and sassy attitude, and she's unapologetic about it. I normally don't appreciate the "rebel without a cause" but I really appreciated this about her. She was sarcastic and fierce but it FIT her so perfectly, you know? And Kale is this sexy and innocent all mixed together into one swoon-worthy love interest. He's almost like anti-bad-boy "bad" boy.

2. Action!:
Touch is ripe with action scenes; something that the paranormal genre seems to be strangely lacking recently. But these ones are exciting and done so well, that it's painful to put down. Literally painful...

3. Romance:
Speaking of pain, the romance in this book is going to leave you begging for more because going too long with it just seems cruel. I don't want to spoil or tease you with anything, but there are a few scenes that are well worth reading the book all on their own... ;) Enjoy!

Jus Accardo writes this story as if this is her masterpiece, and it's done so well that you're well-immersed into the story. Finishing the book felt so jarring, like waking up from one really, really good, really hot dream.

Also, the story is just so cool. It definitely has that X-men vibe, but in more realistic way. You get these people with special powers, but I really appreciated the amount of thought Jus put into the limitations on their powers in particular.

I demand more Denazen books, with more Kale & Dez, more of THOSE scenes (if you've read Touch, you know what I mean. if you haven't, you need to read it to go find out), and fast because this withdrawal period IS NOT FUN. *pouting*

e-galley was very kindly received from Entangled Publishing via netGalley in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation was received.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a very long wait, my mom FINALLY bought this for me for Christmas (I knew she had it before Christmas, but she refused to give it to me early). I've been dying to read this book, no pun intended (get it?).

Touch starts off in the middle of somewhere. Unlike other books, whose beginnings usually begin with introductions and a little background, Touch started off in the middle of somewhere. That somewhere being Dez sliding off a roof. Aside from this, within the first few pages, Dez meets Kale, and the story continues to escalate from there.

Touch was a powerful, sizzling read that had me on the edge of my mattress (because that's where I was reading it). It has memorable characters, hotties, notties, back-stabbers, an interesting and witty plot, and humor. God, the humor. Kale, oh Kale, how I love you for your obliviousness. Kale is a six, he's been locked up since infancy so he doesn't know what a kiss feels like. Why his heart pounds when he's with Dez? What lime jello tasted like. His hotness makes up for this, though.

The entire book is written in the perspective of Dez, the daughter of our bad guy. She's bad ass, witty, funny, and just an entertaining character to read about. You'll agree with her decisions, feel for her, and most importantly, understand her. You may also relate to her, but on some levels you may not. The thing I liked most about our girl Dez is that she was so human and life-like. She was a living, breathing character that really made this story worth while.

If you love Dez then you have to love Kale. They're a package deal. Can't love one without the other. Why? Because together, they create the most entertaining book ever! Together there are mysteries, love, laughter, anger, fun, thinking, feeling.... yadda yadda yaaa. These two characters make up the story. They are the story. Kale is quite an amusing character. It's just so fun to read about him and his actions. I can't say I didn't smile when ever he talked. He's just so cute.

Aside from the wonderfully crafted characters, Accardo created a story that was unique. It had depth and was well organized. The story made you cry, laugh, and gasp throughout it. Truly one of a kind.

All in all, READ THIS BOOK! If you don't I'll set Kale's hands on you. And you don't want that. You've seen the praise this book has received. It truly deserves it, and truly deserves your read.

[Kitty Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"TOUCH" BY JUS ACCARDO

Amazing! This book, start to finish was one of the finest pieces of young adult genre literature that I have had the honor of reading in quite some time. To be quite honest I have been constantly disappointed in some of the more popular writers abilities at conveying the truth of teenage emotion. A lot of times the realities of how they would act in certain situations, the moods that are so viable at this time in their lives were never really shown as if the author had a disconnection with the characters and couldn't describe them properly. More importantly this book had me saying "pfft, X-Men who?" The "Sixes" are an obscure group of mutant teenagers that are being captured by the Denazen group in order to use their abilities in negative ways. When Kale meets the daughter of the ring leader by accident, Dez learns that her father is not who he seems to be at all and really the enemy.

This is only the beginning of one of the most exciting adventures I've read in quite a while and I simply could not stop reading. I felt like E.T. following that seemingly never-ending trail of Reese's Pieces to get to the large bag of chocolate, peanut butter filled goodness at the end! So my analysis' are somewhat crazy, I know but my point is that Jus Accardo is definitely going to go far with her writing.

For an older woman that loves YA fiction of all types, even Stephenie Meyers "Twilight" Series did not have me near as impressed nor as excited to read more as this book does. That was another thing I loved about this book, the relationship between Dez and Kale had far more passion than so many other couples in other YA books I've read. The intense emotional draw was real, not something designed by societies acceptance of "how to go far without going too far."

Keep writing Jus! I'm waiting patiently for the next one!

Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[anjuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 star***

This was surprisingly an interesting read. I wasn't expecting much considering lately almost all the books I've picked up have ended up being either DNF or boring. This made me want to continue. So, that gets a star in my book!! ;)

Story overall is not an earth shattering new concept. Evil corporation disguised under a pseudonym. Teens with "special" abilities being kidnapped, held captive, brainwashed/tested on etc. MC clueless of what father "really" does for a living. Of course, he is a heartless a-hole. The story has all the right stuff to make it an interesting plot.

Our MC Dez is a brat, rebel and good person all in one. She also has a secret which we don't find out until later in the book. It is quite a secret! Kale our main guy is cute, obviously ripped (who isn't these days) and clueless about lot of things. There's a reason for that. He's one of the teens with special abilities (known as the Six) and has somehow managed to escape the evil corporation and landed in Dez's path by accident. Kale also has a deadly ability (ha! pun intended). I did laugh at some of the dialogues between the two. Him never been in the outside world everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was new to him. It was very cute actually seeing him interact with Dez and her trying to explain to him some stuff...


He sat up straight, eyes wide, and touched the tip of his index finger to his cheek. "What was that?"
I blushed. "A kiss."
"That's what a kiss feels like?"
"Well, technically. There are a lot of different types of—"
"Show me."
"Show you what?"
"Show me some other kinds."
"You're asking me to kiss you?"


Romance, well, there is some as the book progresses. I don't want to call it insta-love as it is not quite that. Kale is more into Dez and there's a reason. Why Dez is somewhat holding back I totally get that. However, their bond definitely grows as the book progresses.

I did get intrigued enough to read book 2. So, we'll see where it leads.

[Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of X-Men or Heroes, then you are going to love Touch by Jus Accardo!

Touch brought out so many emotions in me while reading it. I finished reading it in one sitting and loved everything about it. Putting it down was not an option for me. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next, and how it ended. The characters were super funny, especially Dez. Her life was completely turned upside down by bringing a stranger home as a joke to her father. By doing that she opened a box of pure craziness. Things that she wasn’t quite prepared to deal with.

Now all Dez has are questions and she wants to get to the bottom of everything. Her whole life was a lie and everything that never made sense before, now does. She also has a secret of her own that she is keeping. Trying to get to the bottom of everything while trying to keep her secret safe, Dez realizes that she is walking across a very dangerous line.

There is just so much more I want to say about Touch, but then I would give away spoilers. Let’s just say Touch is full of betrayal and secrets, lots of action, a little bit of romance, and a group of people who are different and have a very unique power. It is unpredictable and had me at the edge of my seat. The characters are fearless and everything about the story was very believable. I would love to see Touch become a TV series or a movie. A MUST READ!

5 out of 5 Stars!

[Melly · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, my adrenaline is pumping right now. You know how in books the character usually says, “I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding”? Well, I couldn’t breathe the last half of this book. My muscles were tense and my heart was pounding. I’m so impressed with TOUCH. I was hooked from chapter one. And the cover?! I can’t stop staring at it.

Dez is not your typical girl. She’s hardcore. She lives for moments of adrenaline rushes and freedom. Underneath her tough exterior though, is a big heart. She meets this strange guy named Kale (enter swoon here), and for some reason she decides to help him.

Kale is complicated and Dez has a hard time figuring him out. He doesn’t understand anything around him. Things get really interesting when Dez discovers that her dad knows Kale and let’s just say he’s not his biggest fan.

A life she thought was completely normal turns out to be anything but. Secrets are revealed and trust is broken. TOUCH is full of intense action and heart melting romance. Jus Accardo has nailed it!

[Mada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Can't wait for Toxic.

[Colleen Houck]

A spunky heroine and a swoonworthy guy next door meet. The only problem? His touch can kill. Even by the end of the book we haven't quite figured out why the hero can touch the heroine but you don't end up caring too much about that since the whole book is full of action. If you're an X-Men or X-Files fan then this is the series for you. Lots of mystery and secrets and there is more to come.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touch was one of those books that once you started reading it you ignored everything in order to finish reading it. Jus has this way of weaving a few stories into one that captures you from the beginning.

Dez is not your ordinary girl. She does some outrageous things like dare devil skate boarding, jumping from a building, train scaling. She hangs with her cousin Brandt and drinks and does whatever she can to irritate her father. She does most of this to get her father's attention. Ever since her mother died her father has been acting weird towards her so she does everything in her power to aggravate him. Then she is at this party and it is close to curfew time so she leaves. While on her way home she hears yelling and stops to see what is going on when she encounters a guy about her age running in the woods from someone. She stops to ask him if he needs help when he says yes so she helps him hide from the guys chasing him.

She decides she is going to bring him home to piss her father off. But once she gets home she realizes that there is something wrong with this boy. He acts like he has not seen a TV or what an inside of the house looks like. Plus he is acting strange about everyday things. Then her father comes home and all hell breaks lose. Dez's life is about to change and she is about to find out some secrets that will cause her to re-examine her life as she knows. She will have to decide whether or not she wants to help this boy out and she will have to question who she can trust.

In the end Dez is forced to make choices that will help her out. She will have to decide on whether or not she will share her secret. She will have to face the truth about her father and she will also find out the truth about one of her family members that will cause her to see things differently. What is Dez to do? Who is she to trust? Will she ever get over her loss of her mother?

Go out and get this book because you will not be disappointed! This is a journey of love, loss and decisions that will change the lives of several people. Jus has done a wonderful job and you will be left wanting more. I know I can't wait for the second book! It can't come fast enough.

My fingers tangled with Kale’s, and I led him to the edge of the dance floor. Leaning close, I whispered,“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you know what dancing is, right?” He didn’t answer. A sly grin spread across his lips and he grabbed both my hands, tugging me close as the slow, rhythmic beats of a new song began. Pulling me in and spinning me out, Kale moved across the floor with skill and confidence.

At about six feet tall, he was the perfect height for me. I didn’t have to stand on my tiptoes, but still needed to look up a bit.The music pounded inside my brain, filling up every inch of space, and my eyes…well they focused on nothing other than Kale and the way he moved us around the small space. His eyes sparkled and hair fluttered into his face, and at that moment, he looked like a normal boy. Fancy twirls and elegant dips, we moved across the floor. For a split second I panicked, sure we were about to collide with someone, but on second glance, I saw the crowd had moved back, forming a wide circle for us. They stood watching, some cheering, some clapping. Kale, taking advantage of the extra room, spun me wildly away from him, feet moving in some complex maneuver, before pulling me back in an extravagant display ending with a deep dip that left me dizzy and disoriented—but tingly.

Accardo, Jus (2011-10-09). Touch (A Denazen Novel) (Kindle Locations 984-993). Entangled Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[Joy (joyous reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 24, 2011, 4:42 pm - Somewhere over the Pacific: In Which I Decided Not to Finish Reading Touch.

Technically speaking, this book was written flawlessly that it deserved a five star rating. But because I’m an emotional reader, the character’s actions and how he or she made me feel are usually directly proportionate to how I rate a book. I’m seething and I haven’t even finished reading. It’s very unfortunate because this book had me entranced right up until the dreaded love triangle was introduced. After that, I was just pissed. I don’t know if I should continue.

I can understand the emotional state she was in. She was going through grief of different kinds and to be able to have something to anchor her down was a plausible, acceptable course of action. What she did, however, just infuriated me. I don’t expect a perfect character but I do expect some consistencies in his or her traits. Why, oh why does love make us weak? Gah. Her sporadic childishness irked me.

Nowadays, I wish books would come with a disclaimer: WARNING: LOVE TRIANGLE AHEAD. PROCEED WITH CAUTION…OR RUN AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN.

This review was frustrating to write. I loved Kale. I felt for him. I love his innocence and his intensity. I love reading about his wonders of the world he knew nothing about. And at the beginning of the novel, I have admired Dez. But things took a turn for the worse. Suddenly, Dez’s actions and reasons started to grate on my nerves. Again, unfortunate because, seriously? This was a fantastic take on Marvel Comics' mutants. Nay, I say this book's genetically enhanced mutants has much better abilities than the X-Men. Yes, I went there. I love reading each one of the Sixes’ powers. This novel is resonant of Shatter Me, only with more details and a lot more twists and ultimately - BETTER. I’m so mad that I’m letting that one element of the story get to me. It threw a monkey wrench on what had began as a great story.
__________________________________________________

December 24, 2011, 5:53 pm - Somewhere over the Pacific: Wherein I Ate Crow.

I always sound like an a$$ when I write something at the heat of the moment. But I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm wrong. This is one of those momentous occasions. I previously gave this book a ONE STAR rating and decided to flounced on it. But as I sat in my Economy Plus seat, going over this book in my head, there's this gnat of guilt that was quickly eating away at me. So I picked it up again and plowed on.

I'm an idiot. I'm glad I kept going. If I were you, I'd completely ignore the first part of this review and go read this book. Love triangle schmiangle. I'm sorry this review is full of spoilers but I need to say what I needed to say. Touch is full of awesome - even with the love triangle, and hey, you know what? It wasn't even a LOVE TRIANGLE. So yes, don't let this deter you from reading this book. This book is action-packed, infused with romance that was sweet and sizzling for the most part. It's HEROES, X-MEN, SHATTER ME all rolled into one. This is definitely one of those can't-afford-to-miss reads.