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The Magic Touch
Marriage isn’t high on 39-year-old Emma King’s list of priorities; after all, she’s been there and done it once. So there are no big surprises when, yet again, she turns down her long-term partner Harry’s marriage proposal. They’re a solid, secure couple – a piece of paper won’t make any difference. That is until she accidentally stumbles across a flirtatious text message from one of his female colleagues on his phone. Overcome with suspicion and an impending fear of losing Harry, Emma goes on a quest to get to the bottom of his secret affair with the help of her ninety-three-year-old neighbour, Alistair, her best friend Ola, and Harry’s sister-in-law’s psychic app, The Magic Touch.
270 pages, ebook
Published March 24, 2016
12 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Florentia
14 books48 followersKelly Florentia was born and bred in north London, where she continues to live with her husband Joe. HER SECRET (2018) is her third novel and the sequel to NO WAY BACK (2017).
Kelly has always enjoyed writing and was a bit of a poet when she was younger. Before penning her debut The Magic Touch (2016), she wrote short stories for women’s magazines. To Tell a Tale or Two… is a collection of her short tales. In January 2017, her keen interest in health and fitness led to the release of Smooth Operator – a collection of twenty of her favourite smoothie recipes.
As well as writing, Kelly enjoys reading, running, drinking coffee, scoffing cakes, watching TV dramas, and spending way too much time on social media.
Website: www.kellyflorentia.com
Twitter: @kellyflorentia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyFlorent...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyfloren...
Kelly has always enjoyed writing and was a bit of a poet when she was younger. Before penning her debut The Magic Touch (2016), she wrote short stories for women’s magazines. To Tell a Tale or Two… is a collection of her short tales. In January 2017, her keen interest in health and fitness led to the release of Smooth Operator – a collection of twenty of her favourite smoothie recipes.
As well as writing, Kelly enjoys reading, running, drinking coffee, scoffing cakes, watching TV dramas, and spending way too much time on social media.
Website: www.kellyflorentia.com
Twitter: @kellyflorentia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyFlorent...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyfloren...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 25, 2019
5☆ A Heartwarming and Endearing Read, I couldn't put down!
The Magic Touch is a Heartwarming and Compulsive read about Relationships, Trust and Friendship, Family, with a good sprinkle of Humour and Drama.
Oh and I just want to say how much I adore the cover for this book, it's fun and eye catching.
Emma and Harry appear to have the perfect Relationship.
Well that is until, he proposes to her and she turns him down in front of his family.
The cracks are starting to show.
They barely see each other, intimacy has gone out the window.... then there's the bleep of a text!
One day Emma hears Harry's phone bleep and she happens to pick it up seeing a text from what appears to be another women!
Devastated, Hurt and Angry she bottles it up until she confronts him.
He dismisses the text clearly lying to her.
So she does the only thing she can think of.....spy on his phone. Except he's changed the passcode!
Suspicious???
What would you do?
Emma has been badly hurt in the past, but can this latest revelation blow their perfect world apart or is there a simple explanation?
I adored Emma, I have been in a similar situation and it drove me to look at my ex's mobile, only to discover texts I wish I hadn't.
So I could 100% relate to her predicament.
No one wants to ever doubt or not trust someone it can fester and it's awful.
Luckily for Emma she did have a great support network.
I loved all of the supporting characters, each one strengthens the story.
I was especislly fond of Alistair, Emma's elderly neighbour who she shops for.
He was certainly an eccentric loveable character who I warmed to straight away. I loved the bond he had with Emma.
The Magic Touch is a totally absorbing read that's beautifully written, with an engrossing storyline, fused by tangled relationships and emotional dilemmas making it a compulsive and thought provoking read.
There are some deliciously laugh out loud moments, to keep the book light hearted and fun!
The characters are strong and unique I was routing for Emma and Harry the whole way.
The Magic Touch is another gem of a book by Kelly Florentia, who is fast becoming a favourite of mine.
So if you are looking for a fun, and endearing read that will leave you talking and thinking about it long after, then grab a copy of The Magic Touch.
Thank you to Accent Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
The Magic Touch is a Heartwarming and Compulsive read about Relationships, Trust and Friendship, Family, with a good sprinkle of Humour and Drama.
Oh and I just want to say how much I adore the cover for this book, it's fun and eye catching.
Emma and Harry appear to have the perfect Relationship.
Well that is until, he proposes to her and she turns him down in front of his family.
The cracks are starting to show.
They barely see each other, intimacy has gone out the window.... then there's the bleep of a text!
One day Emma hears Harry's phone bleep and she happens to pick it up seeing a text from what appears to be another women!
Devastated, Hurt and Angry she bottles it up until she confronts him.
He dismisses the text clearly lying to her.
So she does the only thing she can think of.....spy on his phone. Except he's changed the passcode!
Suspicious???
What would you do?
Emma has been badly hurt in the past, but can this latest revelation blow their perfect world apart or is there a simple explanation?
I adored Emma, I have been in a similar situation and it drove me to look at my ex's mobile, only to discover texts I wish I hadn't.
So I could 100% relate to her predicament.
No one wants to ever doubt or not trust someone it can fester and it's awful.
Luckily for Emma she did have a great support network.
I loved all of the supporting characters, each one strengthens the story.
I was especislly fond of Alistair, Emma's elderly neighbour who she shops for.
He was certainly an eccentric loveable character who I warmed to straight away. I loved the bond he had with Emma.
The Magic Touch is a totally absorbing read that's beautifully written, with an engrossing storyline, fused by tangled relationships and emotional dilemmas making it a compulsive and thought provoking read.
There are some deliciously laugh out loud moments, to keep the book light hearted and fun!
The characters are strong and unique I was routing for Emma and Harry the whole way.
The Magic Touch is another gem of a book by Kelly Florentia, who is fast becoming a favourite of mine.
So if you are looking for a fun, and endearing read that will leave you talking and thinking about it long after, then grab a copy of The Magic Touch.
Thank you to Accent Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
February 29, 2020
I’ve read most of Kelly Florentia’s books and so when I won a copy of her republished debut novel I was looking forward to reading it, as her stories are always fun, heartwarming and with an endearing emotional element.
“The Magic Touch” was a fabulous read, I ended up flying through it as it was such fun and so easy to read. Kelly always adds humour to her novels without losing the seriousness of the story and regularly features characters which are likeable and very endearing. Focusing on relationships and friendships and all of life’s elements, this story also hits on the issues of being too trusting on social media and the consequences of befriending strangers on Facebook.
I also liked the cameo nod to Audrey Fox, the central character in Kelly’s more recent novels.
I found “The Magic Touch” an addictive read, engrossing, heartwarming, fun and most of all, feel good and I would happily recommend it as the laugh out loud book with characters you can’t help but fall in love with, that it’s billed as.
4.5 stars
“The Magic Touch” was a fabulous read, I ended up flying through it as it was such fun and so easy to read. Kelly always adds humour to her novels without losing the seriousness of the story and regularly features characters which are likeable and very endearing. Focusing on relationships and friendships and all of life’s elements, this story also hits on the issues of being too trusting on social media and the consequences of befriending strangers on Facebook.
I also liked the cameo nod to Audrey Fox, the central character in Kelly’s more recent novels.
I found “The Magic Touch” an addictive read, engrossing, heartwarming, fun and most of all, feel good and I would happily recommend it as the laugh out loud book with characters you can’t help but fall in love with, that it’s billed as.
4.5 stars
December 2, 2022
Definitely my type of book. I just love that confrontation between a couple in a fictional story.
Harry has asked Emma to marry him. But Emma thinks Harry is having an affair and the only reason he asked to marry Emma to marry him is because he was drunk at the time and because he felt guilty. And plus his parents keep nagging Harry him to set a wedding date.
Emma sneaks at Harry's text message. I knew she shouldn't have done so. Emma finds a flirtatious text. I think Emma should really must ask Harry straight out about the text message.
But when Emma is in the pub waiting for her friend, unfortunately Emma has her gullible hat on, she ends up putting her number on a man's mobile phone that she has never even meet before. Oh give me strength!! What is going to happen now ? No sorry I can’t tell you!
I do hope that who ever reads The Magic Touch by Kelly Florentia will enjoy the roller coaster drama as much as I did.
Harry has asked Emma to marry him. But Emma thinks Harry is having an affair and the only reason he asked to marry Emma to marry him is because he was drunk at the time and because he felt guilty. And plus his parents keep nagging Harry him to set a wedding date.
Emma sneaks at Harry's text message. I knew she shouldn't have done so. Emma finds a flirtatious text. I think Emma should really must ask Harry straight out about the text message.
But when Emma is in the pub waiting for her friend, unfortunately Emma has her gullible hat on, she ends up putting her number on a man's mobile phone that she has never even meet before. Oh give me strength!! What is going to happen now ? No sorry I can’t tell you!
I do hope that who ever reads The Magic Touch by Kelly Florentia will enjoy the roller coaster drama as much as I did.
August 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this debut from Kelly Florentia. From the off, you’re drawn into the world of Emma King, who’s in a relationship with a lovely guy called Harry, but who suddenly has cause to question everything she knows when she discovers a text on Harry’s phone from a female colleague. With Harry acting out of character too, Emma wonders if her relationship is as solid as she thought it was.
The story, set in North London, has a great contemporary feel, with Emma addicted to her phone and social media. There’s a terrific set of supporting characters and each of them has a part to play in Emma’s journey of discovery. I particularly liked Emma’s elderly neighbour, Alistair.
There’s a little bit of everything in this story; love, friendship, mystery and intrigue, and even a psychic phone app. called The Magic Touch, and plenty of twists and turns along the way too. Kelly writes with a lightness of touch and injects some lovely humorous and poignant moments within the story, and provides a satisfying ending too.
A lovely read!
The story, set in North London, has a great contemporary feel, with Emma addicted to her phone and social media. There’s a terrific set of supporting characters and each of them has a part to play in Emma’s journey of discovery. I particularly liked Emma’s elderly neighbour, Alistair.
There’s a little bit of everything in this story; love, friendship, mystery and intrigue, and even a psychic phone app. called The Magic Touch, and plenty of twists and turns along the way too. Kelly writes with a lightness of touch and injects some lovely humorous and poignant moments within the story, and provides a satisfying ending too.
A lovely read!
March 29, 2016
Emma is a book illustrator and is happy with Harry, a nurse, who comes from a large Greek family. Afraid of commitment Emma turns down Harry's proposal of marriage only then to find a text on Harrys phone that sets her off on a course of suspicion and dread that her relationship with her 'soulmate' is doomed.
Kelly Florentia's debut novel is like a breath of fresh air. She has written an enchanting tale that has twists, laugh out loud moments and as the title suggests magic.
The characters are brilliant and I must admit I laughed and cried with them. Harrys family are hilarious and Kelly captured 'personalities' brilliantly.
I have to admit that The Magic Touch was better than I expected, and was a book that gave me real good feeling. It's going to make a fabulous holiday read.
I loved it.
Kelly Florentia's debut novel is like a breath of fresh air. She has written an enchanting tale that has twists, laugh out loud moments and as the title suggests magic.
The characters are brilliant and I must admit I laughed and cried with them. Harrys family are hilarious and Kelly captured 'personalities' brilliantly.
I have to admit that The Magic Touch was better than I expected, and was a book that gave me real good feeling. It's going to make a fabulous holiday read.
I loved it.
September 6, 2019
A book that made me laugh and cry!! Fair to say that it's full of emotion and I found myself totally caught up in the lives of these characters, especially Emma as she tries to navigate her emotions when she discovers a text on the phone of her other half - is he cheating on her? Why is he acting so strange? And why has he proposed to her if he is playing away from home?! So many questions to be answered!!
You begin to understand her worries and fears as you find out more about her past and what she has been through. It also shines the light brilliantly on the modern world we live in with the over-use of mobile phones, apps and social media and that made this book so much easier to connect with as you understand so well the dilemmas she faces.
Harry should be the perfect man for her - very hard working, from a large close family and seemingly devoted but the little seeds of doubts in her mind really affect the way she sees him, and turns to her friends Ola and Alistair for advice - very wise people to turn to, especially Alistair who I found to be so funny and a total sweetheart!
This book really throws open the debate as to whether men and women can be just 'friends', alongside the damage that being in a abusive relationship can take on your frame of mind. Emma has so much to contend with and you are just willing her to make the right decision to make her own heart happy.
I really loved this story, the characters and the little talking points it throws up throughout, all sprinkled with that little bit of magic!
You begin to understand her worries and fears as you find out more about her past and what she has been through. It also shines the light brilliantly on the modern world we live in with the over-use of mobile phones, apps and social media and that made this book so much easier to connect with as you understand so well the dilemmas she faces.
Harry should be the perfect man for her - very hard working, from a large close family and seemingly devoted but the little seeds of doubts in her mind really affect the way she sees him, and turns to her friends Ola and Alistair for advice - very wise people to turn to, especially Alistair who I found to be so funny and a total sweetheart!
This book really throws open the debate as to whether men and women can be just 'friends', alongside the damage that being in a abusive relationship can take on your frame of mind. Emma has so much to contend with and you are just willing her to make the right decision to make her own heart happy.
I really loved this story, the characters and the little talking points it throws up throughout, all sprinkled with that little bit of magic!
April 5, 2016
Originally reviewed for Bookaholic Confessions
I read Kelly’s excellent collection of short stories, To Tell A Tale or Two, two years ago and ever since I have been desperate to read more of her writing.
When I learnt of her first full length novel, The Magic Touch, I was rather like a over-excited child on e-numbers at Disneyland. I couldn’t WAIT to read it and I loved the sound of the story.
Usually when an author I love releases a new book I’m always a tad apprehensive; what if it doesn’t live up to my expectations? For some reason I didn’t get that feeling at all with The Magic Touch. It was just one of those books I knew was going to be right up my street and whilst I might not be as mystic as the wonderful Caroline, on this occasion I was right (who needs a magic app!?)
The Magic Touch tells the story of Emma King and her relationship with Harry. Part of a huge Greek clan, Harry is keen for Emma to tie the knot and become his wife, however Emma is somewhat more reluctant. Her first marriage ended in heartbreak and has left Emma scarred (physically and mentally), and her relationship with Harry is solid, they don’t need to get married to prove that they love one another.
However, Emma starts to question Harry’s commitment when she finds a text from one of his (female) colleagues on his phone. Then when Harry puts a *whispers* pass code on his phone, it’s clear there is something on there he doesn’t want Emma to see. But what? Emma starts to panic and turns to her best friend Ola and sister-in-law Caroline for advice. Caroline is about to launch her own physic app called The Magic Touch and she urges Emma to use it. Who knows, maybe it holds the answer to Emma’s relationship woes? And with Emma being such a smart-phone addict it will surely be perfect for her? Despite the cynicism from Emma’s good friend and elderly next door neighbour, Alistair, Emma gives the app a go. But when it starts to predict some very odd things Emma feels a tad uncomfortable, particularly when it warns her to beware gifts from strangers…Should Emma heed the advice of The Magic Touch and is she really ever going to get the bottom of what Harry is up to?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the quickest of readers (hello towering TBR pile. Gulp.) but when I get into a book and I mean REALLY get into a book, I skim through it with ease and The Magic Touch was definitely one of those books. I flew through this book; not only because I was hooked by the hugely intriguing storyline, but also because Kelly’s style of writing is just so easy to read. It’s light, realistic and extremely funny. She has created her characters with assurance and style…particularly Harry’s Greek family who I LOVED (His mother has the best accent ever!) I love the way that they are loyal to one another to the extreme and I also love how they are always making the most delicious sounding of foods. *drool* Emma had a really strong relationship with the whole family but I particularly liked the friendship between her and Caroline. (I wasn’t as keen on Mas though…) You also really get the sense of the difficulty Emma faces with refusing to marry Harry with him having such a large and close knit family. As soon as you discover a little more about her past you come to understand why she feels the way she does.
Emma made for a great lead character. Her obsession with her phone and social media will resonate with many readers and I thought it was really clever the way in which her addiction to Twitter and Facebook was used to form a vital part of the story. I’m trying not to give too much away here, but you’ll see what I mean when you read the story for yourself.
Kelly has packed so much into this story. There’s love, betrayal (although perhaps not in the way you might think) the complexity of relationships, friendship, humour and there’s a few sobering tear-jerker-type moments as well. It truly is a modern, funny and heartwarming read.
As for the ending – don’t even get me started. We all know that endings can make of break an otherwise excellent read, but the ending to The Magic Touch was perfect and everything I could have hoped for. All the loose ends were tied up and I was left with the soppiest grin on my face.
In case you couldn’t already tell, I massively enjoyed this book and I desperately hope that this is the first of many novels by Kelly Florentia. If she’s not on your bookish radar yet then she is definitely one to watch…
I read Kelly’s excellent collection of short stories, To Tell A Tale or Two, two years ago and ever since I have been desperate to read more of her writing.
When I learnt of her first full length novel, The Magic Touch, I was rather like a over-excited child on e-numbers at Disneyland. I couldn’t WAIT to read it and I loved the sound of the story.
Usually when an author I love releases a new book I’m always a tad apprehensive; what if it doesn’t live up to my expectations? For some reason I didn’t get that feeling at all with The Magic Touch. It was just one of those books I knew was going to be right up my street and whilst I might not be as mystic as the wonderful Caroline, on this occasion I was right (who needs a magic app!?)
The Magic Touch tells the story of Emma King and her relationship with Harry. Part of a huge Greek clan, Harry is keen for Emma to tie the knot and become his wife, however Emma is somewhat more reluctant. Her first marriage ended in heartbreak and has left Emma scarred (physically and mentally), and her relationship with Harry is solid, they don’t need to get married to prove that they love one another.
However, Emma starts to question Harry’s commitment when she finds a text from one of his (female) colleagues on his phone. Then when Harry puts a *whispers* pass code on his phone, it’s clear there is something on there he doesn’t want Emma to see. But what? Emma starts to panic and turns to her best friend Ola and sister-in-law Caroline for advice. Caroline is about to launch her own physic app called The Magic Touch and she urges Emma to use it. Who knows, maybe it holds the answer to Emma’s relationship woes? And with Emma being such a smart-phone addict it will surely be perfect for her? Despite the cynicism from Emma’s good friend and elderly next door neighbour, Alistair, Emma gives the app a go. But when it starts to predict some very odd things Emma feels a tad uncomfortable, particularly when it warns her to beware gifts from strangers…Should Emma heed the advice of The Magic Touch and is she really ever going to get the bottom of what Harry is up to?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the quickest of readers (hello towering TBR pile. Gulp.) but when I get into a book and I mean REALLY get into a book, I skim through it with ease and The Magic Touch was definitely one of those books. I flew through this book; not only because I was hooked by the hugely intriguing storyline, but also because Kelly’s style of writing is just so easy to read. It’s light, realistic and extremely funny. She has created her characters with assurance and style…particularly Harry’s Greek family who I LOVED (His mother has the best accent ever!) I love the way that they are loyal to one another to the extreme and I also love how they are always making the most delicious sounding of foods. *drool* Emma had a really strong relationship with the whole family but I particularly liked the friendship between her and Caroline. (I wasn’t as keen on Mas though…) You also really get the sense of the difficulty Emma faces with refusing to marry Harry with him having such a large and close knit family. As soon as you discover a little more about her past you come to understand why she feels the way she does.
Emma made for a great lead character. Her obsession with her phone and social media will resonate with many readers and I thought it was really clever the way in which her addiction to Twitter and Facebook was used to form a vital part of the story. I’m trying not to give too much away here, but you’ll see what I mean when you read the story for yourself.
Kelly has packed so much into this story. There’s love, betrayal (although perhaps not in the way you might think) the complexity of relationships, friendship, humour and there’s a few sobering tear-jerker-type moments as well. It truly is a modern, funny and heartwarming read.
As for the ending – don’t even get me started. We all know that endings can make of break an otherwise excellent read, but the ending to The Magic Touch was perfect and everything I could have hoped for. All the loose ends were tied up and I was left with the soppiest grin on my face.
In case you couldn’t already tell, I massively enjoyed this book and I desperately hope that this is the first of many novels by Kelly Florentia. If she’s not on your bookish radar yet then she is definitely one to watch…
January 15, 2017
I enjoyed this quick, simple read.
April 6, 2019
Full review (available from April 26th, 2019): http://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/04/26/th...
this book was exactly what I needed! I have to admit that at first I thought it was going to be very fluffy and pink and so on, and for the first third I was indeed convinced that it was going to be a steady, light 4 star - mostly because it matched my mood. But you know what?
This book positively surprised me. There was way more depth to it than I first gave it credit for, and soon I started to care about the characters, and the plot included way more twist and turns than I thought it would! I just looked back at the end, and saw everything for what it was... and though there were a couple of things I guessed was coming, I was far from finding out everything before time. I'm rarely that way with mysteries, let alone a novel that's in no way intended to be one! But yes, in it were little clues you could go by, things to look back at later and think 'wow, so that's why that happened that way... that's why he or she said that...!'. It's a wonderful thing that I always love about any kind of book I read.
I was charmed by many characters, especially Emma, Harry and the darling old neighbor Alistair; and the ones that weren't so great people I could dislike from my heart. Most of them weren't simply black or white, they had qualities and backstory to support their personalities. Even though I can see and accept that this story is closed at the end, and it probably wouldn't be right to drag it forward, I feel like I would love to read more about them.
this book was exactly what I needed! I have to admit that at first I thought it was going to be very fluffy and pink and so on, and for the first third I was indeed convinced that it was going to be a steady, light 4 star - mostly because it matched my mood. But you know what?
This book positively surprised me. There was way more depth to it than I first gave it credit for, and soon I started to care about the characters, and the plot included way more twist and turns than I thought it would! I just looked back at the end, and saw everything for what it was... and though there were a couple of things I guessed was coming, I was far from finding out everything before time. I'm rarely that way with mysteries, let alone a novel that's in no way intended to be one! But yes, in it were little clues you could go by, things to look back at later and think 'wow, so that's why that happened that way... that's why he or she said that...!'. It's a wonderful thing that I always love about any kind of book I read.
I was charmed by many characters, especially Emma, Harry and the darling old neighbor Alistair; and the ones that weren't so great people I could dislike from my heart. Most of them weren't simply black or white, they had qualities and backstory to support their personalities. Even though I can see and accept that this story is closed at the end, and it probably wouldn't be right to drag it forward, I feel like I would love to read more about them.
March 29, 2016
As soon as Kelly announced the release of The Magic Touch, her debut novel, I was excited, and I was right to be - what a fantastic story, one that I couldn't put down and finished in less than twenty four hours!
The story is set around the main character Emma King and her Partner Harry, plus his hilarious Greek family that you just can't help but fall in love with - especially Harry's mum, who has the most hilarious accent - though watch out for Mas, Harry's rather Neanderthal, rogue of a brother.
Emma is happy, happy with her relationship with Harry - a nurse at the local hospital, happy with their gorgeous home and happy with her budding career as a freelance illustrator designing book covers, with a few hours a week helping out in the family restaurant to top up their income. Who cares that she and Harry are broke, all you need is love, right? And as long as she has Harry, she's the luckiest woman on earth and she doesn't see the need to make things more official with a ring on her finger . It's not long before you realise why Emma is so scared to make that commitment and you can't really blame her, I think I would be exactly the same in her shoes.
Everything is going great, that is until Emma finds a text message on Harry's phone from a female colleague, which leaves her suspicious and fearing the end of her relationship. After confronting Harry about this, and then discovering he's put a pass code on his phone to stop Emma snooping further, Emma has every right to be suspicious, doesn't she?
This one text message is the beginning of a series of events that sends Emma's life running in a direction that she really doesn't want it to go!
Emma is determined to get to the bottom of what is going on with Harry and looks to her friends for support, including her, physic, sister-in-law Caroline, who introduces Emma to her newly launched app, The Magic touch, which Caroline is eager for her to try (I really, really want this app!) and her lovely, elderly, neighbour Alister, who in the few years she's known him, Emma has come to think of a second dad. Alister thinks the Magic Touch app is a load of old codswallop and tries to discourage Emma from using it, but then when some of it's readings start coming true, Emma begins to wonder if maybe she should start to take a bit of notice from it and follow it's advice.
The story was gripping and had me hooked from the first page, eager to find out if Harry was doing the dirty on Emma, which I really couldn't see him doing, because I could clearly see how much he loved her. I loved Emma's character, she came across as a strong minded woman, but then when things start spiralling out of control, she does some crazy things which made me laugh quite a bit.
All the way through, I was rooting for Emma and Harry's relationship to be okay. To me, they seemed perfect for each other and I couldn't bear the thought of it being true, that Harry was cheating on Emma, especially when you find out what Emma has been through in the past, my heart actually broke for her, at the prospect of her relationship ending.
This was a fantastic book, Kelly is an extremely talented writer, she got the balance between emotional and comedy just right, though there was one humorous point that involved me and a rather fizzy bottle of Coke - well, let's just say that didn't end well. There were a few twists and surprises along the way that I really didn't see coming and at one point I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open.
Well done Kelly, you really deserve the five stars and I really, REALLY can't wait to read more from you!
The story is set around the main character Emma King and her Partner Harry, plus his hilarious Greek family that you just can't help but fall in love with - especially Harry's mum, who has the most hilarious accent - though watch out for Mas, Harry's rather Neanderthal, rogue of a brother.
Emma is happy, happy with her relationship with Harry - a nurse at the local hospital, happy with their gorgeous home and happy with her budding career as a freelance illustrator designing book covers, with a few hours a week helping out in the family restaurant to top up their income. Who cares that she and Harry are broke, all you need is love, right? And as long as she has Harry, she's the luckiest woman on earth and she doesn't see the need to make things more official with a ring on her finger . It's not long before you realise why Emma is so scared to make that commitment and you can't really blame her, I think I would be exactly the same in her shoes.
Everything is going great, that is until Emma finds a text message on Harry's phone from a female colleague, which leaves her suspicious and fearing the end of her relationship. After confronting Harry about this, and then discovering he's put a pass code on his phone to stop Emma snooping further, Emma has every right to be suspicious, doesn't she?
This one text message is the beginning of a series of events that sends Emma's life running in a direction that she really doesn't want it to go!
Emma is determined to get to the bottom of what is going on with Harry and looks to her friends for support, including her, physic, sister-in-law Caroline, who introduces Emma to her newly launched app, The Magic touch, which Caroline is eager for her to try (I really, really want this app!) and her lovely, elderly, neighbour Alister, who in the few years she's known him, Emma has come to think of a second dad. Alister thinks the Magic Touch app is a load of old codswallop and tries to discourage Emma from using it, but then when some of it's readings start coming true, Emma begins to wonder if maybe she should start to take a bit of notice from it and follow it's advice.
The story was gripping and had me hooked from the first page, eager to find out if Harry was doing the dirty on Emma, which I really couldn't see him doing, because I could clearly see how much he loved her. I loved Emma's character, she came across as a strong minded woman, but then when things start spiralling out of control, she does some crazy things which made me laugh quite a bit.
All the way through, I was rooting for Emma and Harry's relationship to be okay. To me, they seemed perfect for each other and I couldn't bear the thought of it being true, that Harry was cheating on Emma, especially when you find out what Emma has been through in the past, my heart actually broke for her, at the prospect of her relationship ending.
This was a fantastic book, Kelly is an extremely talented writer, she got the balance between emotional and comedy just right, though there was one humorous point that involved me and a rather fizzy bottle of Coke - well, let's just say that didn't end well. There were a few twists and surprises along the way that I really didn't see coming and at one point I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open.
Well done Kelly, you really deserve the five stars and I really, REALLY can't wait to read more from you!
August 8, 2017
What can I say? Other than what a debut. This book is a must read that’s entertaining and with some incredible plot twists. The Magic Touch is about Emma King, a book illustrator and Harry, her partner, a nurse. Emma and Harry have been in a long term relationship and Harry appears to be a lovely guy who you would never imagine could put a foot wrong. Things appear to be going so well for Emma until one day a text pops up on Harry phone, from another woman!
Emma, being a strong character puts on her mits and decides to do something about it. At this point, a million thoughts are racing through her mind, heightening her suspicions. Soon after she turns to her friend Caroline for comfort. Caroline, Harry Sister-in-law, eventually comes into play. She compels Emma to utilise her new phone app named The Magic Touch whose primary function is to predict the outcome of an event. Caroline’s ability to profess things, makes her a good psychic. Emma sees high hopes in the app and has to use it. However the app eventually becomes a bit complicated.
The book is hilarious and identifies poor communication between Harry and Emma. This affects their relationship negatively. My expectation was that their union would have been about joy, unity, and happiness. Unfortunately, things turned out to be opposite.
The supporting characters I thought were awesome, the Greek family and especially Alistair, who played an excellent role in the book without giving away too much.
Thinking that a new personality will save her from issues in the relationship, Emma experienced more difficulties. It almost destroys everything. Emma is such a funny and at the same time an annoying character.
Several questions were developed in the course of reading this fab book. Notable among them is "the fate of couples amidst poor communication level. Can they really help themselves out of such challenge?” The book is indeed recommended for every couple and the intending ones. Go on, you’ll love it.
The friendship Emma developed with the elderly neighbour around her worth mentioning here. She had some awesome moment with him. The relationship strengthens the message of this story. As for Harry, he acted like a caring type. A person who starts reading from the middle of the book may not care to understand Harry true character. It's quite hard to argue that Harry is not a good man. The novel is such an exciting one, with several lessons attached. Kelly Florentia did a great job with how she told this story and based upon the intriguing blurb that was showed promise of lots of humor, I knew I was going to enjoy this, and I did.
The entire story has very important elements of a fab romcom; fantastic plot, humor, warmth and characters that I stayed with me after I read the final page. I’m glad to have discovered this new author and picked this book, it was worth every minute of my time I had chosen to read it. I will definitely be reading her new book, No Way Back, that’s out September 2017
Good job Kelly, Keep it up!
Emma, being a strong character puts on her mits and decides to do something about it. At this point, a million thoughts are racing through her mind, heightening her suspicions. Soon after she turns to her friend Caroline for comfort. Caroline, Harry Sister-in-law, eventually comes into play. She compels Emma to utilise her new phone app named The Magic Touch whose primary function is to predict the outcome of an event. Caroline’s ability to profess things, makes her a good psychic. Emma sees high hopes in the app and has to use it. However the app eventually becomes a bit complicated.
The book is hilarious and identifies poor communication between Harry and Emma. This affects their relationship negatively. My expectation was that their union would have been about joy, unity, and happiness. Unfortunately, things turned out to be opposite.
The supporting characters I thought were awesome, the Greek family and especially Alistair, who played an excellent role in the book without giving away too much.
Thinking that a new personality will save her from issues in the relationship, Emma experienced more difficulties. It almost destroys everything. Emma is such a funny and at the same time an annoying character.
Several questions were developed in the course of reading this fab book. Notable among them is "the fate of couples amidst poor communication level. Can they really help themselves out of such challenge?” The book is indeed recommended for every couple and the intending ones. Go on, you’ll love it.
The friendship Emma developed with the elderly neighbour around her worth mentioning here. She had some awesome moment with him. The relationship strengthens the message of this story. As for Harry, he acted like a caring type. A person who starts reading from the middle of the book may not care to understand Harry true character. It's quite hard to argue that Harry is not a good man. The novel is such an exciting one, with several lessons attached. Kelly Florentia did a great job with how she told this story and based upon the intriguing blurb that was showed promise of lots of humor, I knew I was going to enjoy this, and I did.
The entire story has very important elements of a fab romcom; fantastic plot, humor, warmth and characters that I stayed with me after I read the final page. I’m glad to have discovered this new author and picked this book, it was worth every minute of my time I had chosen to read it. I will definitely be reading her new book, No Way Back, that’s out September 2017
Good job Kelly, Keep it up!
June 21, 2016
Emma is in her late thirties, is an illustrator and has been in a long-term relationship with Harry. Although their sex life has stalled, Emma believes herself to be in a steady relationship. This is until she finds a flirty text message from a mystery woman on Harry’s phone.
With the help of her neighbour Alistair, her best friend Ola and a physic app called The Magic Touch, Emma sets out to find out whether she’s right to feel suspicious of Harry.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this novel. I’m not sure if I believe in mediums but the subject also fascinates me at the same time.
Emma is a likeable but frustrating character. I think i did shout ‘what are you doing’ out loud to her at one point. However, I couldn’t help but like her and feel empathy for her. She does get a lot of stuff thrown at her throughout the book.
There is a lack of communication in her relationship with Harry and I did hope from the beginning that they were going to be ok although I did want to bang their heads together at various points. I do love it when I get this invested in the characters.
The supporting characters are great. Alistair is very charming in particular and probably one of my favourite people in the book.
Kelly’s style of writing and the plot drew me in quickly. I read this over the course of a weekend. I couldn’t put it down actually. I found myself finishing the book in the small hours as I wanted to know what happened. I didn’t feel as though there were any slow moments in the plot. The pace is set well.
There were some moments in this book that had me laughing out loud, made me sad or had me gasping with disbelief. There were many aspects of the plot I didn’t see coming.
Overall, this book is compelling, warm, funny and well written. It has a lot of heart. A great debut from Kelly and I’m looking forward to reading her next novel.
With the help of her neighbour Alistair, her best friend Ola and a physic app called The Magic Touch, Emma sets out to find out whether she’s right to feel suspicious of Harry.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this novel. I’m not sure if I believe in mediums but the subject also fascinates me at the same time.
Emma is a likeable but frustrating character. I think i did shout ‘what are you doing’ out loud to her at one point. However, I couldn’t help but like her and feel empathy for her. She does get a lot of stuff thrown at her throughout the book.
There is a lack of communication in her relationship with Harry and I did hope from the beginning that they were going to be ok although I did want to bang their heads together at various points. I do love it when I get this invested in the characters.
The supporting characters are great. Alistair is very charming in particular and probably one of my favourite people in the book.
Kelly’s style of writing and the plot drew me in quickly. I read this over the course of a weekend. I couldn’t put it down actually. I found myself finishing the book in the small hours as I wanted to know what happened. I didn’t feel as though there were any slow moments in the plot. The pace is set well.
There were some moments in this book that had me laughing out loud, made me sad or had me gasping with disbelief. There were many aspects of the plot I didn’t see coming.
Overall, this book is compelling, warm, funny and well written. It has a lot of heart. A great debut from Kelly and I’m looking forward to reading her next novel.
April 24, 2016
This was a lovely story of love and friendships and miscommunications.
Emma and Harry have been happily courting for 5 years. Harry saved Emma from a traumatic relationship in her past and has been her knight in shining armour ever since. However, just lately Emma feels like Harry has ‘gone off’ her and when she finds a text on his phone she feels her worries are only just beginning.
Harry’s sister-in-law, Caroline, has become close to Emma and has asked her to trial her latest venture, a phone app called ‘The Magic Touch’ that reveals predictions about your life. Caroline is a little psychic, she likes to read palms and professes to be good at it. Emma is quite happy to help but when the app’s predictions start becoming a reality life becomes a little mystified for Emma.
The appearance of a new man in Emma’s life brings far too many complications which soon start unravelling into Emma and Harry’s relationship with almost disastrous results.
Can the couple save their relationship in time or will miscommunications be their fate?
I enjoyed this story by Kelly. I loved the friendship Emma had with her elderly neighbour and their were some wonderful warm, heartfelt moments she shared with him. Emma’s character was great, I loved her job of a book cover illustrator however, she had a very vulnerable side to her from her past and when more is revealed about her history you can appreciate why her personality is like so. Harry sounded adorable and you wanted to believe he was a good man. The story had a lot of warmth, humour, intrigue and a little magic and mystification. I look forward to more from Kelly in the future. 4/5*
Emma and Harry have been happily courting for 5 years. Harry saved Emma from a traumatic relationship in her past and has been her knight in shining armour ever since. However, just lately Emma feels like Harry has ‘gone off’ her and when she finds a text on his phone she feels her worries are only just beginning.
Harry’s sister-in-law, Caroline, has become close to Emma and has asked her to trial her latest venture, a phone app called ‘The Magic Touch’ that reveals predictions about your life. Caroline is a little psychic, she likes to read palms and professes to be good at it. Emma is quite happy to help but when the app’s predictions start becoming a reality life becomes a little mystified for Emma.
The appearance of a new man in Emma’s life brings far too many complications which soon start unravelling into Emma and Harry’s relationship with almost disastrous results.
Can the couple save their relationship in time or will miscommunications be their fate?
I enjoyed this story by Kelly. I loved the friendship Emma had with her elderly neighbour and their were some wonderful warm, heartfelt moments she shared with him. Emma’s character was great, I loved her job of a book cover illustrator however, she had a very vulnerable side to her from her past and when more is revealed about her history you can appreciate why her personality is like so. Harry sounded adorable and you wanted to believe he was a good man. The story had a lot of warmth, humour, intrigue and a little magic and mystification. I look forward to more from Kelly in the future. 4/5*
July 4, 2016
Despite its mystical title, The Magic Touch is very much set in the present day. With text messages, Facebook and games of Candy Crush as essential tools in the storyline, it is easy for the modern reader to identify with creative heroine, 39-year-old Emma King and her long-term partner Harry.
Emma is a very likeable character. She has become an essential part of Harry’s large Greek family, she gives her 93-year-old neighbour, Alistair, practical and emotional support and she loves Harry, deeply. But there are mistakes and misunderstandings. After a previous marriage in which Emma was abused, she is reluctant to commit to another wedding, so once again she has refused Harry’s request. Now, he seems cooler and he is receiving texts from a female colleague.
At first I found all the characters in Harry’s family rather overwhelming but soon there were twists and turns in the plot and the hint of magic was a welcome touch of humour and hope. Emma’s previous marriage problems are described in a frank and realistic account and her relationship with Alistair is touching. The story’s ending is uplifting after two convincing twists in the tale. An enjoyable summer read.
Emma is a very likeable character. She has become an essential part of Harry’s large Greek family, she gives her 93-year-old neighbour, Alistair, practical and emotional support and she loves Harry, deeply. But there are mistakes and misunderstandings. After a previous marriage in which Emma was abused, she is reluctant to commit to another wedding, so once again she has refused Harry’s request. Now, he seems cooler and he is receiving texts from a female colleague.
At first I found all the characters in Harry’s family rather overwhelming but soon there were twists and turns in the plot and the hint of magic was a welcome touch of humour and hope. Emma’s previous marriage problems are described in a frank and realistic account and her relationship with Alistair is touching. The story’s ending is uplifting after two convincing twists in the tale. An enjoyable summer read.
March 20, 2016
This is the story about a thirty something woman called Emma. Emma is a book illustrator and in a long term relationship with the lovely Harry who is a nurse ,and comes from a large loving Greek family. The book is set in London , and just as Emma's life is on the up there it is badly shaken when she finds texts from another woman on Harry's phone. Not being one to sit idly by she tries to get to the bottom of it with the help of her friends.
I really enjoyed this story of love , friendship ,family ,and with a dash of magic and mystery thrown in. There was some unexpected twists in the story that I did not see coming and I thoroughly loved them , there was also some laugh out loud moments curtesy of Harry's family . I loved them! If you want a real feel good story then check this out!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is being published March 24th by Accent Press
I really enjoyed this story of love , friendship ,family ,and with a dash of magic and mystery thrown in. There was some unexpected twists in the story that I did not see coming and I thoroughly loved them , there was also some laugh out loud moments curtesy of Harry's family . I loved them! If you want a real feel good story then check this out!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is being published March 24th by Accent Press
October 27, 2017
This book really worked its magic on me! There were a whole host of characters to love from Harry's big Greek family to Emma and her friends.
There were so many twists and turns in this book and every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, it took a different direction which had me hooked. As well as entertaining, The Magic Touch highlights how quickly a relationship can break down when two people stop talking.
Emma's friendship with her elderly neighbour was touching and his character was a breath of fresh air in breaking the stereotype of an elderly man.
This is a fabulous romance but carries the twists and turns of more serious women's fiction too. I highly recommend this book!
There were so many twists and turns in this book and every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, it took a different direction which had me hooked. As well as entertaining, The Magic Touch highlights how quickly a relationship can break down when two people stop talking.
Emma's friendship with her elderly neighbour was touching and his character was a breath of fresh air in breaking the stereotype of an elderly man.
This is a fabulous romance but carries the twists and turns of more serious women's fiction too. I highly recommend this book!
January 9, 2022
Having got out of an abusive marriage, Emma is in no hurry to marry her Greek boyfriend, Harry. But there are cracks in their relationship, and a suspicious text is enough to make Emma wonder if they have a future.
I loved this story, it's funny and sad, and has a few twists that throw you off-track just when you think you know where the book is going! Emma is such a relatable character, full of self-doubt but feisty with it.
Well written, the story kept me hooked until the end, and I loved the magical/ghostly element to it. A great book to start the year off! Highly recommend.
I loved this story, it's funny and sad, and has a few twists that throw you off-track just when you think you know where the book is going! Emma is such a relatable character, full of self-doubt but feisty with it.
Well written, the story kept me hooked until the end, and I loved the magical/ghostly element to it. A great book to start the year off! Highly recommend.
April 24, 2016
This was a great read, kept you guessing right to the end with its twists and turns.
It started off slowly and you think oh I know what is going to happen with this and then a twist happens and you have to rethink it and then you guess correctly what happens and then it twists again.
Highly recommended, great author.
It started off slowly and you think oh I know what is going to happen with this and then a twist happens and you have to rethink it and then you guess correctly what happens and then it twists again.
Highly recommended, great author.
March 8, 2017
Excellent book.
I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book, but I did. It had a few surprises just when I thought I knew what was happening.
I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book, but I did. It had a few surprises just when I thought I knew what was happening.
August 7, 2020
The Magic Touch is Kelly Florentia's debut novel and it is such a fun read! The story is based around two main characters of Emma and her Greek-Cypriot partner Harry. Emma, has had a very tough past and a traumatic past relationship but is now very happy with her life. She loves her home, she loves her job and she is head over heels in love with Harry (as he is with her), her Mr Right, her future. However, Emma does not believe that they need to be married. When Harry proposes at one of their big family gatherings (which sound great fun and I would love to go to one!) she turns him down. When everything is going so great, why change? They are both besotted with each other, why the need to marry? Here we see Emma's insecurities come out, understandably due to her previous relationship.
Emma then sees a text on Harry's phone, which makes her very suspicious that he is seeing someone else. She is even more suspecting when Harry puts a lock code on his phone so Emma cannot see any further messages. Emma then goes on a mission to find out who this person is texting her Harry and why. Emma seeks help from her friends and family, particularly her psychic sister-in-law Caroline, who has recently launched an app called The Magic Touch which will predict your future and give you advice to follow. Would you rely on a phone app to give you help and advice to guide you through life and to help you with life's challenges? Throughout the book I was really hoping that Harry was not cheating on Emma - they come across as the perfect couple and if it was true Emma's world would fall apart. And Marc - oh my word. I cannot say any more than that but he definitely added a great edge to the book. I do not want to give away the ending but I absolutely loved it!
Throughout the book the Greek culture and tradition, the strong extended family and their personalities, the family lifestyle and their loyal values shined through and gave a great insight into their wonderful family. Great characters who were given so much depth - I loved Alistair!
Full of twists and turns, with lots of magical surprises along the way. A very emotional but fun read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading more by Kelly Florentia.
Emma then sees a text on Harry's phone, which makes her very suspicious that he is seeing someone else. She is even more suspecting when Harry puts a lock code on his phone so Emma cannot see any further messages. Emma then goes on a mission to find out who this person is texting her Harry and why. Emma seeks help from her friends and family, particularly her psychic sister-in-law Caroline, who has recently launched an app called The Magic Touch which will predict your future and give you advice to follow. Would you rely on a phone app to give you help and advice to guide you through life and to help you with life's challenges? Throughout the book I was really hoping that Harry was not cheating on Emma - they come across as the perfect couple and if it was true Emma's world would fall apart. And Marc - oh my word. I cannot say any more than that but he definitely added a great edge to the book. I do not want to give away the ending but I absolutely loved it!
Throughout the book the Greek culture and tradition, the strong extended family and their personalities, the family lifestyle and their loyal values shined through and gave a great insight into their wonderful family. Great characters who were given so much depth - I loved Alistair!
Full of twists and turns, with lots of magical surprises along the way. A very emotional but fun read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading more by Kelly Florentia.
February 7, 2019
This was such a very enjoyable read – knowing it was the author’s first novel, I was rather expecting a relatively straightforward romantic comedy, and was delighted to find that there was a great deal more to it than that. Emma has a few issues in her background, making it difficult to place her full trust in the lovely Harry – and when she finds a text on his phone that seems to confirm her worst fears, everything in her life starts to collapse around her. Some of the decisions she makes are distinctly suspect, and you can see the inevitable car crash approaching – and then the story takes a bit of a twist, and then another, and things go in a quite different direction.
There’s a considerable warmth to this book – the couple who love each other but have slightly lost their way, Harry’s extended and chaotic Greek Cypriot family (I particularly liked the mother!), the supportive friendships of both Ola and 93-year-old neighbour Alistair (what a wonderful character). And I really liked the book’s contemporary edge with Emma’s all too familiar obsession with her phone screen, Facebook and Twitter. The psychic app is an inspired idea – it leads to some of the book’s most laugh-out-loud moments when things take a rather surreal and unexpected turn, but it was a direction I thoroughly enjoyed. And as for the ending… just perfect!
The writing is excellent, the characters so well-developed, and the author has a really perfect touch with dialogue. At times, the book is extremely funny, but then there are those perfectly judged moments of poignancy that have you laughing one moment, teary the next. At times too, the tension is very cleverly wound up – real threat, real danger – giving it the distinct chill of a thriller. I’ll admit that this book wasn’t really what I expected, but only because it was so much better – it’s fun, with a real lightness in the story’s telling and a lovely touch of magic, but I equally liked its depths and the real substance behind its characters. Highly recommended by me.
There’s a considerable warmth to this book – the couple who love each other but have slightly lost their way, Harry’s extended and chaotic Greek Cypriot family (I particularly liked the mother!), the supportive friendships of both Ola and 93-year-old neighbour Alistair (what a wonderful character). And I really liked the book’s contemporary edge with Emma’s all too familiar obsession with her phone screen, Facebook and Twitter. The psychic app is an inspired idea – it leads to some of the book’s most laugh-out-loud moments when things take a rather surreal and unexpected turn, but it was a direction I thoroughly enjoyed. And as for the ending… just perfect!
The writing is excellent, the characters so well-developed, and the author has a really perfect touch with dialogue. At times, the book is extremely funny, but then there are those perfectly judged moments of poignancy that have you laughing one moment, teary the next. At times too, the tension is very cleverly wound up – real threat, real danger – giving it the distinct chill of a thriller. I’ll admit that this book wasn’t really what I expected, but only because it was so much better – it’s fun, with a real lightness in the story’s telling and a lovely touch of magic, but I equally liked its depths and the real substance behind its characters. Highly recommended by me.
February 22, 2019
Once burned, twice shy Emma is happy with her life, and happy with her partner, Harry. She's got everything she needs - but Harry (and his large, boisterous, Greek family) are pressuring her to get married. But, been there, done that - Emma has a deep fear of commitment and doesn't see why she should change anything - even though things have been getting, well, humdrum. The spark has somehow gone, as well as the excitement. Of course, Emma reasons, a spark and excitement isn't eveything - there is something to be said for security - right? And then, everything she thought was stable and secure suddenly isn't. Harry has the 'knight in shining armor' syndrome, and he's found another damsel in distress. Emma's life is suddenly full of something she's been trying desperately to avoid - emotion. Toss in a magical app that predicts the future, an old friend, a new (disturbingly flirty) friend, and anything can happen. I enjoyed this book. You get to know the characters and feel part of their lives. You find yourself rooting for Emma and for Harry - and hoping for a Happy Ever After. A lovely story with a touch of whimsy and a sprinkle of humor.
May 8, 2019
The Magic Touch is the third book I have read and enjoyed by Kelly Florentia and it was a joy from first to last page. The author has an effervescent style and writes with such empathy that at times I felt I was reading someone’s journal as I could totally imagine her being in the same situation as her protagonist; in this case, Emma King, a talented but struggling illustrator, part time waitress and long-term live-in girlfriend of Harry Georgiades.
From the outset, I warmed to Emma and her resistance to be subsumed by Harry’s loving but somewhat overwhelming family. We soon learn that Emma and Harry have hit a rough patch in their relationship. The gloss is off, and thanks to an ambiguous text from another woman on Harry’s mobile, a degree of mistrust has set in. Emma’s suspicions are egged on by a circle of friends that includes slinky Ola, and psychic Caroline. The latter has launched a phone app ‘The Magic Touch’, that provides daily predictions, some of which are spookily accurate. Moreover, there are flashes of paranormal activity throughout the story that I personally found chilling.
Whilst romance sits at the heart of TMT, don’t expect twee and cosy. In common with No Way Back and Her Secret, TMT is an edgy, modern and quirky saga that leans away from the sentimental. I found myself giggling one minute and horrified the next – for example, we learn that Emma has experienced real trauma in a previous relationship. Then there’s the ‘Marc factor’; to say any more about this entanglement would be a plot-spoiler but suffice to say that this angle kept the pace and suspense going at a trot.
I loved the complexity of Emma and Harry’s relationship (it felt very real and grown up to me); pair this with Kelly Florentia’s vibrant writing style which provides just the right level of insight into each character, and it all adds up to a no-brainer five-stars.
Finally, eagle-eyed readers will note a brief reference to latter day heroine, Audrey Fox.
From the outset, I warmed to Emma and her resistance to be subsumed by Harry’s loving but somewhat overwhelming family. We soon learn that Emma and Harry have hit a rough patch in their relationship. The gloss is off, and thanks to an ambiguous text from another woman on Harry’s mobile, a degree of mistrust has set in. Emma’s suspicions are egged on by a circle of friends that includes slinky Ola, and psychic Caroline. The latter has launched a phone app ‘The Magic Touch’, that provides daily predictions, some of which are spookily accurate. Moreover, there are flashes of paranormal activity throughout the story that I personally found chilling.
Whilst romance sits at the heart of TMT, don’t expect twee and cosy. In common with No Way Back and Her Secret, TMT is an edgy, modern and quirky saga that leans away from the sentimental. I found myself giggling one minute and horrified the next – for example, we learn that Emma has experienced real trauma in a previous relationship. Then there’s the ‘Marc factor’; to say any more about this entanglement would be a plot-spoiler but suffice to say that this angle kept the pace and suspense going at a trot.
I loved the complexity of Emma and Harry’s relationship (it felt very real and grown up to me); pair this with Kelly Florentia’s vibrant writing style which provides just the right level of insight into each character, and it all adds up to a no-brainer five-stars.
Finally, eagle-eyed readers will note a brief reference to latter day heroine, Audrey Fox.
January 28, 2019
Read this review and more at www.thereadingnook.org
‘Would you read your partner’s texts? What if you thought he was having an affair? Once bitten, twice shy Emma King is in no rush to join Harry’s bustling, big, fat Greek Cypriot family and become Mrs Georgiades. So it comes as no surprise when, after plenty of Dutch courage, his proposal of marriage at a family gathering is met with rejection. Emma doesn’t think they need a piece of paper to prove how much they love each other..
They’re solid – unbreakable. After all, Harry’s a loving and loyal partner whom she trusts implicitly. But when she accidentally stumbles across a flirtatious text message on Harry’s mobile phone from a female colleague alarm bells start going off in her head. Overcome with suspicion and an impending fear of losing the love of her life, Emma goes on a mission to get to the bottom of his affair with the help of her best friend Ola, her ninety-three year old neighbour Alistair, and Harry’s sister-in-law’s app, The Magic Touch. Because no one is going to snatch Harry from her – no one!’
I was sent this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review, and I’m delighted she asked me to do it, because otherwise I might not have gotten a chance to read this brilliant book. Her debut novel, it was initially published in 2016, and is set to be relaunched on the 7th of February of this year.
The story follows Emma, who, having already had one unsuccessful marriage to Carl, is in no rush to rush down the aisle again, despite being madly in love with her partner Harry, much to the wonder of her mother and her friends, not to mention Harry’s extremely close Greek Cypriot family.
Emma is an extremely relatable character – she turns to social media a little bit too much, and she’s guilty of making herself and her life look better on Facebook than it really is – a habit I’m sure many of us are guilty of. She’s a well written character, she’s not the flawless female character – she drinks a bit too much sometimes, makes some unwise decisions, but at the heart of it, she’s kind, a good friend, and she’s dedicated to making her business take off.
Alistair, her next door neighbour, is adorable. He’s a straight talker, he doesn’t hold back, and he proves to be an indispensable friend to Emma.
The supporting cast in this story really give it warmth. Harry comes across as such a warm and dedicated partner that the thoughts of him cheating is almost too much to believe – I was praying while I was reading that it was all going to be a big misunderstanding! Emma’s friends, Ola and Caroline, are there for her, providing laughs and a shoulder to cry on when it’s needed. Caroline’s psychic and medium abilities really lighten the story but they add excitement to the story too.
The writing style in this book is really easy to read – it flows well, and the chapters are short enough to keep you turning the pages without feeling bogged down in the story. The characters are well written and fleshed out, especially the main characters, and the touch of Greek Cypriot tradition and language is really well done – it almost makes it feel like you’re sitting in the type of Greek kitchens you see in so many films and television.
While the book is full of laugh out loud moments, the author deals with serious issues such as infidelity, death, illness and domestic violence with impressive ease and sensitivity. I have read books where it’s clear that the author is not comfortable dealing with these topics, and it shows, and it was clear that that was not the case with this book. Although each of these topics are serious, and can bring a book down, they were interspersed with lighter moments, which stopped the book from being too heavy.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is gripping, it’s realistic, and it has such warmth and humour in it that it is a pleasure to read. And it has such a satisfying ending, I almost cheered, I definitely laughed, and I was so disappointed that the book was finished because I could have happily read about Emma and her friends and her life for another few chapters!
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a book with a female protagonist that they can see some of themselves in – we could all be Emma in some ways! It’s an enjoyable, light read, and you will close the last page with a smile on your face. And who doesn’t want that?
‘Would you read your partner’s texts? What if you thought he was having an affair? Once bitten, twice shy Emma King is in no rush to join Harry’s bustling, big, fat Greek Cypriot family and become Mrs Georgiades. So it comes as no surprise when, after plenty of Dutch courage, his proposal of marriage at a family gathering is met with rejection. Emma doesn’t think they need a piece of paper to prove how much they love each other..
They’re solid – unbreakable. After all, Harry’s a loving and loyal partner whom she trusts implicitly. But when she accidentally stumbles across a flirtatious text message on Harry’s mobile phone from a female colleague alarm bells start going off in her head. Overcome with suspicion and an impending fear of losing the love of her life, Emma goes on a mission to get to the bottom of his affair with the help of her best friend Ola, her ninety-three year old neighbour Alistair, and Harry’s sister-in-law’s app, The Magic Touch. Because no one is going to snatch Harry from her – no one!’
I was sent this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review, and I’m delighted she asked me to do it, because otherwise I might not have gotten a chance to read this brilliant book. Her debut novel, it was initially published in 2016, and is set to be relaunched on the 7th of February of this year.
The story follows Emma, who, having already had one unsuccessful marriage to Carl, is in no rush to rush down the aisle again, despite being madly in love with her partner Harry, much to the wonder of her mother and her friends, not to mention Harry’s extremely close Greek Cypriot family.
Emma is an extremely relatable character – she turns to social media a little bit too much, and she’s guilty of making herself and her life look better on Facebook than it really is – a habit I’m sure many of us are guilty of. She’s a well written character, she’s not the flawless female character – she drinks a bit too much sometimes, makes some unwise decisions, but at the heart of it, she’s kind, a good friend, and she’s dedicated to making her business take off.
Alistair, her next door neighbour, is adorable. He’s a straight talker, he doesn’t hold back, and he proves to be an indispensable friend to Emma.
The supporting cast in this story really give it warmth. Harry comes across as such a warm and dedicated partner that the thoughts of him cheating is almost too much to believe – I was praying while I was reading that it was all going to be a big misunderstanding! Emma’s friends, Ola and Caroline, are there for her, providing laughs and a shoulder to cry on when it’s needed. Caroline’s psychic and medium abilities really lighten the story but they add excitement to the story too.
The writing style in this book is really easy to read – it flows well, and the chapters are short enough to keep you turning the pages without feeling bogged down in the story. The characters are well written and fleshed out, especially the main characters, and the touch of Greek Cypriot tradition and language is really well done – it almost makes it feel like you’re sitting in the type of Greek kitchens you see in so many films and television.
While the book is full of laugh out loud moments, the author deals with serious issues such as infidelity, death, illness and domestic violence with impressive ease and sensitivity. I have read books where it’s clear that the author is not comfortable dealing with these topics, and it shows, and it was clear that that was not the case with this book. Although each of these topics are serious, and can bring a book down, they were interspersed with lighter moments, which stopped the book from being too heavy.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is gripping, it’s realistic, and it has such warmth and humour in it that it is a pleasure to read. And it has such a satisfying ending, I almost cheered, I definitely laughed, and I was so disappointed that the book was finished because I could have happily read about Emma and her friends and her life for another few chapters!
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a book with a female protagonist that they can see some of themselves in – we could all be Emma in some ways! It’s an enjoyable, light read, and you will close the last page with a smile on your face. And who doesn’t want that?
February 14, 2019
I’ve loved the other books I have read by Kelly Florentia so it was a no brainer that I had to read her recently reissued first novel, The Magic Touch. And I’m pleased to report back that I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this funny, often poignant, romantic comedy that delivered exactly what it promised and more!
Emma King is a wonderful character! She really put a smile on my face throughout The Magic Touch as I watched her her interactions with her potential extended family. And Harry, her Greek Cypriot boyfriend, is just the right person for her even if she doesn’t want to get married due to having been hurt and letdown before. So when she reads a very flirty message on his phone, she panics and wonders if her refusal to commit has driven him into the arms of another! And it is her ever increasing, over the top antics as she tries to expose his affair that made me laugh most of all. There was an enigmatic mix of characters here, all of whom added some spice into the mix, helping Emma to uncover the truth about Harry. I especially loved the relationship between Emma and Caroline (who was married to Harry’s brother) and many of my favourite moments centred around the use of the psychic phone app, The Magic Touch, which I thought was the cherry on the top of this brilliantly conceived plot line.
Kelly Florentia writes with a stylish and engaging flow that means that you become completely absorbed in her narrative until you look up and wonder where the hell the time has gone! I’ve enjoyed her humorous and entertaining storylines immensely in the past as she always seems to write about “real” women, often with a bittersweet edge.
The Magic Touch is definitely one for your TBR piles!
Emma King is a wonderful character! She really put a smile on my face throughout The Magic Touch as I watched her her interactions with her potential extended family. And Harry, her Greek Cypriot boyfriend, is just the right person for her even if she doesn’t want to get married due to having been hurt and letdown before. So when she reads a very flirty message on his phone, she panics and wonders if her refusal to commit has driven him into the arms of another! And it is her ever increasing, over the top antics as she tries to expose his affair that made me laugh most of all. There was an enigmatic mix of characters here, all of whom added some spice into the mix, helping Emma to uncover the truth about Harry. I especially loved the relationship between Emma and Caroline (who was married to Harry’s brother) and many of my favourite moments centred around the use of the psychic phone app, The Magic Touch, which I thought was the cherry on the top of this brilliantly conceived plot line.
Kelly Florentia writes with a stylish and engaging flow that means that you become completely absorbed in her narrative until you look up and wonder where the hell the time has gone! I’ve enjoyed her humorous and entertaining storylines immensely in the past as she always seems to write about “real” women, often with a bittersweet edge.
The Magic Touch is definitely one for your TBR piles!
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July 11, 2019Great read
I'm usually leery about reading books that are set in Greece and/or feature Greeks. I tend to find them wildly inaccurate. HOWEVER, this one really captures the essence of living within the Greek expat culture without ramming it down the reader's throat or making it a big issue. I found the characters likeable and well rounded and the the novel wasn't predictable. It was a fast paced read, full of engaging situations which kept me turning pages and I loved the ending. I found the book honest, very well written, well edited and grounded. I loved the idea of Caroline's app. (You'll need to read it to find out more) I'll definitely try more from this author and thoroughly recommend this book.
I'm usually leery about reading books that are set in Greece and/or feature Greeks. I tend to find them wildly inaccurate. HOWEVER, this one really captures the essence of living within the Greek expat culture without ramming it down the reader's throat or making it a big issue. I found the characters likeable and well rounded and the the novel wasn't predictable. It was a fast paced read, full of engaging situations which kept me turning pages and I loved the ending. I found the book honest, very well written, well edited and grounded. I loved the idea of Caroline's app. (You'll need to read it to find out more) I'll definitely try more from this author and thoroughly recommend this book.
June 6, 2023
An imaginative story with hidden depths. At first I was frustrated by Emma's obsession with Harry's suspected infidelity but then the story took off with unexpected twists. I loved Emma's friendship with her elderly neighbour Alistair. The app was a great idea. This story had me laughing and crying. Excellent. Recommended!
June 24, 2021
Good read made me laugh out loud and cry Emma and Harry have been together for 5 years when she see a text on his phone loved her elderly neighbour Alistair good easy read 😄😄😄
October 20, 2021
Absolutely loved this. Gripping read the whole way through.
October 4, 2021
An absolutely cracking read. This story has everything. Romance, heartbreak, family secrets and lies, domestic violence, friendship, and even a touch of the paranormal.
What brings all these elements together is the troubled relationship between our narrator Emma, and her boyfriend (‘boyhub’), Harry. Emma grows increasingly worried that Harry is cheating, and as her sense of security begins to crumble she unwisely allows smooth operator Marc into her life, ostensibly for professional reasons, although Marc seems to want more. The situation quickly becomes too hot to handle.
Harry comes from a large Greek-Cypriot family, and we meet some enchanting and wholly believable relations over Sunday dinner, presided over by the wonderfully warm and sweet Xenia, the family’s matriarch, and superb cook. I love how Xenia speaks in the book.
Harry’s older brother, Mas, is not as likeable as his male nurse sibling – and he ends up playing a more central role in the drama than at first you might suspect.
Questions of fidelity and trust thread the narrative, as does the reliability and consolation of friendship. Emma’s female pals, Ola and Caroline (Mas’s wife) are charming characters, and instrumental to the plot. One of my favourite characters, however, is Alisdair, Emma’s ninety-three-year-old neighbour, with whom she plays Scrabble and receives old school advice, as well as a tune on Alisdair’s battered old violin.
Emma’s first marriage was to a highly abusive man, Carl – and we see how he wears her down in a compelling back-story that makes us understand her trepidation at marrying again. She’s been badly hurt, and still has the psychological scars. Carl is brilliantly presented as an arch-narcissist, and possible sociopath. You hope no one else falls for his initial charm.
The Magic Touch of the title refers to something quite particular, which I will not elaborate on here, as it’s nice to discover it.
As Emma and Harry’s relationship threatens to implode, the pace and drama picks up pace, leading to a series of reveals and turnarounds that actually make you gasp. I will not give any clues here for obvious reasons.
The ending was stunningly done – and actually made me cry – again, no details. It packs such a punch because of all that has gone before. All the threats to happiness and true love.
The Magic Touch would make a terrific film. The writing is superb, in particular the characterisations and the scene building, with just the right amount of descriptive detail to put the reader right there.
I became seriously invested in Emma and Harry’s plight – because they are both such relatable people, with dreams and hopes all of us can understand. And that’s another beauty of this story – you really care, and by the end feel you know them, and the more minor characters, intimately.
Just a wonderfully entertaining and moving novel – with multiple layers, and some great observational humour based on genuine human interactions. This is the fourth book by Kelly Florentia I have read, and I’ve loved them all – will be exciting to see what she writes next! I will certainly be reading it!
What brings all these elements together is the troubled relationship between our narrator Emma, and her boyfriend (‘boyhub’), Harry. Emma grows increasingly worried that Harry is cheating, and as her sense of security begins to crumble she unwisely allows smooth operator Marc into her life, ostensibly for professional reasons, although Marc seems to want more. The situation quickly becomes too hot to handle.
Harry comes from a large Greek-Cypriot family, and we meet some enchanting and wholly believable relations over Sunday dinner, presided over by the wonderfully warm and sweet Xenia, the family’s matriarch, and superb cook. I love how Xenia speaks in the book.
Harry’s older brother, Mas, is not as likeable as his male nurse sibling – and he ends up playing a more central role in the drama than at first you might suspect.
Questions of fidelity and trust thread the narrative, as does the reliability and consolation of friendship. Emma’s female pals, Ola and Caroline (Mas’s wife) are charming characters, and instrumental to the plot. One of my favourite characters, however, is Alisdair, Emma’s ninety-three-year-old neighbour, with whom she plays Scrabble and receives old school advice, as well as a tune on Alisdair’s battered old violin.
Emma’s first marriage was to a highly abusive man, Carl – and we see how he wears her down in a compelling back-story that makes us understand her trepidation at marrying again. She’s been badly hurt, and still has the psychological scars. Carl is brilliantly presented as an arch-narcissist, and possible sociopath. You hope no one else falls for his initial charm.
The Magic Touch of the title refers to something quite particular, which I will not elaborate on here, as it’s nice to discover it.
As Emma and Harry’s relationship threatens to implode, the pace and drama picks up pace, leading to a series of reveals and turnarounds that actually make you gasp. I will not give any clues here for obvious reasons.
The ending was stunningly done – and actually made me cry – again, no details. It packs such a punch because of all that has gone before. All the threats to happiness and true love.
The Magic Touch would make a terrific film. The writing is superb, in particular the characterisations and the scene building, with just the right amount of descriptive detail to put the reader right there.
I became seriously invested in Emma and Harry’s plight – because they are both such relatable people, with dreams and hopes all of us can understand. And that’s another beauty of this story – you really care, and by the end feel you know them, and the more minor characters, intimately.
Just a wonderfully entertaining and moving novel – with multiple layers, and some great observational humour based on genuine human interactions. This is the fourth book by Kelly Florentia I have read, and I’ve loved them all – will be exciting to see what she writes next! I will certainly be reading it!
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