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Art Medium #1
The Artist's Touch
Two men haunted by more than the past. Painter Stefan Cobbe was homeless and debt-ridden after the death of his wealthy partner, but the worst loss of all was his artistic inspiration. After two years of nothing, he’s offered patronage by an eccentric gallery owner and starts to produce again, canvas after canvas. The only problem? He can’t remember painting any of them—not one single brushstroke. Luke Morganstern’s reputation as an art-fraud investigator is in tatters. He can’t afford to turn down any job, even a lousy one for an anonymous client who sends him after an unidentified forger in a remote cabin in Oregon. When the alleged forger turns out to be Stefan, the man he never stopped loving, Luke’s professional ethics are stretched beyond the breaking point. As the two men take tentative steps toward reconciliation, evidence begins to mount that they’re not alone in the woods. Someone—or something—is watching. Something with sinister plans for them both. To escape, Luke must overcome his suspicions and Stefan must trust Luke with his deepest fears. Otherwise they could forfeit their relationship, their sanity—and their lives. This is a heavily revised and significantly expanded reprint of the author's Northern Light. Word 31,400; page 132
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2013
13 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Russell
54 books412 followersE.J. Russell –grace, mother of three, recovering actor–writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. Count on high snark, low angst and happy endings.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 7, 2013
I received this story as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There was a lot of promise to the story. The premise was interesting, and I loved the ghost story aspects of the plot. The connection between Luke and Stefan felt real, and I liked their chemistry.
Overall though it felt like the story was a bit too rushed. It felt like events moved too quickly for me to get a handle on the characters, and the conclusion felt a bit abrupt and lacked the kind of punch I would have liked. I would have liked to see how things worked out with Luke's employer. I also would have liked to get a better handle on Edward's relationship with the painter. It felt more like obsession than real love, but that's probably because the only opinion I was given. I would have loved to know what either man really thought of each other, and if there was anything to the love that drove the ghostly aspects or if it was just the painter's obsession with his subject.
Too many important questions felt like they were left unanswered, and what was presented was a bit too neat an ending considering the obstacles and problems both men are facing. I think if the pacing were slowed down a bit, and people, events, and relationships were allowed to develop at a bit more natural pace this would have been a four star read for me, but not as it stands now.
There was a lot of promise to the story. The premise was interesting, and I loved the ghost story aspects of the plot. The connection between Luke and Stefan felt real, and I liked their chemistry.
Overall though it felt like the story was a bit too rushed. It felt like events moved too quickly for me to get a handle on the characters, and the conclusion felt a bit abrupt and lacked the kind of punch I would have liked. I would have liked to see how things worked out with Luke's employer. I also would have liked to get a better handle on Edward's relationship with the painter. It felt more like obsession than real love, but that's probably because the only opinion I was given. I would have loved to know what either man really thought of each other, and if there was anything to the love that drove the ghostly aspects or if it was just the painter's obsession with his subject.
Too many important questions felt like they were left unanswered, and what was presented was a bit too neat an ending considering the obstacles and problems both men are facing. I think if the pacing were slowed down a bit, and people, events, and relationships were allowed to develop at a bit more natural pace this would have been a four star read for me, but not as it stands now.
October 7, 2013
**2.5 stars**
While this book was not a bad book, it certainly didn't live up to its potential.
I'll start with some positives. I think that the author created a nice connection between the two main characters, which is impressive given the length of the book. I felt like I got why they wanted to be together and the reasons that drove them apart. It made sense to me. I liked the idea of a second-chance romance and I even liked the art forger premise of the story in the beginning.
I may be in the minority, but I wish this story had been a contemporary romance instead of a ghost paranormal. I think that when the book started having the paranormal elements introduced, it began trying to do too much. The story kind of got derailed and I found myself lost in a rushed plot. I would have liked the focus to remain on Luke and Stefan and the intricacies of their relationship, not with some outside paranormal, mystery elements.
All in all, a pleasant, short read but not one that I would return to.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
While this book was not a bad book, it certainly didn't live up to its potential.
I'll start with some positives. I think that the author created a nice connection between the two main characters, which is impressive given the length of the book. I felt like I got why they wanted to be together and the reasons that drove them apart. It made sense to me. I liked the idea of a second-chance romance and I even liked the art forger premise of the story in the beginning.
I may be in the minority, but I wish this story had been a contemporary romance instead of a ghost paranormal. I think that when the book started having the paranormal elements introduced, it began trying to do too much. The story kind of got derailed and I found myself lost in a rushed plot. I would have liked the focus to remain on Luke and Stefan and the intricacies of their relationship, not with some outside paranormal, mystery elements.
All in all, a pleasant, short read but not one that I would return to.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
May 5, 2015
3 - 3.5 stars
While in Oregon investigating a possible art forgery, the last thing Luke expects when he confronts the suspect is for it to be Stefan, the man he walked out on seven years before. For various reasons, each man's life and career has suffered since they last saw each other, but Luke cannot believe the talented Stefan would ever sink to forgery. Upon Stefan's denial, Luke meets up with his mystery client whose past association with the original artist leads him to believe that there is more than meets the eye going on in the studio in the woods.
This is a nicely written, straight forward ghost story. It is also a story about second chances. Stefan and Luke are likeable characters. There is nothing new or complex in the story telling, but if you are a fan of these types of books and want a quick read I would recommend it.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
While in Oregon investigating a possible art forgery, the last thing Luke expects when he confronts the suspect is for it to be Stefan, the man he walked out on seven years before. For various reasons, each man's life and career has suffered since they last saw each other, but Luke cannot believe the talented Stefan would ever sink to forgery. Upon Stefan's denial, Luke meets up with his mystery client whose past association with the original artist leads him to believe that there is more than meets the eye going on in the studio in the woods.
This is a nicely written, straight forward ghost story. It is also a story about second chances. Stefan and Luke are likeable characters. There is nothing new or complex in the story telling, but if you are a fan of these types of books and want a quick read I would recommend it.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
February 16, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
I really like the premise of this book. The paranormal aspect was well done and definitely a bit creepy, particularly when Luke is dragged into the entire mess. The chemistry between Luke and Stefan was undeniable, and the idea that they two have never gotten over each other despite it being a few years since they were together was believable. If there had been more explanation about their former relationship, I felt it really would have added to the story overall. As it was, the lack of information on their backstory hurt the novella overall, making it feel a bit disjointed and incomplete. I appreciated the story of the artist whose paintings Stefan was channeling and found myself really wishing the author had taken the same amount of time on the two main characters. Then there was Stefan’s benefactor who ended up playing a major role in the novella at the end, but who we really failed to get any sense of during the bulk of the book.
Because of the bare bones structure to the story, I found myself occasionally going back and rereading passages to make sense of where we were in the book. I felt like there were all these great threads that could have been the basis of a wonderful paranormal mystery, but they were left unexplained, underdeveloped, or incomplete. This book should have been a full-length novel and I’m surprised the author didn’t take the opportunity to expand the story before reissuing. In the end, the plot holes that resulted from a story that was never fully realized made this novella a bit hard to get into. I thought the premise for the novella was a really good one—and the bits that worked were solid and entertaining, but, in the end, there simply wasn’t enough story to make this novella shine.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
I really like the premise of this book. The paranormal aspect was well done and definitely a bit creepy, particularly when Luke is dragged into the entire mess. The chemistry between Luke and Stefan was undeniable, and the idea that they two have never gotten over each other despite it being a few years since they were together was believable. If there had been more explanation about their former relationship, I felt it really would have added to the story overall. As it was, the lack of information on their backstory hurt the novella overall, making it feel a bit disjointed and incomplete. I appreciated the story of the artist whose paintings Stefan was channeling and found myself really wishing the author had taken the same amount of time on the two main characters. Then there was Stefan’s benefactor who ended up playing a major role in the novella at the end, but who we really failed to get any sense of during the bulk of the book.
Because of the bare bones structure to the story, I found myself occasionally going back and rereading passages to make sense of where we were in the book. I felt like there were all these great threads that could have been the basis of a wonderful paranormal mystery, but they were left unexplained, underdeveloped, or incomplete. This book should have been a full-length novel and I’m surprised the author didn’t take the opportunity to expand the story before reissuing. In the end, the plot holes that resulted from a story that was never fully realized made this novella a bit hard to get into. I thought the premise for the novella was a really good one—and the bits that worked were solid and entertaining, but, in the end, there simply wasn’t enough story to make this novella shine.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
October 26, 2021
The longer I read, the longer this felt. By the end, I had no interest in Luke and Stefan ... and what a lack lustre end it was
April 9, 2018
Sorry to say this story didnt hold my attention at the fullest.
It was nice with nice personalities. Only the ghost part wasnt really interesting.
It was nice with nice personalities. Only the ghost part wasnt really interesting.
Read
January 27, 2023This short book was a nice blend of romance with a ghostly element. It was a nice way to spend an hour tonight when I knew I didn't have time to do a lot of reading.
For it's length the story packs in quite a bit. It's a story about art forgeries, about lost love, second chances and about ghosts.
The tales starts with Luke on the trail of an art forger who turns out to be the man he loved and left many years ago. Of course Luke still has feelings for Stefan which Stefan returns.
I liked the style of the storytelling and how Luke and Stefan respond to one another, their history colouring their reactions. There was a bit of mystery and some drama. I must admit that I do not usually read too many stories about ghosts but I like the way this one was done. I think the ghostly elements blended really nicely with the focus on Luke and Stefan's rekindled love - a good balance which suited me fine.
The only downfall for this story was the length. There was so much packed into it, that it just skimmed on the surface of many things. There was opportunity to provide so much more background into Luke and Stefan's past together but also their lives apart - the tragedy that befell Stefan and the accident that maimed Luke. I would have even enjoyed seeing more about the relationship between Edward and Arcoletti.
All-in-all, a nice way to spend an hour.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
For it's length the story packs in quite a bit. It's a story about art forgeries, about lost love, second chances and about ghosts.
The tales starts with Luke on the trail of an art forger who turns out to be the man he loved and left many years ago. Of course Luke still has feelings for Stefan which Stefan returns.
I liked the style of the storytelling and how Luke and Stefan respond to one another, their history colouring their reactions. There was a bit of mystery and some drama. I must admit that I do not usually read too many stories about ghosts but I like the way this one was done. I think the ghostly elements blended really nicely with the focus on Luke and Stefan's rekindled love - a good balance which suited me fine.
The only downfall for this story was the length. There was so much packed into it, that it just skimmed on the surface of many things. There was opportunity to provide so much more background into Luke and Stefan's past together but also their lives apart - the tragedy that befell Stefan and the accident that maimed Luke. I would have even enjoyed seeing more about the relationship between Edward and Arcoletti.
All-in-all, a nice way to spend an hour.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
September 16, 2013
My copy was an ARC I received from the publisher for an honest review.
Just because you don’t believe in something?
Doesn’t mean it’s not real.
I dicided to write a short review; Northern Star is short itself.
The plot is predictable (or I've watched too many episodes of Supernatural...) but not bad.
What I really liked was the writing - witty and scintillating and punchy.
Just because you don’t believe in something?
Doesn’t mean it’s not real.
I dicided to write a short review; Northern Star is short itself.
The plot is predictable (or I've watched too many episodes of Supernatural...) but not bad.
What I really liked was the writing - witty and scintillating and punchy.
February 13, 2018
3.5+
I was so excited to pick up this book by EJ Russell. I was a huge fan of another book she co-wrote with Anne Tenino, but hadn’t picked up one of her solo books yet as paranormal isn’t really my thing. However, The Artist’s Touch seemed to be a good combination of contemporary, mystery and paranormal to capture my interest.
At first, I had a difficult time getting into this book. Luke and Stefan have a long backstory that we learn about in non-consecutive bits and pieces, and for the first quarter or so of the story I was a bit annoyed at not understanding some of the references and the importance of actions that hadn’t been revealed yet. However, the story picks up quickly and once the actions from the past were mostly revealed, I really enjoyed it. Second chances is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and it’s done super well here.
Both Luke and Stefan are heavily flawed characters. Luke was a bit conceited, a bit indecisive, a bit of a jerk. He thinks a lot more about how something affects him rather than how it affects Stefan. But he does seem at least aware of his flaws, and when it comes right down to it, he steps up to the plate. Stefan was very defeatist and fatalistic in his thinking, convinced nothing is going to go right for him so he’s just going to go along with it and whatever happens, happens. However, again, Stefan takes control and tries his hardest when it really matters. In the end, I found their flaws gave them a bit of realism, which balanced out the paranormal-ness.
Speaking of the paranormal, that was my least favorite part of the story, yet I knew going in that it would be. It was interesting, though, and I appreciated the way that Russell combines contemporary with paranormal in a seamless way.
The only thing that impacted my rating of this book was the very confusing bit at the beginning, where I was constantly lost. My advice: No, you didn’t miss anything, no, you don’t need to go back and check. Just hold on for the ride and everything will make sense soon.
A copy of this book was received through NetGalley for review on OMGReads.
I was so excited to pick up this book by EJ Russell. I was a huge fan of another book she co-wrote with Anne Tenino, but hadn’t picked up one of her solo books yet as paranormal isn’t really my thing. However, The Artist’s Touch seemed to be a good combination of contemporary, mystery and paranormal to capture my interest.
At first, I had a difficult time getting into this book. Luke and Stefan have a long backstory that we learn about in non-consecutive bits and pieces, and for the first quarter or so of the story I was a bit annoyed at not understanding some of the references and the importance of actions that hadn’t been revealed yet. However, the story picks up quickly and once the actions from the past were mostly revealed, I really enjoyed it. Second chances is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and it’s done super well here.
Both Luke and Stefan are heavily flawed characters. Luke was a bit conceited, a bit indecisive, a bit of a jerk. He thinks a lot more about how something affects him rather than how it affects Stefan. But he does seem at least aware of his flaws, and when it comes right down to it, he steps up to the plate. Stefan was very defeatist and fatalistic in his thinking, convinced nothing is going to go right for him so he’s just going to go along with it and whatever happens, happens. However, again, Stefan takes control and tries his hardest when it really matters. In the end, I found their flaws gave them a bit of realism, which balanced out the paranormal-ness.
Speaking of the paranormal, that was my least favorite part of the story, yet I knew going in that it would be. It was interesting, though, and I appreciated the way that Russell combines contemporary with paranormal in a seamless way.
The only thing that impacted my rating of this book was the very confusing bit at the beginning, where I was constantly lost. My advice: No, you didn’t miss anything, no, you don’t need to go back and check. Just hold on for the ride and everything will make sense soon.
A copy of this book was received through NetGalley for review on OMGReads.
September 20, 2013
Investigator Luke Morganstern has found his "personal Holy Grail of art fraud" - a fake Arcoletti. Jeremiah Arcoletti was an American realist painter. He "[d]isappeared in 1945 along with all thirteen canvases from his last collection." Someone was painting Arcoletti's last collection and claiming them to be real. A mystery client of Luke's points him to a shack in the mountains. When Luke knocks on the door, he never thought he would see Stefan Cobbe.
Stefan and Luke were lovers and have not seen each other in seven years. Pride and jealousy pulled them apart but the love has never gone. Stefan is shocked by Luke's accusations that he is committing art fraud. To be honest, Stefan knew he was painting but he does not know what. He wakes up in the morning with no knowledge of what is on the canvas and he is always too scared to look. Can the man he still loves turn him over to the authorities for something he cannot remember doing, yet did?
I GIVE THIS BOOK: 4 Stars
Very interesting story. And it was made more unique by having the lovers be homosexual. I think that make the story more intriguing because I have not read many stories with same sex partners.
I got a little confused as to which ghost they were talking about at times but it had all the horrors of what a ghost can do. Did you know a ghost can put another ghost in their place? It made me laugh. This ghost story really makes you think and know that love transcends all time.
Until next time, live life one page at a time!
Stefan and Luke were lovers and have not seen each other in seven years. Pride and jealousy pulled them apart but the love has never gone. Stefan is shocked by Luke's accusations that he is committing art fraud. To be honest, Stefan knew he was painting but he does not know what. He wakes up in the morning with no knowledge of what is on the canvas and he is always too scared to look. Can the man he still loves turn him over to the authorities for something he cannot remember doing, yet did?
I GIVE THIS BOOK: 4 Stars
Very interesting story. And it was made more unique by having the lovers be homosexual. I think that make the story more intriguing because I have not read many stories with same sex partners.
I got a little confused as to which ghost they were talking about at times but it had all the horrors of what a ghost can do. Did you know a ghost can put another ghost in their place? It made me laugh. This ghost story really makes you think and know that love transcends all time.
Until next time, live life one page at a time!
September 24, 2013
Northern Light is a twisty fast-paced suspense tale in a tight little package. No word is wasted. The two men are depicted vividly and their personalities are crucial to the storyline.
Luke is no-nonsense, cynical and untrusting. His accident has left him debilitated and angry. Having now found a fraudulent artwork, he has the chance to redeem his career and maybe find some contentment.
Discovering that this artwork has been painted by his one true love in another lifetime causes much of the tension. Stefan, the alleged fraudster is a pathetic shell of himself, and Luke must decide if he is to believe Stef's outlandish claim that he is possessed, or to hand him over to the authorities.
The landscape is also an important factor to the narrative. The paranormal elements add to the suspense, and when we hear the back-story to the ghosts' lives, there is pathos in the tragedy. This is often the case with ghost stories: we don't like our live characters (yes I know it's fiction) to suffer or face inconsolable grief, so we do it already dead characters, but somehow their stories are just as powerful, just as real, and even though I am glad that Luke and Stef find their way to each other again, Edward and Jeremiah's tale left me heart-broken.
Very short, but packed with all the action and feelings of a longer narrative. Recommended.
This copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley with thanks. Due out September 30th.
Luke is no-nonsense, cynical and untrusting. His accident has left him debilitated and angry. Having now found a fraudulent artwork, he has the chance to redeem his career and maybe find some contentment.
Discovering that this artwork has been painted by his one true love in another lifetime causes much of the tension. Stefan, the alleged fraudster is a pathetic shell of himself, and Luke must decide if he is to believe Stef's outlandish claim that he is possessed, or to hand him over to the authorities.
The landscape is also an important factor to the narrative. The paranormal elements add to the suspense, and when we hear the back-story to the ghosts' lives, there is pathos in the tragedy. This is often the case with ghost stories: we don't like our live characters (yes I know it's fiction) to suffer or face inconsolable grief, so we do it already dead characters, but somehow their stories are just as powerful, just as real, and even though I am glad that Luke and Stef find their way to each other again, Edward and Jeremiah's tale left me heart-broken.
Very short, but packed with all the action and feelings of a longer narrative. Recommended.
This copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley with thanks. Due out September 30th.
October 13, 2021
These two are MESSY. I suspect that's why some reviewers had trouble with the story. Each is messy in conflicting ways, and of course they can't talk it out, that'd be ridiculous. That would require letting go of assumptions and presumptions and guilt used as emotional scaffolding! I don't know what it says about me that I followed every convoluted issue without trouble. Probably just that I've read messy characters before and recognized the underlying truths. But the ghost plot, that adds a whole other level that elevates this novel to a solid five stars for me. Well done. Recommended. I will be giving book 2 a try.
April 3, 2018
“The Artist’s Touch” by E.J. Russell is Book One of the ‘Art Medium’ series and introduces art-fraud investigator Luke Morganstern as he encounters his former love Stefan Cobbe (who has added the affectation of an e to his last name) under less than auspicious circumstances. Somehow, Luke’s fraud investigation may be linked to Stefan’s blackout painting but the search for the truth is complicated by the painful history the two share and the eerie events that are plaguing them and may end up being enough to keep them apart forever.
This contemporary m/m paranormal romance is a mesmerizing and chilling story that teases the reader with glimpses of information that pique one’s curiosity and keeps one invested in the story. Of course, now I want to know how many workmen wear Utilikilts in Oregon, lol. The touch of the supernatural that keeps popping up made me want to make sure the lights were on and I was not alone, but it was nicely balanced by the journey the main characters traveled from their respective painful histories to the fragile accord they have in the present.
I’m not impressed by the reason Luke chose his profession, as it shows a sour grapes mentality and given his distressing insecurity, one wonders about him, but he did finally display some good qualities as the story progressed. There are some dangling threads but the happy for now ending is satisfying enough even as it makes one interested enough to pursue the next book in the series, which fortunately is already available.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
This contemporary m/m paranormal romance is a mesmerizing and chilling story that teases the reader with glimpses of information that pique one’s curiosity and keeps one invested in the story. Of course, now I want to know how many workmen wear Utilikilts in Oregon, lol. The touch of the supernatural that keeps popping up made me want to make sure the lights were on and I was not alone, but it was nicely balanced by the journey the main characters traveled from their respective painful histories to the fragile accord they have in the present.
I’m not impressed by the reason Luke chose his profession, as it shows a sour grapes mentality and given his distressing insecurity, one wonders about him, but he did finally display some good qualities as the story progressed. There are some dangling threads but the happy for now ending is satisfying enough even as it makes one interested enough to pursue the next book in the series, which fortunately is already available.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
December 25, 2023
This novella (130 pages) has a LOT of plot - there's a second chance romance between two men who met in art school, plus a dysfunctional sugar daddy relationship, art forgery, another dysfunctional relationship from the 1940s, a mystery of missing artwork, another dysfunctional artist/patron relationship AND a paranormal twist. IMHO, that's too much for such a short book, and there wasn't enough time to focus in depth on any of the plots and subplots. 3 stars.
July 4, 2020
I liked this story but it took a while to connect. When I started, it felt like I had been dropped into something already in progress. This could have been so much better with a prologue. I really needed to know Luke & Stefan's back story. I think that would have made the world of difference. There is enough here though to make me want to read the second book in this series.
TAGS
-- paranormal -- ghost -- possession -- past loves reunite -- second chance -- small mystery -- needed a prologue -- ending felt a bit rushed -- took a bit to connect -- loved the MCs... Luke & Stefan
July 27, 2018
3.5 - 4 Stars...
Stefan lost everything when his partner died, including the very thing that defined himself. Without his artistic inspiration, he was lost. The very last person he expected to see when he was at his lowest, was the man he walked away from.
Luke doesn't want to believe that Stefan is the forger he's after, but the evidence against him is so strong, it's hard to deny. The closer he gets to Stefan again though, the more he realizes that there's something else going on. Something that's not going to be easy to explain. Something that's going to be even harder to escape from.
Even though I liked the story and loved the mysterious ghost connection, I have to agree with other readers who expressed a need for more... The Artist's Touch was less than 150 pages, which was way too short to cover all the threads weaved through this story. I really would have liked to have gotten to know both Stefan and Luke a little better. *sigh*
I received The Artist's Touch as part of the Art Medium Collection in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Stefan lost everything when his partner died, including the very thing that defined himself. Without his artistic inspiration, he was lost. The very last person he expected to see when he was at his lowest, was the man he walked away from.
Luke doesn't want to believe that Stefan is the forger he's after, but the evidence against him is so strong, it's hard to deny. The closer he gets to Stefan again though, the more he realizes that there's something else going on. Something that's not going to be easy to explain. Something that's going to be even harder to escape from.
Even though I liked the story and loved the mysterious ghost connection, I have to agree with other readers who expressed a need for more... The Artist's Touch was less than 150 pages, which was way too short to cover all the threads weaved through this story. I really would have liked to have gotten to know both Stefan and Luke a little better. *sigh*
I received The Artist's Touch as part of the Art Medium Collection in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 21, 2018
~ 3.5 Stars ~
The Artist’s Touch by E. J. Russell is a second edition of a novella formerly entitled Northern Lights. The paranormal story centers on a washed-up art fraud investigator, Luke Morganstern, who has been contacted by an anonymous client to check out a small gallery that has a painting by a deceased artist that has never been seen before. When Luke realizes that the painting is indeed a forgery and that the painter is holed up in a remote cabin, he goes to investigate. Little did he expect to see his former lover in residence, and looking as though he is terrified of the very art he is being accused of forging. It turns out that Stefan has indeed been doing the paintings, but is completely unaware of doing so—for months he has been waking up after a night of drinking to find he has painted a picture. As the two men grapple with feelings for each other that have never gone away, they attempt to figure out just what or who is using Stefan to create the pictures. The closer they get to the truth, the more it becomes clear that something is behind the mysterious work and that Stefan is in danger of losing more than his memory—he is in danger of losing his very life.
I liked the premise of this book; the paranormal aspect was definitely a bit creepy and well done. The chemistry between Luke and Stefan was undeniable, and the idea that the two have never gotten over each other, despite it being a few years since they were together, was believable. I do wish there had been a bit more explanation about their former relationship. In my opinion, it would have strengthened the story overall. I appreciated the story of the artist whose paintings Stefan was channeling and found myself really wishing the author had taken the same amount of time on the two main characters.
Because of the bare-bones structure to the story, I found myself occasionally going back and rereading passages to make sense of where I was in the story. I felt like there were all these great plot point threads that could have been the basis of a wonderful paranormal mystery, but they were left unexplained, underdeveloped or incomplete. This book should have been a full-length novel, and I’m surprised the author didn’t take the opportunity to expand the story before reissuing. In the end, the plot holes that resulted from a story that was never fully realized made this novella a bit hard to get into. I thought the premise for this novella was a really good one and the bits that worked were solid and entertaining, but in the end, there simply wasn’t enough story to make The Artist’s Touch shine.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
The Artist’s Touch by E. J. Russell is a second edition of a novella formerly entitled Northern Lights. The paranormal story centers on a washed-up art fraud investigator, Luke Morganstern, who has been contacted by an anonymous client to check out a small gallery that has a painting by a deceased artist that has never been seen before. When Luke realizes that the painting is indeed a forgery and that the painter is holed up in a remote cabin, he goes to investigate. Little did he expect to see his former lover in residence, and looking as though he is terrified of the very art he is being accused of forging. It turns out that Stefan has indeed been doing the paintings, but is completely unaware of doing so—for months he has been waking up after a night of drinking to find he has painted a picture. As the two men grapple with feelings for each other that have never gone away, they attempt to figure out just what or who is using Stefan to create the pictures. The closer they get to the truth, the more it becomes clear that something is behind the mysterious work and that Stefan is in danger of losing more than his memory—he is in danger of losing his very life.
I liked the premise of this book; the paranormal aspect was definitely a bit creepy and well done. The chemistry between Luke and Stefan was undeniable, and the idea that the two have never gotten over each other, despite it being a few years since they were together, was believable. I do wish there had been a bit more explanation about their former relationship. In my opinion, it would have strengthened the story overall. I appreciated the story of the artist whose paintings Stefan was channeling and found myself really wishing the author had taken the same amount of time on the two main characters.
Because of the bare-bones structure to the story, I found myself occasionally going back and rereading passages to make sense of where I was in the story. I felt like there were all these great plot point threads that could have been the basis of a wonderful paranormal mystery, but they were left unexplained, underdeveloped or incomplete. This book should have been a full-length novel, and I’m surprised the author didn’t take the opportunity to expand the story before reissuing. In the end, the plot holes that resulted from a story that was never fully realized made this novella a bit hard to get into. I thought the premise for this novella was a really good one and the bits that worked were solid and entertaining, but in the end, there simply wasn’t enough story to make The Artist’s Touch shine.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
September 30, 2013
Northern Light E J Russell.
ARC supplied by publisher.
I have a not so secret love of Gay romance, its surprisingly tender and it's not all Gay Queens...but often romance that’s really sensual. This book though, is far more than just a romance, its got elements of suspense, all packed in with some supernatural horror, though thankfully there is the happy ever after I always need :) I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to anything too ghostly, and was reading this at night so once the paranormal part kicked in – and I hadn't realised there was any, not having read the description properly (my bad) – I wasn't sure if I needed to wait til next day. (Honestly – even spooky YA films like The Mummy are too much for me, and as for Indiana Jones... :) I just can't watch them) but as it happened it was shortish, and I wanted to see how it ended so I continued – and didn't get nightmares, though I did have to skim read stuff that the average teenager, possibly preteens too, would take in their stride!
So, we have investigator Luke, who turns up on the trail of his latest job to find his ex lover there. They'd parted on bad terms, but Stefan is nothing like the man Luke remembers, he can still see elements of him but something is wrong with him, he's frail and looks like a walking skeleton. He claims he can't remember doing any of his paintings after he's finished, and he never sees them, but leaves them to his dealer who collects them.
Odd as it sounds Luke's client suggests it may be genuine, but Luke can't accept a supernatural answer even though there are lots of clues pointing to it, until it all comes to a head, along with his long suppressed feelings for Stefan, and its their past, entangled with the past of other characters, that interact and needs de-tangling and completing if they are to survive.
Its a lot to pack in to such a short book, but its succinct and done well. Each puzzle has an ending, though there was more to the story than I envisaged. The romance is tender, but not overtly sexual and graphic, more there as a carrier to pull the other elements of the story together it seemed. Still, it was good to see them overcome their pasts, and I liked the way their early years together slowly unfolded, and we saw how it linked to the others involved, and how they needed to go back and remember in order to move forward together.
I enjoyed this, not sure I’d re read it though. Priced at £1.92 for 140 pages it's around average for the genre and its not a “padded out “ book, but one where each page counts.
Stars: four.
ARC supplied by publisher.
I have a not so secret love of Gay romance, its surprisingly tender and it's not all Gay Queens...but often romance that’s really sensual. This book though, is far more than just a romance, its got elements of suspense, all packed in with some supernatural horror, though thankfully there is the happy ever after I always need :) I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to anything too ghostly, and was reading this at night so once the paranormal part kicked in – and I hadn't realised there was any, not having read the description properly (my bad) – I wasn't sure if I needed to wait til next day. (Honestly – even spooky YA films like The Mummy are too much for me, and as for Indiana Jones... :) I just can't watch them) but as it happened it was shortish, and I wanted to see how it ended so I continued – and didn't get nightmares, though I did have to skim read stuff that the average teenager, possibly preteens too, would take in their stride!
So, we have investigator Luke, who turns up on the trail of his latest job to find his ex lover there. They'd parted on bad terms, but Stefan is nothing like the man Luke remembers, he can still see elements of him but something is wrong with him, he's frail and looks like a walking skeleton. He claims he can't remember doing any of his paintings after he's finished, and he never sees them, but leaves them to his dealer who collects them.
Odd as it sounds Luke's client suggests it may be genuine, but Luke can't accept a supernatural answer even though there are lots of clues pointing to it, until it all comes to a head, along with his long suppressed feelings for Stefan, and its their past, entangled with the past of other characters, that interact and needs de-tangling and completing if they are to survive.
Its a lot to pack in to such a short book, but its succinct and done well. Each puzzle has an ending, though there was more to the story than I envisaged. The romance is tender, but not overtly sexual and graphic, more there as a carrier to pull the other elements of the story together it seemed. Still, it was good to see them overcome their pasts, and I liked the way their early years together slowly unfolded, and we saw how it linked to the others involved, and how they needed to go back and remember in order to move forward together.
I enjoyed this, not sure I’d re read it though. Priced at £1.92 for 140 pages it's around average for the genre and its not a “padded out “ book, but one where each page counts.
Stars: four.
October 1, 2013
This story is odd. And kind of confusing. First, a lot of names are thrown at you, making you wonder who’s who. Eventually, all the names that confuse you disappear, and you’re left with the main players; Luke and Stefan.
Luke and Stefan have a troubled past, and even though they haven’t seen each other or spoken for years, you can tell they still love each other. Luke is an art forgery investigator, while Stefan is an starving artist. Looking for the artist who is forging a series of paintings, Luke comes across his ex, Stefan in an remote cabin up on a mountain.
This cabin is haunted by the ghosts of the artist, Arcoletti, who painted the originals that are now being forged. The forger turns out to be Stefan, possessed by the ghost of Arcoletti.
The story is short, but the chemistry between Luke and Stefan is intense. There is some sexual interlude there, but nothing full blown sexual.
Their troubles from the past follow them into the present. They’re both proud and stubborn, and no one sits the other down to really talk it out. Typical men.
They only figure out they belong together when the ghost of Arcoletti goes crazy on their asses and I was about to give up on them.
Review can also be found at From the Bottom of a Frappe.
Review can also be found at Mr Gay Europe.
I received this book as an e-galley from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
Luke and Stefan have a troubled past, and even though they haven’t seen each other or spoken for years, you can tell they still love each other. Luke is an art forgery investigator, while Stefan is an starving artist. Looking for the artist who is forging a series of paintings, Luke comes across his ex, Stefan in an remote cabin up on a mountain.
This cabin is haunted by the ghosts of the artist, Arcoletti, who painted the originals that are now being forged. The forger turns out to be Stefan, possessed by the ghost of Arcoletti.
The story is short, but the chemistry between Luke and Stefan is intense. There is some sexual interlude there, but nothing full blown sexual.
Their troubles from the past follow them into the present. They’re both proud and stubborn, and no one sits the other down to really talk it out. Typical men.
They only figure out they belong together when the ghost of Arcoletti goes crazy on their asses and I was about to give up on them.
Review can also be found at From the Bottom of a Frappe.
Review can also be found at Mr Gay Europe.
I received this book as an e-galley from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
May 29, 2018
A lovely little story with a bit of a ghost story along with the romance. It had been a while since I'd read the blurb, so I'd forgotten there was a paranormal element when I started reading the book but it flowed really well within the narrative, it didn't feel tacked on just to get something supernatural in there.
Although short on length, the book is not short on story or characterisation. The story is told through the eyes of Stefan and Luke, so those are the two characters we get to know the most. Luke is still suffering after an accident which left him with a broken hip and a lover who decided not to stick around after that.
Years earlier, Luke left Stefan after suffering one too many bouts of jealousy concerning Stefan's rich patron. At the time nothing had been going on between them, but after Luke left, Stefan runs into Marius' arms, but is left distraught when Marius dies in a plane crash. Marius' family want nothing to do with Stefan and he is left homeless and penniless.
As Luke investigates the allegations of art fraud, both of them realise that something else might be going on and they work together to try and figure it out. Both of them are damaged characters, both in a physical and emotional sense and you are rooting for the two of them to get their happily ever after.
It's a story of lost love, second chances and doing the right thing when you're not even sure what the right thing is. A very enjoyable read.
Review copy from Netgalley couresty of the publisher.
Although short on length, the book is not short on story or characterisation. The story is told through the eyes of Stefan and Luke, so those are the two characters we get to know the most. Luke is still suffering after an accident which left him with a broken hip and a lover who decided not to stick around after that.
Years earlier, Luke left Stefan after suffering one too many bouts of jealousy concerning Stefan's rich patron. At the time nothing had been going on between them, but after Luke left, Stefan runs into Marius' arms, but is left distraught when Marius dies in a plane crash. Marius' family want nothing to do with Stefan and he is left homeless and penniless.
As Luke investigates the allegations of art fraud, both of them realise that something else might be going on and they work together to try and figure it out. Both of them are damaged characters, both in a physical and emotional sense and you are rooting for the two of them to get their happily ever after.
It's a story of lost love, second chances and doing the right thing when you're not even sure what the right thing is. A very enjoyable read.
Review copy from Netgalley couresty of the publisher.
April 20, 2015
Luke Morgenstern is a fraud investigator. He has had a few rough years. He has some injuries from a bad car accident and his professional ethics have been called into question leaving his career in tatters also. This is how he comes to take a case of possible art fraud from a mysterious client. Luke finds himself at a lonely cabin in the middle of nowhere looking for an artist who is forging famous paintings. Imagine Luke's surprise when he finds his ex-lover Stefan Cobbe at this lonely cabin.
For Stefan the past few year years have not been any better. He was left with nothing when his older lover died expectantly. Destitution has brought him to where he is today. Stefan suffers from loneliness, low self-esteem and more importantly black outs he can't explain. His broker assures him he has been painting but Stefan has no memories of it.
Luke is shocked to see Stefan at this cabin and their reunion is painful for both of them. So many things were left unsaid in the past and emotions still ride high between them.
What follows is an action packed story with a paranormal twist. The storyline was unique but the execution of the story was not as smooth as I felt it should be. The events jumped from one big event to the next with little development of Luke & Stefan's relationship in between. We were told how much they cared about each other but it wasn't shown and I didn't feel it. As a reader I was not drawn in to their story and I did not have any feelings, good or bad, for the characters. For me this was just an OK read.
For Stefan the past few year years have not been any better. He was left with nothing when his older lover died expectantly. Destitution has brought him to where he is today. Stefan suffers from loneliness, low self-esteem and more importantly black outs he can't explain. His broker assures him he has been painting but Stefan has no memories of it.
Luke is shocked to see Stefan at this cabin and their reunion is painful for both of them. So many things were left unsaid in the past and emotions still ride high between them.
What follows is an action packed story with a paranormal twist. The storyline was unique but the execution of the story was not as smooth as I felt it should be. The events jumped from one big event to the next with little development of Luke & Stefan's relationship in between. We were told how much they cared about each other but it wasn't shown and I didn't feel it. As a reader I was not drawn in to their story and I did not have any feelings, good or bad, for the characters. For me this was just an OK read.
October 6, 2013
Given the calendar, I was in the mood for a ghost story, and a friend recommended Northern Light by debut author E.J. Russell. I’m so glad I took the recommendation. I don’t read a ton of M/M romance, (although I find good M/M just as sweet, sexy and engaging as good traditional M/F romance, it’s just sometimes I feel like a peeping Tom-ette, checking out the salacious details of a different lifestyle). But Northern Light didn’t take me there. It took me on an emotionally gripping ride involving ex-lovers still battling plenty of chemistry, who land on opposite sides of a suspected art forgery. If all that history and conflict weren’t enough, there’s also some ghostly interference afoot.
Luke and Stefan felt real to me—their regrets, their frustrations. Confronting an ex is never easy…especially not the one you never really got over. The external plot provided a perfect framework to force these two into each other’s lives again. And the ghost story…that just takes the tension to a whole ‘nother level!
Northern Light is a short, intriguing, spine-tingling read. The perfect precursor to Halloween!
Luke and Stefan felt real to me—their regrets, their frustrations. Confronting an ex is never easy…especially not the one you never really got over. The external plot provided a perfect framework to force these two into each other’s lives again. And the ghost story…that just takes the tension to a whole ‘nother level!
Northern Light is a short, intriguing, spine-tingling read. The perfect precursor to Halloween!
October 23, 2013
Quick review:
Cover: Nice
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 3.5
Overall: Really sweet
Characters: Well done
Plot: Gifted painter with ghostly influence
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Sure
Book Boyfriend: Luke
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
Overall, I thought the story was well thought out and the romance believable. As much as I like paranormal, I really wasn’t into the ghost aspect of the story and could have done without it. Still, it was a good quick read.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
Cover: Nice
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 3.5
Overall: Really sweet
Characters: Well done
Plot: Gifted painter with ghostly influence
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Sure
Book Boyfriend: Luke
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
Overall, I thought the story was well thought out and the romance believable. As much as I like paranormal, I really wasn’t into the ghost aspect of the story and could have done without it. Still, it was a good quick read.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
September 30, 2013
This is a short story about possession by a ghost.
Luke is on a mission to find a forger and instead finds an ex-lover who seems to be a little off. Stefan is an artist and has no idea that he is being possessed by a dead artist. While the two try to overcome their past history, they must figure out what the ghost wants before someone gets hurt.
This story is intriguing with strong characters and vivid descriptions that draw the reader inside the plot. Plenty of chills, emotional turmoil, and romance add depth to this entertaining read.
This is a great story to read around the campfire on Halloween
Luke is on a mission to find a forger and instead finds an ex-lover who seems to be a little off. Stefan is an artist and has no idea that he is being possessed by a dead artist. While the two try to overcome their past history, they must figure out what the ghost wants before someone gets hurt.
This story is intriguing with strong characters and vivid descriptions that draw the reader inside the plot. Plenty of chills, emotional turmoil, and romance add depth to this entertaining read.
This is a great story to read around the campfire on Halloween
September 17, 2013
This is a short story and was offered to me for an honest review. While investing art forgery Luke crosses path with his ex-lover Stefan who just happens to be the suspect. They discover he's being possessed by the ghost of the artist long dead. Theft may have had the ex-lovers crossing paths but it helps them to realize what's also been lost. Over all not a bad short story but it did start off a bit slow for me. I was a third into the story before I began to get interested. The concept is interesting and the characters worth the read.
January 18, 2018
I really enjoyed the story - I appreciate this author's writing style and stories. However, the MCs could have had a bit more chemistry going on between them. I don't always totally love the split for many years trope with 2nd chance, but this would have been stellar had the MCs had a bit more sizzle.
September 20, 2013
Could have been amazing if it had been longer. More about the past of both MCs. Still good :)
October 22, 2019
Not as good as the Fae series, but still not a bad ghost story. I'll probably read the other one, just to see how Stefan and Luke end up -- hopefully happily.
January 22, 2018
ARC reviewed for Netgalley
Luke Morganstern’s once promising career seems to be taking a one-way ride down life’s toilet. Sympathy for an art forger has left his integrity in question and a string of bad decisions has left his life in shambles. Out of desperation and for the sake of his diminishing savings account, he’s taken a highly questionable job from a very vague mystery man regarding a fake Arocletti painting that is hanging on the wall of a two-bit gallery in Nowhere, Oregon. Luke’s life takes another spin when the forger turns out to be the ex-love of his life, Stefan Cobbe. What should be an easy case of art fraud turns inexplicable when Stefan can’t remember painting a single forged canvas. Stefan’s the only person in the studio, but he isn’t alone, and he won’t last long if Luke can’t figure out what is happening.
I enjoyed the overall story of The Artist’s Touch and the paranormal aspect of it. I just wish there had been more development of the characters and their back story. Luke and Stefan’s pasts are the driving force behind their present, yet the reader is just told what it was like between them and never really shown. Their relationship would have been a lot more gripping had we seen them together when they were younger. I thought including some scenes from the past would have really invigorated their love story and made their emotions in the present more engaging.
Knowing more about Luke’s decision to leave Stefan and the situation that led to the end of his promising career would have made him a more likeable character. I found him bitter, angry, and hard to sympathize with. He must have been more than that if he’d ruined his career out of sympathy for a starving artist, but, unfortunately, that is a side of Luke that us readers never get to see.
Overall, an enjoyable story and a quick read. I think it could have been even better with a bit more development.
boysonlybookclub.wordpress.com
Luke Morganstern’s once promising career seems to be taking a one-way ride down life’s toilet. Sympathy for an art forger has left his integrity in question and a string of bad decisions has left his life in shambles. Out of desperation and for the sake of his diminishing savings account, he’s taken a highly questionable job from a very vague mystery man regarding a fake Arocletti painting that is hanging on the wall of a two-bit gallery in Nowhere, Oregon. Luke’s life takes another spin when the forger turns out to be the ex-love of his life, Stefan Cobbe. What should be an easy case of art fraud turns inexplicable when Stefan can’t remember painting a single forged canvas. Stefan’s the only person in the studio, but he isn’t alone, and he won’t last long if Luke can’t figure out what is happening.
I enjoyed the overall story of The Artist’s Touch and the paranormal aspect of it. I just wish there had been more development of the characters and their back story. Luke and Stefan’s pasts are the driving force behind their present, yet the reader is just told what it was like between them and never really shown. Their relationship would have been a lot more gripping had we seen them together when they were younger. I thought including some scenes from the past would have really invigorated their love story and made their emotions in the present more engaging.
Knowing more about Luke’s decision to leave Stefan and the situation that led to the end of his promising career would have made him a more likeable character. I found him bitter, angry, and hard to sympathize with. He must have been more than that if he’d ruined his career out of sympathy for a starving artist, but, unfortunately, that is a side of Luke that us readers never get to see.
Overall, an enjoyable story and a quick read. I think it could have been even better with a bit more development.
boysonlybookclub.wordpress.com
February 18, 2018
The story thrusts you immediately into the complexities of a previous relationship that didn't end well. Now a chance has come for the two former lovers to try again but there are inexplicable hauntings and possessions to overcome first.
Stefan Cobbe is surprised and shocked when he opens his door to find his former boyfriend Luke on his doorstep. Stefan is trying to get his life back on track after two years of hardship. His past relationship with Luke was not an easy one and the break up left both men hurt and incomplete. Neither of them found happiness with other lovers. Stefan lost his boyfriend Marius and Luke's boyfriend left him after Luke had an accident.
Luke is surprised to find Stefan down on his luck, but Stefan has found a new sponsor for his paintings and that is the real reason why Luke has come looking for him. It seems as if Stefan is painting forgeries.
Of course there is more to this than meets the eye and both men begin to realise that something odd is happening. As the two men grapple with hautings and possession the attraction that drew them to each other ignites and both men face the paranormal together and try to understand what happened in the past lives of an artist men who died and his lover.
I think this story would have benefitted from a prologue because it was a bit difficult trying to understand who was who, what they had done and what had happened in the past etc. I am still not sure why the two men broke up in the first place. Having said this I still thought this was an interesting paranormal story but it started off at a very fast pace and this certainly didn't help me as I tried to figure out what had happened in the past.
I liked the main characters but I feel the story needed much more of an introduction and back story, but if you like ghosts and paranormal happenings with your romance then you might enjoy this.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Stefan Cobbe is surprised and shocked when he opens his door to find his former boyfriend Luke on his doorstep. Stefan is trying to get his life back on track after two years of hardship. His past relationship with Luke was not an easy one and the break up left both men hurt and incomplete. Neither of them found happiness with other lovers. Stefan lost his boyfriend Marius and Luke's boyfriend left him after Luke had an accident.
Luke is surprised to find Stefan down on his luck, but Stefan has found a new sponsor for his paintings and that is the real reason why Luke has come looking for him. It seems as if Stefan is painting forgeries.
Of course there is more to this than meets the eye and both men begin to realise that something odd is happening. As the two men grapple with hautings and possession the attraction that drew them to each other ignites and both men face the paranormal together and try to understand what happened in the past lives of an artist men who died and his lover.
I think this story would have benefitted from a prologue because it was a bit difficult trying to understand who was who, what they had done and what had happened in the past etc. I am still not sure why the two men broke up in the first place. Having said this I still thought this was an interesting paranormal story but it started off at a very fast pace and this certainly didn't help me as I tried to figure out what had happened in the past.
I liked the main characters but I feel the story needed much more of an introduction and back story, but if you like ghosts and paranormal happenings with your romance then you might enjoy this.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
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