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Healing Touch
She spends her nights treating patients, but Dr. Jocelyn Drake's own wounds are unfixable. Her ex-husband and his younger, bouncier girlfriend work just a few floors away at Tulane Medical Center, and they serve as a constant reminder of what Joss lost. But a fierce determination to continue her research project and a shred of remaining pride keep Joss from transferring out of the Big Easy.
Carson Stephens recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East, and though willing women present themselves at every turn, his closest companion is loneliness. His night-shift work supervising the electrical and mechanical systems at the hospital is a perfect fit - it's solitary work putting broken things back together. When the electrical system on Joss' floor goes haywire, she's frazzled by the sexy electrician who sparks her dormant sex drive. He's brooding and cocky - so not her type. But if Carson has his way, his hands will work their magic on more than just the wiring, and he'll show Joss a night of passion that restores her shattered confidence.
But what happens after that night? As their relationship grows into something more, Joss and Carson face ups and downs, and they both realize that the healing has only just begun.
Carson Stephens recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East, and though willing women present themselves at every turn, his closest companion is loneliness. His night-shift work supervising the electrical and mechanical systems at the hospital is a perfect fit - it's solitary work putting broken things back together. When the electrical system on Joss' floor goes haywire, she's frazzled by the sexy electrician who sparks her dormant sex drive. He's brooding and cocky - so not her type. But if Carson has his way, his hands will work their magic on more than just the wiring, and he'll show Joss a night of passion that restores her shattered confidence.
But what happens after that night? As their relationship grows into something more, Joss and Carson face ups and downs, and they both realize that the healing has only just begun.
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First published March 1, 2015
164 people are currently reading
561 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Rothert
91 books2,266 followersBrenda Rothert is the author of more than thirty Contemporary Romance novels. You can learn more about her books at her website, www.brendarothert.com, which features teasers, excerpts and trailers for her books. Follow her here:
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Goodreads: http://goo.gl/k2ueHQ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 28, 2020
This book makes me look at technician a whole new way. Another gem by Miss Rothert. I start to like this woman. She is a very good writer. Remind me of Melanie Moreland.
In Healing Touch, she told us a story about relationship and all that comes with it. The fun, the happy, the ugly, the lust, the emotional baggage, the anxiety, being totally you and acceptance. Oh yeah of course, love. I think every couple should read this book. This book will speak volume highlighting every issue in relationship. Carson and Joss will take you there every step of their relationship. Starting from their first met to their forever after. You will see how their experience grow.
Again, Miss Rothert gives me a sweet hero such as Carson. Even he is sort of jerk at the beginning but he quickly grow on me.
Anyway, read this book and be swoon by their journey to find HEA.
5 stars
In Healing Touch, she told us a story about relationship and all that comes with it. The fun, the happy, the ugly, the lust, the emotional baggage, the anxiety, being totally you and acceptance. Oh yeah of course, love. I think every couple should read this book. This book will speak volume highlighting every issue in relationship. Carson and Joss will take you there every step of their relationship. Starting from their first met to their forever after. You will see how their experience grow.
Again, Miss Rothert gives me a sweet hero such as Carson. Even he is sort of jerk at the beginning but he quickly grow on me.
Anyway, read this book and be swoon by their journey to find HEA.
5 stars
June 16, 2018
I liked this book a lot. Carson was a good hero, I liked the heroine too, she was strong.
The heroine has low self-esteem I would have love to read from the beginning that she was confident in her own skin.
She’s older than the hero by 3 years, I liked that. I’m really hating the trope of heroes being the older than the heroines for more than 20 years. It’s weird and I’m put off easily by this.
She was mature and she wasn’t a bitch towards her ex’s girlfriend, the woman her husband cheated with. I don’t think I would have been amicable like the heroine was with this woman. I was very surprised that the author didn’t write the heroine catty or a bitch towards this woman. This woman didn’t deserve anything from heroine , if that was me I would have slapped the shit out of her every time I see her. If the heroine didn’t speak ill of her then i won’t either.
There were a couple of issues that I wished they had sat down and talked about them.
I liked that hero worked his issues for her and their relationship.
I’m a epilogue whore and i need my epilogues this one didn’t have one.
Safety Note: Heroine has been celibate for a year. Hero is not a manwhore. He’s been celibate for a while. No OW from the hero’s side. The heroine’s ex causes drama along with his girlfriend.
The heroine has low self-esteem I would have love to read from the beginning that she was confident in her own skin.
She’s older than the hero by 3 years, I liked that. I’m really hating the trope of heroes being the older than the heroines for more than 20 years. It’s weird and I’m put off easily by this.
She was mature and she wasn’t a bitch towards her ex’s girlfriend, the woman her husband cheated with. I don’t think I would have been amicable like the heroine was with this woman. I was very surprised that the author didn’t write the heroine catty or a bitch towards this woman. This woman didn’t deserve anything from heroine , if that was me I would have slapped the shit out of her every time I see her. If the heroine didn’t speak ill of her then i won’t either.
There were a couple of issues that I wished they had sat down and talked about them.
I liked that hero worked his issues for her and their relationship.
I’m a epilogue whore and i need my epilogues this one didn’t have one.
Safety Note: Heroine has been celibate for a year. Hero is not a manwhore. He’s been celibate for a while. No OW from the hero’s side. The heroine’s ex causes drama along with his girlfriend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2020
4 stars.
Just to avoid any confusion I want to start this review by saying that I believe this author originally published this as a short story of approx. 60 pages but I in fact read a full length novel of 195 pages.
Whether she just expanded on the original story or revised it altogether I really couldn't say.
What I can say is that I really enjoyed this story and the easy, relaxed style of writing this author has. I breezed through this tender, sweet romance. I really adored both these characters- Joss and Carson.
They certainly deserved a HEA.
My first book by Brenda Rothert and I look forward to reading more, especially if they are all like this one.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Just to avoid any confusion I want to start this review by saying that I believe this author originally published this as a short story of approx. 60 pages but I in fact read a full length novel of 195 pages.
Whether she just expanded on the original story or revised it altogether I really couldn't say.
What I can say is that I really enjoyed this story and the easy, relaxed style of writing this author has. I breezed through this tender, sweet romance. I really adored both these characters- Joss and Carson.
They certainly deserved a HEA.
My first book by Brenda Rothert and I look forward to reading more, especially if they are all like this one.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2021
I have been waiting for this book since author introduced it on WattPad.
Pro: I already knew I liked the MCs and they were loyal and faithful and book is safe from cheating between MCs.
Con: this wait between the reads have destroyed the appetite I had for this book as a reader. I enjoyed it. However I didn’t ravish it. I wasn’t holding my breath can’t wait to finish the book to know what happens with them. This was really my shortcoming rather than the book’s.
Going into the book I want to tackle the negative first. Why the book ended up being just a 3 star for me.
There was a massive issue that was a barrier between MCs. It evoked their first fight and it was not something minor.
Now with these two, they were thrown in together by fate. So clearly they couldn’t have had the talk of future going into the relationship. I accept it. So, I look past the first fight and the reconciliation BUT I was extremely disappointed at these two adults when they didn’t sit down for a minute to discuss it post fight!
They kept sweeping it under the rug hoping for what? The heroine, did she think she could stay with the hero despite the differences? Or did she think he’ll see her way eventually? What did the hero think? He was way too considerate and sensible to ever expect heroine to give up her dream to be with him.
Except that’s exactly what they did! Heroine proved by the end she couldn’t accept hero, the one she loves madly, passionately by sacrificing her dreams.
And hero like a child kept on thinking only he’d be enough.
Now please don’t get me wrong. I understand both. However I didn’t appreciate the way they went over it. The heroine repeating time after time hero is more important to her than her dreams, he can’t live without him and all of a sudden after a trauma (i understood the timing of her realisation, but the timing of her blurting it out to hero put a huge dent on the caring, living image the author has created for the heroine) she tells the hero, sorry pal, off you go, i just realised my dreams are not negotiable, and hero suddenly realised he wants in on her dreams? Believable? Barely! Sweet, romantic, loving? Absolutely not.
Suddenly it went from heroine settling for hero to hero settling for heroine. One of them is always settling. There was no smooth transition to sharing the common dream! My question was at the end, if the hero didn’t want any part of that dream who’d she share it with? How could she not even last for even a good enough time on her decision to love the hero more than anything? It was what? Couple of weeks/months? It was a new relationship, still growing, still finding common grounds and she was already going back in her words.
I’m not blaming her for wanting her dream. It is important. However this is stark opposite of the picture the author painted. She’s the giving, the caring, the sensitive loving one, yet she’s the one to go back on her love? I just simply couldn’t connect at the end.
Now to the good part.
Hero, despite being not interested at relationships when they met, was not a manwhore. ONS here and there, sure. That’s normal. He has huge respect for women. He was an absolute gem.
Heroine had a little low self esteem. She has been cheated by her ex husband and has to see that said ex and his girlfriend at work everyday. However she accepted hero’s adoration for her without any qualms. There was no “we’re not good enough for each other” shit.
From day one, it was a relationship for them, they just decided to work on things whenever it pops up. I mean seriously, who made the three date rules? And who said you’d have to follow it?
Heroine was very gracious to her ex and his girlfriend. She didn’t have to be. They were not only disrespectful, but both of them had so much issues and so low self esteem they constantly came back to heroine to hurt her.
I personally think the author did an excellent job with the OW (not to hero, no OW drama for hero peeps). She WAS a selfish and shallow young woman and then there was the guilt for being a party on cheating. Best defence is to mock the one you wronged rather than admitting you have done something not only wrong but also worthy of punishment. And she does get comeuppance. She was never good enough for heroine’s ex. I think he thought heroine would throw a fit, may be cheat on him too, and they’ll get even and she’d take him back. He never wanted the OW for long term. He dropped her when she needed him most and the woman grew.
She actually took heroine as a rolemodel and decided to grow up and be mature. Even after what her partner (heroine’s ex) put her through, she decided not to say a negative thing about him publicly because he IS in fact her baby’s father and if nothing else they need to be co-parents. She and the heroine knows what a waste of oxygen he was, but the world didn’t need to hear it from them to project it on the baby.
I didn’t completely get the OM though. He was a narcissist, and extremely selfish. I figured that much out. I wonder if he was a serial cheater. I felt as I have mentioned earlier, he evaluated people around him with himself as a scale. I think he never realised heroine wasn’t the one to be lured back with something material, like a lavish holiday or expensive items. What heroine need, morals, loyalty, character, he didn’t have to offer. He was extremely jealous of hero BUT was relieved at the same time that heroine is no longer celibate post breakup. In his mind they’re now on even ground. They both had other people, now they can move past his “silly” mistake, her “silly” hang ups and go back to how things were before. I felt he never was punished for his callous treatment of heroine, or the OW for that matter. Unless we can call him not getting either at the end of the book a comeuppance.
Hero’s conflict with OM was unnecessary IMHO, and the related angst too. The heroine made it crystal clear the past belongs in the past and she’ll not take back a cheater. However, it didn’t detract from my pleasure. I liked the way he was determined to handle and treat his PTSD because he does love his woman and he can’t really be a good boyfriend if he’s not well.
Safety: completely safe for me. Heroine is divorced, Hero was engaged in the past. Both celibate for a while. They both were absolutely ready to move on and had only eyes for each other.
Triggers: heroine’s ex cheated on her (off page). Both the ex and the woman he cheated with are very present through the book.
Hero has PTSD.
ARC kindly provided by netgalley
Pro: I already knew I liked the MCs and they were loyal and faithful and book is safe from cheating between MCs.
Con: this wait between the reads have destroyed the appetite I had for this book as a reader. I enjoyed it. However I didn’t ravish it. I wasn’t holding my breath can’t wait to finish the book to know what happens with them. This was really my shortcoming rather than the book’s.
Going into the book I want to tackle the negative first. Why the book ended up being just a 3 star for me.
There was a massive issue that was a barrier between MCs. It evoked their first fight and it was not something minor.
Now with these two, they were thrown in together by fate. So clearly they couldn’t have had the talk of future going into the relationship. I accept it. So, I look past the first fight and the reconciliation BUT I was extremely disappointed at these two adults when they didn’t sit down for a minute to discuss it post fight!
They kept sweeping it under the rug hoping for what? The heroine, did she think she could stay with the hero despite the differences? Or did she think he’ll see her way eventually? What did the hero think? He was way too considerate and sensible to ever expect heroine to give up her dream to be with him.
Except that’s exactly what they did! Heroine proved by the end she couldn’t accept hero, the one she loves madly, passionately by sacrificing her dreams.
And hero like a child kept on thinking only he’d be enough.
Now please don’t get me wrong. I understand both. However I didn’t appreciate the way they went over it. The heroine repeating time after time hero is more important to her than her dreams, he can’t live without him and all of a sudden after a trauma (i understood the timing of her realisation, but the timing of her blurting it out to hero put a huge dent on the caring, living image the author has created for the heroine) she tells the hero, sorry pal, off you go, i just realised my dreams are not negotiable, and hero suddenly realised he wants in on her dreams? Believable? Barely! Sweet, romantic, loving? Absolutely not.
Suddenly it went from heroine settling for hero to hero settling for heroine. One of them is always settling. There was no smooth transition to sharing the common dream! My question was at the end, if the hero didn’t want any part of that dream who’d she share it with? How could she not even last for even a good enough time on her decision to love the hero more than anything? It was what? Couple of weeks/months? It was a new relationship, still growing, still finding common grounds and she was already going back in her words.
I’m not blaming her for wanting her dream. It is important. However this is stark opposite of the picture the author painted. She’s the giving, the caring, the sensitive loving one, yet she’s the one to go back on her love? I just simply couldn’t connect at the end.
Now to the good part.
Hero, despite being not interested at relationships when they met, was not a manwhore. ONS here and there, sure. That’s normal. He has huge respect for women. He was an absolute gem.
Heroine had a little low self esteem. She has been cheated by her ex husband and has to see that said ex and his girlfriend at work everyday. However she accepted hero’s adoration for her without any qualms. There was no “we’re not good enough for each other” shit.
From day one, it was a relationship for them, they just decided to work on things whenever it pops up. I mean seriously, who made the three date rules? And who said you’d have to follow it?
Heroine was very gracious to her ex and his girlfriend. She didn’t have to be. They were not only disrespectful, but both of them had so much issues and so low self esteem they constantly came back to heroine to hurt her.
I personally think the author did an excellent job with the OW (not to hero, no OW drama for hero peeps). She WAS a selfish and shallow young woman and then there was the guilt for being a party on cheating. Best defence is to mock the one you wronged rather than admitting you have done something not only wrong but also worthy of punishment. And she does get comeuppance. She was never good enough for heroine’s ex. I think he thought heroine would throw a fit, may be cheat on him too, and they’ll get even and she’d take him back. He never wanted the OW for long term. He dropped her when she needed him most and the woman grew.
She actually took heroine as a rolemodel and decided to grow up and be mature. Even after what her partner (heroine’s ex) put her through, she decided not to say a negative thing about him publicly because he IS in fact her baby’s father and if nothing else they need to be co-parents. She and the heroine knows what a waste of oxygen he was, but the world didn’t need to hear it from them to project it on the baby.
I didn’t completely get the OM though. He was a narcissist, and extremely selfish. I figured that much out. I wonder if he was a serial cheater. I felt as I have mentioned earlier, he evaluated people around him with himself as a scale. I think he never realised heroine wasn’t the one to be lured back with something material, like a lavish holiday or expensive items. What heroine need, morals, loyalty, character, he didn’t have to offer. He was extremely jealous of hero BUT was relieved at the same time that heroine is no longer celibate post breakup. In his mind they’re now on even ground. They both had other people, now they can move past his “silly” mistake, her “silly” hang ups and go back to how things were before. I felt he never was punished for his callous treatment of heroine, or the OW for that matter. Unless we can call him not getting either at the end of the book a comeuppance.
Hero’s conflict with OM was unnecessary IMHO, and the related angst too. The heroine made it crystal clear the past belongs in the past and she’ll not take back a cheater. However, it didn’t detract from my pleasure. I liked the way he was determined to handle and treat his PTSD because he does love his woman and he can’t really be a good boyfriend if he’s not well.
Safety: completely safe for me. Heroine is divorced, Hero was engaged in the past. Both celibate for a while. They both were absolutely ready to move on and had only eyes for each other.
Triggers: heroine’s ex cheated on her (off page). Both the ex and the woman he cheated with are very present through the book.
Hero has PTSD.
ARC kindly provided by netgalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2018
Liked it a lot!
I wished for prolonged epilogue 🙃
I wished for prolonged epilogue 🙃
June 14, 2018
Quite the perfect afternoon read! This was way more than I thought it was going to be. I was imagining something shallow but this had a decent amount of depth to the story and the characters. Can’t tell you how much I loved the fact the hero was just a handyman and he was the one with the insecurity issues. It’s always refreshing to read over your basic bitch billionaire. Heroine was smart and mature, and sexually confident. Overall a really enjoyable book!
June 13, 2018
Awww...
This was sweet on so many levels...
I liked it, obvs😉
This was sweet on so many levels...
I liked it, obvs😉
December 5, 2022
4 Joss and Carson Stars
Brenda Rothert is an automatic one click author for me so I really am not sure how this little gem escaped me for so long.
Dr Jocelyn Drake (29) specialises in Obstetrics and Gynae so thankfully isn't often in the E.R. which is where her ex husband and his new girlfriend work. He was having an affair with her for sometime before Joss found out so although they have been divorced for a year and she has no desire to be back with him, it still stings to see them together. I liked Joss. She's a very likeable heroine and I was delighted to see her finally taking the step of acting on her attraction to someone.
That someone is Carson Stephens(26). He is ex military and now that he is Stateside , he works at the hospital supervising the electrical and mechanical systems. Carson is quiet , reflective and very attracted to our heroine.
This was a well paced story that kept me listening. At 5h 55m and with great narration by Kirsten Leigh and Lee Samuels, I enjoyed every minute. Some twists I didn't see coming and a couple that I did but the whole story is well executed. It's got a good balance of humour and drama.
Lots of heat, some soul searching , a little angst but ultimately a romantic tale of two soulmates who were made for each other.
HEA? Yes - absolutely gorgeous epilogue set 6 months ahead.
Cheating? Not between Joss and Carson.
Brenda Rothert is an automatic one click author for me so I really am not sure how this little gem escaped me for so long.
Dr Jocelyn Drake (29) specialises in Obstetrics and Gynae so thankfully isn't often in the E.R. which is where her ex husband and his new girlfriend work. He was having an affair with her for sometime before Joss found out so although they have been divorced for a year and she has no desire to be back with him, it still stings to see them together. I liked Joss. She's a very likeable heroine and I was delighted to see her finally taking the step of acting on her attraction to someone.
That someone is Carson Stephens(26). He is ex military and now that he is Stateside , he works at the hospital supervising the electrical and mechanical systems. Carson is quiet , reflective and very attracted to our heroine.
This was a well paced story that kept me listening. At 5h 55m and with great narration by Kirsten Leigh and Lee Samuels, I enjoyed every minute. Some twists I didn't see coming and a couple that I did but the whole story is well executed. It's got a good balance of humour and drama.
Lots of heat, some soul searching , a little angst but ultimately a romantic tale of two soulmates who were made for each other.
HEA? Yes - absolutely gorgeous epilogue set 6 months ahead.
Cheating? Not between Joss and Carson.
February 10, 2020
This was a really sweet, sometimes hot, satisfying story with two very likable leads who deserved the beautiful HEA they received.
I believe this was originally published as a novella but this is the new, expanded , nicely detailed version.
4 stars
I believe this was originally published as a novella but this is the new, expanded , nicely detailed version.
4 stars
December 29, 2020
This was a sweet, fluffy, low-angst book. The H/h are so good together. I love how their romance developed and how good they were about talking through their problems. And best of all, the H even starts going to counseling to get help with his problems. This was a great stress-free read.
Safety
Safety
June 13, 2018
I loved this story so much!
It's book about hope, forgiveness, thoughtfulness... How two broken people cared about each other.
I loved Joss, she was strong but she could forgive people who hurt her a lot. She wasn't a doormat, just this kind of people who could forgive in Christian way, without any grudge.
I loved Carson, what a gem: sexy, caring, tender, hottttttt
It's book about hope, forgiveness, thoughtfulness... How two broken people cared about each other.
I loved Joss, she was strong but she could forgive people who hurt her a lot. She wasn't a doormat, just this kind of people who could forgive in Christian way, without any grudge.
I loved Carson, what a gem: sexy, caring, tender, hottttttt
December 29, 2020
1st time reading this author, loved it!
June 21, 2015
I love Brenda Rothert and her books and I was so happy to be able to beta read this beautiful, funny, and touching story. Healing Touch was sexy, steamy, and oh so magical.. You got to love a magic 8 ball when deciding and taking a chance on love. This book had chemistry that was sizzling and lots of playful flirty banter. Joss and Carson were two strangers that had an instant connection and that felt real and not rushed. This novella was just perfect. The writing and story line was well done and showcases a beautiful tale of a budding new romance. I loved it!! So if you are looking for a story, that will have you smiling and wishing for more of Brenda Rothert's book then I highly suggest you read this novella. <3
August 30, 2021
This book was good. I was expecting a little bit more feels. I liked both main characters a lot but I feel they moved super fast, which is generally ok, but I like my books with more build-up. I felt like there wasn’t much conflict, even though the premise of the story, with the cheating ex and the war veteran with issues, had all the potential to be angstier. Regardless, this is a pretty quick read/listen. The audiobook narration was great.
July 31, 2020
Una breve pero dulce historia de amor que cuenta que es posible amar de nuevo
Healing touch de Brenda Rothert
Mi humilde opinión:
Dos corazones heridos y un encuentro que lo cambiaría todo.
La doctora obstetra Jocelyn Drake trabaja en el hospital de Tulane en Nueva Orleans. Le encanta su trabajo en allí pero cada vez tiene que encontrarse con su ex marido que también es médico y la voluptuosa enferma con quién la engañó. Ha pasado un año pero aún es difícil, sobretodo cuando los ve besuqueandose en las esquinas sin vergüenza alguna.
Concentrada en un nuevo proyecto, Joss se da cuenta que tiene un problema con el aire acondicionado de su oficina y llama al servicio mecánico del hospital. Él sexy hombre de ojos melancólicos que aparece de inmediato la tiene distraída en más de una forma.
Carson Stephens volvió hace cuatro años del ejército, su prometida lo dejó mientras estaba allí y vió mucho horror mientras servía. Ahora su trabajo de mecánico en el hospital le da cierta paz pero cuando la doctora le pide ayuda no puede negarse. Ella es dulce y hermosa y cae inevitablemente bajo su hechizo.
Los dos pasaron por un tiempo duro con sus relaciones pasadas pero esa noche juntos será un comienzo para finalmente sanar mutuamente.
Una historia cortita pero tierna y con mucha pasión. Fácil de leer y con dos personajes con los que logré conectar. No hay mucho drama, salvo por el ex de Joss. Que por cierto me pareció un imbécil total.
Me gustó el ambiente del hospital, realmente pude visualizar dónde ocurría la historia. Lo vi bien escrito todo por la autora.
La verdad Joss y Carson me encantaron y como se van conociendo en las horas que pasan juntos. No pueden ser más perfectos aunque tengan diferentes orígenes. Ella doctora y él un militar retirado.
Se disfruta mucho la lectura y aunque hay un HEA me dejó con ganas de saber más de ellos.
June 21, 2018
This was my first book by Brenda Rothert & I enjoyed it.
The storylines, hero & heroine connected with me but sometimes I felt like it didn't flow enough to keep me turning pages not to put it down so took me longer to finish it.
The storylines, hero & heroine connected with me but sometimes I felt like it didn't flow enough to keep me turning pages not to put it down so took me longer to finish it.
March 28, 2015
Healing Touch by Brenda Rather
My Rating: A
My Review:
I liked this story a lot. It takes place over a single night, but the connection between Carson and Jocelyn felt real. That takes some real skill by the author to create a believable chemistry in such a short amount of time. I liked both characters and the glimpses of their back-stories...Jocelyn with her cheating ex and Carson trying to get on in the real world after life in the military. This is a Happily for Now story, but I could believe that it could easily turn into an Ever After story. I liked the characters and how they spent the night getting to know one another. And the Magic 8 ball was a really fun touch to the romance for Jocelyn.
My Rating: A
My Review:
I liked this story a lot. It takes place over a single night, but the connection between Carson and Jocelyn felt real. That takes some real skill by the author to create a believable chemistry in such a short amount of time. I liked both characters and the glimpses of their back-stories...Jocelyn with her cheating ex and Carson trying to get on in the real world after life in the military. This is a Happily for Now story, but I could believe that it could easily turn into an Ever After story. I liked the characters and how they spent the night getting to know one another. And the Magic 8 ball was a really fun touch to the romance for Jocelyn.
June 17, 2018
Working in the same hospital as her ex-husband and his new girlfriend is hard for Jocelyn 'Joss' Drake, but there's no way she's going to quit. Not when she does important work and is looking to have her research project approved. Luckily, she finds a nice distraction to her problems in the hospital's sexy electrician, Carson Stephens. Will Carson and Joss be able to overcome their past demons to get their happy ever after or is it too hard for each of them to ever to put their trust in another person again?
This is only the second book I've read by Ms. Rothert, but I've got to say that I love her style of writing. The words flow seamlessly; the fast-paced plot was enjoyable, the dialogue was entertaining and drew me in from the beginning; as the heroine isn't about to let her ex and his new bouncy girlfriend drive her away from her place of work; and the characters had interesting back stories and tough obstacles to overcome including the hero's jealousy and both their trust issues.
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, as both have been through so much. Will the hero be able to give the heroine everything she wants, especially since he didn't have the best upbringing? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked that she stands up to her ex who is an absolute pain and needs to understand that the heroine is in a good place in her life. Actually, the best place in her life, especially with Carson in it. I also liked how good of a doctor the heroine is and that she would do anything to help someone in need, even if that someone hasn't been the nicest to her. While the hero, he has doubts on whether he can give the heroine everything she needs, but I liked that the heroine didn't give up on him. I also liked that he was willing to fight for his relationship with the heroine by working through his issues, especially since his past has such a hold on him.
Overall, Ms. Rothert has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance was nicely-detailed and passionate; and the ending had me loving what the heroine does to help someone in need and had me loving the decision the hero made because he wants the heroine to have everything she wants in life - love, family and happiness. I would recommend Healing Touch by Brenda Rothert, if you enjoy stories by Harper Sloan, Kristen Proby, Kelly Elliott and Devney Perry.
June 4, 2018
Healing Touch by Brenda Rothert was such a feel good book!! I mean you will definitely have the feels while reading but I fell in love with Joss and Carson. They have such a fun relationship, of course with ups and downs, but who doesn't?? lol
Joss's husband left her about a year ago for another woman. And to make matters worse, Joss's ex works at the hospital where she works and soo does the other woman. Soo this makes for a tension filled work environment ..lol
Anyway there happens to be a new Mechanical guy that is fixing all the broken "mechanical" things in the hospital and happens to think Joss is quite beautiful but truthfully he feels she is out of his league. Joss is such a down to earth girl, she feels that Carson is different from any man she has met in the past. She is willing to give him a chance and hopefully the ex will stay out of their relationship as well.
I gave Healing Touch 5 iScream Stars!!! Such a fun read on a lazy Sunday afternoon!!!
Joss's husband left her about a year ago for another woman. And to make matters worse, Joss's ex works at the hospital where she works and soo does the other woman. Soo this makes for a tension filled work environment ..lol
Anyway there happens to be a new Mechanical guy that is fixing all the broken "mechanical" things in the hospital and happens to think Joss is quite beautiful but truthfully he feels she is out of his league. Joss is such a down to earth girl, she feels that Carson is different from any man she has met in the past. She is willing to give him a chance and hopefully the ex will stay out of their relationship as well.
I gave Healing Touch 5 iScream Stars!!! Such a fun read on a lazy Sunday afternoon!!!
August 27, 2015
#FREEBIE we #loved http://amzn.to/1PAEN7J
June 12, 2018
I read this in one sitting while at work - thank goodness my boss had a meeting all afternoon, because I couldn't put it down!
It's no secret that I love when there's a main character that has some sort of ailment (broken bones, injured, PTSD, etc) and Carson definitely fits this mold. But I think in a way, Joss does with having to deal with her ex husband and his new girlfriend working at the same place she does with the gossip mill knowing all about their marriage. Talk about stressful. But go Joss for keeping her head up and not being chased out of work. Especially with the hot Carson on staff.
Carson and Joss have their issues but they've fit together from the get go. I loved their chemistry within seconds of them talking. And whew, were those sex scenes HOT!!!
I've read a few Brenda Rothert books and I've loved every one!
It's no secret that I love when there's a main character that has some sort of ailment (broken bones, injured, PTSD, etc) and Carson definitely fits this mold. But I think in a way, Joss does with having to deal with her ex husband and his new girlfriend working at the same place she does with the gossip mill knowing all about their marriage. Talk about stressful. But go Joss for keeping her head up and not being chased out of work. Especially with the hot Carson on staff.
Carson and Joss have their issues but they've fit together from the get go. I loved their chemistry within seconds of them talking. And whew, were those sex scenes HOT!!!
I've read a few Brenda Rothert books and I've loved every one!
June 11, 2018
Love is worth it, every painstaking step of the way…
I really enjoyed Joss and Carson’s romance as they navigated their way from a chance encounter to something deep and meaningful. The hospital is a hotbed of gossip as potential hookups and partners could be around the next corner. Seriously burned already, Joss is still recovering from her broken marriage, but when she meets Carson she realizes that love is still an option….
Carson has found his niche in the third shift of the hospital. Working with his hands and shying away from people is his comfort zone after leaving the army. Bumping into Joss, however, opened up a host of possibilities and made him want more. If he was brave enough to fight for it…
“All I knew was what I saw. A woman so beautiful she made me forget how much fucking trouble women were.”
There is a bit of class clashing – strange but true even in the twenty first century. Joss doesn’t see it yet Carson sure feels it, just one of the issues they will have to work through, around, over and under to get to a good spot in their relationship. Relatable characters, complicated family (and exes) plus differing thoughts on their future made this a read with lots of emotion and uncertainty. No deep highs or lows but nothing taken for granted meant for an entertaining story from beginning to end.
September 29, 2015
I've read a number of books by Brenda Rothert now and have enjoyed many of them. So when I noticed this novella I decided to give it a try.
It's definetly a short story and part of me wishes it was full length so could get to know the characters more but for what it is, it's good.
Joss is a doctor who is about to start a testing program for pregnant women. She works in the same hospital as her ex who has been having an ongoing and quite public affair with an ER nurse. This has caused Joss to close down in her dating life, there being quite a bit of damage done.
She meets the hero , Carson when she calls the hospital maintenance department to see if she can get the temperature of the room fixed. Turns out he is the head mechanic who works night. He's a former soldier who is a loner now by choice and content to work the night shift.
He agrees to fix the temperature problem and as he is doing so, he and Joss connect on a level neither of them have had for a very long time.
For such a short story, Ms. Rothert manages to make the two come quite alive and as I said I almost wish it was longer so the reader could get to know them better.
The love scene happened quicker than I'm normally comfortable with, but again I get that the author was constricted by the size.
Overall I was quite pleased with this short novella and she continues to be an author I enjoy.
It's definetly a short story and part of me wishes it was full length so could get to know the characters more but for what it is, it's good.
Joss is a doctor who is about to start a testing program for pregnant women. She works in the same hospital as her ex who has been having an ongoing and quite public affair with an ER nurse. This has caused Joss to close down in her dating life, there being quite a bit of damage done.
She meets the hero , Carson when she calls the hospital maintenance department to see if she can get the temperature of the room fixed. Turns out he is the head mechanic who works night. He's a former soldier who is a loner now by choice and content to work the night shift.
He agrees to fix the temperature problem and as he is doing so, he and Joss connect on a level neither of them have had for a very long time.
For such a short story, Ms. Rothert manages to make the two come quite alive and as I said I almost wish it was longer so the reader could get to know them better.
The love scene happened quicker than I'm normally comfortable with, but again I get that the author was constricted by the size.
Overall I was quite pleased with this short novella and she continues to be an author I enjoy.
September 8, 2015
Ah, the difficulties of a book nerd. So, I had read this before as part of the Night Shift Anthology. Fast forward, friend recommends so I one click. As I'm reading Carson and Joss' story, I get the sense of 'been here/read this'. Am I sorry I one clicked it? Heck no! As always, Brenda Rothert delivers a sweet yet hot novella about a second chance at finding love. This is a novella so it's the meeting of instant attraction. I'm a HUGE fan of instant attraction as I have 27 years of marriage to prove it's real life. If you are a bit cynical and don't believe in the instant deep spark, then this novella is not for you.
But I give this a solid 4.5 stars.
So the only thing I have to say is: this novella is not complete story - or at least to me. Ms. Rothert leaves the story where you can stop and be happy. But as a matter of personal preference, I felt like no. She left me wanting MORE of Carson and Joss' story.
If you are looking for a sweet, adult romantic quick read, go no further. This story is for you.
But I give this a solid 4.5 stars.
So the only thing I have to say is: this novella is not complete story - or at least to me. Ms. Rothert leaves the story where you can stop and be happy. But as a matter of personal preference, I felt like no. She left me wanting MORE of Carson and Joss' story.
If you are looking for a sweet, adult romantic quick read, go no further. This story is for you.
April 20, 2018
Carson sometimes has to clear things up with his woman, “my ***k’s intimidating?” I said, surprised. “You mean ’cause it’s so hard?” It was straight as an arrow and hard as h*** since..." Carson is always happy his woman approves of his choices, “if the volume of your moans a few days ago was any indication, what you really love is the way my face feels on your inner thighs when I haven’t shaved.” Joss sometimes takes her man by surprise, "...She scrambled off my lap and pulled the sweats and her panties off in one fluid motion. “Oh h***, Joss.” I tore my eyes away from her body to make sure all the blinds were closed. Thank eff they were..." I liked this book, Joss and Carson were one hot couple.
May 31, 2018
I loved everything about this book, It was such a great read. I love that Carson was broody and hot without being a player and an asshole. In fact he was actually super sweet for the most part. And there is nothing I like bette than reading about a kick ass heroine who is just awesome. There was no over the top angst and the story flowed really well. I couldn’t put it down!
May 9, 2018
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book via NetGally in exchange of an honest review.
This book was originally released as a 60 pages long short story but the author decided to make it a full length novel. I enjoyed it but the story just wasn’t my favorite. Personally I think there is a really strong line between the original 60 pages and the rest of the book. First of all, although I think Brenda Rothert has a really great writing style, she wrote some of my fave sport romances, still in this story you can feel that especially the beginning of the book is kinda rushed to oblige a certain pattern. The whole getting together within a day after a half an hour conversation when both of the characters supposed to be on the shier, more reserved side was a bit off-putting for me. However, after the initial connection forms between them the story starts to flow so much more smoothly. Overall, the book is a sweet romance, a light read despite having quite a bit of drama in it. Thanks to the author style, despite having plenty of drama in the storyline, the whole thing is low angst and so subtle that it doesn’t overwhelm the book. The characters handled their problems in such a sophisticated.
Both of the characters have been dealt a few bad hands in their life but both of them came out on the winning side. This doesn’t mean that they also came out unscathed. Carson is an army veteran, a repair man with a shitty family and an unfortunate past when it come to relationships. Not only has he some bad experience but also his scars from war also make him cautious to start anything with a beautiful soul like Joss.
Joss is a doctor who just recently went through a divorce and she still couldn’t wrap her head around it so she decided to bury herself in work. But then she meets Carson and sparks fly and the attraction is instant.
I liked their easy relationship but they still had plenty of mountains to climb before settling on. They were cute together.
This book was a quick and light read I liked it but couldn’t give it more stars because I require something more (drama and emotion wise) in my favorite reads. Still a great story from the author.
I received a copy of this book via NetGally in exchange of an honest review.
This book was originally released as a 60 pages long short story but the author decided to make it a full length novel. I enjoyed it but the story just wasn’t my favorite. Personally I think there is a really strong line between the original 60 pages and the rest of the book. First of all, although I think Brenda Rothert has a really great writing style, she wrote some of my fave sport romances, still in this story you can feel that especially the beginning of the book is kinda rushed to oblige a certain pattern. The whole getting together within a day after a half an hour conversation when both of the characters supposed to be on the shier, more reserved side was a bit off-putting for me. However, after the initial connection forms between them the story starts to flow so much more smoothly. Overall, the book is a sweet romance, a light read despite having quite a bit of drama in it. Thanks to the author style, despite having plenty of drama in the storyline, the whole thing is low angst and so subtle that it doesn’t overwhelm the book. The characters handled their problems in such a sophisticated.
Both of the characters have been dealt a few bad hands in their life but both of them came out on the winning side. This doesn’t mean that they also came out unscathed. Carson is an army veteran, a repair man with a shitty family and an unfortunate past when it come to relationships. Not only has he some bad experience but also his scars from war also make him cautious to start anything with a beautiful soul like Joss.
Joss is a doctor who just recently went through a divorce and she still couldn’t wrap her head around it so she decided to bury herself in work. But then she meets Carson and sparks fly and the attraction is instant.
I liked their easy relationship but they still had plenty of mountains to climb before settling on. They were cute together.
This book was a quick and light read I liked it but couldn’t give it more stars because I require something more (drama and emotion wise) in my favorite reads. Still a great story from the author.
June 13, 2018
I adored Joss and Carson's story. She is an OB doctor....newly divorced and trying to avoid her ex who happens to be an ER doctor and his pregnant girlfriend who also works at the hospital. She happens to be staying late to prepare for a very important presentation and needs the assistance of maintenance to get AC to that room. Carson is ex military working at the hospital as a maintenance guy. He is the one that answers Joss's call for help. There are instant sparks between the two and while they are both working in the same room they get to know each other. The attraction is undeniable and she ends up taking Carson home and out for breakfast. I loved everything about their story....I was hooked from the very beginning and hated to see it end. Joss and Carson were perfect for each other. I had read this story first when it was in the anthology and was thrilled to hear that the author was expanding their story. I loved the story then and I love it even more now. Well done!
May 11, 2018
This book manages something that seems to me quite unusual: the main characters are normal, reasonable adults who behave in a normal, reasonable way when confronted with adversity in their relationship. There were so many points when the author could have gone for the quick melodrama to create a conflict for a plot device and mercifully did not. She crafted a story that has lovely, multi-faceted characters who are interesting without giving into high drama.
Joss and Carson navigate the unavoidable obstacles that arise in a relationship where she is a physician at a university medical center and he is a veteran who works in the hospital's mechanical department. Both have issues from their past. But wait! Instead of allowing those to wreck their budding relationship they.....deal with them! How refreshing! Carson seeks counseling on his own for problems related to his service, father, and past relationships. Joss insures Carson knows she has no issue with his financial status or his job. They each determine that their relationship is worth adjusting their expectations.
When I finished this book I wanted to applaud - finally a book about people who were normal, responsible, a little imperfect, and interesting. Yay!
Joss and Carson navigate the unavoidable obstacles that arise in a relationship where she is a physician at a university medical center and he is a veteran who works in the hospital's mechanical department. Both have issues from their past. But wait! Instead of allowing those to wreck their budding relationship they.....deal with them! How refreshing! Carson seeks counseling on his own for problems related to his service, father, and past relationships. Joss insures Carson knows she has no issue with his financial status or his job. They each determine that their relationship is worth adjusting their expectations.
When I finished this book I wanted to applaud - finally a book about people who were normal, responsible, a little imperfect, and interesting. Yay!
June 12, 2018
All reviews and other fun stuff on the Romance Rehab blog: http://www.romancerehab.com/
This is an adult romance. And I’m not talking about erotica, folks. (Though, there are plenty of sexy times.) No, I’m talking about a book where two mature adults fall in love and act like real, responsible, emotionally mature adults would act. No stupid misunderstandings. No one stubbornly refusing assistance. No alphaholes. No angst. Just two likeable, relatable folks falling in love like real folks in real life would. I can’t even tell you how rare that is in romance land, y’all. It was refreshing. Here’s the stuff I especially liked:
1. Carson is a hospital maintenance man. He’s not a shifter/billionaire/playboy/Navy Seal/step-brother/rockstar. He’s a guy with a real-life kind of job. And let me tell you, despite what other authors might be trying to sell you, there’s nothing unsexy about a guy who knows how to fix stuff.
2. Joss is stuck working at the same hospital with her ex-husband and the woman he cheated on her with. Does she fall apart in their presence and whine about her misfortune? Nope. She sucks it up (like a REAL woman would), and goes about the business of doing her job. And she’s damn good at her job. (There’s some GREAT competence porn here.) She’s also a little snarky and sassy in the process, and I really enjoyed that.
3. The women in the story aren’t out to get each other. (They don’t always talk sweetly to each other, but no one is actively trying to destroy anyone else.) When Joss has an opportunity to stick it to the woman who screwed her ex-husband while they were still married, she doesn’t take the shot. She takes the high road. Joss is totally classy, and remains totally classy throughout the story. What’s not to love about that? (Girl on girl hate is sooooo passé)
4. Carson has some PTSD issues from his time spent in Iraq. Does he keep it all in and stubbornly try to work through everything by himself? Nope. He talks to Joss about it openly and honestly, and even gets a therapist. What a great adult he is! (In case you couldn’t tell, I LOVED Carson)
5. While the women were all mature and mostly classy, the men had a moment or two when they acted like Neanderthals peeing on Joss to mark their territory. But even that seemed like something two guys would do in real life, so I wasn’t at all offended by it.
So, if everything was so great, why not a 5-star rating, you ask? Well...it was almost TOO low angst. There weren’t any major stakes. Everybody was so open and honest and upfront about everything that there wasn’t much tension in the story. I know, I know...I’m always bitching about how I want low-angst reads. But this one was so low-angst that I felt like there was just a little something missing. There’s a difference between low-angst and no-angst, and this one toed the line between the two.
But, overall, I was really impressed with this read. I loved Carson and Joss, and I’d totally be friends with them. You know, if they were real. (The author did THAT good a job of creating realistic characters.)
Long-story-short: this is a great read for lovers of mature, low-angst romance with plenty of sexy times between smart, hard-working, loveable characters.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
This is an adult romance. And I’m not talking about erotica, folks. (Though, there are plenty of sexy times.) No, I’m talking about a book where two mature adults fall in love and act like real, responsible, emotionally mature adults would act. No stupid misunderstandings. No one stubbornly refusing assistance. No alphaholes. No angst. Just two likeable, relatable folks falling in love like real folks in real life would. I can’t even tell you how rare that is in romance land, y’all. It was refreshing. Here’s the stuff I especially liked:
1. Carson is a hospital maintenance man. He’s not a shifter/billionaire/playboy/Navy Seal/step-brother/rockstar. He’s a guy with a real-life kind of job. And let me tell you, despite what other authors might be trying to sell you, there’s nothing unsexy about a guy who knows how to fix stuff.
2. Joss is stuck working at the same hospital with her ex-husband and the woman he cheated on her with. Does she fall apart in their presence and whine about her misfortune? Nope. She sucks it up (like a REAL woman would), and goes about the business of doing her job. And she’s damn good at her job. (There’s some GREAT competence porn here.) She’s also a little snarky and sassy in the process, and I really enjoyed that.
3. The women in the story aren’t out to get each other. (They don’t always talk sweetly to each other, but no one is actively trying to destroy anyone else.) When Joss has an opportunity to stick it to the woman who screwed her ex-husband while they were still married, she doesn’t take the shot. She takes the high road. Joss is totally classy, and remains totally classy throughout the story. What’s not to love about that? (Girl on girl hate is sooooo passé)
4. Carson has some PTSD issues from his time spent in Iraq. Does he keep it all in and stubbornly try to work through everything by himself? Nope. He talks to Joss about it openly and honestly, and even gets a therapist. What a great adult he is! (In case you couldn’t tell, I LOVED Carson)
5. While the women were all mature and mostly classy, the men had a moment or two when they acted like Neanderthals peeing on Joss to mark their territory. But even that seemed like something two guys would do in real life, so I wasn’t at all offended by it.
So, if everything was so great, why not a 5-star rating, you ask? Well...it was almost TOO low angst. There weren’t any major stakes. Everybody was so open and honest and upfront about everything that there wasn’t much tension in the story. I know, I know...I’m always bitching about how I want low-angst reads. But this one was so low-angst that I felt like there was just a little something missing. There’s a difference between low-angst and no-angst, and this one toed the line between the two.
But, overall, I was really impressed with this read. I loved Carson and Joss, and I’d totally be friends with them. You know, if they were real. (The author did THAT good a job of creating realistic characters.)
Long-story-short: this is a great read for lovers of mature, low-angst romance with plenty of sexy times between smart, hard-working, loveable characters.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
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