Only by Your Touch
Only by Your Touch book cover

Only by Your Touch

Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2003

by
Price
$5.98
Publisher
Berkley
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0451207944
Dimensions
4.13 x 1.2 x 6.75 inches
Weight
7.6 ounces

Description

From Publishers Weekly The characters and plot twists in Only by Your Touch, Catherine Anderson's newest contemporary romance (after Always in My Heart), may feel familiar to the author's fans, but this by-the-numbers tale still possesses poignancy and charm. Determined to keep her sickly son safe, Chloe Evans divorces her abusive husband and moves to Jack Pine, Ore., where she meets the enigmatic Ben Longtree, a part-Indian veterinarian once arrested for murder. Chloe is struck by the man's kindness to animals and is deeply attracted to him, but at the same time, she must fend off a police deputy who tries to assert his claim over her in an ever more ominous fashion. The once-abused heroine, too-good-to-be-true hero and too-evil-to-be-believed villain are character types that Anderson's fans know well, but that won't stop readers (both old and new) from savoring the book's tender moments. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Leaving an abusive marriage, Chloe moves with her young son, Jeremy, to Jack Pine, Oregon, to start over. Hoping that it will help him adjust to his new home, Chloe lets Jeremy have a puppy, but when the puppy gets sick and the local vet is unwilling and unable to treat it, Jeremy turns to Ben Longtree for help. Once a veterinarian, Ben, who has long been ostracized, still treats wounded animals at his isolated home on a ridge outside the town. Afraid that Jeremy may be in danger, Chloe arrives at Ben's home determined to save him only to find that Ben is nothing like the rumors she has been hearing. A hero struggling with secrets from his past and a heroine determined to put her past behind her find another chance at romance in Anderson's latest contemporary, which includes a touch of magic as Ben, with Chloe's help, struggles with and comes to accept his special talent for healing in this beautifully written, emotionally satisfying story. John Charles Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Praise for Only By Your Touch Catherine Anderson loves dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, and nearly every other critter on earth.xa0 Her most guilty pleasure when she isn't writing is to chat with her followers on Facebook.xa0 Her fan page is one of the most happening places on the net, with a daily place for you to post and share pics up front and center.xa0 Ever visited a fan page, and all you can do is reply to an author's chosen feature of the day?xa0 Well, Catherine believes in community, and she wants her readers to not only have fun, but also to become lifelong friends.xa0 And she always,xa0ALWAYS replies, unless something catastrophic occurs.xa0 She doesn't want her fan page to be all about her and her books!xa0 Heaps of tried and true recipes!xa0 Funny jokes.xa0 Hilarious quotes.xa0 It's a happening place with fairly frequent contests as well.xa0 Please come and join in at facebook.com/catherineandersonbooks Catherine Anderson is the author of more than thirty New York Times bestselling and award-winning historical and contemporary romances including the Harrigan Family series, the Coulter Family series, the Comanche series, and the Mystic Creek series. She lives in the pristine woodlands of Central Oregon. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • New York Times
  • bestselling author Catherine Anderson takes readers to a quaint wilderness town, where a man and a woman find a second chance at life—and love…
  • Determined to give her son Jeremy the childhood he deserves, Chloe Evans has left a tough past behind and is starting fresh in the charming resort town of Jack Pine, Oregon. But protecting Jeremy becomes a dicey proposition when he seeks out the most dangerous man in town to heal his sick puppy. Chloe has been warned to stay away from Ben Longtree. But there’s something about the gentle, untamed loner that intrigues her…   Long ago, Ben accepted his role as town outcast. Rumored to have once killed a man, he lives in splendid isolation with his forgetful mother, secretly employing his skills as a veterinarian to heal  the wounded animals that mysteriously come to him. Now, Chloe’s sunny warmth and brave tenacity arouse desires he has long denied. And although Ben is notorious for his healing touch, it is Chloe’s hands—and heart—that have the power to save his battered soul.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(422)
★★★★
25%
(176)
★★★
15%
(105)
★★
7%
(49)
★
-7%
(-49)

Most Helpful Reviews

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A poignant tale that will hook you from page one....

Chloe Evans has been to hell and back and has relocated with her son, Jeremy, to Jack Pine, Oregon. Leaving her husband, whom, after an accident turned into an abusive man she didn't recognize, Chloe wanted the bring Jeremey the security of being safe. She felt that life in a small town would be exactly what Jeremey needed. When her son begs her for a puppy, Chloe doesn't have to heart to turn him down. When Jeremy's puppy gets sick and the vet it unwilling to treat him without the money up front, Jeremy takes Rowdy to the town outcast, Ben Longtree who is a vet, but unable to practice. Soon, Chloe finds herself entangled in Ben's enchanting world on Cinnamon Ridge. With a wolf and a mountain lion for pets, Chloe has never met anyone like Ben, and for a reason she can't begin to define, she feels safe in his presence and trust him with her son's safety.
Ben Longtree loves the solitude of Cinnamon Ridge. When it is envaded by a six year old boy, Ben tries to turn him away. His annoyance quickly turns acceptance and he soon finds himself impressed by the young boy who would stand up to who people in town believe is a cold-blooded murderer. Ben's world shifts when Chloe and Jeremy start spending more time in the ridge and Ben experiences the magic of love. He is wary, however, for there is more than one person who would happily destroy his life. Always having a gift with animals, Ben can't turn away the wounded that turn up on his property. From owls to skunks to bears, Ben will not turn one animal away, even if it means spending the rest of his life in jail. The more he gets to know Chloe, and the more he feels himself falling in love, the more he wants to tell her all his secrets. There is evil lurking though, evil that both Ben and Chloe underestimated.
Catherine Anderson weaves an emotional read in Only by Your Touch. Reading about Chloe learning to trust and letting go of her fear of men and Ben learning to trust in love again will almost have you in tears. Even Jermey's remarkable recovery will pull your heartstrings. You won't regret reading this book!
10 people found this helpful
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Awesome

Quite simply, this was one of the best books I have ever read. I was torn between racing through it because it was so good and pacing myself because I didn't want it to end.
5 people found this helpful
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Only by your touch

I enjoyed this book. However, I think that I'll stick with Ms. Andersons historicals. I happen to be about the same age as her heroine and I found that the dialogue & perspective just did not ring true. As I read I found myself thinking "how OLD are these people?" Also another thing I find annoying w/ Catherine Anderson is that she gives many of the same traits to her heroines book after book. For instance this is the THIRD novel that I've read by this author in which the heroine has night blindness. I mean really how common is this?! With that being said, when I read a novel by this author I expect a sweet old fashion love story and that's what she wrote. Despite my nit picking I enjoyed the book especially the super natural aspect.
4 people found this helpful
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Can't put it down!

I absolutely love Catherine Anderson and this is one of her best books. Rarely do I find a book now that keeps me up all night but this one did. I just had to finish it. The characters are wonderful. You will be hooked from the first page. Ben Longtree is the sensitive, rugged male we've all been looking for. Chloe has come from a bad marriage with a sickly son who has sworn to never trust men again. Sound familiar? But Catherine Anderson has chosen her male character well. Ben is part Shosone Indian who is also a vet who has a certain "magic" to him. I won't spoil it for you. The other reviews describe the contents well. If you read only one book this summer, this better be it!
4 people found this helpful
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Did not like as well as other reviewers

I just want to start out by saying that this was a good book, but I would not read it again. I didn't think that Ben Longtree and Chloe had any romance at all. It was more of an animal lover book. Ben Longtree could secretly heal living things, and it's great that he could because someone was shooting all the animals in the woods. They automatically knew to go right to him after they were wounded. He was also a vet and healed them back to health. You get to learn a lot about his native american heritage and horrible past with his father. Chloe had an ex-husband that makes you think he is still in the picture, but then you never hear a word about him throughout the end of the book. This book just left me with more questions than answers.
3 people found this helpful
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED....

OUR AUTHOR MIXES SEVERAL THEMES IN THIS STORY BUT HER MULTIFACETED CHARACTERS CAN HANDLE THEM. YOU WILL LAUGH, SMILE, CRY, FEEL JOY AND SADNESS BUT YOU'LL NEVER BE SORRY YOU READ THIS.AND I CAME AWAY WITH MORE INSIGHT WHEN THIS WONDERFUL BOOK ENDED. GOOD JOB, MS ANDERSON........
3 people found this helpful
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Hot hot hot!

I picked this up as an airplane book and ended up reading it every evening while on my mini-vacation! It is the first of Catherine Anderson's books I've read and I'm definintely going to become a regular of hers. I loved Chloe's strength of character and the fact that she's believable, in a believable clerical position as a dispatcher. I could also readily identify with the Christmas store and Chloe's delight with the business. Her problems with Bobby Lee definitely raised the anxiety level of the plot, considering what side of the law he was on. His cunning, devious break in and the transmission to the dispatcher were both terrifying and believable. Ms. Anderson writes well and certainly knows how to envoke passion in her readers. The intimatacy between Chloe and Ben was just plain HOT. Wow!
3 people found this helpful
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Magical and Delightful

I enjoyed reading this book. IT was my first Catherine Anderson book and this one was certainly delightful. I liked the hero Ben (Vet, author, son caring for his Mom, Indian, great looking and caring; a little damaged by the past but still what is not to like here.) HE is so gentle with Chloe's son and helps him get past some trauma in his life dealt to him by an ill and abusive father. I thought that was handled so well. Chloe is also delightful in taking care of her son and dealing with a stalking deputy and learning to accept Ben for who and what he is. One reviewer said there was no romance between them. I certainly didn't feel that. Their time spent together taking care of the animals and the walks and etc certainly was building a realtionship between them. Romance comes together in a number of ways. Actually, I liked the magic Ben had with his healing touch even though in reality I know it was a little far fetched. However, we can all use a little magic in our lives especially in these troubled times. I think it was worth the read and would reccomend it and read it again. It's not often that I like all the main characters in a book but all were just delightful, even the animals (well with the exception of the villan). Jeremy, chloe's son is just a great little kid and made the story fun and touching.
2 people found this helpful
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Anderson always delivers

Once again, a wonderful read from Catherine Anderson. Her books never fail to capture me. She has a wonderful way of exploring characters and emotions, thoroughly engaging the reader. I didn't find this book as thoroughly enthralling and emotional as some of her other books, like Phantom Waltz and Summer Breeze, but I still loved it.

Lots of wonderful dynamics in this book. I loved Ben's character. As an animal lover myself, I loved his compassion for the animals he cared for. I just wanted to give him a big hug sometimes. The romance between him and Chloe is nicely done. There's a slow build-up that makes it more realistic than if they just jumped into bed with each other. I liked that they got to know each other first. They complemented each other well.

There was a minor suspense plot aspect that was a nice addition to the story. It gave the book some kick and some meat. And the reason behind the antagonist's action fit well with the story. But the story was mostly about the characters, their situations, and the romance, as with all Anderson's books. Just a good all around romance.
2 people found this helpful
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Catherine Anderson does it again!

There is a reason that all of Catherine Anderson's books rate over four stars: She knows how to write a story that pulls you in and gives you friends for life with her characters. There are no perfect people in Catherine's books - they are people who have lived and learned the lessons of life. You will fall in love with the characters in Only By Your Touch and wish the book was longer! This is a wonderful book with a lovely story about overcoming huge odds on the way to happiness.
I have never been disappointed in a Catherine Anderson book. She takes me to places I once believed in and shows that there is still hope and faith in the world.
2 people found this helpful

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