Touch Me Gently

By: J.R. Loveless

Narrated by: Jeff Gelder

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Always hiding his tormented past along with his scarred body, Kaden James finds it difficult to keep a job. Luck finally turns his way when he finds work as a cook on a Montana ranch, where he meets terrifyingly handsome Logan Michaels. Logan is different from any man Kaden’s ever met, and before long, he finds himself falling in love with the big cowboy.

But Kaden’s nightmares won’t let go of him so easily, and he’s not just jumping at shadows. He has nearly a lifetime of abuse, horrifying memories, and pain addiction to overcome. Can Logan's gentle touch help Kaden heal inside?

©2010 J.R. Loveless (P)2012 J.R. Loveless

Story good. Narration, not so much

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The main character, Kaden, remains fearful and distrustful of Logan for too long.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting part was Kaden's background story.

What didn’t you like about Jeff Gelder’s performance?

Awkward, long pauses when reading character's quotes followed by "...he said." A few mispronunciations of words. Announces title of book before every chapter, which was annoying, but there's no announcement of any kind for chapter 11, not even the chapter number.

Do you think Touch Me Gently needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, the story ends well enough.

like it but...

It was good, but the fact the older guy {logan} kept calling the younger guy (kaden) a teenager, it freaked me out and it was constantly used. Other wise it was a good book.

Disappointed...

I was excited to listen to this – I really was. The book has so many things that I usually love, like age difference and the hurt/comfort theme. To my surprise, though, I found myself rolling my eyes more than just a few times as I listened to Touch me Gently, and I almost turned the audiobook off several times. It makes me sad, because I really wanted to like this book.

I usually love age and size difference between lovers, but Kaden just...never seemed like a man to me. In the whole book, I kept imagining him as a young, young boy – and sometimes even as a little girl! At the very beginning of the book, his physique is described as "almost effeminate”, and the way the teen flinches, shivers, gasps and winces when men come close to him makes me think of a scared little girl – not a man who’s about to start his twenties! If I wanted to listen to a straight romance, I'd have bought a straight romance!

Instead of feeling sympathy, I kept rolling my eyes when Kaden's reactions to men and memories went way over the top. I won't spoil the main plotline for anyone, but even if a man has been raped in the past, I doubt they’d literally drop to the floor and curl up, panicking, if a woman simply asks where they got the scar in their face. Despite this he goes out to dance wearing sexy leather pants (that I doubt he’d be able to afford, since he’s been living in a dingy and dirty building with hobos laying at the bottom of his staircase??) later that week.

Not to mention how his scar supposedly makes him ugly and insecure (which I normally would love) , but the first day at his new job, a man comes up to him, tells him that he's easy on the eyes, and asks if he wants to have sex! He isn't the only one: Logan, who's straight and has only been dating women up to that point, is described to be attracted to him from day one!

While I know Kaden's supposed to seem pitiable - even lovable - he just seems pathetic to me. As for Logan; I don't really like the whole "Gay for you" thing. He's been a straight man all his life, and when he's suddenly attracted to a guy much younger than him he just shrugs it off and doesn't give it another thought – No one else seems to think it strange that he’s suddenly dating a teenager either!

The story just seemed too unreal and inconsistent for me. Maybe someone else will like it, but I did not.

Surprise: I liked Jeff Gelder here!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not really though some might find it touching. I found it was alright up to about 70% and then it got boring because it was just more of the same - Kaden's skittishness and insecurity and Logan hovering around like a mother hen, reacting to every nervous gesture from Kaden. It just went on and on like this. Very tiresome.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable but nothing wrong with that. I read/listen to romances and expect an HEA or a solid HFN at least.

What does Jeff Gelder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

First, I hated that Gelder narrated Bulletproof from one of my favorite MM series. He did a horrible job there but I was so surprised by his work here in Touch Me Gently. The difference was detectable even in the meager sample that Audible gives. It was this that made me buy the book.

I have the ebook but had not read it yet. If I had read it first, I would not have bought the audio.

Absolutely beautiful

This was a masterful piece of story telling. You actually could picture all the joys and sorrows in the book as clear as glass. A must read.

From a victim to a survivor

This story was about a young man who is defined by having been the victim of brutal physical, emotional, and sexual violence at the beginning of the story and his journey to being a survivor rather than a victim. He is more or less rescued by his love interest in the traditionally sappy style of the true romance novel. I thought that the narrator did a good job with bringing the characters alive which was a major plus. I liked the story but I would not recommend it to anyone who might struggle with somewhat graphic descriptions of abuse that crop up occasionally during the story. I also REALLY wish the author hadn’t kept referring to the younger man as “the teen” during positive interactions with the love interest because it kept jarring me back into thinking about his sexual abuse history by emphasizing his youth. There are also some additions to the plot that challenged my strongly honed ability to suspend disbelief, so if that sort of thing bothers you I wouldn't recommend this one. Overall I think was a decent listen but it felt like it wasn’t planned out very well at times.

Great book!

This book had me tearing up, and smiling through the story. I really enjoyed it, as always I'm a big fan of the HEA. Kadden had much pain in his past that could threaten his future until he met Logan. Logan was patient and kind all the things Kadden needed. I would recommend this book to others. Jeff did a good job with his narrative giving then emotion and bringing them to life. I will listen to this again! I am also going to try other books from this author.

Almost, but not quite there

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe, if they were really into over the top sweetness btwn men.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect was Kaden's journey to overcome his past. The least interesting was this weird relationship at the end with a little girl in the hospital. It didn't quite seem to fit the story and came out of nowhere. It was weird. Also, some of the dialougue was stiff and obviously not something a "real" person would say. I must admit to some eye rolling at it at times.

Which scene was your favorite?

Logan admitting his love for Kaden.

Did Touch Me Gently inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

This story is worth a listen but be warned it is over the top sweet. Don't get me wrong I LOVE sweet and tender, but this was way more. Also, the narrator does an OK job, but at time his narration is a little wooden. I've listen to other narrations from Mr. Gelder before, and he has never been one of my favorites. Although he does a better job on this than he did with Bulletproof (Mary Calmes).

Do not purchase

What would have made Touch Me Gently better?

ONe of the worst books i've ever read (or listened to. Over simplistic and juvenile depiction of a shattered, abused soul. Feels as though the author has no insight into people at all, except what she may have deduced from watching daytime television. No insight into the male psyche at all. Or the gay male as well. It's actually insulting. She trivializes the people she attempted to created. It was painful to listen to, predictable beyond belief, and a complete waste of time.

Has Touch Me Gently turned you off from other books in this genre?

Almost

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger, disappointment, sheer disbelief

not good at all

I didn't like this story, I also hated how they referred to the younger guy to "little one" and "the teenager" kind of gave me the creeps. narrator was good, but this story is not worth a credit or the price.