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Touched

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 438 ratings · 120 reviews

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published August 14th 2012 by Delacorte Press

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Apr 02, 2012 Maja rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: are-you-kidding-me, arc-2012, horrible-whiner, incredibly-stupid-choices, netgalley, totally-saw-that-coming, wake-me-up-next-year, ya, reviewed-in-2012

I am used to reading bad books. I try very hard not to, I pick every one very carefully, but I often end up with something I’d been doing my best to avoid. And it’s okay. It’s the same for all of us. But when a book starts out great and I get my hopes up, only to become formulaic and focused on all the wrong things later on, I feel more than just disappointed. I feel cheated.

Touched had a very promising beginning. Ever since he was born, Nick Cross’ head has been filled with what he calls memor...more I am used to reading bad books. I try very hard not to, I pick every one very carefully, but I often end up with something I’d been doing my best to avoid. And it’s okay. It’s the same for all of us. But when a book starts out great and I get my hopes up, only to become formulaic and focused on all the wrong things later on, I feel more than just disappointed. I feel cheated.

Touched had a very promising beginning. Ever since he was born, Nick Cross’ head has been filled with what he calls memories, but what are really visions of his future. His best hope is to pick a future he likes and stick to the script, but any deviation, no matter how little, can change everything, and when it does, it’s usually for the worse. If he ignores the script he’s currently following or makes a mistake, his head is instantly filled with so many possible futures that he is unable to function until he chooses a new one and gets back on course. Because he’s always trying to follow some script (or ignore it if he doesn’t like the future it leads to), it’s very hard for him to pretend that he’s normal.

I felt like I’d gone ten rounds of a heavyweight title match. I couldn’t tell if it was because of the cycling or because the new memories would prove too horrifying to bear. I could change them. I could change the bad things, sometimes, by going off script. The problem was, changing the bad things usually took away the good things, too. And there always seemed to be more bad things to replace the ones I managed to escape.

Nick has lived several versions of a normal life through ‘memories’ of his future. He has seen a wife he adored, children and grandchildren, jobs, houses and everything else he could have if he would just stay on the right script. Sometimes his ‘memories’ are so real that he is unable to separate them from reality, which causes him to mention his wife or an event that never actually happened to other people. But when a beautiful, angelic-looking girl Taryn enters his life and causes him to change course, every single future that lies ahead becomes downright disastrous.

The future I’d given up was a one- in- a- thousand future. I went to college, married Sue, who understood me as well as anyone could, had children and grandchildren. It wasn’t anything awesome, but it was normal, and that was all I wanted.

Sounds pretty great, right? It was for a while, but as soon as a girl entered the picture, it all went downhill pretty fast. Touched was too focused on romance end not nearly enough on Nick’s very interesting ability. Perhaps the book should have been written from his girlfriend Taryn’s point of view considering that the second half revolved almost entirely around her… which leads me to my next problem, Nick’s voice.

We’ve had many examples of female authors successfully writing male protagonists. Just think of Holly Black and Cassel, Lish McBride and Sam or even Kendare Blake and Cass, but I’m sorry to say that we cannot count Cyn Balog and Nick among them. For the most part, Nick had the voice of a thirteen-year-old girl, maybe even younger, one still not old enough to be completely ruled by hormones. A lot could be written off as lack of experience since he spent his entire life focusing too much on the future and not enough on the present, but I doubt even inexperienced seventeen-year-old boys think and behave like whiny little girls. There was something missing in his character that I can’t quite put my finger on, but he never came alive for me and I didn’t care about what happens to him at all.

Cyn Balog’s prose is not very immersive. I was never really invested in her story, I never felt like I was part of it. It was more like watching something happen from a great distance, something that is of little concern to you. I knew exactly when Balog was aiming for my emotions, but she never quite reached me, never even came close.

If you’re in the mood for a YA paranormal story that has ‘wasted potential’ written all over it, I’d say go for it. If not, find something else to read.

Also posted at The Nocturnal Library (less)

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Mar 31, 2012 Heather Dearly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Touched pulled me in from the start and didn't let go until the very end. With a fast and flawless pace, this story offers one amazing twist after another. I was left breathless. I love Cyn's voice and her unique contributions to the young adult paranormal/fantasy genre. Touched is my favorite Balog book to date.

In full disclosure, I am one of Cyn Balog's crit partners/beta readers. It has been several months since I read this story, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about Crazy Cross. I...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Katy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Man, this book was really hard to read. It wasn't difficult to understand. The beginning was so chaotic, and the whole book was really choppy. I just really struggled to go through it.

And the summary really had me intrigued. I thought it sounded similar to Sherilynn Kenyon's Infinity - hey we even have a Nick, and touching the girl makes the voice go away - and thought it might be better attempt at a really cool concept. But the voice wasn't what I thought it was going to be, and I hadn't realiz...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Rebecca Rogers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, for-review, paranormal, paranormal-romance, romance, magic

It’s been a while since I’ve read this book, and I’ve been meaning to review it, but I just haven’t had the chance lately.

Nick has the ability to see his future. He knows that if he listens to the voice in his head, his future will be exactly as he envisions. But when Nick makes the grave mistake of not listening to that voice, the outcome of his future has consequences. He must uncover why he is the way he is, what started it all, and how to stop the terrible psychic curse before tragedy prevai...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nick Cross is a truly amazing character. He, not unlike many, has a voice in his head, but his voice actually tells him the future - every step that will occur that takes someone else’s life. However, if Nick plays hero, listens to the voice, yet decides to veer off course to save someone different, then he dooms another.

Example: Nick Cross is working as a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore. On his way to work one day, the voice tells him all about a young woman who will be killed. As he heads to wo...more Nick Cross is a truly amazing character. He, not unlike many, has a voice in his head, but his voice actually tells him the future - every step that will occur that takes someone else’s life. However, if Nick plays hero, listens to the voice, yet decides to veer off course to save someone different, then he dooms another.

Example: Nick Cross is working as a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore. On his way to work one day, the voice tells him all about a young woman who will be killed. As he heads to work, he sees a truck about to back into a girl and kill her. Veering off the ‘path’ the voice laid out for him, by the time Nick gets to his lifeguard’s chair, a little girl by the name of Emma, who he was supposed to save, has drowned.

In essence, when Nick hears the voice he can either save or ignore the voice completely. However, once he lives the future and makes his decision, his brain basically shuffles the cards and a new future is dealt for Nick Cross. He’s not the only one who has this gift that’s basically a nightmare for him. His mother is also cursed with it and has made her into a recluse, never going outside, barely coming downstairs, and issuing moans constantly. Nick doesn’t want to end up like that and because of his ‘save,’ perhaps he won’t have to.

Even though he is devastated by the young child drowning, the girl Nick does save is named Taryn and most definitely has a ‘place’ in his future. You see, Taryn’s grandmother has a book of some truly crazy spells. A bibliomancer by trade, it was in the past when Taryn’s grandmother brought this curse down upon Nick’s head and only he and Taryn together - going through a seriously odd and exciting adventure - can perhaps change the past and hopefully stop Nick from heading down his new path which the voice in his head claims is his absolute death.

This author has written such a spectacular tale that you will be wishing Nick Cross is a name that appears in the world of fiction yet again.

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya

Wouldn't it be great if you could know the future? What a fabulous power, right? Not so fast. What if every one of the myriad decisions you made each day changed your future? Even something as small perhaps as which side of the street you walk down might change something. You might try, as Nick does, to stay "on script" in the hopes of holding onto a future that seems to be wonderful.
But, what if every time you changed something all the new possible futures ran constantly through your head? Life...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Touched might not be a totally unique premise, but the way it is told is compelling, and the implications have me still thinking about this book days after finishing it.

Nick can see his future. Mostly the immediate future, but he can see glimpses, and sometimes more, of the distant future. Nick hears a "voice" in his head that tells him what he needs to do next -- he call these commands his "You wills." If he doesn't follow the "You wills" then his future changes--sometimes a little bit, but som...more Touched might not be a totally unique premise, but the way it is told is compelling, and the implications have me still thinking about this book days after finishing it.

Nick can see his future. Mostly the immediate future, but he can see glimpses, and sometimes more, of the distant future. Nick hears a "voice" in his head that tells him what he needs to do next -- he call these commands his "You wills." If he doesn't follow the "You wills" then his future changes--sometimes a little bit, but sometimes drastically. As his mind is "cycling" to catch up with the new future, he experiences headaches, sometimes debilitating.

His mother has the same ability. She has stayed in her room for years. When she is cycling, she moans very loudly, which has kept Nick from having any friends at his house. Thank goodness for Nan, Nick's grandmother, who takes care of Nick and his mother.

At the beginning of the book, Nick goes way off course, and although he saves one girl, another small girl loses her life. This is devastating. Even more so, because before this cycling, Nick could envision a great future with a wife and kids. Now, not only has his future changed, but he can't even see it clearly.

Taryn is the girl that Nick saved, and as they build an unlikely relationship, Nick discovers that Taryn knows about his ability -- she says he's "touched" and it has something to do with Taryn's grandmother. Nick, even though his "You wills" tell him otherwise, cannot stay away from Taryn. The romance is slow, although there is that element of "magnetic attraction to a forbidden love interest." It works well in this situation, though.

Touched reads easily and quickly. I really felt for Nick -- what a horrible life for him. Balog does a great job describing the many implications for his condition, which at first seems like it would be a great ability to possess. But it isn't, and we feel for Nick. As Taryn's story is revealed, we are sympathetic to her also. These two are caught in a "Catch-22" that you don't expect them to escape from.

And, that is really the only minor problem I had with Touched. I didn't expect that ending. I didn't WANT that ending. I can't say too much about it, but there's a huge twist and...well...I don't even want to say why I didn't want it, but I think you'll figure it out when you read this. This really is just a personal opinion. I'm sure teens and many others will be satisfied.

And, I recommend that you do read Touched. It is unique enough and very thought provoking in a "be careful what you wish for" sort of way. The pace moves quickly and there's plenty of tension to keep you reading. The characters are sympathetic and the prose is simple. I think Touched has appeal for reluctant readers, and would be enjoyed by boys or girls. No language or sex either, so also accessible to younger teens.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 BookHookup rated it 4 of 5 stars

Celeste and Ana reviewed this book on The Book Hookup

♥ How you felt at the end:
Ana: When I finished this book I felt like I’d been on a long journey. Not in a bad way at all…just in that way that makes you have to take a deep breath and stop to think about all that’s happened. This is an intense story, one that you have to commit to. You have to pay attention to what’s going on in order to keep things straight. But it’s definitely worth it.
Celeste: My husband and kids were next door at the neigh...more Celeste and Ana reviewed this book on The Book Hookup

♥ How you felt at the end:
Ana: When I finished this book I felt like I’d been on a long journey. Not in a bad way at all…just in that way that makes you have to take a deep breath and stop to think about all that’s happened. This is an intense story, one that you have to commit to. You have to pay attention to what’s going on in order to keep things straight. But it’s definitely worth it.
Celeste: My husband and kids were next door at the neighbors, but I stayed home to finish this book. Then I ran over and told everyone in my immediate area, “I just finished such a good book!!!” Fabulous read. It was definitely emotional, thought provoking, fabulous. :)

♥ The story:
Ana: This was really different. The way in which Nick could see and almost interact with the future was fascinating. I must admit that at the very beginning I was a bit confused and it took a little bit of time for me to adjust to the way the story progressed, but once I was over that, I found the story to be well written and it captured both my attention and my heart. The premise that what you wish for in life may also be a curse is one we all know of…we’ve all heard the old saying “be careful what you wish for”. But to watch it play out in the lives of these characters was really intriguing.
Celeste: So different! I loved that it was from a male POV for the added bonus. Nick Cross can see into the future, but if he changes his actions he also changes the future. It is physically and emotionally draining, and he just wishes he were normal. I think I even felt exhausted from all his “cycling” and “You Wills”. All he wants is to have friends and dreams of even a girlfriend. It seems so out of reach until the day he is supposed to save a little girl’s life….but meets Taryn. Whether it was fate or coincidence, this meeting changed everything. Touched is such a great stand alone paranormal story with plenty of mystery, magic and romance.

♥ The characters:
Ana: I loved Nick’s tenacity. Faced with such an awful curse, to be able to see not only your future but that of those around you, he still managed to try to make his life as “normal” as possible. Although he had become a bit jaded by all he’d seen, he never stopped believing that he could make a difference. It broke my heart that he had to live his life as an outsider because of this ability and I wanted so badly for him to be happy. I loved Nan. Nick’s grandmother was such a strong lady who kept him grounded. Taryn holds the key to helping him figure out the what and why of his life and, although I wasn’t sure how to feel about her in the beginning, I grew to like her as well.
Celeste: Wow, such a change from the usual characters we get. Nick was a really good person, he was just cursed. It actually turned out that he was quite good looking, but looks were not a focus in this novel (and it was still THAT good!!). He was so lonely but still seemed to keep going, always wanting to do the right thing. His mother, who also was cursed, was weak. I had no respect for her. His Nan on the other hand, she never got a break or rest, or any thanks from her own daughter. She was so selfless. I loved Taryn from the beginning. She was totally beautiful, but again, it was not a focus. She too was looking for a real friendship. Then there were a few secondary characters, like Evan “Spinchter”. I loved Nick’s nickname for him. I also loved learning why he was the way he was.

♥ The relationships:
Ana: The relationship I loved the most was the one between Nick and his grandmother. She supported him unquestioningly and protected him in her own way. She was his rock and his home and what she ultimately does for him changes everything. I still don’t quite know what to feel about Nick’s mother. I can understand her and her behaviour in many ways but, at the same time, I didn’t like many of her decisions. I guess I’ve got a love/hate relationship with her at the moment. At first I found Taryn to be a flighty character whose intentions weren’t clear. But as the story progressed, I came to understand that she fought her own curse and how her life was intertwined with Nick’s in an undeniable way.
Celeste: I agree, Ana. Nick’s relationship with his Nan was the best. She was definitely his anchor. I also loved Nick and Taryn’s relationship. They were meant to be together, but neither seemed like they could believe it. They didn’t fall head over heels in love, they built up a trust and became friends with no agendas before anything else happened. I loved it.

♥ The end:
Ana: I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say that I didn’t see it coming…and I liked it.
Celeste: WOW. I felt pretty moved by the ending. I had tears in my eyes at one point and was all, “no no no no no” and then of course I kept reading and was like, “what what what what what.” The author did a fabulous job and like Ana, I won’t say anything else except go read this book when it comes out, you won’t regret it! (less)

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Jul 17, 2012 Mrs. Kenyon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

Would you like to see your future? What if you couldn’t select what you saw, but you saw the “you wills” all of the time? Nick Cross tried to listen to the You Wills in his head. After three months of staying on script he veered off script to keep a girl from being run over. Unfortunately, another girl drowned because of this action. Changing the future doesn’t work.

Because Nick saved Taryn, his entire future is uncertain. He can longer see his graduation let alone next month. When Taryn touches...more

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May 22, 2012 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

TOUCHED (YA) by Cyn Balog

TOUCHED is the August 2012 new release Young Adult paranormal fiction novel from Cyn Balog.

17year old Nick Cross (aka Crazy Cross by his fellow students) can see the future. Not just the few minutes or hours ahead, but a lifetime of memories. And the continuous script that runs through his head takes on epic proportions each time he changes his course of action. The ‘cycling’ of events results in mind-blowing headaches and he must stick to the script or suffer further p...more TOUCHED (YA) by Cyn Balog

TOUCHED is the August 2012 new release Young Adult paranormal fiction novel from Cyn Balog.

17year old Nick Cross (aka Crazy Cross by his fellow students) can see the future. Not just the few minutes or hours ahead, but a lifetime of memories. And the continuous script that runs through his head takes on epic proportions each time he changes his course of action. The ‘cycling’ of events results in mind-blowing headaches and he must stick to the script or suffer further pain and anguish. But when he is unable to prevent the death of a young child, Nick’s life begins to spiral further out of control and the future he sees does not bode well for Nick and his family. Yet the touch of a beautiful angel will stop all of the pain and the cycling of events, if only for a few minutes at a time.

Taryn’s family is new to the Jersey Shore. Moving in with her eccentric grandmother, Taryn must face the reality that will be her future. A family secret, one shared by both Taryn and her grandmother, must be addressed before Taryn’s 17th birthday. As the youngest female grandchild, the power of the Touch will be gifted to Taryn, but it is a gift that Taryn does not want to receive. Hoping to find a way to remove the family ‘curse’, Taryn soon finds a kindred spirit in Nick Cross- a boy she claims has been Touched. But when Nick sees their future, his only recourse is to push Taryn away before they both have no future to tell.

Taryn’s grandmother is a bibliomancer, with the ability to bring The Book Of Touch to life. But a Touch that went horribly wrong almost 18 years earlier, has forced Taryn’s grandmother to leave that part of her life behind. And with Taryn’s 17th birthday only days away, the Book of Touch must once again be addressed. The only problem-the remaining Touches will bring death and destruction to those who use it unwisely or for purposes of revenge.

Throughout his life, Nick has blamed his father for the sins of the son, but his friendship with Taryn has revealed his own family secret that has caused his mother years of guilt and pain. And his grandmother Nan will be the one to bring everything back to the future.

TOUCHED is a story of one young man’s journey to find the truth. But when the truth is revealed, Nick knows that all of the pain and suffering could have been avoided. A mistake made long ago, will force one family member to change history and inevitably the future of everyone they meet at the Jersey Shore. A wonderful storyline, that will make you sit up and think—if you were granted just one wish—would you regret what you wished for.

Touched provided by Netgalley.

see all of my reviews at: thereadingcafe.com(less)

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May 10, 2012 Vicky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Cyn Balog - have enjoyed all her books, until now. Let me amend that - I didn't hate the book, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did her other ones.

The main character, Nick (aka Crazy Cross), can see his own future. Any little thing he does to stray from the set path makes the future change, which also gives him a massive headache. In addition, his mother has the same ability. In her case, it's forced her to hole up in her room for the past ten years. Nan, Nick's grandmother,...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is not your stereotypical Jersey shore story. In Touched, a boy named Nick has the crazy-painful ability to see the future. If he doesn’t do what his mind shows him, he has terrible headaches and struggles to focus. But sometimes he can’t help going off “script,” as he calls it. Sometimes life and death get in the way.
At the start of the story, Nick makes a choice to save one girl (Taryn) which causes the death of another young girl. It turns out that Nick and the girl are connected, that...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Kwinks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it! For me, this was Time Traveler's Wife meets Thinner (Stephen King)!
I am a big fan of Cyn Balog. Full disclosure: I live in Jersey and love Seaside Heights. So, reading Touched was like visiting some old friends. Beyond that, this is one of the coolest novels I have read in a while. First, the premise is amazing. Nick can see his own future-constantly! Any little thing he does to stray from the set path makes the future change. In addition, his mother has the same power and the power ca...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Sophia (♥ Dimitri Belikov) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Touched started with a promising beginning.I really liked its original plot.It's something I rarely read which made the book more intriguing.
Ever since he was born,Nick's head has been "inundated" with what he calls memories but little does he know,is predictions of his alternative futures.Nick picks a future and then follows every detail his memories have shown.If he,however,changes something,then his future changes as well and usually for the worse.If he makes a mistake or forgets to to do som...more

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May 21, 2012 Kristin (Beneath Shining Stars, I Read) rated it 4 of 5 stars

(More like 4.5 stars.)

Nick was born Touched, able to see his own future and he's been trying to stick to the "script" as much as possible; at least he was until he met Naryn, a girl who knows about the Book of Touch, what Nick's Touch is, and maybe, just maybe there's a way to undo everything.

I know you've heard me say it before, but for the record, I'm usually not someone who reads books told in first person, male perspective. Why? Because I can't always get into them and let's face it, that c...more

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Aug 14, 2012 ExLibris_Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story hits the ground running as the reader is put into Nick's head realizes he can see his future. He can see the big things, like marriage and children, as well as the little things, like tripping over the cat or spilling water. All of these things crowd his head every second of every day. If he deviates from the "script" as he calls it, his future furiously realigns itself as it works through the millions of possibilities that one small act can change. The way this world is built for you...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Christy (TheReaderBee) added it

Shelves: arcs, e-galleys-to-review, read-in-2012

As posted on TheReaderBee.com.

Touched is the first book that I have read from author Cyn Balog, and I found the book to be a very quick, enjoyable read! I am really looking forward to reading more books by this author.

The main character in the story is Nick Cross. Nick has a rare ability that allows him to see his future. His life plays out as a script that he must follow, or else the path for his future will change forever. One slip up in the script, like saving one girl instead of another, wil...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was such an interesting concept. Typically when you read about people changing the future it has something to do with time travel, but in Nick's case, he knows the future because of voices he hears, and the choices he makes today could easily alter his path tomorrow.

Nick's life has never been easy. He knows what his future holds, how his day needs to play out and that if he even does one little thing to try and change it, he immediately gets a debilitating headache. One day Nick breaks the...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-read-in-2012, read-in-2012, ebooks-read-in-2012

I received a copy of Touched from NetGalley and Delacorte Press for a honest review. A little about the book. Nick Cross has his future planned out but not in the way you think. He can see his future and as long as he stays on script he will get the future he likes. If he goes off script his future goes away and a new one unfolds. It could be a good one or a bad one. On course with the perfect future he meets a new girl and by not staying with the script his perfect future is gone. In it's plac...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Adrienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nick Cross, like his mother, can see the future and he knows how badly off track things can go if he doesn't follow his destiny exactly. So when he is supposed to save a little girl from drowning, he hesitates to save a teenage girl from being hit by a truck--but he does. And from the moment he saves Taryn, things begin to go haywire. Taryn believes her family is responsible for Nick's condition, and he can see that their being together brings disaster into their lives, but he can't bring himsel...more

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Aug 08, 2012 ABookVacation rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting premise, but I thought the novel, overall, was somewhat predictable. The idea of knowing the future has always intrigued me, and I know it intrigues authors as well, because I’ve read a few other novels that follow this same premise. Thus, the idea, sadly, isn’t knew. However, I found Balog’s explanations behind the Book of Touch to be completely unique, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. Though I hate to say it, the beginning of this novel didn’t grab my...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Sarah Whisted rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Nick's life is rough. Having a "touch" has it's consequences and Nick knows first hand how much negative can come from something done with good intentions. It was sad seeing the torture this boy endured. I didn't except the ending of this book, but it left me happily surprised.

I feel like Cyn Balog is one of the most underrated authors I love. I never hear her name mentioned much in the book circles I follow and most people have never heard of her when I tell them I'm reading one of her books....more

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Sep 19, 2012 Sarah Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy this author for the uniqueness of her stand-alone novels. All of them leave their own mark, and the characters stay with you in different ways, all memorable.

This book lives up to all the rest. The concept of the ails of future-sight isn't something that hasn't been touched on before, but the characters in this book play it up in such a way that turns of events do keep you wondering. Each of the characters are real and believable; you can identify with them and you can feel for them. (Th...more

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May 22, 2012 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, books-i-own, e-books, kindle, review-copy, review-copy-from-author-publisher, ya, romance, time-travel, touched

Nick Cross aka Crazy Cross, as he is known around school is the main character and the voice of this story. I enjoy reading stories witha male point of view. Nick can see his own future and listens to the "you wills" in his head. If he goes off script his future changes and he gets a major headache. His mother also has this curse as they both see it. She pretty much stays in her room all day. When Nick makes a choice on who to save one day at the beach where he is a lifeguard, his life changes....more

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Aug 23, 2012 P.M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Imagine a choice as minimal as being 30 seconds late impacting whether you live a great life or die in your 20's as a drug dealer! Nick "Crazy" Cross was Touched when his mother visited a fortune teller when she was pregnant with him. For all of his life, he has had visions of the future, a script which tells him what to do. His mother is a recluse and his Nan is his rock. But, when he meets Taryn, there are no visions. Taryn has a secret as well: her grandmother put the Touch on Nick's mother....more

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Dec 01, 2012 readknitread rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school-reads, romance, sci-fi, supernatural, what-i-did-this-summer

The summer before his senior year Nick tries to follow the path to his perfect future. But when he meets Taryn the future quickly changes.

Nick is cursed. He can see his future. But with every choice his future changes. And it could be a small thing like what shirt to wear, being a few seconds late to work. Everything changes the future. Nick has a hard time concentrating with all the new futures popping into his head. There is no peace. But when Nick touches Taryn he doesn't see a future. There...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Andrea (Cozy Up With A Good Read) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

This book jumps into Nick's life right from the beginning, readers are thrust into the fact that he is able to see into his future and how it affects him and his mother. The premise of this story is very intriguing, it's interesting to think about how one little change can affect someone's future. The synopsis made me think a little bit of THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, except that Nick doesn't go back in time, but he sees how his future is c...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had been excited to get another one of Cyn Balog's books, because she is one of my favorite authors. I knew that the character in the book, Nick, had something going on with him. It was interesting and it caught my attention right away. You learn that Nick is "touched" (hence the name of the book, I believe) and that he can see the future. He befriends this girl, Taryn, who rocks his world, literally. I really do NOT want to give anything away as it'll ruin it for everyone. But I have to say t...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Mandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

For Nick, memories work both ways-- he can see his own future. Well, a hundred versions of it, becuase every time he goes "off script", his memories cycle and change, showing him new futures a dozen times a day, resulting in piercing headaches and his nickname of CRAZY CROSS.

The opening chapter of TOUCHED grabs a hold of you, and the book keeps you going through twist after twist, not letting go until the final page. This book marks a departure for Cyn Balog, who has to date written paranormal r...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Can't wait to share this book with my students! Loved the premise. Loved the Jersey Shore Seaside Heights/Park setting. So much to talk about with our book club! The ending could have gone so many different ways, but I like the author's choice. (view spoiler)

Just a note on the stars - I'm very stingy with them. So, my four star rating is probably your five...more

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Young Adult

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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Fantasy

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Romance

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Fantasy > Supernatural

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Fantasy > Magic

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Romance > Paranormal Romance

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Paranormal > Fairies

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Young Adult > Teen

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Novels

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About Cyn Balog

Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), STARSTRUCK (2011), TOUCHED (2012), and her most recent release: DEAD RIVER (2013).e. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.

She also writes under the pen name Nichola ...more

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Quotes from Touched

“I couldn’t get out of my head how strange it was that the smallest decisions in our lives can leave the biggest scars.” — 6 people liked it

“It was almost as if my screwing everything up was beyond my control, destined, written in the stars.” — 5 people liked it

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