Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Touch Me Gently

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 1,478 ratings · 151 reviews

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 a job 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 night...more

Paperback, 212 pages

Published September 3rd 2010 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 2nd 2010)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

Best Gay Romance with Abused/Traumatized Characters

3rd out of 204 books — 244 voters

Best Gay For You Romance

36th out of 288 books — 672 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,083)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 26, 2013 Blacky *Mistress of doom* marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: m-m, read-contemporary, of-course

DNF

This is just too sweet, even for me.

I don't know what exactly is my problem, I was expecting an emotional story, but for some reason, I felt like the story was forcing me to be emotional with the constant crying and shocks of the main guy.

Yeah I know he has a terrible background and I'm obviously a heartless b*tch, but he was just too sensitive to every single damn thing that happened in this book, so it kinda started to get on my nerves :D Yep, heartless all right

And everything else i...more

40 likes · like · see review

Jan 09, 2012 ♥Laddie♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Drama like my man left me, took my dog and burned my house down on my birthday

Shelves: hero-abused-in-past, mm, mm-cowboys, mm-older-man-younger-man

Ode To Pure Melodrama

The story starts with Kaden,
a young man who's scarred inside and out.
He's had some trauma and is scared of big men,
so he gets fired from jobs again and again.

(I don't know how he lives in NYC where even crap apartments cost like $1000 a month and a kidney)

Someone takes pity on Kaden and sends him to Montana
where he's hired to be the ranch cook.
He meets his new boss Logan
Who's big but has tasty looks.

(the soap opera names should have clued me in to all of the melodrama that w...more

33 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2010 Betryal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Whereas I should be starting on the next book to read unfortunately my mind kept playing back to this one and even though I was only going to rate it I felt the urge, the need to write up my thoughts on this story in question. I’ll guess it’s considered therapeutic to get it out in the open when a story niggles or torments you and speak about it while forgoing my own recovery. This is it for me.

It’s with great debate that I had rated this story a 4* and it was sitting at a 4.5 until a certain po...more Whereas I should be starting on the next book to read unfortunately my mind kept playing back to this one and even though I was only going to rate it I felt the urge, the need to write up my thoughts on this story in question. I’ll guess it’s considered therapeutic to get it out in the open when a story niggles or torments you and speak about it while forgoing my own recovery. This is it for me.

It’s with great debate that I had rated this story a 4* and it was sitting at a 4.5 until a certain point. There are many factors I found disturbing within this story that perhaps the timing in reading this one was off for me, but I started it so I was going to see it through and damn well finish it even at the warning bells going off on stop reading it. It’s very sensitive in many topics to read this one and caution to future readers on the content that may be very disturbing. I found it just so.

For me if it wasn’t for Shea and Logan in this book I wouldn’t have been able to deal, but frankly this is what I saw when reading it: Kaden who is referred to and reminding us repeatedly as a ‘teenager’ is a severely abused, traumatized young man. He’s scarred not only externally but internally starting from the age of 8 years old and even though by his own hand it ends at the young age of 15. He has so much to deal with in life that I found it incredible he even made it to the point he had in the book without having tried to commit suicide but rather he becomie a cutter as an alternative to sever any emotional pain that deems to stressful for him to handle or cope. I was more than ecstatic to read when he’d met the kind gentle cowboy Logan and final this ‘teenager’ could start building a life he deserved, to feel for the first time in his young life love and get a sense of normality in his young life. Experience and see what life is all about.

This is where it bombed for me. Most have given this story a 4 or 5 star, but have not much or nothing to stay so I’m stepping up to the plate and expressing my opinion. I will admit the story is excellently written, but I can assure you if I had beta’d this book my concern to the author would be: When was enough, enough? Hadn’t this young man gone through enough pain, hurt, trauma inside and out in his short life that an extra wedge had to be thrown into the mix just when he’d found happiness? At what point was happiness and joy of life going to begin? I couldn’t find the balance.

Other than Kaden and Logan meeting and their first time making love, a very tender touching momentI might add, Kaden finally coming out of his shell, that had me feel what they’d felt for each other and some other joyous moments but the bombshell was every time the guild of happiness and joy set into Kaden's life there it would spiral downwards into something bleak, morbid and depressing tempered with more black moments than ones filled with laughter and sunshine. It did nothing for the black threatening cloud spiraling above not only the character's heads but the reader's as well.

Having said all I have to say, now I can move on, up and forward to the next book that a good friend has dissected as the proper read for me at this time in my life after berating me for having read this one. Kisses go out to him.

~ S ~

(less)

19 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Kristalia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, dark, why-u-no-longer-u-make-me-sad, adult

Final rating: ★★★★/★★★★★

"How did you stop a heart from breaking? How can you change someone's past?"

Warning: Prepare a tissue box or something similar, unless your heart is made of stone.

Wow, this book was just...loveable. I seriously loveeeeed this one, and i couldn't stop reading it! It's heartbreaking, funny and sweet romance. Don't get me wrong, i cried like hell in some scenes. And writing is beautiful, told from different povs, and in third person.
_____________________________________...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 17, 2010 Justacat rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

The angsty premise - badly abused young man coming to the country, finding a family, learning he deserves to be loved, etc. etc. - is alluring, no doubt, as is the setting, but unfortunately, that's not enough to make up for the woefully poor execution. There's the lack of emotional realism; in particular, the fact that Kaden comes to the ranch so terribly traumatized that he can't even have a single lustful thought or feeling without having a panic attack - and having been this way for years an...more The angsty premise - badly abused young man coming to the country, finding a family, learning he deserves to be loved, etc. etc. - is alluring, no doubt, as is the setting, but unfortunately, that's not enough to make up for the woefully poor execution. There's the lack of emotional realism; in particular, the fact that Kaden comes to the ranch so terribly traumatized that he can't even have a single lustful thought or feeling without having a panic attack - and having been this way for years and years - and yet within three months he's having sex, apparently without a single moment of trauma or fear once the barrier is breached, so to speak. That felt so inappropriate, and so untimely, that I couldn't get past it - and it's just one example, the biggest one, of a pervasive lack of realism, what another commenter described well as the author taking the easy way out for herself and her characters: Kaden just got over his problems way, way too easily.

And the sex scenes read like - well, like sex scenes from just about any m/m romance I could pull out of my e-reader, same cliched phrases and descriptions, with nothing whatsoever to make it evident that this wasn't just same-old same-old sex, but sex with someone who had been badly abused and was not really recovered.

Then there were the pages of exposition, of telling-not-showing, in which the author described the characters' feelings, what was going on in their heads, their motivations and desires, rather than illustrating these with actions and conversations. There was the lack of clear, much less consistent, point of view.

And the constant reference to Kaden, by both the author and by Logan, as "the teenager" or "the teen" went beyond annoying (why not just use his name? epithets like these are a sign, to my mind, of sloppy writing) to downright creepy, especially given his past. He was 19 - hardly the age typically referred to as a "teenager" - and if he was old enough to be establishing a permanent relationship with Logan, he was old enough at least to be referred to as a man.

I could barely finish this book, mostly because of the emotional heavy-handedness and the clumsy and un-nuanced dealing with difficult issues; once I got to the sex, I was hard put to keep going. Everything is extreme: the most extreme abuse possible, but then an extreme and unrealistic recovery, and a relationship that serves as a total fix-all with no real issues whatsoever (and I haven't even mentioned Logan's extreme switch from straight to gay, with apparently not even a single moment of distress). All this, combined with the stylistic issues, made it impossible for me to have any emotional connection with the characters, despite the good set-up.

I'm hoping the author can learn from these comments - and all the negative ones are fairly consistent - because her writing style is solid enough to show the capacity for improvement. And a good editor to rigorously point out and help address the telling-not-showing problem, to tone down the emotional extremism, and to act as a check for emotional realism, could make a huge difference.(less)

20 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romantic readers

Recommended to Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ by: Tʀɪsʜᴀ Hᴀʀʀɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ

Shelves: glbt-gay, romance

One night...

I read this story in ONE night... 6 hours... reading without stop. Luckily it was Saturday night, so I could sleep today (Sunday, don't work today) :D

This is how I KNOW when a story is good! When I can't put it down. I try, but the characters keep calling me back, to read more about them... what? Insane talk? I never said I'm 100% normal!

Great story, no abuse scenes, I think the "dramatic" aspect was very well put, not too heavy but neither inexistent. A child, abused, growing up to...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2010 Arzu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-romance, ebooks-owned, contemporary

I just finished reading and really loved this book. It is slow-paced and holds your heart from the beginning. Kaden is so traumatised from his child abuse, suffering PTSD, and with each page of the book he is slowly healing. Logan and Shea help him by offering unconditional love, caring for him and giving him a family.

I hope there will be a sequel 'cause I really would love to read more about this couple.

3 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2013 Tʀɪsʜᴀ Hᴀʀʀɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboys, abused-characters, all-time-favourites, loved, angst, needs-more-stars, re-read

When I first read this book I was not expecting to be brought on an emotional journey I ended up on. I fell in love with the two MC's and Shay as well as the story and build up to the love story that was told here. I'm the first to admit this will not be everyone's cup of tea. There was a lot of "unrealistic" parts, but I don't read everything to learn, sometimes I just want to feel.

Kayden is an abused teenager, (view spoiler)...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Kerry sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-fiction, romance

This was a hauntingly beautiful tale of love and trust that had me reaching for the tissues more then once. I fell in love with Kaden, who while very damage by his past, was so sweet. Reading the opening paragraphs I thought that this book was going to rip out my heart and stomp all over it and you know what I was right but for a different reason then I thought. I was expecting a horror story pretending to be a love story but what I got was an observation of a damaged man falling in love. Don't...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 D rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cowboy, age-gap, he-s-straight-right, shy, chef-cook, self-mutilation, mental-physical-abuse, abused-traumatized

A sweet, touching, heart tugging read. What an emotional ride. Wow, I really enjoyed this story.

My heart went out to Kaden. He goes through so much in his life. Trauma, pain, nightmares and fear are all he knows until he meets Logan. Kaden is such a tender character, one who becomes stronger as time passes.

Logan on the other hand...I could have slapped him up-side-the-head a few times for being such a ass at times to Kaden. But he makes up for it with an overwhelming care and love for the youn...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2013 Donna Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars

SLIGHT SPOILERS- Ahhh.... I really don't know how to rate this book. And I can see from the other reviews that other readers feel the same way. I loved Kaden. I love broken characters who are healed during a good story. The problem is, this wasn't a good story. But for some reason, I liked it anyway. I think. Like I said- I really don't know. The idea of the story and the blurb for the story should have amounted to an interesting read but I think the plot needed to remain simpler. There was part...more

like · see review

Apr 07, 2013 Anita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ero, happy-endning, mm, abuse-vic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 Jaya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: okay, slashreaders

Slash Readers: I picked up this book after reading Chasing Seth by the same author. I had enough fun with the previous book that I thought this one might be entertaining and I guess entertaining is still the word that I would use. The book was not bad but there were enough problems with it that, I would not categorize it as 'good'.

(view spoiler)...more

like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Tonileg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, seriously-damaged-h-h, western, romance

How can you trust when no one has ever shown it to you in your entire lifetime?
I wonder how abuse victim survive and heal from a horrible childhood? How can you trust, be comfortable and heal when you don't have any experience?
This Western contemporary M/M romance starts with a young man beginning a new life on a ranch. Kaden is trying to find a safe place to survive and he gets lucky because the Ranch owner, Logan is a kind hunk of a cowboy! (Have I even mentioned that most of my fantasies invo...more

like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Cris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cant-suspend-disbelief, m-m, romance, sweet, western

2.5 stars. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't like it either, thus 2.5 stars. Way too over the top with the melodrama and the overly saccharine sweetness interspersed with beyond-horrifying events.

And weirdly, it wasn't angsty to me. Just life trauma after life trauma while perfect, yet horrifically-damaged Kadan and less-damaged, yet perfect Logan fall in love. Also, it's GFY with ZERO angst or even moderate questioning around that. Really? I actually love a good GFY story, but this one h...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 07, 2012 Asteropê rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica, mm-mmm-mmwithf-etc, romance-romantica, scarred-tortured-disability-etc, western-frontier-cowboy

More like 3 1/3. It's full of drama and angst, but I couldn't help liking it. LOL. As others mentioned it was like a soap opera, I think that's why it sucked me in. I do like a good (or bad?) hurt/comfort at times and this had it in full. Though as others mentioned, I didn't like Kaden being refereed to as "kid," "teen" and "teenager." Kaden is 19 (Logan 28), that's an adult. And while nineteen has "teen" in it, the epithet conjures up a 15 or 16 year old...which seemed off and wrong given Kaden...more

like · see review

Jul 19, 2011 Marina added it

Shelves: pre-2012-read, queerlit, romance, contemporary, adult-fiction, western

This book, for me, goes between a 2 and a 4. In a way, it was sweet. It was a nice premise - an abused boy finding love and all that. I finished it in one go and it put a smile on my face. However, here are some points I disliked:

- Kaden being referred to as 'the teen(ager)'. Constantly. OK, we get it, Logan is older. But not even that old! At only 28, the writer made him seem at least 45. Also, 'my little one' was just cringe-worthy
- The instances that show Logan's jealousy. My Goodness, man. T...more This book, for me, goes between a 2 and a 4. In a way, it was sweet. It was a nice premise - an abused boy finding love and all that. I finished it in one go and it put a smile on my face. However, here are some points I disliked:

- Kaden being referred to as 'the teen(ager)'. Constantly. OK, we get it, Logan is older. But not even that old! At only 28, the writer made him seem at least 45. Also, 'my little one' was just cringe-worthy
- The instances that show Logan's jealousy. My Goodness, man. That made me wince and pull back, thinking 'Oh, here I see a sequel, and Logan saying something along the lines of: Baby, I love you. You know I only go crazy because I love you and don't want to lose you. I promise I'll try to contain myself from being angry at you and hitting every man that ever touches you.
- constant shifting POV. It's almost like a staple in m/m erotica. WHY???? If you really want to alternate POV, do the shifts per chapter, not paragraph
- Logan seemed to have accepted his guycrush far too easily. He didn't even make a comment about all the physical stuff being new to him, when he got together with Kaden.
- Sex happened kind of soon
- The bad things just never stopped. It ended up being unnecessary, manipulative and tiring by the end, rather than emotionally engaging. The last 60 or so pages felt unnecessary. I would chuck out the whole thing with the (view spoiler)
- Kaden is a strong individual to have gone through all that and survived, but it just doesn't show. His mental state is understandable, but... I can't explain it... the whole thing felt soft. Like big hero and a maiden in danger. A little more personality on both their parts would have been good.

By the end, I didn't feel like they would ever have a relationship of equals. And while there are different personality types - those who like to be the caretakers and those who like to be cared for - it just left me with a feeling of lingering sadness by the time I reached the epilogue. I would have like to see Kaden grown some more. I felt like Kaden would always be the frightened little colt, and Logan would be the big mama bear, not giving Kaden a chance to develop into a strong, independent individual. I wanted it so much for him.

I did like the book, though. I can't say I wanted to chuck it across the room (even though it may seem that way due to all the above points). I liked Kaden, I felt for him. I wanted good things to happen to him. Logan's sister, as well, was a great addition to the book. She seemed like a wicked awesome girl. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Elisa Ramblings added it · review of another edition

For sure the purpose of this story is to touch deeply and strongly the emotions of the reader; Kaden is a traumatized young man, at only 19 years old he has already a past of years of abuses and also violence, and so, even if only one time the author will explicitly say that, we are dealing with a case of pedophilia. All of this will make clear to the reader that this is not an easy story and so some of the feelings you can have for the characters have to be weighted with that.

Kaden is young, l...more For sure the purpose of this story is to touch deeply and strongly the emotions of the reader; Kaden is a traumatized young man, at only 19 years old he has already a past of years of abuses and also violence, and so, even if only one time the author will explicitly say that, we are dealing with a case of pedophilia. All of this will make clear to the reader that this is not an easy story and so some of the feelings you can have for the characters have to be weighted with that.

Kaden is young, lithe and very feminine; adding to that he is also deeply scared by anyone who is stronger than him, and so basically by all men. In this condition it’s clear that he cannot have a normal relationship, above all since he cannot have a normal life. When he loses yet another job, the owner of the body rental agency offers him a three months contract as cook in a Montana ranch; of course the reader will immediately think, but it’s really necessary to go and search a cook in New York City if you are in Montana? And of course there is probably a good explanation for that, Logan, the ranch owner, doesn’t really need a cook, but his cousin, the owner of the body rental agency, asks him a personal favour, he wants to find a nice and safe place for the young man. At first I though he had some personal agenda for the boy, but then I realized that he really wanted the best for Kaden.

And no, if you are thinking he was matchmaking, it’s not like that; Logan is not gay, he is only a very good man and good to the core; he will never ever hurt someone else, man or animal. When he finds himself with a skittish Kaden around, he understands that he needs to give him space, to heal and gain stability and courage. The love that blossoms between them is probably fuelled by Logan’s good heart, by his need to take care of who is weaker.

Of course the sexual relationship between Kaden and Logan will not be immediate, and Logan will wait patiently and carefully for his little one, as he nicknamed Kaden, to be ready for him; Kaden will set the pace and Logan will never once try to rush him.

I’m not sure everyone will like this novel, Kaden is really a difficult character, he is troubled, scared, mentally and physically abused; to some people he can appear weak, but I think he is everything other than weak, even when he knows he is hurting himself, he is aware of why he is doing so. Kaden needs only time to repossess his life, body and mind. Logan is easier to like since he is basically perfect, maybe a little too touchy when someone misunderstands his actions (even if he hadn’t explained them), but sincerely nothing huge or inexcusable.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615815740/?...(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 03, 2011 pbj rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: z_2011, angst, contemporary, cowboys, hurt-comfort, m-m, gay-for-you, mary-sue, rape-assault

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 16, 2010 Absynthe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboys, m-m

This had such potential. It started well, good premise, interesting characters, but deteriorated as it went on. It got completely unrealistic and way too melodramatic.

In the beginning the characters were all compelling and believable, but about 2/3 of the way through the book it all went down hill. I don't know any straight men who's reaction to finding themselves attracted to a guy for the first time in their lives would be to shrug and just go with it without freaking out in the least, tiniest...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2010 Kassa rated it 2 of 5 stars

I picked this one up when I was in the mood for a pretty angsty, dramatic story. Unfortunately while Touch Me Gently tries hard to invoke emotion and a strong reaction due to the subject matter, I never connected to the story or the characters. I kept feeling as though the actions and emotions were artificial and manipulated by the author and story versus being authentic and real to the situations. The subject matter is a good choice for an intense romantic story but it never quite delivered on...more I picked this one up when I was in the mood for a pretty angsty, dramatic story. Unfortunately while Touch Me Gently tries hard to invoke emotion and a strong reaction due to the subject matter, I never connected to the story or the characters. I kept feeling as though the actions and emotions were artificial and manipulated by the author and story versus being authentic and real to the situations. The subject matter is a good choice for an intense romantic story but it never quite delivered on the execution for me. In a field littered with moving, dramatic romances there are unfortunately better options but the author has some good ideas so I’d probably give her another try.

The story revolves around nineteen year old Kaden’s traumatic past and his struggles to deal with his present. Kaden comes from a long, serious history of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. He’s littered with scars, both external and internal, and freaks out near constantly. With careful attention and patience, Kaden starts to heal on an isolated Montana ranch. He gets involved with the owner, a large man named Logan, and finally triumphs over his demons.

The plot is character driven and relies on Kaden’s traumatized past to add the emotional intensity. This isn’t bad but for me, I never could connect with the characters and felt Kaden’s actions and comments to be hollow. He says and does all the typical things – jumping at loud noises, fearing large men, crying when he’s overwhelmed – but I always knew I was reading the manipulations of a story. I never got sucked into the drama and tension with this story like I have with other, better options. Part of this is that Kaden is a little too extreme. He supposedly faked his way out of the mental institution but he never really displays that kind of strength. He’s constantly described as fragile and he acts that way as well. Kaden eventually does mature but I found it hard to believe the initial set up and the depth of Kaden’s issues.

Furthermore the writing didn’t do much for me. The point of view bounces frequently from character to character, paragraph to paragraph. Every person has an included point of view from the most minor side character to the main characters and the story jumps from the various heads within the same scene. This head hopping isn’t confusing but it’s tiresome since the goal is to reiterate the same information (such as Kaden is beautiful, ethereal, and damaged and everyone wants to protect him). Furthermore no matter how much Kaden ages, he’s always referred to as “the teenager.” He starts the story at nineteen and he’s at least two years older by the end but everyone’s internal thoughts still label him as “the teen” thus it keeps him in an immature, damaged box that he supposedly grows out of.

Although the subject matter is good and ending rather heart warming, the story just didn’t do much for me. The characters feel cardboard and rather predictable, always doing and saying the perfect things with the typical evil villain popping up at the end. I’m not sure why this later plot line is included since it adds a weird element that isn’t needed. Additionally I couldn’t ever really connect and sink into the story, though it’s fast and easy to read. There’s drama, angst, and intensity but they feel very manufactured in obvious ways with easy solutions. It’s not a bad story, inoffensive to read but I think there are better emotionally intense stories to read.
(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Sep 10, 2010 Aurora Alexander rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book for two reasons: One, I am a self-proclaimed angst whore and this book is a complete angst fest. Two, I love young (but legal!), small, feminine characters and Kaden fits the bill nicely.

The story is a bit over the top, both in the way Kaden is put through the wringer time and time again, and in the way the relationship between Kaden and Logan develops without a hitch. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it very much because I am one of those readers that can easily suspend disbel...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2010 Elizabeth H. rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hope this author keeps writing. Her voice has a certain timbre to it that I think, with practice and effort, will get a lot better. What's needed is a big dose of realism and an attempt to get to the emotional truth of difficult situations.

Touch Me Gently tackled a really big problem--systematic abuse solved by murder of the abuser -- and took the easy way out of every aspect of the problem. Halfway through I was really squicked when the "big cowboy" actually had sex with Kaden: it felt way, w...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 20, 2010 Rikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, fiction

I’m all for the tortured hero and all and, God, nobody can be disappointed in that respect. Poor Kaden has suffered a lot during his childhood and it didn’t even stop once he got to Logan’s ranch. This was a bit much, really. Can’t you give the poor man a break? I found the fact that there was another one of those perverts right there on the ranch somewhat disturbing. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire.

There were a few more things that bothered me about the characters or the plot.

Gay...more I’m all for the tortured hero and all and, God, nobody can be disappointed in that respect. Poor Kaden has suffered a lot during his childhood and it didn’t even stop once he got to Logan’s ranch. This was a bit much, really. Can’t you give the poor man a break? I found the fact that there was another one of those perverts right there on the ranch somewhat disturbing. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire.

There were a few more things that bothered me about the characters or the plot.

Gay for you
I’m not particularly keen on “gay for you” stories. That point didn’t come across very believable for me at all. Logan never felt anything for a man before and then along comes Kaden. From then on, Logan acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world to fall in love with a “boy” (more to that in bit). He was surprised about himself, admittedly, but took it in stride. How come there was no concern whatsoever about what other people might think when he is all of a sudden in a gay relationship. We’re talking about a ranch owner in a small town in Montana here. And what about the woman he has been going out with? As much as it is desirable that she understands the sudden switch to men and the resulting dumping of hers (that happened tacitly), is it realistic?

Contradictive behaviour & jealousy
In the hospital first Kaden finds Becca’s father reacting cold towards her. Given the situation that father must be a right ass. Later on however, he acted like you would expect him to react, so what was the cold, detached father thing about?

Logan’s jealousy didn’t sit well with me at all. Somehow that went against his character the rest of the time. When he gets into the hospital room and finds another man touching “his” Kaden he is angry about this. Why? It’s a physical therapist, for crying out loud. The same later again when they are in the recording studio. He wants to lock Kaden away from the world so nobody can steal him away from him? If I was Kaden I’d run as fast as I could.

Christine Feehan for the m/m crowd
One thing that sort of spoiled the story for me completely was the way Logan addressed or thought of Kaden as his “little one” or “the kid”. If you read hetero romance and love Christine Feehan and you feel like trying out m/m, go and read this book! I wish they wouldn’t have called him a “teen” constantly. OK, he IS a teen technically, but did that have to be mentioned all the time? He is 19 at the start of the book (Logan is 9 years older), and even almost 2 years later he still is “the little one”. Sorry, but he is not.

I love books with a large age gap and I have read books with minors and the young age of characters never bothers me, but this constant focus on Kaden being a boy and Logan being the oh so big, strong adult really rubbed me up the wrong way.

All those things are depending on the individual reader (as almost everything is), so if you like a very tortured and sensitive hero, characters very devoted to each other and a slowly building relationship this might be for you.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2012 Tina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

I seem to be on a run of very poor books lately and sadly, this was no exception.

It was a POV nightmare as it seemed nearly every character introduced has some POV page time.

I had problems with the 'recovery' of Kaden, one of the MCs. He had a history of truly horrific abuse that seemed to be 'healed' by the love of a man and a horse. Logan, the other MC, was a heterosexual who suddenly developed feelings for Kaden. There was nary a hesitation or question for him. And while I love a good gay f...more

like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Don Bradshaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-out, cowboys, friends-to-lovers, family-drama, gay-romance, damaged-individuad

This was an amazing and beautiful story about a nineteen year old man struggling to live after a childhood of mental and sexual abuse that started at age eight. Kaden is barely getting by in New York City. He can't hold down a job because of his mental state and his fear of big men which stems back to his step-father raping and torturing him. Being a slightly built young man doesn't help him either. It almost seems that the author went overboard with the abuse yet this really does happen. Kaden...more This was an amazing and beautiful story about a nineteen year old man struggling to live after a childhood of mental and sexual abuse that started at age eight. Kaden is barely getting by in New York City. He can't hold down a job because of his mental state and his fear of big men which stems back to his step-father raping and torturing him. Being a slightly built young man doesn't help him either. It almost seems that the author went overboard with the abuse yet this really does happen. Kaden became a cutter at some point in his life just to deal with the emotional pain. What is revealed by the cutting is that Kaden knows that he's hurting himself physically and that he is crying out for help. The guy that runs the labor agency that Kaden has been finding work through takes pity on Kaden and puts in a call to his cousin in Montana. The cousin, Logan, owns a large cattle ranch and is in need of a cook for a three month stint. Logan is damaged himself by his parent's bitter marriage but hires Kaden on. It was panic at first sight when the Kaden meets the big cowboy and much of Kaden's time is spent either cooking or hiding out in his room. Logan and his sister, Shea, see that Kaden is troubled but gently let the young man do his work and allow nature to help heal Kaden. A bond of sorts forms between the three and with the unconditional love freely given by Shea and Logan, Kaden slowly builds his self-esteem and trust. The love that forms between Logan and Kaden is a surprise to Logan but not to many of Logan's friends so I'm assuming that Logan is gay but repressed. Ms Loveless did a terrific job of pouring emotion and hope into the story. What takes years to build inside Kaden cannot be just wiped away quickly so some readers may be put off by Kaden and think the story drags. My only problem with the story was the over used word "teen" used to describe Kaden. I liked all three main characters and the way Ms Loveless portrayed the three as family. The story had a good flow and there was outside action that broke up some of the heavier scenes but the story revolved around Kaden as he slowly bloomed into a healthy and fairly secure man. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for something different to read that will touch their hearts.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 SaturNalia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bye_baby_bye, _its_electric-baby_, _now_, oh_boy-baby, don-t_hurt_me-baby

I love a tortured hero and his journey toward healing. Kaden was horribly abused by his step-father for a long time, so it's no wonder he had many emotional hangups. The story would have been better if the author had stayed on this path, Logan healing Kaden with patience and love. But no, there were more plot elements thrown in that muddied the story. Also, Logans constant reference to Kaden as 'little one' was a little creepy considering Kaden's history and the age gap between them. The author...more

like · see review

Sep 18, 2010 Em Woods rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

This is a wonderful story of a man learning to trust and love after a lifetime of physical and emotional abuse. Kaden is amazing and full of strength, though overshadowed by a crippling fear. Logan is loving, patient and endless. The perfect match for this book. I laughed, I cried (sobbed is more like it) and stayed awake well past my bedtime to make sure Kaden got his man.

Two things stuck out to me as negatives - (1) the author continually referred to Kaden (who at the start of this story is ni...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 06, 2012 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, cowboy, gfy, hardly-any-shmex, heavy, rape-or-beatings, slow-build-up, sweet-romance

3.75 Stars

I can't really explain why this story does not get a higher rating from me. I loved the sweetness of Kaden and I absolutely LOVED Logan and how gentle he was with Kaden. He truly lived up to the title of this story.

I think some of my problems with the book was in the second half of the story. After Logan made clear that he loved Kaden and wanted to start a relationship - he still referred to him as 'the teenager' or the 'teen' it constantly emphasized the age gap and just how young Kad...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 05, 2010 Timothy Owen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Firstly, the reasons I am rating it 4/5 and not 5/5:

I find the writing slightly amateurish in places, certain phrases that don't work nicely, for example "The journey took between 45 minutes and an hour". This sort of time frame should not be used in this context - how long did it take, 45 minutes or an hour? It has happened, so the actual time is known. This is only appropriate when used in something like "The journey should take us between 45 minutes to an hour"

In some places, I felt adverbs w...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 69 70 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (6)

More editions...

Genres

Romance > M M Romance

178 users

Contemporary

45 users

Romance

43 users

Gay Romance > Gay For You

23 users

Western

17 users

Sociology > Abuse

12 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

9 users

Adult Fiction > Erotica

9 users

Glbt

8 users

Glbt > Gay

6 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About J.R. Loveless

I love to write, read and watch anything to do with m/m romance as long as it has a happy ending! I work a full time job and write as much as I can in my spare time. And I've had three books accepted, two are out now and one is due in September along with a short story!

More about J.R. Loveless...

Books by J.R. Loveless

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Touch Me Gently

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Touch Me Gently
avg rating	preview: Touch Me Gently Goodreads rating: 3.84 (1478 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8758313-touch-me-gently?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348394345l/8758313.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8758313-touch-me-gently?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Touch Me Gently by J.R. Loveless[/url]

Touch Me Gently

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website