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Touch of Fondness
(Stay in Touch #1)
by
Four friends. Four college grads. Four people figuring out that life doesn’t always turn out the way you expected.
Brielle Reyes may not have post-college life planned out like some of her friends do, but she figures she’ll work for her mother’s home cleaning service while job hunting for something that makes use of her history and philosophy degrees. It’ll work out as long ...more
Brielle Reyes may not have post-college life planned out like some of her friends do, but she figures she’ll work for her mother’s home cleaning service while job hunting for something that makes use of her history and philosophy degrees. It’ll work out as long ...more
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Kindle Edition, 299 pages
Published
May 2nd 2017
by Crimson Fox Publishing
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Review available at Under the Pages.
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***1 Star***
*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The beginning sounded promising but there were just some things I couldn’t overlook.
Archer, one of the MCs, is disabled and in a wheelchair. Which would have been great, if the representation wasn’t so poor.
The female MC, Brielle, acted as if she’s never seen, met, interacted with, or even heard of a disabled person in her life. She often thought pretty ignorant things about him, but ...more
*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The beginning sounded promising but there were just some things I couldn’t overlook.
Archer, one of the MCs, is disabled and in a wheelchair. Which would have been great, if the representation wasn’t so poor.
The female MC, Brielle, acted as if she’s never seen, met, interacted with, or even heard of a disabled person in her life. She often thought pretty ignorant things about him, but ...more
Aaaawww, that was so cute.
I wasn't expecting this to be cute at all.
All the other romance books involving a disabled hero I've read so far were incredibly angsty and full of drama and push-and-pull, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one was refreshingly charming.
Archer and Brielle were such endearing characters.
Archer, a 25 year old comic artist in a wheelchair with mommy issues, still a virgin but not due to lack of hotness but to his grumpiness, shyness and low self-esteem.
Brie ...more
Read full review HERE
So… this was another huge miss for me. I was excited about the blurb, because I really want to see more diversity in NA books, and I’ve read some fantastic books with characters with disabilities, so I was expecting a good thing here. What I got? A badly written, badly plotted and slightly (to majorly) offensive book.
I’m warning now that I might drop some SPOILERS during this review, but there are some thing I feel I need to mention, so I can explain to you why I disliked th ...more
So… this was another huge miss for me. I was excited about the blurb, because I really want to see more diversity in NA books, and I’ve read some fantastic books with characters with disabilities, so I was expecting a good thing here. What I got? A badly written, badly plotted and slightly (to majorly) offensive book.
I’m warning now that I might drop some SPOILERS during this review, but there are some thing I feel I need to mention, so I can explain to you why I disliked th ...more
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
This is a story of instant attraction and it totally worked for me, even if usually I don’t like this kind of romance. But there’s something so endearing about this hero, who has no idea that he’s super yummy and gorgeous and he’s all there in his naked wholeness, vulnerable and strong, sweet, a bit clumsy and self-deprecating, but so human.
I really loved how the author wrote Archer. And what a great heroine she created to be his ma ...more
This is a story of instant attraction and it totally worked for me, even if usually I don’t like this kind of romance. But there’s something so endearing about this hero, who has no idea that he’s super yummy and gorgeous and he’s all there in his naked wholeness, vulnerable and strong, sweet, a bit clumsy and self-deprecating, but so human.
I really loved how the author wrote Archer. And what a great heroine she created to be his ma ...more
1.0/5.0
[I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
There were a lot of things I didn’t like in this book. I had issues with it since the first chapter, but I just kept reading because I don’t like to just give up with a second chance.
The first thing I didn’t like was the narrative, I don’t think it was a good choice to tell this story in third person, it made everything too impersonal, and this is a love story after all, it cannot be impersonal, we need to ...more
[I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
There were a lot of things I didn’t like in this book. I had issues with it since the first chapter, but I just kept reading because I don’t like to just give up with a second chance.
The first thing I didn’t like was the narrative, I don’t think it was a good choice to tell this story in third person, it made everything too impersonal, and this is a love story after all, it cannot be impersonal, we need to ...more
[I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
This book was light, funny and heartwarming. The originality of the plot was so captivating; it's actually become hard to find an original contemporary. Archer's disability was so interesting to read about. And I loved the way he dealt with everything and built an almost-normal life for himself despite his disability. His insecurities and the fact that he was always doubting himself through every move he made -especially aro ...more
This book was light, funny and heartwarming. The originality of the plot was so captivating; it's actually become hard to find an original contemporary. Archer's disability was so interesting to read about. And I loved the way he dealt with everything and built an almost-normal life for himself despite his disability. His insecurities and the fact that he was always doubting himself through every move he made -especially aro ...more
Touch of fondness by Joy Penny.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's mediocre romance book. i'm not sure what i expected to get from Touch of fondness, but I ended up disappointed anyway. I have read much worse before but i have also read much better.
There's no heavy angst.It would have been better if it more focused on the main characters growing feelings. Their relationship seemed too rushed. Because of that I couldn't really connect with this book. Your read ...more
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's mediocre romance book. i'm not sure what i expected to get from Touch of fondness, but I ended up disappointed anyway. I have read much worse before but i have also read much better.
There's no heavy angst.It would have been better if it more focused on the main characters growing feelings. Their relationship seemed too rushed. Because of that I couldn't really connect with this book. Your read ...more
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I was thrilled to be approved read this one, because of intersting blurb and not so common characters so it read it all at once in one evening.
So our protagonists, Brielle and Archer are in their 20-ties,just looking for their place in this world.
Brielle, collage graduate, is looking for job but is forced to help out her mother with cleaning business and this is way she meets Archer.
Archer, artist, who works from home and doesnt ...more
I was thrilled to be approved read this one, because of intersting blurb and not so common characters so it read it all at once in one evening.
So our protagonists, Brielle and Archer are in their 20-ties,just looking for their place in this world.
Brielle, collage graduate, is looking for job but is forced to help out her mother with cleaning business and this is way she meets Archer.
Archer, artist, who works from home and doesnt ...more
Sep 08, 2017
♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
09-read-asap
This book left me undecided to be honest. I liked the plot and the characters basically. The writing was also good ...
BUT
I think the leads both were acting to young and immature for their age. Especially Archer, which made me wonder if he had other issues than the ones that were the obvious subject of the plot. But if so they were never mentioned so I felt like the age of both characters was chosen wrong for their behaviour.
But worse was actually his mother - it seemed like the character was dev ...more
May 22, 2017
thai
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
new-adult,
cute-af,
romance,
arcs,
disability,
diversity-bingo-2017,
characters-of-color,
dream-guy
Brielle Reyes just graduated in history and psychology, a degree most people consider useless to anything other than teaching, which she doesn’t want. So she finds herself out of options for a future career, meaning she has to work at her mother’s cleaning company while she figures out what she wants to do with her life and find a job.
Twenty-five years old comic artist Archer Ward is whiling to do anything to keep his overprotective mother out of his hair, so if having a cleaner coming in daily ...more
Twenty-five years old comic artist Archer Ward is whiling to do anything to keep his overprotective mother out of his hair, so if having a cleaner coming in daily ...more
I am not sure that I can absolutely pinpoint what it was about this read that kept me involved with it. Besides the fact that it was an audio read. I felt detached from the read. I would have liked to feel more involved.
netgalley
3.5 stars
An ok read.
3.5 stars
An ok read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Topic Of Fondness (Stay In Touch)
By: Joy Penny
Brielle Reyes has just graduated college, where she studied Philosophy and History.
Although she was close to her friends Gavin, Pembroke, and Lilac, they have all moved on to start their own seperate journies.
Brielle being lackadaisical about what to do, ends up working for her mother's cleaning service, "scrubbing Cherubs." As, she persues a job utilizing her field of study.
Brielle ...more
Topic Of Fondness (Stay In Touch)
By: Joy Penny
Brielle Reyes has just graduated college, where she studied Philosophy and History.
Although she was close to her friends Gavin, Pembroke, and Lilac, they have all moved on to start their own seperate journies.
Brielle being lackadaisical about what to do, ends up working for her mother's cleaning service, "scrubbing Cherubs." As, she persues a job utilizing her field of study.
Brielle ...more
LOVE THIS BOOK! REALLY TOUCHED ME AS I AM DISABLED. NEED MORE ROMANCE BOOKS IN THIS GENRE.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review
This was a perfectly fine, sweet, quirky romance. There has no heavy angst or crazy push/pull, or anything over the top. It was an enjoyable way to pass a few hours.
This was a perfectly fine, sweet, quirky romance. There has no heavy angst or crazy push/pull, or anything over the top. It was an enjoyable way to pass a few hours.
Very disappointing. I read the blurb and the plot sounded so promising however the author just did not deliver. The heroine was very unlikeable, her friends except for Gavin, were equally as unlikeable, and the family of both hero and heroine left much to be desired. The only decent character was Archer, but even then the author totally made him a wuss when Brielle came back offering the weakest olive branches ever. The whole disability thing was never fully explained or well represented (ummm h
...more
received an ARC for honest review via netgalley
I wanted to like this book. Positives are, it is a quick read. The author approaches a new love situation and MC challenges, that is being disabled. I love how it brought to light those growing up in a wheelchair and the insecurities the MC, Archer had.
The negatives: I felt the book was all over the place with the storyline. I was left with so many unanswered questions at the end. The time line jumped and no details were given of a previous situati ...more
I wanted to like this book. Positives are, it is a quick read. The author approaches a new love situation and MC challenges, that is being disabled. I love how it brought to light those growing up in a wheelchair and the insecurities the MC, Archer had.
The negatives: I felt the book was all over the place with the storyline. I was left with so many unanswered questions at the end. The time line jumped and no details were given of a previous situati ...more
DNF 51%. I actually stopped reading at 24%, but forced myself to skim/read further, and I wish I had that thirty minutes of my life back.
The characters are cliched. The writing is flat and juvenile. The story is jerky and over-dramatized. This felt like it was written by a pouty 19-year old. I just don't have much patience with twaddle, and when the characters in a book spend all of their time overreacting and the author creates contrived situations that are awkward and ill-placed to *make* what ...more
The characters are cliched. The writing is flat and juvenile. The story is jerky and over-dramatized. This felt like it was written by a pouty 19-year old. I just don't have much patience with twaddle, and when the characters in a book spend all of their time overreacting and the author creates contrived situations that are awkward and ill-placed to *make* what ...more
I was sent this audiobook as part of a blog tour.
Chapter one throws several characters at you with no introduction. It was a lot to take in since it is hard to sort through characters when you are listening to the story. Once you get into though, you find Brielle is the main character and you get to know her story pretty quickly after the intro of the story.
I never connected with this story. I could not get into the narrator, the plot, or the characters. I found myself drifting when listening to ...more
Chapter one throws several characters at you with no introduction. It was a lot to take in since it is hard to sort through characters when you are listening to the story. Once you get into though, you find Brielle is the main character and you get to know her story pretty quickly after the intro of the story.
I never connected with this story. I could not get into the narrator, the plot, or the characters. I found myself drifting when listening to ...more
Touch of Fondness was an intriguing contemporary novel about how post-college life doesn't really turn out how you imagine it would.
I found the plot to be interesting and captivating. I liked the characters; Archer was strong and determined. He never complained about being in a wheelchair and really gave everything his all. Brielle was trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and if there was room for a relationship. And Gavin was a really nice and supportive best friend. I liked ...more
I found the plot to be interesting and captivating. I liked the characters; Archer was strong and determined. He never complained about being in a wheelchair and really gave everything his all. Brielle was trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and if there was room for a relationship. And Gavin was a really nice and supportive best friend. I liked ...more
This story was just OK. It's about a comic book illustrator who is in a wheelchair (never says why) and his cleaning lady.
...more
Very good story
I really enjoyed this story. It was a great story but for me the writing style wasn't my favorite. BUT I would recommend this book to others. ...more
I really enjoyed this story. It was a great story but for me the writing style wasn't my favorite. BUT I would recommend this book to others. ...more
3.5 stars
Brielle is a girl who just graduated from college and doesn't know what she is going to do with her life after college. Therfore, she decides to work for her mum's cleaning company. That's how she meets Archer, when his mum hires the company to clean his house. Their first meeting is a mess, Archer doesn't know how to act in front of a beautiful girl as being in a wheelchair put a lot of obstacles in his dating life and Brielle doesn't know he has a disability until she gets to the hous ...more
Brielle is a girl who just graduated from college and doesn't know what she is going to do with her life after college. Therfore, she decides to work for her mum's cleaning company. That's how she meets Archer, when his mum hires the company to clean his house. Their first meeting is a mess, Archer doesn't know how to act in front of a beautiful girl as being in a wheelchair put a lot of obstacles in his dating life and Brielle doesn't know he has a disability until she gets to the hous ...more
Really enjoyed this book. It was an entertaining, engaging and enjoyable story that pulled me in immediately and held attention from start to finish. It was creative and a bit different from anything else I have read lately. It has been a long time since I have read a story where one of the main characters is disabled.
It was a sweet, endearing, feel good love story. Not to say there isn't a bit of angst and conflict, there is, it's just not over the top and drawn out. The situations Archer and B ...more
It was a sweet, endearing, feel good love story. Not to say there isn't a bit of angst and conflict, there is, it's just not over the top and drawn out. The situations Archer and B ...more
Brielle Reyes just graduated from college with a degree in history and philosophy, and no idea what to do with them. She takes a job at her mom's cleaning company while she hunts for a job. Brielle's mom assigns her a cantankerous new client to clean for, Archer Ward. When Brielle arrives to clean his home, she and Archer immediately get off on the wrong foot.
For Archer, Brielle's presence is more than an annoyance, it's a reminder of something he can't have. He doesn't believe he can be with a ...more
For Archer, Brielle's presence is more than an annoyance, it's a reminder of something he can't have. He doesn't believe he can be with a ...more
Stars: 4
Chapters: 23 chapters & Epilogue
Length: 334 pgs.
Tense of Story: Third person
Genera: New Adult Contemporary
Good story, good flow not in first person like I usually read, but in third person. Touch of Fondness is the first novel I’ve had the privilege of reading from this author. I truly enjoyed her writing style, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
Another good story that deals real problems. Although it mentions that there are four friends, the story is really ab ...more
Chapters: 23 chapters & Epilogue
Length: 334 pgs.
Tense of Story: Third person
Genera: New Adult Contemporary
Good story, good flow not in first person like I usually read, but in third person. Touch of Fondness is the first novel I’ve had the privilege of reading from this author. I truly enjoyed her writing style, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
Another good story that deals real problems. Although it mentions that there are four friends, the story is really ab ...more
A sweet and cute romance!
Touch of Fondness was a unique, sweet and well-written story. This story will capture your attention from the very beginning. Joy Penny did a good job of pulling at several of your emotions. It gives you all the ooohs and aahhs that you like in a good romance. This was a very thought provoking story with lots to learn from all the characters. The characters are relatable while showing us that there is a special someone for every one even when you least expect it to happe ...more
Touch of Fondness was a unique, sweet and well-written story. This story will capture your attention from the very beginning. Joy Penny did a good job of pulling at several of your emotions. It gives you all the ooohs and aahhs that you like in a good romance. This was a very thought provoking story with lots to learn from all the characters. The characters are relatable while showing us that there is a special someone for every one even when you least expect it to happe ...more
Beautiful, bittersweet and romantic love story
At the very beginning of the book it was hard for me to connect with the characters, any of them. Hard to say why, I just simply didn't feel it. But I decided to give this story a chance and when the hero finally emerges in the story line all just fall in the right place. Loved the dual POV and the sweet story of Brielle and Archer. It was kind of heartbreaking but also heart-warming at the same time. The circumstances in which both of them find each ...more
At the very beginning of the book it was hard for me to connect with the characters, any of them. Hard to say why, I just simply didn't feel it. But I decided to give this story a chance and when the hero finally emerges in the story line all just fall in the right place. Loved the dual POV and the sweet story of Brielle and Archer. It was kind of heartbreaking but also heart-warming at the same time. The circumstances in which both of them find each ...more
I enjoy romance stories that go outside the standard trope and Touch of Fondness is one such story. Archer is a brilliant artist but his disability has left him somewhat isolated. Brielle has just graduated from college and is unsure of what direction she wants to go career wise. She heads back home to help out her mother’s cleaning service, that’s when she meets Archer and their relationship slowly begins to bloom and evolve into more.
I enjoyed how this story unfolded. There’s conflict, uncerta ...more
I enjoyed how this story unfolded. There’s conflict, uncerta ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Adult Book Club: #76/17 - Touch of Fondness (Stay in Touch #1) by Joy Penny | 28 | 44 | Aug 02, 2017 10:09AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Joy Penny writes books, devours stories, and geeks out about everything from classic romance books to manga. When she's not working as a freelance writer and book editor, she's probably immersed in her favorite TV shows, period dramas, and anime series. She also writes YA speculative fiction as Amy McNulty, and one of her books, Nobody's Goddess, won The Romance Reviews' Summer 2016 Readers' Choic
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Stay in Touch
(4 books)
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