What do you think?
Rate this book
The Touch of a Woman
A workplace rampage leaves Ellis Rowanbury grieving her husband of twenty-six years and feeling more adrift than she ever thought possible. Her finances in shambles, she gratefully accepts a junior-level job at a magazine in Sacramento and wills herself to move on.
Summer Winslow has pieces of her own to pick up, pieces that were scattered when her partner began drinking again. Fighting pressure from all directions to patch things up, she finds a welcome break from the drama in Ellis, her mysterious new neighbor. Happy to have a friend on her side, Summer is caught off-guard when her feelings for Ellis take a romantic turn.
With the tragedy fading behind her, Ellis too entertains the possibility of romance. A handsome coworker is eager to fill the void in her heart, and it's clear he can give her a life much like the one she lost. Only now she's paralyzed by a stunning discovery—she's fallen for a woman.
Summer Winslow has pieces of her own to pick up, pieces that were scattered when her partner began drinking again. Fighting pressure from all directions to patch things up, she finds a welcome break from the drama in Ellis, her mysterious new neighbor. Happy to have a friend on her side, Summer is caught off-guard when her feelings for Ellis take a romantic turn.
With the tragedy fading behind her, Ellis too entertains the possibility of romance. A handsome coworker is eager to fill the void in her heart, and it's clear he can give her a life much like the one she lost. Only now she's paralyzed by a stunning discovery—she's fallen for a woman.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2015
19 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
K.G. MacGregor
37 books331 followersA former teacher and market research consultant, KG MacGregor holds a PhD in journalism and mass communication. Infatuation with Xena: Warrior Princess fanfiction prompted her to try her own hand at storytelling in 2002. In 2005, she signed with Bella Books, which published the Goldie Award finalist Just This Once. Her sixth Bella novel, Out of Love, won the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Women's Romance, and the 2008 Goldie Award in Lesbian Romance. In 2009, she picked up Goldies for Without Warning (Contemporary Romance) and Secrets So Deep (Romantic Suspense).
Other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of Bards, the Alice B. Readers Appreciation Medal, and several Readers Choice Awards. An avid supporter of queer literature, KG currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lambda Literary Foundation.
KG MacGregor divides her time between her homes in Miami and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she's either on a hiking trail, a golf course, or if she's really lucky, a cruise ship.
Other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of Bards, the Alice B. Readers Appreciation Medal, and several Readers Choice Awards. An avid supporter of queer literature, KG currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lambda Literary Foundation.
KG MacGregor divides her time between her homes in Miami and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she's either on a hiking trail, a golf course, or if she's really lucky, a cruise ship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 3, 2016
3 1/2 Stars. I was a little scared to read this due to some of the reviews, but I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. It was nowhere as good as say T Minus Two or Worth Every Step, but it was still decent. I think what made it not quite as good as her other books, was the romance. I would call it just average, it's been done before (woman who used to be married falls in love with a lesbian). Also, the main characters chemistry wasn't anything to write home about. But the actual whole story-line and the background of what the characters were going through, is what made this book interesting to me. What Ellis is going through, is way beyond something I could have ever imagined having to deal with. In fact, it was quite a twist that shocked me into taking a side I don't believe I would have had I known a person like Ellis, from only afar, in real life. So to me, when you take into account what Ellis is going through, I don't know if a really passionate, chemistry filled romance, would have been believable.
Would I recommend this book? Yes... Is it a wonderful moving romance? No... Is it one of MacGregors better books? No... But the character's struggles was different enough to make you think, "how would I treat someone who went through something like that." I like books that make me question my feelings and preconceived notions.
Would I recommend this book? Yes... Is it a wonderful moving romance? No... Is it one of MacGregors better books? No... But the character's struggles was different enough to make you think, "how would I treat someone who went through something like that." I like books that make me question my feelings and preconceived notions.
June 10, 2017
3.5 for this one.
December 22, 2015
2.75
Not much was done with an intriguing premise.
Not much was done with an intriguing premise.
July 7, 2018
Ellis Winslow is a wonderful person with supportive friends trying to emotionally separate from a not so good relationship. Summer Rowanbury is shell shocked from a situation she never saw coming. The read was okay. I felt the realism of the unfortunate tragedy and the various reactions. I also could understand the self-reflection and recognition of who you are and the struggle determining if you will or will not embrace what is uncovered. As much as I wanted to like this read because I have so enjoyed so many of the reads by this author, I could not. What I did enjoy was the women getting together for a "girls night".
July 19, 2016
Ellis Keene-Rowanbury has to start her life over again after being widowed in an office rampage. While moving to an apartment complex in Sacramento to start over, she meets Summer, who is going through a drawn-out breakup with her girlfriend. The two quickly become friends, which leads to more, although Ellis has always seen herself as straight until this point.
I really liked Etched in the Shadows by this author, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. It wasn't quite as good as EitS, but it was a decent read regardless.
However, the rest of the book was just so-so for me. The romance between Ellis and Summer didn't pack any heat, and I spent almost half of the book being pissed off at Ellis, who was completely willing to toss her relationship to the side because her daughter didn't approve (having seen that almost happen to my mother because of my step-dad's daughter being a royal bitch, I have no tolerance for such nonsense, even in fiction). Summer, on the other hand, comes across as pretty passive, which I also don't like reading about in fiction.
The premise may have not lived up to the execution for me, but I still found this book relatively readable. KG writes very well, and unlike some lesfic I have read, I never found myself bored (even though I wanted to throttle Ellis more than once). Three stars.
I really liked Etched in the Shadows by this author, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. It wasn't quite as good as EitS, but it was a decent read regardless.
However, the rest of the book was just so-so for me. The romance between Ellis and Summer didn't pack any heat, and I spent almost half of the book being pissed off at Ellis, who was completely willing to toss her relationship to the side because her daughter didn't approve (having seen that almost happen to my mother because of my step-dad's daughter being a royal bitch, I have no tolerance for such nonsense, even in fiction). Summer, on the other hand, comes across as pretty passive, which I also don't like reading about in fiction.
The premise may have not lived up to the execution for me, but I still found this book relatively readable. KG writes very well, and unlike some lesfic I have read, I never found myself bored (even though I wanted to throttle Ellis more than once). Three stars.
January 3, 2016
I liked the idea behind this book (it's not what you expect). Something about just didn't flow for me. So I give it an average 3 stars
June 10, 2016
This was a good, maybe not great, but good solid book from KG MacGregor. There was a very unusual plotline in this romance, but the ending was so-so.
September 26, 2017
This was the first lesbian book I have read that is not Kenna, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.... I’ve always read Kenna books and been scared to venture out due to loving them so much!
But my god, KG MacGregor pulled the hat out of the bag for me with this one.
I loved this book! The twist of Ellis husband had me on edge, I definitely wasn’t expecting it! People have said on their reviews they didn’t like Ellis and thought she was a cow, I assuming that’s due to her reluctance of her relationship with Summer... however it seemed pretty well written and understandable with the storyline.
I 100% recommend this book to those who enjoy a lesbian novel. I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 as I felt the ending was semi rushed once the couple were together, but still.. definitely a brilliant read, good storyline and kept me wanting to turn to the next page! I can’t wait to read more from KG.
But my god, KG MacGregor pulled the hat out of the bag for me with this one.
I loved this book! The twist of Ellis husband had me on edge, I definitely wasn’t expecting it! People have said on their reviews they didn’t like Ellis and thought she was a cow, I assuming that’s due to her reluctance of her relationship with Summer... however it seemed pretty well written and understandable with the storyline.
I 100% recommend this book to those who enjoy a lesbian novel. I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 as I felt the ending was semi rushed once the couple were together, but still.. definitely a brilliant read, good storyline and kept me wanting to turn to the next page! I can’t wait to read more from KG.
February 14, 2018
"The Touch Of A Woman" is a perfect example of why I hardly ever read lesfic anymore. Think of the author, KG MacGregor, as the best writer in your Thursday night adult ed writer's group. Yes, she's better than the complete hacks. She's....competent. But that's not nearly good enough.
Why is it that the best lesbian-themed novels seem to be the ones written by mainstream authors who happen to have written one as a stand-alone, like Patricia Highsmith's "The Price Of Salt", Sylvia Brownrigg's "Pages For You", or Nevada Barr's "Bittersweet"? I need to know.
Part of my problem with "The Touch Of A Woman" is one of the two main characters, Ellis Keane. She's Miss Richie Rich whose husband has died and now she's having to figure how to pay the bills, send her kids to college, and so on and so forth, like most of humanity. It's heartbreaking to watch the poor thing try to get by living in an apartment in second-rate Sacramento and only attending the ballet on occasion as she bores the reader to death with her Chardonnay and sushi and her tooling around in her big honking SUV in search of arugula. One weeps for her.
The other main character, Summer, is okay. She's a lesbian freshly out of a long relationship. One day she sets eyes on her new straight neighbor Ellis and it's lurv, with all the attendant worries and push-me-pull-you of such a situation. Of course you know they'll get together in the end, but that's typical of the genre. What grates--in addition to the constant and relentless upscale trendiness--are things such as MacGregor's compulsive need to fully describe what each woman is wearing in every scene, down to fabric, color and accessories. Yes, we want to be able to envision the characters. No, we don't need an inventory of the entire J.Jill catalog. Someone has clearly whispered in the ear of our little all-star writer that she must include details, baby. And so she does, ad infinitum, about every trendy item on every trendy surface of every room. However, no one has told her to show, not tell, because she tells us that so-and-so has a wonderful sense of humor, but offers no dialogue to show us that it's true. And so on.
In sum, this novel is not awful, but except for one very deftly hidden plot twist which I quite admired, there is nothing to especially recommend it, either. Blah, and you can have my arugula.
Why is it that the best lesbian-themed novels seem to be the ones written by mainstream authors who happen to have written one as a stand-alone, like Patricia Highsmith's "The Price Of Salt", Sylvia Brownrigg's "Pages For You", or Nevada Barr's "Bittersweet"? I need to know.
Part of my problem with "The Touch Of A Woman" is one of the two main characters, Ellis Keane. She's Miss Richie Rich whose husband has died and now she's having to figure how to pay the bills, send her kids to college, and so on and so forth, like most of humanity. It's heartbreaking to watch the poor thing try to get by living in an apartment in second-rate Sacramento and only attending the ballet on occasion as she bores the reader to death with her Chardonnay and sushi and her tooling around in her big honking SUV in search of arugula. One weeps for her.
The other main character, Summer, is okay. She's a lesbian freshly out of a long relationship. One day she sets eyes on her new straight neighbor Ellis and it's lurv, with all the attendant worries and push-me-pull-you of such a situation. Of course you know they'll get together in the end, but that's typical of the genre. What grates--in addition to the constant and relentless upscale trendiness--are things such as MacGregor's compulsive need to fully describe what each woman is wearing in every scene, down to fabric, color and accessories. Yes, we want to be able to envision the characters. No, we don't need an inventory of the entire J.Jill catalog. Someone has clearly whispered in the ear of our little all-star writer that she must include details, baby. And so she does, ad infinitum, about every trendy item on every trendy surface of every room. However, no one has told her to show, not tell, because she tells us that so-and-so has a wonderful sense of humor, but offers no dialogue to show us that it's true. And so on.
In sum, this novel is not awful, but except for one very deftly hidden plot twist which I quite admired, there is nothing to especially recommend it, either. Blah, and you can have my arugula.
February 7, 2016
In The Touch of a Woman KG MacGregor has gone for the very traditional lesbian romance – mature women finding herself, the ‘will she wont she’, the slow burn and the out lesbian who knows she should run a mile.
What makes this an interesting read beyond the standard plotline are unusual back-histories. Ellis and her family have been devastated by a workplace shooting rampage that has left them both emotionally and financially bereft. They are all trying to find a way to deal with the after-effects and MacGregor subtly explores the dynamics of a mother and her young adult children recovering from the devastation.
Summer has finally managed to escape from an alcoholic co-dependent and emotionally abusive relationship, and is dealing with issues we will all recognise – who gets the friends, the social life, and how to stop the ex causing a scene.
The women become friends, and it really is a slow burn, but it is well done. The characters are well drawn, complex women, who will resonate with many. And their tender attraction is a reminder that real life isn’t always about the grand passion, but a gentle falling.
What makes this an interesting read beyond the standard plotline are unusual back-histories. Ellis and her family have been devastated by a workplace shooting rampage that has left them both emotionally and financially bereft. They are all trying to find a way to deal with the after-effects and MacGregor subtly explores the dynamics of a mother and her young adult children recovering from the devastation.
Summer has finally managed to escape from an alcoholic co-dependent and emotionally abusive relationship, and is dealing with issues we will all recognise – who gets the friends, the social life, and how to stop the ex causing a scene.
The women become friends, and it really is a slow burn, but it is well done. The characters are well drawn, complex women, who will resonate with many. And their tender attraction is a reminder that real life isn’t always about the grand passion, but a gentle falling.
December 8, 2015
I had high expectations for this book but it left me feeling a little flat. I think this was partially because I was expecting something different from the synopsis. Then when I was reading it, I didn't particularly find either Ellis or Summer intriguing. I may have enjoyed it more if the focus was really on the aftermath of death of Ellis' husband but it felt watered down despite the shocking and intriguing premise. I also didn't see the chemistry between Summer and Ellis.
December 25, 2015
another good read by K.G MacGregor
July 15, 2021
Great love story
This was a great story about a woman figuring out who she was. I didn't particularly like the bashing of conservatives, stereotyping them as haters, because from where I'm sitting it's the liberals who hate on the conservatives.
Not all conservatives are against 'gays'. Some of us are gay/lesbian/whatever you want to call it. Some of us are Christian and lesbian and conservative. Sometimes we grow up straight because we didn't know any different even though we've been gay since high school and didn't know what to call it. It was the 80s after all.
I did like the characters. Ellis was great and relatable, at least the married part.
I'm actually kind of gender fluid and a sort of homoflexible lesbian who's married to a man, but I really dig your characters and the stories that make them seem like real people.
This was a great story about a woman figuring out who she was. I didn't particularly like the bashing of conservatives, stereotyping them as haters, because from where I'm sitting it's the liberals who hate on the conservatives.
Not all conservatives are against 'gays'. Some of us are gay/lesbian/whatever you want to call it. Some of us are Christian and lesbian and conservative. Sometimes we grow up straight because we didn't know any different even though we've been gay since high school and didn't know what to call it. It was the 80s after all.
I did like the characters. Ellis was great and relatable, at least the married part.
I'm actually kind of gender fluid and a sort of homoflexible lesbian who's married to a man, but I really dig your characters and the stories that make them seem like real people.
April 10, 2023
The Touch of a Woman is a stunning work, at once tragic and hopeful.
Ellis is the epitome of strength and bravery in the face of unrelenting grief, holding both herself and her children together after an unexpected and unfathomable tragedy.
Summer provides a beautifully genuine source of understanding and support, something we all wish we could have in those moments of chaos.
I was hooked immediately, drawn into the drama of the tragedy and the aftermath, I couldn't put this one down. Then my heart broke with a plot twist that left me shocked. This book is one that will stay with me for quite some time.
Ironically, I finished reading this just days before a local mass shooting, and find myself reexamining previously held attitudes.
Ellis is the epitome of strength and bravery in the face of unrelenting grief, holding both herself and her children together after an unexpected and unfathomable tragedy.
Summer provides a beautifully genuine source of understanding and support, something we all wish we could have in those moments of chaos.
I was hooked immediately, drawn into the drama of the tragedy and the aftermath, I couldn't put this one down. Then my heart broke with a plot twist that left me shocked. This book is one that will stay with me for quite some time.
Ironically, I finished reading this just days before a local mass shooting, and find myself reexamining previously held attitudes.
November 7, 2017
an incredible journey between two women. I deeply enjoyed the refreshing take on two characters that were flawed. Ellis was absolutely wounded by what Bruce did. But Summer went in and wrapped a strong string of lights around her heart. it was so sweet to read of Ellis struggle about the way she felt.
November 19, 2018
Thought provoking
I really liked the premise of the story, as usual a real life story from this author, makes you think. Good characters but it really ended a bit abruptly for my liking. But I am a sucker for epilogues so trying not to mind!
I really liked the premise of the story, as usual a real life story from this author, makes you think. Good characters but it really ended a bit abruptly for my liking. But I am a sucker for epilogues so trying not to mind!
May 29, 2024
This book had emotions, and learning about people who are left to deal with the aftermath. Learning who Ellis is when life throws lemons and the thorns at her. Is wonderful. With the neighbor Summer.
December 5, 2024
Interesting premise. Lots of emotion and angst and family drama - which I love. Would have loved it so much more had the ending not been so abrupt.
December 25, 2015
Loved the book
The author created a time line that really developed well. The story line led up to Ellis having to move to Sacramento because of the heavy burden she had to bear dealing with very heavy losses from her previous life. Summer had dealt with losses of her own. Their friendship developed to a point where it became more than a friendship. It was a very good book and I did not want to put it down. Very well done!
The author created a time line that really developed well. The story line led up to Ellis having to move to Sacramento because of the heavy burden she had to bear dealing with very heavy losses from her previous life. Summer had dealt with losses of her own. Their friendship developed to a point where it became more than a friendship. It was a very good book and I did not want to put it down. Very well done!
March 14, 2016
I liked the buildup, the conflict and the drama. But the 'resolution' was anticlimactic - in every sense of the word. It ended too abruptly.
July 12, 2016
The story had me hooked the whole way through. I couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews