Review: Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

March 7, 2017

336 pages

Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Contains: some strong language

One time a boy kissed me and I almost died...

And so begins the story of Jubilee Jenkins, a young woman with a rare and debilitating medical condition: she’s allergic to other humans. After a humiliating near-death experience in high school, Jubilee has become a recluse, living the past nine years in the confines of the small town New Jersey house her unaffectionate mother left to her when she ran off with a Long Island businessman. But now, her mother is dead, and without her financial support, Jubilee is forced to leave home and face the world—and the people in it—that she’s been hiding from.

One of those people is Eric Keegan, a man who just moved into town for work. With a daughter from his failed marriage who is no longer speaking to him, and a brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son, Eric’s struggling to figure out how his life got so off-course, and how to be the dad—and man—he wants so desperately to be. Then, one day, he meets a mysterious woman named Jubilee, with a unique condition...

Close Enough to Touch is an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart.

This was a beautiful journey with Jubilee, a young woman allergic to humans, who faces down her fears and returns to the world after hiding for 9 years after a near-death experience. And what a journey it was! Despite her seclusion, Jubilee was such a neat character, and watching her react and rejoin human interactions was admirable and touching. I felt her fears and cheered her bravery.

Now add in Eric, divorced dad, who just moved into town. He's got a load of difficult circumstances of his own. But man is he trying. Really, really trying. But he's a bit lost on what to do next. Between his daughter who is no longer speaking to him, and his adoptive son who is having some serious problems of his own since the death of his parents, I really felt for the guy. He had his own fears to allay and his own victory to gain.

I loved how Eric and Jubilee met and befriended each other. There was such an innocence and such a beauty to Jubilee and Eric's relationship. This wasn't some quick romance. These were two people with real fears and real obstacles. I mean, Eric couldn't even touch her! So instead of a hot-and-heavy romance, we get this beautiful blooming friendship, attraction, and layers of genuine care and heart. We get Jubilee facing decisions about her future. We get Eric facing decisions about his kids and his future. There is this beautiful interweaving between Jubilee and Eric's lives, and the lives of their loved ones. I felt so many emotions reading about them.

I absolutely loved this book, up until the very end. The ending felt a bit rushed and I was like, "what's going on here?!" After so much investment, I wanted just a little more from that ending. BUT, after sitting and pondering the ending for a bit, I was like, "Ok, I think I get where you're heading with this." BUT, my brain has to imagine beyond the page. I simply cannot stop where the story stopped. Mostly, because I simply loved Eric and Jubilee so much! Really loved them.

Amazon ~ Goodreads 

Stacking The Shelves (201)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

eARC Awesomeness:

Twist by Kylie Scott

The Takedown by Corrie Wang

New Release: Don't Speak by Katy Regnery

Don't Speak by Katy Regnery is now LIVE and FREE with #KindleUnlimited!

"Swoon. Sigh. Beautiful, gorgeous love story. You renew my faith in true love, Katy Regnery. And a brilliant take off on the little mermaid. People are going to love this one." --Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice

BUY NOW

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jI2LaL Amazon Universal: myBook.to/DontSpeakKatyRegnery

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a new twist on a beloved fairytale.

 In this modern retelling of The Little Mermaid, a fisherman's daughter from an Outer Banks island untouched by time, meets the son of the North Carolina governor at a fancy party where she is working.

 Laire, who wants more from life than her little island can offer, is swept away by wealthy, sophisticated Erik, who is, in turn, entranced by her naiveté and charm. The two spend a whirlwind summer together that ends on the knife-point of heartbreak and forces them to go their separate ways.

 Years later, when fate finds them together once again, they will discover the terrifying depth of the secrets they kept from each other, and learn that shattered hearts can only be healed by a love that willfully refuses to die.

 All novels Katy Regnery's ~a modern fairytale~ collection are written as fundraisers. 10% of the e-book sales for in March and April 2017 will be donated.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/G-dQC9j_Zas

Don't Speak is part of the ~a modern fairytale~ collection, which includes six standalone, completely unrelated novels inspired by beloved fairy tales:

The Vixen and the Vet (Beauty & the Beast) - available now Never Let You Go (Hansel & Gretel) - available now Ginger's Heart (Little Red Riding Hood) - available now Dark Sexy Knight (Camelot) - available now Don't Speak (The Little Mermaid) - new release! Swan Song (The Ugly Duckling) - available late-2017

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013. Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas. Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller. In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States. Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Author Links:

Website/Newsletter Signup: http://katyregnery.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dqySsy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyRegnery
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katharineregner/

Sunday Post: Weekly Wrap-Up (02.26)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books, share upcoming news, etc. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.  

What I Read Last Week:

Don't Speak by Katy Regnery
Rocked by a Vampire by Susan Griscom
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

What I'm Listening To:

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

My Reviews Last Week:

Close to Home by Lily Everett (my 4 star review)
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens (my 5 star review)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (my 5+ star review)

What I'm Reading Currently:

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Stacking The Shelves (200)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

eARC Awesomeness:

Home at Last by Lily Everett

Kindle Kindness:

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

The Fallow Season of Hugo Hunter by Craig Lancaster

Audiobook Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

July 15, 2014

337 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved everything about it (except that Ove was 59; I imagined him older). This story takes us on a journey of Ove's past and present - the tragedies of his past, the struggles of his present. He comes off as this miserable, grumpy, dislikable man. But the layers he wears on the outside don't necessarily reflect the man inside. And I dare anyone not to fall in love with Ove. I sure did.

I can't even begin to discuss all the things I loved about this story. There are so many layers to Ove. But there are also so many integral characters that bring Ove's story to life. This odd community formed around Ove, and I loved the part that each person played. I found myself laughing out loud, and also tearing up. This journey was so beautiful, I recommend it to everyone.

On a side note, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was wonderful. 'A Man Called Ove' is a new favorite of mine.

Amazon ~ Audible ~ Goodreads 

Preorder Blast: Don't Speak by Katy Regnery

"AMAZING ... especially if you're a "Little Mermaid" fan, which I totally am." -- Heidi McLaughlin, New York Times bestselling author

Don't Speak by Katy Regnery releases SOON! Check out the trailer for DON'T SPEAK by Katy Regnery and enter the PREORDER GIVEAWAY!

 

RELEASING FOR ONE DAY ONLY ON FEBRUARY 25th iBooks: http://ow.ly/EaQm306BMr2 Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/rnI1306DtlX Kobo: http://ow.ly/SnwZ306AR8W

Will go LIVE on Amazon and FREE with #KindleUnlimited on FEBRUARY 27th Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jI2LaL

ENTER THE PREORDER CONTEST: https://goo.gl/forms/6nrbCWY27HJwoCGy2

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/G-dQC9j_Zas

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a new twist on a beloved fairytale. 

 In this modern retelling of The Little Mermaid, a fisherman's daughter from an Outer Banks island untouched by time, meets the son of the North Carolina governor at a fancy party where she is working.

 Laire, who wants more from life than her little island can offer, is swept away by wealthy, sophisticated Erik, who is, in turn, entranced by her naiveté and charm. The two spend a whirlwind summer together that ends on the knife-point of heartbreak and forces them to go their separate ways.

 Years later, when fate finds them together once again, they will discover the terrifying depth of the secrets they kept from each other, and learn that shattered hearts can only be healed by a love that willfully refuses to die.

All novels Katy Regnery’s ~a modern fairytale~ collection are written as fundraisers. 10% of the e-book sales for in March and April 2017 will be donated.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

 Don't Speak is part of the ~a modern fairytale~ collection, which includes six standalone, completely unrelated novels inspired by beloved fairy tales: The Vixen and the Vet (Beauty & the Beast) - available now Never Let You Go (Hansel & Gretel) - available now Ginger's Heart (Little Red Riding Hood) - available now Dark Sexy Knight (Camelot) - available now Don't Speak (The Little Mermaid) - available soon Swan Song (The Ugly Duckling) - available late-2017

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013. Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas. Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller. In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States. Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

  Author Links: Website/Newsletter Signup: http://katyregnery.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dqySsy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyRegnery Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katharineregner/