Title: Touch Me Not
Author: Apryl Baker
First published September 14, 2015
569 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.08
Overview
Lila Holmes has been carrying a secret burden ever since a tragic incident took away her twin sister. Her fear of being touched has made her love life nonexistent.
She can’t even confess to her best friend, Jack, that she’s in love with him. Jack, on the other hand, is planning his wedding with someone else.
Enter Chase Donovan, the bad boy of the campus. Chase is known for his way with women and he decides that Lila is his next target.
But Lila has other plans. She challenges Chase to a bet: if he can go six months without sleeping with anyone, she will go out with him.
However, if Chase caves in and sleeps with someone, then Lila gets his prized possession, a vintage 1968 Ford Mustang. As Lila and Chase spend more time together, they realize that their game has turned into something more.
They start to crave each other, but the stakes are high. Will they be able to overcome their fears and surrender to each other?
About the Author
Let me introduce myself. I am a girl with an active imagination.
I am fond of watching scary movies, even if it scares me to the point of amusing my friends. I spent my childhood in a small town in the southern mountains of West Virginia, where I would spend my days wandering in the woods, climbing trees, and having fun.
At night, I would read Nancy Drew novels with a flashlight under my covers until my parents told me to sleep.
Living in a small town taught me numerous values and morals, and that someone is always watching you. So, whenever I got grounded, I would read books.
My Aunt Jo gave me my first romance novel with the title, “Lord Margrave’s Deception,” which I still remember fondly. But as I grew older, I developed a profound love for mysteries and the paranormal, which I would write about and share with my friends.
Currently, I reside in Huntersville, NC, where I enjoy watching my family and the amusing antics of cats teasing birds. I am passionate about reading books, writing them, and entertaining people with my silly stories.
You can contact me through my blog, Twitter account, or check out the book trailer for my novel, “The Promise.”
P.S., please do not come between me and a sale at Target, my second home!
Editoral Review
Touch Me Not by Apryl Baker is a young adult paranormal romance novel that was first published on September 14, 2015. Baker is a prolific author who has published more than thirty books in the genres of horror, paranormal romance, and fantasy.
Touch Me Not tells the story of a young girl named Victoria who can read people’s thoughts through touch. Set in Savannah, Georgia, Touch Me Not follows Victoria’s struggle to find her place in the world as she grapples with her paranormal abilities.
Victoria is a complex and relatable protagonist, and her journey is both engaging and thought-provoking. The novel’s themes of self-discovery, coming-of-age, and acceptance are universal and will resonate with readers of all ages.
Baker’s writing style is fluid and engaging, and her descriptions of Savannah’s historic architecture and lush scenery are vivid and evocative. The novel is well-paced, with a perfect balance of action, romance, and introspective moments that allow the reader to intimately experience Victoria’s emotional journey.
Despite its paranormal elements, Touch Me Not is ultimately a character-driven story that delves into issues of identity, belonging, and acceptance. The novel explores the complexities of relationships, both familial and romantic, and the importance of compassion and understanding in the face of adversity.
While the novel does have some clichés and predictable plot twists, these are outweighed by its strengths. Baker’s character development is superb, and all of the main characters are nuanced and multidimensional.
The romance between Victoria and her love interest, Seth, is sweet and heartfelt without being saccharine. Touch Me Not is an excellent example of the paranormal romance genre.
It has all the elements that fans of the genre love – supernatural abilities, forbidden love, and high stakes – while exploring deeper themes that give it greater depth and resonance. Baker’s writing is top-notch, and her ability to evoke emotion and create a fully-realized world is truly impressive.
Overall, Touch Me Not is a fantastic read that will appeal to fans of young adult paranormal romance and contemporary fiction in general. It is well-written, well-paced, and emotionally engaging, with relatable characters and universal themes.
I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read. As a reviewer, I give Touch Me Not 4 out of 5 stars.