“Why did Brett die? Why? He was thirty, talented, and I loved him. He left me, standing in the middle of my shattered dreams.”When physiotherapist Ellie Rose loses soulmate Brett in a tragic accident, all their plans to marry, work together and travel, die with him. Devastated, Ellie flees to the countryside to escape the smothering sympathy of family and friends. She must find, somehow, a way to … somehow, a way to survive.
She needs to move on, but Ellie can’t help looking back, and if she continues to live in the past, will she miss her second chance for happiness?
First in the Ellie Rose Series, Touch is more than a book, it’s a place to heal – an uplifting women’s fiction romance novel, perfect for a Sunday afternoon read.
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Touch is a wonderful story of overcoming heartbreak and grief to get a second chance at love. The book is very well written, with descriptive language, drawing you in and letting you feel Ellie’s grief and fears that she is betraying her first love by moving on. The author has written a beautiful tale, full of feeling.
Touch is a book telling the story of one woman’s short first love that ends in a tragedy who cannot get over the loss of her lover who died in a tragic accident. Her life after that in the English countryside is uneventful and slow. She meets friends, walks her dogs and works. That is pretty much it until the end of the book where things finally come to a solution.
Now I realise this sounds drab and dreary at first but let me tell you what I so loved about this book and be open to be wowed. First, the author’s background in physiotherapy, which is solid and incredibly well described in her female MC’s professional examples. If Cairns ever publishes a textbook on physiology for the layperson which describes common ailment of the motoric system, trust me, I’ll be the first to buy it. I love her holistic approach, her founded knowledge of orthodox and more advanced Eastern and holistic techniques and ways to approach a patient. I’m in awe of her professional skills as well as the compassionate and loving way her character deals with her patients.
The second point is, I have rarely come across a writer who does justice to the English weather at such a level as Cairns. Having lived in the UK for a long time, in the city and the countryside, I am well acquainted with the different moods of the weather and I find it fascinating in how much detail the author can bring the beautiful English countryside I so love to life to the point where I feel I can smell the morning fog that rises on the fields at dawn.
This book lives off the little moments, the individual impressions and the close and loyal relationship the main character has to her family and friends, the world around her, her patients and even her dogs, as well as, tragically, her dead lover. This book is as gentle as a light morning breeze gently caressing your skin while you barely realise it is there. A great read for anyone who doesn’t mind the slow pace and the story that is devoid of any exciting action.
Touch is a book to slow down with and to be touched by in a gentle, almost imperceptible, yet nonetheless profound way.
A beautiful story about love, loss, and new beginnings. Written in the style of a memoir, it brings forward the journey of healing after grief, with a unique portrayal of strength and resilience.
My thoughts:
Meet Ellie Rose, a physiotherapist who has lost her soulmate in a tragic way. The year is 1986, and Ellie is devastated by the loss, finding it hard, if not impossible, to move past the grief. Suffocated by the sympathy of her friends, she will move from London to Essex, hoping to start afresh.
As the strong woman that she is, Ellie will establish a holistic health clinic, putting all of her energy into healing her clients. Grief remains part of her life, and she is afraid that nothing or no one will ever change how she feels. However, the door to love might open once again, with the appearance of a new neighbor. Will she be able to let go of the past? You will have to read the book to find out.
I found this to be a wonderful story, one which focused on many themes that are dear to my heart. The author managed to write a book that is both honest and inspiring, showing how and why healing might occur. Even though grief was often explored throughout the story, I was left with the impression that the author wanted to convey a different message. She wanted her readers to understand that life is beautiful, and we must find the strength to live it to the fullest.
The title of the book was what draw me to it in the first place. It seems like the perfect choice for a story that touched my heart! This is the kind of book that will make you appreciate life more, which also delivers an accurate portrayal of how strong women can be.
Verdict:
What a lovely and touching story! The character of the courageous young woman who deals with grief is beautifully-written, and I loved how the author delivered a perfect blend of nostalgia and hope. Without a doubt, this is an empowering story, reminding us that life can change in a moment but we can weather the storm through resilience. Great book!
Is there love again after love has been lost? Touch is the first story of an uplifting women’s fiction series of every day life, struggles, self discovery, growth, love and loss. It is also a meaningful title for this book as it is the name of Ellie’s new physiotherapy practice using principles of healing touch. It touches the heart. The story is much like a flower seemingly taking forever to blossom; but once it has, it fills the heart.
Cairns takes her time in developing the story and the characters…even minor and cameo ones seem so real bringing the love story to life with fleshed out characters. This, in my opinion, is Cairn’s strength. She also delves into the actual rehab process of the body with accuracy. Being a retired RN, I found this interesting. It is much easier to rehab the body than it is to rehab the heart. This is not my “go to” genre; but once in awhile I enjoy a good love story without all the explicit details. This is a well written and poignant story of love, sudden devastation and coming to terms with real life.
Here are a few of my random thoughts:
“Every new start begins with an end”…and a first step.
Grandmother Willow…love this reference! You must Google it!!!!!
I don’t know how many times I read page 222!