"Exciting rural contemporary romance"

At thirty Chloe Evans feels old as she recovers from a nasty divorce although she tries to hide the ugliness from her preadolescent son Jeremy. To give the asthmatic Jeremy a fresh start, Chloe moves them to the resort town Jack Pine in Oregon where she takes a position as a police dispatcher.

Jeremy's Golden Retriever puppy becomes very ill, but money is tight so a vet seems out of the question. Though dangerous rumors abound about local outcast former veterinarian Dr. Ben Longtree, a desperate Jeremy also learns of his magical healing touch. The child carries his beloved dog so that the pariah can treat him. Ben does not want any visitors especially since he illegally provides medical treatment to wild animals, but he cannot resist the lad or his dog. Chloe and Ben become acquainted and soon fall in love through the efforts of her matchmaking child. However, Deputy Bobby Lee Shuck has a new reason to harass and destroy the man he always hated as he wants to bed the newcomer anyway he can even though Chloe says no.

ONLY BY YOUR TOUCH is an exciting rural contemporary romance that stars two charming lead protagonists whose emotional past and present demons are healed by each other. The secondary cast, especially her son, the law enforcement officials, and the animals provide different layers of depth. Shuck fails to have a redeeming quality as he even sinks low enough to threaten Jeremy to gain what he wants. Still, Catherine Anderson shows her deft touch with a delightful second chance at love tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted March 25, 2003

2004 RITA for Best Contemporary Single Title Finalist

Determined to give her son Jeremy the childhood he deserves, Chloe Evans has left a tough past behind to start over in the charming town of Jack Pine, Oregon. But protecting Jeremy becomes a dicey proposition when he seeks out the most dangerous man in town, Ben Longtree, to heal his sick puppy. Chloe has been warned to stay away from Ben. But there's something about him that intrigues her...

Summary

Determined to give her son, Jeremy, the childhood he deserves, Chloe Evans has left a tough past behind and is starting fresh in the charming resort town of Jack Pine, Oregon. But protecting Jeremy becomes a dicey proposition when he seeks out the most dangerous man in town, Ben Longtree, to heal his sick puppy. Chloe has been warned to stay away from Ben. But there's something about him, at once gentle and untamed, that intrigues her . . . .

Long ago, Ben accepted his role as the town outcast. Rumored to have once killed a man, he lives in splendid isolation with his forgetful mother, secretly employing his skills as a veterinarian to heal the wounded wild animals that mysteriously come to him. Now Chloe's sunny wamrth and brave tenacity arouse desire he has long denied. And although Ben is notorious for his healing touch, it is Chloe's hands . . .and heart . . . that have the power to save his battered soul.