Touched By Love [Mass Market Paperback]

Tracy Garrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

Texas, 1847. Jaret Walker is a loner, a gun for hire with a heart of ice. He's never had anyone to call his own, and he likes it that way. But when a promise made to a friend leads him on a ride through the desert and to remote Two Roses Ranch where he meets Isabel Bennett, the woman he's supposed to protect, all he can think of is making her his. She's the kind of woman a rough riding cowboy like him can never have. But her hot gaze tempts him like no other woman has before...The moment Isabel Bennett lays eyes on Jaret Walker, she remembers the dreams she's denied for so long. She's sworn never to marry. It's the only way to protect her ranch. But when Walker rides into her life, she decides to let herself taste what she's giving up - a passion that burns through her with each kiss - and a desire that won't be denied...

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420101013
• ISBN-13: 978-1420101010
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,104,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author Tracy Garrett has always loved to disappear into the worlds created within the pages of a book. An accomplished musician, Tracy merged her need for creativity, her love of history, and her passion for reading when she began writing western historical romance. An active member of Romance Writers of America and Dallas Area Romance Authors, Tracy now resides in Missouri with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional story with realisitic characters. A bit unimaginative, but very well written., August 17, 2009

By 

Alyce In Wonderland "The Looking Glass" (Over the hill or underland, or just behind a tree) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touched By Love (Mass Market Paperback)

I definitely enjoyed this book, despite the fact that the story was not at all original. The heroine, Isabel Bennett, is a wealthy hot- tempered woman who spends most of the book repeating "This is my ranch. I make the decisions..." The hero, Jaret Walker, is a tortured soul who has never known familial love, and doesn't believe he deserves that kind of happiness.

While many stories have been written about this typical type of couple, Tracy Garrett did a better job than many authors before her. Rather than just stating the hero's harsh past and using it as reason for his self- loathing, she actually allows the reader inside his soul. In one scene, a little boy convinces Jaret to enter the ranch chapel to join in prayers. Here is a bit of Jaret (he is an adult as this scene unfolds):

"He hadn't been in a church since the last time Mr. and Mrs. Harrison [foster parents] had insisted he go with them. They were the last folks who'd given him a home, a place to belong. He never understood why they'd bothered. He was an orphan, not their real son. What made them want to give him the family he was missing? Questions he'd avoided for years crowded in as he sat in the quiet room.

Why did he never feel a part of anything, that he didn't have the right to be happy? Why did the Harrisons, and the Wilkins before them, care what happened to him, the son of a gambler, a boy who lies and stole, just like his father? Why did strangers care more about him than his own parents?

...Another woman entered and Marta [elderly ranch hand] rose to leave. As she passed, Marta patted his shoulder. "It is good you are here."

Was it? Unexpected tears burned behind his eyes. He wanted to follow Marta, ask her how she knew. Instead, he bowed his head and, for the first time since a rebellious boy had struck out on his own, he prayed."

I'm always impressed when an author can bring a character to life this way. Again, the story was not very unique, but I didn't care. It was so worth the read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre, December 8, 2008

By 

DonnaRee15 (Somewhere in my head...in IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touched By Love (Mass Market Paperback)

I found this read to be just so-so. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible - it was just there.

It's set in the late 1840's in Texas. I won't be giving anything away here in telling you that someone's bent on taking over the heroine's ranch and the hero is there to save the day (isn't that how these stories always go?) What happens in between you'll have to read for yourself. I can see a sequel possible for the brother in the book (whether I'll read it or not will depend on my mood - if I'm desperate for a western, which I usually am, I'll read it).

Like I said, this isn't a bad book, but it wasn't anything spectacular either. So if you're looking for something to while away the hours or a diversion from real life this book is okay to do that with. You won't be coming away from it wishing you hadn't spent the money on it or wasted your time reading it.

As a side note, I had previously read Ms. Garrett's 1st novel Touch of Texas so knew what I was getting into when I bought this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read, December 9, 2008

By 

Rabid_Reader (On Earth (most of the time)) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Touched By Love (Mass Market Paperback)

I love a historical western romance and found Touched by Love to fit the bill. Ms. Garrett held my interest from cover to cover. I found the character development of Jaret and Isabel both quite compelling. I also read and enjoyed Touch of Texas and look forward to Tracy's next book.