Customer Reviews

Untouched

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Anna Campbell's second release is set to be as stunning as her first. In UNTOUCHED, readers will meet an unlikely hero, Matthew Sheene, and the woman with whom he falls in love, widow Grace Paget.

Matthew, the Marquess of Sheene has been supposedly and certifiably mad since he was fourteen years old and became the ward of his uncle, Sir John. A virtual prisoner on his estate, he is unable to escape - anyone that attempts to help him either is harmed, transported as a convict, or winds up dead Matthew spends his days puttering with his garden and writing scientific articles. A lonely existence for sure, but things are about to get a bit complicated.

Grace Paget has been widowed for only a few weeks. Traveling alone to her cousin's home, upon her arrival by train she is accosted by two footpads, drugged, and kidnapped. Waking up tied down and informed she is to be the mistress of the mad man intently watching her, Grace doesn't know what to do. Grace, after a futile escape attempt, is brought back to Matthew's cottage where she is told in no uncertain terms that she will seduce the Marquess of Sheene or forfeit her life.

Grace's need to survive is the catalyst that begins the seduction, but it is her hidden feelings for Matthew, the man she realizes is not emotionally disturbed, that keeps her on her path. Matthew fights her gentle seduction until his need for her wears him down. Once the two unlikely lovers come together, their feelings for each other continue to grow. What happens if Matthew is finally able to leave his estate a free man? Grace knows that the only reason he thinks he loves her is because she is all he has known.

Anna Campbell writes a breathtaking historical romance! UNTOUCHED is magnificent. The plot is suspenseful, the sensuality is wickedly naughty, and the character's emotions are realistic and often times breathtaking. Matthew has been a prisoner of his uncle's for years and the only reason he stays is to protect others from harm. This self sacrificing characterization is unique and made me love Matthew all the more. Grace's character is totally in sync with the historical time period in which UNTOUCHED takes place. Women are only thought of on good terms if they avoided scandal. Grace's instructions to be a mistress to Matthew go against everything she has ever been taught growing up. I really enjoyed watching the internal struggle with her conscience, all the while hoping she'd give in to passion and dismiss societal rules. I was not disappointed!

UNTOUCHED is well written and well worth waiting for. So many historical romances are similar to each other and I am happy to say that the plot of UNTOUCHED is something I have never before read about. This uniqueness is very much appreciated and Anna Campbell definitely has one more fan.

UNTOUCHED releases November 27, 2007 from Avon Books.

Awaking from a laudanum induced sleep to find oneself bound to a table in a room with a strange man is enough to frighten any woman out of her wits. Especially when the stranger she is locked up with professes his own madness at every turn. But something about the odd Lord Sheene touches Grace Paget in a way her late husband never truly did, and she soon realizes they are both victims in a diabolical plot against the lonely young Lord.

Matthew Sheene refuses to play into his greedy Uncle's latest nefarious scheme, starring the beautiful but surely devious woman that has been delivered to him for his `use'. The winsome Grace must surely be an actress of the highest caliber, as he finds himself almost believing her story of being kidnapped off the street and ordered by her abductors to play the part of his strumpet.

But if Grace fails to seduce the reluctant Lord Sheene, her captors will punish her with torture and death. And her time is running out...

Australian author Anna Campbell blew me away with her first novel, Claiming the Courtesan (Avon Romantic Treasures). With a no-holds-barred approach to romance and story-telling, she quickly made a name for herself as a writer who delivers a story as she sees it, no catering to what she thinks the public wants, no apologies. Guess what? It worked. She continues in that same vein with her newest release, Untouched, bringing her fans a story that is just as unforgettable and heart-rending as her previous book.

Heart-rending is something else that Ms. Campbell does very well. This author knows how to run every emotion the reader has through the wringer. I defy anyone to say they finished one of her novels with dry eyes. That said, she also knows just how to kiss and make it better with happy endings that are all the more meaningful because of the trials her hero and heroine have suffered along the road to true love and happiness.

Matthew is something quite unexpected - a man who has been a victim most of his life, but nevertheless rises to the lofty position of stalwart hero when the situation calls for it. He is noble, intelligent, and caring, despite the maltreatment he has endured for the last decade at the hands of his uncle and his uncle's henchmen. Although resigned to his own unfortunate situation, everything within him demands he take action when Grace's life is threatened.

There could be no woman more perfect for Matthew than Grace Paget. With valor and honor equal to his and a situation no less tragic, she becomes a bright spot in his bleak existence, offering warmth and friendship when he had no expectations of ever enjoying such gifts. When that friendship soon blossoms into passion and love, Matthew is spurred into becoming the man he really is. But as much as her love and compassion aid in healing him, his love proves just as therapeutic to our tragic heroine as hers is for him.

At the end, Campbell reveals some twists that make for a riveting conclusion to a breathtaking historical romance. Untouchable is a truly compelling story that fans will enjoy reading and rediscovering for years to come. Anna Campbell has done more than written a story - she's created something sure to become a cherished memory for all of her readers.

While waiting for a family member Grace ends up at the wrong part of the docks and she gets hurled away against her will to a secluded cottage. Waking up fear trickles up her spine as Monk and Filey eagerly glare at her body and she comes to understand what she is here for. She is a present from Lord John Sheen to his nephew Matthew, she must entertain him with passionate encounters in the bedchambers.

When Grace meets Matthew he is a distant almost rigged and silent man whom is often found in the garden with his dog. In the seclusion of the cottage and garden they come to know one another a bit and with the passing of the days there blooms something more than plants and flowers. Their soul and heart Untouched and tried for with the arrival of darkness, something Matthew is all too acquainted with!

When the heart yearns, when the soul hungers, when the one sacrifices so the other may live a love ignites which will light up the night skies if given the chance....

Anna Campbell knows how to celebrate love with Matthew and Grace as she whisked me away into a riveting story that kept me one track minded! The need to know how this dynamic pair would fare, succumbed me in to this novel and kept me def for my surroundings as I got comfortable on my couch with the central heat snoring and outside a powdery white world.

The chemistry between Grace and Matthew is one of superb quality, she's a widow finding herself in frightening and new circumstances that ask her to find a little of that bold spirit again that she once possessed. Matthew, what can I say of Matthew that does him justice, he's all I want in a tortured hero. As a child he had a few seizures that gave free way for his uncle to declare him a lunatic, and with Anna Campbell's writing skill it provides some heart wrenching moments as I read what he has suffered through. It also makes me empathize with Grace so much, seeing Matthew through her eyes as new feelings blossom.

What I enjoyed so tremendously was Matthew, Anna Campbell gave me exactly what I wanted, a tortured hero but still strong, defiant of his fate, capable of caring as the awakening of his feelings is so beautifully and grippingly told that the combination of, and interaction between Matthew and Grace barely needs something more for emotions to soar high in this novel. The sensual tension between them builds up in a courtship of feelings while Matthew and Grace learn to answer the calling of a beautiful erotic dance...swirling together and with their hearts blazing from a passion that captivated me as a reader and rendered my breathless.

Also the supporting cast of diabolical men enhances the impact of the main couples emotions and story and speaks of a time which makes me hope the good will victor of the bad. I so wanted and moreover needed, the good to victor because with Lord John Sheen my inner voice cried out for justice, he was such a chilling, selfish and calculated man, but this story wouldn't have been the same without him!

The choices Matthew and Grace have to make in order to survive the greed of one man strikes a chord with me and makes this novel such a powerful love story. With great character development, page melting passion and an ending that made me devour the pages while my romantic heart pounded o so fast as to find out how it all ended. Untouched became an instant favorite of mine! While there are many authors that shape and give voice to the much beloved Regency subgenre I was not an avid reader of it since my teenage years and all I can say is that Anna Campbell lured me back giving me a Regency Historical novel that, in my opinion, will become a classic of the 21st century!

If you desire a novel that speaks of trials of the soul, celebration of love, laced with passion and emotion, Untouched is one you have to read!

4,5 stars ( Awarded the Realms Shooting Star)

Reviewed by Leontine
Courtesy of Realms on our Bookshelves

I rate romance books by the "swoon" factor, and "Untouched" has become the standard by which all other books will be judged. Matthew is a true hero, a man of honor with a gentle soul, incredibly brave, and handsome to boot. Sensitive readers, be forewarned: this is no light-hearted tale, certainly very rough in spots, truly dark and gothic. But what a satisfying story: original, well-written, and very moving. Brava, Ms. Campbell!

A unique romance where the hero and heroine are both captured prisoners and held by an evil uncle. They are confined to a cottage and its surrounding property, which is surrounded by unscalable walls and guards at the gate. He has been declared insane by his uncle, who has kept him for 11 years. She was mistaken for a whore, and kidnapped to provide him with 'entertainment'. In this strange setting, these two find a deep passionate love that will be greatly challenged. There are a few holes in the story that makes me doubt their inability to escape to safety or get help to prove him sane -- especially for all those years being guarded by nothing by old drunken fools -- but overall the imprisonment is believable enough. However, it is the romance and the ultimate conclusion that sets this book apart from being anything but average. It really was a great book, with enough sizzle to keep romance fans like me well satisfied.

This is Anna Campbell's second novel and it was even better than the first. Although the general plot was a bit fanciful the love story between the H/H was SO poignant and beautiful. This story was emotionally gripping and had me in tears at some of the heart-wrenching moments. The love scenes are very long but very passionate and tastefully written.

This book is very different from the usual stale historical romances I've been encountering lately. Having been throughly disappointed with the books that highly acclaimed authors (L. Kleypas, K. Macgregor just to name a few) have released in the last couple months, I'm happy to finally read a book an author has written that is superior to her previous release. Anna Campbell is definitely a rising star and I will be on the look out for her next book!

Anna Campbell blew me away with her first book "Claiming the Courtesan". It was like no other book I had read and I was wondering if she could do the same for me with her next installment. Well..she did and she passed with flying colors. This book again was like no other historical romance I'd read before. It was full of passion and raw emotion and the characters leaped off the pages on top of being a pretty original plot. I was completely captivated early on and continued on in anxiousness throughout finishing and the story kept me on the edge of my seat (or couch if you will). If she continues this way she will be on the top of many people's lists as a favorite author. I don't feel the need to go into deep detail of this story because so many others have done that very well. I just want to say I hope she continues to captivate me in future books as well as she has with these two. This story takes you on a real journey like so many books fail to do. I became deeply enthralled and captivated and felt as if I really knew these two lovely people. I truly hurt for the hero and felt his unending suffering and felt I was experiencing the pain for the heroine when they had to part for a lengthy period in the story. At times I just got totally lost in the emotion. It is hard for me to imagine any fan of historical romances not enjoying this book and not being touched by it. It is truly a work of art in my opinion and Ms. Campbell deserves an award. It was wonderful.

Grace Paget is appalled when she is mistaken for a common doxy and kidnapped. Grace is taken to the estate of a raving madman and expected to be used for his amusement. Though Grace protests her innocence, neither her captors nor the man who she is supposed to pleasure believe that she is really a respectable widow. When she refuses to play the trollop, she's given an ultimatum: seduce her quarry or be killed for her refusal.

Matthew Landsdowne, Marquess of Sheene, has been held captive in his own home for 11 years when Grace arrives. Matthew's uncle promised to obtain a whore so that Matthew would come to accept that he would never escape his captivity. Matthew is determined to resists the temptations of the beautiful trull who he is sure does his uncle's work. He will ignore her until she becomes weary of her game, then he will continue to live the isolated life to which he has become accustomed.

What these two don't realize is that they will need each other to overcome the circumstances in which they have been placed. If they can learn to trust each other and work together, perhaps they can both escape this nightmare unscathed.

I bought Untouched because I loved Anna Campbell's first book, Claiming the Courtesan. I have to say that more often than not when I do this with a first-time author I wind up disappointed because of what I like to call "the curse of the second book." I think it's so easy to become complacent when your first book is a runaway hit that it's easy to think you can take chances or risks that you otherwise might not have. In this case, they didn't work out, and made for a semi-boring and lackluster story.

Claiming the Courtesan is edgy, regency noir. It was not your typical historical romance. Campbell took chances there, including a scene of forcible seduction, that many authors would have been too afraid to try. The same is true of Untouched. Our hero is known as a madman, and we never really know for sure if it's true. He's been held captive in his own home for more than a decade. Our heroine is the first woman he's seen in all that time besides his elderly servant. It has the makings of a great love story, if we can overcome the potential snags. Namely, how can a hero who can barely protect himself protect our heroine? How can two people find love when they're both prisoners and their future is uncertain? How can we respect a woman who would seduce a man knowing that it means the end of his pride and hope for salvation? How indeed, and these are just a few of the questions that weren't answered to my satisfaction.

Untouched has the same sense of urgency, breathtaking romance, and flawed characters who can hope to fix each other that I found in Claiming the Courtesan. It's just the execution was flawed. Any other day I might give this story 4 stars, but I think the plot needed to be more thoroughly fleshed out and I think the ending was taking the easy way out. I liked this book, and I'll try more of Campbell's work, but it wasn't all that I'd hoped for.

Praise for this book led me to buy it. Really, I'm not at all sure how it got so many high ratings. The first 9 chapters go on and on and on about Matthew's madness and Grace not being a whore and a slut. For Pete sake! She's lying about being a whore, then she's telling the truth. They go back and forth about it and suddenly she's got the hots for him and it's a darned good thing too, because his evil Uncle has desided that if she doesn't have sex with his nephew by Saturday, well, then she'll just have to die. And of course, Matthew hates his uncle and won't fall into the plan by having sex with Grace despite raging horniness.

The ensuing dialog and "conflict" was a trial to read. Grace was annoying and Matthew pitifully unlikable. Matthew, an educated man, was smart/sane (whatever) enough to reason out why his uncle kept him prisoner, but too inept/insane to figure out how to get away from the 3 people who kept guard over him. Grace had no redeeming qualities.

I kept quit reading after 11 chapters and began to scan, looking for what was causing Matthew's "fits" and to see if they ever used their brains. This plot could have been very intriguing in the right writers hands. Would not recommend.

I had previously read Anna Campbell's "Claiming the Courtesan", and couldn't wait to see what she'd follow it up with. "Untouched" exceeded my every expectation. The writing sparkles, the characters come alive, and to say that the author puts a new and unexpected twist on a romance hero is an understatement.

Buy "Untouched", but don't sit down to read it till you have enough time to finish it. It's excellent. You won't want to do anything else till you've finished the story, and you will want to read it again right after you finish the final page.