TOUCHED

A star-crossed romance highlights this series opener about a girl who has paranormal powers to heal and the boy who should be her enemy.

Of course the two will fall in love but not before Remy’s back story lays the groundwork. Remy lives with her mother and her abusive stepfather, Dean, until he finally beats Remy severely enough to send her to the hospital. There, she meets her real father, Ben, who takes her to live with his family in Maine. Remy has healing powers, although to conceal her abilities, she doesn’t use them on herself. Finally finding a happy home life with Ben, she meets the devastatingly handsome, wealthy and mysterious Asher. It transpires that Asher is a Protector, a member of a paranormal group intent on killing all healers. Naturally, the two find themselves irresistibly attracted to each other. Like other Protectors, Asher has become immortal, a condition he regards as a curse, and lacks the senses of touch, smell or taste—both of which Remy may be able to cure. Jackson writes suspense skillfully, but the romance sections get a bit muddled due to the paranormal complexity that requires frequent expository dialogue. However, when a threat emerges toward the end of the book, the narrative springs to life again. Everything’s prepared for the sequels.

Good suspense, imaginative premise; perhaps a bit too much exposition.