Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

I am very particular about my romance books. I like contemporary small-town,. historical or suspense. I thought this one leaned more towards suspense and unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected so I found it difficult to stay in engaged. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this series.

This is another of my blogger shame books that fell through the cracks last year, but I was happy to find it in audio for my latest road trip. I really liked the first book, and I was glad to see that the Blank Canvas series is staying in small town Virginia with our philanthropic dermatologist and her tattooed and traumatized patients.

In By Her Touch, our heroine is the doctor herself - Georgette "George" Hadley. George has her own sad tale as a young widow yearning for a child and acting as part-time caretaker for her former in-laws. But she doesn't let that stop her from being a caring and productive member of her small town. She has a particular soft spot for people who want tattoos removed due to a troubled history or some form of abuse, and she often takes those cases on pro bono. I liked George. Her character is kinda sad and she seems to be going through a crisis period, and I got drawn in to her plight and story quite easily. She was definitely a sympathetic heroine.

Clay Navarro has arrived in Virginia in hiding and needing the doctor's help. After going undercover with a violent motorcycle gang, Clay barely survived and was left scarred, both physically and mentally. Clay is constantly looking over his shoulder and wondering who he can trust, but he also feels an undeniable pull toward our good doctor. Unfortunately, Clay's multitude of issues includes low self worth. He doesn't feel worthy of the doctor or happiness, and he struggles with that throughout the book. I felt really bad for Clay's character and the wounds he suffered during his undercover assignment. You could tell that he was a good guy, but it took some work to make him believe that again.

This was not an instalove relationship. Clay and George started out with a doctor/patient relationship and, though the attraction was there, neither was quick to act on it. Then when things were getting a little more friendly between the two, their issues put a wall up between them. But I liked the slow building romance as our couple were on friendly terms before things progressed to a more intimate nature.

Of course, the entire time our relationship is building, danger is coming closer. Clay still has went to trial for the work he did as an undercover agent, and he is in hiding from the outlaw gang. While they are actively hunting him, Clay has to worry that he will bring danger into the small town and those he has come to care about. This darker element gave the story an edge that you didn't escape while reading and it almost felt like the reader was looking over their shoulder right along with our hero.

I recommend this series to anyone who likes characters who are a little broken or have issues that need to be addressed before a relationship can blossom.

"By Her Touch," the second book in the Blank Canvas series by Adriana Anders is as heart wrenching as the first book while tugging at your heartstrings from a different angle.

A medical doctor and an undercover cop met in the most unusual circumstances. Clay Navarro asked Dr. Georgette Hadley to erase his biker gang tattoos. Handsome and tough, Clay can be very scary to look at. But though George was wary of him, she cannot disregard the attraction that simmered between them.

Giving in to it felt right, and it seemed that for both Clay and George, they were going in the right path, that is, until Clay's past caught up with him and then all hell broke loose.

With the current wave of distrust between citizens and cops, "By Her Touch" reminds readers the sacrifices that our men and women in blue do to keep the criminal elements at bay. For this alone, I could give the book a 5-star rating.

But, it will be amiss of me if I did not mention that all the characters in the book are three-dimensional, even the supporting cast and as we say in video games, even the baddies. It is very easy to empathize with Clay and George. It was also very easy to like the Sheriff and George's in-laws and neighbors. The baddies, of course are scary in their own right.

"By Her Touch" is Rated M for Mature due to violence and sexual content.

By Her Touch is a lovely small town romance with a dark side. Clay Navarro and George both have their own troubled pasts and were good people. I was so happy to see George find someone who could potentially be the one to help her heal after being a such a self-less and caring person and losing her husband. Adriana Anders does an amazing job at combining small town romance and suspenseful mysteries. 
I also loved the little glimpses of characters from the first Blank Canvas book 1, Under Her Skin and I'm hoping the trend will continue in book 3, In His Hands.
I voluntarily received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**This is book 2 in the Blank Canvas series, but it can be read as a standalone**

I can pretty much read anything. As a literature student I have to get through books, even if I really dislike them. By Her Touch is one of the rare books that beat me. I just couldn't finish it. I should start by saying that this is not a 'bad' book. There are some interesting things happening here, and I applaud Adriana Anders for creating well rounded, conflicted characters. The problem was the pacing. This book just seemed to go on for ever. 400 pages was just too much for this. There were long periods of time when nothing happened. I felt like I was just reading about the day to day actions of these people. I am all about a slow burning romance, I enjoy character building but literally it was pages and pages of nothing. I just couldn't cope.

Also (and this is a bit of a spoiler) I was quite annoyed when George got physically assaulted, as in beaten up, by a bunch of druggies and it was just brushed off. It's her fault for getting involved in a 'domestic' (nope, nope, nope) and Clay WHO IS A POLICEMAN and saves her (eye roll) doesn't want her to report it because he doesn't want any one to know where he is! This makes him a pretty shit policeman and I would argue, not a great man. Violence happens, I do not object to it being in books, as long as it supports the storyline and has a real purpose and isn't used just to further a romance. It has to be treated properly because it is important, and real, and happens to people everyday. In my opinion it was not treated properly here.

Sorry for the rant but it really rubbed me the wrong way.

Title: By Her Touch, the second book in the Blank Canvas series.
Author: Adriana Anders
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks

Blurb from Goodreads:

Undercover cop Clay Navarro left the Sultans biker gang a changed man. Its ringleaders may be awaiting trial, but he wears the memory of every brutal act he was forced to commit tattooed across his skin. He doesn't have space in his messed-up life for anything gentle--not now, maybe not ever. Dr. Georgette Hadley is drawn to the damaged stranger's pain, intimidated but intrigued by the warmth that lies beneath Clay's frightening exterior. But when the Sultans return looking for revenge, she finds herself drawn into the dirty underbelly of a life forged in violence...that not even her touch may be able to heal.

Review:

First, if you haven’t read the first book in the series Under Her Skin I suggest you pick it up and start reading immediately because it is a masterpiece that needs to be worshipped. You can read my review of it here.

Now onto the good stuff: This book will hold you spellbound. SPELLBOUND. I don’t know how Ms. Anders does it, but she is going to make you feel things that have you wondering whether you’ve ever really felt anything before. She had my skin itching, my heart thumping, and my whole body tense with despair, hope, love, fear, and relief (not necessarily in that order). I swear there’s a permanent knot in my back from clutching my Kindle to my chest so hard that I’m surprised it didn’t snap in half.

We met George, the selfless tattoo removal specialist in the first book of the series, Under Her Skin. That’s really the only reason you would need to read the first book first, but I still recommend it because it’s so heart-breaking and unbelievably well written that you’ll be thinking about it days later. If that’s not a good enough reason to read a book then I’m not sure what your motivation to read is.

George is smart and kind and, while altogether functioning, a little broken. She and her pages bypass the fiction world and grab you right by your heart. There’s no other way to explain it really. You just read and hope that she figures things out in the end, like we all hope to do. Clay- handsome, dangerous, miserable Clay- is quite the male protagonist. He’s strong and capable and a protector at heart, but watching him battle with himself over his past and present and future is a despairing experience. You want to reach through the pages, wrap the guy up in your arms, and vow to protect him from himself.

There are no perfect characters in Ms. Anders’ books. Her characters are real and in such pain that you forget they’re fiction and find yourself praying that they find the peace they deserve. It’s a refreshing experience from the flawless, strong, and steadfast characters that we so often find (and love) in other novels.

The best part of this particular novel? Ms. Anders can write. These are some of the best written, most captivating and unforgettable books that I’ve read in a long time. The chemistry between her characters is unique, volatile, and passionate without being over-the-top or roll-your-eyes cliché. Her overarching plot is exceptional and I’ve never read anything like it. And the way she writes is unbelievably poetic, the words just falling into you as you make your way through the world she has created.

Adriana Anders has quickly moved up to my list of "authors to watch out for" since reading her first book, "Under Her Skin". Her writing is a blend of emotionally driven characters, solid plots and a romance that seamlessly ties them all together. In "By Her Touch" Ms. Anders has chosen as her female protagonist the person who gives hope to those who have lost all semblance of it and in her healing touch is able to slowly bringing them back to the land of the living. George Hadley is an exceptional character, also bruised and scarred like her patients, she has a soft spot for those whose need is more than physical. But when Clay Navarro walks into her clinic, menacing, inked and scarred she experiences her the first stirring of emotions she has long forgotten. Clay needs to get rid of the tattoos that have become part of a life that he has hated for the last two years. He's given another chance to live his life but at a cost to his emotional and psychological well being. Walking in George's clinic was his last salvation but it's the intriguing doctor that stirs up hope in his heart.

Again, no disappointed reader her. "By Her Touch" is well written, engaging, captivating, bittersweet and in certain moments innocent because of the characters of George and Clay. This author manages to craft beautiful and emotionally rendering stories centered around the theme of tattoo removals. The procedure itself is interesting but its the human element that really elevates these books. It's only fitting that the person responsible for giving hope gets her own happy ending. Highly recommended.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in the series, and after being very impressed by Under Her Skin, I was delighted to read this latest release. It is set in the same town and we see a little of the previous protagonists, but this time it is Dr. Hadley who gets her story told.

She is asked by a very big, scary, biker type to remove some truly awful tattoos, which we discover have a very dark provenance. In spite of her natural fear, she recognises a man full of hurt and cannot turn him away.

And so starts an amazingly slow, meaningful, tortured relationship between two very wary individuals. The build up to the climax is unbelievably long, but completely addictive. Knowing that something has to go wrong gets under the reader’s skin and draws out the angst to crazy levels.

If you like a book to give you full intense reading value, then this will do it in spades. I was, by turns, so engaged that I could not put it down, and then so tense that I did not want to read on... of course once I got to a certain stage, a hurricane could have blown through and I wouldn't have noticed!

Thank you Ms. Anders, another fascinating read.

From the first page until the last this book keeps you on the edge of your seat watching as the past comes back to haunt two people whose lives and emotions have been tainted by their experiences. For far too long they've felt alone but together they find a bit of peace and quiet from the storms of fate creeping ever closer to the heaven they've found in each other's arms.

Clay was once part of a happy family until tragedy struck and took away his sister, leaving him vowing revenge on those who corrupted her on her path to destruction. As an undercover cop his plan was to infiltrate the Sultans MC and bring them to justice while making them pay for the pain his sister's death caused him. His first meeting with them was just the beginning of true pain though as he soon lost himself in their lifestyle. His language became crude, his conscience went into hibernation, and his heart became hardened. These emotional scars were only part of what he suffered as his body too was mutilated with a few tattoos he wanted, as well as a few that were applied in the name of torture. With his mission concluded there's still plenty of danger as some members escaped in order to make those who brought their MC down pay. Clay's now on the run, from his former Brothers as well as those who once swore to protect him, while trying to overcome the mental and physical scars his recent mission left him with. Desperate to get rid of the tattoos marking the loss of his soul puts him in contact with Doctor Hadley, a sweet and accepting women sworn to help those in need. The moment she touches him he finally sees a glimpse of the peace he's been longing for from his mind that's full of chaos. The closer they get the more he's able to rediscover the man he once was, but with their time together running out because of a sadistic Brother's rage readers will be left hanging on for dear life as their romance races towards a thrilling conclusion. Clay's a truly good man who was willing to sell his soul to avenge his sister. He committed some very questionable acts as a Brother and hates who he's become because of it. Removing the Sultans' tats is the first step in finding himself again but being with George is the greater cure to the pain he's dealing with. Her unquestionable belief in his goodness and the words of love she offers him give him hope and it's that hope that gets him through the danger he's brought to her doorstep. Clay's a compelling character who you can't help but fall for. He's a bit rough around the edges at the start but as the story progresses his protective side emerges as well as moments where he wears his heart on his sleeve. He's a sexy beast too full of dirty talk and an air of animal magnetism when it comes to their erotic encounters. He oozes sex appeal as well as a tender heart that had me rooting for him to find the HEA he richly deserves.

George's past is riddled with pain too, but her scars run much deeper. Teen years steeped in anger led to rebellion, poor choices, and an act that haunts her still. The only bright spot during that time was meeting her husband who helped her get her life back on track. Their happiness was short-lived though as his death from cancer took her through heartbreaking highs and lows to ultimately leave her in isolation as she hardened her heart. Keeping to herself means keeping her heart safe but living in a small town makes that difficult as the denizens subtly work to bring her out of her shell. Meeting Clay drags her out of her shell though as his dichotomy of scary and lost call to her. She soon longs to do more than just remove his tats as his overwhelming sensuality reawakens her desires and has her crossing the doctor/patient line with scorching interludes the result. With his PSTD becoming more obvious she stands by his side, giving him unconditional love, knowing that he could leave at any point. When the remaining Sultans finally catch up to him she gets caught in the crossfire in a pulse-pounding conclusion. And just as she realizes what she truly wants out of life it may well be the last thought she has as a psycho plans to use her to hurt Clay worse than anything he did to him before. George is a very caring person, almost too caring as she feels obligated to make up for a past she has no reason to feel guilt over. Her devotion to her in-laws is commendable too but a big decision she's made seems to be more for their happiness than for her own. Her quiet support of Clay, her acceptance of all he's done, ultimately make her a strong-willed heroine which is just what he needs as he struggles to put his own past behind him. Being with Clay has George finally putting her heart on the line as she tries to save him from himself. Through scorching encounters George learns more about herself and who and what she needs to be happy which has her fighting for her and Clay's life despite her hatred of violence in a heart-stopping conclusion.

This was an intense story at times. Seeing what kind of man Clay devolved into was unsettling and heartbreaking as deep down he's a good man trying to stay good despite his need for revenge. The pain he went through as a Sultan brought a tear to my eye as the brutality of that time was vividly depicted. Fellow Brother Ape was particularly vicious and images of him still show up in my nightmares. Making that time worse is the fact that a traitor sold him out. The identity of the traitor was obvious to me but it didn't diminish the betrayal's impact. George was a bright spot amidst all this pain though she too had plenty of emotional baggage. Their mutual emotional baggage is what had them clinging to each other, supporting each other, in a tale that ultimately had me cheering for their hard-fought conclusion. While the main couple was unforgettable so too were those secondary characters who pushed them towards HEA in both subtle and blatant ways. From the fatherly sheriff to the spunky next-door neighbor these characters left an indelible mark that added to the small-town charm and has me longing to see more of them in future installments. From start to finish this was a powerful read and a strong follow-up to the previous installment in the Blank Canvas series that I highly recommend to readers looking for a profound and unforgettable romance!

This is a really intriguing and unique series, and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book. The characters are wonderfully flawed, and the plot was really powerful. Highly recommended!

4 Stars

I really enjoyed reading By Her Touch by Adriana Anders, it was one of those books you didn't want to put down.
The writing is well done, the characters Clay & Georgette "George" were likable, entertaining and I loved watching their relationship unfold.

By Her Touch is a beautiful, heartfelt read and I highly recommend it.

*Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the advance copy.*

Wow, I just wanted to sneak a peek...and couldn't stop reading till the end. Loved it!
I already loved "Under her skin", the first book in this series where we meet Dr. Georgette Hadley and her friends and neighbours for the first time but "By Her Touch" was at least as good as that one, maybe even a bit more intense.
Usually I'm a bit wary when it comes to books that are marked as dark tales but this book deals with dark emotions and dark happenings while giving hope and showing how people get to heal.
The reader catches glimpses of the terrifying events that lead to Clay's flight to this small town where George and her friends live. Due to book n°1 we already know that this town, no matter how small it is, has already seen a number of things happen and we know that there are some very compassionate, very helpful and loyal people living here. Clay -and George - will need them.

Clay had been a part of the Sultans, a very brutal biker gang, for a very long time when the police finally make their move. Torn between the loyalty to his job as an undercover cop and to his "brothers" in the gang, he carries the reminders of his time around. Those scars that are visible, are not necessarily the worst....and those are already, well, let's just say, that it won't be easy for him to win a beauty contest right now.
And when he learns that he can't trust anyone at his office any longer....right. Sometimes it's a pretty good thing that there are some amazing people around in this small town who have your back, even if they don't know much about you.

I loved the story and I loved the chemistry between our hero and our heroine - and I loved this wonderful, small town with its meddling and loyal citizens. And, well, I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series, "In His Hands", that will be out at the beginning of August!

I was a little disappointed because I had a harder time getting into this book than Under Her Skin. I got about 25 percent of the way through, put it down, and never picked it back up again. I'd like to finish, though, because I really liked Under Her Skin. When I do, I'll update my comments.

By Her Touch by Adriana Anders is book two in her Blank Canvas series and in my opinion better written than book one. Just as emotionally erotic, I really felt Anders goes above and beyond with her in-depth characterization of both hero and heroine, the joint background reveals, and the verbalization of their pain, and their individual issues with intimacy. The hint of mystery and suspense only adds to the appeal. A sure fire winner.

There are stories where the pain in the lives of the characters affect me so much that I struggle with the words to convey to you why I feel as I do about By Her Touch. In the end I simply have to accept that every reader reacts in their own fashion to an intense story, and encourage you to take the journey that the Blank Canvas series presents.

Clay has been undercover for…. too long, deep within the MC who murdered a loved one. He’s been outed and bears the scars and markings branding him a traitor to the MC. Now he’s in hiding, awaiting the trial to put the scum behind bars where they belong. In the meantime, he’s looking to remove some of the tattoos that mark him. He turns to one doctor, never realizing the role she would play in his life and the danger just knowing about him will place her in.

Georgette has pain of her own, and she recognizes the pain her newest client is holding beneath the ink on his body. The cruelty of the forced tattoos as well as the intent behind them is soon obvious as George and Clay become so much more than client and patient. While the attraction between them is slowly burning, the MC makes a move that will place them both in extreme danger. Now Clay not only has to protect this amazing woman, but come to terms with just how important she’s become to him.

By Her Touch is intense. It’s also a beautiful journey for two broken people to heal, to love, to finally live free once again. There are situations in this story that could be triggers – abuse, violence are part of this couple’s journey. While I’d love for you to enjoy this story, protect yourself first of all.

This story is one that I can only strongly encourage you to experience for yourself. There is beauty to be found within the pain and chaos involved, the characters both main and secondary are believable and the emotions strong.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

By Her Touch is the second book in the series, however, it can be read as a standalone. I have read book 1 and since it's based on a small town, you do see the characters from that book into this one but you will not be confused if you skip it.

However, I would recommend reading both books, just because I really like this authors style and enjoyed both stories. They may have some triggers for readers. Main characters, as well as some of the side characters, have lived through abuse and real life tragedies.

Our main characters in By Her Touch have both seen their own heartbreak and violence. Dr. Georgette Hadley is a dermatologist but also specializes in removing tattoo's. We got to see a glimpse of her in the first book when Uma sought her out to remove tattoos that were forced on her by her abusive ex.

George has known tragedy in her life as well. Her husband died of cancer 10 years prior and she has lived a pretty solitaire existence since. She meets our hero, special agent Clay Navarro when he seeks her out to remove tattoos forced on him while he was undercover.

Clay went undercover to become a Sultan MC in hopes to take down the men who killed his little sister. When the club finds out Clay is a cop, they tattoo his eye lids and knuckles branding him as a cop and a dead man. He barely makes it out alive and now he is in hiding until he can testify. Clay seeks George out to get the tattoos removed. Like a lot of cops coming out of undercover work, he's struggling with the things he did while undercover and becoming the cop he once was.

This is a beautiful series by Adriana Anders. I always want to see people overcome tragedy in their lives and have that happy ever after they so deserve. It's one of the things I'm enjoying about this series. She's providing real life characters and situations in these books and I love how the author is taking us step by step in these peoples lives, from hopelessness to awareness to happiness.

Clay Navarro is waiting for the trial to begin he is the star witness after being undercover with the* Sultan MC as an agent for the ATF it is touch and go. He is now a wanted man, scarred with tats that are another death sentence. He falls off the grid completely. Picks Blackwood Virginia to get rid of his tats and bumps into one Dr. Georgette Hadley. George Hadley has been widowed for ten years. Time is running out for her to use the sperm of her deceased husband to get pregnant. She still has strong ties with her in-laws so she's torn on that one.

There were also times where the time frame just seemed skewered. Our heroine states that she has none the Hero for a week. But by my calculation it was much, much longer. Then there was an appointment which was taking place on the Wednesday no date mentioned so technically it would imply the coming week but it was mentioned that it is weeks later. I like the MC in the book they have everything good strong characters need but the lack of interaction ruined it for me.

Her libido was in hibernation until Clay Navarro came in to town to get his tattoos removed. They have mutual attraction but it takes them ages to act on it. And of course George gets Jessie to stick her nose into things that shouldn't.

This like the other is a slow cooker romance but here I liked the characters more than in the first book but still there was a lot of repetitiveness and slightly predictable in places. Now I don't necessarily need sex to make a book stand out but I was literally begging for it to happen here. When they finally did get to doing the nasty I skimmed for whatever reason my limit was hit.

Ms. Anders and I are not a match made in heaven. It is no fault but my own. This book heck this series has received a ton of positive reviews so in the grand scheme of well everything take mine with a pinch of salt. For those of you who follow my reviews you know I try to finish a book but lately? Well it's been hard to scrape the energy together to finish a book and to be honest I am quite embarrassed by it. I do not want to be one of those reviewers you know?