Touched is the first book in A.J. Aalto’s Urban Fantasy series The Marnie Baranuik Files.
About The Book
The media has a nickname for Marnie Baranuik, though she’d rather they didn’t; they call her the Great White Shark, a rare dual-talented forensic psychic. Twice-Touched by
the Blue Sense–which gives her the ability to feel the emotions of others, and read impressions left behind on objects–Marnie also has a doctorate in preternatural biology and a working knowledge of the dark arts. She is considered without peer in the psychic community.
Then her first big FBI case ended with a bullet in one shoulder and a chip on the other, a queasy heart and a serial killer in the wind, leaving her a public flop and a private wreck. When the FBI’s preternatural crimes unit tracks her down at a remote mountain lodge for her insight on a local case, her quiet retirement is promptly besieged by a stab-happy starlet, a rampaging ghoul, and a vampire-hunting jackass in tight Wranglers. Marnie figures the only real mystery is which one will kill her first.
Too mean to die young, backed up by friends in cold places, and running with a mouth as demure as a cannon’s blast, Marnie Baranuik is about to discover that there’s no such thing as quitting time when you’re Touched.
Amazon | Goodreads
My Thoughts
Touched was my first novel written by author AJ Aalto and what a great start to a new reading venture.
Touched is an unique twist for anyone looking to move past the overdone world of sparkly romanticized vampires. This is not a typical paranormal romance novel where the vampire bites the heroine and they fall in love. Touched is far more than that. With strong sexual references and lots of steamy tension, AJ Aalto takes the reader down a wonderlandic path of pent up lust and desire.
The characters of Touched are so well contrived that you can easily have them imprinted into the walls of your mind.
I thoroughly enjoyed Marnie Baranuik’s personality in this book. She is strong willed and determined and a bit clueless, in the most charming way. Oh and not to mention quirky as hell. She had me laughing more times that not.
Miss Aalto is a clever and imaginative writer. Touched was an original and inventive read. Witty and entertaining from the first page to the last.
The is a must read for all of you Urban Fantasy/ Paranomal readers looking for a change in pace. I give Touched 4.5 stars and I see book 2 Death Rejoices in my very near future.
About The Author
AJ Aalto is the author of the paranormal mystery series The Marnie Baranuik Files. Aalto is an unrepentant liar and a writer of blathering nonsense offset by factual gore. When
not working on her novels, you can find her singing Monty Python songs in the shower, eavesdropping on perfect strangers, stalking her eye doctor, or failing at one of her fruitless hobbies. Generally a fan of anyone with a passion for the ridiculous, she has a weak spot for smug pseudo-intellectuals and narcissistic jerks; readers will find her work littered with flawed monsters and oodles of snark.
AJ cannot say no to a Snickers bar and has been known to swallow her gum.
Whiskey Angel Life 