The Sentinels Book 3: Touched by Light by Catherine Spangler

by shewolf0316 on July 7th, 2009, 11:13pm Login or Register to post comments

June 2, 2009 (Mass Market Paperback)
June 2, 2009 (Kindle eBook)
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Sensation
Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 4.5

A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!

At last we have another book in the wonderful The Sentinels series by Catherine Spangler! Touched by Light is every bit as full of adventure and emotion as the preceding books in the series.

Dr. Julia Reynolds has been through more trauma than any woman should have to face. Brutally attacked, raped, and permanently scarred, she hasn’t given up on at least some of her dreams, even if a romantic relationship is out of the question. Then she is sucked into a battle between good and evil when she is discovered to be a Conductor and the Sentinels needed her help to save her sister, Marla. (See Touched by Fire.)

Adam is one of an ancient people, a survivor of the lost world of Atlantis. He is a Sanctioned and his responsibility is to take care of all Sentinels under his command and help them capture the Belians. When one of the Sentinels goes missing, but is believed alive, Adam’s duty is to find him, especially when he fears that his friend has been tracked by an especially crafty and powerful Belian.

Adam comes to Julia to ask for her help once more, only to receive the shock of his many lifetimes. Julia is a perfectly matched Conductor to Adam but never before has a Sanctioned been gifted with such a treasure. Julia reluctantly agrees to help Adam find his missing Sentinel but her own life is about to get more complicated. Her attacker, William Bennett, is released from jail and he has plans for Julia. Danger is coming from all sides and Adam and Julia will have to tap into that bond between them if they hope to win this battle. Can they survive being Touched by Light?

I love the romance of Adam and Julia. Adam is floored by the revelation Julia is matched to him, treasuring this for the gift that it is. So it is no surprise that he overwhelms her with his presence, since he is not about to let this miracle go. Because of Julia’s past, she naturally has many doubts and fears about such an overpowering male being enamored of her. The interaction between these two is hot enough to set the house on fire. Intensity is added with the looming threat to the humans in Texas and those against Julia on a personal level.

The nearly two year long wait for Touched by Light was completely worth it! My heart bled for Julia and all she had suffered when I met her in Touched by Fire and I am so excited we finally get her story! Catherine Spangler does Julia justice with this powerfully emotional read. It was wonderful to see her blossom from a quiet introverted college professor to a strong and brave Conductor, with a few special abilities brought on by her trauma. She has to face those demons that have shadowed her since Bennett nearly killed her, and conquer them once and for all if she ever wants to find peace again. There is an especially compelling scene towards the end of Touched by Light that shows us just how far she has come.

Wow, Touched by Light is a powerhouse of a book. Full of fast paced action, sizzling sexual tension, intense emotions, a strong mystery, and a brilliantly developed world, I could not put this one down. This story is more complex than the preceding two books, requiring readers to pay close attention to keep up with what’s happening. Catherine Spangler has also expanded her universe with several surprises that are revealed, making us gasp in shock and surprise. The additional complexities enhance rather than detract from the main story with how they unfold.