THE TOUCH

Scotswoman Elizabeth Drummond is transplanted to Australia to begin a new life with her betrothed, Alexander Kinross, whose gold mine is growing into an empire. Gradually, as Elizabeth's love for her husband grows cold, the spark of friendship between her and Alexander's mistress blossoms into love. She also faces trouble, including the unexpected pregnancy of her under-aged mentally retarded daughter, who is unable to care for the child. Jenny Sterlin keeps the narrative moving well and has a good ear for accents and voices. Some of the sexual content in this novel is explicit; this would not be a good listening choice for a family vacation. While THE TOUCH is well crafted, its plot and character development lack richness and complexity. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]