Bess Dulaney loved Hunter MacDougall for as long as she can remember, yet he refuses to acknowledge that fact, leaving her frustrated and desperate. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she rides to his ranch for a confrontation, but things do not go as planned and Bess finds herself at the mercy of the notorious Rawlins Gang, who gun-down Hunter while kidnapping her. Watching the love of her life die in the dust at her feet plunges Bess into despair, and she wonders why she continues to fight for her honor except that to surrender is not in her nature. Rescued by Hunter—she remembers his sister Winter Fawn’s amazing healing ability—Bess joyously runs to him, but a stray bullet grazes her temple, and she wakes with no memory of who she is or how she came to be with this handsome stranger.

How can a half-breed expect to marry one of the richest and most beautiful women in the Territory? Hunter may be brother-in-law to Carson Dulaney, and Bess’ brother may be one of the most understanding of men, but Hunter knows Bess is too young to realize the consequence of marriage to a man such as he. He seeks to place distance between them, but when the Rawlins’s drag her from his side, Hunter knows nothing short of death will stop the love he feels for her. The Bess he returns to the Double D Ranch is not the same Bess kidnapped by the band of bank robbers. While she can not remember everything, bits and pieces gradually surface, assuring Hunter that the love she professes can no longer be denied.

Character development rules this novel, making it a superb choice for a “must read.” Janis Hudson draws a baseline for her characters and then, like a seamstress, stitches fabric into a garment that drapes and folds with intrigue growth, and passion. The plot, while simple in nature, has depths that turn and twist, adding substance and maturity that draws the reader from page to page. The subtle workings of the criminal mind spin a thread of malevolence that heightens tension and creates a foil as good battles evil. Janis Hudson is an author with a treasure trove of novels to her credit, and with Hunter’s Touch she adds another jewel to the cache.