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A Blind Eye
Life has dealt Christian Morris one blow too many. After his mother's untimely death left him in the care of his distant, workaholic father, family life became anything but happy. Now, after eight years of neglect and loneliness, he cant think of a reason to stay. The promise of a new beginning beckons, and with bags packed, Christian embarks on what he anticipates will be an uneventful road trip to Canada and freedom from his pain. But in a twist of fate, his plans take a drastic detour in the form of a beautiful and frightened girl. Scarlett, a British teenager, suddenly appears in his life and shes in trouble. Blind since birth, Scarlett Becket has virtually been abandoned. Following her completion of school, Scarlett's world is shattered the night she's abducted from her temporary London flat. Unable to see her kidnappers, she is uncertain as to who they are or why they chose her. What she does know is that in a series of vivid dreams, much like those she has had before, she has foreseen a grisly murder and this time, shes the victim. Scarlett's narrow escape and encounter with Christian has provided her a temporary refuge, but its only a matter of time before her captors pick up her trail. Determined to protect Scarlett, whatever the price, Christian embarks on a dangerous course as he fights to keep her alive. And in entering the twisted maze of betrayal and redemption, he quickly realizes that life looks different when you may not live to see tomorrow.
163 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 15, 2013
Loved it! Read it in two days!
Things I liked:
1. It's written from a teen boy perspective and I found it very believable.
2. The chapter-ends and the pacing, very good!
3. That there are no paranormal elements :) Just a good, clean, YA suspense!
4. The MC's relationship with his dad. Loved it.
5. That it is a story about change and healing.
Disclosure: Yes, I know the author, but that doesn't change the things I liked about the book and my pure enjoyment of it!
Content Warning: None, recommended for all ages!
Things I liked:
1. It's written from a teen boy perspective and I found it very believable.
2. The chapter-ends and the pacing, very good!
3. That there are no paranormal elements :) Just a good, clean, YA suspense!
4. The MC's relationship with his dad. Loved it.
5. That it is a story about change and healing.
Disclosure: Yes, I know the author, but that doesn't change the things I liked about the book and my pure enjoyment of it!
Content Warning: None, recommended for all ages!
February 6, 2013
It engages you right from the beginning. Loved the two main characters. A well paced, exciting overall great read!
February 4, 2013
A great read with gripping action and multi-dimensional characters. More YA than adult, but adults won't be disappointed.
January 27, 2026
This one had me hooked, for sure!
July 21, 2021
Wow. That was unexpected. I randomly picked this off of deseret bookshelf without knowing anything about it. But it was the perfect book to read sick in bed :p besides the fact that I spent the whole book either crying for Christian or hacking my lungs our :D All that aside, I enjoyed A Blind Eye a lot! It was engaging and entertaining and I couldn't have asked for a better quick read. Aw man I love Christian so much too XD And it was completely clean! Yay! I definitely recommend.
February 6, 2013
Great book. You'll love Christian and Scarlett. I hope for more books from this excellent author! (perhaps a sequel...?)
June 17, 2017
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Seventeen-year-old Christian Morris decides the only way to save himself from his father's neglect is to run away from home. On his way out of town, he finds a stowaway hiding in his car—Scarlett, who has been kidnapped from London. Blind since birth, Scarlett has developed a sixth sense: she dreams about someone’s death before it happens. And now, she has dreamed about her own.
Christian’s attempt to leave home turns into a race to save Scarlett from death by scientific experimentation. His growing relationship with the girl helps him to look past his own blindness and confront the truth about his father. But first, he must find the kidnappers before they can get to Scarlett.
MY TAKE
The story pulled me in right away. I felt for Christian's situation immediately. So much of people's self-esteem is based on what their parents think of them, the people who would love them no matter what. And if your only remaining parents calls you "nothing"? Tough place to be in.
But the story is deeper than it seems in the beginning, especially when Christian finds Scarlett in the back of his after he visits his mother's grave. That's when the story turns into a wild rollercoaster ride. There's plenty of action. The characters you should want to like, you do. Those you should want to hate, you do.
The resolution, though rocky, is satisfying and hopeful.
4 1/2 stars because I did have a few issues.
***spoiler alert***
I had a few issues.
* I thought Christian's initial response to Scarlett's claim to have been kidnapped was pretty low key. He did blow it off but came back to it later, so it had registered with him. Why not be more curious right up front? I would have. I'd have been worried.
* Red flags flew all over the place when the British "friend" showed up to claim Scarlett. Um, passport anyone? If she had been smuggled our of London and brought to the US, she didn't have one, yet this guy was going to get her out again? It just stretched the believability that Christian didn't wonder about how she was going to get out. I would assume that a family with a lot of money might have traveled internationally, even if only to a Mexican resort or into Canada.
* A man showed up at Christian's school claiming to be his father and chased him down the hall. Christian's friend didn't seem to think anything about it, and no one reported anything?
Seventeen-year-old Christian Morris decides the only way to save himself from his father's neglect is to run away from home. On his way out of town, he finds a stowaway hiding in his car—Scarlett, who has been kidnapped from London. Blind since birth, Scarlett has developed a sixth sense: she dreams about someone’s death before it happens. And now, she has dreamed about her own.
Christian’s attempt to leave home turns into a race to save Scarlett from death by scientific experimentation. His growing relationship with the girl helps him to look past his own blindness and confront the truth about his father. But first, he must find the kidnappers before they can get to Scarlett.
MY TAKE
The story pulled me in right away. I felt for Christian's situation immediately. So much of people's self-esteem is based on what their parents think of them, the people who would love them no matter what. And if your only remaining parents calls you "nothing"? Tough place to be in.
But the story is deeper than it seems in the beginning, especially when Christian finds Scarlett in the back of his after he visits his mother's grave. That's when the story turns into a wild rollercoaster ride. There's plenty of action. The characters you should want to like, you do. Those you should want to hate, you do.
The resolution, though rocky, is satisfying and hopeful.
4 1/2 stars because I did have a few issues.
***spoiler alert***
I had a few issues.
* I thought Christian's initial response to Scarlett's claim to have been kidnapped was pretty low key. He did blow it off but came back to it later, so it had registered with him. Why not be more curious right up front? I would have. I'd have been worried.
* Red flags flew all over the place when the British "friend" showed up to claim Scarlett. Um, passport anyone? If she had been smuggled our of London and brought to the US, she didn't have one, yet this guy was going to get her out again? It just stretched the believability that Christian didn't wonder about how she was going to get out. I would assume that a family with a lot of money might have traveled internationally, even if only to a Mexican resort or into Canada.
* A man showed up at Christian's school claiming to be his father and chased him down the hall. Christian's friend didn't seem to think anything about it, and no one reported anything?
February 13, 2013
LOVE! If you like young adult romantic mysteries (which I do), then this book is for you. A few things I like about it:
- The main girl is British, so she says lots of funny things. My favorite is "Crikey O'Reilly".
- The boy telling the story from a first person perspective actually sounds like a boy to me. I'm not a boy, so I can't say for sure how they think, but I've read a few books where a woman tries to write from a male perspective and it just doesn't sound right. This is not one of those books.
- There are a lot of funny lines slipped in throughout the book.
- Good amount of romance without getting too mushy.
- Both main characters are likeable.
- I liked a lot of specific things about the end, but I can't list them without giving spoilers. So I'll just say I liked the way the end was written.
- The main girl is British, so she says lots of funny things. My favorite is "Crikey O'Reilly".
- The boy telling the story from a first person perspective actually sounds like a boy to me. I'm not a boy, so I can't say for sure how they think, but I've read a few books where a woman tries to write from a male perspective and it just doesn't sound right. This is not one of those books.
- There are a lot of funny lines slipped in throughout the book.
- Good amount of romance without getting too mushy.
- Both main characters are likeable.
- I liked a lot of specific things about the end, but I can't list them without giving spoilers. So I'll just say I liked the way the end was written.
February 11, 2013
Julie Daines knocked it out of the park! The pacing was just right. Lots of edge of your seat tension, but moments of quiet and humor too. Plausible character motivation and action. Strong, believable characters. Solid writing.
This book is fantastic! Trust me on this one. Read it! I give it 5 stars. Recommended to teen readers, 14 and up, who like contemporary mystery/suspense/action and to adults who like a good suspense without the gore.
Full review at: http://bit.ly/WUqfWv
This book is fantastic! Trust me on this one. Read it! I give it 5 stars. Recommended to teen readers, 14 and up, who like contemporary mystery/suspense/action and to adults who like a good suspense without the gore.
Full review at: http://bit.ly/WUqfWv
September 1, 2021
This is great young adult fiction. The main character Christian (as narrator) is well developed, the pacing is quick, there's a lot of action and a little romance. I couldn't put it down. It's a perfect book to recommend to a teenager, boy or girl. Moms who read YA fiction because of content will also love this.
February 2, 2013
One of my favorite YA adult books in a long while! The plot was perfectly paced, I LOVED the two main characters, and the fact that it's told from a male point of view is so refreshing (we haven't had a good male POV since Harry Potter). Just the right blend of mystery, action, and romance. Excited to read more books from this awesome debut author!
April 13, 2013
Fantastic! Incredible! This was an engaging and page turning book. An attention grabbing plot with a romantic twist. It is hard to find a book with such a intriguing storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes action, suspense, and or romance novels.
February 12, 2013
I loved the premise for this book. A blind girl that can "see" the future and stows away in the truck of a boy running away from home! I liked the characters & the writing style. Good debut novel!
July 29, 2015
Teenage Christian decides to run away and picks up a blind British girl who has escaped kidnappers. Chaos ensues.
December 21, 2016
This book was very suspenseful and a quick read. I thought it was very well done and different from the usual mysteries.
May 17, 2013
Seventeen year old Christian decides to run away from home, but before he gets too far, he finds a blind British stowaway (Scarlett) in his car--and she has almost a sixth sense. She can see people dying before they die.
Christian wavers between being old for his years and acting his age. On one hand, he'll do about anything to feel loved by his father and on the other hand, he reacts to situations in a very grown up way. Scarlett is like Wonder Woman. I guess if a person was blind from birth, she would be pretty fearless, but the thought of trying to escape and run and avoid dying, all while not being able to see a thing is pretty scary, yet it didn't faze her too much.
I thought the suspense and mystery elements were really good, even though the story was pretty short (less than 200 pages). I never felt cheated until the very end--it seemed to resolve a bit too fast for me.
Jay seemed like a really good friend, but didn't play a big part in the story. I would have liked to have him more developed and a part of things, especially since he was supposedly a big part of Christian's life. I also wasn't very satisfied with Christian's relationship with his father. There were hints that he cared, yet I didn't see that and would have liked to have seen that flesh out more.
And last, but not least, I love how the chapters were titled.
Content: murder (not much detailed description).
Katie's Clean Book Collection blog
Christian wavers between being old for his years and acting his age. On one hand, he'll do about anything to feel loved by his father and on the other hand, he reacts to situations in a very grown up way. Scarlett is like Wonder Woman. I guess if a person was blind from birth, she would be pretty fearless, but the thought of trying to escape and run and avoid dying, all while not being able to see a thing is pretty scary, yet it didn't faze her too much.
I thought the suspense and mystery elements were really good, even though the story was pretty short (less than 200 pages). I never felt cheated until the very end--it seemed to resolve a bit too fast for me.
Jay seemed like a really good friend, but didn't play a big part in the story. I would have liked to have him more developed and a part of things, especially since he was supposedly a big part of Christian's life. I also wasn't very satisfied with Christian's relationship with his father. There were hints that he cared, yet I didn't see that and would have liked to have seen that flesh out more.
And last, but not least, I love how the chapters were titled.
Content: murder (not much detailed description).
Katie's Clean Book Collection blog
February 15, 2013
5 stars for Julie Daines first novel! I read this book in 2 days and was completely captivated with the story. As 2 diverse characters meet and embark on a whirlwind of various adventures, I could visualize all of it through Julie's ability to articulate their emotions, scenes, and appearances so clearly. There is witty humor sprinkled throughout the story and I actually laughed out loud a few times (which I never do). As I read I found myself asking, "how is this going to end"? I'm a sucker for happy endings and was thrilled with the conclusion that was not an over-the-top fairy tale ending which made the story feel more real. Do I anticipate a sequel?? I sure hope so. Maybe Katie could have a miraculous recovery and team up with Scarlett to help Christian's dad uncover the surprising killer in his next big murder trial? :) fingers crossed...
February 15, 2013
I loved this book! It grabs your attention from the beginning and holds it through the entire book. There wasn't any of that "keep reading, it gets good eventually..." It has elements of suspense, humor, romance and even life lessons. There were times when I was reading as fast as I could because it was so suspenseful. Then, there were times I was laughing--even in the middle of the suspense part. Then, times I was smiling at the romance. And, even shed some tears at the end because of the tenderness between a dad and his son. Very well written! Can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!
October 2, 2013
I found this book very well written and moved at a nice pace that kept me turning the pages wanting to know what was going to happen next. Overall I was very impressed with the story. The idea of a blind girl with a gift of seeing the future death's of the people around her was a interesting idea. There was just enough twists to keep me reading without feeling like the author was going overboard and each twist fit nicely with the flow of the story. Great job!
February 18, 2013
Fast-paced, witty, and heartwarming. A very enjoyable read. This novel has it all; mystery, suspense, romance, action, and intrigue. I loved the setting; Portland, which brought back fond memories of my old stomping grounds. Can't wait to read more from this author!
February 18, 2014
I loved everything about this book. The romance, the main character and the sassy blind girl. Not to mention the mystery of who is trying to kill them both or the exploration of relationships.
Julie is a good, clean writer and this book will be enjoyed by all ages, especially teens.
Julie is a good, clean writer and this book will be enjoyed by all ages, especially teens.
May 3, 2013
I thought this book was well written. I loved the suspense that ended each chapter. It kept me turning the page reading longer than I had planned.
May 16, 2013
I really liked this book. It engaged me from the beginning. Well written with good pacing. I liked the plot and the characters.
June 1, 2025
I enjoyed this YA Suspense novel with a little romance. This is told from the POV of Christian who is 17 years old and lives with his distant workaholic father. But in a twist of fate he runs into Scarlett a blind British teenager who has escaped from her kidnappers. Christian is determined to keep her safe and of course danger lurks around every corner. I liked that it was quick paced and jumps right into the action but it felt a bit incomplete like I really would have loved an epilogue or something at the end. While there were aspects of the characters that were unbelievable it’s a super short read that would be a perfect for a young teenager wanting an action packed suspense mystery.
November 15, 2023
I am not a regency reader. I like people with cars and cell phones. I was disappointed to see many of her books were of the same”regency romance” genre. I really liked this book. I would love to read more like this. Suspense, mystery, some romance. I also enjoyed the perspective of a young man but not stupid enough to hang onto the old without the chance of change.
December 17, 2023
Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
The story was fun though a little juvenile.
The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild innuendo, nudity, and mentions of drug use, sex, and rape. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, murder, and suicide.
The story was fun though a little juvenile.
The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild innuendo, nudity, and mentions of drug use, sex, and rape. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, murder, and suicide.
August 27, 2023
I read aloud this book to Van. We enjoyed it but the young man didn’t stay true to his character all the way through the book.
March 9, 2013
A great, fast, enjoyable, engaging read that was well written and held me captivated to the end!
I couldn't put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen to Scarlett and see if Christian was able to keep her safe and if his father was a really a "berk" as Scarlett's London interpretation would say.
Christian Morris had come to a decision, he was leaving his emotional detached father behind and going to find some of his deceased mother's family who would show him the love and affection that he so craved. Since his mother's death when he was nine, his father treated him as if he was not there, no talking, no pats on the back, no interaction at all. He turned to his work and drinking expensive wine. Christian did everything from smoking, bad grades, and even overdosed on prescriptions to get attention. When that didn't work he was taken under the wing of the Bishop's son, Jay. It was nice having someone care even if at first he felt like the charity case. This still wasn't enough. He took some cash from his father's safe and set out for a new life. He didn't get very far, gassed up, stopped at the cemetery to say goodbye to his mom, when he realized he had an unexpected passenger. The beautiful, smart, resourceful, eclectic, and blind Scarlett used his ranger as an escape from the kidnappers that took her from London and brought her to Portland Oregon. Not realizing she was blind he left her on the freeway at rush hour. His conscience and his determination to not be like his father, brought him back to pick her up once again.
Over some dinner, Scarlett reveals her predicament. Christian doesn't believe her at first, but when Scarface (conner) and "deepthrout" come into the restaurant and Scarlett escapes to the woman's bathroom bringing Christian with her, he goes out to investigate and gets a sour jaw for the efforts. The waitress gets killed and Christian is the suspect in the murder because of the tip from Scarface. Scarlett is scared to go to the police thinking they are all in on it to get her. Christian eventually forces her there when the two thugs keep finding them no matter where they go. I liked the Christian has "boundaries." It makes his character more endearing, but not in a preachy way. It was nicely done without being overstated.
Christians dad comes back fighting for a second chance to be the father that loves his son. He realizes that in trying to block his love from Christian had the opposite effect he wanted. He wanted to not loose Christian and experience the hurt again of loosing someone he loved. His real concern for Christian saves Christians' life more than one time as the detective on the case shows up just in time.
Simon, Scarlett's supposed roommate and trusted friend ends up being the co-conspirator to the optometrist that is doing experimental eye surgery on unattached blind children in the hopes of finding a technique that would allow her blind daughter sight.
In the end Scarlett is rescued by Christian who risks his life for the one he has come to care for and love and his father comes to his aid in his show of concern at his absence and brings in the calvary to save the day.
I couldn't put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen to Scarlett and see if Christian was able to keep her safe and if his father was a really a "berk" as Scarlett's London interpretation would say.
Christian Morris had come to a decision, he was leaving his emotional detached father behind and going to find some of his deceased mother's family who would show him the love and affection that he so craved. Since his mother's death when he was nine, his father treated him as if he was not there, no talking, no pats on the back, no interaction at all. He turned to his work and drinking expensive wine. Christian did everything from smoking, bad grades, and even overdosed on prescriptions to get attention. When that didn't work he was taken under the wing of the Bishop's son, Jay. It was nice having someone care even if at first he felt like the charity case. This still wasn't enough. He took some cash from his father's safe and set out for a new life. He didn't get very far, gassed up, stopped at the cemetery to say goodbye to his mom, when he realized he had an unexpected passenger. The beautiful, smart, resourceful, eclectic, and blind Scarlett used his ranger as an escape from the kidnappers that took her from London and brought her to Portland Oregon. Not realizing she was blind he left her on the freeway at rush hour. His conscience and his determination to not be like his father, brought him back to pick her up once again.
Over some dinner, Scarlett reveals her predicament. Christian doesn't believe her at first, but when Scarface (conner) and "deepthrout" come into the restaurant and Scarlett escapes to the woman's bathroom bringing Christian with her, he goes out to investigate and gets a sour jaw for the efforts. The waitress gets killed and Christian is the suspect in the murder because of the tip from Scarface. Scarlett is scared to go to the police thinking they are all in on it to get her. Christian eventually forces her there when the two thugs keep finding them no matter where they go. I liked the Christian has "boundaries." It makes his character more endearing, but not in a preachy way. It was nicely done without being overstated.
Christians dad comes back fighting for a second chance to be the father that loves his son. He realizes that in trying to block his love from Christian had the opposite effect he wanted. He wanted to not loose Christian and experience the hurt again of loosing someone he loved. His real concern for Christian saves Christians' life more than one time as the detective on the case shows up just in time.
Simon, Scarlett's supposed roommate and trusted friend ends up being the co-conspirator to the optometrist that is doing experimental eye surgery on unattached blind children in the hopes of finding a technique that would allow her blind daughter sight.
In the end Scarlett is rescued by Christian who risks his life for the one he has come to care for and love and his father comes to his aid in his show of concern at his absence and brings in the calvary to save the day.
January 18, 2020
I was very intrigued by the premise of the story, but unfortunately the book never quite drew me in. To be honest, I was a little turned off within the first 5 pages or so by the writing style. It definitely seems more fit for a juvenile audience, and I couldn't quite connect to the angst. Furthermore, things happen a little too quickly in the beginning. The blurb on the back cover about meeting a girl who sees people's deaths? Yeah that happens in the first two paragraphs basically. And the narrative seemed pretty elementary. "I did this. Then I did that. Then I said this. Then I felt like that. I thought this. I did that." etc. It got on my nerves after a while. Also the kidnapping/potential murder mystery turned out to be kind of... weird.
My last complaint was that I never felt the chemistry between Christian and Scarlett. The book set up scenes as if they were falling for each other but I could never quite see it. They would kiss or express their feelings but I just felt like an awkward bystander.
Alright I have been very critical, so I also need to mentions its strengths. I really was rooting for a closer relationship with Christian and his dad. While I do feel like it ended a little too "happily ever after" with Christian feeling bitter towards his dad 99% of the book and then just changing his mind at the end, I am glad there was at least some closure. It made me smile whenever we'd read about his dad sticking his neck out for Christian and slowly opening up.
All in all, I skimmed the last half the book just to get the story. I know there are lots of people who loved this book, but for me it just wasn't my style and I probably won't read it again.
My last complaint was that I never felt the chemistry between Christian and Scarlett. The book set up scenes as if they were falling for each other but I could never quite see it. They would kiss or express their feelings but I just felt like an awkward bystander.
Alright I have been very critical, so I also need to mentions its strengths. I really was rooting for a closer relationship with Christian and his dad. While I do feel like it ended a little too "happily ever after" with Christian feeling bitter towards his dad 99% of the book and then just changing his mind at the end, I am glad there was at least some closure. It made me smile whenever we'd read about his dad sticking his neck out for Christian and slowly opening up.
All in all, I skimmed the last half the book just to get the story. I know there are lots of people who loved this book, but for me it just wasn't my style and I probably won't read it again.
January 9, 2017
Christian, a 17 year old boy who wants to run away from his life, tells the story. His speech reminds me somehow of Holden in The Catcher in the Rye without the swearing. I liked that. That he falls in love with the blind girl also pleases me and it's nicely described. Scarlett and Christian are both likeable.
Until around two thirds into it I found the book very entertaining, funny and thrilling. Then Christian's problems with his father are focused on too much (Christian is repetitive here).
Some twists about who belongs to the good or bad people weren't exactly my taste.
I was angry, but not in the proper way. There are books - e.g. The Bone Mask Trilogy by Ashley Capes - where the villains are so well portrayed that I get really angry about them. Here I was angry with the protagonist, which isn't good in my eyes.
The ending was okay, but some things were too unlikely for me.
It's worth reading though.
Until around two thirds into it I found the book very entertaining, funny and thrilling. Then Christian's problems with his father are focused on too much (Christian is repetitive here).
Some twists about who belongs to the good or bad people weren't exactly my taste.
I was angry, but not in the proper way. There are books - e.g. The Bone Mask Trilogy by Ashley Capes - where the villains are so well portrayed that I get really angry about them. Here I was angry with the protagonist, which isn't good in my eyes.
The ending was okay, but some things were too unlikely for me.
It's worth reading though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews