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Love In Touch
Kassie has felt adrift ever since her dad died when she was in college. Now 24 and living in Seattle, she gets interested in learning sign language through her roommate, a sign language interpreter. One day at a Deaf community event, she sees a young man sitting off by himself. Kassie feels compelled to try signing to him–the fact that he’s strikingly handsome doesn’t hurt.
Jake has been deaf and blind since birth. His disability has cut him off from the world, but beneath his isolated exterior, is a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor. Despite the odds, he’s highly educated, but at 26, he’s gotten stuck in a rut, with few friends and no clear career plans. Until a sweet-smelling girl introduces herself to him unexpectedly, and opens up a whole new world to him.
Jake is more intelligent, more genuine than anyone she has met before, and for the first time Kassie starts to feel like her life has some direction. But as their friendship deepens into something more, the difficulty in communicating with each other only grows, and it seems like everyone they know thinks their relationship won’t work. How can they come to a deeper understanding of each other, and find a future together?
Jake has been deaf and blind since birth. His disability has cut him off from the world, but beneath his isolated exterior, is a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor. Despite the odds, he’s highly educated, but at 26, he’s gotten stuck in a rut, with few friends and no clear career plans. Until a sweet-smelling girl introduces herself to him unexpectedly, and opens up a whole new world to him.
Jake is more intelligent, more genuine than anyone she has met before, and for the first time Kassie starts to feel like her life has some direction. But as their friendship deepens into something more, the difficulty in communicating with each other only grows, and it seems like everyone they know thinks their relationship won’t work. How can they come to a deeper understanding of each other, and find a future together?
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First published November 1, 2013
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About the author
Lucy May Lennox
5 books115 followersLucy May Lennox is a connoisseur of novels featuring men with physical disabilities. After growing frustrated with all the cliches, ignorance and stereotypes, she decided to write her own positive take on disability. She also loves immersing herself in earlier historical periods and imagining the lives of people who don't usually make it into the history books. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest USA with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
August 4, 2014
4.5 Stars!A truly unique love story about a deafblind boy and the girl who sees past his disabilities and makes both their worlds a lot brighter!
The author did a wonderful job of expressing Jake's feelings; his need to be accepted, his anxiety in dealing with the unfamiliar and even though he couldn't see or hear, how brilliant his mind was! I will admit, I actually felt claustrophobic at times living in his dark, quiet world, and for a long time, it was the only world he knew. Oh, he had outlets and parents who loved him and did what they thought was best for him, but it wasn't until Kassie came into his life that he truly began to live. Kassie's over exuberance in her desire to help Jake experience more, came at a cost though, when she realized in order to be a part of his life, she had to run at his speed, and take baby steps. That didn't mean she couldn't encourage him to try new things, and show him how enjoyable and fulfilling life could be...including sex. Here again, the author did a stand out job of making it what it was, and not without some hurdles to overcome. Jake didn't suddenly become a master lover, like with anything else, it was a learning process for both Kassie and him. The author kept it real.
I didn't think I would come to like Jake's parents, but they managed to give Jake the best life they thought they could, and their protective nature came with good reason, which is all explained. I managed to warm up to them, after I tried to put myself in their shoes.
A pretty amazing, meaningful read that I'm glad I took a chance on. I would love to know what research the author did to write what I felt was a realistic portrayal of what someone with this type of disability would endure on a daily basis. I hope she continues to write more of this type of romance, because Love in Touch is pretty damn special!
**Side note** While reading this I kept thinking about Helen Keller, probably the most famous deafblind person that people are familiar with. Did you know that she was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and wrote 11 published books?! I was in awe of all that she accomplished in her 87 years. She was not just a child that was portrayed in a movie, she was a woman on a mission. To find out more about her amazing life, you can read some wonderful facts about Helen Keller on Wikipedia.
February 2, 2025
This Story got my attention from the first time I’ve readed the blurb.
How a deaf blind person interacts with the world? Usually when we think in a deaf blind person, it comes to mind Helen Keller and her struggle to learn to communicate and be understood.
Now a days, in a world that is really worried about social inclusion, it’s still hard for the deaf blind to be able to communicate, have a career and friends.
Jake is the perfect example of this struggle. He’s 26 years old, still lives with his parents, don’t have a career and just leaves the house accompanied by his interpreter and usually just to go to the deaf blind monthly events.
So, imagine his surprise, when in one of these events that his interpreter was late and Jake was by himself (as always), a sweet-smelling girl approaches him and even not knowing the deaf blind alphabet, tried to talk to him.
Kassie is a girl that started learning sign language because she misses a purpose in her life. Her work is boring, she terribly misses her dad that died when she was in college and she found in her roommate friendship and sign classes a mean to deal with her issues.
When she sees Jake by himself, looking lonely and bored, she decides to say Hello. What she could not imagine was that, beneath his isolated exterior, was a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor that charmed her and made her wish more in life.
Kassie is a tenacious girl, that will not let any communication difficulty or doubts interfere in her relationship with Jake and in trying to encourage him to face new challenges. Jake’s sense of humor is amazing and I laughed aloud with some of his comments. His courage and determination to overcome his disability and face his fears was amazing.
I found myself touched and thrilled by this remarkable love story. This book is a Keeper for sure.
Thanks Miss Lucy for this amazing and sweet story.
How a deaf blind person interacts with the world? Usually when we think in a deaf blind person, it comes to mind Helen Keller and her struggle to learn to communicate and be understood.
Now a days, in a world that is really worried about social inclusion, it’s still hard for the deaf blind to be able to communicate, have a career and friends.
Jake is the perfect example of this struggle. He’s 26 years old, still lives with his parents, don’t have a career and just leaves the house accompanied by his interpreter and usually just to go to the deaf blind monthly events.
So, imagine his surprise, when in one of these events that his interpreter was late and Jake was by himself (as always), a sweet-smelling girl approaches him and even not knowing the deaf blind alphabet, tried to talk to him.
Kassie is a girl that started learning sign language because she misses a purpose in her life. Her work is boring, she terribly misses her dad that died when she was in college and she found in her roommate friendship and sign classes a mean to deal with her issues.
When she sees Jake by himself, looking lonely and bored, she decides to say Hello. What she could not imagine was that, beneath his isolated exterior, was a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor that charmed her and made her wish more in life.
Kassie is a tenacious girl, that will not let any communication difficulty or doubts interfere in her relationship with Jake and in trying to encourage him to face new challenges. Jake’s sense of humor is amazing and I laughed aloud with some of his comments. His courage and determination to overcome his disability and face his fears was amazing.
I found myself touched and thrilled by this remarkable love story. This book is a Keeper for sure.
Thanks Miss Lucy for this amazing and sweet story.
August 22, 2020
3 stars... I really loved how the girl fought for her boy friend but the thing I really didn't like about this book is that the author didn't have enough information or culture about blinds, and I'm being blind which is really fine with me... I don't have those kind of issues she mentioned in my life... Generally it was good but not as I expected
August 11, 2016
Love in Touch has some so-so moments, mainly with the way Jake, who is blind and deaf, is handled. He's the bright spot in this story and very dimensional with a strong personality. Unfortunately the heroine, Kassie brings this entire story down. Kassie is a woman in her mid-twenties, but acts more like she's in high school. She comes across as screechy and whiny. Also the abundance of exclamation points (!!!!!) when Kassie yells or gets excitable, which is the majority of time. She also comes across as defensive and standoffish, and because of that she is unlikable.
The other characters, which the exception of Jake, the secondary cast comes across as wallpaper. Kassie's annoying co-worker, Dave, who may or may not have a thing for her doesn't really make any sense being in this story, and her lovable serial dater gay roommate, Erik, comes and goes without any real purpose either. There is a lot of preachiness and too much telling not showing.
The writing is very green and weak. It needs a heavy dose of editing. What should have been a wonderful romance with a handicapped character fails in the execution because the author doesn't have a good enough grasp of the written word to make this work as it should have.
A pass.
More at Booklikes: http://katiebabs.booklikes.com/post/8...
The other characters, which the exception of Jake, the secondary cast comes across as wallpaper. Kassie's annoying co-worker, Dave, who may or may not have a thing for her doesn't really make any sense being in this story, and her lovable serial dater gay roommate, Erik, comes and goes without any real purpose either. There is a lot of preachiness and too much telling not showing.
The writing is very green and weak. It needs a heavy dose of editing. What should have been a wonderful romance with a handicapped character fails in the execution because the author doesn't have a good enough grasp of the written word to make this work as it should have.
A pass.
More at Booklikes: http://katiebabs.booklikes.com/post/8...
July 17, 2015
What a lovely,unique story.I loved Jake he was so sweet. This is the first romance book i have found with a Deaf-blind MC.
August 13, 2022
3 / 5 stars
There are very few books with Disabled love interests. To a further extent, there are an even smaller amount of 'unsexy' disabilities (disabilities that aren't trauma borne). So a book with a congenitally Deafblind love interest is a treasure.
I can't speak on the Deafblind representation itself because I'm not Deafblind. I do think, however, the references to other disabilities, mostly intellectual/mental disabilities, were not handled well. I understand this was written in 2013, but repeatedly having the Love Interest use the r word – a word that intellectually/mentally Disabled people themselves do not use – was profoundly unacceptable. I'm very disappointed that this book and the author, that claims to be committed to good Disabled representation, would perpetuate inter- and intra-communal discrimination.
Don't worry, though; that wasn't the only ableist trope included. Having the Main Character be a nondisabled woman and become passionate about Deafblind activism is great. Allies and co-conspirators are vital because they can use their privilege to help the marginalized community itself. The issue comes in when the allyship isn't particularly nuanced. She came across as a nondisabled savior. Which was and is a tired and uncreative trope. It would've been nice to see her check her privilege or learn from her Deaf, CODA, and Deafblind friends. Which never happened.
The 2010s were such a time.
The writing was also basic which made the Main Character boring. There was no reason to be invested in the drama or friendship because of how much I simply did not care about the Main Character. Though, I did like some of the side characters, but that was mostly because they also didn't particularly care about the Main Character, either.
I didn't hate it. I didn't really like it. A friend recommended this to me, and that was really the only thing that kept me invested. That and the representation. Honestly, I'm glad I read it, though, because it was among my first books with blind/low-vision representation and my first with Deaf rep.
There are very few books with Disabled love interests. To a further extent, there are an even smaller amount of 'unsexy' disabilities (disabilities that aren't trauma borne). So a book with a congenitally Deafblind love interest is a treasure.
I can't speak on the Deafblind representation itself because I'm not Deafblind. I do think, however, the references to other disabilities, mostly intellectual/mental disabilities, were not handled well. I understand this was written in 2013, but repeatedly having the Love Interest use the r word – a word that intellectually/mentally Disabled people themselves do not use – was profoundly unacceptable. I'm very disappointed that this book and the author, that claims to be committed to good Disabled representation, would perpetuate inter- and intra-communal discrimination.
Don't worry, though; that wasn't the only ableist trope included. Having the Main Character be a nondisabled woman and become passionate about Deafblind activism is great. Allies and co-conspirators are vital because they can use their privilege to help the marginalized community itself. The issue comes in when the allyship isn't particularly nuanced. She came across as a nondisabled savior. Which was and is a tired and uncreative trope. It would've been nice to see her check her privilege or learn from her Deaf, CODA, and Deafblind friends. Which never happened.
The 2010s were such a time.
The writing was also basic which made the Main Character boring. There was no reason to be invested in the drama or friendship because of how much I simply did not care about the Main Character. Though, I did like some of the side characters, but that was mostly because they also didn't particularly care about the Main Character, either.
I didn't hate it. I didn't really like it. A friend recommended this to me, and that was really the only thing that kept me invested. That and the representation. Honestly, I'm glad I read it, though, because it was among my first books with blind/low-vision representation and my first with Deaf rep.
October 1, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This is a pretty simple book about a girl trying to learn ASL (American sign language) because her gay roommate is deaf and she wants to be able to better communicate; and, a mid-twenties deaf/blind guy she meets at one of the group forums she attends. The deaf/blind guy (yes, that is what Helen Keller was), sits by himself at the meeting because no one can really communicate with him until his specialized "translator (intervenor)" shows up. The girl takes it upon herself to at least go greet him but right away has her eyes open to how hard it is to have even basic communication.
It turns out that he is able to communicate via email just like you and I. Through this medium they become friends and then more later on. He is actually a very bright, humorous and insightful guy, raised at home by his parents but fairly sheltered from the outside world.
I loved the two main characters who were both very strong in their own way to each overcome their doubts and fears. I also, as a reader, really enjoyed all I learned about deaf/blindness and about a different form of sign language where one actually spells out the exact letters on the other's hand to communicate. Very interesting and educational.
It turns out that he is able to communicate via email just like you and I. Through this medium they become friends and then more later on. He is actually a very bright, humorous and insightful guy, raised at home by his parents but fairly sheltered from the outside world.
I loved the two main characters who were both very strong in their own way to each overcome their doubts and fears. I also, as a reader, really enjoyed all I learned about deaf/blindness and about a different form of sign language where one actually spells out the exact letters on the other's hand to communicate. Very interesting and educational.
November 3, 2013
I stumbled upon this book in late September and after reading the first four or five chapters online, I knew I had to read it!
I downloaded it today - already happy that my Amazon store was selling it - and sat right down to read it.
I found the main topic of the book - deafblindness - really interesting and I admire how the author dealt with it.
The two protagonists Kassie and Jake (the deafblind character) were likable right from the start and I loved how both grew throughout the story.
At the beginning, Jake's parents didn't seem that nice, but they grew on me and I can't even imagine how hard raising a deafblind child must be.
I was very happy with Love In Touch; it was a lovely story and although the ending was not as closed as I had hoped for, I still think that all will be well for Kassie and Jake.
There were a few formatting errors, but I hardly noticed them, because I was too engrossed in the story.
I downloaded it today - already happy that my Amazon store was selling it - and sat right down to read it.
I found the main topic of the book - deafblindness - really interesting and I admire how the author dealt with it.
The two protagonists Kassie and Jake (the deafblind character) were likable right from the start and I loved how both grew throughout the story.
At the beginning, Jake's parents didn't seem that nice, but they grew on me and I can't even imagine how hard raising a deafblind child must be.
I was very happy with Love In Touch; it was a lovely story and although the ending was not as closed as I had hoped for, I still think that all will be well for Kassie and Jake.
There were a few formatting errors, but I hardly noticed them, because I was too engrossed in the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2016
IMO, L in T is a realistic portrayal of a romance dealing with a character who is deaf-blind.
I believed the romance and I believed the reactions from others to that romance. There were some slow parts and the h could at times be annoying. But, within that annoyance I did like that the author didn't shy away from displaying the h's shortcomings. She has a hard time dealing with people and has never had real friends or real relationships. She is almost ALWAYS agitated, defensive, insulted and pissed about something. Sometimes her reactions are justified and at others just unnecessary. So I appreciated that the author demonstrated why she has difficulty developing and sustaining relationships. I could totally picture her as being socially awkward. I also liked that the author shed light on the roadblocks and hardships encountered by people with the disability highlighted in this book.
I really adored Jake. So fucking sweet. So great.
I believed the romance and I believed the reactions from others to that romance. There were some slow parts and the h could at times be annoying. But, within that annoyance I did like that the author didn't shy away from displaying the h's shortcomings. She has a hard time dealing with people and has never had real friends or real relationships. She is almost ALWAYS agitated, defensive, insulted and pissed about something. Sometimes her reactions are justified and at others just unnecessary. So I appreciated that the author demonstrated why she has difficulty developing and sustaining relationships. I could totally picture her as being socially awkward. I also liked that the author shed light on the roadblocks and hardships encountered by people with the disability highlighted in this book.
I really adored Jake. So fucking sweet. So great.
April 9, 2015
While I enjoyed the original concept of overcoming such diversity as being deafblind I still felt much to be lacking. The only character I felt that had depth was Jake. The other personalities just seemed incredibly one dimensional. The hero and heroine were said to be in their mid.to early 20s.and yet they felt so much younger and juvenile. Had there been a decent ending or at very least an epilogue I would have rated higher. Also, this read is currently listed at $4.99. That's pretty steep for a 230+ page book. Not to mention a newbie writer. An ok read. It had lots of potential but a flawed finale. All this being said however I think I'd check out more of this author's work. I'm a fan of reads about overcoming obstacles.
January 3, 2014
If you're a fan of romance novels that showcase perfect alpha males and equally perfect alpha/beta females, you should read this book. Love in Touch is nothing like those formula romances and by suggesting it I'm hoping you might realize that romance can happen to "normal", everyday people.
22 year-old Kassie lives in Seattle, working at a boring job while she struggles to return to the world of the living after watching her father slowly die after a debilitating stroke. She's hurting, but determined to regain a normal, friend-filled life that has purpose. She joins a yoga class, a running group that is training for a marathon and at the prompting of her housemate and friend Erik, she enrolls in ASL classes. Erik also invites her to join him at a weekly social gathering for the deaf, to practice her new skills.
At the gathering, Kassie notices a handsome guy sitting alone in the corner of the room. Erik confirms that the man in question is Jake, who is deaf and blind. Although the sign language for those both deaf and blind is different, and there's a possibility that Jake won't understand her, Kassie makes the effort to say hello.
Kassie isn't an Amazonian warrior woman, a Mother Teresa wanna-be, or a wilting violet. She has no grudges or causes. She's just...normal. She is gentle but can be tough when the situation calls for it. She's determined but doesn't demand. Sound boring? It isn't. She's real and warm and hopeful, but also rational--just like a normal person.
One of the things I find most irritating in romance novels is when poor communication between the protagonists is used as a plot device. Love in Touch has a fair amount of miscommunication (primarily because the protagonists don't speak the same "language") and it is used as a plot device but it isn't annoying. In fact, it's fascinating to watch the relationship develop in spite of the obstacle. Kassie and Jake know they face a steep communication learning curve if they're going to make the relationship work. Yet, despite their limited means, they communicate better than most couples in romance novels. They are in love and they aren't going to let that slip away due to a stupid misunderstanding.
The author, Lucy May Lennox, doesn't plop these two lovebirds into a magical world of sweetness, either. No one in the story is wealthy. Jake lives with his parents and although he's smart enough, they can't afford to send him to elite colleges for the handicapped or pay for a full-time interpreter. There are devices which could help Jake communicate more clearly but they're very expensive and Jake doesn't want to burden his parents anymore than necessary. Kassie helps him and offers alternatives but soon learns that Jake must find his own path to independence. When she pushes too hard, the results can be heartbreaking.
The first time a secondary character made a cruel remark about Jake's disability, I cringed. Then I wanted to reach through the pages and slap the little butthead. Unfortunately, Jake and Kassie must repeatedly face prejudice, cruelty, the over-protection of his parents and the worries of well-intentioned friends. Ms. Lennox doesn't sugarcoat it. You get the full brunt of what disabled people face on a daily basis. It hurts to read it. I mean it really hurts to read it. As the parent of a disabled son, I can vouch for the authenticity.
Kassie and Jake's romantic journey is so demanding that when they succeed, the rewards are that much more beautiful. And they succeed often enough. Ms. Lennox is a skillful writer in that she doesn't drag you through non-stop conflict only to plop down a rushed HEA in the final chapter. Like life, Kassie and Jake try and fail, and try again. The story flows with ups and downs and reads more like a memoir than a fictitious romance.
Yes, it's a HEA ending. Not sappy; happy.
My only problem with the book rests at the feet of the publisher, Dev Love Press, LLC. My Kindle version had numerous formatting mistakes and grammatical errors.
22 year-old Kassie lives in Seattle, working at a boring job while she struggles to return to the world of the living after watching her father slowly die after a debilitating stroke. She's hurting, but determined to regain a normal, friend-filled life that has purpose. She joins a yoga class, a running group that is training for a marathon and at the prompting of her housemate and friend Erik, she enrolls in ASL classes. Erik also invites her to join him at a weekly social gathering for the deaf, to practice her new skills.
At the gathering, Kassie notices a handsome guy sitting alone in the corner of the room. Erik confirms that the man in question is Jake, who is deaf and blind. Although the sign language for those both deaf and blind is different, and there's a possibility that Jake won't understand her, Kassie makes the effort to say hello.
Kassie isn't an Amazonian warrior woman, a Mother Teresa wanna-be, or a wilting violet. She has no grudges or causes. She's just...normal. She is gentle but can be tough when the situation calls for it. She's determined but doesn't demand. Sound boring? It isn't. She's real and warm and hopeful, but also rational--just like a normal person.
One of the things I find most irritating in romance novels is when poor communication between the protagonists is used as a plot device. Love in Touch has a fair amount of miscommunication (primarily because the protagonists don't speak the same "language") and it is used as a plot device but it isn't annoying. In fact, it's fascinating to watch the relationship develop in spite of the obstacle. Kassie and Jake know they face a steep communication learning curve if they're going to make the relationship work. Yet, despite their limited means, they communicate better than most couples in romance novels. They are in love and they aren't going to let that slip away due to a stupid misunderstanding.
The author, Lucy May Lennox, doesn't plop these two lovebirds into a magical world of sweetness, either. No one in the story is wealthy. Jake lives with his parents and although he's smart enough, they can't afford to send him to elite colleges for the handicapped or pay for a full-time interpreter. There are devices which could help Jake communicate more clearly but they're very expensive and Jake doesn't want to burden his parents anymore than necessary. Kassie helps him and offers alternatives but soon learns that Jake must find his own path to independence. When she pushes too hard, the results can be heartbreaking.
The first time a secondary character made a cruel remark about Jake's disability, I cringed. Then I wanted to reach through the pages and slap the little butthead. Unfortunately, Jake and Kassie must repeatedly face prejudice, cruelty, the over-protection of his parents and the worries of well-intentioned friends. Ms. Lennox doesn't sugarcoat it. You get the full brunt of what disabled people face on a daily basis. It hurts to read it. I mean it really hurts to read it. As the parent of a disabled son, I can vouch for the authenticity.
Kassie and Jake's romantic journey is so demanding that when they succeed, the rewards are that much more beautiful. And they succeed often enough. Ms. Lennox is a skillful writer in that she doesn't drag you through non-stop conflict only to plop down a rushed HEA in the final chapter. Like life, Kassie and Jake try and fail, and try again. The story flows with ups and downs and reads more like a memoir than a fictitious romance.
Yes, it's a HEA ending. Not sappy; happy.
My only problem with the book rests at the feet of the publisher, Dev Love Press, LLC. My Kindle version had numerous formatting mistakes and grammatical errors.
August 15, 2015
3.5 Stars
This was a nice read with very little to no angst.
Kassie is learning ASL and goes with her friend to meetings where she interacts/practices her ASL. There she sees Jake who is sitting by himself in the corner. Kassie approaches him and notices that Jake is deaf and blind. He knows an entire different system for communicating than ASL so Kassie learns it so that next time she is able to speak with him. Slowly, this couple develops a friendship and then a relationship.
If you are unhappy or dissatisified, it's only because you have a limited definition of happiness. page 202
I felt like Kassie is the one that worked in this relationship. She was the one that had to be careful what she said and did to make sure she did not upset Jake. It was frustrating for me. Jake was so hard on her at times. He acted like a spoiled brat. He would threw a tantrum if things did not go the way he wanted. I blamed his parents for allowing this behavior all his life. I think when he meets Kassie, Jake is 26 or 27. I guess too old to change his ways at that age. Any relationship is give and take...what did Jake give??
I did not hate it, but I did not love it. The writing was not bad, but there was no angst. Anythign that happened was solved immediately. There is a lot of potential for this writer, I just think in this book, it just needed a little more to make it an amazing read.
This was a nice read with very little to no angst.
Kassie is learning ASL and goes with her friend to meetings where she interacts/practices her ASL. There she sees Jake who is sitting by himself in the corner. Kassie approaches him and notices that Jake is deaf and blind. He knows an entire different system for communicating than ASL so Kassie learns it so that next time she is able to speak with him. Slowly, this couple develops a friendship and then a relationship.
If you are unhappy or dissatisified, it's only because you have a limited definition of happiness. page 202
I felt like Kassie is the one that worked in this relationship. She was the one that had to be careful what she said and did to make sure she did not upset Jake. It was frustrating for me. Jake was so hard on her at times. He acted like a spoiled brat. He would threw a tantrum if things did not go the way he wanted. I blamed his parents for allowing this behavior all his life. I think when he meets Kassie, Jake is 26 or 27. I guess too old to change his ways at that age. Any relationship is give and take...what did Jake give??
I did not hate it, but I did not love it. The writing was not bad, but there was no angst. Anythign that happened was solved immediately. There is a lot of potential for this writer, I just think in this book, it just needed a little more to make it an amazing read.
September 21, 2019
I had always wondered about deaf-blind people but I was too lazy to make a research, so this book easily explained to me everything I wanted to know and I enjoyed it.
This is totally a love story and I felt the feels at the beginning but I wish I still had them by the middle and the end. I love Jake and his story is amazing, his struggles are hard and I understand him but this story was too short and I didn't love the end.
I liked Kassie but I hated the way she thought about Jake's parents. She thought that everything they did was wrong and it was so mean to them. In general I enjoyed this story but I think the price is too high for what I got.
*Re-read september 2019
3,5 stars
I loved that I forgot everything about this book. This has been the only book that I have re-read that surprise me with the little that I remembered. I once again loved to learn about deaf-blind people. I wish I knew about more stories like this one.
I still agree with what I said before in the first review.
This is totally a love story and I felt the feels at the beginning but I wish I still had them by the middle and the end. I love Jake and his story is amazing, his struggles are hard and I understand him but this story was too short and I didn't love the end.
I liked Kassie but I hated the way she thought about Jake's parents. She thought that everything they did was wrong and it was so mean to them. In general I enjoyed this story but I think the price is too high for what I got.
*Re-read september 2019
3,5 stars
I loved that I forgot everything about this book. This has been the only book that I have re-read that surprise me with the little that I remembered. I once again loved to learn about deaf-blind people. I wish I knew about more stories like this one.
I still agree with what I said before in the first review.
October 19, 2020
Hmmmm... ok I have a few things to say but lets start with: in essence, I liked it. The romance was sweet and it didn't go too far, I appreciated that. I also liked how healthily the two of them communicated and acted with regards to each other, how they learned and grew and took things slowly.
I also liked that there wasn't any huge drama, it was just regular life stuff.
It bothered me a bit how many people went "He's disabled, you shouldn't date him." and then when they met him went "Oh, so he's hot. I see.".
Kassie is a teenager. I mean, she acts like it in her everyday life. So does Eric. It makes the whole thing feel a bit more like YA.
Also, while I genuinely don't believe it was the author's intention, Eric's whole romantic life is a little homophobic? Like, he's gay so he's a man slut who is just so desperate for any company that he dates just anyone? Really? This was published in 2013, you can't tell me that the author couldn't get educated and learn that that is a dangerous stereotype gay men face...
I also liked that there wasn't any huge drama, it was just regular life stuff.
It bothered me a bit how many people went "He's disabled, you shouldn't date him." and then when they met him went "Oh, so he's hot. I see.".
Kassie is a teenager. I mean, she acts like it in her everyday life. So does Eric. It makes the whole thing feel a bit more like YA.
Also, while I genuinely don't believe it was the author's intention, Eric's whole romantic life is a little homophobic? Like, he's gay so he's a man slut who is just so desperate for any company that he dates just anyone? Really? This was published in 2013, you can't tell me that the author couldn't get educated and learn that that is a dangerous stereotype gay men face...
November 7, 2013
Loved this. Very different story about a disability that not much is written or known by general public. Great characters, fully fleshed out. Funny, heart wrenching at times describing all the work these characters go through to be together like a "normal couple". Fell in love with both the main characters and interesting side characters as well. Looking forward to more from this author.
February 14, 2020
Sweet romance with a disabled hero
I loved this book! I feel like the author did a really great job of showing us what life is like for a deafblind person, both the good and the bad, and it made me think about disability rights and accessibility in a way I hadn't before.
The romance between Kassie and Jake was really sweet. While Jake did grow a lot and had to open up to the world outside his routines, I feel like Kassie also grew and changed. She became a better ally and learned to stand up for herself and others rather than just letting things slide. I was worried when I picked this up that she would be Jake's manic pixie dream girl-- this wonderful, perfect, quirky girl who fixed all of his problems but didn't have any character development of her own, but that wasn't the case here at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance that's a little different than most, or to anyone interested in the lives of deafblind people.
I loved this book! I feel like the author did a really great job of showing us what life is like for a deafblind person, both the good and the bad, and it made me think about disability rights and accessibility in a way I hadn't before.
The romance between Kassie and Jake was really sweet. While Jake did grow a lot and had to open up to the world outside his routines, I feel like Kassie also grew and changed. She became a better ally and learned to stand up for herself and others rather than just letting things slide. I was worried when I picked this up that she would be Jake's manic pixie dream girl-- this wonderful, perfect, quirky girl who fixed all of his problems but didn't have any character development of her own, but that wasn't the case here at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance that's a little different than most, or to anyone interested in the lives of deafblind people.
August 8, 2022
That book really moved me! 😭 No, I'm not Deaf-Blind like Jake, my disability is invisible but still, dating when you have a severe disability that makes it difficult for you to navigate random daily tasks that others take for granted (eating, finding a job...) IT'S SCARY! It brings valid insecurities because it's not like we "can fix" ourselves! I could relate to Jake, how some people chose to ignore his disability completely while others make a big deal about it and others try to "fix him"... Like we're not trying hard enough!?!? It's so hard. And allowing someone in is so hard because we know what this person will go through: by dating us he/she will hear all those comments... Why date someone who isn't what society considers "normal"? I do think that book really showed how people with disabilities tend to develop what I call "superpowers" that makes them different but in a good way. That book will definitely keep a special place in my heart ❤️
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April 5, 2022The book was all right. It seems to be written by someone who knows about disability. At the same time though, I feel like it’s been written to educate people without vision and hearing loss on how life can be challenging for someone with a disability. I felt like character development could’ve been a little better. Especially if it had less to deal with Jake’s disability. Yes they both ended up getting either a job or career prospects, but it almost felt like it was there just to wrap up the book with some change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2020
This was the sweetest most heartwarming book ever and I loved every second of it.
December 28, 2020
Heroine tres stupide
December 2, 2013
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Love knows no barriers. Kassie is like a ship without an anchor, until she meets Jake, a man born deaf and blind. Their attraction is both sweet and painful as they fumble with communicating and getting to truly know each other as an individual, no labels involved . Kassie struggles with sign language and Jake struggles with being locked within his own world, but together new doors open that neither could have foreseen, as they guide each other through the twists and turns of falling in love in a world that has is filled with obstacles.
Love in Touch by Lucy May Lennox will do more than just pull at your heart strings. Her fluid style of writing let me feel every emotion, from frustration to joy in her very realistic portrayal of two people who try to meet the challenges they face head on. I could feel Kassie’s need to “help” others, particularly Jake, who needed social interaction. But the underlying romantic tension that slowly builds is priceless, because they actually thought of the pitfalls that lay ahead of them and seemed to prepare as best they could to meet them head on.
Ms. Lennox provides insight into the world of one who is deaf and blind, as well as methods to communicate with them. I most definitely applaud her portrayal of Jake as an intelligent, caring and strong person who had the support of a loving family who encouraged him to attempt as many “normal” activities as possible, and even the satellite characters who ran the gamut from those with an intolerable and small-minded attitude to the innocent curiosity. Not only is this a love story, but is an eye-opening and fully engaging snapshot of life in the real world. Love in Touch was so much more than I expected and I highly recommend this warm story of love. If you don’t feel the connection between these characters and the see the obstacles they had to overcome and feel like shouting Go Team Kassie & Jake, I’d be in shock!
I received a review copy from the author as part of the LOVE IN TOUCH Bookend Tour & Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender December 2 – January 4!
Publication Date: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Dev Love Press, LLC
ISBN: 0985826339
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Number of Pages: 253
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
October 10, 2014
Very well written with just a couple of editing issues. This is a stand-alone book with no cliffhanger.
I love books that take me to new places and let me experience things I know little or nothing about, and the author certainly accomplished this. I really enjoyed this story and found the entire premise to be original and interesting. I have some personal experience with interacting with the deaf, but I learned a lot of new information in this book, with the introduction to the deaf-blind world. The progression of the story felt natural and the stress and challenges seemed very realistic to me. Many everyday situations wouldn't have occurred to me prior to reading this book.
The romance was sweet and a little odd -- in a good way. Just building a friendship was extremely challenging because of the stunted nature of the main character's social development -- a result of his somewhat cloistered existence with his parents. Moving from friendship to romance was realistically awkward, but always told from a sweet and empathetic perspective.
The secondary characters were all well developed, interesting people. This is a full-length book, but honestly, it could have been longer. I was very interested in his parent's perspective, as well as the perspective of the intervener, but we learn about the story mostly from the two main characters, so we never really know what those other characters are thinking. I'm normally not a big lover of epilogues, but I'm honestly curious about what happened next.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who loves stories about unusual people and against-the-odds romance. This is a real gem.
I love books that take me to new places and let me experience things I know little or nothing about, and the author certainly accomplished this. I really enjoyed this story and found the entire premise to be original and interesting. I have some personal experience with interacting with the deaf, but I learned a lot of new information in this book, with the introduction to the deaf-blind world. The progression of the story felt natural and the stress and challenges seemed very realistic to me. Many everyday situations wouldn't have occurred to me prior to reading this book.
The romance was sweet and a little odd -- in a good way. Just building a friendship was extremely challenging because of the stunted nature of the main character's social development -- a result of his somewhat cloistered existence with his parents. Moving from friendship to romance was realistically awkward, but always told from a sweet and empathetic perspective.
The secondary characters were all well developed, interesting people. This is a full-length book, but honestly, it could have been longer. I was very interested in his parent's perspective, as well as the perspective of the intervener, but we learn about the story mostly from the two main characters, so we never really know what those other characters are thinking. I'm normally not a big lover of epilogues, but I'm honestly curious about what happened next.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who loves stories about unusual people and against-the-odds romance. This is a real gem.
February 23, 2015
Love In Touch
BY: Lucy May Lennox
PAGES: 252 PAGES
I can´t remember where I heard about this book… I think someone in the Booktube community mentioned it and I checked it out in Goodreads, and after reading the blurb decided I wanted to read it.
It stayed in my Ipad for a couple of weeks until mid February when I sat down to selct books I wanted to read for a read a thon and decided to read it to complete the “Read an underhyped book” challenge.
Read the whole book in one sitting, and even though the subject might seem tough it is a surprisingly easy read and a short one too (only 252 pages).-
And I really loved it! One of my favorites books of 2015 so far!!
It is a love story, but not the usual kind one… It is the story about Kassie and Jake… how they meet, become friends, get to know each other and eventually fall in love…
Jake is deaf and blind (which makes communication a huge challenge) and Kassie is not…
Communication is not the only challenge as you might think, what other people think, looks strange people give and prejudice are part of the story too.
But above all it is a love story, written beautifully and in a unique book…
BY: Lucy May Lennox
PAGES: 252 PAGES
I can´t remember where I heard about this book… I think someone in the Booktube community mentioned it and I checked it out in Goodreads, and after reading the blurb decided I wanted to read it.
It stayed in my Ipad for a couple of weeks until mid February when I sat down to selct books I wanted to read for a read a thon and decided to read it to complete the “Read an underhyped book” challenge.
Read the whole book in one sitting, and even though the subject might seem tough it is a surprisingly easy read and a short one too (only 252 pages).-
And I really loved it! One of my favorites books of 2015 so far!!
It is a love story, but not the usual kind one… It is the story about Kassie and Jake… how they meet, become friends, get to know each other and eventually fall in love…
Jake is deaf and blind (which makes communication a huge challenge) and Kassie is not…
Communication is not the only challenge as you might think, what other people think, looks strange people give and prejudice are part of the story too.
But above all it is a love story, written beautifully and in a unique book…
January 5, 2015
I was a little hesitant to read this at first, but after I got into it, I really liked it...
At times it kind of seemed like highschool kids rather than grown ups in their late 20's, but I suppose I wouldn't know how I would be in a relationship such as thiers.
Jake was so cute, I can't imagine how it would be to be in a world where you couldn't see or hear.
Kassie was funny and she didn't take no sh!t, she did put up with more than I would have from her co-workers, I swear that Dave needed a punch in the face.... but she eventually told him where to shove it and I was glad about that. Also, Eriks first bf Dillion... I kind of wish he would have gotten his own slap upside the head, he was a massive jerk.
Jakes parents took a little bit for me to warm up to, as well as Carter, but once you figured out they had Jakes best interest at heart, it's easy to see where they were coming from... having children myself, I couldn't imagine what it would be like...
The only problem I had really with it was the ending was so abrupt, I wish we could have had an epilogue to see how everything worked out, or maybe even another book sometime down the line.
But all in all, this was a very enjoyable read and I was very surprised by it. :)
At times it kind of seemed like highschool kids rather than grown ups in their late 20's, but I suppose I wouldn't know how I would be in a relationship such as thiers.
Jake was so cute, I can't imagine how it would be to be in a world where you couldn't see or hear.
Kassie was funny and she didn't take no sh!t, she did put up with more than I would have from her co-workers, I swear that Dave needed a punch in the face.... but she eventually told him where to shove it and I was glad about that. Also, Eriks first bf Dillion... I kind of wish he would have gotten his own slap upside the head, he was a massive jerk.
Jakes parents took a little bit for me to warm up to, as well as Carter, but once you figured out they had Jakes best interest at heart, it's easy to see where they were coming from... having children myself, I couldn't imagine what it would be like...
The only problem I had really with it was the ending was so abrupt, I wish we could have had an epilogue to see how everything worked out, or maybe even another book sometime down the line.
But all in all, this was a very enjoyable read and I was very surprised by it. :)
June 8, 2014
*2.5* I've been waiting to read this book for so long and now that I have, I'm sad that it wasn't as good as I had hoped. I loved the concept for the book but it just fell short. The overall story was constantly interrupted by Kassie's incessant whining and the book was very repetitive. I found it hard to like many of the characters because they were either really rude, or just cranky. I wish Kassie's mother was in the story more, she was so sweet! Dave and his friend's were such jerks, omg, I wished Kassie stood up for Jake sooner. The book ended so abruptly, I wanted to know more about her youtube videos and how Jake was getting along at work and school. It was an eye opener to read about someone who was deaf and blind and I truly felt all the frustrations that Jake and Kassie went through. I'm glad it ended on a happy note.
December 10, 2015
I loved the premise of this book, with a deaf blind lead character. The intricacies of his life and the deaf/deaf blind community was really interesting to read about and something I am unfamiliar with. I didn't particularly care for the female lead, Kassie. She and her roommate's conversations felt like they should have been between two high schoolers, not people in their early twenties. The character fell flat for me. Jake had depth and the author did a great job of characterizing his frustrations with the world around him. He was funny and smart and wasn't afraid to say what he thought. He was the bright spot in this novel for sure.
May 21, 2014
A very different love story
This story was very touching and different. Kassie and Jake's determination to stay together through all the obstacles of communication and criticism from friends and family, makes you want to cheer them on. The story was well written, and will be placed as one of my favorites.
This story was very touching and different. Kassie and Jake's determination to stay together through all the obstacles of communication and criticism from friends and family, makes you want to cheer them on. The story was well written, and will be placed as one of my favorites.
December 2, 2014
If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be beautiful. The love the two characters show for each other is just inspiring. Many of us take our sense of sight and sound for granted. I can't imagine not being able to hear the sound of the ocean or see the sunset. A great book about true love.
November 13, 2013
I loved this book. It has probably been the best one I've read this year and I read a few books a week. Go buy this-now.
December 27, 2014
loved it :) actually looked up the deaf blind sign language guide, its hard!! need a continuation of them though and con't of erik and kevin too
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