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The Tav #1
The Blinding Light
Jake Manning’s smart mouth frequently gets him into trouble. Because of it, he can’t hold a job. Combined with some bad luck, it's prevented him from keeping steady employment. A huge debt looms over him, and alone he shoulders the care of his alcoholic mother and three younger sisters. When a housekeeping position opens, Jake’s so desperate he leaps at the opportunity. On landing, he finds his new boss, Patrick Stanford, a fussy, arrogant, rude… and blind man.
Born without sight, Patrick is used to being accommodated, but he’s met his match with Jake, who doesn’t take any of his crap and threatens to swap all the braille labels on his groceries and run off with his guide dog unless he behaves.
Jake gets a kick out of Patrick. Things are looking up: the girls are starting their own lives and his mum’s sobriety might stick this time. He’s sacrificed everything for his family; maybe it’s time for him to live his life and start a relationship with Patrick. When his mother needs him, guilt makes his choice between family and Patrick difficult, and Jake must realize he’s not alone anymore.
Born without sight, Patrick is used to being accommodated, but he’s met his match with Jake, who doesn’t take any of his crap and threatens to swap all the braille labels on his groceries and run off with his guide dog unless he behaves.
Jake gets a kick out of Patrick. Things are looking up: the girls are starting their own lives and his mum’s sobriety might stick this time. He’s sacrificed everything for his family; maybe it’s time for him to live his life and start a relationship with Patrick. When his mother needs him, guilt makes his choice between family and Patrick difficult, and Jake must realize he’s not alone anymore.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2014
58 people are currently reading
1670 people want to read
About the author
Renae Kaye
30 books878 followersRenae Kaye is a lover and hoarder of books who thinks libraries are devilish places because they make you give the books back. She consumed her first adult romance book at the tender age of thirteen and hasn’t stopped since. After years – and thousands of stories! – of not having book characters do what she wants, she decided she would write her own novel and found the characters still didn’t do what she wanted. She believes that the world is too complicated for her, so she loses herself in stories. The only thing that keeps her going are her children who are the delight of her life.
Renae lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is a survivor of being the youngest in a large family and believes that laughter (and a good book) can cure anything. Which is why it's a pity laughter is sometimes scarce on the ground.
You can contact her at renaekaye@iinet.net.au.
Renae lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is a survivor of being the youngest in a large family and believes that laughter (and a good book) can cure anything. Which is why it's a pity laughter is sometimes scarce on the ground.
You can contact her at renaekaye@iinet.net.au.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 551 reviews
September 1, 2016
Sweet, slow burn story about a housekeeper falling in love with his blind employer. Low levels of sex, folks, but HIGH levels of charm!
I really enjoyed this story. It was easy listening, and surprisingly low angst for all the obstacles that the MCs faced. It was also fairly low drama, which I ALWAYS appreciate. The story was sort of hurt/comfort-light, or more like opposites attract. Where Patrick is uptight, stuffy, and caught up in his disability, Jake is down to earth and selfless (almost to an annoying level). They meshed very well together, and I liked the buildup and organic feel to them as a couple.
I think if it was rating the book on content alone, I would be rating this in the 3-3.5 star range. However, I really enjoyed the narration of this book. Warning: If you are Australian or very familiar with the Australian accent, I would stay away from the audio of this book. From my untrained, Americanized ears, I loved the narration, but I recognize that the forced-Australian accent was a little... wonky. It didn't bother me because my ears aren't trained to pick up what a correct Australian accent sounds like, but I'm just picturing what it would be like for a native of that area. It would be like a British person trying to do a bad New Yorker accent... shudders.
Accent aside, the narrator, Jonathan Young, did a very nice job. Great emotion, great cadence, great feel. I judge audiobooks more on my gut reaction than anything else, and my gut REALLY connected with this one.
All in all, a very nice introduction to Renae Kaye for me, and it got me pumped to try more from her in the future.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
May 5, 2016
Let me begin by saying I enjoyed reading this book. Kaye's writing flows well, and the dialogue is often funny and charming. This story was easy and accessible, and I appreciate that very much.
Both Jake and Patrick were fairly well-developed characters.
Jake was a caretaker and put his family first. Sadly, he was also a pushover. He allowed his sisters and mother to manipulate and use him. But he was loving with Patrick and a hard worker. Some of the things that came out of his mouth (regarding women, particularly, which is odd considering he adored his sisters and niece) weren't nice, but I wrote them off as immaturity on his part; he was 26 and letting off steam.
Patrick was a sweetheart, insecure but loving. The issue I had is that Patrick as a character didn't remain consistent with the way he was portrayed initially: as a demanding boss and rude man who went through housekeepers like socks. Yes, he was particular about his house because he was blind and needed things set up exactly so, but he also specified the exact brand/size of food to buy and complained if a housekeeper didn't get it just right. This made him seem petty and spoiled, yet when Jake met Patrick, he put Patrick in his place right away, and Patrick went with it. Jake taught Patrick "manners," yet Patrick was a professional with a well-paying job; how had he managed in the world without knowing to say "please" and "thank you"? This didn't feel believable to me, not at all.
I also had a very hard time liking Jake's family. All three of his sisters were adults (with the exception of Maria, who was almost 18) and needed to stop taking his money. Jake allowed it, egged them on even, which was immensely irritating.
The reasons for Jake being in debt were fantastical. They also made me hate Jake's mother, and I did not like her being portrayed in a positive light at the end. I never felt sorry for her, and I certainly didn't think she redeemed herself.
The relationship between Jake and Patrick felt natural, even if there was one too many blind jokes for my tastes. I cringed at some of the conversations, but perhaps that's just me. The MCs were sweet together, although the steam was almost nonexistent. Jake lusted after Patrick and had a boner for him for weeks, but once they got together, there were only a couple short scenes on-page. That was disappointing.
The ending was happy, yes. There was talk of love and forever. What's to complain about?
For one, I didn't like the "arrangement" that Patrick made with Jake; that didn't seem like something two people in a romantic relationship should do.
And finally, the whole situation with Jake's mother: I know I was supposed to be joyful for the guys at the end, but I felt Jake's mom was incredibly presumptuous and manipulative. You don't pay your debt when you create another; you don't make such a life-changing decision for people without talking to them. Patrick was kind, but I think he was easily fooled. The resolution felt all wrong to me.
For these reasons, despite the fact that I liked quite a bit about this book, I had to round down to 3 stars. I would still recommend this book, however. It certainly offers room for discussion.
Both Jake and Patrick were fairly well-developed characters.
Jake was a caretaker and put his family first. Sadly, he was also a pushover. He allowed his sisters and mother to manipulate and use him. But he was loving with Patrick and a hard worker. Some of the things that came out of his mouth (regarding women, particularly, which is odd considering he adored his sisters and niece) weren't nice, but I wrote them off as immaturity on his part; he was 26 and letting off steam.
Patrick was a sweetheart, insecure but loving. The issue I had is that Patrick as a character didn't remain consistent with the way he was portrayed initially: as a demanding boss and rude man who went through housekeepers like socks. Yes, he was particular about his house because he was blind and needed things set up exactly so, but he also specified the exact brand/size of food to buy and complained if a housekeeper didn't get it just right. This made him seem petty and spoiled, yet when Jake met Patrick, he put Patrick in his place right away, and Patrick went with it. Jake taught Patrick "manners," yet Patrick was a professional with a well-paying job; how had he managed in the world without knowing to say "please" and "thank you"? This didn't feel believable to me, not at all.
I also had a very hard time liking Jake's family. All three of his sisters were adults (with the exception of Maria, who was almost 18) and needed to stop taking his money. Jake allowed it, egged them on even, which was immensely irritating.
The reasons for Jake being in debt were fantastical. They also made me hate Jake's mother, and I did not like her being portrayed in a positive light at the end. I never felt sorry for her, and I certainly didn't think she redeemed herself.
The relationship between Jake and Patrick felt natural, even if there was one too many blind jokes for my tastes. I cringed at some of the conversations, but perhaps that's just me. The MCs were sweet together, although the steam was almost nonexistent. Jake lusted after Patrick and had a boner for him for weeks, but once they got together, there were only a couple short scenes on-page. That was disappointing.
The ending was happy, yes. There was talk of love and forever. What's to complain about?
For one, I didn't like the "arrangement" that Patrick made with Jake; that didn't seem like something two people in a romantic relationship should do.
And finally, the whole situation with Jake's mother: I know I was supposed to be joyful for the guys at the end, but I felt Jake's mom was incredibly presumptuous and manipulative. You don't pay your debt when you create another; you don't make such a life-changing decision for people without talking to them. Patrick was kind, but I think he was easily fooled. The resolution felt all wrong to me.
For these reasons, despite the fact that I liked quite a bit about this book, I had to round down to 3 stars. I would still recommend this book, however. It certainly offers room for discussion.
July 16, 2014
dnf @ 64%
Couldn't like the MC after this:
“What? No way! I saw her about a year ago. She may’ve been the most popular girl in our class, but she needs a good session on Australia’s Biggest Loser or something. Wow, she’s piled on the kilos.” I laughed, enjoying the image of the bitchiest bitch at school looking like a stuffed pig.
See the comments in my status update for more quotes like this.
Couldn't like the MC after this:
“What? No way! I saw her about a year ago. She may’ve been the most popular girl in our class, but she needs a good session on Australia’s Biggest Loser or something. Wow, she’s piled on the kilos.” I laughed, enjoying the image of the bitchiest bitch at school looking like a stuffed pig.
See the comments in my status update for more quotes like this.
no
August 8, 2015lemme NOPE you right there.
srrssly? in 2015? with the fat-shaming AND the lady-haterade all in the same place?
go home, book. yer drunk.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS SHIT.
srrssly? in 2015? with the fat-shaming AND the lady-haterade all in the same place?
go home, book. yer drunk.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS SHIT.
April 12, 2015
I loved this book and read it practically in one sitting. I like disabled MCs and I really appreciated how this story was very realistic about being blind but it didn't overwhelm the story. There were interesting details like the text reader machine but no long diatribes "You know, Bob, when you're blind..." as some authors unfortunately include. Also, Patrick was a little insecure about his disability but he wasn't overly maudlin or defeated.
Besides that, it's just a fun, sweet love story. Great job, Renae Kaye! I recommend this to anyone who likes m/m romance.
Besides that, it's just a fun, sweet love story. Great job, Renae Kaye! I recommend this to anyone who likes m/m romance.
April 11, 2015
OK, so I loved this one tons and tons, but there are few underlying currents that bugged me throughout the story.
But this is Renae Kaye and 4 stars for her is equivalent to 5+ stars for most other author's books in my eyes. I enjoyed this very much, just not as much as I have enjoyed her other work, especially the absolute fucking perfection of The Shearing Gun.
Recommended.
May 5, 2016
Accidentally I read the second book of this series first, and it was a fortunate accident because if I read The Blinding Light first, I’m not sure I’d continue with the second book. And that would be a mistake because You Are the Reason is a wonderful story.
Okay, back to this book. The writing style is amusing, the romance is great and steamy, but both the storyline and the characterization have serious issues.
The most nonsensical thing of all is the way how Jake’s mother is paying back her debt.
See ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ ’s perfect review for more. Dani made all the problems very clear.
Okay, back to this book. The writing style is amusing, the romance is great and steamy, but both the storyline and the characterization have serious issues.
The most nonsensical thing of all is the way how Jake’s mother is paying back her debt.
See ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ ’s perfect review for more. Dani made all the problems very clear.
August 2, 2014
This was good. A nice, easy read that had me smiling most of the way through it. It's not quite as charming as Loving Jay but then again, not much is. The ending gave me a bit of a pause though. Seemed kind of out there and for a bit I felt some anger at his mother's assumptions but I was able to get over that because they did the one thing that always guarantees I will like and respect them. They talked. To each other. About their issues.
Communication instead of misunderstanding will almost always guarantee a win for me.
Recommend.
March 2, 2015
Ms Kaye writes:
“You tell me what you want done, and as long as you’re paying me and it won’t give me AIDS or rabies, I’ll clean it.”
I think it’s safe to say our m/c wont contract AIDS from cleaning a house or rabies.
This is a new one-I don’t think I have ever used the words AIDS and rabies in the same sentence.
“You tell me what you want done, and as long as you’re paying me and it won’t give me AIDS or rabies, I’ll clean it.”
I think it’s safe to say our m/c wont contract AIDS from cleaning a house or rabies.
This is a new one-I don’t think I have ever used the words AIDS and rabies in the same sentence.
July 19, 2014
This book is a fast, surprisingly light read for the issues facing the MCs. Jake, the narrator, is bouncing between minimum wage jobs, trying to get out from under debts he took on for his mother and family. All along, he's been the person who kept his family together and raised his sisters. Keeping the people he loves safe and happy is his first objective, and if he has to take a job as a housekeeper, then at least it's work he's been doing since he was a kid.
His new employer has a reputation for being picky, rude and demanding. When Jake finds out that the man is blind, he can understand where some of the anal fixation on everything in its place comes from. But the demanding and rude part could use a little work. And when he meets Patrick and realizes the man is also gorgeous, manners may not be the only thing he wants to teach Patrick.
I appreciated the realism of Patrick's daily life, and the believable techniques and accommodations he uses to get by without vision. Patrick himself was appealing, with his tendency to assume that his blindness was a nearly unsurmountable flaw. Jake was fun with his confidence and smart mouth that were not subdued by work situations. He was a bit too perfect, especially as time went on (and everyone loved Jake, )
He doesn't make a move on Patrick at first, because he isn't sure it would be welcome. I wish the author had found a reason other than "I'm sure he's straight" for Jake to back off, because it continues on improbably for too long,
My biggest reason for docking a star was that the ending just didn't work for me. Major spoiler: YMMV.
Still good smooth writing, with characters I enjoyed, some amusing banter, excellent secondary characters and for M/M romance, pretty free of any knee-jerk homophobic characters, which is always a plus. A little Aussie flavor, and a cute dog.
His new employer has a reputation for being picky, rude and demanding. When Jake finds out that the man is blind, he can understand where some of the anal fixation on everything in its place comes from. But the demanding and rude part could use a little work. And when he meets Patrick and realizes the man is also gorgeous, manners may not be the only thing he wants to teach Patrick.
I appreciated the realism of Patrick's daily life, and the believable techniques and accommodations he uses to get by without vision. Patrick himself was appealing, with his tendency to assume that his blindness was a nearly unsurmountable flaw. Jake was fun with his confidence and smart mouth that were not subdued by work situations. He was a bit too perfect, especially as time went on (and everyone loved Jake, )
He doesn't make a move on Patrick at first, because he isn't sure it would be welcome. I wish the author had found a reason other than "I'm sure he's straight" for Jake to back off, because it continues on improbably for too long,
My biggest reason for docking a star was that the ending just didn't work for me. Major spoiler: YMMV.
Still good smooth writing, with characters I enjoyed, some amusing banter, excellent secondary characters and for M/M romance, pretty free of any knee-jerk homophobic characters, which is always a plus. A little Aussie flavor, and a cute dog.
July 15, 2014
What a sweet story! A slow-building romance with very little angst, just some crazy family drama. Jake is an all-around good guy. He loves his family and has always put them first. He’s pretty much raised his younger sisters because his mother is an alcoholic. Even now, he works multiple jobs to be able to help support them all. His newest job is with Housekeeping Inc. He’s been hired to clean the house of Patrick Stanford.
Patrick is blind and a little bit on the picky side. He’s gone through umpteen housekeepers in the past few weeks. Until Jake. I loved watching Jake and Patrick get to know each other. I loved their bullet point notes to one another. And Jake trying to teach Patrick to use manners. And their trip to the pet store to get food for Gregor. Hilarious! I really enjoyed their story :)
Patrick is blind and a little bit on the picky side. He’s gone through umpteen housekeepers in the past few weeks. Until Jake. I loved watching Jake and Patrick get to know each other. I loved their bullet point notes to one another. And Jake trying to teach Patrick to use manners. And their trip to the pet store to get food for Gregor. Hilarious! I really enjoyed their story :)
July 16, 2015
This book is the homo version of Mary Poppins.
“I’ll give you a hint: it’s either please, thank you or sorry.”
This book is funny, light, positive and cheerful.
Which is definitely not my kind.
But I loved it!!!
The first thing I did when I finished this book was looking my disability shelf. I’ve read exactly 4 books about blind people so far, 2 of them are hetero. About the remaining two, one of them I hated. The another one had to share the focus with more than one pair.
Maybe I should change that.
Jake needs money. He would accept every kind of job, he’s that desperate. So being a fussy rich man’s housekeeper is not a tragedy but a stroke of luck. Mr. Stanford is not seen and cannot see, but he catches every mistake the cleaning lady makes, and writes them on a piece of paper everyday, in order for them to be fixed. He has already scared hundreds of housekeepers off, and Jake is the last shot.
Jake takes no shit from Mr. Stanford. Soon he has memorized the two massive instruction manuals, uses the braille labeler as a pro, listens to Mr. Stanford messages in the scan-and-read machine and doesn’t mess up the furniture or complains about messes in the house.
And he teaches Mr. Stanford some manners.
He’s that type of guy who doesn’t take criticism personally, and sees it as a challenge and not as an affront. And he laughs at everything and enjoys himself at every chance in the empty house.
But he doesn’t change his "perfume".
It’s impossible not lo laugh with this book, the good vibes are contagious as Jake’s smile is. As Patrick’s blind jokes are. As their amusing conversations are.
I would like to say this book is impeccable.
But it’s not.
Some issues grated on my ears. Jake’s family is not very edible, in spite of Jake’s acceptance and love. Jake’s mother is not an abusive one, but his negligent care is remarkable and selfish. Patrick’s proposition at the end of the book is so unbelievably insulting I had to read it twice to let that piece of information to sink in.
And the last straw, the ending surprise, is too forced and spoils all the niceness of the previous pages.
In spite of it all, Jake manages to see the silver linings, and he is always happy even at the most awful moments. His positiveness is enviable and in the end everything finds its place and achieves to bright.
Smile-inducing and nice, if you want to have a funny while, if you just want to have fun and think about nothing serious, this is what you are looking for.
July 18, 2014
This book was sooo cute!
It had everything I enjoy in a book.
*Endearing characters ✓
♥♥ Jake & Patrick ♥♥
*Humor ✓
The bullet point notes-
I'm a sucker for back n forth, witty email, notes, texts between the two MCs
*Some smexy times ✓
*Emotional moments ✓
*Character development ✓
There was one thing or I should say some people
Anyhoo, if you're in the mood for a nice, easy, feel good story then look no further! I have to say Renae Kaye is an author to watch out for. 4.5 Stars!
November 18, 2016
Resumo: infumable. Le pongo dos estrellas y no una por los protagonistas, que son monos, pero la autora... MEH y ARG
Renae me perdió en la primera página cuando afirma que llevar un piercing es propio de un hombre gay. Esto no me cuadra, si no llevas pendiente ¿entonces no eres gay?, si llevas varios ¿eres muy gay?, en mi caso yo llevo varios ¿soy lesbiana?, ¿o lo son mis amigas que no llevan? En fin, Renae, que eso lo pensaba mi abuela hace 25 años que nació en un pueblo de Extremadura.
Me siguió perdiendo cuando se habla de una mujer como de una cerda cebada porque ha engordado desde el instituto. Supongo Renae que debes tener la talla 38 y ser una belleza extraordinaria.
Ya me pierde del todo cuando habla de un posible aborto como "kill the baby" (y que cada uno piense lo que quiera, pero yo lo tengo claro) y da por hecho que una relación tiene como único fin el tener hijos.
En fin, la relación de ellos es mona, pero la trama hacia el final es absolutamente ridícula, todo aderezado con esos comentarios rancios.
No lo recomiendo absolutamente nada, lo siento Jake y Patrick.
Renae me perdió en la primera página cuando afirma que llevar un piercing es propio de un hombre gay. Esto no me cuadra, si no llevas pendiente ¿entonces no eres gay?, si llevas varios ¿eres muy gay?, en mi caso yo llevo varios ¿soy lesbiana?, ¿o lo son mis amigas que no llevan? En fin, Renae, que eso lo pensaba mi abuela hace 25 años que nació en un pueblo de Extremadura.
Me siguió perdiendo cuando se habla de una mujer como de una cerda cebada porque ha engordado desde el instituto. Supongo Renae que debes tener la talla 38 y ser una belleza extraordinaria.
Ya me pierde del todo cuando habla de un posible aborto como "kill the baby" (y que cada uno piense lo que quiera, pero yo lo tengo claro) y da por hecho que una relación tiene como único fin el tener hijos.
En fin, la relación de ellos es mona, pero la trama hacia el final es absolutamente ridícula, todo aderezado con esos comentarios rancios.
No lo recomiendo absolutamente nada, lo siento Jake y Patrick.
July 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this read and that's The Truth!
I don't know what it is with me though because I keep expecting something horrible to happen, so I'm on edge when reading sweet reads lately. *Spoiler alert* There's no apocalypse so enjoy it with a light heart fellow readers!
I will say that I was enjoying it pretty much up until the ending which had an odd twist that I'm still processing but I really liked it up to then.
I don't know what it is with me though because I keep expecting something horrible to happen, so I'm on edge when reading sweet reads lately. *Spoiler alert* There's no apocalypse so enjoy it with a light heart fellow readers!
I will say that I was enjoying it pretty much up until the ending which had an odd twist that I'm still processing but I really liked it up to then.
Read
April 2, 2017*****audio narration review only*****
That was absolutely wonderful. What perfect narration! I cannot find anything to complain about. I felt the emotions. I loved his accent. I already loved the story. This has now been added to the rotation of audiobooks that I will listen to over and over.
original 03/30/2015
Re-read 07/20/2015 palate cleanser after a bad book, 7/31/2015
re-read 11/09/15
That was absolutely wonderful. What perfect narration! I cannot find anything to complain about. I felt the emotions. I loved his accent. I already loved the story. This has now been added to the rotation of audiobooks that I will listen to over and over.
original 03/30/2015
Re-read 07/20/2015 palate cleanser after a bad book, 7/31/2015
re-read 11/09/15
May 3, 2016
3.6 stars
This was a sweet read. I liked the main characters. I liked their story and how it developed.
Life's been unfair to Jake, but he has always made the best of it. He's not the luckiest man alive, but with hard work he has dealt with every obstacle that's been on his way. He has to do multiple jobs to maintain his family. He starts working for Patrick, but the chemistry between them is very powerful. They are attracted to each other.
I didn't like Jake's initial cockiness. That wasn't a manner to speak to your employer. What if Patrick wasn't gay or male? He would have been fired immediately.
I think dancing is God’s gift to gay men all over. It’s like God made us gay, and knowing what a shit time we would have from homophobes and discrimination and all, he gave us the gift of dance.
Patrick is a God-like blond blind man. His life hasn't been easy either, but he has had money and he has dealt with everything. Until he meets Jake and starts to dream about other things.
Patrick's character confused me. It was like he was a 15 yo boy. There are some things that even blind men know. His ignorance was irrational. I would have liked him to be bossy through all the book, not only in the beginning. It's like he's another man.
They're both smart-mouthed and that's so very hot:
"Do you want to know that I’m now standing in your kitchen with my hand on my dick, touching myself, thinking about your gorgeous mouth and how much I would love to fuck it?”
.......................................................................
"Now, I’ve been home nearly a whole minute. Why aren’t you naked?”
Although the ending was a bit rushed, I liked how things were established and I was so happy for them. Everybody needs to be loved and to love, and it felt so good to see them having their little family.
He felt good plastered up against my side, and I could feel him leaning into me, completely trusting me to push aside the obstacles in his path and get him safely to our destination.
This was a sweet read. I liked the main characters. I liked their story and how it developed.
Life's been unfair to Jake, but he has always made the best of it. He's not the luckiest man alive, but with hard work he has dealt with every obstacle that's been on his way. He has to do multiple jobs to maintain his family. He starts working for Patrick, but the chemistry between them is very powerful. They are attracted to each other.
I didn't like Jake's initial cockiness. That wasn't a manner to speak to your employer. What if Patrick wasn't gay or male? He would have been fired immediately.
I think dancing is God’s gift to gay men all over. It’s like God made us gay, and knowing what a shit time we would have from homophobes and discrimination and all, he gave us the gift of dance.
Patrick is a God-like blond blind man. His life hasn't been easy either, but he has had money and he has dealt with everything. Until he meets Jake and starts to dream about other things.
Patrick's character confused me. It was like he was a 15 yo boy. There are some things that even blind men know. His ignorance was irrational. I would have liked him to be bossy through all the book, not only in the beginning. It's like he's another man.
They're both smart-mouthed and that's so very hot:
"Do you want to know that I’m now standing in your kitchen with my hand on my dick, touching myself, thinking about your gorgeous mouth and how much I would love to fuck it?”
.......................................................................
"Now, I’ve been home nearly a whole minute. Why aren’t you naked?”
Although the ending was a bit rushed, I liked how things were established and I was so happy for them. Everybody needs to be loved and to love, and it felt so good to see them having their little family.
He felt good plastered up against my side, and I could feel him leaning into me, completely trusting me to push aside the obstacles in his path and get him safely to our destination.
January 21, 2016
3.5 stars
Even though I liked the light fluffiness that was this book (hello, it’s Renae Kaye!), I did have some issues with it. And they were not the issues I thought I would have.
I’ve read You Are the Reason several times and because Patrick and Jake are a big part of that, I thought I knew what they would be like. I was convinced Patrick would be kind of an ass because I found him to be rather cold in YATR. But… he was sweet in this one. I wasn’t expecting that (not that I’m complaining here).
I liked how Jake and Patrick got to know each other bit by bit and how they got into a loving relationship rather quickly. There was no time for angst, but it didn’t feel rushed or artificial.
So there were a lot of things I liked, but there were also 3 things I liked less.
For one, Patrick was supposed to be this terrible person because no housekeeper wanted to work for him. But he wasn’t. I had a hard time believing that no one accepted the fact that he was blind and therefore needed things to be in their place. The agency made it out as if he was some sort of monster. That was really unrealistic.
I also had a hard time accepting the fact that Patrick .
And then….. I knew this because of the second book of course, but it felt really unnatural in this story. The whole situation came out of the blue and I wasn’t totally on board with it.
Overall, I liked it, but didn’t completely love it.
Even though I liked the light fluffiness that was this book (hello, it’s Renae Kaye!), I did have some issues with it. And they were not the issues I thought I would have.
I’ve read You Are the Reason several times and because Patrick and Jake are a big part of that, I thought I knew what they would be like. I was convinced Patrick would be kind of an ass because I found him to be rather cold in YATR. But… he was sweet in this one. I wasn’t expecting that (not that I’m complaining here).
I liked how Jake and Patrick got to know each other bit by bit and how they got into a loving relationship rather quickly. There was no time for angst, but it didn’t feel rushed or artificial.
So there were a lot of things I liked, but there were also 3 things I liked less.
For one, Patrick was supposed to be this terrible person because no housekeeper wanted to work for him. But he wasn’t. I had a hard time believing that no one accepted the fact that he was blind and therefore needed things to be in their place. The agency made it out as if he was some sort of monster. That was really unrealistic.
I also had a hard time accepting the fact that Patrick .
And then….. I knew this because of the second book of course, but it felt really unnatural in this story. The whole situation came out of the blue and I wasn’t totally on board with it.
Overall, I liked it, but didn’t completely love it.
July 13, 2015
is FREE for 1 HoUR @DSP (11/19 until 10am(est)
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
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4.5 stars bumped to 5!
Slow build with low angst...ding ding ding, it's a winner! I really enjoyed Jakes character. He's a total 'i'd do anything for the ones I love' kinda guy but also take no shit! Patrick while he may have been a bit of a d*ck at first grew on my and he turned into one of my favorite guys ever. The Laundry room messages were some of my favorite parts of the story and I was sad when they stopped. I would of love to still see them throughout the entire story.
I had some mixed emotions about the ending .
I NEED a sweet little follow-up story with these guys. Maybe a Christmas shortie next year...(hint hint hint)!
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
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4.5 stars bumped to 5!
Slow build with low angst...ding ding ding, it's a winner! I really enjoyed Jakes character. He's a total 'i'd do anything for the ones I love' kinda guy but also take no shit! Patrick while he may have been a bit of a d*ck at first grew on my and he turned into one of my favorite guys ever. The Laundry room messages were some of my favorite parts of the story and I was sad when they stopped. I would of love to still see them throughout the entire story.
I had some mixed emotions about the ending .
I NEED a sweet little follow-up story with these guys. Maybe a Christmas shortie next year...(hint hint hint)!
March 29, 2016
I've thought long and hard about writing this review. Mostly because I wasn't sure if I should write a review at all. But then someone *wink-wink-nudge-nudge* reminded me that A) I have a right to say what I feel about a book, and don't have to dwell on it and be angry about it silently and in private; and B) my own personal feelings do matter, simply because they're my own and all I have, and if something is said/written publicly, it's perfectly alright to say what I think and feel about it in a public way, too.
That said, this review will be full of my own personal issues and my personal hurt feelings. It will also be a little rant-y and a little rage-y. So you've been warned. I'll try not to spoiler anyone, but still: Read at your own risk.
Let me start with the things I liked about this one. Renae Kaye can write, there is no doubt about that. I didn't connect as much to the characters as I thought I would, but that wasn't necessarily because of the writing. The basic idea behind the story drew me in, and I was interested in the whole story after reading the blurb. Unfortunately my reading pleasure was seriously spoiled because of some things happening and being said in this book that were unacceptable to me.
I don't even count the odd fat-shaming comment. Because firstly, the character who said it got his very own lecture shortly after, and secondly, because it wasn't a reoccurring problem. It happened, I didn't like it, I moved on. I have no idea why, in a community of readers and authors coming in all shapes and forms and sizes, we frequently have to deal with the shaming of people because of their outward appearances. But it's the same thing with chauvinism and misogyny. I hate it, I don't understand why it is so freaking common in MM romance, but I also know that many people obviously don't take offense when they stumble upon it in their books. So no, I didn't even took that into account. Much. I'm used to it.
But then there was the gem that made me want to puke.
Woah. You can't be serious. No, really. You CAN'T. BE. SERIOUS! That, right there, is so wrong and so damn hurtful on so many levels, I don't even know where to start! And I don't give a flying fuck if this MC was supposed to be a smart mouth and say inappropriate things and this is meant to show his inability to think before he speaks. THIS is wrong! There is a HUGE difference between being a smartmouth and being a complete and utter asshole! Getting AIDS from cleaning? Really? Comparing it to RABIES? The first time I read this, I was shaking with rage! How dare you? I'm serious, how dare you? After this, I took a break from reading the book, but even after I had time to cool off and read on, this stuck with me. It pretty much ruined the book despite the rest of it mostly being not so bad.
You know why? Because not only did this "statement" piss me off like nobody's business, it also didn't have negative consequences for the MC after he said it. On the contrary. This... thing was supposed to be the reason why the MC got his new job, because it was met with approval by his future employer. And you know what? Screw the smartmouth-thing. The fact that an employer would give a housekeeper a job after he said THAT, is a fucking insult. It's a big "fuck you" to everyone who ever had in any way, kind, form or fashion anything to do with HIV, AIDS, STDs, house cleaning, house keeping, human beings... Ah, screw it! It was insulting to ME. And I was stark raving mad after reading this paragraph.
But then I thought, maybe I'm overreacting. In my heart, I knew I really wasn't because how can you overreact when someone hits you with a big load of horse shit like that? But I tried to get past it, I tried to read on. Because despite this one thing, the book wasn't bad so far. Plus, I really liked previous works by Renae Kaye and I thought maybe, just maybe, this book would redeem itself somewhat over time. And maybe it would have.
But then there was the part with Mrs Lee, the Asian housekeeper.
And I realize that I might have a huge chip on my shoulder where others might just shrug. Because I know that with the shit going down in my country ever day right now, with all the hate and prejudices and sterotypes flying around and poisening every little aspect of my every-day life, my nerves are stretched so very, very thin. On some days I'm exactly one xenophobic comment away from exploding all over my life like a water melon someone threw from a speeding car. So yes, I might be hyperaware, oversensitive, and sometimes overreacting. But the way Mrs Lee was portrayed, the way her accent was described was... I saw other readers calling it "borderline offensive". Which is a very nice way of saying: Hey, the fucking 40s and 50s are calling, they want their anti-Japanese and anti-Asian jokes back! Plus, Mrs Lee might not have spoken an English without an accent, but she was the BEST in cleaning the whole house without fault, she was very strict and harsh and had no sense of humor. For a moment I was wondering if I was watching Mrs Kim from the Gilmore Girls exploring a new job. Never mind that Mrs Kim was Korean, and not even she was that cartoonish.
What it came down to for me was this: Instead of writing this scene with dialogue and plot, the author also could have written: "Mrs Lee is a Chinese housekeeper who can't speak English but is one hell of a cleaning lady." And that's okay, right? Because the MC liked her and respected her for it? Uhm, no. No. It's not. In the 90s we called that Romantic Racism. "I love the Chinese, they're always so prim and proper. And so quiet!" "I love Mexicans, they are such hard and dedicated workers, and always eager to proof themselves!" "I love black men, they are fantastic basketball and football players!" "Oh, don't you admire gay men and their fantastic sense of style and fashion?"
No matter how nice that is supposed to sound, no matter how you twist and turn it, no matter how much sugar you throw on it, THAT is racism. A romanticized, so very dangerous kind of racism. It sounds good, so it can't be bad, right? Well, it fucking is and I hate it with a vengeance. And just to be clear, it's exactly one step above "I don't have anything against -insert minority here-, BUT...."
'Nough said.
What else can I add? The rest of the book was okay, and if the things that bugged me don't bother you, I'm pretty sure this could be a fun read. I couldn't get into it though. I didn't enjoy the family dynamics, mainly because I found them too bizarre, and as a whole, I didn't really connect with the characters. That's on me. Ergo, the ending did nothing but raise my brows so high, they payed my grey hairline a nice, long visit.
So, no. I couldn't enjoy this book. I didn't like the plot, I didn't connect with the characters, and I was hurt by some of the messages that came across. Sure, I might be overreacting, overinterpreting, overanalyzing. But since it's my review, and my personal feelings, and my personal views, I'll proudly stick with it and give this book one star. Because NO, I didn't like it and GR tells me that if this is the case, I have every right to choose the one-star rating. So I do.
That is all.
That said, this review will be full of my own personal issues and my personal hurt feelings. It will also be a little rant-y and a little rage-y. So you've been warned. I'll try not to spoiler anyone, but still: Read at your own risk.
Let me start with the things I liked about this one. Renae Kaye can write, there is no doubt about that. I didn't connect as much to the characters as I thought I would, but that wasn't necessarily because of the writing. The basic idea behind the story drew me in, and I was interested in the whole story after reading the blurb. Unfortunately my reading pleasure was seriously spoiled because of some things happening and being said in this book that were unacceptable to me.
I don't even count the odd fat-shaming comment. Because firstly, the character who said it got his very own lecture shortly after, and secondly, because it wasn't a reoccurring problem. It happened, I didn't like it, I moved on. I have no idea why, in a community of readers and authors coming in all shapes and forms and sizes, we frequently have to deal with the shaming of people because of their outward appearances. But it's the same thing with chauvinism and misogyny. I hate it, I don't understand why it is so freaking common in MM romance, but I also know that many people obviously don't take offense when they stumble upon it in their books. So no, I didn't even took that into account. Much. I'm used to it.
But then there was the gem that made me want to puke.
"Tell me what you want done, and as long as you're paying me and it won't give me AIDS or rabies, I'll clean it."
Woah. You can't be serious. No, really. You CAN'T. BE. SERIOUS! That, right there, is so wrong and so damn hurtful on so many levels, I don't even know where to start! And I don't give a flying fuck if this MC was supposed to be a smart mouth and say inappropriate things and this is meant to show his inability to think before he speaks. THIS is wrong! There is a HUGE difference between being a smartmouth and being a complete and utter asshole! Getting AIDS from cleaning? Really? Comparing it to RABIES? The first time I read this, I was shaking with rage! How dare you? I'm serious, how dare you? After this, I took a break from reading the book, but even after I had time to cool off and read on, this stuck with me. It pretty much ruined the book despite the rest of it mostly being not so bad.
You know why? Because not only did this "statement" piss me off like nobody's business, it also didn't have negative consequences for the MC after he said it. On the contrary. This... thing was supposed to be the reason why the MC got his new job, because it was met with approval by his future employer. And you know what? Screw the smartmouth-thing. The fact that an employer would give a housekeeper a job after he said THAT, is a fucking insult. It's a big "fuck you" to everyone who ever had in any way, kind, form or fashion anything to do with HIV, AIDS, STDs, house cleaning, house keeping, human beings... Ah, screw it! It was insulting to ME. And I was stark raving mad after reading this paragraph.
But then I thought, maybe I'm overreacting. In my heart, I knew I really wasn't because how can you overreact when someone hits you with a big load of horse shit like that? But I tried to get past it, I tried to read on. Because despite this one thing, the book wasn't bad so far. Plus, I really liked previous works by Renae Kaye and I thought maybe, just maybe, this book would redeem itself somewhat over time. And maybe it would have.
But then there was the part with Mrs Lee, the Asian housekeeper.
And I realize that I might have a huge chip on my shoulder where others might just shrug. Because I know that with the shit going down in my country ever day right now, with all the hate and prejudices and sterotypes flying around and poisening every little aspect of my every-day life, my nerves are stretched so very, very thin. On some days I'm exactly one xenophobic comment away from exploding all over my life like a water melon someone threw from a speeding car. So yes, I might be hyperaware, oversensitive, and sometimes overreacting. But the way Mrs Lee was portrayed, the way her accent was described was... I saw other readers calling it "borderline offensive". Which is a very nice way of saying: Hey, the fucking 40s and 50s are calling, they want their anti-Japanese and anti-Asian jokes back! Plus, Mrs Lee might not have spoken an English without an accent, but she was the BEST in cleaning the whole house without fault, she was very strict and harsh and had no sense of humor. For a moment I was wondering if I was watching Mrs Kim from the Gilmore Girls exploring a new job. Never mind that Mrs Kim was Korean, and not even she was that cartoonish.
What it came down to for me was this: Instead of writing this scene with dialogue and plot, the author also could have written: "Mrs Lee is a Chinese housekeeper who can't speak English but is one hell of a cleaning lady." And that's okay, right? Because the MC liked her and respected her for it? Uhm, no. No. It's not. In the 90s we called that Romantic Racism. "I love the Chinese, they're always so prim and proper. And so quiet!" "I love Mexicans, they are such hard and dedicated workers, and always eager to proof themselves!" "I love black men, they are fantastic basketball and football players!" "Oh, don't you admire gay men and their fantastic sense of style and fashion?"
No matter how nice that is supposed to sound, no matter how you twist and turn it, no matter how much sugar you throw on it, THAT is racism. A romanticized, so very dangerous kind of racism. It sounds good, so it can't be bad, right? Well, it fucking is and I hate it with a vengeance. And just to be clear, it's exactly one step above "I don't have anything against -insert minority here-, BUT...."
'Nough said.
What else can I add? The rest of the book was okay, and if the things that bugged me don't bother you, I'm pretty sure this could be a fun read. I couldn't get into it though. I didn't enjoy the family dynamics, mainly because I found them too bizarre, and as a whole, I didn't really connect with the characters. That's on me. Ergo, the ending did nothing but raise my brows so high, they payed my grey hairline a nice, long visit.
So, no. I couldn't enjoy this book. I didn't like the plot, I didn't connect with the characters, and I was hurt by some of the messages that came across. Sure, I might be overreacting, overinterpreting, overanalyzing. But since it's my review, and my personal feelings, and my personal views, I'll proudly stick with it and give this book one star. Because NO, I didn't like it and GR tells me that if this is the case, I have every right to choose the one-star rating. So I do.
That is all.
Read
April 2, 2017I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. I loved the slow build of Jake and Patrick's relationship. It was very low angst (which I love). I loved reading Jake and Patrick's notes. They were hilarious. They had established a rapport long before they ever met in person. Jake didn't take Patrick's crap. Patrick truly adored Jake. It was obvious. I loved that Jake didn't allow Patrick's blindness stop him from falling in love. They were absolutely perfect together. There is family drama, but Jake takes care of his own. I truly love that about him.
Renae Kaye is now on my favorite authors list.
Renae Kaye is now on my favorite authors list.
May 25, 2015
I really love Renae Kaye's books and I'm finally all caught up on her stories. I don't know why it took me so long to read The Blinding Light! I really don't. It's sweet, funny at times and just all sorts of wonderful.
These guys are amazing together. Jake and Patrick are a really wonderful couple. But also really great characters. I loved the way they were with each other. The relationship felt natural and I was smiled several times while reading this and especially when the two of them together.
I wish Jake's sisters had been more likable. I could sort of understand them having it tough. But he had already done so much for them. I didn't see why they had to keep taking the way they did. I mean, he didn't exactly have it easy either. Far from it. And then you had the stuff with his mother which was all sorts of crazy, especially with the whole It didn't surprise me, but still, I think she could have at least brought it up with Jake and Patrick before making the decision.
Still, none of that made me dislike the book because I really liked these guys. I was so happy they got a nice HEA.
I'm a little bit torn about my rating. 4.5 stars or 5 stars. But I think 4.5 fits better because while I did love this, it's not my favorite book from this author, plus there were a couple of things that got to me. Especially at the end of the book. So for those reasons I'm giving it 4.5 stars!
These guys are amazing together. Jake and Patrick are a really wonderful couple. But also really great characters. I loved the way they were with each other. The relationship felt natural and I was smiled several times while reading this and especially when the two of them together.
I wish Jake's sisters had been more likable. I could sort of understand them having it tough. But he had already done so much for them. I didn't see why they had to keep taking the way they did. I mean, he didn't exactly have it easy either. Far from it. And then you had the stuff with his mother which was all sorts of crazy, especially with the whole It didn't surprise me, but still, I think she could have at least brought it up with Jake and Patrick before making the decision.
Still, none of that made me dislike the book because I really liked these guys. I was so happy they got a nice HEA.
I'm a little bit torn about my rating. 4.5 stars or 5 stars. But I think 4.5 fits better because while I did love this, it's not my favorite book from this author, plus there were a couple of things that got to me. Especially at the end of the book. So for those reasons I'm giving it 4.5 stars!
November 22, 2014
3,5 stars.
I fell in love with Renae Kaye’s wonderful storytelling with The Shearing Gun, a truly brilliant book! Renae's writing style is amazing and I was looking forward to reading The Blinding Light.
All his life Jake is helping his mother with her debts and his three sisters whenever they need him. He’s doing three jobs to scrape up the money he needs and still it’s not enough. So he starts a new job as a housekeeper. Patrick is a blind man who is flying though housekeepers because of his attitude. His new housekeeper seems to be a tough one, though...
The romance part of the book is pretty well done. Both MCs, Jake and Patrick are adorable. I liked the slow building of trust and the sweetness of both main characters.
At 80% things started going a bit wrong for me. First there is this odd arrangement Patrick makes with Jake. Patrick asks the man he loves to be his paid househusband?! Doesn’t couples in love share everything, including the money?
The whole baby adoption situation is the second thing that I couldn’t see happening. Does a mother pay off her ‘debts’ that way? Really? Sorry, that didn’t make any sense to me.
All in all, the story is entertaining written with likeable characters. I would still recommend the book.
November 17, 2016
I truly loved this one...*sigh*
I'm a big fan of Renae Kaye's
and this book is just as good.
Jake is a wonderful person and a caregiver at heart. He takes care of his family...that's just what he does, no questions asked. Even though his mum would definitely not win any mother of the year awards.
He's desperate for a second job and agrees to become a housekeeper. He only gets to know Patrick, his client, through rude notes and instructions left for him each day. Patrick is blind so requires that everything be just so. The relationship building between these 2 is slow but very sweet and quite hot.
Renae Kaye is an Aussie and I love all the expressions she uses. I almost peed myself laughing when she refers to a speedo as a budgie smuggler...I just call them banana hammocks!!!
I'm a big fan of Renae Kaye's
and this book is just as good.Jake is a wonderful person and a caregiver at heart. He takes care of his family...that's just what he does, no questions asked. Even though his mum would definitely not win any mother of the year awards.
He's desperate for a second job and agrees to become a housekeeper. He only gets to know Patrick, his client, through rude notes and instructions left for him each day. Patrick is blind so requires that everything be just so. The relationship building between these 2 is slow but very sweet and quite hot.
Renae Kaye is an Aussie and I love all the expressions she uses. I almost peed myself laughing when she refers to a speedo as a budgie smuggler...I just call them banana hammocks!!!
November 29, 2019
This was absolutely delightful! I enjoyed the story, the characters and a bit of exaggeration in some cases. It was steamy, humorous and light-hearted with very little angst. I liked Jake and his cheerful attitude to life even though at times it felt like he let his family walk all over him, but he was a caretaker by nature, so for him it was perfect set up despite all the complaints and grumblings. I liked that Patrick was portrayed so confident and self-assured considering that he was blind. I enjoyed his shy moments and how much he cared about Jake from the very start. This story was just too cute for words! I read it in one sitting!
April 24, 2016
BR, July 6th with Momo, Julie, Paul and Nathan.
As much as I adored this book there were a few things that bugged and annoyed me and quite frankly kept me from giving this book 5 freaking stars.
I really liked Jake. Jake was funny. He was caring and he was a hard-working man. I admired him so much for taking responsibility for his siblings and his mother…
Jake is broke. All his money goes to paying off his debts. He is in urgently need of a job. He is offered a housekeeping job for a blind man. This man, Mr. Stanford is rude and arrogant.
Patrick has had tons of housekeepers but he has scared them all away so Jake is the agent's last shot. Every day he leaves Jake a list of instructions.
the notes....Dear Mrs. Huntley,
There are two letters to post. I left them on my desk.
Good job yesterday.
I still don’t like your perfume. Change it back.
Sincerely,
P. Stanfort
I loved that Jake takes no shit from Mr. Stanford (aka Patrick), doesn’t take anything so personal. He even takes it upon himself to “educate” this man by teaching him some manners!!
“Have you ever thought about being nicer? Then they won’t keep leaving.”
“I am nice!” he cried.
"But you could try putting a couple of pleases and thank-yous in your notes if you want to be nicer.”
“Why? I’m paying them good money, not the other way around. Why should I go out of my way to say please?”
"Why? Because your housekeeper is a bloody human being, Patrick. Manners don’t cost anything. But your lack of manners has cost you several housekeepers by the sound of it."
The guys were really great together. During the book they just kept me smiling…. I liked the slow building of trust and the sweetness of both main characters.
But then at 80% the table turned… Patrick offers to keep Jake as a paying house-husband!! Really? That made me cringe. And it got worse when we got this Jake had already given so much of his life and was so ready to finally have a life of his own, doing things he wanted…
“I love my sisters, but I can’t keep putting my life on hold for them. I want you. I want to build my life around you. I want to make you so happy that you never imagined that so much happiness existed. I want to marry you. I want to care for you. I want to grow old with you. I want to get a dog and a cat and even a goldfish that you can’t see.“
All in all it was still a very entertaining story. I loved the witty humor of the guys!!!
“What the hell is this? It feels like a whip with a feather on the end of it.”
“It’s a feather you dangle for a cat to play with,” I growled.
His eyebrows went up. “I like things that dangle too. Do I get to play?”
And most importantly they got their HEA… I’m curious to know what their role will be in the sequel!!!
August 10, 2014
3.75 STARS
Jake is 26 years old, but he knows what real sacrifice means. All his life he cared for his family, his mother and his three little sisters, without complaining and accepting his life how it is. He gives everything in him for those he loves. Giving up his entire life savings means nothing for him when it comes to keep his family save. Jake raised his three sisters alone and took care of his home since he was a kid, because his irresponsible mother was a drunk, so he is used to clean after somebody. He takes a job at Housekeeping.Inc where he meets Patrick, his new employer.
Patrick has a reputation for being an arrogant, demanding asshole. At first Jake and Patrick communicate through letters, so when they finally meet, Jake is astonish to see that Patrick is a gorgeous blind man. Patrick was born blind and he was raised by his adopted father after his mother abandoned him in an orphanage. Unlike Jack, Patrick is rich.
Jack is attracted to Patrick from the start, even if he thinks Patrick is straight. The become friends and soon after that they admit they are attracted to each other and decide they should go out on a date.
Blinding Light it’s a sweet and fun read this low angst and little drama. I enjoyed the storyline, everything felt real and the relationship between MC was natural. I really liked both main characters and their relationship. Jake was an entertaining character, with his smart mouth. He is caring, loving, hardworking, and brave. He is pretty perfect. I really liked how easy accepts Patrick’s disability. He doesn’t judge, he only comforts, he accepts Patrick, and gives him only love, trying to bright his life.
Patrick is confident at his house, but outside he’s nervous and he has his insecurities. I totally understand his point. I enjoyed the dialogue and the banter between Jack and Patrick and I really liked how Jack and Patrick support each other.
I can’t say I liked Jack’s family too much, but if you read this you will see why. Also, I didn’t like the twist in the end and all the drama ( unnecessary for me ), even if I understand somehow what the author try to accomplish.
Overall, Blinding Light was an easy, cute read with lovable and relatable characters and great writing.
How am I going to survive it?
With love. That’s all we need.
Jake is 26 years old, but he knows what real sacrifice means. All his life he cared for his family, his mother and his three little sisters, without complaining and accepting his life how it is. He gives everything in him for those he loves. Giving up his entire life savings means nothing for him when it comes to keep his family save. Jake raised his three sisters alone and took care of his home since he was a kid, because his irresponsible mother was a drunk, so he is used to clean after somebody. He takes a job at Housekeeping.Inc where he meets Patrick, his new employer.
Patrick has a reputation for being an arrogant, demanding asshole. At first Jake and Patrick communicate through letters, so when they finally meet, Jake is astonish to see that Patrick is a gorgeous blind man. Patrick was born blind and he was raised by his adopted father after his mother abandoned him in an orphanage. Unlike Jack, Patrick is rich.
Jack is attracted to Patrick from the start, even if he thinks Patrick is straight. The become friends and soon after that they admit they are attracted to each other and decide they should go out on a date.
Blinding Light it’s a sweet and fun read this low angst and little drama. I enjoyed the storyline, everything felt real and the relationship between MC was natural. I really liked both main characters and their relationship. Jake was an entertaining character, with his smart mouth. He is caring, loving, hardworking, and brave. He is pretty perfect. I really liked how easy accepts Patrick’s disability. He doesn’t judge, he only comforts, he accepts Patrick, and gives him only love, trying to bright his life.
I don’t care if he has six fingers on one hand and turns purple with every full moon. He is who he is and that’s who I like.
Patrick is confident at his house, but outside he’s nervous and he has his insecurities. I totally understand his point. I enjoyed the dialogue and the banter between Jack and Patrick and I really liked how Jack and Patrick support each other.
I can’t say I liked Jack’s family too much, but if you read this you will see why. Also, I didn’t like the twist in the end and all the drama ( unnecessary for me ), even if I understand somehow what the author try to accomplish.
Overall, Blinding Light was an easy, cute read with lovable and relatable characters and great writing.
September 11, 2025
Jake Manning is one of the snarkiest characters I've read - which means that of course I love him!
When Jake accepts a housekeeping position for Patrick Stanford, a blind man with exacting standards and a low tolerance for bullshit, it quickly evolves into a stand off of sorts.
Patrick has been able to find fault with every housekeeper sent to him, until Jake. His only complaint? Jake's delicious scent. When Patrick falls ill, Jake takes care of him, in Jake's typically no-nonsense way and the two begin a friendship. Mostly because Jake is reliable and doesn’t take any of Patrick's crap.
I loved seeing their relationship evolve from friendship to more.
It's a massively whirlwind relationship, but I just suspended disbelief and enjoyed.
Bottom Line: a pretty solid, funny, sweet story with some very hot sexy times.
RECOMMENDED!
Wonderful narration by Jonathan Young! He does a really good job and it's thoroughly entertaining.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Read: 02/16/2015; UPDATED for audio book 04/03/2015; 07/09/2015
When Jake accepts a housekeeping position for Patrick Stanford, a blind man with exacting standards and a low tolerance for bullshit, it quickly evolves into a stand off of sorts.
Patrick has been able to find fault with every housekeeper sent to him, until Jake. His only complaint? Jake's delicious scent. When Patrick falls ill, Jake takes care of him, in Jake's typically no-nonsense way and the two begin a friendship. Mostly because Jake is reliable and doesn’t take any of Patrick's crap.
I loved seeing their relationship evolve from friendship to more.
It's a massively whirlwind relationship, but I just suspended disbelief and enjoyed.
Bottom Line: a pretty solid, funny, sweet story with some very hot sexy times.
RECOMMENDED!
Wonderful narration by Jonathan Young! He does a really good job and it's thoroughly entertaining.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Read: 02/16/2015; UPDATED for audio book 04/03/2015; 07/09/2015
March 2, 2015
Two people recommended this book to me, Penny and Beppy. Thank you! I enjoyed every minute of this book.
Jake Manning was a smart mouth 24 yr old doing any odd job to take care of his family as his mom spent her days hitting the bottle. His latest gig saw him cleaning the house of a blind man named Patrick Stafford. Their exchanges were hilarious. As we got to know both characters, I just feel in love with both of them.
The writing was on point, the characters were charming, Jske's family was an interesting lot and the development of each person was just endearing. I chuckled a lot, and I was so hopeful for the family and their trial. I wanted Jake to start living and he finally did that. Love and sacrifice was the name of the game here.
Review to come later
Jake Manning was a smart mouth 24 yr old doing any odd job to take care of his family as his mom spent her days hitting the bottle. His latest gig saw him cleaning the house of a blind man named Patrick Stafford. Their exchanges were hilarious. As we got to know both characters, I just feel in love with both of them.
The writing was on point, the characters were charming, Jske's family was an interesting lot and the development of each person was just endearing. I chuckled a lot, and I was so hopeful for the family and their trial. I wanted Jake to start living and he finally did that. Love and sacrifice was the name of the game here.
Review to come later
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December 20, 2021Main characters are gay, and one is blind, so I was looking forward to this one. But I felt it relied on racist and ableist tropes. There was a fair amount of misogyny thrown in as well as an AIDS joke. I don't like to include negative comments about books I've read but feel it's important to share in this case.
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