Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: The Blinding Light 
SERIES: The Tav #1
AUTHOR: Reneae Kaye
NARRATOR: Jonathan Young
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2015
LENGTH: 6 hours, 55 minutes
BLURB:
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.
REVIEW:
The Blinding Light is a book I keep coming back to whenever I want something light-hearted, sweet and fun – but not a mindless read, there is depth here.
Jake knows what it’s like to fight for everything in his life, to constantly live on his last dime in order to take care of his younger sisters and alcoholic mother. Leaving next to nothing over for himself. To make ends meet he takes on another job, as a housekeeper for a notorious client that has chased away more housekeepers than there are days in the year. Determined to make the best of the situation and not to be chased away Jake starts taking care of Patrick Stanford’s house.
A bout of illness, a terrible cold changes the dynamics of the household and a tentative friendship between Jake and Patrick starts forming. I loved watching them in the beginning, the banter. Seriously, Jake trying to teach Patrick manners was hilarious, and I always get a huge grin on my face during these parts.
From the first, Jake is insanely attracted to Pat, but assumes he’s straight. Which leads to some awkward moments, some face slapping moments – and obviously more fun times for the reader / listener. 😉
I really loved them together. They fit and complemented, became whole and was just what the other needed. Pat learned to depend and trust on another person, to take chances, experience new things and starting to live. Jake found someone to take care of him for once, someone to share his overwhelming burdens with. Someone who forced him to think of himself and be happy for once in his life. They truly grew as people and as a couple.
Jonathan Young was a really good narrator – for the most part and I enjoyed listening to him. I love that he added feelings and emotions to Kaye’s words, brought the characters to life. He didn’t always differentiate between the different characters that much, but I honestly didn’t mind that, it still worked. My only complaint is that I wish he would’ve stuck to one accent and not switch between American and Aussie. It just didn’t work to mix them all up.
I really liked this story, it was very sweet with likable characters. I loved how Jake handled Pat in a no nonsense matter, without taking any crap. The manner tutoring sessions were hilarious.
This book would have been a full pointer if the last part of the book had been excluded. It was just too much and too soon. I wanted Jake and Patrick to have a chance to be a couple, to find their way in their relationship first. But I also recognise that I can’t always get everything that I want so I guess I’ll have to live with it.
All in all, this book is nice and quick listen for those days when you need a smile. It’s definitely worth your time.
RATING: 
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