Author: Kishan Paul
Publisher: Samhain
Release Date: June 2015
ISBN: 1619229544
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Romantic Suspense
She doesn’t need a hero. But a sexy Marine…that’ll work.
Though Lauren Baxter’s world is a blurry mess of colors, she has no tolerance for pity. With the help of her guide dog, Jack Sparrow, she’s built a good life for herself. She has everything she wants: her PhD, a thriving counseling practice and her independence.
When she meets her new neighbor, the man’s warm Texas accent and clean male scent weaken her knees. Her attraction to the former Marine is mutual and, unfortunately, a complication she doesn’t need.
Gabriel Briggs carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has his reasons for indulging only in short-term flings, but the feisty, green-eyed Lauren makes him want to forget every one.
In a rare moment of fragility, Lauren winds up in Gabe’s arms. One night together can’t break their self-imposed rules, right? But when a woman from Gabe’s past is murdered, the reasons he should have stayed away become painfully clear, threatening innocent lives he may not be able to save—especially Lauren’s.
Warning: Contains a blind therapist who doesn’t consider herself impaired; a meddling, erotic-novel-writing best friend; a hot ex-Marine with a shady past; and a loyal guide dog that howls “I love you” and is probably the sanest one of the bunch.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of The Romance Review in exchange for an honest review.
They say love is blind but when that phrase was coined, it was not referring to blindness in the literal sense. However, for Lauren Baxter, being blind and in love was as real as it would get.
BLIND LOVE by Kishan Paul tells the story of Lauren Baxter and Gabriel Briggs. Lauren has Retinitis Pigmentosa. This is an inherited disease where the retinas degenerate over time, eventually leading to complete blindness. Lauren had lost 90% of her sight by the time she was nineteen years old. However, she did not allow it to define her as a person. She took charge of her life and for her efforts, she gained her independence, got married and became a successful psychologist.
However, her marriage did not go the way she expected. She believed that her husband’s infidelity was due to her shortcomings. As a result, she buried herself in her work and spent her time pushing away any man who tries to get close. She was not willing to allow anyone to break down the barriers she had built for self-protection. However, that would change when Gabriel Briggs moved next door.
Gabriel is an ex-marine turned house flipper. He had his share of family struggles which has made him emotionally unavailable for any kind of relationship. However, meeting Lauren had him re-thinking that maybe he did have the capacity to share his heart. He is a man with secrets. Those secrets would ultimately turn his life inside out. He kept running from his past, but it would eventually catch up with him.
This is my first time reading Kishan Paul’s work. I was intrigued by the blurb, hence my decision to read and review. The story was well written and the pacing was just right. The story grabbed my attention and it completely sucked me in.
The characters were complex and dynamic. I enjoyed every moment spent reading about them. I particularly enjoyed Lauren’s role; I thought she was brave, strong, compassionate and sassy. She proved that she could hold her own even in the midst of a dangerous situation. Her disability did not make her weak. If anything, it made her stronger.
The blurb hinted that a murder took place, as such I was expecting an element of mystery. However, what I did not expect was the manner in which it was introduced. This aspect had something to do with Gabe’s past. No indication was provided as to this aspect of his past until the murder took place and he was considered a prime suspect. This took place at about fifty percent into the book. It took me by surprise. Nevertheless, I was able to overlook this minor flaw after everything began to unfold. From this point the story became intense and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
The romance between Lauren and Gabriel was hot. Now if you are a reader who enjoy explicit love scenes, then you will be disappointed. This is one of those stories where you will have to imagine what is taking place in the bedroom. This is not an insta-love story. The romance happened gradually and their love for each other grew over time.
BLIND LOVE is the type of story that will evoke a variety of emotions. It’s a heartfelt story of trust, forgiveness, healing and love. It also touches on the serious issue of suicide and the impact it has on those left behind. This was a beautiful story and I highly recommend it. I would definitely read more of this author’s work. –
Review originally posted at
