Can love conquer cynicism?

I loved Blind Faith, the first book in this series, and so was thrilled when the next book was released on audio. I adore Michael Pauley and again felt he did a great job. He differentiates well between the two main characters and he brought out the immediacy of the terrible situation Isaac finds himself in. Michael always hits just the right note and is an incredibly reliable narrator. That might seem like a weak adverb, but in the world of audiobooks, it’s reassuring to know you’re going to get a high-quality performance every time. You get that with Michael.

The book starts about six months after Blind Faith ends. Carter and Isaac are happy in their relationship, but Carter is yearning for more. He feels like a guest when he stays at Isaac’s house, never quite like he belongs. But Isaac is stubborn. Being blind, he relies on everything being exactly where it needs to be. He also struggles and doesn’t want Carter to see. He wants Carter to see him at his best all the time while Carter just wants to be there. Isaac’s stubbornness will play a major role in this book, as it did the last one. To hope he’d changed entirely because of Carter and love was a bit much. Even if he wasn’t blind, I still believe he’d be cynical and, on occasion, downright rude.

Isaac’s cynicism isn’t apparent, though, when a new person enters his life. Joshua is working as a contractor at the school where Isaac teaches and they become fast friends. Isaac believes himself to be a good judge of character, but Carter isn’t convinced Joshua is on the up and up. This becomes an increasing source of tension between the two men. Is Carter just jealous or is there more going on? Can Isaac see what Joshua’s true intentions are, even though he’s blind?

The frightening setback for Isaac really was scary and I understood how and why it changed him. For the better in some respects but not in others. If I had undergone what he had, I’d have been altered as well. I think we all would. But he gets back up and soldiers on, although now willing to accept more help than before.

The dark moment in this book is pretty dark. Isaac’s sharp tongue goes too far and, honestly, I began to wonder why Carter put up with him. I mean love is all well and good, but cruel words do have an impact. I could only give Isaac so much understanding of his condition before it was almost too much. I wanted to shake some sense into him. I got my happy ending with a decent resolution, so that was something.

I also have to mention that in this book, as with the first book, I had a good cry. I didn’t think I would, it caught me off-guard, it didn’t detract from the book, and it kind of made sense. Still hit me hard though. But that’s life.

Like I said, Michael Pauley was superb, the book was great, and I enjoyed the entire thing. There is one more book in the series and I can’t wait.

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Loved it!

This series has it all. I saw the treachery come a mile away. I was extremely sad and had tears streaming. I loved Michael Pauley. He brings it all to life.

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Loved it

Book two - our wonderful main characters go through difficult situations and find that loving each other is hard work! At some points I got teary-eyed, which doesn’t happen to me often. Hard won fantastic ending.

Isaac is a jerk!

Being blind is not a reason to treat someone you love this bad! I hoped after the first book, Isaac would learn to be a good person! I was really disappointed in the backward momentum of their relationship and that Carter would take the abuse. I found myself saying out loud how much Isaac disappointed me while listening and scaring my children. Thankfully, Michael Pauley did a great job!

Through These Eyes

This book starts just a bit after the first book, like 6 months or so. After Issac and Carter finally get their selves sorted and have their relationship on track for the long run. And of course that's when everything turns to crap.

Issac and his new "friend" really seriously irritated me in this book. Carter does so much for Issac you can just feel and see all the love and support he has for him, even when Issac is being his irritating self, Carter is still there and All In. And Issac totally takes him for granted. I am 100% #TeamCarter and I was feeling all kinds of emotional listening to this book.

I know Issac has to deal with a lot, all the stuff that happens to him in this book and life itself, but man he has some major blinders on and just completely oversees the fact that Carter is there for him every step of the way. omg, and for Issac to turn to his stupid "friend" over Carter is just infuriating. You really just want to smack some sense into Issac on more than one occasion.

Luckily this book ends in a HEA or I would have been all kinds of angry for these guys. LMAO.

All angst and drama aside this book was great. Written well. The story flowed great right from the first book into this one. No editing issues that I could see and/or hear. Just a well rounded second book to this series. And even though I was angry for both of these guys during the duration of this book, I still enjoyed this book immensely.

Audio - I think Michael Pauley really nailed this narration. He made sure that we not only got his superb narration, but he really gave us a good deal of emotion while telling this story. I felt like I was there with these guys, experiencing what they went through right along with them. And, I think it gave the story a bigger impact for me than it would have been just reading the book. Great job with this one.

so good!!!!

I found Through These Eyes to be even better then the first book in the series (Blind Faith). The author digs even deeper into Isaac and Carter’s relationship. This audio book is more angsty than the first one. There were times when I really wanted to smack Isaac in the head. He is a jerk throughout the story but at the end of the book he ends up baring his soul to Carter which I found to be such a beautiful moment. This audio book made me feel all kinds of emotions from laughter to anger and even some tears but the real theme through this whole book is hope. Hope is a very powerful thing and both our characters have it in spades!! I cannot recommend this series enough!!!!
I love Michael Pauley and his narration was a good as always!!

Isaac killed the story for me :(

It’s been six months of loving bliss for Isaac and Carter since we last met them. Since then they’ve been busy loving each other and the family they created with their two dogs.

But happiness doesn’t always last. Here it all starts with a break-in – where the thief threatened Isaac and his security. Made him – and his loved ones – feel unsafe. Isaac being Isaac lashes out at them. Then there is a new hire at his work that put additional strain on his and Carter’s relationship when jealousy and mistrust enters the picture.

When I revisit a couple I want them to grow, move forward in their relationship. For the most part Isaac and Carter actually move backwards in Through These Eyes. I really don’t mind putting a couple through some challenges, but everything happening here was a bit much, it was also something that everyone could see from miles away, so I can’t say there was a level of uncertainty either to enhance the experience.

What frustrated me the most was Isaac and his behaviour. I mean he treated everyone in his life like crap, lashing out at them time and again. And no one really stood up to him, but just stood there and took it. At one point, I think it was Josh, who mentioned that Isaac was treated just like any other man, disability or not. I have to say I don’t agree with that. Because whenever Isaac did something hurtful to Carter or even his sister, they always blamed it on him being blind, and thus his behaviour was acceptable. I’m sorry but it’s not.

Michael Pauley is a talented voice actor and brought this story to life. He couldn’t make me like Isaac, but then I don’t think anyone could – at least not going by this book. He did a great impersonation of Isaac and his need for independence, and lashing out. He made you feel those cuts and remarks deeply when aimed at Carter or his sister. Pauley is a narrator that I keep coming back to over and over for a very good reason – he do know how to connect the listener to the story.

Through These Eyes was my least favourite book in this series, I was hoping for something else, something more. But then again, not every book can be a winner, and a book narrated by Pauley is always a pleasure to listen to any day of the week.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.