Love at First Sight by Sandra Field is a Harlequin Presents romance about a blind mathematician and guide dog trainer whose relationship develops amid misunderstandings and a unique setting.
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Love at First Sight by Sandra FieldRating:
Published: 1990
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Harlequin Presents #1336
Published by: Harlequin, Mills & Boon
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 189
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: IntrovertReader
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
Sandra Field’s Love at First Sight is a Harlequin Presents romance novel from May 1990.
This is the second romance I’ve read by this author in which one of the main characters is visually impaired. The other one was 1981’s Sight of a Stranger, a Harlequin Romance, which I thought was much angstier than this book.
The Plot
Dark Days Alone
The story follows the journey of Bryden Moore, a blind university mathematician, and Casey Landrigan, who is studying to be a trainer of guide dogs for the blind. The seemingly well-suited pair are brought together on a remote Nova Scotia island via the machinations of a well-meaning matchmaker.
Bryden decides to spend his summer in his cottage on the Canadian coast. His friend’s wife, the aforementioned matchmaker, offers Casey the house next door to Bryden’s to use during a break from her studies.
However, when the two meet, Bryden is rude and accuses Casey of trespassing. Casey can’t help but be attracted to Bryden’s runner physique, even though she thinks he’s a mean crank. She resolves to avoid him, but fate has other plans.
During a storm, Bryden loses his cane on the way back to his house and gets trapped in the torment, unable to navigate alone. When Casey comes upon the helpless hero, she finally realizes he can’t see and guides him home.
Clouds Part in the Sky
Afterward, the two develop a tentative acquaintance, and Casey encourages Bryden to go swimming and suggests being his running partner. Bryden’s attraction to Casey grows, but due to his abusive upbringing, Bryden has significant trust issues.
When the two share a passionate kissing moment after a raccoon breaks into Casey’s kitchen, Bryden’s attitude changes. He finds himself falling for Casey, but when he discovers her profession as a guide dog trainer, he believes she plotted with his friend’s wife to set him up.
Our hero may have lost his vision, but he gained a super-sized head with that huge ego! Bryden throws a big fit and kicks Casey out of his house.
Months pass, and Casey tries to move on from Bryden by focusing on her studies. However, she learns that Bryden has applied to her school for a guide dog, and she must work with him.
Since any personal involvement with a client could jeopardize her job, she tries to keep her distance, even as Bryden seems regretful over how cruelly he treated her the last time they were together.
Casey is concerned about Bryden’s lack of affection towards his dog, Bess. However, he soon learns to show appreciation to his canine companion when she saves him from being hit by a car.
This incident prompts Bryden to share his tragic past with Casey.
Warning⚠️: Child and Animal Abuse
Bryden childhood warped his ability to form healthy relationships and let others get close to him. Although Bryden’s mother is not an opera singer, she is undoubtedly a diva, always singing: “Me, me, me!”
As for his father, his kind of villainy is almost unheard of, even in the most extreme horror films. Before shipping six-year-old Bryden away to boarding school, his father committed an unforgivable act of villainy, shooting and killing the little boy’s beloved puppy!
A Bright Future Ahead
Casey completes her course, and as a result, Bess is now a certified guide dog for the blind. To celebrate this achievement, Casey introduces Bryden and Bess to her father and sister. When they see how strongly Casey feels about Bryden, they encourage her to pursue a joyful relationship with him.
The Landrigans are a loving and supportive household, starkly contrasting with Bryden’s abusive and dysfunctional “family.”
Bryden may face difficulties due to his disability, but he doesn’t have to face them alone. Bryden can look forward to many bright days with his new family. He may not see their light with his eyes, but he will always feel their warmth in his heart.
My Opinion
Sandra Field’s greatest strengths lie in her talented writing and her ability to create compelling characters. She skillfully portrays the complexity of Bryden’s nature as the story progresses. Casey shines as a likable heroine due to her straightforward and sensible demeanor. And Bess is an excellent dog!
In addition, the secluded Nova Scotia setting makes for an ideal and intimate backdrop.
Heat Level
Love at First Sight is a sweet retro romance from the Harlequin Presents/Mills and Boon category lines, devoid of steamy eroticism. Heavy kissing and petting are as scorching as it gets.
Final Analysis of Love at First Sight
Fans of typical melodramatic Harlequin Presents plots might find this book sentimental. However, if you’re in the mood for a romance with some conflict but not too much angst, Love at First Sight by Sandra Field is a solid read.
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Synopsis
“It’s my sight I’ve lost, not my brains.”
Bryden Moore told the well-meaning friends who worried about him holidaying on a remote Nova Scotia island.
They went ahead anyway, installing Casey Landrigan, a guide-dog trainer, in the cottage next door. They expected Casey to help Bryden come to terms with his blindness.
What no one expected was the attraction between them. Casey hadn’t felt like this about any other man. But Bryden’s blindness wasn’t the problem–it was his belief that “love has to be the most abused word in the English language.”
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT BY SANDRA FIELD