2,5 stars

This tale is outlined like a contemporary realistic story, and as such I believe that it tackles OCD and social anxiety desorder in a way simplistic in its understanding and voluntaristic regarding its treatment and overcoming. Alike, I find that Jude's mother is grossly stereotyped, although it attenuates a bit toward the ending.

But both this story and [b:A Different Dance|21950961|A Different Dance|Nash Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397930720s/21950961.jpg|41257077], which I read previously, exhibit entrancing characters (who wouldn't fall in love with Devin?) and a sweet romanticism. So, I remain interested in this autor
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My first (and free!) Nash Summers turned out to be a huge success! ( )

Carte Blanche is part of the M/M Romance Group’s 2014 Love’s Landscapes event. The story is told in first person through the eyes of Jude Allen, a young man with severe OCD. With the help of Devin Kidd, Jude’s new neighbor across the hall, Jude is learning to overcome his OCD.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and I loved the very slow build-up of their relationship and how Devin helped Jude face his fears and open up to the world. I don’t usually like stories told in first person because there is often too much telling, but the author did a really good job and was able to convey Jude’s distress with the events in his life and with his OCD. Jude’s OCD was thick and heavy and I could feel his pain at how much he needed to clean, and how he hated himself for having the need to do it. He realized how it kept him trapped in his life, but he didn’t think he could change, especially when his mother continued to encourage him to stay that way. It wasn’t until Devin, who was like sunshine, came into Jude’s life and persistently knocked on his door to ‘come out and play.’ Devin was the perfect person to help Jude. He was patient, kind, gentle, and cheery. These two make a great pair.

I don’t know who made this book’s cover, but I love it.

There is one part that I consider Devin is not actually telling the truth, but I suppose in his mind he is. Jude has taken a big step and gone to Devin’s apartment to talk to him, when a strange man who has clearly gotten out of the shower and has a towel wrapped around him answers the door. This sends Jude into panic attack mode, because he has developed feelings for Devin. With the knowledge of the other man being at Devin’s place, Jude ignores Devin for quite some time. When he finally gathers his courage to talk to Devin, this is the conversation:

I stared down at the floor, a hard habit to break. “A few months ago, that man―”

“No,” Devin said quickly. “He’s no one.”

“No one?” I asked.

Devin sighed. “He might’ve been, but he wasn’t. I couldn’t. Jude, it was so hard seeing you day after day, that fucking smile of yours, those eyes, that snarky sense of humor. I wanted you so badly, and not being able to even touch you felt like trying to breathe under a mountain of snow.

“I did make a mistake; I should’ve told you how I felt instead of throwing myself at you like that. And after you locked yourself in your apartment, I went looking for love in all the wrong places. Nothing happened, between him and I, and it wasn’t because you came over. I just… I couldn’t touch him. Not the way I want to touch you.”

Here are my thoughts on what Devin said. I realize that Jude and Devin don’t have any sort of relationship other than friendship. But this strange guy was in Devin’s apartment only one day after the incident that takes place between Devin and Jude. Personally, I see it as something that did happen between Devin and the guy, because how often does a person let someone shower at their place and walk around in a towel if it’s not a relative or close friend? Devin says: “I couldn’t touch him. Not the way I want to touch you.” He’s not specifically saying he didn’t touch the guy, only that he didn’t touch him in the same way he’d touch Jude, he’s using tricky wording here. The stranger at Devin’s place could be considered someone Devin had a relationship with if you look at Devin’s wording closely, so Devin wouldn’t have told Jude the truth here. But then it wouldn’t matter since Devin and Jude didn’t have any sort of agreement of a relationship. I think I take it as Devin not exactly telling the truth, but he didn’t really have any obligations to not hook up with someone else since Jude and he weren’t dating. However, I’m kind of picky about people lying about relationship stuff, so it is a bit of a sticky point with me.

I enjoy stories with a slow buildup of the relationship and with character growth. I probably went a bit overboard on my review of this story, but take my word for it, it’s really good and deserves the 5 Stars I’m giving it.
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Jude suffers from extreme OCD and social anxiety. He doesn't venture out much, oft confined to his apartment. But when a new guy, Devin, moves in across the hall and seems intent on interacting with Jude, he begins to see a reason to venture beyond his apartment walls.

I'm definitely not a fan of those stories where Guy A's troubles all magically melt away because Guy B steps into his life, and fear not--this is not one of those stories. The interplay between Jude and Devin is interesting and intriguing, genuine and unique. Devin may give Jude both a reason to reach out and support to do so, but Jude offers just as much in the way of challenge to Devin and helping him to grow. A short, sweet read and definitely recommended. ( )

Don't let the subject matter put you off, this story is gorgeous. ( )