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Stanley's Christmas Redemption

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Stanley's Christmas Redemption

By: Gabbi Grey
Narrated by: Michael Dean
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About this listen

Stanley

I have life figured out—a good job, a nice car, and an ex-boyfriend whose heart I broke. But then my half-brother dies unexpectedly, and I go back to our hometown to settle his affairs. A quick trip before Christmas. Instead, I get the shock of my life. Do I face this new challenge or do what I’ve always done—run? Or will I stay and get to know the most amazing man I’ve ever met and take on a responsibility I've never dreamed of facing? This will be a holiday season like no other.

Justin

I’m a therapist who helps people deal with grief. My life is fulfilling. So what if I’ve been single for years? I have the kids I counsel and coworkers I adore. Maybe I’m tired of going home to an empty house and not looking forward to another Christmas alone. But I’m not going to be taken in by some slick city guy who can’t wait to leave town. I’m not going to upend my life just because I’ve met the man of my dreams. Right?

This is an 85,000-word opposites-attract, instalove, mid-angst gay romance novel. Previously published in the charity anthology Secret Santa: A Romance Collection, the story has quadrupled in size with more love, laughs, and a touch of Christmas magic.

©2022 Gabbi Grey (P)2022 Gabbi Grey
Romance Winter Christmas Heartfelt Feel-Good

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All stars
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Listener received this title free

I wasn't sure about Stan from Ginger Snapping All The Way but this is a wonderful redemption story and shows that there's so much more to a story, a life and a relationship.

My heart broke for Angus and I will admit to tears. Heed the trigger warnings as this book addresses death and grief. I feel Gabbi created such real characters and lives I can imagine how hard it cod have been to created a little boy who is now orphaned.

I loved the character development especially of Stan. He wasn't who we thought he was and his growth and care was wonderful to read. Truth that when you know you know and that you can meet your special person at any time. Stan and Justin have great chemistry and with a bond of love for Angus they have so much more!

Sad, heartbreaking yet hopeful!

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4/5 I really liked the way seeing how events unfolded from Stanley’s POV with his ex Maddox immediately made him more understandable—still not correct, but not 100% wrong, either. (Just with dumb timing and a lack of communication that I don’t think did them any favours.) I actually liked Stanley, for the most part, as well as Justin and Angus, but I did find his about-face about children a little abrupt. (That being said, it does seem more plausible if you suppose that rather than actually not wanting children, he’d convinced himself he didn’t because of his own terrible upbringing. Confronted with a child he has a compelling reason to take care of, those walls start crumbling.)

There’s a lot about grief and trauma here, and I thought that was dealt with well, along with light-hearted moments like sledding and hit chocolate and Tiffany the dog to not more rhe reader in 100% sadness. I liked when Stanley and Justin worked together for Angus. I thought the instalust/love was relatively convincing but the relationship might have been even more compelling if it had taken place over a longer period of time. (With the set-up of Stanley and Angus staying with Justin until the funeral, though, I can see why the author went time-limited instead.)

Justin mostly behaves maturely and like the counsellor he is, but he occasionally communicated very poorly (which is perhaps very human, never mind what our training tells us, lol). I enjoyed visiting the Healing Horse Ranch again and seeing this new family flourish. I also liked our little glimpses of Maddox and Ravi and the twins. It was great to see them doing so well and everyone leaving the past in the past.

Michael Dean did an excellent job narrating. Now I’m off to book 3!

I received a copy of this audio from the author. This is my honest review.

Grief and loss with brand new possibilities

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Listener received this title free


Stanley,Justin and Angus's beautiful story, effortlessly drew me in and I loved it!Michael Dean's quite simply,superb narration, has breathed life into Gabbi Grey's characters!
I want to say so much more about this but, I won't,as I don't want to spoil this absolute delight for anyone.

Beautiful story!

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Listener received this title free

This book is such a great follow up to Ginger Snapping All The Way. Stanley was not the man of the hour there, having left Maddox in his hour of need. This time, Stanley steps up to the plate after finding out his half brother died and he has left Stanley as guardian to his eight-year-old nephew. Considering kids has never been in his life plans, it's a huge shock but in steps Justin, Angus's counselor and friend of the family.
There is an instant spark between the two but they both focus on the most important thing, Angus and his grief. They work well together and, though it's only a short space of time, they grow close and create quite a strong bond. It's also a story of redemption for Stanley after how things ended with Maddox. It's great seeing this other side to a character after the way they are perceived as the bad guy. He's just as deserving of love and happiness though he doesn't feel as if he deserves it. Justin is someone who hopes for a family of his own, hopefully with several children. They had very different plans for their separate futures but now, with becoming so close over their care for Angus and looking after each other, they become entwined.
This is quite an emotional and heartwarming story. My heart absolutely broke for Angus and what he's been through but both Justin and Stanley show that love and support can help to get you through the hard times.
Michael Dean's narration is, again, fantastic. The emotion came through strongly for all characters and I really felt a part of their story. The only issue I had was that there were several occasions where I could clearly hear when words or a sentence had been replaced with the voice sounding slightly different - lighter, quieter etc.

Heartwarming redemption romance

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Gabbi Grey pens another amazing novel, one that not only captivated my attention the entire book, but it tugged on my heartstrings too. She is a gifted author, her descriptive details bring you right alongside the characters, allowing you to experience everything they are seeing, thinking and feeling. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too. Stanley Powers is pretty much set in his ways and in his life, so when he gets a phone call that his estranged half-brother, Hans, died unexpectedly, as his last living kin, it was up to him to settle his estate. He was not expecting what his estate entailed or that his brother had an eight-year-old son, Angus, and that he had made him his guardian in case anything happened to him. Stanley did not know what he was going to do with an eight-year-old boy but he went to Mission City and met with Justin Bridges, a therapist and grief counselor who had been working with Angus after he lost his mother to cancer and who Angus was staying with. Stanley never raised a kid and is in over his head, but Justin volunteered to help him, invited the two to stay with him while they plan on what to do next and make the arrangements for the funeral. Justin had a bond with Angus and wanted to be there for him as he familiarized himself with his new uncle. Justin felt an attraction to Stanley and Stanley felt it too, but figured he was too old for him and what would a twenty something want to do with a forty something year old. You could feel the emotions pour off the pages as these three navigating getting to know each other, dealing with their grief, a new situation, a new relationship, and the holidays. My heart went out to Angus, and all he was going thru, the uncertainty of his future and how he acted because of it. I thought it was great how Justin and Stanley handled everything regarding Angus. If only they could have handled what was going on between them a little better, it took them a while to figure that out. Stanley needed closure with his ex and finally got the courage to talk to Maddox, which went really well. I loved how everything played out in this beautifully written and beautifully plotted story with plenty of drama, heartfelt emotions, and a wonderful romance. Gabbi Grey, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the terrific narration, Michael Dean did a great job bringing these characters to life. He had a complete understanding of the characters he was portraying, giving each a voice that fit the character’s persona, sounding believable and just as I pictured the characters to sound. He set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into his performance. Michael Dean is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen.

A Gripping & Beautifully Heartfelt Story! Great🎧📚🎧

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Listener received this title free

When 47 year old Stanley gets a call telling him that the half brother he hasn’t seen in thirty years has unexpectedly passed, he makes the trip to the small town he thought he’d left behind forever to settle his brother’s affairs. When one of those ‘affairs’ turns out to require a life changing choice on his part, he is conflicted to say the least. This is an emotional read/listen, and I loved every minute of it. Stanley must confront his past relationship, which ended badly -- yes… this is the infamous Stanley who left his then boyfriend Maddox high and dry in Ginger Snapping All the Way. He must also consider a future he never imagined wanting for himself when he meets Justin, a therapist working on behalf of his late brother. Against the backdrop of a white Christmas in Canada, catharsis and the beginnings of soul-healing make for a story you can’t put down/stop listening to. Narration by the amazing Michael Dean is the Christmas tree topper here, not to be missed! Warning: Grinches may find their hearts grow three sizes during the course of reading this story.

Heartwarming redemption story delivers the feels!

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4
I do not consider this a holiday read, it just takes part around the holidays. Ithas heavy undertonesof loss and get life back to a form of normal. It took me a bit to engage with the characterss and storylibe.

I found the characters okay but found Agnus very mature for his age, even when a lot has happened in his short life.

Stanley and Justin have an age gap and insta love/ attraction with a hea.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.


Update November 19th, 2024
Listenig to the book a while after having it read places it in a different perspective for me. Knowing what I could expect I aprpreciated the characters and storyline more than when I read it initially. So 4,5
As always I can' t fsult Michael Dean his narration. The audio took me right along and I did not eant to put the book aside.
4,5 allround

A figgerent kind of holifayvseason read

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Listener received this title free

4.5 rounded up for the audio version narrated by Michael Dean.

This was more of an instalove story, but there was enough drama and real trauma involved that it was believable. I adored Angus, the orphan left to his unknown uncle.

This is a really lovely story about two men who are very different, thrown together in a terrible situation, and figuring out how to start a new life, together.

Sweet and genuine

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Listener received this title free

This book can be read as a standalone, but it follows the events in Gingersnapping All The Way. You don’t have to read the other book to understand this one.

Stanley has made mistakes. Big mistakes. But it’s never too late to right wrongs and make a new start in life. The book had its bittersweet moments, and regret played a major part in the angst, but there was a strong sense of hope throughout the book. I really liked how Stanley, Justin, and Angus had to figure out how to be a family together. There was pain but it made the happy ending so worth it.

The audiobook was narrated by Michael Dean who does a fantastic job. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook.

Never Too Late

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Another fantastic story by Gabbi Gray. Stan & Justin are great characters to follow. Great balance in the story to give the appropriate emotions. Michael Dean did a super job with the narration.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Super sweet

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