Sad, heartbreaking yet hopeful!

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!

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Beautiful story!

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.

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Heartwarming redemption romance

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.

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A Gripping & Beautifully Heartfelt Story! Great🎧📚🎧

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.

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1 person found this helpful

Heartwarming redemption story delivers the feels!

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.

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A figgerent kind of holifayvseason read

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

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Super sweet

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.

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Loss, family and love!

Stanley lost his half brother and has to go back to the town where he left his ex hurting. Justin is there to help him out, mostly because of the boy that will turn Stanley’s world upside down. It is a story of redemption, accepting change and be open to love. I enjoyed every minute of the book.

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Heartache, romance and a slow burn.

Stanley, a mature businessman, finds out that his stepbrother, who he hasn't seen in 30 years, has died. Upon going home to deal with his estate, he finds out that he has an 8yr nephew, Angus.

Justin has been Angus's grief therapist since he lost his mother. He is now clingy to his therapist as he's the only adult he can trust.

This is a lovely story but full of heartache and loss. Lots of anguish, but then there is love. We do get our HEA. There were sections of this book that lost my concentration, but they weren't large sections. Overall a lovely book to listen to.

Michael Dean did an excellent job of narrating this book. He managed to portray the emotions of the characters. As usual, I did speed up the recording to 1.25 on Audible.

Stanley's Christmas Redemption
By: Gabbi Grey
Narrated by: Michael Dean
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible

I received this audiobook for free from GRR at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - neither the author nor GRR influenced my opinion.

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Sweet and genuine

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.

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