Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Stanley’s Christmas Redemption
AUTHOR: Gabbi Grey
NARRATOR: Michael Dean
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 9 hours and 39 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2022
BLURB:
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.
REVIEW:
As the title indicates, Stanley’s Christmas Redemption features a redemption for Stanley, who you may remember – and not in a good way – from the previous book, Ginger Snapping All the Way. Maddox, one of the male protagonists in Ginger Snapping, suffered a grievous work injury and was dumped by his long-term boyfriend – Stanley – while he was in the hospital recovering.
While we get Stanley and Maddox’s history from only Maddox’s point of view, it’s hard to believe that Maddox is exaggerating. Stanley’s actions are empirically challenging to forgive and forget. Stanley left Maddox when Maddox needed him most, and it had a significant impact on Maddox’s life and his psychological well-being. Unfortunately, Stanley’s portrayal at the beginning of this book doesn’t paint him in any transformative light either. He’s been called to return to Mission City when his stepbrother Hans, with whom he had little to no relationship, dies, leaving Stanley as legal guardian to Hans’ eight-year-old son, Angus.
I adore Gabbi Grey’s stories, and they’re even better when Michael Dean tells them in audio. But Stanley’s Christmas Redemption contains an inherent problem that I just couldn’t get around: I didn’t like either of the main characters or at least not until a good way into the story. While we get to understand Stanley better and we do see him change, he’s got a considerable obstacle to clear. Then we have Justin, Angus’ therapist, whose view of his role vis-a-vis Angus just felt off to me. While ultimately Justin has Angus’ best interests at heart, his attitude and invasiveness into Angus’ life even before his father dies felt overreaching.
That being said, Grey does make headway with Stanley and Justin and their romantic relationship through her skillful handling of the creation of this unusual, blended family. We see Stanley trying to be a better man and father to Angus. Angus is grief-stricken over the death of his father and his mother from cancer not long before that. He’s trying to adjust to a new life with an uncle, Stanley, whom he didn’t even know about. He, and Stanley, find themselves leaning on Justin, and he embraces both of them. The themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and redeeming love come through loud and clear, wrapped up in an apropos holiday setting. However, Stanley’s character development and the adjustment and acceptance required from Angus take time, yet this story takes place over just a few days. Understandably, Grey wanted to keep this within the holiday time frame, but its plausibility and impact may have worked better with more time.
Michael Dean does a great deal of the heavy lifting, making Stanley and Justin characters I wanted to root for – and I ultimately did. He knows how to tell a story, and his vocal performance sounds effortless. He helps complete the picture for this new family unit through his warm, enveloping tones and his emotional connection to the characters.
Overall, this is not my favorite collaboration between Grey and Dean. However, this holiday tale may pique your interest if you’ve read the previous stories. I would listen to the audio rather than just read it because the experience is more encompassing and impactful.
RATING: 
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