Holden's Resurrection

Gemini Group, Book 6

By: Riley Edwards

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Erin Mallon

Former Navy SEAL Holden Stanford gave up the only woman he ever loved so she could have the family she wanted. And she’d found it - with one of his teammates.

A betrayal that cut so deep that, years later, it still bled. But his sacrifice was all for naught - the one thing he never wanted for her happened - she lost her husband on the battlefield. Now she's back. In his life, in his space, and opening old wounds. The mere sight of her destroyed him, but seeing her daughter - excruciating. The little girl was a living reminder of everything they lost. The one thing he could never get over.

Charleigh Towler understood how one decision could change the trajectory of life. One night, too much alcohol and overwhelming hurt led her to make a bad decision. One she couldn’t regret, because out of that she made her daughter. But it had forever altered her path. For years, she’d paid for her perceived mistake - until the man she’d never stopped loving was almost killed and she reevaluated her life. She was done allowing Holden Stanford to hide. Never one to dally, she packed up her life and moved to Maryland to do something she should’ve done years ago - fight for the man she loved.

Close to getting everything they should’ve always had, Charleigh’s life is thrown off its path again - only this time, it’s her daughter’s life that hangs in the balance.

©2020 Riley Edwards (P)2021 Riley Edwards

Bravo!

As soon as I saw this audio was releaseid, I had to download it. Bravo to excellent writing and narration. You know how you read people's reviews about crying, and you're like whatever. This book actually had me on the edge of that point. If you've ever been in a relationship where the other person makes decisions on your behalf regarding the relationship and its outcome. It's like, how dare you. Chapter 18 where Holden finally lays all the cards on the table after 8 years... OMG! I listened to ever word and felt it. Bravo.

I'm still recovering!!

So, if you're a reader then you've probably heard of a book hangover. If you haven't, then read this book and you will know what it is firsthand. There are so many emotions wrapped up in this story that I doubt I'll be able to get it across in this review but I'm going to try. Before I begin, I'm going to add a disclaimer, which is when you start to read this book, make sure you have a loads of tissues because you are going to need them!

Holden and Charleigh were in love eight years ago, but he didn't believe he was right for her so he gave her up, thinking she wouldn't be happy with him because he didn't believe he could have a family. Why do men do this?! Unfortunately, he got what he asked for and she moved on except it was with someone he never expected, one of his teammates. To make matters worse, that teammate is killed in action, leaving Charleigh alone with a daughter. After his death, Charleigh decides she is done paying for her mistake and is going back to fight for Holden. She takes her daughter and moves to Maryland. I'm not sure what she expected to happen. Let's just say I wasn't a fan of Charleigh's for a good portion of the book especially when she says she married his teammate without knowing him very well. What?! However, I started warming up to her after a bit. She made a stupid decision but I recognized that she really loved him.

On top of the emotions from Charleigh, you have so many more from Holden. His guilt was all-consuming. Listening to him try to navigate this situation, wondering what was the right thing to do, the hatred he felt, etc., I have never cried so much in my life! I had to stop listening at a few places and get myself together. Of course, I get very wrapped up in books and characters so...
Not that Holden was perfect. Sooo many times I yelled at my Kindle. (I got a few strange looks from my husband). But, once he finally got himself together and made a decision to let Charleigh in, I loved their relationship and the way he interacted with Faith.

Riley Edwards, if you read this, I'm still deciding if we can be friends, lol. No, I'm kidding. I loved this book with all the crazy emotions, the twisting tale of betrayal and forgiveness, suspense, love, passion, etc. Throw in the family dynamic of the Gemini group and you have a fantastic book. I can't wait to listen to Jonny's story. The narrators are so great! They really bring the characters to life.

Holden and Charleigh Finally find Happiness

After hinting at Holden's secrets throughout the series, we finally get an inside view of the event that happened keeping Holden and Charleigh away from each other. Beautiful story of two people trying to overcome the mistakes of the past and find each other again.

The narration of this book was amazing! In the emotional scenes Joe Arden nailed them with voices that you felt the emotion and I was brought to tears myself.

Love this series and this book is an excellent part of the Gemini Group's stories.

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

Oh my God

This series is gut wrenching so emotional. Have you crying and laugh Sometimes at the same time. Holden didn’t think he could have children so he leaves Charliegh so she can have her dream of having 10 children. But things are not always what they seem.

Holden and Charleigh

This audiobook is amazing! I was able to go about my day doing dishes etc and still enjoy this book. The narrators did a great job capturing the snark, arguments and hot steamy scenes (fanning self) that Riley Edwards writes so well. I enjoyed listening to the story and resting my tired eyes. Grab this audiobook and do what you do.

Fill with angst, sorrow as well as new beginnings

In this audiobook are back with the Gemini Group. A group of former Navy SEALs whose brotherhood is stronger than blood and nowadays work to protect others.
Former Navy SEAL Holden Stanford is one of these men.
Years ago he fell in love with Charliegh Towler. She wanted a family and he wanted a military life and feared that if something happened to him, she would be left alone. So he lost even more when the unexpected happened. Charleigh married a teammate. Sadly, what he feared happened, her husband was killed on a mission.
But secrets unbeknown to them were kept and when Faith, Charleigh’s daughter is in danger, he will do everything to keep her safe. Especially after secrets are revealed.
This was a story about family, or lack thereof. About lies, past mistakes, hope and second chances in life and love.
Kudos to the narrators for such an excellent delivery.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Booksprout. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Epic Love Story

This is by far one of the best books in the series.
Holden gave up Charleigh so she could have the one thing he felt he could not give her and it destroyed him. Charleigh was devastated when Holden left her, she never understood why but she also never stopped loving him. After years apart, they are back in each other’s lives but it’s bringing up feelings that they each thought was buried and they are destroying them. Can they overcome the past and fight for each other this time and have the HEA they deserve?

Prickly Heroine, Otherwise Good Second Chance Stor

I've now listened to several audiobooks in this Gemini Group series (and have actually purchased two more that I didn’t get access to from a book review site!), and in general, I like the heroines. That’s different from this book. I didn’t really like her until she thawed toward the hero at the end of this book. For most of the book, she was far too prickly and hurt over what happened between them 9 or 10 years ago. I'm a firm believer that, at some point, you have to give up prior hurts and move on with your life. I thought she got a little too crazy with him at times because of their past. Perhaps it wasn't explained enough early on to explain the magnitude of her actions and reaction to the hero. Even as we got the full story of their past, I thought her reaction to him was a bit more OTT than merited. As you might guess from that description, this is a second chance at romance, and I actually did enjoy that part of the story, despite the heroine, because of how deeply both had been affected by crucial decisions that each made in their shared past and how that reflected their characters then and showed their growth and change in the present. The heroine's daughter is absolutely adorable—as well as good, tough, and intelligent—and I love her interaction with the hero. As this author always has, there are several side plots to keep everything interesting beyond the rollercoaster of romance, including one with the heroine’s former in-laws—money-grabbing backstabbers—and a hard case the Gemini Group is working on. We also get a glimpse of a cop Jonny's vulnerability because of how he feels about all that's going on in his little town. We’ve gotten to know Jonny in this series about former Navy SEAL buddies who start working together as they find their soulmates, so I'm looking forward to listening to his book (which ends the series), one I actually bought myself after enjoying the rest of this series so much. This book is undoubtedly steamy once that aspect gets going. As always in all of these books, I love the way the heroes declare themselves to their ladies. If only men in real life had such a romantic streak or could speak of the contents of their hearts as beautifully as these tough guys do!

10 Stars for me...Bravo Erin & Joe

I have been so excited for this book since we got a glimpse of what Holden was going through in the earlier books in the series. I love a good second chance romance and this one did not disappoint. My heart hurt for Holden early on in the series but it seriously broke for him getting his story.

Holden truly loved Charliegh for a decade. Although he's been without her way longer than he ever had her, there was just something inside him that couldn't let her go completely. He let her go because he didn't believe he was able to give her the life she wanted and deserved. Then one night he sees her with one of his teammates and realizes his life will never be the same again.

One drunken night changed everything for Charliegh and she would never be able to have the life she thought she would. But she can't regret the night she spent with Paul because now she has Faith. When she decides to marry Paul, she thinks she's doing the right thing, then he dies and she is left truly all alone. When Holden is almost killed, Charliegh reevaluates her life and feelings and makes the decision to see if what she and Holden share can be salvaged.

The hurt these two have inside them is extremely deep and they both have some confessions to make in order to make their relationship work. Then some deep and dark truths are finally revealed and they have to learn how to navigate this new life together.

This is my absolute favorite book of this series and I will definitely be listening to this one again in the near future. Erin Mallon and Joe Arden are two of the absolute best narrators and this book truly shows that. I want to point out that Chapter 18 by Joe Arden is by far one of his most phenomenal performances I have heard from him in a while. The emotion he is able to convey in this chapter gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. This audiobook was an absolute treasure to listen to and 5 stars truly isn't enough.

Finding out the truth

Story six in the Gemini Group series, another great story in the series. Charleigh Towler her daughter Faith and Former Navy SEAL Holden Stanford's story. Holden walked away from his Leigh-Leigh because he was told he could not have children and she wanted them, she married someone else. Now Paul is dead and Holden comes back into her life. Their story has drama, suspense, danger, lies, villains and a second chance. I will be listening to the rest of this series.