Description
Winner of Best Character Development Award at Ever After Author Affair Event.
A story of love, a story of hope. How can you move forward when you’re anchored to the past?
When it comes to tattooed bad boys, Chase Gartner was the real deal. Partying, engaging in meaningless sex, getting into fights – Chase indulged in it all during his late teen years, thus firmly solidifying his status as a heartbreakingly gorgeous but way-too-dangerous-to-trust guy in his hometown of Harmony Creek, Ohio. Then, following one fateful night of reckless decisions, Chase’s actions finally caught up to him and landed him in prison.
Now, four years have passed, and Chase finds himself a free man. He returns to Harmony Creek, ready to pick up the pieces and start rebuilding his shattered life.
Things are off on a promising start when he meets Kay Stanton, a young woman with a tragic past of her own. Despite a powerful attraction, Chase and Kay are naturally hesitant to become involved. That’s why friendship feels like the safest option. But when passions ignite and love blossoms, a relationship that is destined and meant to be can only be resisted for so long.
When Chase and Kay finally succumb to their feelings, they realize that being together feels more right and true than anything they have ever experienced. But their love is soon tested. Chase’s wild past still haunts and tempts him, and Kay is keeping a secret that could tear them apart.
I Stand Before You is a journey of hope and forgiveness, coming to terms with the past and moving forward. But mostly, it’s a story of two damaged people who take a chance, open their hearts, and find true love.
Warning: It contains explicit sexual situations, drug use, some violence, and profanity.
Jocelyne –
Emotional!
This is the first book in the Judge Me Not Series, a contemporary romance. This is a great introduction to this Series. Chase and Kay are great characters. They both have a difficult past. Chase, a drug addict, made a life changing bad choice. Kay’s family story his completely heartbreaking. I love how they became friends, then lovers. This is definitively a slow burn romance, and emotional story. Amber Bray did a good job with the narration.
Shan MC –
I really loved this. The beginning was a little slow, and there are times that there is too much detail about things that aren’t important to the story, but as the story got into its stride, it really drew me in. I loved the connection between Chase and Kay, and I was rooting for them to rise above their hardships. Chase and Kay are both flawed characters, but they are trying to better themselves; mainly Chase. Chase went down a very destructive path with booze, drugs, and women. It’s the drugs that eventually land him in jail for years. Chase is out of jail now and he’s clean, but he struggles with staying clean every day. I like how his sobriety isn’t cut and dry for Chase, he really needs to make an effort to stay clean. It’s more real that way. Kay feels like she’s at fault for the death of her little sister, and it drags her heart down. Chase and Kay start a friendship that turns into a deep connection. These 2 have some major intensity between them, and the passion is off the charts. They are really sweet together too! My heart melted a few times while reading this. Chase really knows how to be adorable. I really loved both characters. Kay does take some serious things a bit too easy, and I think it’ll be interesting to see if she can maintain that in future books in this series. It’s important to be understanding, but it’s also important to hold people accountable for their actions. They need to know that the consequences could be severe, and it’s important not to allow too many concessions. This series features 3 books with Chase and Kay, and I’m really looking forward to seeing these characters grow more. I hope they don’t lose their way. Touching, heart-felt, powerful story.
Patricia Reichardt –
There is so much to say about this book, I don’t know where to start! First, the title of this book encompasses this story so well. When I first started listening, I didn’t know what to expect. Then I thought, oh, a book of redemption. But that is not what this book is all about. Chase Gartner is a recovering drug addict. Broken to the core, this man struggles day to day finding his center. When he bumps into Kay Stanton near the graveyard, he finds out his life is about to change. Kay may appear all put together on the outside, but inside she carries a secret, one that is slowly sucking the life out of her. Will these two people find a way to heal each other? I Stand Before You teaches us about love, not judging a book by it’s cover, finding the good in people, learning to forgive and most importantly acceptance of who you are and themselves. I did find at times this was a little slow moving, but now looking back, I can appreciate the developing story of the slow burn relationship and learning to deal with their lives. It’s not an easy listen, it’s real, emotional, loving, frustrating true to life and that is what makes it so good!
Amber Bray is the narrator, and while there were a few slip ups in the editing, I found her voice pleasant and enjoyable. She easily switches character and has a good pace. I enjoyed the story and will be looking to see what SR Grey has in store with book 2.
Christi Fowler –
Title: I Stand Before You
Author: S. R. Grey
Format: audio
Narrator: Amber Bray
Genre: Romance
Standalone: ish. The epilogue leads into book 2
Part of a Series: Yes book 1 of the Judge Me Not series
POV: Chase and Kay
Steam Level: slow burn to steamy
4/5
I Stand Before You was a sweet but gritty romance. Both characters deal with grief in different ways and live how Chase and Jay come together and strengthen each other. S.R. Grey does a fantastic job of portraying Chase’s struggles of recovery – probably more accurate than I’ve ever seen in a book.
I received this audiobook for free from Audiobooks Unleashed. This is my honest and voluntary review.