Releasing Me

Holding You, Book 2

By: Jewel E. Ann

Narrated by: Vanessa Moyen, Bradley Ford

A tragic accident. A hidden past. An unbreakable love.

Addy gives Quinn everything and asks for nothing. Then he breaks her. The depths of her pain are veiled by the reflection of his own. He doesn't deserve her, but he wants her—he needs her. In his darkest hell, he hears her voice. That's when he knows... Addy is his soul.

In her darkest hour, his weakness gives her strength, and she discovers his past holds her future. But first, he'll have to let her go.

©2013 Jewel E. Ann (P)2025 Podium Audio

great story

just realizing I read this book years ago but it was just released in audio. this is OG Mia Sheridan and absolutely worth the credit.

Wow a lot of grief for one woman

Enjoyed these two books very much. FMC trauma filled life leads her to run away instead of confronting problems. Narrators did a great job .

Not My Favorite

I'm a huge fan and have listened to most of her books. This series and this book in particular isn't my favorite. Quinn never really grew on me. He was basically really good looking and really good at sex. He does truly love Addie, which gave him a few points. But he was really unkind to basically everyone else around him. His excessive possessiveness towards Addie really, really bothered me. It also baffled me as to why that didn't bother Addie. I mean she put him in his place a couple of times but he just kept being super possessive of her.

Also, his tendency to be deeply cutting and aggressive when he's angry or upset was also not ok. Somehow, Addie, an extremely intelligent, confident, independent and forthright person seemed to just shrug at it. As a matter of fact, Ithe toxicity of their relationship during the rough patches of their relationship was a major turn off.

Finally, I found the amount of sex in the book to be really boring. It made it so that when the few times when the sex symbolized their connection less special. As a result, this book dragged on for me.

This duet by no means will turn me off if JEA's books. She is an extremely talented author who is terrific at writing interesting non-formulaic books that usually delights and surprises me. I just don't think it's her best work, which is completely ok.

Vegan

Least favorite of Jewel E Ann. Most predictable and the vegan talk was overboard in my opinion.

Emotional whiplash with an HEA rising

🎧 Audiobook Review: Releasing Me by Jewel E. Ann
Holding You Series, Book 2


I honestly hate to give this book stars or a rating..... not because it doesn’t deserve a rating, but because this one is going to hit differently for every listener/reader. Jewel E. Ann is an exceptional writer.......full stop. The amount of plot twists layered into this story is wild. Twists have twists. And those twists? They spiral. It’s a lot. But somehow, it all makes sense, which is a testament to her skill. You have to be laser-focused while listening. Blink and you’ll miss something. Zone out and you’ll lose the thread. This book demands your full attention.

⚠️ Trigger Warning Advisory
There’s no official list, but based on the emotional terrain covered, listeners should be aware of themes like trauma, emotional manipulation, grief, and toxic relationship patterns. Proceed with care and prioritize your emotional safety.

🧠 Character Dynamics
Addy and Quinn are emotionally immature. That’s not shade, it’s just the truth. Addy’s go-to move when confronted with anything uncomfortable is to run. Not walk. Run. And Quinn? He’s not much better. Their relationship is passionate, yes, but also deeply toxic. Miscommunication drives nearly every major conflict. There’s a lot of breaking up, making up, and lying by omission. It’s exhausting. And intentional. The emotional whiplash is real.

🎙️ Narration
Vanessa Moyen and Bradley Ford deliver strong performances. They embody the emotional highs and lows with clarity and conviction. Their voices carry the weight of the story, and they do it well.

💬 Final Thoughts (No Stars, Just Truth)
This audiobook is intense. It’s layered. It’s emotionally chaotic. And it’s written with precision. Whether you connect with Addy and Quinn or feel drained by their dynamic, one thing’s for sure: Jewel E. Ann knows how to build a story that refuses to be ignored.

I dislike that we are forced to give a rating because I think sometimes a written review gives a better depiction of how we feel but I'm trying to go middle of the road and say three stars not because that's exactly how I feel but my hands are tied.