I Stand Before You

Judge Me Not, Book 1

By: S.R. Grey

Narrated by: Amber Bray

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.

©2013 S.R. Grey (P)2019 S.R. Grey

This is....REAL LOVE!! <3

Wow!! This was so powerful.

No sugar coating to what it means to be a bad boy. I really felt Chase's struggles with him being a bad boy and all. I think that was what made this so special. I was sucked into his world and struggles. This ex-convict and a former drug addict is struggling and all I can do is feel for him. Like all the towns people turning up their noses at him landing the good girl, I would have done the same to! BUT instead I was cheering them on. Kay is just so good for him. I feel really protective about this couple. All I know is, I can't want to see what happens next in this series. These two have been through so much *sighs*

Second Chances

Chase and Kay have such a beautiful story! absolutely loved listening to it. Amber Bray does an excellent job!
#audiobookobsessionreviewer

A Deep Love Story

This was a long listen and it reminded me of the movie The Notebook..in a good way! Why? Because it's really hard not to get completely invested in Chase and Kay! S.R Grey really has a way of locking you in. I was completely in. Chase and Kay are such a beautiful pair together and everything about the character and story was believable. Which I appreciate. This was very enjoyable! I can't wait for their love story to continue.

Second chance at happiness

There is nobody more deserving of a second chance that Chase and Kay. Both of them had been dealt crap hands as kids and dealt with things the best they could. Chase turned to a life of drugs and alcohol and Kay fought the world alone. Both of them with so many regrets. When they find each other, the world starts to turn itself right. These two have fought demons and won. It will always be a struggle, but with each other, they can find their happily ever after.

There is a cliff hanger of sorts at the end of the story. The story starts to take a different direction as we head towards book 2. I get the impression that Kay and Chase will play a big part in Will's story.

This was a gritty, real life story and it was a good read.

I had trouble with the narrator at the beginning of the story. The beginning of the story is all Chase and it was really hard to hear it coming from a woman trying to sound like a man. I stuck it out though and fell in love with her telling of the story.

Touching and Emotional!

This is a touching and emotional story about redemption and second chances at life and love. Chase had dreams as a young boy to follow in his father's footsteps. When his world is turned upside down he is left angry and with no direction. The choices he makes are poor ones that are hard to come back from. When he is given a second chance, he realizes he wants to be better. Kay is kind and sweet, but has her own demons that she is trying to overcome. They meet at the parish where Chase works. Their friendship and connection soon blossoms. Together they fight to overcome their temptations, and guilt, helping each other believe they are worthy of hope, trust and love. This is my first time listening to Narrator Amber Bray. I really wanted to love this story but I was distracted with errors in the narration at times. Her pacing and voices were good, and she has a lovely voice, but I couldn't feel the depth of emotion that I really wanted to feel with this performance. I love Grey's work and this was a captivating start to the Judge Me Not series.

A very emotional love story!

I asked to receive this Audible book and voluntarily wrote this unbiased review. This story will evoke so many emotions from the listener. The author masterfully develops the characters ' flaws, strengths, and personalities. Chase and Kay both have demons that that affect their lives. They must learn to control them and not let the demons win. There is definitely sexual chemistry between them but the author has them first develop their friendship. Eventually this slow burn will explode into hot passionate love. This is a story of acceptance, dealing with your past, supporting your loved one, and giving unconditionally love.

The narrator does an amazing job of portraying the emotions of the characters and this is a very emotional story. She is easy to listen to and follow. I thought she gives the characters distinctive voices. I highly recommend this Audible book. It will definitely take you on an emotional rollercoaster but it is worth the ride. I can't say enough good things about this love story. It will be on my list to listen to again.

Beautiful emotional story

Chase is back after prison, then he meets Kay a girl with her own demons and nightmares who is now teaching at church school, they both become close, they are both struggling with a past and so their relationship starts to change. It was an intense read, it had me on my seat until I finish it, the emotional rollercoaster this story put me through was hard but at the same time I had the best time while reading it. It was not an easy story and the author did and amazing job plotting every step. I recommend it. Amber Bray did a terrific job portraying the characters emotions, the narration was superb, it kept me until late hours hearing it.

wonderful

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. I totally enjoyed reading this book. It’s well written and the characters were fantastic. I would suggest this book to my friends that like this sort of genera. this was a good book.

So emotional!

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.

So good

I listened to this book on audio and was invested right from the start, The narrator Amber Bray did a good job with her narration and added to my listening pleasure.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to listen to this story but what I found was an emotional story that was well written and is a second chance at love story.
Regrets, we all have them and it is how we handle them that makes the difference. Chase Gartner made mistakes and all it took was a reckless decision to change the course of his life forever.
After being released from jail, Chase returns to Harmony Creek to rebuild his life. Meeting Kay Stanton he feels the attraction between them but both are uncertain about becoming involved in a relationship. When the attraction and chemistry between them builds until it is to hard to resist, will they be able to handle the intensity or will the secrets that Kay conceals destroy any chance they have at happiness?
This is a story of hope, forgiveness and coming to terms with the past, it’s a story of two damaged people who find in each other hope and the chance to love.