Is there a road to redemption?Her coming into my life was a miracle. She saved me. But she also came in like rolling thunder to my lightning strikes.Opinionated, aggressive, argumentative, and fuck did it make me react. She is the first woman to ever call me on my bullshit, causing my blood to boil like no other.The problem is, she sees right through me. I’m a bad man with no redeeming qualities … redeeming qualities or is that true?
I might not be who she wants, but I can be the only man she will ever need, and she is the only one that can penetrate my blackened heart.
The price is high but with her, I get not one but two hearts that will be solely mine.
Fire and ice!
Freedom is all I wanted and what I got were surprises.
All wrapped up in a man that was everything I hated.
Life was supposed to be simple.
Stick to the plan, that’s all I had to do and then he came in tempting me and pushing my buttons.
So why did I let him get under my skin, in my thoughts, and in my bed?
There is too much to risk but what a delicious risk it would be.
Is it possible to love someone you hate?
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Teddy was introduced to reader several times within the series A Stern Family Saga. I highly recommend out start your journey there as parts of Redemption, Youngblood book 1 reference are made in that direction. And while you don’t need to read to enjoy Teddy’s story I can’t guarantee that you’ll get the full effect.
Teddy definitely is one of the most flawed characters I have ever met but yet at the same time one of the most genuine ones also. His role of the villain follows him throughout the book and if your like me you’re always rooting for the villain. He is bad, Monique built up his character and counties to build him up on the mysterious side but in Redemption we get all of Teddy. Seriously you get all of him, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the man will make you scream his name one way or another.
While the plot the intrigued me, by adding Ashlyn ( I believe she is a much more toned down version of Teddy) who is not just a beautiful, sexy, smart goddess of a woman but she is a single mother into the mix it allowed for the storyline not to just be a superficial guy meet girl, they hate each other, yada yada yada type story. It added heart, the heart that Teddy needed.
The only thing I wasn’t pleased with was the rushed ending, ok maybe not the ending but the epilogue which I think could have been more intertwined with book 2 or just given its own chapter. It just felt as if that was thrown on quickly like a “I forgot to add moment” I think it was the jumping in time momentum that made me feel that way. However, whatever you do…. DO NOT SKIP IT!!!! I repeat do not skip it because the last three sentences are a killer. And will leave your jaw permanently on the floor.
Teddy Trahan has lived his life with hatred towards the Stern family after his father, Theo, was there for Catherine’s boys more than he was for his wife and his son. Now that Catherine and Theo are married, Catherine wants Theo to be included in the family business and wants the girls to find a wife for him.
Dr. Ashlyn Martin works at the hospital and for her father’s own practice. One night she agrees to help Catherine after an incident much to her father’s dismay and she has agreed to work for the family in exchange for a place to live as well as getting paid. She is a single mom to Brooke after her husband Chris left her.
The chemistry between Teddy and Ashlyn is through the roof but neither are looking to settle down, especially with the other one. Yet Teddy is there to protect Ashlyn and Brooke and seems to always be around when needed.
Teddy is walking a fine line and who will get caught in the crossfire?
This is such a great book and I am so excited that Teddy got his own book!
Teddy was so hurt from the past and it is understandable why and that hurt slowly turned into hatred for the Stern family. Yet he still cared about his brother Zander and his father above all until he met Ashlyn and Brooke. I thought the hate Teddy had would lessen but I was so wrong!
Ashlyn was a great character and I loved how dedicated she was to Brooke. She knew she was walking a fine line working for Catherine and I was glad that she did what she wanted to although her father was so mad.
The chemistry between Ashlyn and Teddy was through the roof even though they both hated each other so much! Slowly a relationship began between the two but it wasn’t one that either really wanted as Ashlyn still wanted someone else and Teddy was caught up in his plan for revenge.
I loved the scene in the hallway with Teddy and the girls running around! It made me laugh so hard!
I hated the scene between Chris and Ashlyn as I was so mad at Chris for doing what he did and the damage to Brooke. In a way I was happy as I knew what would be coming but at the same time I was so mad as a single parent!
I was so happy when Teddy finally put things together and focused on the right path although I was still freaking with what was going on. Things got super tense as everything came out in the open and I wasn’t surprised with Catherine.
The end was great and I am so excited to see what is coming next in the series!!
This book is a continuation of the Stern Family Saga. You get to dig into the mind, body and soul of Teddy. Just when you think you have him figured out, he does something to totally blow your mind! I couldn’t put the book down!
Teddy has always felt like an add on to the Sterns. He hated that he had to share his dad with the other boys even though they weren’t his. So he has grown up with a hatred off the whole Stern Family and plotting ways to bring them down!
Ashlyn married young to someone she didn’t love but was picked out for her and she had Brooke, but Brooke’s dad is an a**hole and hasn’t seen her for years.
When Teddy was injured Ashlyn looked after him but they both had a mutual hate for each other, the Catherine moved Ashlyn in to be Teddy’s neighbour and things start getting interesting!
With Teddy hating the Sterns and the Sterns wanting to have a relationship with him because they are brothers, will he finally except it or is he still going to push away? Will Ashlyn ever and Teddy ever get over their dislike? And can she forgive everything in his past???
TEDDY HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY ME!
I freaking loved the Stern Saga so hard but this series is officially moved to my favorite spot. Monique’s writing is only getting better with each book.
Redemption was everything and a bag of chips!
Teddy and Ashlyn are it!
Just trust me! Grab this book. I guarantee you will love it.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Fantastic
Series~ Standalone kinda it does have a little cliffy/plot twist that left me salivating for more.
Source~ Kindle eBook ~ ARC for honest review
Would I read more from this author? YES
Would I recommend this book? YES
Another great read by Monique Orgeron. A spin off from her Stern family series this is the story of Teddy, the other brother, son of Theo. With each book you don’t think that it can get better but it does…every….single time. Teddy is my new favorite and this book is captivating. A great first start to a new spin off series with my old favorites. Angry and hurt, without a care in the world save for himself, Teddy is everything you don’t want in a boyfriend. Enter Ashlyn, the new family doctor and single mother, whom Teddy just can’t quite over look. A book filled with everything great and more. Another must read (but really everything Monique writes is). Loved it!
Love, love, love Teddy’s story!! hate turning into love is one my favourite troupes. This one has all the feels!! After that epilogue…I am impatiently waiting for the next book.
I’m keeping this review short & sweet bc I don’t want to spoil it. This book is phenomenal!! I loved it! The first book to this series & I’m begging for more! Can’t wait to see what’s to come. Great writing & a great story to keep you wound up until the end.
Love this authors work and loved the Sterns. Now we have a spin off series; first up is Teddy Trahan and I’ve been waiting to hear his tale for a while. Teddy was always going to be a hard one to nail down. The confirmed bachelor and notorious womaniser. It’s always great to watch those types fall when they meet their match and my heart just swooned for this one as his character does a complete 180. Ashlyn’s character was great at keeping Teddy on his toes! Brooke was just the cutest.
As always the author keeps us guessing as to how the story is going to play out with plenty of twists and revelations along the way just to keep us hooked. My only criticism is the writing didn’t come across as edgey and raw as it did in the earlier parts of the Stern Family Saga’s. It seemed more low key and gentle. I love the darkness and the mafia feel in the writing; given that the story is set within organised crime, I felt Teddy should have had more of a rough, dominant edge when talking about himself. The dialect was spot on and the darkness is written without being too graphic.
Loved the story but I’m reserving a place in my heart for Shane… There’s a definite untold story lurking there and with this author’s penchant for surprises I know I will be sucker punched once more!
Carla’s Five Star Review
Redemption is the first book in the Youngblood series, and it is ah-mazing!!
We first met Teddy in Monique’s Stern Family Saga series, and, to be honest, he was a womanizing jerk. He had a huge chip on his shoulder, and he hated the Stern family something fierce. However, that all begins to change with a letter and a fiery doctor. I’m sure that you have all heard the old familiar saying “Opposites Attracts”, but that couldn’t be more wrong when it comes to Teddy and Ashlyn. If he is thunder, she is lightning, and, boy oh boy, when she strikes, Teddy will never be the same.
I fell in love with the Stern family and friends from the start, so I was super excited to learn that Monique was writing a spin off series, and she couldn’t have picked a better guy to start off the new series. As always with this amazingly talented author, the story line was gripping and the characters are simply awesome! If you haven’t yet discovered this author and her writing, I am seriously jealous because you are about to embark on one heck of a reading journey!
Simply Phenomenal!
Redemption is a must read for anyone who enjoys laughing, crying and experiencing an against all odds love affair with chemistry that sizzles off the page. Teddy is the ultimate Tootsie pop. His yummy hard outside is good but with patience and time the soft chewy center is even better and worth the reward and time to get down to it. Ashlyn is a headstrong single mom, who doesn’t need a man, or so she thinks. I thoroughly enjoyed the push and pull between these two. The character development was believable and deep. Each chapter brought laughter and tear to my experience and ooh la la the heat was turned up. One of her best reads yet! Everyone needs a little redemption in their life!
Monique has done it again!!!! Redemption is a spin off series from the Stern Family Saga (a must read series!). Redemption is book 1 in the series and it is Teddy’s story. Teddy always intrigued me with his love/hate relationship for Catherine and her boys. Even knowing that one of her boys is his brother, he still kept his distance and did his own thing. This story picks up where the last Stern book left off. Teddy is healing from being shot and is on a path of destruction that he wouldn’t be able to come back from. Or is he? Teddy has met his match with the doctor that saved him and moved in next door. Their interactions with each other will have you laughing out load, ovary bursting at his interaction with her daughter, and urging him towards a path of redemption and a chance at love and happiness. Watch out for that ending though! Monique owes another book, pronto! And I cannot wait for Shane’s story, as he belongs to me.
Redemption may just be my new favorite Monique Orgeron book. I almost feel traitorous because I love the Stern men…. but there’s just something about Teddy! I absolutely lol’d when Teddy asked himself, “Did I just become the clingy chick?” There were moments when I teared up because of how well written some of the memories they characters shared. Loved this book and can’t waot for the next one!
Redemption by Monique Orgeron is book One in the Youngblood Series. This is the story of Teddy and Ashlyn. This series is branching off the Stern Family Saga/Series. You won’t have to have read the series to enjoy this book, but for us that read that Series and Loved it so, it was very nice to see the family.
Teddy never got over his jealous and hurt feelings from his father’s relationship with Catherine Stern. Teddy’s father Theo was in Love with Catherine but she was taken, so he married Teddy’s mother and had him. Catherine had children by her abusive husband. Theo took her children and some others under his wing that didn’t have father’s or whose father wasn’t very good….like Catherine’s. So this added to Teddy’s bitterness and when he became an adult it ate away at him wanting him to seek to hurt them. Which put him on a road to destruction. But then Ashlyn came into his life after he was shot and they had a hate/hate relationship with the over dying desire for each other. Ashlyn started seeing him for who he truly was inside and not the bitter man whore that he gave the world especially when he was around her daughter. Their desire for each other turned into friendship that changed them both.
I go through so many emotions when I read Ms. Orgeron’s book…she brings out your feelings and makes them so raw. I always wonder how can you write a review for a book that you are so emotionally drawn too. It hard to make a review that’s not a book or one with all your emotions. I am so glad I found this author with that first book I read ….I am now a life long fan!!
Oh how can I count the ways I loved this! I have been waiting for Teddy’s story, and as usual, its perfection. This author had me hooked on the Stern’s from the get go, this is the first book in the spin off series and it had everything I have come to expect from this author. Teddy was not a good man. Through the Sterns I had an intense dislike of him going in, he seemed weasel-ish to me. She just showed that people can grow. He did bad things in the past, things that made him a bad person even, but through recognition growth and love, not just from the heroine (though her love for him helped tremendously) but from the whole support group of family he saw the error in his ways and fixed his course. Ashlyn was great too! What a spitfire! I loved her acceptance and growth in her own right, becoming who she needed to be for her and her daughter. Plenty of mystery and intrigue as well, lots of things to keep you guessing and revelations and I’m so looking forward to Shane’s story!
Monique can tell a story like none other. This book had me busting out laughing. It kept me on my toes through the whole thing. I just knew Teddy was going to steal my heart and he did.
This is the first book in the spin off from the Stern series and it involves Teddy and Ashlyn. We meet them at the end of Art of Survival when Ashlyn saves Teedy’s life. Fast forward to now. Teddy has hated the Stern boys his whole life thinking that his dad left him and his mom for them because they were included in everything they did. Come to find out everything is not as it seems. This is Teddy’s journey of finding out that everything he thought was true is not and how to find acceptance and love when you think there is no coming back from the choices that you make. Ashlyn gives as good as she gets and she sees the good in Teddy if she can only get him to see it. The twist and turns had me wondering what was going to happen and just when I thought I had it figured out Marie threw something else in there. If you like the Stern series you will definately love this series. Marie I cant wait to see what is next if this is any indication it is going to be the must read series of 2019
Making wrong decisions for revenge may sound or taste sweet to Teddy but when everything is unraveled, you start to realize how wrong you were and there’s no going back. Teddy realize not only is he wrong but he won’t be there to finally have that happiness he’s been denying himself for so long. Will it be too late for Teddy and Ashlyn? Well that’s up to you fellow readers to find out, this book no this series is a definite recommendation from me, you will be on the edge of your seat in suspense, amazing read.
Monique… wow. I am truly obsessed with all your books and never once have I been disappointed. At first I hated teddy. Not once in all the books did I care for his character but now… now wow. How he is with Brooke, it just melts my heart. I too have a father who never cared enough to show up but my mom did remarry and I have to say I ended up having one the best fathers a girl could ask for. I cannot wait to read more from you and what happens next. you truly are an amazing writer and captivate me every time with your words.
Teddy Teddy Teddy I honestly didn’t think that this series could get any better. But this book proves that it can get better. I loved this book it had EVERYTHING that you need in a book. Love, angst, drama, sass and a hell of an ending.