NEVER LET YOU GO : A MODERN FAIRYTALE STANDALONE by KATY REGNERY

13 June, 2015

SYNOPSIS

In this modern retelling of “Hansel and Gretel,” 13-year-old foster children, Holden and Griselda, escape from their abductor after three years of brutal captivity and try to cross the Shenandoah River on foot. Tragically, one of them makes it to safety but the other is left behind.

Ten years later, Griselda’s boyfriend drags her to a fight club grudge match where her world is turned upside down when she watches Holden step into the ring.

Though the connection between them is fierce, bitter regret, simmering rage and a cache of physical and emotional scars lie between them, just as dangerous as the whitewater of the Shenandoah.

Never Let You Go is a story of fear and hope, defeat and survival, and two people – once profoundly broken – who discover that love is the onlything that can make them whole again.

This is a standalone novel inspired by Hansel & Gretel. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to profanity, scenes of physical abuse and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. (Note: children are not sexually abused in this book.

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Reviewed by Jenny & Gitte

✯✯✯✯1/2 stars

“My body is marked with you. My arms. My chest. My eyes. My head. My heart. I can’t erase you. I’d have to die to be free of you. D-don’t you see that, Gris.”

Didn’t this one hit our hearts! Such a beautifully told story highlighting the strength of the human spirit, the trust, love and hope of two young people forced to live a frightening and tormented existence after being kidnapped by a mentally unstable man when they were only ten years old.

“Stone to stone. I jump, you jump.”

Never Let You Go is a story of attempting to turn adversity into triumph. This story grabbed us immediately and well….it never let us go. We were instantly drawn into the plight of these two beautiful children, enveloping us in an overwhelming feeling of sadness and despair for them. Our hearts quite literally ached reading this book.

“Are you whole or broken?”

Katy Regnery is a magical storyteller. She has a way of bringing forth such strikingly vivid imagery; we can’t help but feel every word she writes. Holden and Gris’s friendship, love and survival, the way they held each other up in an atmosphere of hate and instability, the way they each brought that tiny sliver of hope happiness to one another when it all seemed so painfully unobtainable and the way this author had them planning a happy future whilst suffering so dreadfully in the cold, dark present was all achingly detailed, leaving us emotionally wrought at times.

“I’ll change for you. I’ll live for you. I’ll never let you go.”

Gris and Holden had spent their lives existing, rather than not living, being consumed by memories from their past and never forgetting or giving up hope of being together again even when all seemed lost. How much can one prevail and can love truly conquer all? Can it sustain and prosper beneath the weight of painful memories and debilitating guilt?

‘She only went on living because it was possible he was living too.’

Gris had certainly led a life of misery consumed with guilt over her time with Holden. We did feel for Gris but didn’t connect to her as much as we did Holden. Yes, she had most certainly suffered and her sorrow saddened us but we did feel she came across a little judgemental of Holden which frustrated us at times.

Holden, Holden, Holden. Where do we start with this man? Holden was one of those characters you know you will never forget. He possessed the beauty, vulnerability and the heart which was reminiscent of early Colleen Hoover male characters and we couldn’t help but connect to this man and we suffered with him. We felt everything he felt and for us, Holden was the story.

“I w-w-wanted tonight, Gris….I w-wanted forever.”
“We have now.”

Katy Regnery delivered an unforgettable and deeply moving character in Holden, which had us experiencing an overpowering instinct to love and protect him through his pain, dreams, hopes and love which radiated off every page. His hope became our hope. His dreams became our dreams.

“It feels like I’ve wanted you forever.”

Admittedly there were some plots lines that felt a little cliché and convenient but at the end of the day what we reveled in was experiencing and feeling the true meeting of two hearts and the deep encompassing love between two people facing adversity. A beautifully told story we wholeheartedly recommend picking up. This is one for the heart!

**Reviewed from an ARC Copy provided by the author, with thanks.**
NB: For the month of June & July 25% of royalties from the sale of this book will go to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation

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NEVER LET YOU GO by KATY REGNERY
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