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Holding On to Hurt

By: Charlotte Roth
Narrated by: Valerie Smaldone
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Publisher's summary

IIrene Hurt's life is perfect, and she cherishes every moment with her son and her husband, until...the day she gets the call every mother dreads. Her son, Scottie is injured in a mass school shooting and is rushed to the ICU, where he's put into a medically induced coma to wait out his fate. Devastated, her husband pulls away and even tries to convince Irene to remove Scottie's life support, to save his son from a life of lesser existence. But, Irene refuses to give up hope.

On her journey through grief, denial, anger, and finally, acceptance, Irene discovers more about the events of that tragic day, the boy who shot her son and then took his own life, and the husband she thought she knew and could trust. Will Scottie pull through? Or, will Irene accept that sometimes, the best thing a mother can do for her child is let go?

Set in the darkest hours of winter in Seattle, Holding On to Hurt tells the gripping story of one mother's fight to keep her son alive, no matter what she has to sacrifice.

©2017 Charlotte Roth (P)2019 Charlotte Roth
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What listeners say about Holding On to Hurt

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Difficult subject

Charlotte Roth writes about difficult subjects. This one definitely being heartbreaking. I honestly didn't care for the mother, Irene. Her husband, Bruce, is the one that pulled my heartstrings. There were several times I teared up. They're is a happy ending.

Valerie Smaldone did a good job with the female and young kids voices, but not as well with the teen boys and men's voices. She'd do wonderful with duet narration in audiobooks.

#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

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Waiting for a miracle

What happens in a marriage when The most unthinkable happens. Irene and Bruce's love for each other is tested to the limit! This story is about how a marriage can slowly fall apart when one has no hope, and the other clings on to a miracle. Charlotte Roth wrote a emotional story of love, lies, regrets and loss, be prepared for a box of tissues. Valerie Smaldone narration has all the feels of everyones emotions in this audio. i received this audio in exchange for my honest review. #Audioobsessionreviewer

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Emotional and real

Wow this was such a realistic, emotional read. It's the story of every mother's worst fear. It's about love and hope in a hopeless situation.

Irene has a great life, a loving husband and perfect son. One day, everything changes. There's a shooting at her son's school and he ends up in the hospital. We follow Irene as she holds on to hope and strength, struggling with her grief. I love how the story unfolded, I was completely pulled in to the story.

I enjoyed Valarie Smaldone's performance, it took me some time to become accustomed to her voice but she definitely won me over.

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Emotional

This was a great read. It definitely puts you in the middle of a real fear that parents have. This story took you on an emotional ride of fear, love and hope.
The narrator did a good job with this story.

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Reality Hits The Heart!

Holding On To Hurt caught my eye with its eye catching cover. The synopsis of this novel portrays a gripping story of one mother's fight to keep her son alive, no matter what she has to sacrifice. It is exquisitely composed as a tribute to a school shooting. I enjoyed the titles for each chapter which reflects that chapter. A poignant novel that is a dynamic tear jerker. A riveting plot with compelling character's that are pragmatic. Author Charlotte Roth's writing style creates raw and real sentiment that is captured through out the listen. Not a romance in essence, it's a story of love and family.

Narator Valarie Smaldone was at first a bit difficult to get into her voice at the beginning but as I further listened to the audiobook I didn't mind it as much as she grew on me. She gave a compelling and intensely dramatic performance.

🎧 Audiobook Obsession 🎧

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Get out your tissues and prepare for a heart jerke

When I first read the paper back, I was bawling! Listening to the narroraror bring this book to life had me laughing, crying, bawling and everything in between! This is an exceptional great and emotional book. It hits you right in the feels! Words don’t begin to explain a mother’s love and what we would do for our children. This touches on my worst nightmare and drags you a rollorcoaster of ups and downs and will leave you smiling and hugging your children tight. The narrorator sounded great and did a great job! This is a must listen to!

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Family Love

This was an amazing audio book!!! I didn't want to stop listening because I wanted to to hear what would happen next.!!! I loved this audio book!!! I look forward to more by Charlotte Roth!!! Listen, enjoy, and bring the kleenex!!!

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Awesome read

What a great emotional read! The story line is heartfelt and will have you on the edge of your seat, great story line! This was a very realistic read and a tear jerker!!! Great book I recommend as a must read/listen! Thank you for this awesome book Audiobook Obsession Review Group!!

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Family

Holding On To Hurt took my breath away. Charlotte Roth's book taps into every family's fear. Irene Hurt, her husband Bruce, and their son Scott are a typical family. They have been married for almost 20 years, and their son is a Junior in high school. Irene's day starts off as any other, she goes to work at the shop where she and her sister-in-law work. All of a sudden a customer bursts in with the news of another school shooting. Only this shooting takes place on the school bus that their sons Scottie and Brian ride to school on. They race to the school trying to find out information. Her sister-in-law's son Brian is unhurt, but Irene's son Scott has been rushed to the hospital, and she can't find out any other information. What follows is a nightmarish time for the Hurt family as they deal with the fallout of this one incident that impacts so many lives. This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions. You too will find it difficult to catch your breath. The narrator, Valerie Smaldone does an excellent job, capturing all the emotions. I highly recommend Holding On To Hurt, and was happy to review it for Audiobook Obsession.

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Amazing & Emotional!

Charlotte Roth is a new to me author, and she has hooked me. Holding On To Hurt is a very emotional read/listen. It isn’t romance per say, but it is all about having a loving family and having it ripped away from you in the blink of an eye. How even having a close knit family, things can fall apart. Everyone grieves differently, they don’t all hold on to hope. A mother’s love is unconditional and never ending. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for your next emotional read!

Valerie Smaldone did an amazing job narrating! You can hear and feel all of the love and emotion in her voice!!

🎧 AudiobookObsession🎧

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