Review for Take This Regret and GIVEAWAY

Title: Take This Regret
Author: A.L Jackson
Publication Date: April 5, 2012 (First Publication Date July 21, 2011)
Source: Bought
Summary: (from Goodreads)

 "There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth.

Christian Davison has a plan for his life. He is determined to become an attorney and to one day take his place as partner in his father’s law firm. Nothing will stand in his way, not even Elizabeth Ayers and their unborn child.

After Christian cuts her from his life, Elizabeth spends the next five years struggling to provide for her daughter and willing to sacrifice anything to give her child a safe, comfortable life.

For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back just as Elizabeth will do anything to protect her daughter from the certain heartache she believes Christian will bring upon them.

When Christian wrestles his way into their lives, Elizabeth is faced with asking herself if it is possible to forgive someone when they’ve committed the unforgiveable and if it is possible to find a love after it has been buried in years of hate. Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

They say everyone deserves a second chance."

                                 Review 
                           (Giveaway details at bottom of review)

                                                                 

Okay gush alert warning. Or at least attempted gush alert warning because I don’t think there are actually words that can describe how much I adored, absolutely adored this book! Even with its predictable plot, this was one of the best books I’ve read in a while, possibly all year. Yes, I know we are only 4 months into the year, but yes, I am stating that right now.

Elizabeth finds herself abandoned and alone when she tells her boyfriend that she is pregnant. Christian, a law student set on pleasing his father and working for him at his law firm, tells her it’s him or the baby and watches as the love of his life walks out of his life. Fast forward five years and who should find themselves living in the same city? Desperate to finally know his child, Christian sets out on proving himself to be a changed man to the woman he left broken and alone. Wanting nothing more than to keep her little girl away from the man who would cause her nothing but heartache, Elizabeth soon finds herself torn between her head and her heart.

It’s been months since a book has sent me on a rollercoaster of emotion like Take This Regret did. I was laughing one second, crying the next. I teared up a lot during this read. When Christian threatened to take Elizabeth to court if she didn’t let him see Lizzie my heart ached for Elizabeth for the fear she had in losing her daughter.

I wanted to hate Christian for thinking he could waltz right into this little girl’s life after five years and demand his parental rights. Who did he think he was? He was no more than a good for nothing, selfish sperm donor. But as I tore through the chapters the ice around my heart thawed for him, much like Elizabeth’s did. I felt sad for him when he sat at Lizzie’s birthday party isolated and alone. It was a very touching moment of one father’s discomfort in order to be a part of his child’s life.

I especially loved that Jackson didn’t have the two characters fall instantly for each other and right into bed. Although, as the story progressed I often groaned at the pair to just get together already, but I completely understood why Elizabeth was so hesitant.

And the ending. Oh my the ending when Elizabeth sends Christian away and it destroys not only him and her, but also Lizzie, my heart broke right alone with all of theirs. And Christian consulting a lawyer and getting ready to take Elizabeth to court…I had to stop reading a few times and just breath, even though as a reader you know, you just know, that he would never actually do it.

The only thing I found a little off was Lizzie’s perception of the world around her. I didn’t feel a five year old would automatically know a stranger was her father, or when Elizabeth was trying to explain why he wasn’t around before that she would understand unspoken words and come to the conclusion that her father didn’t want her.

Take This Regret is a remarkable read. A touching story of loss, discovery, redemption and love. Make a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon even better and curl up with this book. You won’t regret it.

An ebook of Take This Regret is up for grabs thanks to Ms. Jackson. All you have to do to qualify is comment with your email address, Twitter or Facebook information. The winner will be chosen through random.org and will be announced Friday, April 20th.