Review: Take this Regret (The Regret Series, #1) by A.L. Jackson

AJ

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Review

Wow this was a great read! So deeply emotional, and so beautifully written at times I stopped breathing while reading it!

From the synopsis, you think you will really hate Christian, and of course in the beginning of the book we do hate him a little, but it doesn’t last long. Jackson gets you right inside of him so you know exactly what is going on and I found it impossible to hate him. I just ADORE how she’s written him. He’s so full of regret and remorse, and he genuinely wants to change things.

“My soul mourned for what it had lost, for every day I had lived without them, for every moment wasted, for time that could not be reclaimed.”

And I love how he sits there and accepts everybody’s anger, knowing that he deserves it.

“Each word delivered a blow directly to my gut. But I took it, deserved it – needed it. I needed to know what I’d done. “

I’ve read reviews where people were annoyed with Elizabeth’s behaviour, I think she’s absolutely justified in everything she’s feeling. She’s still hurting from the loss she experienced and wants to protect her daughter from the pain that she went through. She needs to know that she can trust Christian before she lets herself, or Lizzie, go completely, and I completely accept that!

The characters are so real, and I loved that the book was written in alternating POVs so we see all that they are going through. And I love that we can see that despite their situation, the love that they have for each other is always there.

I knew I would cry when going into this book, but there were a number of scenes that had me sobbing like a baby:

Spoiler

– When Christian meets Lizzy and really takes her in and he thinks to himself

“My baby girl likes pink.”

– The birthday party, when Christian is sitting in the corner accepting everybody’s hatred and judgement, but just wanting to be there, and then Lizzy brings him cake

– The scene in the kitchen after the birthday party

“What do you want, Christian?”
What did I want? To make her smile, to wipe away her tears, to hold
her. To be a father, a real father, not one in title, but on who’d
earned that right. I wanted to stay.
“I want my family,” I forced through the lump in my throat.

– Christian’s phone call to Elizabeth when he is back in NY and he cries down the phone to her and finally tells her that he still loves her.

But after all of the heartache you go through as a reader, there is a totally satisfying and believable HEA. I was expecting it, but I wondered how Christian would redeem himself with Elizabeth, and the way he went about it was absolutely perfect – he was so accepting of her anger, so incredibly patient with her, and so grateful for every little moment that bought him back into their lives. They were able to heal together and I can honestly say – if I was in Elizabeth’s situation, I would have forgiven him too.

 

Spoiler
And then the scene at the end where they are actually reunited just broke my heart it was so beautiful!!!

“I laid us down on the couch on our sides, held her close, and let her cry … I cradled the girl I had broken.”

SOB, SOB, SOB!!!

This was a beautifully written, heart-wrenchingly emotional story that will absolutely pull your heartstrings. Utterly amazing, I can’t wait to read more from this very talented author.

 

The Regret Series

   

Lost to You (#0.5)
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

Take this Regret (#1)
Review
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If Forever Comes (#2)
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback


 

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