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Take This Regret (Take This Regret #1)

by A.L. Jackson (Goodreads Author), Amy Lichtenhan (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 9,086 ratings · 879 reviews

There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian Davison, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth Ayers. For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back. Can Elizabeth forgive someone who has committed the unforgiveable? Or are there some wounds that go so deep the...more

Paperback, 242 pages

Published April 5th 2012 by Sapphire Star Publishing (first published July 21st 2011)

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May 29, 2012 Aestas Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 6-star-books, favorites

6 stars!!

"She was mine, had always been, and I'd always been hers. Despite what I'd done, the wounds I'd inflicted, she had always been mine.... our hearts had been tied, our bond one that neither of us could ever escape." ~Christian

WOW!! This is an achingly beautiful, heart wrenching book about a second chance at love and with an wonderfully sweet HEA that tugged at ALL my heart strings!!

The level of emotion it pulled out of me right from the beginning was so strong and intense! I read mo...more

55 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2013 Soraya Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: new-adult, drama

By the time the sun broke through the night, I’d accepted that I could never do anything to erase those mistakes. They had marred our lives, sending them on a course they never should have gone.

Had he ever felt the regret that I felt? Had there ever been a day when he’d realized he was living the wrong life

A touching, powerful story about change and forgiveness. Christian and Elizabeth met in college, she became pregnant, he didn't want the child, she did. She chose her child and walked aw...more

31 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Kris (KC) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, kindle-lendables

4.5 Stars! Take This Regret is a beautiful, eloquently written, tender story about love lost and love redeemed. The story opens in the midst of a heartbreaking betrayal. We are introduced to Elizabeth and Christian and their all-consuming love for one another, only to abruptly have that love come crashing down before our eyes. Yep, Christian commits a monster of a betrayal; one that seems unforgivable even of the most forgiving...

This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by this...more

20 likes · like · see review

Oct 01, 2012 Taryn at My Secret Romance rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Taryn at My Secret Romance by: Katya

Shelves: emotional-angsty, contemporary-romance, favorites, rekindled-love, reviewed-by-me, very-light-romance, a-l-jackson

10/1/2012 ONLY $1.99 RIGHT NOW! Go get it while you can! http://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Regre...

This review was posted at My Secret Romance

Absolutely amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is one of those books that will stick with me forever. I loved every minute of it.

There have been a number of break out authors this year, and Amy is one of them. In my opinion, I feel that Amy Lichtenhan is the female version of Nicholas Sparks. Whenever I pick up a book by Sparks, I am immediately sucked into his w...more
10/1/2012 ONLY $1.99 RIGHT NOW! Go get it while you can! http://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Regre...

This review was posted at My Secret Romance

Absolutely amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is one of those books that will stick with me forever. I loved every minute of it.

There have been a number of break out authors this year, and Amy is one of them. In my opinion, I feel that Amy Lichtenhan is the female version of Nicholas Sparks. Whenever I pick up a book by Sparks, I am immediately sucked into his world as if I'm really there living it; it's very realistic. And that's how I feel about Amy's book. I was instantly hooked from the beginning. I started this book at 10pm last night and didn't stop reading until I finished the entire book, which was at 2 in the morning, with blurry eyes no less. But I didn't care, I was determined to finish it. I was too involved in this story to put it down. Why is it that I love the tear-out-your-heart kind of novels the most? Maybe because I am able to feel so many emotions going through me while reading them? Maybe because it makes it feel so real...oh, I don't know. I felt love, hatred, joy, sadness, pain, betrayal, contentment and so many more. This is truly a great read and I am so glad my friend recommended it to me. I know this author also has another novel out called Pulled, and I can not wait to get my hands on it. I just know it's going to be amazing.

Take This Regret is about a young college couple madly in love. With plans in place to go to law school together, an unexpected surprise forces each of them to make a decision that could alter their plans. Since Elizabeth wants to be a child advocate, she already knows her answer and she expects the same from the man she is in love with. She expects him to be there and work things out...together. Well, they both were in for a rude awakening when Christian forces Elizabeth to chose, him or the baby. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it would come to this. But oftentimes decisions are made with regrets soon to follow....

Having been a young mother myself, I instantly felt the connection with Elizabeth. I knew my decision instantly, just like Elizabeth did when she found out; I was going to have a baby and my life was going to change irrevocably. I was 18 when my first son was born, whereas Elizabeth was about 20 or 21. It's a struggle beyond what most can imagine: to support and love your child, while taking care of your youthful self. I lost a lot of friends along the way, but the most important ones stood by my side, just like Matthew did for Elizabeth. You make the sacrifices necessary in order to be there for your baby, even if it means a change of plans. Elizabeth was unable to go to law school, just like I wasn't able to go to college. The thought of having to put my baby in daycare was unacceptable, just like it was for Elizabeth. You will find ways to make it work. I was lucky enough to have my love stand by my side, whereas Elizabeth was without her love for five years. As you can tell, this story hit close to home.

I think this novel is somewhat personal for the author. She was able to evoke so many emotions out of me and I feel as though she had to have lived it to understand so much. Maybe I'm wrong...I don't know. Raising a child so young was the most difficult thing in all of my life, but I wouldn't change it if I could. Things work out the way they are supposed to, just like they did for Elizabeth and Christian....even though it took 5 years for them to realize it.

I just want to thank Katya for telling me about this author. I loved it so much and if you hadn't told me about it I may have never found it. xoxox (less)

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Apr 06, 2012 ✿Alyssa✿ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review was posted at My Secret Romance

To sum it up: 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’s 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 strug...more This review was posted at My Secret Romance

To sum it up: 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’s 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 and 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 that Christian will bring upon them.

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

I've heard great things about Amy Lichtenhan and after reading this book, I can see why- This was the first novel that I’ve read by her and it definitely won’t be my last. Going into this story, I didn’t think that I would really be able to relate or connect to any of the characters since I don’t have children of my own, and have never experienced anything that even closely resembles what these characters went through- But boy, was I wrong. Amy Lichtenhan is unbelievably talented and she definitely pulled some emotion from me while reading this novel.

This book takes you on a journey of heartache and healing, and there were times throughout this story when I thought that Elizabeth would never overcome her pain and unwillingness to trust Christian. But at the same time, I could understand her need to feel that she had to protect her daughter and not ever give Christian the opportunity to hurt her, like he'd hurt Elizabeth in the past. In my opinion, that's really when Christian evolved into a true hero- He refused to give up and just disappear, and was absolutely determined to be a part of his daughter's life. He not only said he was sorry, but lived and showed it, and truly made me believe it.

The raw emotions of Elizabeth and Christian are so realistic, and my heart ached for both of these characters. I wanted to comfort Elizabeth, and be her shoulder to cry on. I wanted to take away Christian’s guilt from the past and the pain it caused for his future. And I wanted to do anything in the world to fight and protect Lizzie, as well as keep her from hurting. I’m a big fan of emotion, pain, and angst when it comes to my romance novels- And this book definitely didn’t let me down. This story will take you on an emotional ride, as two people who belong together struggle to right the wrongs of the past.

A.L. Jackson has a gifted ability to put flawed, yet likable characters into difficult situations, and bring them through the trials they face in life in such an emotional and moving way. This book is filled with turmoil, and a lot of ups and downs- But it truly makes you believe in second chances, and how love really can overcome mistakes of the past.
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Feb 07, 2013 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, 5-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

The first novel I read by Amy Lichtenhan was titled Pulled. In Pulled I fell in love with Amy Litchtenhan’s lyrical writing style and her gift with words. Although I didn’t think it would be possible, her second novel, Take This Regret, was even better.

This novel is EVERYTHING an adult contemporary romance novel should be. It’s capturing, romantic, heartbreaking, addicting and emotional. Take This Regret by Amy Li...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Farah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

5 soul touching stars!!

This is a story about Elizabeth who was madly in love with her boyfriend Christian.

They were soo happy in love until Elizabeth tells Christain that she is pregnant. They are both in college to become lawyers and Christian tells Elizabeth that he doesn't want a baby... That its either him or the baby...
Elizabeth chooses to keep the baby and walks away from Christian... The love of her life... The only man she would ever love..

5 years later.. Christian is a successful lawy...more

40 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Jessica's Book Review rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star

Read more reviews on my blog | Like me on Facebook

I fell in love with A.L. Jackson’s novel Pulled and immediately wanted to read her other novel, Take This Regret. Just like Pulled, Take This Regret is full of emotions, regret, hurt, and love.

I was instantly drawn to the characters and the storyline. You are introduced to Elizabeth and Christian while they are entering their last year of undergraduate school at Columbia University. They are complete opposites but are madly in love. Elizabeth com...more Read more reviews on my blog | Like me on Facebook

I fell in love with A.L. Jackson’s novel Pulled and immediately wanted to read her other novel, Take This Regret. Just like Pulled, Take This Regret is full of emotions, regret, hurt, and love.

I was instantly drawn to the characters and the storyline. You are introduced to Elizabeth and Christian while they are entering their last year of undergraduate school at Columbia University. They are complete opposites but are madly in love. Elizabeth comes from the West Coast, grew up with a single mother, no money and is living on school grants and student loans. Christian is from the East Coast, rich family, with an over baring father. Christian’s only goal is to someday become a lawyer and work at his father’s firm. He will not let anything get in the way, even when Elizabeth finds herself pregnant and Christian leaves her for keeping the baby. Elizabeth is left alone, dropping out of school and abandoning her goals in life because of Christian and his decisions. You will instantly hate him for what he has done and I almost could not imagine anything he would ever do to make his wrong right.

Fast forward to five years later, Elizabeth is a single mom living back in her hometown of San Diego. Struggling to make it but is such an amazing mom. She has never gotten over the man who has broken her heart but is strong for her baby girl. Christian of course has what he wants in life, works at his father’s firm but he has never forgiven himself for what he did to Elizabeth and their baby. He is struggling with his own life. His father, who is heartless, opens an office in San Diego and sends Christian to open the firm. This is where his past catches up with him and he reunites with Elizabeth, much to her dislike and he finally meets their child.

Christian begins to win me back. He fights for his child, he fights for Elizabeth but she is still closed off; understandably hurt. You want nothing more for the three to become a family but understand why the distrust in Christian is there. I was so moved with the storyline, the characters. I usually get annoyed with young book characters but I thought their daughter Lizzy was adorable. I felt every emotion the characters had and felt the story was so realistic and true. I am so moved by A.L. Jackson’s writing and am so excited for her third book to be released. I was not disappointed at all with Take This Regret. It’s a true Adult Novel in every sense of the way.

I give Take This Regret 4 stars.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Katya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 5+Stars!!!!!

What did I think? Wow...What a really emotionally satisfying story about love, commitment, priorities and forgiveness.

As human beings we make mistakes...at the time we might not think it will ruin our lives. How do we fix it? How do we rectify errors in how we have lived our life? How do we begin to ask forgiveness for turning away from the most precious part of our life? The people we love?

In Take This Regret a man does just that. He chooses a career path and the expectation of a f...more 5+Stars!!!!!

What did I think? Wow...What a really emotionally satisfying story about love, commitment, priorities and forgiveness.

As human beings we make mistakes...at the time we might not think it will ruin our lives. How do we fix it? How do we rectify errors in how we have lived our life? How do we begin to ask forgiveness for turning away from the most precious part of our life? The people we love?

In Take This Regret a man does just that. He chooses a career path and the expectation of a family which has planned his life and future success for him from a young age. When confronted with an unplanned pregnancy he chooses a career rather than adjusting his life to support and love that child and the woman he planned a life with. He cruelly pushes her away rather than divert his plan for his future. He is basically a good man who makes a very bad mistake.

Fast forward years later, he has never gotten over it. He has never loved a woman the same way he did this child's mother. He feels a hole inside his heart where a small child should belong and the career he chose over them leaves him unsatisfied, lonely and unfulfilled. He always meant to go back, reconnect, but it was never the right time and now it is too late...too much time has passed. How does he explain, how does he ask for forgiveness?

I can't imagine the pain of being abandoned by the man you are in love with who never comes after you or tries to makes things right....how do you go on? When you struggle to survive, put a roof over your head and spend many lonely years trying to raise a child by yourself? How did he so easily push you aside...how do you ever forgive?

How do you, the biological father, ask a small precious child, who never knew a father, to accept you? to forgive you for abandoning her? To love and trust you? How to you fix this when you realize what a tragic mistake you made? And how does the woman he loved and still love learn to trust you again? How do you push aside years of neglect? How do you put it back together again and become a real family?

This novel was a painful journey back to a time where a choice is made....a bad choice. It is about how forgiveness is given and trust is earned again. What is so amazing about this author is her ability to inject you right into the characters minds and hearts. You feel every emotion as if it was you this was happening to and not a character on the page. Amy Lichtenhan brings to life the people who are feeling the anticipation, fear, and apprehension... and you are right there: undecided, hurt, happy, and fearful right along with them.

The author sucks you in on the first page...there was no "down time" no "lulls" or anything to be skimmed over. The action plays out as it does in real life. All you can do is hang on and hope for the best. This novel is a real tug-a-war over one thing. Forgiveness and anger. You ask yourself, if in that position if you could forgive, should you forgive, and could you trust that person again.

Sometimes in novels it is easy to see who the bad guy is and who the heroes are. They are one dimensional and purposeful in their intent. But the characters in this book are much like us, human beings who make mistakes and sometimes we are a little of both. The line between good and bad is blurred and forgiveness can become a very difficult concept to manage.

I cried while reading this novel, I loved that I felt so much emotion and that I was tossing and turning the question in my head, would I forgive? or not? It made me think of situations in my own life. Is trusting again worth being hurt?

By the time I finished this novel I was put through the emotional ringer and am so happy I found this book. I was smiling with tears in my eyes and wanted to get up and dance around the room. I will definitely be reading anything this author writes in the future. She is amazing! (less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Kristen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, second-chances, angsty-emotional, 2-star, disliked-heroine, exhausting-read, family-dynamic, frustrating-heroine, groveling-hero, obstinate-annoying-heroine, very-emotional, wishy-washy-heroine, tortured-hero, book-everyone-loved-but-me, manufactured-drama, sad-depressing, very-mild-steam, lots-of-drama

1 1/2 to 2 stars

It's a shame that the last book I'm reviewing for 2011 is a book I would not recommend.

This story is melodrama and redundancy at its best! To say I did not enjoy this book would be an understatement.The hero begins as a selfish, irresponsible coward who redeems himself and becomes an admirable and somewhat endearing character. The heroine, however, does the complete opposite. She starts out as a sympathetic, endearing, and admirable character who evolves into a heroine that is se...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Noelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, owned, 2011-reads, children-in-the-mix, contemp, hero-mean-to-heroine, romance, second-chance-romance

After hearing so much about this book over at Amazon I had to give it a try. I had the sample sent to my Kindle so that I could read it and make sure that it's written in third person. It was in third and from what I read I was hooked, so I bought it. As it turns out it was only in third person for the first chapter and then after that it was in first...I HATE first person and would not have bought this book if I had known. I was however hooked into the story and so I did force myself to finish...more After hearing so much about this book over at Amazon I had to give it a try. I had the sample sent to my Kindle so that I could read it and make sure that it's written in third person. It was in third and from what I read I was hooked, so I bought it. As it turns out it was only in third person for the first chapter and then after that it was in first...I HATE first person and would not have bought this book if I had known. I was however hooked into the story and so I did force myself to finish it. If it had been in third person through out the whole book I might have given this a 4 to 5 *.

Elizabeth (h), a college student that is about to become a lawyer, she wants to be an advicate for children and children's rights. She comes from a poor but loving family and has had to work hard to pay for college. Then one day she finds herself pregnant. Her boyfriend Christian (H) is also a college student about to become a lawyer. He's going to work for his father's firm, something he's been groomed for his entire life. His family is the complete opposite from Elizabeth's, rich but never loving, and he's is usually a selfish bastard but Elizabeth has hepled him become a better person.....until she tells him she's pregnant.

When he thinks about all that would have to be sacrificed in order to have this baby the choice is clear to him. When he tells Elizabeth that they would have it taken care of she was stunned. To her there never was a choice, she thought for sure he would understand that. He loved her, of course they would would make this work,they would be together, they would be a family, no way would he think anything else. When Christain realized that Elizabeth ment to keep the baby, he couldn't believe it and he did something that he lived to regret every day of his life, he gave her a choice...him or the baby. Elizabeth, in shock, walked away and never looked back.

Years later and a chance encounter at a grocery store, Elizabeth finds Christian bulldozing his way back into their lives. Is there enough groveling a man can do to earn his way back, can she trust her heart to him again, can she trust her daughter's heart to him?? (less)

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May 29, 2012 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romantic-drama

WOW - loved this story - almost read like a Marie Force bk. Sad beginning, terrific ending and tons of romantic drama in between. Hard to put down. I even had a teary moment while reading this on a plane and had to suck it up quick so no one would notice AND so I could continue reading without tear blurred vision. H/h have character development here, but Christian does such an incredible turn around. Adored him. His love for his daughter was a heart melter. I could sympathize with Elizabeth but...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, read-in-2013, steamy, glass-case-of-emotion

5 Stars.

At times I was frustrated by this book and just sooooooooo over the recycled pain that I thought it was more of a 4 Star read, but having known the back story from having read Lost to You first (which so many people advice new readers DON'T do - but I am telling you, it helped me tremendously with the characters) I did see where the pain had started and by the end I was swept away.

I don't mean to patronize anyone who hasn't had children, but I'm not sure how I would have handled this sto...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Ailyne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-read-later

I want to start off by saying that this review is completely biased...it is solely based on my personal experience and therefore my emotional status, I mean absolutely no disrespect towards the author or anyone who enjoyed this book...I debated with myself over whether I would write this review or not, but I have to because this story hit me hard...it got personal.

This is not was good reviewers do. Good reviewers take the entire book into consideration. Good reviewers analyze the writing, the...more I want to start off by saying that this review is completely biased...it is solely based on my personal experience and therefore my emotional status, I mean absolutely no disrespect towards the author or anyone who enjoyed this book...I debated with myself over whether I would write this review or not, but I have to because this story hit me hard...it got personal.

This is not was good reviewers do. Good reviewers take the entire book into consideration. Good reviewers analyze the writing, the plot, the character development. Good reviewers take in the entire book. I got past the first three pages and had already developed an extreme hate for this book. Guess I am not a good reviewer...at least not today.

Take This Regret is the story of Elizabeth and Christian. Elizabeth gets knocked up by Christian, Christian decided he doesn't want the baby because fatherhood would get in the way of his career plans so he gives Elizabeth an ultimatum: him or the baby. Six years later and Christian is a lawyer, Elizabeth has her life together, their daughter is 5 years old...Christian has never seen her, talked to her, asked about her but somehow he gets a surge of fatherly instinct that makes him want to barge into his daughter's life. Like I said before, this book got personal, but then again, good writing and story-telling is meant to get deep inside your skin and make you feel something...anything...everything and nothing at the same time. AL Jackson...mission accomplished. Lets get the technical out of the way. The writing was good, I will give it that. The characters were well thought-out and while, their personality was very one dimensional they were realistic in some cases while completely unrealistic the next. The concept of book is relatable as you can tell by how it affected me, and it has a naturalistic validity that few books have.

Ok. Now I have to breathe. Please understand that I wish I was ok with this book. I wish it didn't make me mad. I wish it didn't upset me the way it did. I wish I didn't want to tear my e-reader apart. But wishing never gets anyone very far. I hated this book. I hated it right down to every word, every sentence, every period. I hated it to its core. Maybe because my fatherly issues are ones that Dr.Phil would love to have an entire series of shows over, or because I am the typical emotional brat that girls like me tend to be; whatever the cause...I just know that I regret even opening this book.

I despised Christian. I did not feel sorry for him. Even when he expressed his sorrow, his longing for his daughter, his love for Elizabeth...I despised him. I despised Elizabeth more. I wanted to smack her face off when she said she still loved Christian. I hated how unstable she was around this man who decided it would be a good idea to walk into a 5 year-old's life out of the blue as if he was the fucking ice-cream man. You see, unlike Elizabeth I never got past his abandonment. It's weird, I know because these are fictional characters, but god be damned...I wished I had magical word rearranging powers so I could re-write the story and make Elizabeth not be with Christian. The author does write Christian as someone who deserves a second chance, someone who feels like shit after abandoning his child, someone who is gorgeous and successful, but empty and full of regret. He should feel like the vermin of the Earth...he should feel guilty...he should.

But I don't believe in second chances. I don't believe I should receive them...I don't believe I should give them. Harsh, I know, but that is how I view the world...and this book just made me crawl back into that deep place where I am incapable of forgiving...as if it were something to be earned..it isn't I know, but I also know this is one of the things that I will never get past. I tried to handle Elizabeth's weak knees, her swooning over Christian but the entire time I was thinking "You stupid bitch"...I couldn't shake that thought.

When it comes to the way the plot progressed, I found it to be quite realistic. Of course Christian had a right to see his daughter....legally at least...and yes I understood why the author wrote Lizzie and Chrsitian's interactions the way she did. I get it, but I don't like it...and I guess that is part of my big issue with this book. Since this book is not real life, and the characters are fake...it can be said that Christian was genuinely sorry for leaving his child...because the author wrote it that way so it must be so...but as a reader I linked it to the physical world...in which people leave...and should not be allowed back in.

So..good job AL Jackson...you are one of now three authors who has been able to dig deep into my soul..you have talent I must say...but for now I'll suck it up and just take this regret.(less)

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Apr 06, 2012 Trewen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp

WOW. Just…WOW! This story evokes some very powerful emotions!

Take This Regret is written in 1st person POV, through BOTH main characters.
Each chapter alternates between Christian and Elizabeth.
I loved that!
So many romance novels, if written in 1st person, write through the heroines POV and I miss knowing what the hero is thinking and feeling.
In this story, I had a clear and personal view of both.
And I felt EVERY emotion as though it were my own.

The heartbreak, anger and fear that Elizabeth exper...more

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May 02, 2012 Taryn at My Secret Romance rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favorites, emotional-angsty, rekindled-love, reviewed-by-me, romance, new-adult

Absolutely amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

There have been a number of break out authors this year, and Amy is one of them. In my opinion, I feel that Amy Lichtenhan is the female version of Nicholas Sparks. Whenever I pick up a book by Sparks, I am immediately sucked into his world as if I'm really there living it; it's very realistic. And that's how I feel about Amy's book. I was instantly hooked from the beginning. I started this book at 10pm last night and didn't stop reading until I finished the en...more Absolutely amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

There have been a number of break out authors this year, and Amy is one of them. In my opinion, I feel that Amy Lichtenhan is the female version of Nicholas Sparks. Whenever I pick up a book by Sparks, I am immediately sucked into his world as if I'm really there living it; it's very realistic. And that's how I feel about Amy's book. I was instantly hooked from the beginning. I started this book at 10pm last night and didn't stop reading until I finished the entire book, which was at 2 in the morning, with blurry eyes no less. But I didn't care, I was determined to finish it. I was too involved in this story to put it down. Why is it that I love the tear-out-your-heart kind of novels the most? Maybe because I am able to feel so many emotions going through me while reading them? Maybe because it makes it feel so real...oh, I don't know. I felt love, hatred, joy, sadness, pain, betrayal, contentment and so many more. This is truly a great read and I am so glad my friend, Katya, recommended it to me. I know this author also has another novel out called Pulled, and I can not wait to get my hands on it. I just know it's going to be amazing.

Take This Regret is about a young college couple madly in love. With plans in place to go to law school together, an unexpected surprise forces each of them to make a decision that could alter their plans. Since Elizabeth wants to be a child advocate, she already knows her answer and she expects the same from the man she is in love with. She expects him to be there and work things out...together. Well, they both were in for a rude awakening when Christian forces Elizabeth to chose, him or the baby. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it would come to this. But oftentimes decisions are made with regrets soon to follow....

Having been a young mother myself, I instantly felt the connection with Elizabeth. I knew my decision instantly, just like Elizabeth did when she found out; I was going to have a baby and my life was going to change irrevocably. I was 18 when my first son was born, whereas Elizabeth was about 20 or 21. It's a struggle beyond what most can imagine: to support and love your child, while taking care of your youthful self. I lost a lot of friends along the way, but the most important ones stood by my side, just like Matthew did for Elizabeth. You make the sacrifices necessary in order to be there for your baby, even if it means a change of plans. Elizabeth was unable to go to law school, just like I wasn't able to go to college. The thought of having to put my baby in daycare was unacceptable, just like it was for Elizabeth. You will find ways to make it work. I was lucky enough to have my love stand by my side, whereas Elizabeth was without her love for five years. I think this novel is somewhat personal for the author. She was able to evoke so much out of me (and fellow readers) and I feel as though she had to have lived it to understand so much. Maybe I'm wrong...I don't know. Raising a child so young was the most difficult thing in all of my life, but I wouldn't change it if I could. Things work out the way they are supposed to, just like they did for Elizabeth and Christian....even though it took 5 years for them to realize it.

I just want to thank Katya for telling me about this author. I loved it so much and if you hadn't told me about it I may have never found it. xoxox (less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jun 12, 2013 Rate My Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp

Wow, I really liked this book. Great story. Interesting and heartbreaking. Definitely up for a re-read.

Loved the heroine, but some of her actions made me question her motives. Did she really want what was best for Lizzy or did she want to punish Christian instead.

I loved to hate Christian. He deserved to be hated. No matter what excuse he had there is never a reason to abandon your child. But, I did come to like him in the end. I felt he deserved a chance at redemption.

I am not usually big on...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Annie Brewer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone that loves romance

Recommended to Annie by: Erin

Shelves: absolutely-amazingly-awesome, favorite, favorite-authors, favorite-hotties, fell-in-love-with-the-cover, irresistable-hot-guys, nook-books, tearjerker, unforgettable, contemp-romance, 5-star-worthy, book-boyfriend, books-on-my-shelf, signed-books, recommend-to-everyone

God dammit this book tore my heart out....broke me to pieces and yet I still loved every minute of ut. I seem to be reading the best books lately....the ones that leave me numb and in tears of sadness, joy, and despair. This book was amazing but it opened old wounds so deep I felt like I was reliving a part of my past I try to forget. I can't think straight to for coherent thoughts long enough for a review right now.

~Full review coming soon~

Okay, since I read this book a couple of days ago it's...more

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2013 Belkis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: love-most-ever

I have to say that I've had this book on my mind for a couple of days now since I finished reading it mostly because I feel moved enough by it but wanted to give my thoughts the proper words. This book was a bit of a departure for me from all the books that I've read in the past simply because it's the first one where one of the main characters is starting off basically as sort of the bad guy in a sense. Someone who purposefully hurts the person he loves. A.L. Jackson did an outstanding job taki...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Passion For Pages rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review from my blog http://passionforpages.blogspot.com/2...

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...more Review from my blog http://passionforpages.blogspot.com/2...

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.
(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Take This Regret was an emotional read. Not kidding. Crying, Sobbing and frantically turning pages so you can cry and sob some more continuosly. This may not sound great to those of you who get puffy red eyes when you cry but trust me, reading this was so worth it. There aren't many books in this world where the author makes a scenario that I have never encountered or seen seem so alive and real, the characters actually relatable. You can feel Elizabeth's pain and feel for self-protection and Ch...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Ilze rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: heart-wrenching

"A love as intense as the one we shared, one that had not dimmed through years of betrayal but had only grown, was terrifying."

This is amazing story about regret, guilt, hate, fear and betrayal. It is also story about love, family and forgiveness.

I absolutely loved the book, it made me so emotional from the very first pages and I just could not put it down.

"Never had I imagined that loving someone could hurt so much."

The story starts with Christian Davison betraying the person he loves the mos...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2012 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-author, favorites, worth-re-reading

5+++ stars!!! Absolutely amazing!

WOW! Amy Lichtenhan is truly an extraordinary story teller. Take This Regret is a heart wrenching, real, amazing story with a perfect HEA. I don't frequently cry over books but this one made me do it! And I loved every minute of it, all of the emotion, pain, and hurt that came with this tale of lost love, and the negative consequences of our thoughtless decisions. Can't wait to read her other book Pulled.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Wow.....One chapter in an I am hooked. Thanks KP!

Christian, Christian, Christian.....went from hot to not in one page. How will he redeem himself? Will he?

This is a story that gets under your skin. I was so annoyed with Christian at the opening of this story. "How could he be so cruel? So callous?", I asked myself.

As the story unfolds, it's easiest to fall in love with Lizzy. Sweet, beautiful, Lizzy who is wiser than her years. Christian's redemption starts with Lizzy and it's both wonderful...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 Fiction And Fashion Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Take This Regret is a story about regret, second changes, and redemption.

After ruining his relationship with Elizabeth in college when he finds out she is pregnant, Christian spends the next five years living with the regret, until chance brings them back into his life.

The relationship with Christian and Lizzie is heart warming, and hand me smiling throughout the whole book as he learns about selfless love, parenthood, and for once putting someone first in his life besides himself.

Christian’s re...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2012 The BookWhisperer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Elizabeth and Christian are a young couple, bound to finish law school, and are in love. That is until Elizabeth becomes pregnant and Christian no longer wants anything to do with her. Heart-broken, Elizabeth drops out of school and starts to raises her daughter Lizzie. Five years pass and Christian can only think about the family he turned his back on. Would they even want him in their lives now? After becoming an established attorney, Christian moves from New York and runs into his daughter on...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Freaking beautiful. The story is freaking beautiful. I was teared up so many times reading this book! Christian seems like such a thoughtless dick head, and def earns that title. Elizabeth definitely got the bad end of the deal from the man she adored. But the author really makes you feel Christians pain and struggle with the yearning and loss he goes through every day. You feel Elizabeth's strength in her decision and her struggle. And the struggle is not only feeling like she has to protect Li...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Arti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: just-amazing, flawless-covers, stand-alone

Absolutely adorable, sweet, heart-breaking, and gorgeous. I loved this book so much. I usually don't rate books 4 or 5 stars, but this one was just... amazing.

The storyline. Christian leaving his love of his life five years ago after finding out she's pregnant and realizing his mistake way too late and being miserable for the next few years of his life. Elizabeth, abandoned by her boyfriend, pregnant with only a close friend to support her. Five years later, Christian finds his daughter Lizzie,...more Absolutely adorable, sweet, heart-breaking, and gorgeous. I loved this book so much. I usually don't rate books 4 or 5 stars, but this one was just... amazing.

The storyline. Christian leaving his love of his life five years ago after finding out she's pregnant and realizing his mistake way too late and being miserable for the next few years of his life. Elizabeth, abandoned by her boyfriend, pregnant with only a close friend to support her. Five years later, Christian finds his daughter Lizzie, and instantly falls in love with her, but expectedly, Elizabeth doesn't want that man anywhere in her and her daughter's life. So the whole story is Christian trying to redeem his self and start a life as a family.

The relationship between Lizzie and Christian was ADORABLE. Oh my gosh, it was so cute. Lizzie is possibly the cutest 5-year old girl and by the way the author describes her, she sounds is adorable. The fact that she always smiles and loves her family so much, and the saddest thing in her life is to see her mother cry. And Christian is so sweet to her, and they have the perfect father-daughter relationship. It made me smile the entire time.

Another part that I loved is that how Christian was fighting his way back into Elizabeth's life and trying to get her to acknowledge that they love each other and realizing that she needed time and space. Me, loving all romance novels, I've practically read every situation. So in this, I thought of it like this: A man that she loves and who loves her back, walks out on her when she needs him most for his father's company. Its so obvious why Elizabeth would hate Christian. But I'm glad that convincing she slowly let him back in.

Natalie and Matthew. I want best friends like them.

But the part that was stuck in my brain is when -SPOILER- Christian's dad died. And Christian finds all these pictures and memories in his father's possessions and he realizes that his father wasn't just a self- obsessed workaholic, but he actually cared about his family deep down, but had never known how to tell them. That was I think the saddest part of the book.

Overall, this was a wonderful book and I am definitely reading other books by A.L. Jackson. I recommend this to EVERYONE. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 Lizzeth "Too many books so little time" rated it 3 of 5 stars

I know most people loved it, but I hated this book, can´t write my review down until I´ve cooled off.

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 The Little Black Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review was posted to The Little Black Book Blog: http://littleblackbookbloggers.blogsp...

This book pulled me through an emotional loop! There were so many emotions portrayed throughout the entire book, I felt almost as overwhelmed as the characters! From the second I read the prologue, I knew I was hooked. This was my first book by A.L. Jackson and I can confidently say, this wont be my last!

Just as the title says, the main running theme in this book is regret. This is the anguish filled...more

1 like · like · see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Not everyone deserves a second chance.	10	163	May 20, 2013 05:03am
Sisterhood of the...: Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson	44	26	Apr 26, 2013 01:53pm
Secret baby	6	133	Apr 25, 2013 01:18pm
A third book?	8	144	Apr 21, 2013 06:54pm
Even if you could be able to forgive you wouldn't be able to forget.	2	82	Aug 25, 2012 09:04am
Romance Novel Boo...: (SOLVED) Heroine gets pregnant and hero tells her to get rid of it and they meet later after she has baby	2	79	Jul 03, 2012 10:27am

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Quotes from Take This Regret

“Never would I take what I’d been given for granted. I’d never look at her through indifferent eyes, listen to her fears and worries with distant ears, or touch her with impassive hands. Elizabeth was a gift and Lizzie was my treasure. I would adore my family until the day I died.” — 54 people liked it

“She was mine, had always been, and I'd always been hers. Despite what I'd done, the wounds I'd inflicted, she had always been mine.... our hearts had been tied, our bond one that neither of us could ever escape.” — 48 people liked it

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