This my second read of this book and it seemed better 2nd time around.
What does come across is how bad the Hero feels for his previous actions and how much he realises he can never get those years back and how much he had hurt himself by them.
( )

It's 5 years since the split and they meet again. Very angsty.

This is a mixed bag for me.

They are young so dealing with impending fatherhood, unplanned baby can cause panic and the original rejection conversation but this was someone he said he loved and planned to have a future with. But of course he has a dysfunctional family and a warped sense of what is important but whether or not you think she should forgive him is not easy to decide.
I do have a few issues...
He had many months while she was pregnant to go back and talk to her but he only seeks her out after a row with his parents, him mum urging him to 'make things right' and hearing about the birth, why didn't he go and at least see her instead of sleeping his way through half the county.
And what esp irritated me about that was the night he finds out his son/daughter has been born he has a blonde in his lap and has had 6 beers, after running from one unplanned pregnancy you'd think he'd be careful not to drink so much when he's with a woman just in case of a repeat performance esp as he's so adverse to becoming a father.

Her best friend, Matthew, thought of going to confront him but never did.. why? esp when she was so ill and then financially struggling, there is no mention of the huge medical bills that could have mounted up during this time either.

Christian although he puts money aside for his child never once contacts her or sends money so she can provide for the child during the time apart.

The grandmother, after she left the father never tried to contact Elizabeth to see or have contact with the child, even if they didn't get along it's not uncommon for grandparents to have contact face to face or via email etc.

I would have liked to witness some conversations rather than some issues being mentioned as discussed and sorted out.

Personally I would have liked Elizabeth to have come face to face with Brittany, maybe at his dad's funeral and had some closure in that way.
I thought it was brave of the author that in the time apart they had BOTH tried to move on, getting involved with other people.
Whatever issues you have with the story, the book is well written and the author knows how to pack an emotional punch, more than once. ( )

Christian made me mad at parts in this book and so did Elizabeth. I get how hurt she is I truly do but how she reacts in some situations is just childish. Christian is really trying and this book makes me love his character so much!!!! Elizabeth learns to let go and let love in again and risk getting hurt again.

I will review this soon. This is my favorite from A.L. Jackson so far! ( )

This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & MoreReview
This book left me feeling just okay. I didn't love or hate it, just have lukewarm feelings about it.

I did like that Elizabeth is so determined to raise her daughter. She does a pretty damn good job too! I had love/hate feelings toward Christian. At the beginning he is awful. He acts like a first class douche. But then he pretty much insists that he has to be in their daughter's life.

Most of the book is Elizabeth and Christian fighting their feelings for each other. Elizabeth doesn't think she can trust him, and Christian wants nothing more than to be in her life. I loved the honesty in their emotions. You feel everything they are. And there are so many times where there were tears streaming down my face.

The only reason it was an okay read was because it felt like it was too much of the same thing constantly. Otherwise it was a terrific read. And it points out some things that actually happen in life. I'm a big fan of A.L. Jackson, and her books always bring things into perspective. ( )