Member Reviews
Second chance romances are a special breed. You've loved, lost, and are now trying to put the pieces back together. Whether you are looking or not, someone comes along. Now you need to decide if you are going to take that leap again.
Love Disregarded is a love thrown away; a chance at everything tossed away like it's rotten, mold covered fruit. He not only walked away but he pushed her on his way out the door. Their two worlds were not keeping them apart until they did.
He gave up happiness for a delusional sense of duty. He tossed his future and her away. Years later, his life is going as well as a dumpster fire. Arrested, divorced, and facing possible jail time. This is when he decides he NEEDS her.
I'm not sure who I am most annoyed with Aston or Bexley. Aston for his deliberately obtuse views on everything from: money, his wants/ everyone else's needs, Bex, and the kids. Bexley with her wishy-washy responses to everything, her constant need to process but never actually trying, or her inability to stand her ground. I wanted to like this story because I'm a sucker for rekindled romance. I need to see an HEA. However, neither character spoke to me. They were closed off and I didn't feel their connection.
DNF - I tried to get into this book and the plot but I struggled with the emotional connection between the characters, not to mention Aston was really hard to like. I never felt the chemistry and love between these two, even when they were young lovers. I voluntarily tried to read and review an ARC for NetGalley.
ARC provided by NetGalley for my honest review. Love Disregarded is a second chance love story between main characters, Bexley and Aston. The bones of this story were really good. I loved how the two met in the beginning, the flashbacks of what happened in the past and back to the present, and how they came back together years later.
However, what I felt was lacking (and why I only gave the book 3 stars) was the character and story development. Most of the book felt rushed and under developed. When Aston comes back into Bexley's life 13 years later, she takes him back without much question. As you discover what had happened to split them up, it wasn't believable that she would have taken him back so easily.
As you move through the story, most events were rushed so you don't develop an emotional connection to any of the characters. I liked Bexley the most but some of her decisions didn't fall in line with what I felt she would have made. When we meet Aston, I really liked him and connected with their relationship. As he returns to the story, he was incredibly self-centered and arrogant, so much so that I could not stand him.
Overall, the writing was well done and I think many readers will still love this book. I would like to read more of her work and plan on picking up 'Verite' or 'Redemption Lane' next!
I really wanted to like Aston, but his combination of self-centered selfishness and apologies tainted with flimsy excuses and lack of introspection really didn't sit well with me. I liked Bexley, she was a fighter, but couldn't understand why she was hung up on this guy. I wish she wasn't quite so quick to move on. She was too easy on Aston and too hard on Seth, a man she plainly took advantage of. Didn't quite feel the chemistry between Aston and Bexley, either, it felt superficial. The bad guys were two-dimensional and as devices to excuse some pretty terrible behavior from Aston, The book felt long, but I still wanted to know what would happen next in all the drama, so 3 stars for that.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF. I’m not really sure how this story was supposed to end but I couldn’t take anymore. It didn’t make sense. I hated the love child idea. It didn’t even feel angsty?
If you are looking for a story about second chances and single parents with kids, then this is the story for you.
For me, I like both those topics in a romance story. And I definitely enjoyed Bexley and all the kids. But Aston is a whole other story. I hate him! If I was her, I wouldn’t be so quick to forgive him. Her being in love with him these past 14 years had made her accept anything he wants to give her. Too little, too late in my opinion. Because of this, I couldn’t really get into this one and I started skipping around until the end.
3.5 stars for me
I adored this book! I had to read it in one sitting because it was simply amazing! Miss Blaufeld is one of my favorite authors, her words captivate you and won't let you go until you finish her stories! it was an incredible story!
3.5 stars for me
I enjoyed this one but unfortunately didn’t connect with the hero for most of the book. Aston didn’t win me over until the last few chapters and I just wish it had been sooner. I did like the backstory and I loved the kids and the part they played in the HEA of the book.
Blaufeld makes sure you feel the burn. Aston and Bexley wound with heartache, tempt with romance and leave the heart yearning for just a little bit more. Young love delivers a powerful blow when it's driven by angst. Love Disregarded cast a haunting shadow on the canvas of emotion.
"Love isn't scripted. It's not a movie or a book where there's a formula. There's no plan. In real life, it just happens."
Everyone always remembers their first love, good or bad, they will always be part of you because it was your first. For Bexley, Aston Prescott was her first love. They came from two different worlds but fell in love anyways. But as the story goes some love stories don't last as much as you want them too. Aston has to choose between something he was destined to do or the girl that he loves. To please his dad. mom. and everyone else he does what he thinks is best.
Bexley has to pick up the pieces of a broken heart and a secret. But when your bond with someone is like what Bexley and Aston had you can always forget nor can you really move on.
Certain circumstances bring these souls back together. Aston has to find a way to make things right with Bexley without hurting her again or her family. When Aston finds out Bexley's secret things get a little more complicated.
I enjoyed this book as it was my first from the author. It was a story that some love stories aren't supposed to end and maybe your first love it your last love.
Rating 4 out of 5 stars for me
I would like to thank NetGallery, Social Butterfly Pr, and Rachel Blaufeld for an ARC of this book in return for my review.
Love Disregarded is a touching romance about two people from different worlds being in love but never finding the right time to be together. Aston and Bexley fell in love at a young age but everyone was against them. Rachel Blaufeld takes readers on a journey of these two starting from their young lives to adulthood in this romance.
Aston was rich and privileged. He was groomed by his father to be ruthless and ready to take over the family business. He had his whole life planned out for him but when he met Bexley on a golf course he wanted to be the person deciding his future.
Bexley is a kind, loyal, and understanding woman. She didn't grow up with things being handed to her and knows how to work hard for everything. She is living her normal life and working at a golf club. She meets Aston and knows about his playboy way. But he is so different with her.
They fall in love and it should be such a beautiful things but it seems like everyone is against them. Many things lead to them breaking up. As the story continues years later, we see that the love they have for each other hasn't gone away but their lives are different now. They have both had unsuccessful marriages and each has two kids. Even if they wanted to could they get back together or would it be too complicated?
I give Love Disregarded 4 stars. It was such a beautiful story that broke my heart. Aston and Bexley loved each other and had to go through so many hurdles. Aston and Bexley had an amazing and adorable supporting cast with their kids. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
Love Disregarded is a standalone second chance romance. Bexley and Aston originally meet and fall in love during their college years. Due to family obstacles, particularly Aston's father, they go their separate ways but never got over one another. Fifteen years later, Aston re-enters Bexley's life, determined for a second chance.
Overall, this book missed the mark for me. I found it to be predictable and unrealistic. The fact that Bex was so willing to let Aston back into her life as if the past never happened was pretty annoying to me. Also, I really didn't like Aston at all.
I wanted to love this one so much... Rachel Blaufeld is an author I always love reading, but this one had one of my least favorite troupes and I just couldn't get over it... It's definitely a 'me' thing and not the book! But truly,I really really don't love that troupe in books. BUT I did love a lot about this story. I loved the family dynamics at the end. If you love second chance romance and don't mind the 'secret baby' troupe, I would highly recommend this one, because the authors writing/story-telling is top notch
This book was different than I was expecting. That doesn't necessarily mean bad, just different. I was expecting more angst, which is saying something since there was plenty in this book. It just somehow felt a little off when it was in the present. I think that is because the present scenes and the messy past that separated them in the first place felt a little too disjointed in some ways and too perfect in others. Piper is a great example of that.
I struggled in parts but for the most part, I enjoyed this story. It did feel a little anticlimatic towards the end in regard to the person who created the mess in both the past and present. Off-topic, I FLOVE this cover. Simplicityic and, yet, still draws you into the love between Bex and Ashton.
Love Disregarded is a terrific read. You feel everything Bexley and Aston are fighting against and the emotions they both go through as they fight for their second chance. Bexley is strong and you get why she wants her independent. Aston has such a battle to fight when it comes to making up for past mistakes. I love the passion between Bexley and Aston. You don't blame Bexley for being cautious when Aston is involved. The love is still there and is felt strongly throughout this one. It is so heartwarming watching Bexley and Aston interact and enfold their kids into the mix. Emotions ran high at some points and I loved it so much. This is a book that I couldn't put down..
Love Disregarded, Rachel Blaufeld
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance|R
I've mixed feelings about this book. I loved Bex, but when it came to Aston she was a bit of a doormat. I loved Aston too, it was clear how he felt about Bex but...he let money and revenge guide him. That was OK ish when they were young, we all make mistakes, especially when young. We haven't yet had enough life to assess whats important. When they reconnected though that first time Aston did it again, without the excuse of age. Then after years he decides he wants her and now....and she really just rolls over. Yes, I got that they had a Grand Passion, but the hurts of the past were still there. They had that passion then, this time they've both got others to consider, not just themselves. If I was Bex I'd have made him work Much Much harder the third time.
I felt for Seth, he was just there. Used TBH and though Bex came to love him – sort of – it wasn't the passion she had for Aston. Poor Seth could never live up to that. Never the less he's a good guy, really steps up even when faced with unwanted surprises. He got a hard time IMO.
Milly and Mike, loved them. Hope things worked out for them.
The kids, all of them, were great. Really well balanced considering all they went through.
Aston's parents, weak mother, vicious and cruel father. It kind of excuses his actions a little IMO, but only a little and only when he was younger.
Overall its a mixed book for me. I loved the passion, the so strong feelings between Bex and Aston. I loved the angst, I can never get too much of that, and would have liked it to last a bit longer. I hated that she let him get away with so much, and even up to the end he was just steamrollering his way through, expecting everyone to fall in line with his plans. It doesn't matter if they were good plans, I felt for a solid future Bex needed to make him understand they were a partnership, she had equal say, not just let him carry on as before.
Stars: Three and a half, a good read but I had quite a few reservations about parts.
Arc via netgalley and publishers
2 stars
I usually like Rachel Blaufeld's books, but this one was a sadly a miss for me. I wished I liked it more, but it did not work for me.
Former teenaged lovers, Aston and Bexley take you on an emotional roller coaster as they rediscover each other years later after both going through divorces. Their messy past rears it’s ugly head and keeps getting in the way of their future. Enjoyed the opportunity of reading an ARC from Netgalley.