by Pat Simmons
What’s up?”
“If I’m lying, I’m dying, and God knows I’m not ready. What are the odds that I’ve found your son?”
Ellington “The Duke” Brown stated then paused. “I think.”
The hunt had actually started two years earlier. Parke had initiated a search after a social worker who was screening him and Cheney for the foster care program questioned the name similarity to Park Jamie, a toddler somewhere in the system. The woman had risked disciplinary action or termination for breaching client confidentiality. “I feel God wants me to say something to you,” she had explained.
Parke contacted his longtime friend and Lincoln University Kappa Alpha Psi frat brother, Ellington, the CEO of Brown Investigations. The last time they had spoken, Ellington had basically told Parke the rumor was unfounded.
Now, seven hundred and four days later, Parke froze— his hand, mouth, and breathing—as his heart collided against his chest. Once he was able to thaw, he spewed coffee across the counter like a wayward water sprinkler.
Dumping his cup in the sink, Parke used all his strength to gulp pockets of air. Somewhat composed, he sniffed as his vision blurred.
He stretched his hands in praise, forgetting about the cordless phone in the mishap. It tumbled to the floor. “Yes!
Thank you, Jesus. Praise God—”
“Wait, Parke. Parke!” Ellington screamed repeatedly until Parke picked up the phone.
“Whew. Sorry about that. That’s good news.” Parke grinned. He couldn’t help it. “Thank God for Hagar, whoever she is.”
“Ah, there’s a slight twist I should tell you. If he is your son, you’re no longer his father.” Ellington cleared his throat. “Your parental rights have been terminated. He’s been adopted.”
“What?” Parke shouted. As the words sank in, visions of his life seemed to appear in slow motion, before some internal fury raced to the surface. He glanced around the room, searching for any moveable object that Cheney wouldn’t miss if he threw it “When? Why? Who?”
Ellington told Parke what he had learned, and Parke didn’t like the answers as he began to clean up his mess.
To read more, download STILL GUILTY today.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
1. How big of an issue was Hallison breaking off her en¬gagement with Malcolm because of her religion?
2. Did Lisa exhibit any signs that she worshipped the spirits of darkness?
3. Have you ever been in a situation where God told you to give up something you really wanted? For ex¬ample, Hallison and Trey walked away from people they loved. If so, did you feel that God was unfair?
4. Is it possible for a person to be spiritually attracted to an individual without knowing it, like Samuel was to Hallison?
5. When was the last time God spoke to you and you lis¬tened?
6. Discuss the circle of unending forgiveness: Grandma BB, Cheney, and Cheney's mother.
7. Why did Grandma BB feel she had to take matters into her own hands?
8. Cheney suffered two losses in her pregnancies. How do you think that affected her spiritual walk?
9. Did Ursula and Anthony have grounds for a divorce, even if they weren't churchgoers?
10. Who was your favorite character and why?
About the Author
Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels, in hopes of tracking down distant relatives who happen to pick up her books. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven in 1988.
Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. She believes God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.
Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various positions in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions.
She is the multi-published author of several single titles and eBook novellas, including the #1 Amazon best seller in God’s Word, A Christian Christmas. Her awards include Talk to Me, ranked #14 of Top Books in 2008 that Changed Lives by Black Pearls Magazine. She is a two-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance for Still Guilty (2010) and Crowning Glory (2011). Her bestselling novels include Guilty of Love and the Jamieson Legacy series: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free from Guilt. The Acquittal kicked off her new Guilty Parties series. Given the success of the Jamieson men, Pat is elated to introduce the Carmen Sisters series: No Easy Catch, book one, followed by In Defense of Love, book two, published by Whitaker House.
In addition to researching her roots and sewing, she has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.
Pat has converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and constantly on probation as an administrative assistant. They have a son and a daughter.
Readers may learn more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net , Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn or by contacting her at [email protected]
About the Palmers in Not Guilty of Love...
My fourth-great grandmother, Minerva Palmer, was listed on 1870 Monroe County, Arkansas. She was 22 years old and the mother of George (1866), Wyat(t) (1867), and Sam (1870). By December 1, 1870, she was married to Spence(r) Lambert (possibly once owned by the Lamberts who were slaveholders).
June 25, 1880, Spence and Minerva "Nervie" had the following children, Henry, Nellie (my great-great grandmother) who was a twin to Solomon, Mary, Caroline, Washington, and another son and daughter.
In 1900, Nellie Palmer married Joseph Brown. Together they had Minerva (yes, another one who was my great-grandmother), Hattie, and a set of twins: Louis and Ellis.
In 1910, my great-grandmother, Minerva, married Odell Wade. Together they had Timothy, Ivory, Ann, Theaster, Jessie (my grandmother) and Jessie's twin, Louis, and Adell.
I hope you enjoyed Book 2 of the Guilty series, Not Guilty of Love and Hallison and Malcolm’s story, as well as the antics of Grandma BB. When a man loves a woman, there’s no stopping him from winning her heart.
And please take a few minutes to post a review and tell a friend. Thank you in advance.
Pat Simmons
Other Christian titles include:
The Guilty series
Book I: Guilty of Love
Book II: Not Guilty of Love
Book III: Still Guilty
The Guilty Parties series
Book I: The Acquittal
Book II: The Confession, Fall 2015
The Jamieson Legacy
Book I: Guilty by Association
Book II: The Guilt Trip
Book III: Free from Guilt
The Carmen Sisters
Book I: No Easy Catch
Book II: In Defense of Love
Book III: Driven to Be Loved
Love at the Crossroads
Book I: Stopping Traffic
Book II: A Baby for Christmas
Book III: The Keepsake
Book IV: What God Has for Me
Making Love Work Anthology
Book I: Love at Work
Book II: Words of Love
Book III: A Mother’s Love
Single titles
Crowning Glory
Talk to Me
Her Dress (novella)
Holiday titles
Love for the Holidays (Three Christian novellas)
A Christian Christmas
A Christian Easter
A Christian Father’s Day
A Woman After David’s Heart (Valentine’s Day)
Christmas Greetings
MORE FROM PAT SIMMONS
THE GUILTY SERIES
When do you know the
most important decision of your life is the right one?
Reaping the seeds from what she's sown; Cheney Reynolds moves into a historic neighborhood in Ferguson, Missouri, and becomes a reclusive. Her first neighbor, the incomparable Mrs. Beatrice Tilley Beacon aka Grandma BB, is an opinionated childless widow. Grandma BB is a self-proclaimed expert on topics Cheney isn’t seeking advice—everything from landscaping to hip-hop dancing to romance. Then there is Parke Kokumuo Jamison VI, a direct descendant of a royal African tribe. He learned his family ancestry, African history, and lineage preservation before he could count. Unwittingly, they are drawn to each other, but it takes Christ to weave their lives into a spiritual bliss while He exonerates their past indiscretions.
One man, one woman, one God and one big problem. Malcolm Jamieson wasn't the man who got away, but the man God instructed Hallison Dinkins to set free. Instead of their explosive love affair leading them to the wedding altar, God diverted Hallison to the prayer altar during her first visit back to church in years.
Malcolm was convinced that his woman had loss her mind to break off their engagement. Didn't Hallison know that Malcolm, a tenth generation descendant of a royal African tribe, couldn't be replaced? Once Malcolm concedes that their relationship can't be savaged, he issues Hallison his own edict, "If we're meant to be with each other, we'll find our way back. If not, that means that there's a love stronger than what we had." His words begin to haunt Hallison until she begins to regret their break up, and that's where their story begins. Someone has to retreat, and God never loses a battle.
Cheney Reynolds Jamieson made a choice years ago that is now shaping her future and the future of the men she loves. A botched abortion left her unable to carry a baby to term, and her husband, Parke K. Jamison VI, is expected to produce heirs. With a wife who cannot give him a child, Parke vows to find and get custody of his illegitimate son by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Cheney’s twin brother, Rainey, struggles with his anger over his ex-girlfriend’s actions that haunt him, and their father, Dr. Roland Reynolds, fights to keep an old secret in the past.
Follow the paths of this family as they try to determine what God wants for them and how they can follow His guidance.
THE ACQUITTAL. Two worlds apart, but their hearts dance to the same African drum beat. On a professional level, Dr. Rainey Reynolds is a competent, highly sought-after orthodontist. Inwardly, he needs to be set free from the chaos of revelations that make him question if happiness is obtainable. To get away from the drama, Rainey is willing to leave the country under the guise of a mission trip with Dentist Without Borders. Will changing his surroundings really change him? If one woman can heal his wounds, then he will believe that there is really peace after the storm.
Ghanaian beauty Josephine Abena Yaa Amoah returns to Africa after completing her studies as an exchange student in St. Louis, Missouri. Although her heart bleeds for his peace, she knows she must step back and pray for Rainey’s surrender to Christ in order for God to acquit him of his self-inflicted mental torture. In the Motherland of Ghana, Africa, Rainey not only visits the places of his ancestors, will he embrace the liberty that Christ’s Blood really does set every man free.
The Jamieson Legacy, Book I: GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION. How important is a name? To the St. Louis Jamiesons who are tenth generation descendants of a royal African tribe—everything. To the Boston Jamiesons whose father never married their mother—there is no loyalty or legacy. Kidd Jamieson suffers from the “angry” male syndrome because his father was an absent in the home, but insisted his two sons carry his last name. It takes an old woman who mingles genealogy truths and Bible verses together for Kidd to realize his worth as a strong black man. He learns it’s not his association with the name that identifies him, but the man he becomes that defines him.
The Jamieson Legacy, Book II: THE GUILT TRIP. Aaron “Ace” Jamieson is living a carefree life. He’s good-looking, respectable when he’s in the mood, but his weakness is women. If a woman tries to ambush him with a pregnancy, he takes off in the other direction. It’s a lesson learned from his absentee father that responsibility is optional.
Talise Rogers has a bright future ahead of her. She’s pretty and has no problem catching a man’s eye, which is exactly what she does with Ace. Trapping Ace Jamieson is the furthest thing from Taleigh’s mind when she learns she pregnant and Ace rejects her. “I want nothing from you Ace, not even your name.” And Talise meant it.
The Jamieson Legacy, Book III: FREE FROM GUILT. It’s salvation round-up time and Cameron Jamieson’s name is on God’s hit list.
Although his brothers and cousins embraced God—thanks to the women in their lives—the two-degreed MIT graduate isn’t going to let any woman take him down that path without a fight. He’s satisfied with his career, social calendar, and good genes. But God uses a beautiful messenger, Gabrielle Dupree, to show him that he’s in a spiritual deficit. Cameron learns the hard way that man’s wisdom is like foolishness to God. For every philosophical argument he throws her way, Gabrielle exposes him to scriptures that makes him question his worldly knowledge.
LOVE AT THE CROSSROADS SERIES
STOPPING TRAFFIC, Book I Candace Clark has a phobia about crossing the street, and for good reason. As fate would have it, her daughter's principal assigns her to crossing guard duties as part of the school's Parent Participation program. With no choice in the matter, Candace begrudgingly accepts her stop sign and safety vest, then reports to her designated crosswalk. Once Candace is determined to overcome her fears, God opens the door for a blessing, and Royce Kavanaugh enters into her life, a firefighter built to rescue any damsel in distress. When a spark of attraction ignites, Candace and Royce soon discover there's more than one way to stop traffic.
A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS, Book II Yes, diamonds are a girl's best friend, but in Solae Wyatt-Palmer's case, she desires something more valuable. Captain Hershel Kavanaugh is a divorcee and
the father of two adorable little boys. Solae has never been married and longs to be a mother. Although Hershel showers her with expensive gifts, his hesitation about proposing causes Solae to walk and never look back. As the holidays approach, Hershel must convince Solae that she has everything he could ever want for Christmas.
THE KEEPSAKE, Book III Until death us do part…or until Desiree walks away. Desiree “Desi” Bishop is devastated when she finds evidence of her husband’s affair. God knew she didn’t get married only to one day have to stand before a judge and file for a divorce. But Desi wants out no matter how much her heart says to forgive Michael. That isn’t easier said than done. She sees God’s one acceptable reason for a divorce as the only opt-out clause in her marriage. Michael Bishop is a repenting man who loves his wife of three years. If only…he had paid attention to the red flags God sent to keep him from falling into the devil’s snares. But Michael didn’t and he had fallen. Although God had forgiven him instantly when he repented, Desi’s forgiveness is moving as a snail’s pace. In the end, after all the tears have been shed and forgiveness granted and received, the couple learns that some marriages are worth keeping.
WHAT GOD HAS FOR ME, Book IV Halcyon Holland is leaving her live-in boyfriend, taking their daughter and the baby in her belly with her. She’s tired of waiting for the ring, so she buys herself one. When her ex doesn’t reconcile their relationship, Halcyon begins to second-guess whether or not she compromised her chance for a happily ever after. After all, what man in his right mind would want to deal with the community stigma of ‘baby mama drama?’ But Zachary Bishop has had his eye on Halcyon since the first time he saw her. Without a ring on her finger, Zachary prays that she will come to her senses and not only leave Scott, but come back to God. What one man doesn’t cherish, Zach is ready to treasure. Not deterred by Halcyon’s broken spirit, Zachary is on a mission to offer her a second chance at love that she can’t refuse. And as far as her adorable children are concerned, Zachary’s love is unconditional for a ready-made family. Halcyon will soon learn t
hat her past circumstances won’t hinder the Lord’s blessings, because what God has for her, is for her…and him…and the children.
LOVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS SERIES
A CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS, Book I Christian’s Christmas will never be the same for Joy Knight if Christian Andersen has his way. Not to be confused with a secret Santa, Christian and his family are busier than Santa's elves making sure the Lord's blessings are distributed to those less fortunate by Christmas day. Joy is playing the hand that life dealt her, rearing four children in a home that is on the brink of foreclosure. She's not looking for a handout, but when Christian rescues her in the checkout line; her niece thinks Christian is an angel. Joy thinks he’s just another man who will eventually leave, disappointing her and the children. Although Christian is a servant of the Lord, he is a flesh and blood man and all he wants for Christmas is Joy Knight. Can time spent with Christian turn Joy’s attention from her financial woes to the real meaning of Christmas—and true love?
A CHRISTIAN EASTER, Book II How to celebrate Easter becomes a balancing act for Christian and Joy Andersen and their four children.