Guilty Of Love

Set in the suburbs of Ferguson, Missouri in a quaint and charming area called Old Town Ferguson, Pat Simmons has developed a story filled with love, sexy, handsome African American men, strong families and friendships. GUILTY OF LOVE is not a typical love story. The story begins with a young woman trying to handle a situation she finds herself in, hoping love will surpass the problem. Then the story picks up with a fascinating twist that will trick even the most avid reader. Cheney Reynolds enrolled in Duke University in North Carolina to study, graduate and live the American dream. Smart and intelligent, she meets and falls in love with Larry Thimes, an aspiring attorney. But things get out of hand when she becomes pregnant. Cheney is certain Larry loves her enough to do the right thing, but she soon discovers life doesn't always turn out as expected. Hurt and bitter, she returns to her hometown where she encounters a cast of people who affect her life in many unexpected ways. Angry at the world, she retreats into herself. Will Cheney seek God's guidance despite her bitterness? Pat Simmons has written a solid and satisfying story that will keep you glued until the last page. The characters are colorful and seem familiar. GUILTY OF LOVE describes friendship across racial lines, brotherly love, family issues and religion in a non-preachy format. Successfully merging a variety of topics into the storyline, Simmons has included information on forgiveness, love, black history and spirituality. Pat Simmons is a fine writer. I look forward to reading more of her work. Reviewed by R. M. Jackson for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I really enjoyed Guilty of Love. It is such a beautiful story line. So many times in the Christian community, young people are at a loss for "How to date." This is a great illustration on how couples can get to you know each other intimately while dating with lower their standards. There are a lot of biblical principles introduced. The other part that is interesting and refreshing is the cultural and geneaology the author weaves in the story. I can't wait for her next two books to be released. Great book. I would recommend for all readers.

While in college, Cheney Reynolds made a life-altering choice that caused her to lose faith in herself and in her religion. During this time of great misery and because she was so ashamed of her decision, Cheney cut all ties with her family. The only person who knew what happened was her best friend Imani. But after five years of solitude and being haunted by her nightmares, Cheney wanted, no needed, to reconnect with her family, so she decided to move back to her hometown. She knew that it was not going to be easy; but she was willing to try. Now, if she could only keep her elderly noisy neighbor, Grandma BB and the handsome, pesky Parke Jamison "whatever his number is" out of her business she will be able to focus all her attention on reuniting with her family. Parke Jamison VI was on a mission to find and marry his African Queen. She had to meet certain qualifications in order to become his wife because he was a direct descendent of a royal African Tribe. Parke refused to deviate from his requirements. So he couldn't understand why he continued to seek Cheney Reynolds out. She was totally opposite of what his queen was supposed to be - she was too tall and more importantly, too opinionated and smart mouthed for his taste. Yet, he couldn't stop butting heads with her. The more time he spent in Cheney's company, the more Parke wanted her to be his wife. Will Parke be able to break down the painful wall that Cheney has built around her heart? Guilty of Love by Pat Simmons was my first experience with Christian fiction and I must admit that I truly enjoyed reading this novel. I thought that Ms. Simmons did an excellent job of inserting the character's spirituality into the dialog in such a natural manner that didn't come across as being preachy and she was also able to interlace a multitude of rich African American history in the process. I felt each and every emotion of the heroine and it touched me deeply within. This story centered on a very difficult, heartbreaking issue and how Cheney dealt with it came across so incredibly real to me. It was astonishing to find such strong characters in a novel, even with the weaknesses evolved from their past experiences. I advise the reader to keep a big box of tissues handy because you will need them on numerous occasions. Thanks go to Ms. Simmons for a truly inspirational story. Nikita reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Cheney Reynolds had fallen in love with Larry Thimes and thought they were a match made in heaven. Her feelings soon changed when she told Larry she was pregnant. Larry became distant and cold towards her, causing her to make a life-altering decision. During this time of despair, Cheney cut all ties with her family when the only thing they were trying to do was help. The only one that knew what was really going on was her best friend Imani. After five years of loneliness, she decides to move back home to St. Louis to reconnect with her family. Cheney moves into a historical neighborhood enriched with African American history. The house she bought was old, worn down, and needed a lot of work. Cheney soon realized that it was more of a challenge to rebuild her relationship with her family than to restore her new home. With the help of her nosy neighbor Mrs. Beatrice Tilley Beacon a.k.a. Grandma BB, she realized there is someone on her side who truly cares for her. Then she meets Parke Kokomuo Jamison, who is a descendent of a royal African Tribe. Parke is handsome, smart, and looking for his African Queen. The two bump heads and realize that the qualities they were looking for in a mate they found in each other. At times, Cheney would submit to her own guilt and Parke would soon realize that he wasn't as suave as he thought. With the love of Christ, they are drawn to each other spiritually and are destined to be together. In the book Guilty of Love, I was intrigued as to how Pat Simmons was able to intertwine African-American History throughout the book. I really admired how she took each character through their spiritual walk with God. The scriptures she chose were perfect, and you can see the religious transformation each person was going through. Guilty of Love will have you questioning your own walk with God and whether it's a good one or a bad one. I was kind of upset with the way the story ended, but overall, Guilty of Love is a very good read. Reviewed by Jackie for Urban Reviews

GUILTY OF LOVE is a novel that has it all. I was awed by the way the author wove together spirituality, Black history, family, forgiveness and love. From the minute I picked up this novel, I became engaged with the author's ability to pull me in to the emotions of the characters and not let me go. So many of the journeys in this novel are ones that many can relate to. The author shows us a variety of characters in various stages of their walk with God and uses the Word with stunningly accurate and right-on accounts of what it is like to grapple with one's spirituality. The messages abound and they touch the reader in such a subtle way that it one would be hard pressed not to close the book in the end with a desire to get right with Him. The relationship between Cheney and Parke grows in a wonderful and believable pace. I love that Parke realized first that Cheney was the woman for him. And I love the way the author portrayed this strong African prince of a man. The way he helped Cheney battle her demons was not only commendable, but also romantic as all get out. And Grandma BB... Wow! What a character. She popped off the page from the moment we meet her in the book and quickly became one of my favorites. The major theme I took away from this was the way God uses people around you to bring forth his blessings. When Cheney's family all but turns their back on her, she finds that God is placing family all around her to help her heal. And once she accepts them and God she is redeemed and renewed. The spiritual enlightenment and the strong love story make GUILTY OF LOVE a very enjoyable read from beginning to end. I LOVED this book and I don't feel in the least bit guilty about it. I can't wait to read more from Pat Simmons. She is an author to watch!