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The Jamieson Legacy #3
Still Guilty
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. Still Guilty by Pat Simmons is the third installment of the popular Guilty series. Read the other books in the Guilty of Love and Not Guilty of Love, and learn more about the Jamieson legacy in Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free from Guilt. The Acquittal starts off the Guilty Parties series.
328 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2014
24 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Pat Simmons
96 books361 followersPat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance: Still Guilty, Crowning Glory, The Confession, Christmas Dinner, and Queen’s Surrender (To A Higher Calling). Pat’s first inspirational women’s fiction, Lean On Me, with Sourcebooks, was the February/March Together We Read Digital Book Club pick for the national library system. Here for You and Stand by Me are also part of the Family is Forever series. Her holiday indie release, Christmas Dinner, and traditionally published, Here for You were featured in Woman’s World, a national magazine. Here for You was also listed in the “7 Great Reads That Help to Keep the Faith” by Sisters From AARP. She contributed an article, “I’m Listening,” in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now (2021). Pat is the recipient of the 2022 Leslie Esdaile “Trailblazer” Award given by Building Relationships Around Books Readers’ Choice for her work in the Christian fiction genre.
As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. She oversaw the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions for fourteen years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.
As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. She oversaw the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions for fourteen years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 6, 2020
Read this novel to understand why Bible-thumping Protestant fiction on abortion bores people.
The preachiness of these lugubrious 448 pages will help one sleep more than appreciate the problems of abortion in the African-American community.
No doubt, Pat Simmons wanted to mean well in this novel, but an honest evaluation is that watching episodes of Hoarders between chapters is crucial to avoid a three-hour man nap which will utterly throw one’s schedule off for the three days it takes to plow through this freakishly saccharine novel of “urban Christian” (so-called) experience.
And I mean that honestly. I had to break away from this tedious fictional work often to stay awake.
Simmons’ main character, Cheney, is a typical post-abortive mother, and her regret over her abortion punctuates the tedious narrative (15, 158, 316, and 408). Even though Cheney’s character comports with how mothers who have aborted feel, several items in the thick narrative cannot be asserted as pro-life statements.
For example, a father whose child was aborted “still harbored ill feelings on the topic of pro-choice” (18). I don’t know of any pro-life person who would contort his or her language to replace the word “abortion” with the sanitized and linguistically deceptive phrase “pro-choice.”
Also, when Cheney says that “For me, it was the wrong choice” (196), the inherent logical fallacy of begging the question becomes obvious. Is she implying that for other mothers, abortion is the “right choice”, as though abortion (which harms mothers, kills unborn babies, and alienates fathers) is ever morally correct?
Another concern about the novel is its racism against whites. Cheney’s husband, Parke, suggests that an African-American child should not be raised by white parents. When he speaks about the whites who adopted a child whom he conceived by a former (and now deceased) girlfriend, the author manifests the racism clearly: “Parke’s trained ear told him Gilbert Ann [the man who adopted his son] wasn’t black. How could he show a black boy how to be a strong black man?” (200). Parke’s racist fears are repeated later in the novel when the author writes that Parke “could only pray” about his son, being “reared by a white man” (279).
Worst of all, the narrative is simply unreal, if not fantasy fiction. These characters all have revelations from God Himself, and we’re not talking about locutions validated by the Catholic Church.
The most unreal matter in the novel is what would have been a great marital sex scene, ruined by preachy Bible-thumping (315). The author should read Dr. Greg Popcak’s book Holy Sex!: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving (New York: Crossroad, 2008) to understand that there is nothing dirty about sexual love between a husband and wife. And if it isn’t dirty, then there’s nothing wrong with depicting it in fiction, especially “urban Christian” fiction.
Conclusion: if you want to know what bad writing is like, read this novel. If you want to take a three-hour man nap between reading these boring chapters which will utterly throw one’s schedule off for three days, then read this novel. If not, then read a classic like Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair instead.
The preachiness of these lugubrious 448 pages will help one sleep more than appreciate the problems of abortion in the African-American community.
No doubt, Pat Simmons wanted to mean well in this novel, but an honest evaluation is that watching episodes of Hoarders between chapters is crucial to avoid a three-hour man nap which will utterly throw one’s schedule off for the three days it takes to plow through this freakishly saccharine novel of “urban Christian” (so-called) experience.
And I mean that honestly. I had to break away from this tedious fictional work often to stay awake.
Simmons’ main character, Cheney, is a typical post-abortive mother, and her regret over her abortion punctuates the tedious narrative (15, 158, 316, and 408). Even though Cheney’s character comports with how mothers who have aborted feel, several items in the thick narrative cannot be asserted as pro-life statements.
For example, a father whose child was aborted “still harbored ill feelings on the topic of pro-choice” (18). I don’t know of any pro-life person who would contort his or her language to replace the word “abortion” with the sanitized and linguistically deceptive phrase “pro-choice.”
Also, when Cheney says that “For me, it was the wrong choice” (196), the inherent logical fallacy of begging the question becomes obvious. Is she implying that for other mothers, abortion is the “right choice”, as though abortion (which harms mothers, kills unborn babies, and alienates fathers) is ever morally correct?
Another concern about the novel is its racism against whites. Cheney’s husband, Parke, suggests that an African-American child should not be raised by white parents. When he speaks about the whites who adopted a child whom he conceived by a former (and now deceased) girlfriend, the author manifests the racism clearly: “Parke’s trained ear told him Gilbert Ann [the man who adopted his son] wasn’t black. How could he show a black boy how to be a strong black man?” (200). Parke’s racist fears are repeated later in the novel when the author writes that Parke “could only pray” about his son, being “reared by a white man” (279).
Worst of all, the narrative is simply unreal, if not fantasy fiction. These characters all have revelations from God Himself, and we’re not talking about locutions validated by the Catholic Church.
The most unreal matter in the novel is what would have been a great marital sex scene, ruined by preachy Bible-thumping (315). The author should read Dr. Greg Popcak’s book Holy Sex!: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving (New York: Crossroad, 2008) to understand that there is nothing dirty about sexual love between a husband and wife. And if it isn’t dirty, then there’s nothing wrong with depicting it in fiction, especially “urban Christian” fiction.
Conclusion: if you want to know what bad writing is like, read this novel. If you want to take a three-hour man nap between reading these boring chapters which will utterly throw one’s schedule off for three days, then read this novel. If not, then read a classic like Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair instead.
March 7, 2022
Oh my word
The "gospel " good news continues to be preached, taught, lived and accepted. Cheney's father has freed his mind and soul. Parke's mother is praying for Cheney in a public place. I love to see the transformation in lives after taking advantage of salvation. This series continues to test my visual mind. This family is charming as well as lights to friends and family. The series is overflowing with positive points. Add in the amazing and engaging romance!
I'm amazed by the strong faith the author shows in her writing, has to be God given. I love to take a Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon to pick up one of the author's books, I can escape to the cinema on my sofa.
The "gospel " good news continues to be preached, taught, lived and accepted. Cheney's father has freed his mind and soul. Parke's mother is praying for Cheney in a public place. I love to see the transformation in lives after taking advantage of salvation. This series continues to test my visual mind. This family is charming as well as lights to friends and family. The series is overflowing with positive points. Add in the amazing and engaging romance!
I'm amazed by the strong faith the author shows in her writing, has to be God given. I love to take a Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon to pick up one of the author's books, I can escape to the cinema on my sofa.
August 25, 2020
Sweet Jesus
I couldn't resistant I had to just read still guilty I wanted to see how faithful Cheney and pj would after having 2 miscarriage's and still trusting God for baby. I was so happy about pj getting his son back from the Gilbert family, thankGod. Ms. Simmons I am looking forward to reading more of Jameison family in the near future I would love to see all the kids as grown up living their lives one day. As always God Bless you 😊
I couldn't resistant I had to just read still guilty I wanted to see how faithful Cheney and pj would after having 2 miscarriage's and still trusting God for baby. I was so happy about pj getting his son back from the Gilbert family, thankGod. Ms. Simmons I am looking forward to reading more of Jameison family in the near future I would love to see all the kids as grown up living their lives one day. As always God Bless you 😊
October 29, 2021
Such a good book - Still Guilty
Mrs.Simmons characters are regular ppl that struggle with our own like struggles. I found myself praying and praising God for making things well for Cheney, which prompted me to pray for women and families in like situations. It's hard to put down a Pat Simmons novel. This writer knows how to maintain your interest until the very last word of her book. At this point, if Mrs. Simmons wrote it, I'm totally committed to read it. Thanks Mrs. As
Mrs.Simmons characters are regular ppl that struggle with our own like struggles. I found myself praying and praising God for making things well for Cheney, which prompted me to pray for women and families in like situations. It's hard to put down a Pat Simmons novel. This writer knows how to maintain your interest until the very last word of her book. At this point, if Mrs. Simmons wrote it, I'm totally committed to read it. Thanks Mrs. As
July 27, 2020
A Test of Faith
I chose this book because it's the third book in the Guilty series on the Jamieson family. It was so wonderful to witness Parke and Cheney finally find Little Parke and to see Cheney finally give birth to their son. A strong and powerful testimony to keeping the faith. I look forward to reading book four to see if Rainey can win Josephine's heart.
I chose this book because it's the third book in the Guilty series on the Jamieson family. It was so wonderful to witness Parke and Cheney finally find Little Parke and to see Cheney finally give birth to their son. A strong and powerful testimony to keeping the faith. I look forward to reading book four to see if Rainey can win Josephine's heart.
March 17, 2015
'Still Guilty' was the first book that I read in the 'Guilty' series by Pat Simmons, and throughout the whole book I kept forgetting that it wasn't the first book. Although there was a lot of back story, I felt that the story made sense as a stand alone as well. However, I am excited that I can go back and read the first 2 books so that I can read those back stories in detail.
From what I can tell, the Guilty series is about spiritual growth, love, forgiveness, and finding your happiness. There are no perfect happily ever afters, the reality is that there will be trials and tribulations that one must face in life to get to progress spiritually. Further, through faith and living your life in the Christian way, one can find a way to their own happiness, learn to be grateful for what they have, and accept what they don't or can't have.
'Still Guilty' was filled with rich African history, African-American history and the importance of church and family. Not only was the story well-written and obviously well-researched, Pat Simmons brought her characters to life by making them real, showing their weaknesses and faults along with their successes. I felt myself identifying with the characters throughout the story, but particularly with Cheney. Cheney had experienced a lot of pain in her life, and after finding her happiness, she was then faced with the burden of watching her loved ones struggle to find their own way. On top of all that, Cheney took on more heartache and trials even after finding her happiness, reminding me that life is not all just finding your way to 'Happy' and spending the rest of your life there, but rather facing the fact that one must continue to find their 'Happy' again and again as the seasons change and our faith is tested over and over again.
I am definitely going to be reading the rest of this series, and I look forward to any future books that are written for the Jamieson and Reynolds families. In particular, I would love to see Cheney's twin brother Rainey find his own happiness, as well as the rest of her family.
The romance is sweet and clean, and this book has a strong Christian theme. Spiritual growth, love and family are center plot points in this book. If you are looking for something real that you can fall in love with, this is the book for you. Especially if you are looking for something that stays on the clean side of the romance genre. This book is also quite informative in black history, so be prepared to be amazed at the interesting history lessons you are sure to experience.
http://theinsidestone.blogspot.com/20...
From what I can tell, the Guilty series is about spiritual growth, love, forgiveness, and finding your happiness. There are no perfect happily ever afters, the reality is that there will be trials and tribulations that one must face in life to get to progress spiritually. Further, through faith and living your life in the Christian way, one can find a way to their own happiness, learn to be grateful for what they have, and accept what they don't or can't have.
'Still Guilty' was filled with rich African history, African-American history and the importance of church and family. Not only was the story well-written and obviously well-researched, Pat Simmons brought her characters to life by making them real, showing their weaknesses and faults along with their successes. I felt myself identifying with the characters throughout the story, but particularly with Cheney. Cheney had experienced a lot of pain in her life, and after finding her happiness, she was then faced with the burden of watching her loved ones struggle to find their own way. On top of all that, Cheney took on more heartache and trials even after finding her happiness, reminding me that life is not all just finding your way to 'Happy' and spending the rest of your life there, but rather facing the fact that one must continue to find their 'Happy' again and again as the seasons change and our faith is tested over and over again.
I am definitely going to be reading the rest of this series, and I look forward to any future books that are written for the Jamieson and Reynolds families. In particular, I would love to see Cheney's twin brother Rainey find his own happiness, as well as the rest of her family.
The romance is sweet and clean, and this book has a strong Christian theme. Spiritual growth, love and family are center plot points in this book. If you are looking for something real that you can fall in love with, this is the book for you. Especially if you are looking for something that stays on the clean side of the romance genre. This book is also quite informative in black history, so be prepared to be amazed at the interesting history lessons you are sure to experience.
http://theinsidestone.blogspot.com/20...
June 20, 2010
My Struggles
Cheney Jamison is dealing with at lot of issues. One concerns a decision she made long ago that seems to be interfering with the lives of her and her family but especially her twin brother Rainey.
Although she is strong in her faith, lately she feels as if her life is spiraling out of control. Her husband, Parke, is not being as supportive as usual. His time is spent looking for a son he fathered at an early age. Apparently he‘s forgotten that Cheney has just miscarried. Not to mention the trial between Dr. Reynolds and her good friend, Grandmother B.
“Still Guilty” was a really good and powerful story. Pat Simmons brought it to the line. As I read this book it was just what I needed. I was going through my own personal struggles and all of the scriptures that Cheney and Parke recited I jotted down for my own personal use.
I have told SO many readers about this series and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Pat Simmons!
Reviewed by: Carmen
Cheney Jamison is dealing with at lot of issues. One concerns a decision she made long ago that seems to be interfering with the lives of her and her family but especially her twin brother Rainey.
Although she is strong in her faith, lately she feels as if her life is spiraling out of control. Her husband, Parke, is not being as supportive as usual. His time is spent looking for a son he fathered at an early age. Apparently he‘s forgotten that Cheney has just miscarried. Not to mention the trial between Dr. Reynolds and her good friend, Grandmother B.
“Still Guilty” was a really good and powerful story. Pat Simmons brought it to the line. As I read this book it was just what I needed. I was going through my own personal struggles and all of the scriptures that Cheney and Parke recited I jotted down for my own personal use.
I have told SO many readers about this series and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Pat Simmons!
Reviewed by: Carmen
June 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, you have to have faith in the lord and trust and believe his will. Cheney is dealing with her family crisis while Parke is dealing with getting custody of his son, the two needed to be there for family but they also needed to be there for each other, it is so important for a couple to lean on each other for that morale support. I believe Cheney should have been there for husband and Parke for his wife. In the end the lord blessed them abundantly. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 7, 2010
Love it. Pat Simmons is doing it again. I love how it jumps right in without a lot of recap from the past books. So far I LOVE IT!!
Man this book had so many nuggets for my life right now. Cheney and her husband although it seemed they were drifting apart for a minute it's good to see the author write in the man identifying the needs of his wife mentally, emotionally and sprititually. Faith is so necessary in the mist of spiritual warfare.
Man this book had so many nuggets for my life right now. Cheney and her husband although it seemed they were drifting apart for a minute it's good to see the author write in the man identifying the needs of his wife mentally, emotionally and sprititually. Faith is so necessary in the mist of spiritual warfare.
October 23, 2011
Stopped after 1st chapter. The other books in the series didn't seem as interesting as this one, which is why I choose this book. The plot line didn't allow me to understand the story without having read the prior titles. I have other books marked to read by this author, due to the high reviews. I am hoping to enjoy those.
September 19, 2015
The Guility Series is amazing!
This author give you the best of both worlds! A good romance novel and Bible study all rolled into one! Even though Parke and Cheney trust God you still get to see that sometimes God does what is best for us instead of what we want. I love this author and how she puts Scriptures in her stories. I'm starting book four now!
This author give you the best of both worlds! A good romance novel and Bible study all rolled into one! Even though Parke and Cheney trust God you still get to see that sometimes God does what is best for us instead of what we want. I love this author and how she puts Scriptures in her stories. I'm starting book four now!
October 20, 2010
Slow read. Still trying to get into this book
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March 28, 2013this is the best series I've read... I will read anything by Pat Simmons
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews