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Mary Ella Baker and Eric Dixon were high school sweethearts even through their days together in nursing school. Then Eric up and joined the US Army leaving her broken-hearted in their small South Carolina town. On the rebound, when Dr. Mark Brooks, a US Marine comes to town for an extended two-year stay, Mary Ella is ready to open her heart again to a new man. When Mark is ready to return to his post with Doctors Without Borders, he refuses to leave without Mary Ella by his side.
Three years into service for the NGO in war-torn countries, disaster strikes when Mark and Mary Ella are taken captive and separated in Africa by terrorists. Moments from being killed, Mary Ella is saved by one of the terrorists known as the infamous Kaseem who weds her and beds her on the same spot where she was still warm from being with Mark.
When rescued three months later, Mary Ella discovers that she is pregnant with twins. She doesn’t know whether the babies are Mark’s or Kaseem’s, but alone in the world she knows she will love them regardless of who fathered them. Left with no other choices, Mary Ella returns to her home in Goodwill, Summer County, South Carolina, to find that Eric Dixon has returned, too, as a full-fledged doctor who wants her back in his life. With impending motherhood on the horizon, can she risk opening her heart to Eric again or does she now love someone else?
Three years into service for the NGO in war-torn countries, disaster strikes when Mark and Mary Ella are taken captive and separated in Africa by terrorists. Moments from being killed, Mary Ella is saved by one of the terrorists known as the infamous Kaseem who weds her and beds her on the same spot where she was still warm from being with Mark.
When rescued three months later, Mary Ella discovers that she is pregnant with twins. She doesn’t know whether the babies are Mark’s or Kaseem’s, but alone in the world she knows she will love them regardless of who fathered them. Left with no other choices, Mary Ella returns to her home in Goodwill, Summer County, South Carolina, to find that Eric Dixon has returned, too, as a full-fledged doctor who wants her back in his life. With impending motherhood on the horizon, can she risk opening her heart to Eric again or does she now love someone else?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 13, 2021
What a surprise REGRETS by Ann Jeffries turns out to be! In an era of deep divide across the globe, this story shows us how we might heal wounds and navigate challenging differences.
The work of Ann Jeffries' is always a gentle and caring nudge toward understanding and acceptance - of politics, of lifestyle, of choices. But REGRETS is somehow more timely in the obstacles it tackles and far more truthful and revealing.
Mary Ella Baker, our heroine, returns to the town of her birth, into the arms of loving friends and family - her tribe, though not always her blood. As a volunteer with the NGO, Doctors Without Borders, alongside her companion Dr. Mark Brooks, she has seen and experienced the most gut-wrenching atrocities. Yet she remains whole - one might say in 'triplicate.' She returns to Goodwill, Summer County, South Carolina, still with an open heart, a belief that what is best will be and that she remains 'the captain of her ship, the master of her soul'.*
We join Mary Ella on a journey as she embraces her experiences - not always favorable - in the lives of three men who have touched her. One Muslim, one Bostonian, one black. She seeks to find who they are, who they mean to be and what they mean to her, in order to find the future that is right and bright for her. Perhaps with one of these three men, perhaps not.
As I narrated the complex world of Mary Ella Baker, I experienced viscerally the tragic violence and laborious contrivance that marked the orbits these men travail. I was struck by Mary Ella's abiding strength and deep composure in the face of great indignity and fear. I was moved by her absolute commitment to hope.
There is much to this story that makes the reader smile - love of family, strange relatives, darling children, sarcastic sport and support. we meet many old an dear friends from Ann Jeffries' novels of the past - as we expect from the Family Reunion series.
We can still thrill in the elements of secrecy and political espionage that also populate a Jeffries' novel.
However, it is in the shadows of this story that we, the Dear Readers & Listeners, find quiet encouragement to open our eyes to the world around us without expectation or judgement. To create space and offer safety to all those we encounter. To face the future with hope, always with hope.
*'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley
The work of Ann Jeffries' is always a gentle and caring nudge toward understanding and acceptance - of politics, of lifestyle, of choices. But REGRETS is somehow more timely in the obstacles it tackles and far more truthful and revealing.
Mary Ella Baker, our heroine, returns to the town of her birth, into the arms of loving friends and family - her tribe, though not always her blood. As a volunteer with the NGO, Doctors Without Borders, alongside her companion Dr. Mark Brooks, she has seen and experienced the most gut-wrenching atrocities. Yet she remains whole - one might say in 'triplicate.' She returns to Goodwill, Summer County, South Carolina, still with an open heart, a belief that what is best will be and that she remains 'the captain of her ship, the master of her soul'.*
We join Mary Ella on a journey as she embraces her experiences - not always favorable - in the lives of three men who have touched her. One Muslim, one Bostonian, one black. She seeks to find who they are, who they mean to be and what they mean to her, in order to find the future that is right and bright for her. Perhaps with one of these three men, perhaps not.
As I narrated the complex world of Mary Ella Baker, I experienced viscerally the tragic violence and laborious contrivance that marked the orbits these men travail. I was struck by Mary Ella's abiding strength and deep composure in the face of great indignity and fear. I was moved by her absolute commitment to hope.
There is much to this story that makes the reader smile - love of family, strange relatives, darling children, sarcastic sport and support. we meet many old an dear friends from Ann Jeffries' novels of the past - as we expect from the Family Reunion series.
We can still thrill in the elements of secrecy and political espionage that also populate a Jeffries' novel.
However, it is in the shadows of this story that we, the Dear Readers & Listeners, find quiet encouragement to open our eyes to the world around us without expectation or judgement. To create space and offer safety to all those we encounter. To face the future with hope, always with hope.
*'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley
May 26, 2021
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it extremely enjoyable. One instant can change your life, the result, Mary Ella finds herself back in Goodwill, Summer County, NC with more decision then any one person needs. As in all the other book from this series family and friends plays a big part in the plot, this one is no different as Mary Ella tries to figure out where she wants her life to take her. Interesting characters and suspenseful, fast moving plot will keep you listen until the end. This is a very enjoyable series that just keeps getting better.
August 2, 2021
Mary Ella’s decisions have led to her facing an interesting set of circumstances. Her life will never be the same, and now she has another big decision to make… and it’s important to have no regrets.
This was an extremely intense story by Ann Jeffries. I really felt for the characters and couldn’t imagine facing what they had to endure.
Kelley Hazen really showed her talents in this performance. Great presentation of different accents and voices to showcase the different characters.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
This was an extremely intense story by Ann Jeffries. I really felt for the characters and couldn’t imagine facing what they had to endure.
Kelley Hazen really showed her talents in this performance. Great presentation of different accents and voices to showcase the different characters.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
May 29, 2021
Regrets (Family Reunion:Wisdom of the Ancestors #22) was a great read by Ann Jeffries. Eric Dixon and Mary Ella Baker were high school sweethearts. Eric then joined the US Army which left Mary Ella heartbroken. She met Dr. Mark Brooks and opened her heart to him. They go together with Doctors Without Borders. Three years into their service, Mark and Mary Ella are taken captive and separated in Africa. Mary Ella is saved by the terrorist known as Kaseem who weds her. He beds her in the same spot she was last with Mark. She was rescued three months later and returned home to South Carolina. She finds out that she's pregnant with twins and doesn't know if their Mark's or Kaseem's. When she returns home she discovers that Eric has returned and is a doctor who wants her back. I enjoyed reading this book and enjoyed Kelley Hazen's narration.
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