Customer Reviews

Still Waters (Kimani Romance)

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The saying goes "be careful what you ask for; you just might get it". Laurie Wright spent two years in church praying for God to change her husband, Greg. Greg has an explosive temper, which has gotten him in trouble at his job and at home. For Laurie, though she loves her husband he is making her miserable. In Patricia Haley's novel Still Waters, the Wrights find that God does answer prayers, but in his own time.

Laurie is the mother of six sons. While she realizes children are a gift from God, the last thing she wants is another baby. However, Greg feels his family would be complete if they had a daughter. Unable to tell Greg she does not want another child and afraid of getting pregnant, Laurie refuses Greg sexual advances, leaving him feeling rejected and frustrated. With Laurie's rejection and the loss of his job, Greg becomes more and more angry. For Laurie, it seems her prayers are falling on deaf ears.

Unemployed Greg is offered a dream job in Chicago. It seems that this opportunity would be perfect for the family. They could start anew, away from the negative vibes from the couple's family members. It would also give them a break financially. Around the same time, things start looking up for Greg; Laurie begins to make some positive changes in her life. She has a part-time job, is losing weight and has become computer savvy, spending her time in chat rooms. Greg comes home on weekends, spending his time with the boys in church and starts to become the man Laurie had been praying for. Feeling that God took too long to answer her prayers to change her husband, Laurie shuns church spending her Sundays in chat rooms. Things go from bad to worse when Laurie meets a man on line. Her secret relationship and an unexpected visitor could mean the demise of the marriage.

As Laurie and Greg find out, God does answers prayers in his own time. But, you have to make sure you are praying for the right thing and wait on God to answer. Laurie got everything she prayed for and more but when the answers did not come fast enough, she decided to take matters in her own hands. While I liked the message Haley was sending through the book, the characters had me pulling my hair. Many times I just wanted to yell, "tell the truth" or "tell him/her what you are thinking/feeling". Haley demonstrates how a lack of communication can ruin a relationship and a lack of faith can hinder your blessing. Though there were a few gaps in the story and a neat quick ending, I found this to be a good book.

Jeanette Wallington
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club

Domestic violence, attempted suicide, a marriage on the rocks and dangerous family secrets...and that's just the first few chapters of Patricia Haley's new novel, STILL WATERS!

Greg and Laurie Wright have been married for 13 years. With six sons and a husband with a volatile temper and a questionable employment history, stay at home mom Laurie prays that God will change Greg. Despite Greg's faults and despite the way he was raised by his father, the less than Honorable Judge Wright, Greg strives to be a good father and husband. However, the stress of being the sole bread winner and provider for his family has taken an emotional toll on Greg. Depression and thoughts of suicide seem to be the only way out for Greg. However, no matter what it looks like, Greg loves his family and is determined to be the kind of father he never had.

When a dream job in Chicago becomes available, both Laurie and Greg feel like it is the answer to all their prayers. With Greg working out of town, Laurie begins to come into her own. Laurie's new found independence and recent weight loss cause her to look for affection and attention elsewhere. Greg's new job and improved financial status lead him to believe that whatever problems may have existed in his marriage will be resolved once his family relocates to Chicago with him. However, Greg quickly learns that money is not the only threat facing his marriage. While Greg prays that his marriage will endure this new set of hurdles, Laurie drifts further away from him and from God.

Still Waters is a deeply moving novel. The characters and the storyline remind us that forgiveness and unconditional love are crucial to any relationship.

Review submitted by Tonya S. Hall for the Good Girl Book Club and GoodGirlBookClubOnline

Set in Augusta, Georgia, Laurie Wright is a stay-at-home mother of six boys whose center is her sons and husband. This is the agreement, which eventually becomes her Achilles heel. Greg Wright is a graphic designer at a job he believes does not appreciate his talents or his work ethics. With a mortgage and six boys to feed, Greg is waiting on a promotion that is rightfully his, or so he believes. When this does not happen, all bets are off.

Patricia Haley's STILL WATERS evokes the emotional and mental behavior of an unappreciated wife and mother and a moody and emotionally abusive husband and father. The author allows us to delve into the extended family of Greg to get an up close and personal look into his demons, specifically his emotionally detached father who pits Greg against his younger brother. With a meddling mother added to mix, Greg and Laurie play dutiful son and daughter-in-law to no avail. While Spencer, Jr., does not feed into his father playing one brother against the other, mentally Greg does. This is his downfall, feeding into the competition that his father has created. In an attempt to not be like his father within his marriage, Greg fails and falls off the deep end. On the home front, Laurie is depressed, overweight, feeling unloved and stresses about not becoming pregnant with child number seven. She takes on a job to help make ends meet. When Greg begins working in Chicago and commuting back and forth on weekends, Laurie receives a metamorphous of sorts. She drops the pounds, becomes concern with her appearance and learns to use the computer. Although the money Greg is making is more than enough to sustain their household and allow for some luxuries, Laurie continues to work because this is the only stimulating adult contact she has. Though their financial situation changes, the trials and tribulations continue as their marriage is tested with unexpected visitors.

The power of God plays an important role in STILL WATERS because both primary characters call on Him when convenient but have a difficult time accepting his word. When the oldest son reveals his prayers, we witness a full-circle, coming of age that is heaven sent. Haley's writing and visualizations skills are to be reckoned with. With a pen or the stroke of a key, this story is full bodied because it elicits strong feelings and understanding of the characters. This is very good story that pushes the reader to become involved as if you know these people personally. Great prose, excellent execution!

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Patricia Haley is one of my favorite authors. After reading "No Regrets", I had to find everything that she wrote. She writes about real issues that plagues the Christians of today! I've recommended her books to several of my friends and their lives have been touched also. This book once again shows how "there is nothing that is too hard for God to handle". He can come in and change a thing just like that.
If you are looking for a great book that is not only a good read, but perhaps will touch your life, this is the book to read. You will not be dissappointed.

I had saw this book on the shelf for at least two months I kept picking it up and putting it down whenever I saw it. Finally I bought it and OMG!!!!!!! from chapter 1 I was drawn in. I was blown away. I was rooting for greg to do right by his family yet angry at him for not fully explaining his depressed feelings about work and his father's deplorable treatment of him to Laurie. I was just as disappointed in Laurie when she failed to realize her internet romance with John was really a emotional affair and then of course letting her faith dip so dramatically. But I was glad the Wright family overcame the bumps and bruises I was cheering and jeering laughing and crying. Ms Haley is a great writer this is my first book I've read by her but it won't be my last. This story proves that with faith in god, love, strength and heart you can make it through if you belive.

I found the description of this book interesting, and decided to purchase it. Initially, it held my interest, but the story was slow after the fourth chapter. It did not hold my interest, and I read the book just to complete it. The characters were shallow, and the end was predictable.

STILL WATERS was a great book! I thought it really showed what goes on in a marriage,that it is not always a bed of roses! The way PATRICIA HALEY, got to the heart of the marriage problems that so many marriages today face, and have been for so many years. This book was really helpful to me, and so many others to! Big ups to PATRICIA HALEY! GOD BLESS!

Laurie had me all the way up until she lied to her husband and then turned around and told him the truth. Girl, if you are going to lie keep up with it. She was tring to lose her husband. She mad so many mistakes. I wanted to jump in the book and give her a woman to woman talk. Sometimes you have to let the worst come out to get the best. YESHUA/JESUS came when eveything was in complete chaos. I love this story. It gave me a chance to see how other women would handle a tight situation. She kept me from making the same mistake. I hope all women that read this book feel the same as I do. Eventhough she didn't go through with the meeting, she still was cheating on her husband. In GOD'S eyes, anyone that is not the one HE assign you to is cheating. In love you'll find a lot of hurt, but also the hurt has to be accompanied with joy (when you are in CHRIST). Love is a whole lot of hurt, but in the end is a whole lot of fun. Laurie went through what all women is CHRIST go through. It is call FAITH. When the going is gone, GOD is on.