Customer Reviews

No Regrets (New Spirit)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When one reads this book, there are so many different messages one can take. It's about faith, forgiveness, trust, and the power of prayer, belief in God among other messages. For me the messages that stood out most were the Power of Prayer and Faith.

The premise of the book was that there were 3 women who had or have cancer and how they dealt with their diagnosis and how strong they were in their Faith. Tina was bitter especially since her husband walked out on her during her cancer. Connie was accepting of what God had allowed to happen in her life. She was living life in full and not worrying about tomorrow. She had complete faith that God could heal her and if He didn't then she would be spending eternity with Him, in a new body, free of Cancer.

Karen the protagonist in the book had her belief in the Lord and went to Church, but her Faith was weak. Her cancer had re occurred and her marriage was falling apart. During a routine hospitalization and treatment, Karen lost her will to live and ends up in a coma. With the possibility of losing Karen, her husband, Johnny began to see that being married to her was not as bad as he thought. Though being sick, Karen had been a great helpmate to him, and he had not appreciated her. When the doctors had done all they could, the next thing was to have a prayer session. The Church Mother and her prayer warriors then took over. The power of these praying women proved to be the best medicine, not only for the physical healing, but spiritual awakening for Johnny.

It is my feeling that an author really does their job when they can evoke an array of emotions from the reader. I did not think I would like Karen initially, but after understanding what she was going through, I began to have empathy for her. I was cheering for the ladies triumphs and crying during their trials. This book is a must read for anyone who has or have a illness, knows someone in this predicament, or just need to know that God does answer prayers. Highly recommended.

Jeanette Wallington
APOOO bookclub

What a moving and motivating book! I thoroughly enjoyed my glimpse into the lives of Johnny and Karen Clark, Tyrone and Connie and Tina. This book is multi faceted and I interpreted it on many levels. There is the story of love, the story of triumph over illness, the renewing of faith in God and heartache. All three of the women, Karen, Connie and Tina suffer from cancer in one form or the other. Johnny and Tyrone have been best friends for a number of years and the friendship they've forged has grown deeper with the illnesses of their wives. Johnny struggles with faithfulness as he reacts to his Karen's seeming rejection of him. His interpretation of her reaction makes him feel that her love is wavering. Tyrone, every bit as much a playboy as Johnny, turns completely toward his wife, his love ever increasing. Tina has become cynical of love and has become a self confessed male basher after her husband left her due to her cancer.

As the story progresses, feelings are examined from a lot of different viewpoints. Johnny and Karen have children. Their reaction to their mother's cancer is explored. Johnny struggled with working to provide for his family and his lack of time spent with the family he worked so hard for. Tyrone, the pillar for Connie, struggled with keeping it together. Connie, the pillar for Tyrone, showed great effort in making the time they had together memorable. Tina wrestled with her cancerous feelings. Although the disease had been removed from her body, her feelings of anger were just as consuming.

No Regrets isn't just centered on the effects a serious illness can have on family, but really explores faith. Johnny could care less about religion. It's all right for his wife to be so involved and for his children, but church isn't high on his list of priorities. As the story progresses, priorities shift, and Johnny is renewed. Connie, the quiet and virtuous woman, is instrumental in demonstrating awe-inspiring faith in times of adversity. I Corinthians 13:13 states: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. This was truly demonstrated in this inspiring book.

I cried and I cried. This book made me miss my train stop in the morning and in the afternoon. I really enjoyed this novel. This is a great book for anyone who wants to find a bit of strength in the midst of rocky times. You will really appreciate each day and make you live each day to the fulliest. Each character is essential to the story line and you will develop a relationship with each as you turn each page. This book is filled with positive men and women who know how to make lemonade when life throws them lemons. I promise, you will not only enjoy this one, you will encourage others to read this novel as well.

THE CLARK FAMILY SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL. MONEY, LARGE HOUSE, NICE CARS AND 3 WONDERFUL CHILDREN. UNTIL THEY ARE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THE TRUTH COMES OUT. THE FAMILY IS TAKEN THROUGH A SERIES OF TRIAL FROM CANCER/REMISSION/CANCER AGAIN. INFIDELITY,LIES AND BITTERNESS. LACK OF FAITH AND BELIEF IN GOD. THIS STORY SPEAKS OF HOW STRESSFUL SICKNESS AND MISTRUST CAN ULTIMATELY RUIN A MARRIAGE. WITH THE HELP OF SOME WONDEFULLY WRITTEN SECONDARY CHARACTERS (TYRONE AND HIS WIFE)WHOM ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THEIR OWN ISSUES. THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY A KEEPER WITH THE TRUE EXAMPLES OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND YOUR FAITH.

With three wonderful children and an enduring marriage, Johnny and Karen Clark appear to have it all, but things are not as they seem. Johnny seems to put his job and other women above all else and feels that if he provides financially, he has fulfilled his role as a good husband. However, Karen's most recent relapse may prove to be the final straw for an already failing relationship. Throughout the novel Karen struggles with how to deal with her marital and health issues, but most importantly she struggles to understand God's plan in her life and the lives of her loved ones.

We are also introduced to Tina, Connie and Connie's husband Tyrone. Connie and Tina have been struggling with cancer and the fear associated with it, and they have both found their uniquely different ways of dealing with their
emotional highs and lows. As a supportive husband who puts his marriage first, Tyrone seems to be the antithesis of Johnny. Through their different personalities and experiences, the author illustrates how faith in God influences one's ability to cope with adversity. More importantly, we see a group of friends who grow and support one another.

Patricia Haley has written a heart wrenching novel that explores a variety of spiritual and emotional issues. In addition, she explores with great depth and sensitivity, the unique challenges women encounter when faced with cancer. The characters in the book were well written and easy to understand. Both the primary and secondary characters in the novel were well developed and provided additional depth to the story. All of the characters had their share of strength and weakness and as a result they were well rounded and easy to empathize with. At times, I found myself crying right along with the characters and at other times I found myself wanting to knock some sense into them. This book not only pulls at the heartstrings, but also begs the question Where is your faith? Patricia Haley has written a unique work of Christian Fiction that should not be missed.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

Now here's a story about the power of prayers, faith,
and forgiveness.
Three women who are friends each sharing their story how an illness affected them and their relationships.

Each one had a different story to share about their relationships with each other and the relationship with their spouse.

Read this one ladies to see how it affects each one,in a different way and the relationships they shared with each other.
This story leaves you with something to think about .

Such as what if.....or could I ..., or perhaps, would he ...
some things to think about .

This was a wonderful book of love, faith, heartache, choices, and
commitments. This novel reminded me of my families trails and tribulations with dealing with someone with cancer. Patricia Haley writes this novel with accuracy, feeling,and knowledge of the subject and subjects at hand. Johnny, is the typical man dealing with his self centered world and his wife and her trial with cancer. During the reading of this book, you will ask yourself,"Will he ever understand his wife's troubles,needs, and wants?"

I was just overwhelmed with this book... I couldn't stop crying or reading. The author really touches you with love, forgiveness and understanding. I haven't read any other books by this author, but I am an avid romance reader. So to put it plainly I have read too many plots to name them all, however I know a good plot when I read it.

This was the first Patricia Haley book that I have ever picked up. She was wonderful. I could not put it down to save my life. The characters were remarkable, I really enjoyed "No Regrets". I cried alot throughout the book. I thought I was finished with the Kleenex box , then in the end Karen's friend Connie died. And the Love Letter that Connie had left for her husband Tyrone to read about how much she loved and cared for him, I just could not hold back the tears. I will definitely read the other books by Patricia Haley. you go girl

This story is so depressing and has been told over, and, over and over again. No originality. The dialogue is bland and boring and it takes several chapters to get entertainment from the storyline. I found myself having to flip in between chapters just to find out what was going to happen because I was afraid I couldn't finish reading it... They have no ooomph! No true spirituality....