No Regrets
By Patricia Haley

     I thoroughly enjoyed my glimpse into the lives of Johnny and Karen Clark, Tyrone and Connie and Tina. This book is multi-faceted and can be interpreted on many levels: it's a story of love, of triumph over illness, the renewing of faith in God and heartache. All three of the women, Karen, Connie and Tin,a suffer from cancer in one form or another. 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 a self-confessed male-basher after her husband left her.

     As the story progresses, feelings are examined from different viewpoints. Johnny and Karen have children, whose reaction to their mother's cancer is explored. Johnny struggles with working to provide for his family and his lack of time to spend with them. Tyrone, the pillar for Connie, struggles with keeping it together. Connie, the pillar for Tyrone, shows great effort in making the time they have together memorable. Tina wrestles with her cancerous feelings. Although the disease has been removed from her body, her feelings of anger are 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's faith 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 No Regrets.

     What a moving and motivating book!