The Book: What It Takes

The Author: Terry Tyler

The Story: A tale of three sisters…

Karen Kavanagh has spent her life feeling like the runt of the family.

Her two elder sisters, domestic goddess Ava and salon owner Saskia, are mini versions of their mother, a gorgeous Danish beauty. Karen has inherited her father’s droopy, dull brown hair and long nose – pitted against two Scandinavian sauna babes, she feels like Cinderella in reverse.

Danny Alvarez doesn’t see her like that. He thinks she’s wonderful. Lots of women want Danny, but Danny just wants Karen. He pursues her with the devotion of a stalker – but she pushes him away. Then she realises what she’s done…

Set in Norfolk, Terry Tyler’s sixth novel, What It Takes, is a story of insecurity, jealousy, sibling rivalry, love and loss, and the games people play in the search for love – because if you love someone with all your heart you’ll do what it takes to make them yours…

About Terry Tyler:

Terry lives in the north of England with her husband, and has published nine books on Amazon. Readers say she has created her own genre, which lies somewhere in the area of contemporary drama and romantic suspense, with the occasional bit of rock fiction thrown in.

A light, summer novella, Round and Round is her latest release; Kings and Queens is her latest of seven full length novels, and is a modern day re-telling of the story of Henry VIII and his six wives. A sequel is in progress.

When she is not writing, she practices housework avoidance, advanced Twittering, and worship at the altars of Jack Bauer, Tyrion Lannister, Deacon Claybourne and the macho blond one in ‘Vikings’.

Terry has a blog on which she writes about anything she feels like, and also writes for the UK Arts Directory on a weekly basis about self-publishing. Both blogs are widely read.

Review by Roy Murry, Author: “Love goes by haps; Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps” Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.

Ms. Tyler’s contemporary drama weaves an intellectual story of love on many different levels. Some are common and up front and others are hidden behind the masks people use when courting the person they desire.

Deep seated emotions motivate the main character’s mating rituals. Karen, the youngest of three sisters, is looking for her ideal man, but falls for a common man, who doesn’t quote Shakespeare. Doubts run a muck in her over educated head with underdeveloped security issues, which leads to a break up.

Her lover, Danny, one good looking bloke, is broken up over the matter and tries his best to put their love affair back together. He and all the on-lookers can’t understand Karen’s attitude.

His strengths are not what she is looking for. She is looking for the perfect image of what she wants and he may be closer than one would think.

This is where the underlying current takes over the story that will keep the reader wondering what is going on. Will they get back together? Both hope they will at different times in their break up, giving each some comfort in that they may return to their loving ways.

But is cupid shooting arrows in the wrong direction or are there traps being set to control the situation. You’ll only find out by reading What It Takes, a well written relationship drama.

If you looking for a romantic drama that will keep your mind entertained with emotional twists, I recommend this novel for a weekend read at the beach.

Review by Cathy: In this book the characters are so real. Within a few pages you are involved in the family’s complex relationships and rivalries because Terry Tyler develops her characters so well.

Although What It Takes is a romance novel it also explores some of the more complex aspects of relationships within families and between individuals. Sibling rivalry is one of the main themes of the plot and these three sisters couldn’t have more: Karen’s feelings towards Ava and Saskia are jealous, envious, and embittered. As the plot develops she can, with some justification, add betrayal to the mix. I particularly liked the way the author uses shifting viewpoints.

This keeps the interest level high; enables the reader to become immersed in the lives of the characters; and ensures that the pace of the novel is sustained right through to the end resulting in a “can’t put it down” read. I really enjoyed reading What It Takes and recommend it highly.