Everything to Gain (Arabesque) [Mass Market Paperback]

MARILYN TYNER (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers will be disappointed by the clipped prose and thin characterizations that mar Tyner's (Secrets of the Heart) light romance-cum-thriller. Six years after their brusque breakup, Caroline Duval and computer expert Derek Roberts cross paths at a swanky restaurant in Hartford. Derek is in town on business, but when he spies Caroline leaving the table of another man in a flurry of frustration, he decides to step in and offer his assistance. Unable to bury the hatchet despite their serendipitous reunion, each vows to move on. Caroline decides to stay with a friend in Atlanta and volunteers for a summer teaching position at a community center. Coincidentally, Derek regularly teaches a computer workshop at that same center. After a few less-than-friendly encounters, the two finally rehash the past and discover that their reasons for ending their relationship were based on the vicious and unfounded lies of a jealous fellow college student. In the end, only a loosely developed side story involving the kidnapping of Caroline and Derek's sister-in-law temporarily revives this standard-issue plot. (Mar.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Marilyn Tyner is a retired social worker who credits her previous employment with the desire to write stories that illustrate problems involved in all relationships. Her novels have been praised for their genuine, unforgettable characters.

Ms. Tyner also conducts writing workshops and is available for speaking engagements, sharing her writing experiences with readers as well as other authors.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Arabesque (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583141286
• ISBN-13: 978-1583141281
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,105,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I haven't published a novel since Dec. 2003 because for the past eighteen months I've been busy selling my house, purchasing a new house, moving and getting resettled. I've also been hard at work writing my first historical romance novel which I recently completed. As yet, I have no publication date for this novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ....and nothing to lose..., May 1, 2001

By 

free4lyfe "VOR" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything to Gain (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

Caroline Duval and Derek Roberts were college sweethearts who let rumor and innuendo that neither confirmed with the other, cause their breakup six years ago.

Derek is in Connecticut on business when he's shocked to see Caroline at the hotel restaurant where he's staying, she's there to end a relationship. Caroline calls a taxi only to find she has a long wait, Derek speaks out to offer her a ride home, it was her turn to be in shock. On the ride to Caroline's they are each lost in thought about the breakup, she believes he was engaged when they dated, he believes she aborted their child. After six years they still suffer bittersweet memories of their lost love.

After her and Derek's chance meeting, Caroline visits a college friend in Atlanta for the summer, she volunteers to teach a course for a summer program filling in for another teacher. She quickly learns Derek is also a teacher at the program and the teacher she is subbing for is Derek's sister-in-law, Zoe. At first Derek and Caroline try avoiding one another but an incident at a party hosted by Ian and Zoe finally forces them to confront the real reason behind their breakup, what they discover is lies and deceit fueled by the jealous motives of a spurned lover perpetrated their breakup. Deciding the deep rooted emotions they still harbored for one another was worth exploring, they set out to become reacquainted in hopes of regaining the love and passion they lost when they lost each other. There is kidnapping for revenge to add intrigue, a cute, smart little girl to add laughter, and a strong family bond to share the love. Great story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's Talk About It Please!!, April 17, 2001

By 

Sean D. Young (Merrillville, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everything to Gain (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

Caroline Duval was really in love while in college. Caroline decided after finding out the guy had betrayed her, she just cut her losses and walk away from the relationship.

She runs into him at a hotel in Connecticut and he offers her a ride home, because she just dumped the guy she had been dating. Caroline hesistanly accepted the ride home, but would never ask him why he didn't tell her the truth about himself. Caroline was invited to help out at a community center for a friend of her college classmate and close friend down in Atlanta. Caroline didn't think she would run into her old love from college. Ironically, he was working at the same community center.

Derek Roberts loved Caroline Duval. He actually wanted to make her his wife while in collge, but could never understand why Caroline would trust him enough to tell him her secret. He overheard some classmates discussing Caroline and he couldn't believe his ears.

These people had a communication problem. This happens in all types of relationships,female/male, male/male and female/female as well. I believe if Caroline had talked to Derek from the beginning, she wouldn't had to have a second chance with him.m It was nice revisiting with Zoe and Ian's family. I loved their daughter Savannah's character. I am glad Caroline got her man. Good Story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything to Gain, March 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything to Gain (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoyed this novel. It showed the cause and effect from lack of communication. If only Caroline and Derek had sat down and talked over their issues, they would have been spared six long years of unnecessary heartache and longing. However, like the secondary characters, we are all looking for guarantees but there aren't any guarantees in love. Caroline and Derek took that chance and true love once again withstood the bumps in the road called life. I also enjoyed visiting with Zoe and Ian and Caroline's brother, Jason, and family.