You Wish...

by Terry Tyler

YOU WISH Terry Tyler YOU WISH was the winner of the "Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit" in the eFestival of Words 2013.

Do we control our own destiny - or might it be determined by fate, coincidence, luck...or even magic?

Ruth, an amateur psychic with a husband who smokes cannabis for breakfast, is haunted by a tragic event from her teenage years which, she suspects, was the result of a wish she made on an allegedly enchanted stone. Too embarrassed to admit her fears, she keeps her secret to herself for twenty-five years.

Petra is the perennial singleton amongst her friends, unable, she thinks, to fall in love. She comes across the stone at a Psychic Fair and makes a wish, just for fun. As the wish begins to come true she wishes she had chosen her words with more care.

Spoilt, weight-obsessed Sarah wants nothing more than to be "size zero". As her life spirals downwards into the seedy world of drug abuse and addiction, she remembers the day at the Psychic Fair when she wished for her heart's desire.

When Ruth learns of the fates of Petra and Sarah she is forced to confront her guilt and discover the truth about the Wishing Stone...

Terry Tyler's debut novel is a quirky contemporary drama exploring the themes of family affairs, infidelity and guilt, incorporating jealousy, drug abuse and the obsession of a Facebook stalker, against a backdrop of secrets and superstition.

Genres: Fiction, Amazon, Contemporary

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2011

About the author

I am self-published with thirty books on Amazon. Most recently I've published the first two books in my Revenge series, Served Cold and So Shall Ye Reap. More to come!

Other recent releases include Safe Zone, a dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller. It follows on from the SFV-1 series (Infected, Darkness and Reset), but is completely stand-alone, so can be read as a story within itself.

I love watching and reading anything to do with history, post apocalypse, dystopian scenarios, anthropology, mountaineering and polar exploration. Big Walking Dead fan.

Favourite writers: Gemma Lawrence, Kate Mary, Blake Crouch, Deborah Swift, Carol Hedges, Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Judith Arnopp, Jon Krakauer, Phillipa Gregory, John Privilege, Zeb Haradon, Dylan Morgan, Kate Atkinson, Norah Lofts, Dorothy Parker, Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Ann Swinfen, Keith Blackmore, Frank Tayell.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a carnival psychic, who struggles with her conscience and the part she is playing, a couple of young British women and a “magic” wishing stone cross paths? Ruth is vague with her predictions, leaving their interpretation to the customer. Seriously, almost anything can be twisted until it has a feeling of the spiritual or supernatural forces at work. She reasons that if someone is happy with what they hear, it is their choice to choose the path their lives will take. The wishing stone is another matter and when seventeen people pay to make a wish while rubbing it, Ruth knows from experience that seventeen people could become train wrecks just waiting to happen.

Sarah and Petra already have more hang ups than a phone solicitor in their quest for the perfect life, the perfect happiness, the perfect love and the perfect body. Each becomes obsessed with themselves, Sarah, in her quest to be beautiful, thinks thinner is better, whatever it takes, from yo-yo dieting to drugs. Petra wants to be loved, and falls for every guy who looks at her, misinterpreting a brief fling with undying affection, turning into a twisted and jealous stalker. Are these lives truly effected by their wish on the stone or have they become so obsessed with false ideas about happiness and love that they have made their own worlds into nightmarish caricatures of life?

Terry Tyler has put her own spin on looking for love and happiness in all the wrong places, creating a sharp and biting look at the inner workings of the mind that avoids reality and responsibility for their actions while never accepting the view others see. She has used familiar platforms to ostracize her characters, with her use of un-friending and blocking a person on social media; the ultimate slam and ridicule. With a core set of characters and several satellite characters that play huge roles in their own way, I felt I was walking into a world where everyone forgot how to communicate and value themselves. Fortunately, Ms. Tyler did sprinkle some humor with in to lighten this otherwise heavy tome while delivering a message that rings true for everyone. Was I amazed by this gem? Yes! Did Ms. Tyler hit me between the eyes with the depth of her writing? Oh, yes, I’m still reeling from her words. Highly recommended, just remember, this is not sunshine and smiley faces, this is a slice of reality on steroids. Remember this next time you make a careless wish.

Publication Date: November 5, 2011
Publisher: Terry Tyler
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 196 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow! I loved this book. It's funny, insightful, thought-provoking, well-written, contains realistic characters. It's the perfect book if you want to escape into a story. Terry Tyler's writing style is very relaxed and easy to read. It's reminiscent of Marian Keyes at her best. If you like contemporary fiction that will make you laugh out loud, and will keep you interested all the way through, you should read this book.
The story revolves around a Wishing Stone. Various characters make wishes on the stone and their lives seem to be changed because of it. But the question is, did their lives change because they made a wish on the stone, or did they just choose to think that? The book cleverly looks at the idea of fate and destiny versus choice and free will. It follows the life of the main character Ruth from the 1980s to the present, and the various people she has come into contact with because of the Wishing Stone.
The books covers a variety of topics, such as obsession, drug addiction, Internet stalking, relationships, reality TV chat shows.
You Wish is an entertaining book that you won't want to put down. I felt as if I really got to know the characters and could sympathise with their problems.
The ending was particularly poignant, I thought, bringing the various parts of story together beautifully and really making the reader think about whether we create our own reality or whether there are other forces at play.
This is a must read, and Terry Tyler is now one of my favourite authors. I will be reading her other books. This type of book makes me proud to be part of the indie publishing world.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable intelligent chick lit style novel about a magic stone and what happens when people wish on it. That sounds a bit trite but the book brings in eating disorders, mental health issues and more and it's very thought provoking. Picked up free or cheap for the Kindle and I already have another book by the author to read!

[Femaleangelus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what i expected and a really enjoyable read with characters that you actually care about and have depth.
I've got her next book downloaded to my kindle and can't wait to see what that one brings. really looking forward to reading more from Terry Tyler

[Zoe Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked You Wish after I read another book by this author, so I was expectant. Still this book managed to surprise me. From the very first chapter I was drawn into the story in the way I'm not used to. Maybe it was due to the characters that were very well developed, or maybe I kept swallowing chapter after chapter because I never knew what will happen next. I had my guesses, yet the story managed to surprise me with every turn, going into places I would never guess it might go. Toward the end I found myself reading slower and slower; I didn't want this story to end. I wish there was a sequel to this book, but at the same time I know there could be no sequel - the end was rounded up too perfectly, it didn't leave any lose ends.

Two weeks later, after I finished this book, I'm still thinking about the characters as though I had known them for real. To the point that I found myself willing to lend my Kindle to a friend with no e-reader, so she could read this book too. I wish there were more people I could have discuss this book with.
Luckily, this author has more books to offer, so I already picked another one into my Kindle.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this story was very well written and hooked me from the beginning. The characters bring it alive and I could relate to the very real feelings it evoked within them. I didn't think the book was about luck at all, but more about the decisions people make and the consequences of them. It was very cleverly put together and I loved that 'extra' ingredient that always triggers my imagination - the idea of magic.

I don't give spoilers so I cannot say much more.

Highly recommended.

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Terry has won me over!!!!
This was the first of Terry's books I downloaded before I'd read or even heard of the author Terry Tyler. & I have read all her books before I set down to read this....& now I'm asking myself, why did I?
It was a GREAT read!!! & I loved it.

[Claire Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: You Wish by Terry Tyler Publication Date: 5th November 2011
 
ASIN: B006423HGW
 
Source: Author provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
 
Rating: 4½/5
 
YOU WISH was the winner of the "Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit" in the eFestival of Words 2013.
 
Synopsis:
Do we control our own destiny - or might it be determined by fate, coincidence, luck...or even magic?
 
Ruth, an amateur psychic with a husband who smokes cannabis for breakfast, is haunted by a tragic event from her teenage years which, she suspects, was the result of a wish she made on an allegedly enchanted stone. Too embarrassed to admit her fears, she keeps her secret to herself for twenty-five years.
 
Petra is the perennial singleton amongst her friends, unable, she thinks, to fall in love. She comes across the stone at a Psychic Fair and makes a wish, just for fun. As the wish begins to come true she wishes she had chosen her words with more care.
 
Spoilt, weight-obsessed Sarah wants nothing more than to be "size zero". As her life spirals downwards into the seedy world of drug abuse and addiction, she remembers the day at the Psychic Fair when she wished for her heart's desire. 
 
When Ruth learns of the fates of Petra and Sarah she is forced to confront her guilt and discover the truth about the Wishing Stone...
 
Terry Tyler's debut novel is a quirky contemporary drama exploring the themes of family affairs, infidelity and guilt, incorporating jealousy, drug abuse and the obsession of a Facebook stalker, against a backdrop of secrets and superstition. 
 
Review:
Although I've read a few books by this author, I'd somehow neglected to read her début, so she very kindly provided me with a review copy. 
 
You Wish features several different, unrelated characters whose stories are intelligently interwoven around their chance encounter with the Wishing Stone. There are characters to love, characters to loathe and characters to intrigue; all beautifully written in that deliciously descriptive way that great writers have, making you feel like you know them inside out, making you care about what happens to them.
 
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
 
About the author:
Terry lives in the north of England with her husband, and has published ten 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 and mystery thrown in.
LAST CHILD is her latest release; this is the sequel to Kings and Queens, both of which are modern day parallels of events that took place during the Tudor era of history. Terry is now at work on a third 'history revisted' novel, this time based on the women behind the Wars of the Roses. Terry has a blog on which she writes about anything from her favourite TV shows to observations about social networking trends, and also writes for the UK Arts Directory about self-publishing. This year she started a new book blog; on this you can find her own reading choices and those she reads as part of Rosie Amber's book review team. All three blogs are widely read. She is an active Twitter user, and can also be found on Goodreads and Facebook.

[Scott Bury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent book review: You Wish

I admit it, I am probably not the target audience that Terry Tyler had in mind when she wrote You Wish. I’m the wrong sex. But I still liked it.

You Wish could be categorized as “urban paranormal fantasy.” Set in the southern part of the UK and spanning a period from the 80s to 2010, You Wish is about Ruth, a woman who scrapes out a living as a psychic advisor at county fairs and other events, and some of the people she comes into contact with.

As a girl, Ruth finds a magical wishing stone: supposedly, if you touch it and make a wish, the wishes come true. Ruth is deeply conflicted: on one level, she laughs off such a possibility; on another, she’s afraid of the power of an object to grant wishes and keeps the stone hidden most of her life.

However, one day her young daughter sets up a little display at her parents’ psychic display at a local fair; for a charitable donation, anyone can make a wish on the stone. Three people wish on the stone. One, Petra, wishes she could fall in love like all her friends do; Sarah wishes she could lose weight to achieve her lifelong goal of wearing Size Zero clothes; and a childless couple wishes they could conceive a baby.

The story traces how events conspire to realize these wishes—and the horrifying, yet easily foreseeable effects on the characters’ lives.

What I liked
Tyler skillfully weaves the separate stories of the characters together, even bringing some of them back together near the end. She also brings tells Ruth’s back-story well, showing how the young Ruth acquired the wishing stone and the emotional roller-coaster a school-age girl goes through. I have to admit, I’ve seldom had much patience for the drama of the average teenage girl in fiction, but Tyler really knows how to make her reader see through Ruth’s eyes. In a few chapters, Tyler also shows very believably exactly what Ruth is afraid of the stone’s power.

Another thing I really liked is the realism of the story. All the characters were three-dimensional; no one was just an evocation of Tyler’s favourite TV show characters. And the marginal lives of the modern psychics, pathetically selling paintings and psychic readings at fairs and conventions to supplement their social assistance cheques, skimping to raise two children while finding money for dope, shows me that Tyler is not only a skilled observer and reporter of life around her. She doesn’t buy the romantic line that psychics and marginal artists sell. She also shares (I think) my own understanding of “magic.”

Weaknesses
There were very few things about this book to criticize. Sure, there were occasional typos and awkward sentences, but I defy you to find me any book without a few. (Stieg Larsson fans, give up now.)

There were some long information dumps, about the back-stories of Petra (the girl who wished to fall in love) and, to a lesser extent, Sarah. Tyler wrote several passages about Petra’s pursuit of her true love as if she were summing it up for a book report. Many critics have told me to “show, not tell” in my own writing, and for the most part, I think they’re right.

Summary
Overall, however, this is an excellent story, skillfully told. Congratulations to Terry Tyler for proving, yet again, the independent authors are producing excellent books.

4*

[Alan Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never met Terry Tyler but as writers we follow each other on Twitter and Facebook. A few weeks ago this novel showed up as a free Kindle promo and I decided to give it a go.
Straight away I liked the way she timestamps her chapters, and is not afraid to write long ones when they serve the plot. I also like her occasional non-linear approach when she takes us back or forward in time in a way that whets the appetite or gives a sometimes chilling new perspective. It’s effective, and always makes me feel an author has worked that bit harder to deliver the best possible reader experience.
The plot tracks the course of several individuals who long for something seemingly unattainable – losing weight and falling in love are examples - and make a wish in the hope that their dreams will be fulfilled. We get good background on them followed by what happens next in respect of their wishes. At the heart of this is a tale of the origins of the stone they wish on together with details of certain conditions with which they may or may not have complied.
Their stories are interesting and hang on the fascinating hook of the reader being aware of the novel’s by-line of being careful what you wish for. There are sequences of tension, drama, and humour and along the way the book also delivers some interesting observations on austerity Britain. I found one of the stories particularly gripping and admired the skill with which the sexual tension in it is generated.
The conclusion of the novel is extremely effective and includes a splendid last page plot twist. I recommend this accessible but intelligent book to anyone who enjoys a good read and a story that once begun has to be finished.

[Kate’s Book Spot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this eBook when it was available as a free download from Amazon, I discovered this author on Twitter and this is the first book I’ve read from her so I had no idea what to expect.

The prologue was very intriguing, it involved the police and raised many questions in my mind. Chapter one came along with a mind, body and spirit fair which introduced me to the main characters - Ruth was very likeable but a bit of a worrier (the reason for the worrying was revealed later on in the book) and she had found herself in rather an uncomfortable situation. Petra seemed like quite a detached character to begin with, particularly where relationships were concerned but then her obsessiveness shone through and I found myself cringing at some of her excessive online antics. Sarah was moody and very selfish, once I had gotten further into the story I discovered the reason for this and I have to admit that following her on a downward spiral was difficult to read.

The wishing stone brought these women together in a very clever way and the results were entertaining but also quite worrying, especially the drug use. There were a few moments of laughter for me and I loved the way the author had included Facebook throughout with talk of status updates, friend requests and all the social etiquette that goes along with it, this was a part of the book that I could really relate to.

As I read the last few pages I laughed at what it all meant and found myself looking back at the whole story in a different way. The message that I took from the book is to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it!

This was an interesting and thought-provoking read, I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Peter Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

`You Wish' is the first novel I've read by Terry Tyler and it more than came up to expectations. It's a tight, imaginative and poignant story, ingeniously structured and fluently told with an impressive cast of very human and humorous characters (Sarah's job interview at the optician's, for example, is hilarious and so recognizable). It's also a highly perceptive psychological study of adults and young people alike, particularly concerning the emotions of (often irrational) guilt and anxiety which can fester in our minds and consume our lives. Also, it achieves the difficult feat of presenting the gritty surface of everyday reality while suggesting the magical and supernatural which may be lurking just beneath it and be woven into it. This is handled with such subtly and restraint that the author avoids the trap of so much `magic realism' - that of getting carried away and demanding too much of the reader's suspension of belief. Not only was I kept guessing throughout about the direction the story was going to take and how it was going to resolve itself but also found myself thinking about the very nature of life itself and the forces orchestrating it. In a society which is constantly feeding our desires and aspirations, do we really want or need the things we are constantly wishing for, and are our lives really governed and determined by our choices and free will anyway? This colorful novel is so thought-provoking, with so many nooks and crannies and nuances that I would happily read it again and know I would find new things in it. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. Superb.

[Debbie Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a lot of perseverance with this book. Not because it wasn't good, but because it mysteriously deleted itself from my kindle after I'd read the first chapter! Amazon wouldn't let me download it again and it took me a while to find a backed-up copy to drag-and-drop back onto the kindle...

But worth the effort. This book surprised me because it breaks all the "rules" of writing. Lots of telling, lots of exposition and an unusual structure for a novel. But I really enjoyed it. Excellent writing and an ability to get right under the skin of the characters. This was all very believable stuff and very addictive reading. Sometimes I wanted to yell at the characters, which is always a sign of a good book.

And I really wasn't sure how it would end. All through, we never quite know - is there magic involved here, or not? Are we really responsible for our own actions or are their higher powers at work? A clever resolution to a great novel.

[Mandy Baggot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Terry Tyler novel but it won't be my last. The book follows the stories of would-be fortune teller, Ruth, her family and all the people who made wishes on a magical stone at a Bank Holiday fair.

Sarah wants to be thin, Petra wants true love...you follow their lives after their wishes and see if anything comes true. And what of Ruth? Does she really believe in magic and the stone's power?

I confess that I didn't like any of the characters but that didn't matter because they were so well-portrayed and their stories were so intriguing I was rapidly turning the pages to find out what happened.

Definitely recommended!

[Francene Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halfway through the novel, I emerged from the intense revulsion of wishes going haywire for two women to read about a third couple who had wished on a magic stone at a fairground. My mind drew back in horror to think of how their normal, happy lives could change.

That's when I realized the brilliance and subtlety of the author's plot. Apart from a few editing glitches, Terry Tyler's writing in deep point of view drew me along through each woman's slide into degradation. The writing flows smoothly, and plot progresses to a surprising conclusion for the main character.

[Brian Deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would think I was outside the the author's target demographic when she wrote this! But that said I really enjoyed it. The characters were well written (although Petra scared me a little at first :) ) It was a nice easy read with good structure and conclusion. I will definitely be reading more by Terry Tyler in the future.

[Fiona Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. I just loved this. A perfect escape from the stress of my own world. Had me hooked from the first page although scary to realise I could relate to all the Female characters in some way or other! Bang up to date with the Facebook theme too, again a bit too real. Yep got to say it again. I LOVED IT! Terry's next two books already lined up on my Kindle!

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and it made you think about the choices they had made. Will definitely read more by this author.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Amazon Description:
Do we control our own destiny - or might it be determined by fate,
coincidence, luck...or even magic?

Ruth, an amateur psychic with a husband who smokes cannabis for breakfast, is
haunted by a tragic event from her teenage years which, she suspects, was the
result of a wish she made on an allegedly enchanted stone. Too embarrassed to
admit her fears, she keeps her secret to herself for twenty-five years.

Petra is the perennial singleton amongst her friends, unable, she thinks, to
fall in love. She comes across the stone at a Psychic Fair and makes a wish,
just for fun. As the wish begins to come true she wishes she had chosen her
words with more care.

Spoilt, weight-obsessed Sarah wants nothing more than to be "size zero". As
her life spirals downwards into the seedy world of drug abuse and addiction, she
remembers the day at the Psychic Fair when she wished for her heart's desire.

When Ruth learns of the fates of Petra and Sarah she is forced to confront her
guilt and discover the truth about the Wishing Stone...

Terry Tyler's debut novel is a quirky contemporary drama exploring the themes
of family affairs, infidelity and guilt, incorporating jealousy, drug abuse and the
obsession of a Facebook stalker, against a backdrop of secrets and superstition.

Opinions:
My Short Summary:
Actually the amazon description summarizes this book fairly well, so I’m going to refer you to that.

Narration:
Third person mainly through Ruth, Sarah, and Petra

Character Development:
The characters in this book are nicely detailed. The reader gets to go psychologically through the different characters’ problems and understand their reasoning for their actions. The reader experiences their highs and lows and what happens when with their final choices. Out of the three characters, I think Petra’s behavior is most frustrating. I want to tell her to stop and think about what she is doing – and does she realize how she comes across? Sarah’s story stems farther back than Petra’s. I understand more of how she gets to where she does in the story. The root of her story is more predominant in today’s society where almost everyone is obsessing about their weight. Ruth’s major troubles occurs as a teenager. The story allows for flashbacks to her teenaged years. Through her, we have the wishing stone and the connection for the other stories in the book. I feel most people can relate to at least of the characters – if not all – whether through their own similarities or people that they know.

Plot Development/Flow:
First off, I’m not British – even though I sometimes pretend that I am. This book is written with a lot of British slang, which actually I am fine with. I just want to warn those who might not be familiar with some British phrases or sentence structure about this.

The book spans about one year, but there are flashbacks throughout. Each chapter is broken up into one of the main characters and their progress with their wishes and troubles. The story flows along well, and everything ties in by the end. I am a little disappointed that the “magic” stone is not as magically used as I was expecting it to be. So if magic or slight paranormal twists turn you off, you should be fine for this book. The book concentrates more on how people create their own “magic” in their choices.

Standalone or Part of a Series:
Standalone

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Be careful what you wish for’ is the irony within this tale which is flipped on its head, with thought-provoking truth. We are all fascinated by magic and the imagination of things happening that cannot be explained, hence just as it drew the characters in so to does it with the reader making you wonder to yourself whilst reading ‘is there such a thing as magic?!’ I have never been so engrossed within a story which captured my imagination that was such a creative and original storyline as to blow me away. Being character-driven the reader is able to connect to the storyline in an intimate and very personal way, involving yourself within their life stories that capture your very soul. I felt emotionally entwined within a complex and utterly fascinating tale, which made me re-evaluate my own self and beliefs. It was centered on Ruth who had a belief that if someone wished on a stone then it would come true but with horrific consequences, and in many different cases you see this unfolding before your very eyes. With Sarah who was so obsessed with her weight that she turned into a drug addict who was size zero, Petra who fell in love but which turned into an unhealthy fixation, a girl called Savanna who wants to be the next top model but then gets a reality check of her personality and to Fleur the girl whom she idolized and believed in so much. Each character’s story was fascinating and I loved how they ultimately connected and became entwined with each other, like a labyrinth of people who surround this single object. The novel ended with the closure that not only the main character needed but also that the reader so desperately wants too, as this epic saga comes to its dramatic climax and conclusion. This story is about fate, coincidence, beliefs and luck, which we all cling to at some point within our lives and hope upon. It is not about magic spells or some magic cure that we are all seeking as too are the characters within the story, but rather looking at things in a logical and understanding way as life is not always perfect. Whilst reading this book I found myself lost in thought as the author seemed to touch upon everything that is relevant within life, being love, friendship, family and careers. It is something that all age groups can empathize with being that we all still have that ‘dream’ inside of us, when we blow out the candles on the cake and hope that it will come true or when we read our horoscopes. This is a fantastic story that touches your heart and soul, by an accomplished author who has exceeded all expectations entirely. A fantastic storyline that is truly inspired and something I would highly recommend.

[Karena Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TRULY MAGICAL READ!!!

This is the third book of Terry Tyler’s that I have read, and I absolutely LOVED IT! I can honestly say that she is one of my all-time favourite authors. I consider it a real treat to read one of her novels. I savour her books as I do my favourite chocolates, Lindt Truffles! I would love to gobble up all her other books at once, but I like knowing that there is a special treat awaiting me when the perfect time and mood strikes. As with her other novels, I now know that once I start to read one of Tyler’s books, I am not going to want to do anything else or be interrupted. I wait until I have the time to read it in one sitting, because as soon as I start to read her amazing writing, I am instantly drawn right into the book. This April, here in Canada, we had a late winter storm, and I was snowed in and unable to go anywhere. What was to be a busy Saturday afternoon running errands, I was unexpectedly left with free time to indulge myself, so I purchased YOU WISH. The characters in YOU WISH are so relatable that before you know it, you feel as though you have known them forever, or know someone just like them. The multi-dimensional plots and characters in YOU WISH are unpredictable in that delightful way where you just go with the flow and enjoy the ride. I could go on forever and tell you specifically my favourite parts, what I love about each of the characters or the way the plots seamlessly evolve, but I do not wish to spoil it for others. I will say that there are several story lines that are inter-twined and I found that as the book progressed I went from loving, hating and feeling sorry for certain characters. The range of emotions the characters bring out is at times spine tingling. Tyler’s books have such an amazing “feel” to them, that you know it is her distinctive writing style, but each book is completely different. Tyler has an extraordinary gift for writing and I love the fact that I can never predict where the story is going, or how it will end. I am normally pretty good at figuring out how a book is going to end, but Tyler never fails to surprise me! There are two more books of Tyler’s I have still to read, on my Amazon Wish List. However, like Chocolate Truffles, I shall wait until I cannot ignore the craving any longer and I know I am guaranteed another thoroughly entertaining afternoon. Perhaps there will be another snowstorm in May?

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth never feels comfortable being at the psychic fairs she and her husband are having a stand at. She's afraid that someone will dismantle them as frauds and every time she does her work as a psychic she feels stressed. Her husband can't stay away from cannabis and she's quite disappointed in him. One day their daughter joins them at the fair and she's brought Ruth's wishing stone. It's an enchanted stone that makes wishes come true. Because her daughter is donating the small amount of money she's asking to charity there are a lot of customers. One of them is Petra. She's the only one among her friends who hasn't found true love yet. She wishes to fall truly, madly, deeply in love. Sarah is always afraid she will be too fat. She wishes to be a size zero. The wishes are coming true, but both woman had imagined something entirely different when they made their wish. Did the stone put some kind of spell on them to alter their lives and should Ruth feel guilty for letting her daughter take it to the fair?

You Wish has several main characters. Ruth is a kind person, she's insecure, but she has a good heart. Petra appears to be quite cold in the beginning, only there are some surprising hidden depths. Sarah is selfish, spoiled and shallow. I wondered if she had it coming or if the stone influenced the outcome of her life. I loved the little seeds of doubt Terry Tyler keeps planting. I wanted to know more about the stone and about the people who made their wishes. I was also curious about Ruth's past. I couldn't wait to find out more about all the main characters. The stories all come together really well and I liked the outcome of the story very much. It can be wonderful when a wish comes true, but when you want something so badly it's easy to use the wrong words. Is that what happened here and does the stone contain some dangerous ancient magic? If you want to find out for yourself, you should buy the book, you won't be disappointed. Terry Tyler is a great author and this story is fabulous!

[Jenny Twist · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is 2009 and Ruth and her husband Matt have set up a stall at the Mind Body and Spirit Fair in a Norfolk village – Ruth as a reluctant psychic (she doesn’t really believe she has the power) and Matt selling prints of his paintings. Everything would have been all right, perhaps, if their daughter Skye had not suddenly produced an object from Ruth’s past – the Wishing Stone. Ruth does not want to have anything to do with it, but Matt persuades her to let Skye set up her own table and charge the fair-goers a pound each to wish on the stone.
Throughout the day people pass by the stall, some stopping to look at Matt’s pictures, some going into Ruth’s tent to have their fortunes told, and some making a wish on the stone.
Seventeen of them, in fact. Seventeen people wish on the stone, and one by one their wishes come true – sort of.
We don’t find out until near the end just why Ruth is so reluctant to let people wish on the stone and what her own wish had been.

I’ve been following Terry Tyler on Twitter for a while and, having read many comments on her work, I expected her to be good. But she is not just good, she is astounding!
She can do it. She can take you to another world and leave you in there. For a couple of blessed days I lived in Ruth’s world and that of the hapless people who had wished on the stone.
Terry Tyler is one of those authors you feel excited to have discovered. Her writing style reminds me of that of Kate Atkinson and Nicci French – fluent, readable, utterly compelling.
I have to go now. She’s written 6 novels and I need to download the rest.

[Vanessa Wester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this book months ago for free, and have only just got round to reading it since I collect a lot of free ebooks via Twitter!

When I started reading it I had no idea where it was going and (to be honest) did not think it was my kind of read at all... BUT... Was I wrong?!

As soon as the story unravelled I became completely engrossed and hooked, reading it at every chance (which during the summer holidays with the kids is hard going).

The premise of the story is that the main character, Ruth, owns a magic "wishing stone" that makes bad things happen... I will not say more because I do not want to give a spoiler!

As we find out more about Ruth, her past, and the people she has befriended I could visualise all the characters so clearly that I began to feel their pain, and at times even gasped out loud (in my head screaming... "No Way..."). 

I have never read a book like this... It talks about drugs, relationships, the ache of teenage years and disappointments. All discussed with so much ease that it made the issues normal (as they should be). I have never understood the need to smoke and do drugs, but this books helped me understand why some people choose to go down that road and how easily it can happen.

I highly recommend this book for those wishing to go down memory lane and relive 80's moments (I did love Dynasty!). Saying this, it is definitely a book for adults by the content and use of language.

I could easily see this book as a film... It is extremely clever and original! Can't believe I got it for free...

I hope this review helped :)

[K J Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Wish is an interesting take on the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for”. The adage is old, but the writing here is fresh. Whilst not as accomplished a work as the other Terry Tyler novel I’ve read - Dream On , this, to me, is still a five star read.

It’s not perfect – chapter 12, I thought, needn’t exist – and there are some inconsistencies in the style: some is six star, some only four! The six star stuff were the parts concerning the weight obsessed Sarah and her decline into ... I can’t say, it would spoil the plot for others, and the sections about Petra and her obsession with ... no, can’t say, I don’t want to ruin it! The five star sections concerned Ruth and her family – straying into six star territory from time to time, and particularly when we learn what happened to her friend Jessica back in the 80s: it the pivotal moment for me.

What I consider the four star sections are where Ms Tyler gives us the back stories of the main characters up-front: it works in this book, but generally I like to have these drip-fed to me with the main narrative, or to be flash-backs partway into the story. However, in You Wish , it is done with style and panache, so don’t be put off, just be aware.

So my final pronouncement is that You Wish is a very accomplished first novel and fully deserving of all the four and five star reviews it has attained. Oh, and I think I’m turning into a bit of girl.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Terry Tyler I have read and loved. I think I have downloaded most of her others too, will check and purchase any I have missed. Yet another great read with good characters and story lines.
I just loved how you are lead to believe one thing all through the book and then it shifts at the end and you think "of course!"
There wasn't one bad character here. I was interested in all of them. Actually, I couldn't put this down and read it over 2 days. (I tagged it as reading awhile ago, but didn't actually start it for various reasons).
Probably Petra was my favourite. That was like a car crash, and I also kept hoping she would get her man. The Facebook stalking angle was good - Terry seems to be one of the few authors who use it well in their stories - it is a huge part of people's lives (for better or worse). I'm sure most of us have done similar, though hopefully not gone as far as poor Petra!
I didn't especially like Sarah, but I enjoyed her story. She really did need a kick up the bum, but it's to Terry's credit that she's still somewhat sympathetic. In spite of her bad behaviour!
Ruth is also a good character. I was happy with how her story ended. I loved reading about her past in the 80's too. The story with Jessica and the guy she liked (have blanked on his name) was really sad. As for Fleur, what a madam. She was so cold at the end.
Highly recommend. How is Terry not published, her books are way better than many who are. Quality women's fiction.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read an excellent review on this book, I decided to download to read for myself. I have to say I am really pleased I did.

A modern day twist on the saying "Be careful what you wish for". The story centres round 3 women a "wishing" stone and the wishes made upon the stone.

The wishes made; are wishes I think many women have made in passing, whether it is to find and be loved, lose and maintain weight, and regain a lost love. I know I have, but this is a cautionary tale of things may not be as rosey as you hoped when that wish comes true.

You find yourself identifying with the main characters Ruth, Petra and Sarah, I think I found a little bit of me within all of them. Petra's story had me looking at how I interact on social media network and may make you look at your actions as well, Ha Ha ! Sarah's story is vanity really worth it, and Ruth's tale is holding on to a secret worth the guilt that goes with it.

I know now, if I ever had the chance to make a wish it would be to be content with my lot........what could possibly go wrong with that one!!

I would highly recommend this book

[Alice Huskisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a Kindle for my birthday and knew immediately which book I should choose in order to lose my eBook virginity. I'd seen YOU WISH by Terry Tyler being tweeted far and wide by many authors at Twitter and had already read a lot of reviews about it. Easy choice, and I must say, an EXCELLENT one!

I like an easy read, not one that goes in to the deepest detail, but one which tells me just enough to allow me to use my imagination and create pictures of the characters in my head. I like a lot of conversation with a simple and yet unpredictable story. YOU WISH is written in a lovely style and ticked all of my boxes.

The story is clever and all the characters are 100% believable. I clung on to Petra's every word and move and was eager to see what she would do next - I simply had to keep reading - it was addictive. I was only able to find time to read each night in bed, and I had trouble turning out the light once I'd reached the second half of the book. A fab story, great characters, and very entertaining. Nice one, Terry! I'll be back for more.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is our Destiny determined by Fate or do we control it? Ruth is an amateur Psychic who scrapes out a living as a psychic advisor at fairs and other events,As a young girl Ruth found a magical wishing stone: if you touch it and make a wish supposedly the wish will come true.Ruth at first laughs it off. But she is also afraid of the power such an object may hold so she keeps it hidden for most of her life. However one day Ruth's young daughter sets up a little display at her parents psychic fair for a charitable donation anyone can make a wish on the stone. Three people make a wish.Petra wishes to fall in love, Sarah wishes to lose enough weight to wear size zero clothes and a childless couple wishes to concieve a baby. The story tells how the events conspire to realize there wishes- and the easily foreseeable effects on there lives. Very well written i throughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Terry Tyler

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of the burgeoning authors’ community, I read lots of novels by relatively unknown writers and always start a new one with a slight sinking feeling; is this going to be a badly-edited self-published book that I’m going to struggle with? So it was with a great sense of relief and pleasure that I realised my fears were unfounded where ‘You Wish’ is concerned. Terry Tyler’s writing is fluid, readable and well-edited. That is not to say that the story is a light one. It chronicles the lives of three women, both in the present and in flashbacks. There are some dark moments, especially in the story of Sarah’s descent into addiction and Petra’s cautionary tale made me very glad Facebook wasn’t around when I was her age. Ruth story is both tragic and heart-warming and I didn’t spot the ending in advance.

The high number of positive reviews for this book is justified. This is the first book of Tyler’s that I have read. It won’t be the last.