Whatever It Takes

by T STRAATMAN

Whatever It Takes is book two in the Boys of Darcel House series.She’s always been a princess, but for tonight I’m crowning her my queen.

Whatever It Takes is a steamy romantic suspense with darker themes.I was only seven years old when I arrived at Darcel House. I remember being told I was going to stay with other boys like me; it sounds comical now. The only thing we had in common was that our innocence had been taken away from us.

But, it was within those messed-up walls of Darcel House that I met four boys who became my family. We were connected by one person in particular, someone who now has a lot to answer for—Louise Montgomery.

It had been years since any of us had spoken her name, that was until Tanner’s little sister Emmalyn walked into my workshop; all grown up and far too tempting for any man to lay eyes on.

Emmalyn’s trip home set off a domino effect. But, unlike the boys who became my brothers, she was determined to clean up her mess all by herself.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

Reviews

[Shazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was certainly a ride! I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting. The way this is written brings out so many emotions in me and for an author to be able to do that to a reader is a talent!

Following the story of The Dracel House boys this one certainly takes us on an adventure.
There is a character that I absolutely hate in this and just want him to be taken out in the most horrendous way!

There are a few characters I just want gone but without them then we wouldn't have characters to despise would we? lol

The plane scene....damn! So steamy!

Fav Quotes:
" You can't take what's freely given"
"Even the tiniest of flowers can have the toughest roots"
"She has always been a princess, but for tonight I'm crowning her my Queen" (swoon!)

T.Straatman has once again dragged me into her world and created a series that will forever be on my highly recommended lost!

Five stars all the way!

[Nina Pelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!!
When I say that this series has me in a chokehold you better believe it. Again so fortunate to have received the ARC copy and this story did not disappoint.
It follows Harley and Em who is Tanner’s sister and the dynamic between these characters is amazing. Something I love about these books is that the stories of both the MMC and the FMC are individually interesting and complex but also connect to one another, creating and adding to the bigger plot.
Em’s story is devastating but she shows true strength and independence and is true to what she believes and Harley is her rock.
Such a great story and series!

[Brooke’s Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think I could love anyone more than Kinsley and Tanner.. Enter Harley and Emmalyn 😍
This book was such a rollercoaster of emotions I fear I’ll never recover. I cried, laughed, gasped and felt genuine concern for characters. T Straatman is such a force to be reckoned with and I am so desperate for book 3.
There was suspense for days and yearning like you wouldn’t believe, I wish I could give Whatever It Takes 6 stars.
Have you ever cried over some recliners? No? Well you’re about too xx

[Roxy Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever It Takes

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶

First off thank you to T Straatman for this amazing opportunity to arc read Whatever it takes. Like damn this was such an amazing book from start to finish.

Well where do I begin with this one, it was such a great read that hooked me and literally wanted to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely loved Emmalyn and Harley's book so much. This book had me in suspense the whole time. I found myself giggling in some parts and also feeling for Emmalyn that went through hell and back throughout this book. Loved all the characters in this one with Harley, Carter, Tanner, Zach and Bubs aka Josh. This book pulled at my heart strings and literally when Harley gets a call from Emmalyn saying that she basically has fucked up and needs him. Harley puts everything aside to go find her and bring her home. The connection between these guys is insane and they stick together like a family. They have all gone through hell but have managed to pull through and live their lives. This was hands down a 5 star read for me and literally can't wait for the next book as I absolutely need more and more of the boys stories.

There are heavy and dark themes in this book. Please read the list of warnings before you start reading. These can be found on the authors website.

[❥LADYT | 𓃠 ꫂ ၴႅၴ ☕︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Whatever It Takes - T. Straatman
5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️

⚠️ TW - while this book is not considered as dark as most dark romance books, this book still has a few triggers and a dark tone.
• non-consensual s-x
• m-rder
• human traff!cking / human auctioning
• mafia ties

Tropes
• found family
• pining (best friends sister / brothers best friend)
• motorcycle club
• friends? To lovers
• badass fmc
• mafia
• forced proximity
• f-ck it moment
• slow burn

“Make a wish, Tanner,” Emmalyn sings, shoving a dandelion in his face. “I wish you would stop doing that,” he mumbles, before sneezing and the little dandelion ‘fairies’ as she calls them, go flying off in the breeze. Emmalyn falls over laughing and I can’t help but chuckle too. “If you just blew them, she would stop waving them under your nose. You know that right?”
——————
T. Straatman, wow. I absolutely enjoyed Harley & Emmalyn’s story, while -thankfully- I wasn’t left emotionally damaged this time around , cause let me be honest, I don’t think I could’ve handled that AGAIN, but the story blew me away. Edge of my seat, like what’s going to happen? All the mystery , connections and the darcel house. Their story was perfect, and I’m so happy for them both !

im excited for the next book!

[Reds Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes
- Brother's best friend
- Found Family
- Trauma &Healing
- Secrets
- Feminine Rage
- Duel POV


"Staring down at her message, something sparks deep within me. The beginning of a flame; a burning need to watch over her myself."

"Even the tiniest of flowers, can have the toughest roots."

"Shes always been a princess, but for tonight I'm crowning her my Queen."

Whatever it Takes is book two in the Boys of Darcel House series, and it did not disappoint, I was locked in from the first paragraph.

There was so much depth, in the characters, the back stories, the emotions.

T. Straatman has the ability to suck you in, and make you feel things, all the feels, I went from giggling and kicking my feet, to sad to absolute rage in the space of a few chapters.

What I adore about this book (absolutely everything) was the growth of the not only the characters, but the plot across the series, your getting everything you need for this book, while also seeing snippets of foreshadowing for the books to come.

The spice was spicing. The plot was plotting. Overall 10 stars 🌟 I can't recommend this series and this author enough.

[Tiffany Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of this book and I couldn’t be happier that I did.

The FMC Emmalyn is such an incredible character, she has such a drive and resilience that is admirable to say the least. She is so strong willed and the emotion that is conveyed through her story is incredible. For a character to show such raw emotion is so refreshing to see, especially for such a range of emotions to be shown.

The MMC Harley is the best character so far in my opinion. He is the perfect balance of good for you but will literally burn the world for you.

I love that their story follows on and intertwines with that of Kinsley and Tanner from the first book. I love just how connected all their stories are. Whether they know it or not. I can’t put into words just how much emotion is portrayed in these stories. Nor can I put into words just how excited I am to see where this journey takes us in book 3. What really went down in the Darrel house?

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever it takes
Never have i ever read a book that is so jam packed with plot and drama and in saying that it all flowed so well to. You had me in deeeeep and feeling the emotions from page 1. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke, and I felt emotions ive not felt before.
Whatever it takes has climbed to my number 1 spot and it will live with me forever. I love how it ties in with you are the reason and has incredible stories about characters you may have forgotten about. Whatever it takes is so different to you are the reason but in a good way.
Whatever it takes is unputdownable and I forgot I was even reading. I flew through this incredible read. Not once was I bored and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I will never find the words to just how incredible Whatever it takes is and I seriously cant wait for more.
You have left me at craving so much more.

[Payton Caudillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**

I’d been eagerly waiting for this book, and it was absolutely worth it! I tore through it needing to know what would happen next. I loved that it picked up right after the first one, especially since Darcel House remains such a mystery with so many unanswered questions. While not everything is revealed yet, that only makes me more excited for the next book.

The plot was gripping, and the author has a real talent for pulling you in and keeping you invested. The short chapters made it easy to fly through, though I do wish a few moments had been expanded to give more depth but overall, it worked beautifully. Harley and Emmalyn were fantastic. I enjoyed learning their backstories and watching them grow individually and together.

All in all, this series has me hooked, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

[Teagan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read more of the boys of Darcel house, and I loved Harley and Emmalyn almost as much as Kinsley and Tanner. Book one ended with so many unanswered questions for me that I couldn't wait to dive into book 2!

There are so many secrets yet to be discovered from Darcel House, and so many little loose ends still to explore that will eventually tie everything together, and because of that, I can't wait for book 3!

I can assure you that you will be captured from the very beginning, feel so many different emotions, and connect to a range of different characters, some you will love some you will hate, and just like book 1 you'll find more than one character you can relate or connect to on a deeper level leaving you needing more.

[Dani💓 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

had the pleasure of getting early access to this arc as being apart of T Straatmans page spreaders street team 🫶🏻

Firstly Harley the man you are 🥵 I love a good brothers best friend troupe, but pair that up with childhood friends and you have a perfect book!
Whatever it takes is book 2 in the boys of darcel house, a place where a group of boys become not only friends but brothers. All of the boys were personally chosen and placed here after all experiencing childhood trauma.
This book went on a wild ride from the get go and I loved every minute of it.
And the plane scene, if you know you know 🥵
One of my fav quotes from this book:
“She has always been a princess, but for tonight I’m crowing her my Queen” 🙊🥹

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

[Stephanie Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from page one! I absolutely loved diving into the boys’ past at Darcel House, finally getting answers about how they ended up there and what really went down. Every detail felt like a breadcrumb, and I swear I spent half the book playing detective, wondering if each twist was a clue. And Louise Montgomery? I need more about her ASAP!

Emmalyn (our FMC) was such a powerhouse. Her strength and tenacity had me cheering her on. I wanted to jump into the pages and fight her battles right alongside her. Watching her reclaim her life was so satisfying.

And Harley? Whew. Protective, possessive, and full-on “touch her and you die” vibes. The angst of him holding back because of Tanner was equal parts adorable and maddening, I was screaming, just take her already!

The airplane scene? Someone fan me down. 🔥 And the piercings… do I even need to say more?

This one didn’t wreck me emotionally like book one, but it still packed a punch in its own way. The suspense, the mystery, the tension, it’s all there. And now I’m desperate for book three because that ending left me needing answers!

[Shelby draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved hearing emma and harley’s story so much! it’s not as spicy as the first one though, in the first book of the series the smut starts in the second chapter. in this one it doesn’t start until 65% in but i LOVE a slow burn so im not complaining. this book had me laughing and then stressing out 5 minutes later. i loved every second of it. i didn’t cry over this one at all (thank god because T had me crying like a baby in the last one) but they’re were a lot of moments that melted my heart.
watching harley’s childhood trauma be fixed in his childhood and adult life was really touching.
emma had a pretty rough start but im so happy it turned around for her in the end.
i can’t wait for the next book and the rest of the series to really tie it all together.

[Mikayla Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever it takes by is the amazing sequel to Your the Reason. It follows Emmalyn and Harley as well as the boys from Darrel House. Emmalyn finds herself in undesirable circumstances due to her parents. When Harley finds out he is beside himself with all the emotions. Harley, Emmalyn, the boys from Darrel House and a bunch of mysterious other bikers It follows on from Book 1 and we meet Harley,the boys frim Darcel House and an undesirable mafia family. We follow them as they hunt down and serve justice to those who need it. I was most excited to be reunited with them, but more excited to have Lou Loo along for the ride. A 5 ✨ read and one that look forward to having as a book trophy.

[Claire Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whatever It Takes is book two in the Boys of Darcel House series and follows Harley and Emmalyn’s story. This romantic suspense had me on the edge of my seat more than once, with plenty of tension and twists to keep me hooked.

The story does cover some very heavy topics, so I’d definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. That said, these themes were handled in a way that added depth and intensity to the overall narrative.

Overall, I really enjoyed this instalment and am keen to continue on with the series. Looking forward to the next book! Thank you to T. Straatman for the ARC.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK 125 OF 2025 📚

💄 WHATEVER IT TAKES - T STRAATMAN  💄

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Whatever It Takes is the second book in the Boys of Darcel House series. It follows Emmalyn and Harley, as they try to resist temptation whilst also trying to deal with threats to their happiness and family.

What I loved: I really enjoyed this one! The characters were fleshed out really well, and I appreciated how the author spent a good amount of time in setting up their backstories. It gave them much more depth, and also the ability to grow. I also felt it was so necessary to the story and the overall message to better understand their connection and all the relationships in the story. Allowing the characters to grow and expand with the story was essential to me really enjoying it and connecting so deeply with the characters. The plot was another excellent aspect of this story. I loved how it just continued on from the first, which helped with the overall flow and pacing of the story. It was super interesting and intriguing, and I think the author was really able to draw the reader in and invest them in the characters. It was unique, but handled with such care that it didn't feel out of place or unrealistic. It was explored with the right amount of depth, and I felt the character's behaviours and actions were believable. Whilst it may not have been how I would have reacted, I think it's incredibly important to read from others perspectives to get a better understanding of the variety of human emotions and responses. The writing was great and engaging, and the short chapters made me fly through!

What didn't work: I think in some parts, I would have liked a bit more description and explaining. It's good sometimes to infer, but some times I just want it all laid out for me in simple terms! Some scenes could have been extended just to make sure the reader really understood what was going on. But in saying that, it does just come down to personal preference.

Final recc: Definitely reccomend this series to those wanting that depth along with their spice!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the boys of Darcel house series..

T’s writing just captivates me, both of her books are easy to read and follow along with the story she is telling.

This book is a brother’s best friend, strong FMC, found family and more to love. You just feel so invested in all the characters and want to know all there stories and I want more from who we have already learnt about in both book 1 and 2.

Both books do have triggers, so please check those before deciding to proceed.

For a newly self published author, T’s has done an amazing job

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t walk… RUN!!! This book follows on from the first story of The Darcel House Boys and this one does not disappoint. Please read in order for the interconnection but I think this one may be my new favourite.

Harley and Emmalyn 😍 I have no words for these two 🥰

The emotional rollercoaster this book took me on was intense and I still don’t think I had fully recovered from the first book.
I could not put this book down and OMG the plane scene…. 🥵delightful!!

I laughed, cried, got angry at a character and the feared for another.

Thank you T Straatman for another AMAZING book that broke me and yet keeps me wanting
more at the same time. I cannot wait for book 3.

To anyone on the fence about reading this book…. Please read this, I promise it is worth the ride.

[Amanda Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever It Takes by T. Straatman had me hooked from the start. Harley and Emmalyn were everything — their chemistry was intense, emotional, and impossible to put down. I absolutely loved the brother’s best friend trope, and this one was done so well.
The author truly makes you feel all the feelings. From swoony moments to emotional gut punches, I was fully invested the entire time. If you love heartfelt romance with depth, tension, and unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 completely blew me away, but Book 2 managed to surpass even that. Tiarne, I’m honestly in awe of your storytelling. This journey had me laughing one moment and crying the next (just like with Book 1!). Harley and Em stole my heart, and I’m already counting down the days to see what you bring us in Book 3.

[Skye Sypott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so excited to read this since finishing You are the Reason and it definitely did not disappoint! T’s writing is just so easy to read it makes me want to binge read every time!

It was a wild ride and even though It had a different vibe to the first one and didn’t completely rip my heart out like last time, it still gave me all the feels. There was just something so familiar about being back with the boys of Darcel house and it felt like being with old friends.

I loved Harley and Emmalyn both as individuals and together. Emmalyn sure had to go through some shit to get through the trauma and come out the other side but she totally nailed feminine rage and was a total badass! Not only was Harley sweet under his bikie boss exterior but he loved and supported Emma as she needed and allowed her to do things on her terms despite him wanting to protect her.

I cannot wait to keep going on the journey with more of the Darcel house boys! Thanks T for having me as an ARC reader again 💋💕

[mistys_bookobsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boys of Darrel House have me in a chokehold. T, this was amazing. Emmalyn is a warrior, and thank you so much for giving me Harley. I didn't think you could top Tanner but you did. I have so many questions and can't wait to read more about these boys.

[Fiona Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has done it again! I loved Book 1 and now Book 2 has blown me away! It is so good to get into the Darcel House storyline. So many twists and turns and this book held my attention the whole time! I can't wait for Book 3 to continue the stories of the Boys of Darcel House!

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

T did such a good job with this book. it's absolutely amazing. I devoured it. Harley is now a top book bf of mine. This series has been so good. I can't wait for the next one.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ ARC

Ugh this was so good, a gripping story from Harley and Em ! Kept me wanting more the whole way through !
Can’t wait to see what’s next !

[Nikkii · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a fierce heroine, a protective MC president, and a storyline packed with grit, trauma, and found family vibes, Whatever It Takes delivers all of it.

Our FMC Emmalyn is strong in a way that feels raw and real—surviving an abusive mafia ex and clawing her way toward healing on her own terms. Enter her brother’s best friend Harley, the brooding MC president who’s equal parts danger and safety. Their tension? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their connection? Built slowly, with trust, patience, and just the right amount of bite.

The story weaves together family secrets, suspense, and a cast of ride-or-die side characters who bring that perfect found family warmth to balance out the darker themes. Trauma isn’t romanticized here—it’s confronted, felt, and healed through strength, love, and support.

If you’re after a dark-ish romance that blends heart, heat, and high stakes, this one needs to be on your radar.
🔥 Strong FMC
🔥 Brother’s best friend / MC president
🔥 Mafia danger + abusive ex
🔥 Trauma & healing arc
🔥 Found family
🔥 Secrets, suspense, and tension you’ll feel in your bones

Whatever It Takes truly lives up to its name.