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True Colors: A Novel
Isabelle de Luna is only seven when she witnesses the violent murder of her mother, Spanish artist Althea de Luna, in their Barcelona hotel room. Althea's marriage to wealthy textile entrepreneur Martin de Luna has been troubled in its final days, and he is arrested as a suspect in his wife's killing. With her mother dead and her father imprisoned, Isabelle is sent to live with family friends Miranda and Luis Duran in New Mexico.
When Martin dies in prison from heart failure, the Durans decide to raise Isabelle, with their adopted daughter Nina, as their own. As the girls mature, each discovers her own unique talent: Isabelle has inherited Althea's gift for painting, and Nina is a promising storyteller. But when Nina discovers the horrible circumstances of her adoption --- a secret the Durans hoped she would never learn --- she breaks all ties with her family and moves to New York City to seek her fame as a journalist and revenge against the family she believes has betrayed her.
The two women, raised as the closest sisters, become enemies. Isabelle, victimized by Nina's vendetta against her and emboldened by a search for love and the need to discover the truth about her mother's murder, must dig deeply into her past, confront her personal demons, and face a frightening truth.
When Martin dies in prison from heart failure, the Durans decide to raise Isabelle, with their adopted daughter Nina, as their own. As the girls mature, each discovers her own unique talent: Isabelle has inherited Althea's gift for painting, and Nina is a promising storyteller. But when Nina discovers the horrible circumstances of her adoption --- a secret the Durans hoped she would never learn --- she breaks all ties with her family and moves to New York City to seek her fame as a journalist and revenge against the family she believes has betrayed her.
The two women, raised as the closest sisters, become enemies. Isabelle, victimized by Nina's vendetta against her and emboldened by a search for love and the need to discover the truth about her mother's murder, must dig deeply into her past, confront her personal demons, and face a frightening truth.
553 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
26 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Doris Mortman
33 books44 followersI was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico—before it was chic. My family moved to the East when I was three. I grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and went to Skidmore College when it was still an all girl's school.
Being a lifelong wordsmith led me to such jobs as writing copy at ad agencies and doing sales promotions at Mademoiselle magazine. My first book, Circles, was published in 1984 as a paperback original and stayed on The New York Times Bestseller List for three months. Since then, I've published First Born, Rightfully Mine, The Wild Rose, True Colors, The Lucky Ones, Out of Nowhere, Before and Again, Shades of Red, and recently The Nest, the first in a series: Country Club Crimes. With both the hard and soft cover publications, I've resided on Bestseller Lists many times and have nearly twenty million books in print worldwide, with translations in fourteen languages.
I've been married for thirty-one years to a classic Type A personality who works hard, plays hard, sleeps fast, thinks deeply, and believes that commuting is a form of vehicular combat. I have two grown children, a daughter-in-law and two gorgeous grand girls!
My hobbies include golf, bridge and raising funds for breast cancer research.
Being a lifelong wordsmith led me to such jobs as writing copy at ad agencies and doing sales promotions at Mademoiselle magazine. My first book, Circles, was published in 1984 as a paperback original and stayed on The New York Times Bestseller List for three months. Since then, I've published First Born, Rightfully Mine, The Wild Rose, True Colors, The Lucky Ones, Out of Nowhere, Before and Again, Shades of Red, and recently The Nest, the first in a series: Country Club Crimes. With both the hard and soft cover publications, I've resided on Bestseller Lists many times and have nearly twenty million books in print worldwide, with translations in fourteen languages.
I've been married for thirty-one years to a classic Type A personality who works hard, plays hard, sleeps fast, thinks deeply, and believes that commuting is a form of vehicular combat. I have two grown children, a daughter-in-law and two gorgeous grand girls!
My hobbies include golf, bridge and raising funds for breast cancer research.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 1, 2025
This is one of my favourite novels and I read it almost every 5 years. I picked it up for $2 at the local library fire sale, and never understood why it didn't gain more popularity.
True Colors is a compelling tale of two sisters, Isabelle de Luna – the artist, and Nina Duran – the writer, whose intertwined lives are marked by complexities of the art world, pre-internet fame, ambition, and deep-seated family secrets. Set against the vibrant backdrops of Santa Fe, Barcelona, and New York City, the novel explores themes of identity, betrayal, and the enduring impact of the past. An excellent scouring of the art world and its inherent problems of power and control. It's a story that resonates with the complexities of human relationships and the enduring struggle for personal redemption.
Orphaned in Barcelona and traumatised, Isabelle is taken in by the compassionate Duran family in Santa Fe, where she grows up alongside their adopted daughter, Nina. While Isabelle channels her pain into painting, emerging as a talented artist, Nina harbors ambitions of her own, driven by a desire to escape her past and redefine herself. As Isabelle's art garners international acclaim, Nina's envy and unresolved issues culminate in professional rivalry. Mortman skillfully delves into the complexities of sisterhood, especially as Nina uncovers unsettling truths about her own origins.
It's strength lies in its rich character development and the intricate portrayal of relationships tested by ambition and past traumas. Mortman paints a vivid picture of the art world, capturing both its allure and its darker financially motivated undercurrents. The narrative is further enriched by its diverse settings, from the artistic enclaves of Santa Fe to the bustling streets of Manhattan, each locale adding depth to the protagonists' journeys.
True Colors is a richly woven narrative that examines the bonds of sisterhood, the scars of the past, and the transformative power of art and ambition.
True Colors is a compelling tale of two sisters, Isabelle de Luna – the artist, and Nina Duran – the writer, whose intertwined lives are marked by complexities of the art world, pre-internet fame, ambition, and deep-seated family secrets. Set against the vibrant backdrops of Santa Fe, Barcelona, and New York City, the novel explores themes of identity, betrayal, and the enduring impact of the past. An excellent scouring of the art world and its inherent problems of power and control. It's a story that resonates with the complexities of human relationships and the enduring struggle for personal redemption.
Orphaned in Barcelona and traumatised, Isabelle is taken in by the compassionate Duran family in Santa Fe, where she grows up alongside their adopted daughter, Nina. While Isabelle channels her pain into painting, emerging as a talented artist, Nina harbors ambitions of her own, driven by a desire to escape her past and redefine herself. As Isabelle's art garners international acclaim, Nina's envy and unresolved issues culminate in professional rivalry. Mortman skillfully delves into the complexities of sisterhood, especially as Nina uncovers unsettling truths about her own origins.
It's strength lies in its rich character development and the intricate portrayal of relationships tested by ambition and past traumas. Mortman paints a vivid picture of the art world, capturing both its allure and its darker financially motivated undercurrents. The narrative is further enriched by its diverse settings, from the artistic enclaves of Santa Fe to the bustling streets of Manhattan, each locale adding depth to the protagonists' journeys.
True Colors is a richly woven narrative that examines the bonds of sisterhood, the scars of the past, and the transformative power of art and ambition.
July 28, 2020
Why is there no movie adaptation of this book?! And why are people not reading Doris Mortman's books?! This book broke my heart. Literally. Though what I loved about it was... ALL OF IT. You get to witness how the two main characters of this book becomes what they wanted themselves to be to prove something. It's all about power, ties, and fame. Art was a key to this... everything was written beautifully. I was in love and drunk with the words Doris had written. I went along with the ride, every place each character had set foot upon. Everything about it is magical!!!
Women run this show and they rocked it!!! 😍
Women run this show and they rocked it!!! 😍
March 18, 2024
What a great book
May 10, 2025
I'm not sure how to give a half, but this is 3.5 for me. It dragged on way too long. It started out interesting but as Isabelle got older and became an artist, there was way too much time spent on her career.The author could have jumped in time and you would have been able to figure out what was going on. The very end was good, which gave you the answer to the killer.
November 6, 2018
I am in love with Doris Mortman’s books! Another fantastic story with wonderful characters and rich depictions of scene. She is truly masterful in weaving a tale.
October 25, 2020
Long but good read.
January 24, 2021
Great settings, intense sibling rivalry ..... and my copy was autographed!
July 11, 2016
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. Romance? Suspense? Really, it contained all of that. The story of the two sisters and their contrasting lives was well-woven. I don’t care a lick about the business of art, but the book didn’t lose me with its talk of gallery owners and art classes. The climax was fitting and satisfying, even with the final twist foreshadowed with a bright neon sign.
September 5, 2012
This book was Ok, I really enjoyed some of it but at times, didn't like certain things. Could have been my mood I guess lol. I thought the main character let people walk all over her way too much. I also didn't really like the way the end came together. I think her character should have & could have been a little stronger & the ending could have been better but it was Ok.
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January 23, 2014Excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews