What do you think?
Rate this book
The Santiago Sisters
Bound by blood. Separated by scandal.
Growing up on a ranch in Patagonia, twins Calida and Terisita Santiago have never known a world without each other. Introverted Calida can’t imagine life anywhere else but feisty Terisita dreams of fame and fortune.
World-famous English actress Simone Geddes believes that her profile would benefit from a PR boost and has decided to adopt. A potential family has been identified in Argentina and Simone and her team are en route to a meeting when her driver takes a wrong turn and she ends up at the Santiago ranch. There she becomes enchanted by the beautiful 14 year old Terisita and makes an offer to Julia, the sisters’ mother who has struggled to cope since the death of her husband.
Without either twin knowing the truth, Terisita is whisked to a life of luxury in London with Simone. Soon her old life in Argentina is nothing but a distant memory and all she feels is hatred towards the sister who she believes abandoned her. Meanwhile Calida tries to understand how her beloved sister could have turned her back on them and left without a word.
As the years pass, where the sisters were once connected by love, now it is a shared hatred that fuels them as each one vows revenge…
The Santiago Sisters is a story of the love, loyalty and betrayal which run through the lives of the rich and famous.
Growing up on a ranch in Patagonia, twins Calida and Terisita Santiago have never known a world without each other. Introverted Calida can’t imagine life anywhere else but feisty Terisita dreams of fame and fortune.
World-famous English actress Simone Geddes believes that her profile would benefit from a PR boost and has decided to adopt. A potential family has been identified in Argentina and Simone and her team are en route to a meeting when her driver takes a wrong turn and she ends up at the Santiago ranch. There she becomes enchanted by the beautiful 14 year old Terisita and makes an offer to Julia, the sisters’ mother who has struggled to cope since the death of her husband.
Without either twin knowing the truth, Terisita is whisked to a life of luxury in London with Simone. Soon her old life in Argentina is nothing but a distant memory and all she feels is hatred towards the sister who she believes abandoned her. Meanwhile Calida tries to understand how her beloved sister could have turned her back on them and left without a word.
As the years pass, where the sisters were once connected by love, now it is a shared hatred that fuels them as each one vows revenge…
The Santiago Sisters is a story of the love, loyalty and betrayal which run through the lives of the rich and famous.
- GenresChick Lit
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2015
16 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Fox
246 books136 followersVictoria Fox lives in Bristol with her husband and young daughter. She used to work in publishing and is now the author of seven novels. Visit her at victoriafox.net and on Twitter @VFoxWrites.
Victoria's favourite things are blustery walks, golden retrievers and Argentinean red wine.
Victoria's favourite things are blustery walks, golden retrievers and Argentinean red wine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 28, 2016
Ever since I embarked on this Hollywood-related wagon of hers with the sizzling 2011 HOLLYWOOD SINNERS...
http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.ca/2016...
http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.ca/2016...
October 20, 2016
Travel the globe via fiction - pure escapism....
A novel set in Argentina, London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York. Oh, and let’s not forget Barbados, St. Tropez and Tuscany!
There should be no surprises here. You know when you open a novel set in such a plethora of glamorous places, what it’s going to deliver. It’s going to be a sensational, intrigue-laden romp at breakneck speed across the globe. It’s going to be full of spoilt, super-rich characters, who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals and you know you’re not going to be troubled too much by weighty ideas or moral issues. And Fox’s novel delivers on it all.
Twins Calida and Teresita Santiago are born to a mismatched Argentinian couple and spend their childhood running wild in the land surrounding their estancia. They are devoted to and support each other through their mother’s moods and the vicissitudes of their temperamental tutor until, one day, Teresita witnesses something very disturbing and begins to dream of escape. When their father dies suddenly and a young man, Daniel, turns up to help on the estancia the twins are driven further apart. And then into their lives comes famous, super-rich and super-spoiled actress Simone Geddes, who has decided that she wants to adopt. Her eye falls on beautiful Teresita, who is happy to fall in with her plans and be swept off to life in the fast lane. Simone knows that, ultimately, the bond between the twins will get in the way, so she comes up with a cruel ruse that effectively means that the girls are separated permanently. While Teresita is being groomed for life as an actress aided by Simone’s money and contacts, Calida, abandoned and angry, resolves to claw her way to the top single-handedly.
So the novel romps on with all the convoluted plotting, twists and cliff-hangers you would expect of this genre and yet, to be fair, Fox does deliver a bit more. For a start, the sex scenes are good. No mean feat this, for sex scenes are often evasive or embarrassingly coy. Not these. Fox’s sex scenes are full, frank and thrilling. Also, her central characters are more fleshed out than you normally find with such novels. Teresita, Calida and even Simone are skilfully drawn and, whilst you certainly dislike each of them at points in the novel, Fox also manages to engage your sympathy and understanding. In addition, she pleasingly ensures that everyone gets the come-uppance they deserve and that the main characters learn what is of real value by the end. What more can you ask?
I enjoyed this novel. It’s escapism, sure, but sometimes that is exactly what is needed, especially as the nights are drawing in.
A novel set in Argentina, London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York. Oh, and let’s not forget Barbados, St. Tropez and Tuscany!
There should be no surprises here. You know when you open a novel set in such a plethora of glamorous places, what it’s going to deliver. It’s going to be a sensational, intrigue-laden romp at breakneck speed across the globe. It’s going to be full of spoilt, super-rich characters, who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals and you know you’re not going to be troubled too much by weighty ideas or moral issues. And Fox’s novel delivers on it all.
Twins Calida and Teresita Santiago are born to a mismatched Argentinian couple and spend their childhood running wild in the land surrounding their estancia. They are devoted to and support each other through their mother’s moods and the vicissitudes of their temperamental tutor until, one day, Teresita witnesses something very disturbing and begins to dream of escape. When their father dies suddenly and a young man, Daniel, turns up to help on the estancia the twins are driven further apart. And then into their lives comes famous, super-rich and super-spoiled actress Simone Geddes, who has decided that she wants to adopt. Her eye falls on beautiful Teresita, who is happy to fall in with her plans and be swept off to life in the fast lane. Simone knows that, ultimately, the bond between the twins will get in the way, so she comes up with a cruel ruse that effectively means that the girls are separated permanently. While Teresita is being groomed for life as an actress aided by Simone’s money and contacts, Calida, abandoned and angry, resolves to claw her way to the top single-handedly.
So the novel romps on with all the convoluted plotting, twists and cliff-hangers you would expect of this genre and yet, to be fair, Fox does deliver a bit more. For a start, the sex scenes are good. No mean feat this, for sex scenes are often evasive or embarrassingly coy. Not these. Fox’s sex scenes are full, frank and thrilling. Also, her central characters are more fleshed out than you normally find with such novels. Teresita, Calida and even Simone are skilfully drawn and, whilst you certainly dislike each of them at points in the novel, Fox also manages to engage your sympathy and understanding. In addition, she pleasingly ensures that everyone gets the come-uppance they deserve and that the main characters learn what is of real value by the end. What more can you ask?
I enjoyed this novel. It’s escapism, sure, but sometimes that is exactly what is needed, especially as the nights are drawing in.
July 11, 2016
Powerful..compulsive and intriguing story, that is fast paced and Victoria Fox at her best. This has to be one of the best poolside reads of the season, with its glitz, glamour, secrets, strong female characters, sex and even some sun!
I was hooked from the first page until the last, as I was drawn into the tale of twin sisters Calida and Teresita Santiago, as you learn of their vastly different lives from childhood until the incident in the prologue.
In fact the prologue and small snippets of what was to come were cleverly inserted through the book, but in such a way that although you understood the action, the involved characters are kept a secret until the last possible moment, where the pace is ramped up further and the book reaches its dramatic conclusions.
Two sisters, who both believe the other no longer cares about them, due to one decision on behalf of their mother. The first part set on an Estancia in Argentina was fascinating, as its the sort of location I didn't know much about before reading the book, but one that I got a decent feel for as I was reading the book.
I was bewitched by the storytelling, and it reminded me of how much I love this author, as its been a few years since I read anything by her, although suddenly I don't mind waiting as long for a book, when you then read something with this level of quality and enjoyment.
A simply superb summer hit book, The Santiago Sisters, was an unputdownable triumph to read, spanning a 20 year period, and a solid look at the lives of twins, that have been separated and still seem to have various things in common.
Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
I was hooked from the first page until the last, as I was drawn into the tale of twin sisters Calida and Teresita Santiago, as you learn of their vastly different lives from childhood until the incident in the prologue.
In fact the prologue and small snippets of what was to come were cleverly inserted through the book, but in such a way that although you understood the action, the involved characters are kept a secret until the last possible moment, where the pace is ramped up further and the book reaches its dramatic conclusions.
Two sisters, who both believe the other no longer cares about them, due to one decision on behalf of their mother. The first part set on an Estancia in Argentina was fascinating, as its the sort of location I didn't know much about before reading the book, but one that I got a decent feel for as I was reading the book.
I was bewitched by the storytelling, and it reminded me of how much I love this author, as its been a few years since I read anything by her, although suddenly I don't mind waiting as long for a book, when you then read something with this level of quality and enjoyment.
A simply superb summer hit book, The Santiago Sisters, was an unputdownable triumph to read, spanning a 20 year period, and a solid look at the lives of twins, that have been separated and still seem to have various things in common.
Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Read
July 24, 2016I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley but I am not actually going to give this book a rating, for reasons which should become apparent later in this review.
Now, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two thirds of this read. It is the story of two twin sisters, Teresita and Calida Santiago born and raised on an Argentinian farm until their separation at approximately the age of 14. It is definitely a bonk busting read full of intrigue and passion, incredibly raunchy with characters who are over the top, with strange to say the least morals who all have their own agendas. It is a sun lounger read that you can really get lost in and as I say, for that first two thirds I was totally hooked.
Then however it kind of lost its way for me. I have a feeling that the ARC I received was faulty and was missing a huge chunk of the story. Suddenly, without warning, years had passed and marriages, divorces and deaths had taken place. There was a stalking and a vendetta all of which seemed to make no sense. There were new characters, central to the plot who I had never heard of and it all felt wrong. Imagine if you have watched the first two episodes of a TV mini series, missed a couple and then watched the last episode and you will have some sort of idea of how the story ended up for me.
So, on the assumption that I did not receive a complete copy of the book I am not going to give the book a rating.
Now, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two thirds of this read. It is the story of two twin sisters, Teresita and Calida Santiago born and raised on an Argentinian farm until their separation at approximately the age of 14. It is definitely a bonk busting read full of intrigue and passion, incredibly raunchy with characters who are over the top, with strange to say the least morals who all have their own agendas. It is a sun lounger read that you can really get lost in and as I say, for that first two thirds I was totally hooked.
Then however it kind of lost its way for me. I have a feeling that the ARC I received was faulty and was missing a huge chunk of the story. Suddenly, without warning, years had passed and marriages, divorces and deaths had taken place. There was a stalking and a vendetta all of which seemed to make no sense. There were new characters, central to the plot who I had never heard of and it all felt wrong. Imagine if you have watched the first two episodes of a TV mini series, missed a couple and then watched the last episode and you will have some sort of idea of how the story ended up for me.
So, on the assumption that I did not receive a complete copy of the book I am not going to give the book a rating.
July 25, 2016
I’ve been waiting two years for a new book to be published from Victoria Fox and finally she is back with The Santiago Sisters and boy was it worth the wait. This is pure escapism at its very best mixed with the right balance for me of glitz, glamour, lies, secrets, mystery and filled with characters that are at times despicable in their actions so much so that you start to detest them yet something is compelling you to read on to discover how the story pans out. I have to admit this block/bonkbuster genre - call it what you will - wouldn’t be my go to genre all of the time. I love historical fiction which couldn’t be further from what this book is about but every now and again you need to read a book like this which doesn’t require much thinking (I mean that in a good way) and you can just read and enjoy it for what it is - a good decent storyline with a big twist and plenty of sex scenes thrown in. The mantle has been left empty with the recent passing of Jackie Collins but Victoria Fox is more than capable of taking up the reins and with The Santiago Sisters she has written a book that proved hard to leave out of my hand so obsessed was I with the diverse lives of twins Calida and Tess Santiago. This book although not quite as good as her previous novel Power Games is an excellent read even if you just pick it up in the airport by chance on your way to a sun holiday you won’t be disappointed.
The book is split into four distinct parts which take us through the lives of the Santiago Sisters from when they were ten years old and living on an estancia in Argentina right on later in their lives to the bright lights of Hollywood and New York and all the celebrity world has to offer - and all the good and bad and in between. The plot is filled with so many characters that you have to have your wits about you and work out just who is it I should be keeping an eye on? How relevant are they to the overall picture? I had a fleeting idea about a third of the way through the book as to what the final outcome may be and then dismissed this and upon reaching the end was kicking myself that I had forgotten about said person. With books like this that have such a large scope and plot I get so wrapped up in what is going on that I often forget very early parts of the book and then towards the end I think ah why didn’t I think of that? Now it all makes sense.
The Santiago Sisters opens with a prologue that makes you want to eagerly turn the pages and race through the chapters until you reach that pivotal moment when all is revealed. Tess Geddes, a world famous actress, has disappeared in New York and no one has any idea as to what has happened or why? Then throughout the book there are brief sections where a woman is alone and captured and praying her life will be saved. But what has led us to this point? To discover that we are taken back to the beginning when two sisters, twins, the polar opposite of each other are living with their parents on a farm in rural Argentina. Calida is the older of the two, she is cool, calm, quiet and filled with strength and fortitude. Teresita who later goes on to change her name to Tess is the younger sister, she is carefree and loves to take risks. Despite their differences in character and personality there is a bond that can never be broken between the pair. ’But there was a pull too, a force of belonging that could never be changed and never be dimmed. It was blood, a mirror heartbeat, a laugh that echoed her own’.
The scenes set in Argentina were expertly written and really build up the sense that both sisters came from nothing and helped us to understand their motivations and actions later in the novel. It’s clear from the outset that Teresita has bigger plans, lofty ambitions that she would love to see come true and with the death of their father events start to happen. Outside forces change the destiny of Teresita’s life for ever even if it means leaving Calida behind. Into the picture steps Simone Geddes, an actress at the top of her game but she always wants more, to be continuously one step ahead of all the rest. She is married to director Brian (who really doesn’t do much for her anymore) and has two step children the frankly quite evil and wicked Emily who is just like the mean girls from the film and her brother Lysander who may be lazy and just a layabout but when needed he plays his role to perfection. Simone wants her own child but nature has not allowed this to happen and being the powerful celeb she is it means nothing just to ‘adopt’ a child at the drop of a hat. Into the lives of the Santiago Sisters sweeps Simone and once she catches sight of Teresita there is no stopping her and is swept away from the farm and becomes Tess Geddes. Simone sees what she can make of Tess whilst maintaining her power and acclaim in the film world. I felt so sorry for Cailda that the twin she had spent all of her life with was gone at the drop of a hat, that Teresita could so readily give in when an opportunity came knocking at her door. I felt she should have protested more at her mother’s actions but I suppose everything was done under false pretences. Calida is left behind but has some form of support in the form of farm worker Daniel Cabrera who was instantly likeable from the start and I found myself hoping to read a lot more of him throughout the novel.
The time spent setting up the story was well worth it as then we are taken on a rollercoaster ride following the separate journey’s of the sisters. Through misunderstandings, mis-communications, lies and deceit they both believe that the other does not want them in their lives anymore yet their feelings run deep and there is so much hurt that revenge and hatred begins to come into play. Victoria Fox did a superb job building and building both the plot and developing her characters. We see the transformation that Tess undertakes from being transplanted to Simone’s house, school and then to Hollywood and a film career but all the time in the back of her mind is how could my mother have made a decision to give me away so easily? She knows nothing can be done about this as major lies were put into place and someone does not want them coming to light for fear of the repercussions. The author vividly describes the lives of film stars and their ‘set’ when the cameras aren’t rolling. No one seems loyal to anyone apart from the friendship Tess Develops with school friend Mia Ferraris. They all seem to want to out do the other and will step over anyone that comes in their way. Love doesn’t even seem to be a word in their vocabulary a relationship is more a means of furthering their career rather than finding long term happiness.
I have to say there are plenty of sex scenes throughout the novel which is to be expected in this kind of book and I am not really shocked by what I read but there was one involving numerous people which made me raise an eyebrow and had me thinking does this kind of thing really happen in Hollywood? I suppose the author got her inspiration from somewhere! Just as Tess is reaching the dizzying heights of fame Calida too is striking out on her own although her path to the top is no means as easy as the way Tess had everything more or less handed to her on a plate. Photography is Calida’s passion and through sheer hard work and determination she becomes successful and becomes well able to play the game. But at the centre of her mindset is her ambition that she will have her revenge on the twin who left her behind and who has failed to make contact. Fury, bitterness, hatred coupled with sadness and heartache has made her the person she is today. If love and happiness is too late for her then she doesn’t want Tess to have any either.
This is quite a long book at over 500 pages but so much is packed in and you never know what is around the corner that you don’t notice that the pages are whizzing by. Calida and Tess are characters who you love to hate in equal measure. You have sympathy and understanding for one girl in a particular chapter and then by the next your opinions and feelings have reversed due to the actions that have unfolded. The tension and surprises just keep on coming the further you read into the book you never really know how everything will each its climax. The conclusion when it comes is explosive and surprising although I did feel for all the time invested in the numerous characters the ending as in the epilogue did feel slightly rushed. I find that often happens in books the point where you are longing to reach in a book finally arrives and deserves exploration but it never comes. Yes it wrapped up what happened to each character but still I felt it deserved to be part of the story with a few dedicated chapters rather than the epilogue we were given. Despite that and the shocking events that unfold throughout each character got their just deserts or apt ending and this made for a deeply satisfying read.
The Santiago Sisters proved to be a superb story that that should be read in as few sittings as possible and reminded me just what I enjoy this genre of book every now and again. Hopefully Victoria won’t keep us waiting as long for her next scintillating story
The book is split into four distinct parts which take us through the lives of the Santiago Sisters from when they were ten years old and living on an estancia in Argentina right on later in their lives to the bright lights of Hollywood and New York and all the celebrity world has to offer - and all the good and bad and in between. The plot is filled with so many characters that you have to have your wits about you and work out just who is it I should be keeping an eye on? How relevant are they to the overall picture? I had a fleeting idea about a third of the way through the book as to what the final outcome may be and then dismissed this and upon reaching the end was kicking myself that I had forgotten about said person. With books like this that have such a large scope and plot I get so wrapped up in what is going on that I often forget very early parts of the book and then towards the end I think ah why didn’t I think of that? Now it all makes sense.
The Santiago Sisters opens with a prologue that makes you want to eagerly turn the pages and race through the chapters until you reach that pivotal moment when all is revealed. Tess Geddes, a world famous actress, has disappeared in New York and no one has any idea as to what has happened or why? Then throughout the book there are brief sections where a woman is alone and captured and praying her life will be saved. But what has led us to this point? To discover that we are taken back to the beginning when two sisters, twins, the polar opposite of each other are living with their parents on a farm in rural Argentina. Calida is the older of the two, she is cool, calm, quiet and filled with strength and fortitude. Teresita who later goes on to change her name to Tess is the younger sister, she is carefree and loves to take risks. Despite their differences in character and personality there is a bond that can never be broken between the pair. ’But there was a pull too, a force of belonging that could never be changed and never be dimmed. It was blood, a mirror heartbeat, a laugh that echoed her own’.
The scenes set in Argentina were expertly written and really build up the sense that both sisters came from nothing and helped us to understand their motivations and actions later in the novel. It’s clear from the outset that Teresita has bigger plans, lofty ambitions that she would love to see come true and with the death of their father events start to happen. Outside forces change the destiny of Teresita’s life for ever even if it means leaving Calida behind. Into the picture steps Simone Geddes, an actress at the top of her game but she always wants more, to be continuously one step ahead of all the rest. She is married to director Brian (who really doesn’t do much for her anymore) and has two step children the frankly quite evil and wicked Emily who is just like the mean girls from the film and her brother Lysander who may be lazy and just a layabout but when needed he plays his role to perfection. Simone wants her own child but nature has not allowed this to happen and being the powerful celeb she is it means nothing just to ‘adopt’ a child at the drop of a hat. Into the lives of the Santiago Sisters sweeps Simone and once she catches sight of Teresita there is no stopping her and is swept away from the farm and becomes Tess Geddes. Simone sees what she can make of Tess whilst maintaining her power and acclaim in the film world. I felt so sorry for Cailda that the twin she had spent all of her life with was gone at the drop of a hat, that Teresita could so readily give in when an opportunity came knocking at her door. I felt she should have protested more at her mother’s actions but I suppose everything was done under false pretences. Calida is left behind but has some form of support in the form of farm worker Daniel Cabrera who was instantly likeable from the start and I found myself hoping to read a lot more of him throughout the novel.
The time spent setting up the story was well worth it as then we are taken on a rollercoaster ride following the separate journey’s of the sisters. Through misunderstandings, mis-communications, lies and deceit they both believe that the other does not want them in their lives anymore yet their feelings run deep and there is so much hurt that revenge and hatred begins to come into play. Victoria Fox did a superb job building and building both the plot and developing her characters. We see the transformation that Tess undertakes from being transplanted to Simone’s house, school and then to Hollywood and a film career but all the time in the back of her mind is how could my mother have made a decision to give me away so easily? She knows nothing can be done about this as major lies were put into place and someone does not want them coming to light for fear of the repercussions. The author vividly describes the lives of film stars and their ‘set’ when the cameras aren’t rolling. No one seems loyal to anyone apart from the friendship Tess Develops with school friend Mia Ferraris. They all seem to want to out do the other and will step over anyone that comes in their way. Love doesn’t even seem to be a word in their vocabulary a relationship is more a means of furthering their career rather than finding long term happiness.
I have to say there are plenty of sex scenes throughout the novel which is to be expected in this kind of book and I am not really shocked by what I read but there was one involving numerous people which made me raise an eyebrow and had me thinking does this kind of thing really happen in Hollywood? I suppose the author got her inspiration from somewhere! Just as Tess is reaching the dizzying heights of fame Calida too is striking out on her own although her path to the top is no means as easy as the way Tess had everything more or less handed to her on a plate. Photography is Calida’s passion and through sheer hard work and determination she becomes successful and becomes well able to play the game. But at the centre of her mindset is her ambition that she will have her revenge on the twin who left her behind and who has failed to make contact. Fury, bitterness, hatred coupled with sadness and heartache has made her the person she is today. If love and happiness is too late for her then she doesn’t want Tess to have any either.
This is quite a long book at over 500 pages but so much is packed in and you never know what is around the corner that you don’t notice that the pages are whizzing by. Calida and Tess are characters who you love to hate in equal measure. You have sympathy and understanding for one girl in a particular chapter and then by the next your opinions and feelings have reversed due to the actions that have unfolded. The tension and surprises just keep on coming the further you read into the book you never really know how everything will each its climax. The conclusion when it comes is explosive and surprising although I did feel for all the time invested in the numerous characters the ending as in the epilogue did feel slightly rushed. I find that often happens in books the point where you are longing to reach in a book finally arrives and deserves exploration but it never comes. Yes it wrapped up what happened to each character but still I felt it deserved to be part of the story with a few dedicated chapters rather than the epilogue we were given. Despite that and the shocking events that unfold throughout each character got their just deserts or apt ending and this made for a deeply satisfying read.
The Santiago Sisters proved to be a superb story that that should be read in as few sittings as possible and reminded me just what I enjoy this genre of book every now and again. Hopefully Victoria won’t keep us waiting as long for her next scintillating story
August 4, 2017
The story of twins Calida and Teresita. Teresita is sold and adopted by a rich British actress at the age of 14/15. While Teresita is handed fame and fortune on a plate, Calida works hard to earn her fortune.
Not the most believable story line. The age at which the adoption happens is unusual, as is the fact the sisters' paths don't cross despite moving in the same circles. The whole concept is unbelievable really, but that's what makes this type of book pure escapism. So if that's what you're looking for, this is ideal. As with most of Victoria Fox's books, a lot of action suddenly happens in the last few pages.
Not the most believable story line. The age at which the adoption happens is unusual, as is the fact the sisters' paths don't cross despite moving in the same circles. The whole concept is unbelievable really, but that's what makes this type of book pure escapism. So if that's what you're looking for, this is ideal. As with most of Victoria Fox's books, a lot of action suddenly happens in the last few pages.
December 5, 2020
I found this book to be mostly enjoyable although there is a lot going on in it with a lot of characters. Argentinian Twins Calida and Teresita have always been there for each other until Teresita is adopted by famous actress Simone Geddes. She attends the best schools, has everything she couple possibly wish for and money is no object. Calida meanwhile has to make her own way in the world on her own merits. This book is explosive and full of drama that will eventually lead the sisters back together. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and the author for the chance to review.
September 11, 2018
This book was my favourite book to date! A sexy, complicated and romantic storyline with two amazing main character leading very different lifestyles. This book got me into romantic themed books. If you want a good holiday read that you won't want to put down, this is the book for you! I can't wait to read another of Victoria Fox's books - I loved her writing style. Similar to other books I've read, I love the way each chapter jumps to a different character.
March 22, 2018
Wow! What an epic, sweeping book ( and 🔥🔥🔥 in places). There was so much going on, so many stories weaving together I thought that I wouldn’t have the space to care about Teresita and Calida, but I really did! So many gorgeous places, wonderful and hateful people, secrets and scandals. Is Hollywood really like that?!?! And it all came together so brilliantly and cleverly at the end. Delicious!
November 6, 2021
Amazing book, I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in this story.
Twin sisters, ripped apart from each other. One thinking the other sister had turned her back on her. The other twin believes her twin is dead.
Someone wants one of the sisters to suffer, but the other sister unwittingly becomes involved.
Twin sisters, ripped apart from each other. One thinking the other sister had turned her back on her. The other twin believes her twin is dead.
Someone wants one of the sisters to suffer, but the other sister unwittingly becomes involved.
July 31, 2017
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ MIND-BLOWING STARS
"Sometimes, if you’re unhappy, you have no option but to leave. It’s self-preservation."
Wow. Brilliant. Mind-blowing. Fantastic. Compelling. Thought-provoking.
"Sometimes, if you’re unhappy, you have no option but to leave. It’s self-preservation."
Wow. Brilliant. Mind-blowing. Fantastic. Compelling. Thought-provoking.
July 8, 2017
Sempre un gran divertimento la Fox. Lettura piacevolissima, disimpegnata al massimo, molto glam e patinata con scene di sesso scritte anche piuttosto bene. Nel suo genere, riuscitissimo.
August 30, 2017
Loved it!
OK, plenty of sex but ultimately an excellent read and lots of plot twists. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
OK, plenty of sex but ultimately an excellent read and lots of plot twists. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
September 3, 2018
Sordid and depressing, so many holes in the plot it could be a sieve! No depth at all, its a pornographic fairy tale, just dreadful.
June 23, 2023
It started a bit slow but finally it turned into a nice read. Good story, well established characters.
October 7, 2016
A funny, sexy and intriguing tale of family and betrayal
Calida and Teresita Santiago are twins growing up on their family ranch in Argentina. Whilst Calida is serious and cautious and Teresita is flighty and dreams of escaping away to fame and fortune, the bond between the two sisters is strong. They have never known life without each other – that is until world-famous British actress Simone Geddes decides to adopt a young girl who can become her protégée for a PR boost, and enchanting young Teresita seems like the perfect choice. The twins’ mother happily exchanges her teenage daughter for a hefty sum, and Teresita is whisked away to a life of luxury in England, all the while believing her sister was also involved in wilfully abandoning her. Meanwhile, Calida is left thinking that her twin has fled without a word and over time the two begin to despise each other for their apparent actions. As the years go by, both twins grow older and independently work towards achieving their dreams, motivated by hatred and a desire for revenge. However, despite the distance between them physically and emotionally, their lives remain intertwined and it is unsure whether they will ever be able to cross the chiasm formed between them by other peoples’ greed and deceit.
I really enjoyed this book – it was easy to read and engaging but didn’t feel at all simplistic or patronising. The story spans 20 years and throughout it the reader encounters a variety of interesting characters through the lives of the two heroines, who themselves are both likeable and strong-willed characters who go through immense suffering in their own individual ways yet come out of it stronger. Many of the characters had larger-than-life personalities and their bizarre antics (and questionable morals) made for hilarious reading, yet it also seems possible that such people do exist in the crazy world of celebrity superstardom. Some of them were very likeable but a few people cropped up who were absolutely detestable and I found myself almost enjoying reading about them more in the hope that they would eventually get what was coming to them.
The story location alternates between the wilderness of Patagonia, Argentina and the glittering lights of London, New York, LA and more. Each setting is vividly imagined for the reader to engage with and get a feel of, although it can get a little difficult to keep track of who is where. The relationships between the characters are explored in depth and whilst some of the outcomes were a little predictable (I knew from the second that one character was introduced who he would eventually end up with), some were the virtual opposite! Also scattered throughout the book are some quite graphic sex scenes – whilst I personally didn’t ‘enjoy’ reading these as such, they did set the tone of some of the novel and actually helped develop some of the characters’ personalities and explore the reasons for their subsequent or previous actions. I found it very clever how the romantic lives of the two sisters seemed to parallel each other despite them being so far apart and in fact this technique was a factor of the story that made it seem a lot more intelligent than other similar types of book.
There was plenty of drama and twists throughout the story and the dramatic conclusion was built up to from the very start, where a captivating prologue tells of a kidnapping and a woman in danger. This scenario is returned to throughout the narrative and it isn’t until the end that you realise what this is about, which comes as quite a shock. The book had emotional parts, hilarious parts and even a spot of fast-paced peril and overall appealed to me as I enjoy a mixture of genres in the novels I read.
There are fairly few negative things to say about this story. Obviously some people may not enjoy this type of book, as it was fairly heavy on sex scenes and adult situations, and on the whole it is definitely a story aimed at women. Some aspects of the narrative were also quite unrealistic (although this may be deliberately done to create a sense of escapism in the novel) and the actions and decisions of the characters, whilst entertaining, didn’t always seem to make sense. Despite this, I have given it a 5 star rating as I believe it achieves perfectly what it sets out to be – a fun, scintillating read designed to entertain and shock without requiring too much thinking.
Overall, I would recommend The Santiago Sisters to anyone who loves an entertaining, distracting read with a dash of drama and also is not put off by heavy amounts of x-rated scenes. I am definitely going to seek out more by this author to keep for when I need a fun escape from dreary real-life.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
Calida and Teresita Santiago are twins growing up on their family ranch in Argentina. Whilst Calida is serious and cautious and Teresita is flighty and dreams of escaping away to fame and fortune, the bond between the two sisters is strong. They have never known life without each other – that is until world-famous British actress Simone Geddes decides to adopt a young girl who can become her protégée for a PR boost, and enchanting young Teresita seems like the perfect choice. The twins’ mother happily exchanges her teenage daughter for a hefty sum, and Teresita is whisked away to a life of luxury in England, all the while believing her sister was also involved in wilfully abandoning her. Meanwhile, Calida is left thinking that her twin has fled without a word and over time the two begin to despise each other for their apparent actions. As the years go by, both twins grow older and independently work towards achieving their dreams, motivated by hatred and a desire for revenge. However, despite the distance between them physically and emotionally, their lives remain intertwined and it is unsure whether they will ever be able to cross the chiasm formed between them by other peoples’ greed and deceit.
I really enjoyed this book – it was easy to read and engaging but didn’t feel at all simplistic or patronising. The story spans 20 years and throughout it the reader encounters a variety of interesting characters through the lives of the two heroines, who themselves are both likeable and strong-willed characters who go through immense suffering in their own individual ways yet come out of it stronger. Many of the characters had larger-than-life personalities and their bizarre antics (and questionable morals) made for hilarious reading, yet it also seems possible that such people do exist in the crazy world of celebrity superstardom. Some of them were very likeable but a few people cropped up who were absolutely detestable and I found myself almost enjoying reading about them more in the hope that they would eventually get what was coming to them.
The story location alternates between the wilderness of Patagonia, Argentina and the glittering lights of London, New York, LA and more. Each setting is vividly imagined for the reader to engage with and get a feel of, although it can get a little difficult to keep track of who is where. The relationships between the characters are explored in depth and whilst some of the outcomes were a little predictable (I knew from the second that one character was introduced who he would eventually end up with), some were the virtual opposite! Also scattered throughout the book are some quite graphic sex scenes – whilst I personally didn’t ‘enjoy’ reading these as such, they did set the tone of some of the novel and actually helped develop some of the characters’ personalities and explore the reasons for their subsequent or previous actions. I found it very clever how the romantic lives of the two sisters seemed to parallel each other despite them being so far apart and in fact this technique was a factor of the story that made it seem a lot more intelligent than other similar types of book.
There was plenty of drama and twists throughout the story and the dramatic conclusion was built up to from the very start, where a captivating prologue tells of a kidnapping and a woman in danger. This scenario is returned to throughout the narrative and it isn’t until the end that you realise what this is about, which comes as quite a shock. The book had emotional parts, hilarious parts and even a spot of fast-paced peril and overall appealed to me as I enjoy a mixture of genres in the novels I read.
There are fairly few negative things to say about this story. Obviously some people may not enjoy this type of book, as it was fairly heavy on sex scenes and adult situations, and on the whole it is definitely a story aimed at women. Some aspects of the narrative were also quite unrealistic (although this may be deliberately done to create a sense of escapism in the novel) and the actions and decisions of the characters, whilst entertaining, didn’t always seem to make sense. Despite this, I have given it a 5 star rating as I believe it achieves perfectly what it sets out to be – a fun, scintillating read designed to entertain and shock without requiring too much thinking.
Overall, I would recommend The Santiago Sisters to anyone who loves an entertaining, distracting read with a dash of drama and also is not put off by heavy amounts of x-rated scenes. I am definitely going to seek out more by this author to keep for when I need a fun escape from dreary real-life.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
Read
July 31, 2016This is a melodrama of a read! Bursting with scandal, deception and sex this racy novel is full of rivalling sisters, two very different mothers who both believe they are doing the best for their children and a world of fame, fortune and money - lots of money!
The story starts on a ranch in Patagonia where we first meet the twins Calida and Terisita. Calida is introverted and satisfied with her simple, out door life amongst the horses, whereas Terisita dreams of a world of fame and fortune.
Meanwhile, world-famous actress Simone Geddes suddenly falls in love with the idea of adopting a child - mainly because it would be a great PR boost. She is such a monstrous character and her conversations with her long suffering assistant about how to go about adopting are incredulous.
"Where do you get them from?.....The Internet? .....Are they in a catalogue or something?"
Her motivation is wholly selfish and establishes just how self involved she is. Her imagination runs away with the idea of "plucking a child from poverty to riches....from nothing to having it all....What little girl wouldn't want that?" Indeed! It's the Cinderella happy ending Terisita has fantasised about. So it seems like fate when a wrong turn on a dirt track takes Simone to the Santiago ranch where she is immediately captivated by the beauty of Terisita and conspires with their mother Julia, struggling since the death of her husband, to whist her away to a new life. Terisita leaves thinking it is only for a short holiday, and the abhorrent Simone then ensures that contact between the family is severed by lying to both twins and sowing the dangerous seeds of hatred between them.
The story then continues to explore this unique bond between the sisters as their lives continue so differently. Their love for each other is now replaced by hatred and each is set on revenge. The novel hurtles along until the storyline reaches a dramatic climax. Fox writes convincingly about the world of fame and fortune that Terisita is suddenly thrown into and shows that such an opportunity to be special and different can in fact become a treacherous path of betrayal and manipulation, cruelty and lies. Simone reveals herself to be selfish with a real sense of entitlement just because of her excessive wealth. She thinks she can be protected by her wealth and fame...........But can the bonds between twin sisters really ever be broken?
Simone's character is larger than life. I would enjoy watching this film on the big screen! There is quite a lot of explicit and graphic sex scenes in this book - Fox does refer to herself as a huge fan of Jackie Collins and started writing out of curiosity about what it might be like to write her own "bonkbuster"! It's also all part of the hedonistic kind of lifestyle of the rich and famous. Although I did find the story a little predictable in places, it was an easy, undemanding read and would be well placed in your suitcase this summer! It is a vivid story with characters that the reader will love to love and love to hate! A good romantic drama and a must read for any Jackie Collins' fans!
My thanks to Mira Uk for the advanced copy in return for an honest review
The story starts on a ranch in Patagonia where we first meet the twins Calida and Terisita. Calida is introverted and satisfied with her simple, out door life amongst the horses, whereas Terisita dreams of a world of fame and fortune.
Meanwhile, world-famous actress Simone Geddes suddenly falls in love with the idea of adopting a child - mainly because it would be a great PR boost. She is such a monstrous character and her conversations with her long suffering assistant about how to go about adopting are incredulous.
"Where do you get them from?.....The Internet? .....Are they in a catalogue or something?"
Her motivation is wholly selfish and establishes just how self involved she is. Her imagination runs away with the idea of "plucking a child from poverty to riches....from nothing to having it all....What little girl wouldn't want that?" Indeed! It's the Cinderella happy ending Terisita has fantasised about. So it seems like fate when a wrong turn on a dirt track takes Simone to the Santiago ranch where she is immediately captivated by the beauty of Terisita and conspires with their mother Julia, struggling since the death of her husband, to whist her away to a new life. Terisita leaves thinking it is only for a short holiday, and the abhorrent Simone then ensures that contact between the family is severed by lying to both twins and sowing the dangerous seeds of hatred between them.
The story then continues to explore this unique bond between the sisters as their lives continue so differently. Their love for each other is now replaced by hatred and each is set on revenge. The novel hurtles along until the storyline reaches a dramatic climax. Fox writes convincingly about the world of fame and fortune that Terisita is suddenly thrown into and shows that such an opportunity to be special and different can in fact become a treacherous path of betrayal and manipulation, cruelty and lies. Simone reveals herself to be selfish with a real sense of entitlement just because of her excessive wealth. She thinks she can be protected by her wealth and fame...........But can the bonds between twin sisters really ever be broken?
Simone's character is larger than life. I would enjoy watching this film on the big screen! There is quite a lot of explicit and graphic sex scenes in this book - Fox does refer to herself as a huge fan of Jackie Collins and started writing out of curiosity about what it might be like to write her own "bonkbuster"! It's also all part of the hedonistic kind of lifestyle of the rich and famous. Although I did find the story a little predictable in places, it was an easy, undemanding read and would be well placed in your suitcase this summer! It is a vivid story with characters that the reader will love to love and love to hate! A good romantic drama and a must read for any Jackie Collins' fans!
My thanks to Mira Uk for the advanced copy in return for an honest review
August 4, 2016
Bonkbuster queen Victoria Fox is back with a sexy, sparkling and scintillating read that will keep you glued to your sun lounger: The Santiago Sisters!
Calida and Teresita are twins in Argentina whose bond is as strong as it can be. Inseparable since birth, the two girls cannot imagine a life without one another until world famous actress Simone Geddes stumbles upon the twins in their estancia in Argentina and realises that one of the girls would be the perfect candidate to star in her latest pet project: motherhood! Taken away from everything she has ever known, Teresita is whisked away from her home in Argentina to a world of unimaginable riches, opulence and glamour.
Although the twins have always been close, they couldn’t have been more different. While Teresita has always been a dreamer with a yearning for money, fame and the bright city lights, Calida has always been perfectly content with her simple life surrounded by land and her horses. The bond between the two girls was so powerful that it was meant to withstand and triumph against any obstacle standing in their way, but with half a world between them, the connection that had once been so strong is severed cruelly and sisterly love is replaced by doubt, suspicion…and hatred!
While Teresita’s life is full of indulgence and hedonism, Calida’s is one full of struggle, pain and anguish. However, Calida is not a quitter. She is determined to fight her way to the top and not let anybody or anything stand in the way of achieving her objectives – regardless of the multitude of sacrifices which she must make in order to fulfill her goals. As secrets, scandals and shocking revelations come to light, the two girls find themselves back in each other’s lives, but will their relationship ever recover from the betrayals of the past? Will a deadly enemy jeopardise everything which they hold dear to their hearts? Or will they condemned to a lifetime of misery, regret…or worse?
If any further proof was required that Victoria Fox is the heir apparent to Jackie Collins’ throne, then look no further than her latest sensational novel The Santiago Sisters! Packed with jaw-dropping twists and turns, red-hot sex scenes that will make your pulse race, larger than life characters, nail-biting drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and lashings of glamour, The Santiago Sisters is a spellbinding and captivating tale that I found absolutely impossible to put down!
Fast-paced, fabulous and so much fun, if you only pack one book in your beach bag this summer, make sure it’s Victoria Fox’s outstanding bonkbuster triumph, The Santiago Sisters!
Calida and Teresita are twins in Argentina whose bond is as strong as it can be. Inseparable since birth, the two girls cannot imagine a life without one another until world famous actress Simone Geddes stumbles upon the twins in their estancia in Argentina and realises that one of the girls would be the perfect candidate to star in her latest pet project: motherhood! Taken away from everything she has ever known, Teresita is whisked away from her home in Argentina to a world of unimaginable riches, opulence and glamour.
Although the twins have always been close, they couldn’t have been more different. While Teresita has always been a dreamer with a yearning for money, fame and the bright city lights, Calida has always been perfectly content with her simple life surrounded by land and her horses. The bond between the two girls was so powerful that it was meant to withstand and triumph against any obstacle standing in their way, but with half a world between them, the connection that had once been so strong is severed cruelly and sisterly love is replaced by doubt, suspicion…and hatred!
While Teresita’s life is full of indulgence and hedonism, Calida’s is one full of struggle, pain and anguish. However, Calida is not a quitter. She is determined to fight her way to the top and not let anybody or anything stand in the way of achieving her objectives – regardless of the multitude of sacrifices which she must make in order to fulfill her goals. As secrets, scandals and shocking revelations come to light, the two girls find themselves back in each other’s lives, but will their relationship ever recover from the betrayals of the past? Will a deadly enemy jeopardise everything which they hold dear to their hearts? Or will they condemned to a lifetime of misery, regret…or worse?
If any further proof was required that Victoria Fox is the heir apparent to Jackie Collins’ throne, then look no further than her latest sensational novel The Santiago Sisters! Packed with jaw-dropping twists and turns, red-hot sex scenes that will make your pulse race, larger than life characters, nail-biting drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and lashings of glamour, The Santiago Sisters is a spellbinding and captivating tale that I found absolutely impossible to put down!
Fast-paced, fabulous and so much fun, if you only pack one book in your beach bag this summer, make sure it’s Victoria Fox’s outstanding bonkbuster triumph, The Santiago Sisters!
August 3, 2016
*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
The book is split into four distinct parts and tells the story oft he Santiago sisters. It covers their childhood and the whole life after that. Calida and Terisita grow up on a ranch in Argentina. The twins couldn’t be more different, Calida is introverted and shy. Terisita is the opposite. The girls don’t have an easy childhood and especially Calida suffers a lot.
When Simone Geddes, a famous actress, comes and adopts Terisita live changes dramatically for both of them. They are both told lies as well, which makes the situation more complicated.
Terisita grows up in England and has a luxurious life, spends time in Cannes and later in the states. Calida’s mother leaves her when she is old enough to manage the farm herself. Daniel is there for her, but she soon wants to have more and leaves. Life takes her to New York eventually…
The sisters think about each other, but it’s always connected to betrayal or even hate. A lot of things happen in their lives, mostly connected to love, romance, work and friendship. There are a lot of characters in this story, too many for my taste. Sometimes the perspectives between the characters changed abruptly and you never knew whether it’s a character to remember or not. I really struggled with that. It’s kind of hard to focus on the story like that. I also felt like the story moved really fast at times, years passed and lots of things happened out of context, certain things were jumped. Some moments and scenes also didn’t make sense to me at all. They were part of the story, but not well integrated in the storyline. I had difficulties understanding some decisions the characters made as well.
I kind of had an idea about the outcome pretty soon, but was always told otherwise, which made the story more interesting. In the end I was right though ;).
I really like the idea and concept behind the story. I think it’s also a great idea to split the book into four parts. It’s an intriguing story about sisters, who clearly have a bond, but they have to find their way through jealousy, betrayal, drama, misunderstandings and more. Victoria Fox’s writing has sparks and excitement and I really liked that.
The book is split into four distinct parts and tells the story oft he Santiago sisters. It covers their childhood and the whole life after that. Calida and Terisita grow up on a ranch in Argentina. The twins couldn’t be more different, Calida is introverted and shy. Terisita is the opposite. The girls don’t have an easy childhood and especially Calida suffers a lot.
When Simone Geddes, a famous actress, comes and adopts Terisita live changes dramatically for both of them. They are both told lies as well, which makes the situation more complicated.
Terisita grows up in England and has a luxurious life, spends time in Cannes and later in the states. Calida’s mother leaves her when she is old enough to manage the farm herself. Daniel is there for her, but she soon wants to have more and leaves. Life takes her to New York eventually…
The sisters think about each other, but it’s always connected to betrayal or even hate. A lot of things happen in their lives, mostly connected to love, romance, work and friendship. There are a lot of characters in this story, too many for my taste. Sometimes the perspectives between the characters changed abruptly and you never knew whether it’s a character to remember or not. I really struggled with that. It’s kind of hard to focus on the story like that. I also felt like the story moved really fast at times, years passed and lots of things happened out of context, certain things were jumped. Some moments and scenes also didn’t make sense to me at all. They were part of the story, but not well integrated in the storyline. I had difficulties understanding some decisions the characters made as well.
I kind of had an idea about the outcome pretty soon, but was always told otherwise, which made the story more interesting. In the end I was right though ;).
I really like the idea and concept behind the story. I think it’s also a great idea to split the book into four parts. It’s an intriguing story about sisters, who clearly have a bond, but they have to find their way through jealousy, betrayal, drama, misunderstandings and more. Victoria Fox’s writing has sparks and excitement and I really liked that.
August 8, 2016
Firstly thank you to Mira for the review copy of title and for asking me to take part in this blog tour! I've been a fan of Victoria's for a while now so I was eager to dive right in to this great summer read.
This book is all about twin sisters Calida and Teresita Santiago. The girls grew up as close as could be until Teresita's view on the world is altered and she starts to seek more from life than what she's always known, taking her far from her home and far from her sister.
The first of four parts of this story starts with the twins as children on their home farm. From there it follows their individual stories as they grow up and apart and as their lives take twists at the hands of both themselves and others. Each part covers a time span of a number of years of the girls' lives and each is interspersed with a scene from the "now". This is where Victoria creates the sense of mystery which will have you hooked from the prologue. Throughout I was never quite sure who the "now" scenes were going to be about or how they were going to come about and it's something that was always in the back of my mind when I was reading. Teresita and Calida's stories interweave more and more the older they get and the number of suspects start to tot up.
Each girl has her own unique story after they separate from each other, having said that though they have a lot of the same traits - strength, stubbornness and a will to succeed to name but a few. Throughout their lives a range of people influence their life and their direction of travel from the glamorous to the reminder of their family upbringing.
One of my favourite things about Victoria's writing is the way she brings her books to life. The vivid descriptions of the settings and the people and the very tangible characters make the book easy to get hooked on and enjoy.
This is the perfect poolside read! Hats off to Victoria because this book is filled with family, romance, heat, glamour and a healthy dose of mystery all rolled into one stunning read.
This book is all about twin sisters Calida and Teresita Santiago. The girls grew up as close as could be until Teresita's view on the world is altered and she starts to seek more from life than what she's always known, taking her far from her home and far from her sister.
The first of four parts of this story starts with the twins as children on their home farm. From there it follows their individual stories as they grow up and apart and as their lives take twists at the hands of both themselves and others. Each part covers a time span of a number of years of the girls' lives and each is interspersed with a scene from the "now". This is where Victoria creates the sense of mystery which will have you hooked from the prologue. Throughout I was never quite sure who the "now" scenes were going to be about or how they were going to come about and it's something that was always in the back of my mind when I was reading. Teresita and Calida's stories interweave more and more the older they get and the number of suspects start to tot up.
Each girl has her own unique story after they separate from each other, having said that though they have a lot of the same traits - strength, stubbornness and a will to succeed to name but a few. Throughout their lives a range of people influence their life and their direction of travel from the glamorous to the reminder of their family upbringing.
One of my favourite things about Victoria's writing is the way she brings her books to life. The vivid descriptions of the settings and the people and the very tangible characters make the book easy to get hooked on and enjoy.
This is the perfect poolside read! Hats off to Victoria because this book is filled with family, romance, heat, glamour and a healthy dose of mystery all rolled into one stunning read.
August 1, 2016
The bond between sisters is supposed to be strong, so the bond between twin sisters should be unbreakable, right? The truth is that the sisterly bond can also cause the kind of powerful emotions that can make or break a relationship.
Calida and Tess are close and yet at the same time they are worlds apart. Tess is like a wild caged bird trying to break free from the restraints of her environment and her upbringing.
Calida is the exact opposite, she is happy in her environment barring the fact her mother acts as if she doesn’t exist, but at least her father thinks she can walk on water. She feels second best to the absolutely stunning Tess, whereas she is merely just pretty.
The supposed inequality between the two of them leads to a parting of ways and years of built-up resentment.
The sisters make their separate ways into the world of the rich and famous. One of them behind the scenes and the other in the spotlight. Jealousy, anger and spite drives the two of them, which keeps them from building lasting and meaningful relationships. Whether they know it or not they miss each other and their special bond.
Fox writes with the same panache, glitz and glam of Jackie Collins. She also likes to mix up family and Hollywood dramas with more than a pinch of sensual spice. Her characters are not exactly coy.
If you’re looking for a read that caters for readers that like their books heavy on the drama, with a hefty portion of the horizontal tango and interwoven with strong emotions, then this is the type of book I would recommend.
*I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.*
Calida and Tess are close and yet at the same time they are worlds apart. Tess is like a wild caged bird trying to break free from the restraints of her environment and her upbringing.
Calida is the exact opposite, she is happy in her environment barring the fact her mother acts as if she doesn’t exist, but at least her father thinks she can walk on water. She feels second best to the absolutely stunning Tess, whereas she is merely just pretty.
The supposed inequality between the two of them leads to a parting of ways and years of built-up resentment.
The sisters make their separate ways into the world of the rich and famous. One of them behind the scenes and the other in the spotlight. Jealousy, anger and spite drives the two of them, which keeps them from building lasting and meaningful relationships. Whether they know it or not they miss each other and their special bond.
Fox writes with the same panache, glitz and glam of Jackie Collins. She also likes to mix up family and Hollywood dramas with more than a pinch of sensual spice. Her characters are not exactly coy.
If you’re looking for a read that caters for readers that like their books heavy on the drama, with a hefty portion of the horizontal tango and interwoven with strong emotions, then this is the type of book I would recommend.
*I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.*
August 1, 2016
I’ve read Victoria Fox previously so when this book was available for review I thought it would be a good opportunity to try another one. I have heard good reports about it so went in with an open mind and a fairly high expectation.
It is certainly a saga, full of drama, intrigue, ample sex scenes some quite raunchy and lives up to the ‘bonkbuster’ image. At times it was highly enjoyable and even made me gasp in surprise.
A tale of twins Calida and Teresita Santiago they are one unit until Teresita is taken and adopted by a famous actress .. you have to let your imagination ride while reading this. Set in various locations, amid fame, fortune, glitz or on the other hand struggling to survive. The secrets that abound lead the sisters love to turn to hatred .. Calida thinks she has been abandoned.
The plotline is dramatic and filled with so many characters it’s easy to forget who is doing what to whom. This is probably suitable for a long leisurely holiday where you can (possibly) read it and enjoy it without interruption so you can follow and absorb what is going on. It is extremely long which at times I have to say I was sighing when I realised the end wasn’t in sight.
I received this ARC via Netgalley and the publisher for an honest opinion. While this book didn’t entirely hit the spot for me I have enjoyed the authors work before and would willingly try again in the future.
It is certainly a saga, full of drama, intrigue, ample sex scenes some quite raunchy and lives up to the ‘bonkbuster’ image. At times it was highly enjoyable and even made me gasp in surprise.
A tale of twins Calida and Teresita Santiago they are one unit until Teresita is taken and adopted by a famous actress .. you have to let your imagination ride while reading this. Set in various locations, amid fame, fortune, glitz or on the other hand struggling to survive. The secrets that abound lead the sisters love to turn to hatred .. Calida thinks she has been abandoned.
The plotline is dramatic and filled with so many characters it’s easy to forget who is doing what to whom. This is probably suitable for a long leisurely holiday where you can (possibly) read it and enjoy it without interruption so you can follow and absorb what is going on. It is extremely long which at times I have to say I was sighing when I realised the end wasn’t in sight.
I received this ARC via Netgalley and the publisher for an honest opinion. While this book didn’t entirely hit the spot for me I have enjoyed the authors work before and would willingly try again in the future.
July 9, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review via Netgalley.
To my knowledge I think I've read one other Victoria Fox book before, and enjoyed it, so I looked forward to trying this book which had an intriguing premise.
Although twins, the girls are divided even as children. Their parents are in the midst of regretting a hasty marriage, and their daughters stuck in the situation of having to favour one parent while longing for both to love and support them.
Initially, it is easier to like Calida, the quieter conscientious sister as Teresita longs to be someone and explore the wider world her frustration can grate on the reader. After tragedy strikes, a decision is made that will divide these already divided sisters perhaps forever.
At this major upheaval part of the book, the vague dislike I had for the characters really blossomed into disinterest and the addition of the Hollywood actress and her disfunctional, selfish family as well as two rather secondary love interests for the girls whom I found unconvincing as well as a kidnapping plot?! I really lost the plot and was glad to reach the end.
Not one of my favourite books mostly due to the main characters, but I this wouldn't stop me trying Fox's books again in the future.
To my knowledge I think I've read one other Victoria Fox book before, and enjoyed it, so I looked forward to trying this book which had an intriguing premise.
Although twins, the girls are divided even as children. Their parents are in the midst of regretting a hasty marriage, and their daughters stuck in the situation of having to favour one parent while longing for both to love and support them.
Initially, it is easier to like Calida, the quieter conscientious sister as Teresita longs to be someone and explore the wider world her frustration can grate on the reader. After tragedy strikes, a decision is made that will divide these already divided sisters perhaps forever.
At this major upheaval part of the book, the vague dislike I had for the characters really blossomed into disinterest and the addition of the Hollywood actress and her disfunctional, selfish family as well as two rather secondary love interests for the girls whom I found unconvincing as well as a kidnapping plot?! I really lost the plot and was glad to reach the end.
Not one of my favourite books mostly due to the main characters, but I this wouldn't stop me trying Fox's books again in the future.
July 25, 2016
Calida and Teresita are twins growing up on a ranch in Argentina, Calida the older by a couple of minutes had always felt responsible for her sister whereas Teresita is the more beautiful and carefree one
As they get older petty jealousies start to get in the way of their closeness and when tragedy strikes the family and by chance Simone Geddes a world famous actress meets Teresita and wants to adopt her they are both lied to about the circumstances and their love turns to hatred
As eventually Teresita realises that there is more to life than wealth and glamour she also finds out all she really wants is her sister but is it all too late?
A good easy beach read full of action and intrigue with some good characters. ....although not all likeable ones!
As they get older petty jealousies start to get in the way of their closeness and when tragedy strikes the family and by chance Simone Geddes a world famous actress meets Teresita and wants to adopt her they are both lied to about the circumstances and their love turns to hatred
As eventually Teresita realises that there is more to life than wealth and glamour she also finds out all she really wants is her sister but is it all too late?
A good easy beach read full of action and intrigue with some good characters. ....although not all likeable ones!
July 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this tale of the twins Calida and Teresita whose lives follow very divergent paths due to the actions of their mother. There were quite a few "boo-hiss" moments and at times I wanted to shout at both of the twins for their actions....
A great summer read, reminiscent of a great family saga but at a much faster pace.
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A great summer read, reminiscent of a great family saga but at a much faster pace.
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 27, 2016
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Reminiscent of the 'Jilly Cooper' style of books, this saga covers a period of many years. Twin sisters separated from the age of 15, their lives follow very different paths. Good characterisation with various, interesting locations, various storylines this is a quick summer read.
A book of two halves for me, with the second half being a better pace and more substance.
3.5***
Reminiscent of the 'Jilly Cooper' style of books, this saga covers a period of many years. Twin sisters separated from the age of 15, their lives follow very different paths. Good characterisation with various, interesting locations, various storylines this is a quick summer read.
A book of two halves for me, with the second half being a better pace and more substance.
3.5***
January 8, 2017
A delightful romp - an easy read. I was a bit bored by the setting of the scene with the twins as girls I felt that could have been condensed a bit but I enjoyed the rest of it. The constant referrals of revenge at the end of the chapter were a little annoying but nevertheless I enjoyed it. I knew the stalker would be the baby Simone gave up but that didn't detract from my enjoyment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2017
Rating: 3.5 stars
A wild romp across decades and continents, with sex, scandals, secrets, lies, bitches, betrayals, revenge, money, fame, glamour and lots more sex.
It reminded me of all the crazy Jackie Collins novels I read back in the 80s and 90s, and had this book been around then I'd have probably given it 5 stars, but the older wearier me was left completely knackered by the end!
A wild romp across decades and continents, with sex, scandals, secrets, lies, bitches, betrayals, revenge, money, fame, glamour and lots more sex.
It reminded me of all the crazy Jackie Collins novels I read back in the 80s and 90s, and had this book been around then I'd have probably given it 5 stars, but the older wearier me was left completely knackered by the end!
August 26, 2016
If you like Jackie Collins then you'll love this. Great beach read.
August 7, 2016
I enjoyed this book, the story kept me interested, but I think I may be over this genre !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews