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Mirror Image
To look at one was to see the other. For family, even the girls' own father, it was a constant guessing game. For strangers, the surprise was overwhelming. And for the twins Olivia and Victoria Henderson, two remarkable young women coming of age at the turn of the century, their bond was mysterious, marvelous, and often playful—a secret realm only they inhabited.
Olivia and Victoria were the beloved daughters of a man who never fully recovered from his wife's death bearing them in 1893. Shy, serious Olivia, born eleven minutes before her sister, had taken over the role of mother in their lush New York estate, managing not only a household but her rebellious twin's flights of fancy. Free-spirited Victoria wanted to change the world. She embraced the women's suffrage movement and dreamed of sailing to war-torn Europe. Then, in the girls' twenty-first year, as the first world war escalated overseas, a fateful choice changed their lives forever.
It began when Victoria's life was about to become a public scandal. It led to a painful decision, and brought handsome lawyer Charles Dawson into the Henderson's life and family. Hand-picked by the twins' father to save his daughter's reputation, Charles was still mourning his wife's death aboard the Titanic, struggling to raise his nine year-old son alone, determined never to lose his heart again. Charles wanted to believe that, for the sake of his son, he could make an unwanted marriage work. But in an act of deception that only Olivia and Victoria could manage, the twins took an irrevocable step, which changed both their lives forever; and took one of the twins to the battlefields of France, the other into a marriage she longed for but could not have.
From Manhattan society to the trenches of war-ravaged France, Mirror Image moves elegantly and dramatically through a rich and troubled era. With startling insight, Danielle Steel explores women's choices: between home and adventure, between the love for family and the passion for a cause, between sacrifice and desire. But at the heart of Mirror Image is a fascinating, realistic portrait of identical twins, two vastly different sisters who lead their lives and follow their destinies against a vivid backdrop of a world at war.
From the Hardcover edition.
Olivia and Victoria were the beloved daughters of a man who never fully recovered from his wife's death bearing them in 1893. Shy, serious Olivia, born eleven minutes before her sister, had taken over the role of mother in their lush New York estate, managing not only a household but her rebellious twin's flights of fancy. Free-spirited Victoria wanted to change the world. She embraced the women's suffrage movement and dreamed of sailing to war-torn Europe. Then, in the girls' twenty-first year, as the first world war escalated overseas, a fateful choice changed their lives forever.
It began when Victoria's life was about to become a public scandal. It led to a painful decision, and brought handsome lawyer Charles Dawson into the Henderson's life and family. Hand-picked by the twins' father to save his daughter's reputation, Charles was still mourning his wife's death aboard the Titanic, struggling to raise his nine year-old son alone, determined never to lose his heart again. Charles wanted to believe that, for the sake of his son, he could make an unwanted marriage work. But in an act of deception that only Olivia and Victoria could manage, the twins took an irrevocable step, which changed both their lives forever; and took one of the twins to the battlefields of France, the other into a marriage she longed for but could not have.
From Manhattan society to the trenches of war-ravaged France, Mirror Image moves elegantly and dramatically through a rich and troubled era. With startling insight, Danielle Steel explores women's choices: between home and adventure, between the love for family and the passion for a cause, between sacrifice and desire. But at the heart of Mirror Image is a fascinating, realistic portrait of identical twins, two vastly different sisters who lead their lives and follow their destinies against a vivid backdrop of a world at war.
From the Hardcover edition.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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About the author
Danielle Steel
986 books17.1k followersDanielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
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May 25, 2017
دوستان گرانقدر، این کتاب از 443 صفحه و 33 فصل تشکیل شده است... داستان حدود سال 1913 میلادی و در آمریکا میباشد و هیجانات و رویدادهای زیاد و خاص خود را دارد و در مورد دو خواهر دو قلو و کاملاً شبیه به یکدیگر است که تشخیص آنها از یکدیگر حتی برای پدرشان «ادوارد هندرسون» نیز ممکن نمیباشد و البته هر دو بسیار زیبا و جذاب هستند... در زمان روایت داستان، هر دو بیست و یک سال سن دارند و در خانۀ پدری که بسیار مجلل و بزرگ است زندگی میکنند. پدر آنها از ثروتمندان و به اصطلاح نجیب زادگان مشهور میباشد... خواهر بزرگتر که تقریباً یازده دقیقه بزرگتر است، «الیویا» و خواهر کوچکتر «ویکتوریا» نام دارد... «الیویا» دختری مهربان، وظیفه شناس، احساسی است و بر عکس او «ویکتوریا» گستاخ و ماجرا جو و علاقه مند به هیجانات و شرکت در راهپیمایی های دفاع از حقوق زنان، است
دخترها مادرشان را زمانی که آن دو را زایمان میکرده است، از دست داده اند و هر دو و بخصوص «ویکتوریا» خود را مقصر میداند
نکتۀ قابل توجه در این دو قلوها این است که به طرز عجیبی با یکدیگر ارتباط غیر جسمی دارند.. یعنی هر اتفاقی که برای یکی از آنها می افتد، خواهر دیگر حتی اگر کیلومترها از آن یکی فاصله داشته باشد، این را احساس میکند.. و صد البته عاشقانه یکدیگر را دوست دارند.. و گهگداری پیش می آید که حتی جایشان را نیز با یکدیگر عوض میکنند و کسی خبردار نمیشود و این برای آنها از کودکی نوعی تفریح بوده است
پدر آنها وکیلی دارد به نام «چارلز» که مردی با شخصیت و متواضع است که همسرش را در حادثۀ غرق شدن کشتی تایتانیک از دست داده است و پسری نه ساله و باهوش به نامِ «جوفری» دارد... زمانی که برای اولین «الیویا» او را میبیند، عاشق او میشود و برعکسِ او، «ویکتوریا» از «چارلز» خوشش نمی آید
داستان از آنجایی اوج میگیرد که در میهمانی بزرگ و شبانه ای، «ویکتوریا» با مردی کثیف و زنباره به نام «توبیاس» آشنا میشود که همسرش از خانواده ثروتمند و مشهور است و سه فرزند دارد، ولی به دلیل زن بازی مردم او را به بدنامی میشناسند... با تمام این حرف ها «ویکتوریا» به سفارش ها و هشدارهای دیگران و حتی خواهرش توجه نمیکند و با «توبیاس» رفاقت را شروع کرده و برای ماه ها بدون اینکه کسی متوجه شود، با او رابطه برقرار میکند... پس از مدتی «توبیاس» به هر کس و ناکسی از رابطه اش با این دختر ناآگاه سخن میگوید و آبروی آنها را میبرد... دوستی آنها با یکدیگر با گریه و زاری کردن «ویکتوریا» تمام میشود.. امّا گویا این دختر نادان از او باردار بوده و شانسی که می آورد این است که بچه سقط میشود
زمانی که پدر آنها از این رسوایی آگاه میشود، برای حفظ آبروی خانوادگی و شرف از دست رفتۀ دخترش، به او دستور میدهد که با وکیلش یعنی «چارلز» ازدواج کند و مادری برای فرزند او باشد
از طرفی با این خبر، دنیا بر سر «الیویا» آوار میشود، چراکه او عاشق «چارلز» است
دوستان عزیزم، بهتر است خودتان این داستان را بخوانید و از سرانجام غمبار آن آگاه شوید
آیا آرزوهای «ویکتوریا» و «الیویا» با این اشتباه خواهر کوچکتر، نابود شده است؟؟ یا دو خواهر میتوانند راهی برای آن پیدا کنند!! تنها با خواندن داستان به پاسخ میرسید
--------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این ریویو در جهت شناخت این کتاب، کافی و مفید بوده باشه
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
دخترها مادرشان را زمانی که آن دو را زایمان میکرده است، از دست داده اند و هر دو و بخصوص «ویکتوریا» خود را مقصر میداند
نکتۀ قابل توجه در این دو قلوها این است که به طرز عجیبی با یکدیگر ارتباط غیر جسمی دارند.. یعنی هر اتفاقی که برای یکی از آنها می افتد، خواهر دیگر حتی اگر کیلومترها از آن یکی فاصله داشته باشد، این را احساس میکند.. و صد البته عاشقانه یکدیگر را دوست دارند.. و گهگداری پیش می آید که حتی جایشان را نیز با یکدیگر عوض میکنند و کسی خبردار نمیشود و این برای آنها از کودکی نوعی تفریح بوده است
پدر آنها وکیلی دارد به نام «چارلز» که مردی با شخصیت و متواضع است که همسرش را در حادثۀ غرق شدن کشتی تایتانیک از دست داده است و پسری نه ساله و باهوش به نامِ «جوفری» دارد... زمانی که برای اولین «الیویا» او را میبیند، عاشق او میشود و برعکسِ او، «ویکتوریا» از «چارلز» خوشش نمی آید
داستان از آنجایی اوج میگیرد که در میهمانی بزرگ و شبانه ای، «ویکتوریا» با مردی کثیف و زنباره به نام «توبیاس» آشنا میشود که همسرش از خانواده ثروتمند و مشهور است و سه فرزند دارد، ولی به دلیل زن بازی مردم او را به بدنامی میشناسند... با تمام این حرف ها «ویکتوریا» به سفارش ها و هشدارهای دیگران و حتی خواهرش توجه نمیکند و با «توبیاس» رفاقت را شروع کرده و برای ماه ها بدون اینکه کسی متوجه شود، با او رابطه برقرار میکند... پس از مدتی «توبیاس» به هر کس و ناکسی از رابطه اش با این دختر ناآگاه سخن میگوید و آبروی آنها را میبرد... دوستی آنها با یکدیگر با گریه و زاری کردن «ویکتوریا» تمام میشود.. امّا گویا این دختر نادان از او باردار بوده و شانسی که می آورد این است که بچه سقط میشود
زمانی که پدر آنها از این رسوایی آگاه میشود، برای حفظ آبروی خانوادگی و شرف از دست رفتۀ دخترش، به او دستور میدهد که با وکیلش یعنی «چارلز» ازدواج کند و مادری برای فرزند او باشد
از طرفی با این خبر، دنیا بر سر «الیویا» آوار میشود، چراکه او عاشق «چارلز» است
دوستان عزیزم، بهتر است خودتان این داستان را بخوانید و از سرانجام غمبار آن آگاه شوید
آیا آرزوهای «ویکتوریا» و «الیویا» با این اشتباه خواهر کوچکتر، نابود شده است؟؟ یا دو خواهر میتوانند راهی برای آن پیدا کنند!! تنها با خواندن داستان به پاسخ میرسید
--------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این ریویو در جهت شناخت این کتاب، کافی و مفید بوده باشه
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
June 26, 2012
When I picked up this book,I thought it would be a journey I could never forget.My thoughts halfway through the book was-Oh Lord!please let this journey be over quickly.And when I ended it-Thank God!The journey's OVER...I was very very irritated and exasperated by the characters in this book.It drags on and on and on and on....Oh yes!This was the exact feeling I got while reading it..
But,all in all I can say that it was not a complete waste as I was introduced to some amazing, out of the world characters too.I mean where else shall I find - A COMPLETELY SOBER GUY WHO NOT ONLY COULD'NT UNDERSTAND THAT THE WOMAN WITH HIM WAS NOT HIS WIFE,EVEN AFTER SEEING PHENOMENAL CHANGES IN HER AND KNOWING THAT SHE HAD AN IDENTICAL TWIN WITH THAT SAME EXACT SWEET DISPOSAL,BUT ALSO FAILED TO REALIZE THAT SHE WAS A VIRGIN.
Really hats off!
January 21, 2016
3.5 stars I'd say. This was a funny one, funny as in not humerous! Set around the time of the Titanic, a set of gorgeous 'Mirror twins' experience some unrealistic scenarios, swapping identities, tricking boyfriends and their families as they just can't be told apart. Even their father can't tell who's who. Lots of repetition as is the norm with DS, but I do love reading them on holidays, and as a repeat of my last years holiday, I also did a fair bit of reading in the car. This is such a prolific author and whilst not literary reading in any shape or form, she must be doing something right, she sells millions of them!
September 23, 2021
c'est un roman qui décrit la vie de deux jumeaux,de leur enfances aprés la mort de leur mére,en passant par leur histoire d'amour,leurs disputes qutodien,mais le point fort de cet roman,se manifeste quand l'une de deux décide de quitter son mari,pour être membre de croix rouge,dans l'europe,cet roman dècrit d'un style délicat,les sentiements de jumeaux,leur télépathie,la vie des américans lors de 2 guerre mondiale,c'est l'une du meilleur roman que j"ai lu.
هذه الرواية تتحدث عن حياة توأمين من طفولتهم بعد وفاة والدتهم،مع ذكر خلافتهم اليومية،مقالبهم الطفولية، و اختلافات بين شخصياتهم.
نقطة الجمال و الروعة في هذه الرواية حين تقرر احدهن ان تترك منزل زوجها و تلتحق بمنظمة صليب احمر لتعمل كممرضة (رواية زمن الحرب) و انعكاسات ذلك على اختها توأم.
هذه رواية تنقل بجمالية مشاعر التواصل للخاصة بين توائم و كيف يحسون ببعضهم حتى عن بعد
رواية جميلة مع قصة حب مبوبة و موظفة جيدا.
اشجع على قرءتها
Janv 2017
هذه الرواية تتحدث عن حياة توأمين من طفولتهم بعد وفاة والدتهم،مع ذكر خلافتهم اليومية،مقالبهم الطفولية، و اختلافات بين شخصياتهم.
نقطة الجمال و الروعة في هذه الرواية حين تقرر احدهن ان تترك منزل زوجها و تلتحق بمنظمة صليب احمر لتعمل كممرضة (رواية زمن الحرب) و انعكاسات ذلك على اختها توأم.
هذه رواية تنقل بجمالية مشاعر التواصل للخاصة بين توائم و كيف يحسون ببعضهم حتى عن بعد
رواية جميلة مع قصة حب مبوبة و موظفة جيدا.
اشجع على قرءتها
Janv 2017
May 14, 2017
Insanely intriguing and kinda twisted..well written..(paperback!)
February 8, 2021
#MiniRetoFebrero2021
1.- Novela romántica
⛤⛤⛤⛤
Una historia de romance con encuentros desencuentros, trampas, intrigas, complicidades pero cuando surge el amor no siempre es en el momento correcto ni con la persona indicada, o tal vez sí.
Vale la pena leerla para disfrutar las aventuras de las gemelas identicas que son las dos caras de una misma moneda en un periodo histórico complejo para la humanidad como ser el Hundimiento del RMS Titanic, la Primera Guerra Mundial y el Hundimiento de RMS Lusitania.
Bien documentada la historia que, aunque por momentos se me hizo un poco lenra, engancha hasta último momento.
1.- Novela romántica
⛤⛤⛤⛤
Una historia de romance con encuentros desencuentros, trampas, intrigas, complicidades pero cuando surge el amor no siempre es en el momento correcto ni con la persona indicada, o tal vez sí.
Vale la pena leerla para disfrutar las aventuras de las gemelas identicas que son las dos caras de una misma moneda en un periodo histórico complejo para la humanidad como ser el Hundimiento del RMS Titanic, la Primera Guerra Mundial y el Hundimiento de RMS Lusitania.
Bien documentada la historia que, aunque por momentos se me hizo un poco lenra, engancha hasta último momento.
July 8, 2022
اولیویا و ویکتوریا دو خواهر دوقلوی همسان که انقدر به یکدیگر شبیهند که حتی پدرشان نمیتواند انها را از هم تشخیص دهد، آنها گاهی شیطنت هایی میکنند، جایشان را با هم عوض میکنند و این کار برایشان لذت بخش است، ولی نهایتا به کاری بسیار عجیب و باور نکردنی دست میزنند
June 17, 2015
The book is about two twin sisters, Victoria and Olivia. Their father’s name is Edward Henderson. They live in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. He owns a steel mills, but the person who is running it is his attorney, John Watson. Edward was sixty-five when he retired from the business, and his daughters were not allowed to run it. His had a health problem, and his daughters were never bored because they had many friends. They went to parties often. The Cortland Manor is near their home. It was her father’s home and many people come from all parts of the world to visit.
These two sisters were raised by the housekeeper. Her name was Bertie. She was an older lady, and she had poor eye side, but had a sharp mind. She knew which of the twins was who. She could tell them apart. She was like the mother who they never had. Their biological mother’s name was Elizabeth. She was the second wife who their father married. She had died from the birth of the twins, when she nineteen and he was forty. The first one died from diphtheria. That was when Edward took on the responsibility of the two girls and that was when he decided to build the Croton-Henderson Manor. His daughters moved into the home when they were only ten years old.
The twins were very different. Olivia was born eleven minutes sooner. She enjoys being the homemaker. She is the more serious and more responsible of the two. She does not like to go to parties or to the theater, nor does she like to socialize. She feels as if she were on stage, and she hates the attention. She loves to ride her horses, read books, take walks high on the cliff, and lie down on her neighbor’s field. And most of all, she enjoys taking care of her father’s home and him. These two sisters were inseparable, until one day, Victoria got into trouble with the police because she was demonstrating without a permit. Victoria was part of the Women’s Suffrage Association. This happened at the Fifth Precinct in New York. Victoria is for women’s suffrage, freedom, and independence. She wants to fight for women’s rights. She does not believe in marriage because she thinks it is barbaric and unnecessary. She likes to spend time on her own, to be mischievous, to smoke, to take her father’s car, and to go places on her own. She once told her sister that she was never going to get married.
The man who Olivia is interested in is Charles Dawson. Victoria met a man by the name of Toby Whitcomb. Olivia tells Victoria what a bad man he is; Olivia tells her that Toby would only use her and then would go back to his wife and three children. His wife was expecting her fourth one. Victoria does not care what Olivia says, so Victoria does not listen. Victoria starts to see him behind her sister’s back. Toby told Victoria that he did not want to be with his wife anymore and that he was going to divorce. While they are dancing, he is telling her all this, and she believes Toby. He says that he wants to live in Europe and to fight for women’s suffrage, but that was a lie. He uses her for sex, then gets her pregnant and leaves her alone. He wants nothing to do with her. She is a young beautiful girl, and he is an experienced man with sweet words. He is handsome and rich. She is very trusting, friendly, and innocent.
Olivia went to the bathroom, and she saw Toby’s wife who told her that he will play with her and leave her. Toby’s wife knows him and knows he will always come back to her. He had done this to her many times and most of the women were very young, unexperienced, and virgins. Victoria keeps seeing him. He would tell her that he made a terrible mistake and he had spent five years in a loveless marriage that was a lie because wealthy families do not get divorced. A divorce would be a scandal for the Astors. Victoria and Toby would meet by the library, where he would pick her up. Her father finds out that she is seeing Toby. He gets very upset with Victoria. How could she be with a married man who has sired four children?
Victoria gets pregnant by Toby. She loses the child the same way her mother did, by falling of a horse. She is in so much pain. She has to get transfusions. She is weak and confused. Olivia knows that she still loves Toby. The doctor says that the babies would have been twins. This happens when they go back to live in New York. Victoria feels betrayed by Toby. At that time, she was twenty-one, and Toby was thirty-two. They would always meet at the library. Her father does not want all the people talking about his daughter. Well, he also tells Victoria that she needs to marry Charlie. She does not want to, she is not in love with him, but the father tells her if she does not marry him, the father is going to disinherit her from his will, so she did marry Charlie. The name of Charlie’s son by another marriage is Geoffery, and he can tell Olivia and Victoria apart.
Victoria does not like to take care of the child or be in the house. She loves her freedom. Well, she got marry to the man who her sister has loved ever since she was a child. Olivia tells her twin about how she feels about him, but Victoria already knew. One day, Victoria has a serious talk with Olivia, and she explains to her how she hates to be with Charlie. Victoria does not love him, and Charlie does not love her.
Victoria tells her sister to change places with her. She will become Olivia, and Olivia becomes Victoria. For a while, Victoria wants to go to Europe and help the Allies in the war while Olivia deceives and violates her husband. Olivia says, come back in the summer of the next year: “You promise me.” “Yes, I promise,” Victoria says. So Victoria gets her things and goes on a voyage by ship in which she meets a sergeant named Morrison, who will give her a job as a nurse. So, Sergeant Morrison helps Victoria drive the patients to the hospital. She sees so many people dying in front of her. They become very good friends. She stays at his place, and they become so close that they start to have feelings for each other; she gets pregnant and has a boy. Also, Olivia has twins from Charlie, the man she loves. She names her daughters Elizabeth and Victoria and then has a boy whom she names Oliver. Sergeant Morrison dies in the war and Victoria is injured.
She is in a French hospital. Olivia goes to see her twin. When she gets there, Victoria is near death. Olivia tells her that they need to tell Charles the truth because he needs to know. Victoria says, “I will tell him,” so she does. He is angry at them for deceiving him, but then, now he loves Olivia, as well. Victoria dies, but tells Olivia to take care of her son, Oliver, so she does and Charles and Olivia marry on the ship back to their home. The End.
In my opinion, I believe that more of the story should have been set on the Titanic. It was OK to read about these two young twins who changed their identities. This would be an appropriate novel for young girls to read. It tells the truth about how naive young girls are. I would recommend it.
Belinda
These two sisters were raised by the housekeeper. Her name was Bertie. She was an older lady, and she had poor eye side, but had a sharp mind. She knew which of the twins was who. She could tell them apart. She was like the mother who they never had. Their biological mother’s name was Elizabeth. She was the second wife who their father married. She had died from the birth of the twins, when she nineteen and he was forty. The first one died from diphtheria. That was when Edward took on the responsibility of the two girls and that was when he decided to build the Croton-Henderson Manor. His daughters moved into the home when they were only ten years old.
The twins were very different. Olivia was born eleven minutes sooner. She enjoys being the homemaker. She is the more serious and more responsible of the two. She does not like to go to parties or to the theater, nor does she like to socialize. She feels as if she were on stage, and she hates the attention. She loves to ride her horses, read books, take walks high on the cliff, and lie down on her neighbor’s field. And most of all, she enjoys taking care of her father’s home and him. These two sisters were inseparable, until one day, Victoria got into trouble with the police because she was demonstrating without a permit. Victoria was part of the Women’s Suffrage Association. This happened at the Fifth Precinct in New York. Victoria is for women’s suffrage, freedom, and independence. She wants to fight for women’s rights. She does not believe in marriage because she thinks it is barbaric and unnecessary. She likes to spend time on her own, to be mischievous, to smoke, to take her father’s car, and to go places on her own. She once told her sister that she was never going to get married.
The man who Olivia is interested in is Charles Dawson. Victoria met a man by the name of Toby Whitcomb. Olivia tells Victoria what a bad man he is; Olivia tells her that Toby would only use her and then would go back to his wife and three children. His wife was expecting her fourth one. Victoria does not care what Olivia says, so Victoria does not listen. Victoria starts to see him behind her sister’s back. Toby told Victoria that he did not want to be with his wife anymore and that he was going to divorce. While they are dancing, he is telling her all this, and she believes Toby. He says that he wants to live in Europe and to fight for women’s suffrage, but that was a lie. He uses her for sex, then gets her pregnant and leaves her alone. He wants nothing to do with her. She is a young beautiful girl, and he is an experienced man with sweet words. He is handsome and rich. She is very trusting, friendly, and innocent.
Olivia went to the bathroom, and she saw Toby’s wife who told her that he will play with her and leave her. Toby’s wife knows him and knows he will always come back to her. He had done this to her many times and most of the women were very young, unexperienced, and virgins. Victoria keeps seeing him. He would tell her that he made a terrible mistake and he had spent five years in a loveless marriage that was a lie because wealthy families do not get divorced. A divorce would be a scandal for the Astors. Victoria and Toby would meet by the library, where he would pick her up. Her father finds out that she is seeing Toby. He gets very upset with Victoria. How could she be with a married man who has sired four children?
Victoria gets pregnant by Toby. She loses the child the same way her mother did, by falling of a horse. She is in so much pain. She has to get transfusions. She is weak and confused. Olivia knows that she still loves Toby. The doctor says that the babies would have been twins. This happens when they go back to live in New York. Victoria feels betrayed by Toby. At that time, she was twenty-one, and Toby was thirty-two. They would always meet at the library. Her father does not want all the people talking about his daughter. Well, he also tells Victoria that she needs to marry Charlie. She does not want to, she is not in love with him, but the father tells her if she does not marry him, the father is going to disinherit her from his will, so she did marry Charlie. The name of Charlie’s son by another marriage is Geoffery, and he can tell Olivia and Victoria apart.
Victoria does not like to take care of the child or be in the house. She loves her freedom. Well, she got marry to the man who her sister has loved ever since she was a child. Olivia tells her twin about how she feels about him, but Victoria already knew. One day, Victoria has a serious talk with Olivia, and she explains to her how she hates to be with Charlie. Victoria does not love him, and Charlie does not love her.
Victoria tells her sister to change places with her. She will become Olivia, and Olivia becomes Victoria. For a while, Victoria wants to go to Europe and help the Allies in the war while Olivia deceives and violates her husband. Olivia says, come back in the summer of the next year: “You promise me.” “Yes, I promise,” Victoria says. So Victoria gets her things and goes on a voyage by ship in which she meets a sergeant named Morrison, who will give her a job as a nurse. So, Sergeant Morrison helps Victoria drive the patients to the hospital. She sees so many people dying in front of her. They become very good friends. She stays at his place, and they become so close that they start to have feelings for each other; she gets pregnant and has a boy. Also, Olivia has twins from Charlie, the man she loves. She names her daughters Elizabeth and Victoria and then has a boy whom she names Oliver. Sergeant Morrison dies in the war and Victoria is injured.
She is in a French hospital. Olivia goes to see her twin. When she gets there, Victoria is near death. Olivia tells her that they need to tell Charles the truth because he needs to know. Victoria says, “I will tell him,” so she does. He is angry at them for deceiving him, but then, now he loves Olivia, as well. Victoria dies, but tells Olivia to take care of her son, Oliver, so she does and Charles and Olivia marry on the ship back to their home. The End.
In my opinion, I believe that more of the story should have been set on the Titanic. It was OK to read about these two young twins who changed their identities. This would be an appropriate novel for young girls to read. It tells the truth about how naive young girls are. I would recommend it.
Belinda
November 16, 2022
Lo leí en el verano del 2001, meses que hacía partido mí papá. un libro con el que sufrí. Éste junto con Remembranzas, recuerdo estar leyéndolo bajo la galería en una calurosa tarde de enero. Ambos prestados de la biblioteca popular despertar. Y si, con no ésta autora empecé a leer romance.
June 26, 2011
Okay, overall I enjoyed the novel. It was entertaining, it kept my interest, & I felt the chapters dealing with the first World War were utterly fascinating (here comes the however), the ending completely ruined the whole novel for me.
I don't read DS novels because of the high-moral character they posses. Most are trashy, everybody's cheating on everyone, marriage is more of a hobby than a commitment, I understand all that before I read them. I like her novels because their exciting, she is a talented writer, & I love "period" novels, like Mirror Image. But, this novel was trash. Not the whole novel, but the ending just did it for me. Olivia's character had a reputation of being of such high-moral behavior, the "good" twin...when I felt that she was beyond despicable. Who knowingly goes along with an idea to be that decietful to somebody??? It floors me. Even though I knew what was going to transpire (just from the dust jacket) I thought in the end she'd get what she deserved. The twins father was an awful human being for how he treated his daughters (especially Victoria) that I kept waiting for one of the girls to tell him to shove it, & Charles was made to look like such a fool that I CANNOT believe he stayed with Olivia. He was such a victim in all this & Olivia was so callus about his feelings, you don't really love someone if you're pulling off that level of deceit. Victoria was the one that I sympathized most with, in my opinion, she was the victim from the beginning of the novel right until the end. And I had it up to my ears with hearing how beautiful & gorgeous the twins were (enough already, we get the point, their drop-dead gorgeous) & I thought their "intuition" was a little far-fetched....seriously??? Nobody has that many premonitions, a little to sci-fy for me.
If Charles has left Olivia & divorced her the novel would've been a strong contender for my favorite DS novel. That would've been the only saving grace for the level of deceit that she caused.
I don't read DS novels because of the high-moral character they posses. Most are trashy, everybody's cheating on everyone, marriage is more of a hobby than a commitment, I understand all that before I read them. I like her novels because their exciting, she is a talented writer, & I love "period" novels, like Mirror Image. But, this novel was trash. Not the whole novel, but the ending just did it for me. Olivia's character had a reputation of being of such high-moral behavior, the "good" twin...when I felt that she was beyond despicable. Who knowingly goes along with an idea to be that decietful to somebody??? It floors me. Even though I knew what was going to transpire (just from the dust jacket) I thought in the end she'd get what she deserved. The twins father was an awful human being for how he treated his daughters (especially Victoria) that I kept waiting for one of the girls to tell him to shove it, & Charles was made to look like such a fool that I CANNOT believe he stayed with Olivia. He was such a victim in all this & Olivia was so callus about his feelings, you don't really love someone if you're pulling off that level of deceit. Victoria was the one that I sympathized most with, in my opinion, she was the victim from the beginning of the novel right until the end. And I had it up to my ears with hearing how beautiful & gorgeous the twins were (enough already, we get the point, their drop-dead gorgeous) & I thought their "intuition" was a little far-fetched....seriously??? Nobody has that many premonitions, a little to sci-fy for me.
If Charles has left Olivia & divorced her the novel would've been a strong contender for my favorite DS novel. That would've been the only saving grace for the level of deceit that she caused.
July 31, 2013
Wonderful book. I love it so much. The story is so heart touching. I love the character of the twin sisters Olivia and Victoria. Their character was presented in such a great way that at the end of the book I felt like they are real and I know them. Danielle Steel presents in a very interesting and detailed way the character's feelings and I liked that very much. The end of the book was a little bit sad however it has a happy ending. This book teached me what is it like to have a sister.
June 8, 2018
This book was awesome! Starting off with two twins, Victoria and Olivia, one, who's trapped and seeks freedom, the other, who only longs to care for her father. But when Victoria is disgraced she is forced o marry Charles Dawson, one of her fathers lawyers, can tis event change both Victoria's and Olivia's lives?
August 4, 2023
La historia en si me gusto. La idea de gemelas identicas es buena. Pero no creo ni por casualidad, que el propio padre no pudiera diferenciarlas, y luego que Charles no reconozca a su verdadera esposa.
una criatura de 10 años es más perspicaz que un padre y enseguida las distingue? No suena a creible. Lo siento. Una pena, tenia todo para ser una excelente novela.
The story itself I liked. The idea of identical twins is good. But I do not believe, not by chance, that the father himself could not tell them apart, and then that Charles does not recognize his real wife.
a 10-year-old child is more perceptive than a parent and distinguishes them right away? It doesn't sound credible. I'm sorry. A pity, it had everything to be an excellent novel.
una criatura de 10 años es más perspicaz que un padre y enseguida las distingue? No suena a creible. Lo siento. Una pena, tenia todo para ser una excelente novela.
The story itself I liked. The idea of identical twins is good. But I do not believe, not by chance, that the father himself could not tell them apart, and then that Charles does not recognize his real wife.
a 10-year-old child is more perceptive than a parent and distinguishes them right away? It doesn't sound credible. I'm sorry. A pity, it had everything to be an excellent novel.
October 28, 2016
Danielle is the best, the way she describes the twins and their behaviors, thei choice of clothing, and everything is so detailed and I can't believe that it's only imagination. The book is a piece of heaven and I haveread it three times, and still find new details about it and enjoy it as the first time.
June 11, 2013
twins opposite nature. Elder the more introvert one and 11 mins younger the more carefree one. one guy loved by the elder ends up marrying the younger one (the one he loves). sisterhood, friendship, love, war and sacrifice and a loss brings them closer to each other.
July 10, 2015
What a wonderful summer read ! Couldn't get enough ....
October 17, 2017
I loved it, its typical of what happens when twins are involved.
November 10, 2024
Absolute unbelievable nonsense, but sadly miles better than any of the garbage books she’s published (that I’m 100% not convinced are actually written by her) in the last decade or so.
March 6, 2019
Never one to seek out books by Danielle Steel, I came across this book which involved twins and was set in the early twentieth century. While fairly lengthy, the book moved along rather quickly.
As one might expect from the title, the twins were identical in looks, but not unexpectedly, very different in personalities. One likes to stay at home and be a homemaker and one hates being at home and wants to run around.
The United States was not quite into the Great War but the suffragette movement was in full swing.
The times they were a changin'
Morals and proprieties, the very rich and the average and poor, scandals and live and let live.
Somehow, the author manages to cover most of everything in her novel.
As one might expect from the title, the twins were identical in looks, but not unexpectedly, very different in personalities. One likes to stay at home and be a homemaker and one hates being at home and wants to run around.
The United States was not quite into the Great War but the suffragette movement was in full swing.
The times they were a changin'
Morals and proprieties, the very rich and the average and poor, scandals and live and let live.
Somehow, the author manages to cover most of everything in her novel.
November 1, 2020
WWI so it would easily be a time where a father would marry a daughter off to save her reputation. It was interesting. The reviews are all love or hate it. Let me remind you... it is fiction. It was a little slow to begin with but I came close to rating this one a 5. The ending was sad...but it nicely tied up all of the problems in the book.
April 28, 2023
3.5. I could tell what was going to happen, but it took a long time to get there.
June 29, 2024
i think this was genuinely the most wild book i’ve ever read. and i loved it. i only cried like five times.
May 11, 2025
2.6. Do not recommend it really.
It was at the end of it all, like the last 5 chapters when this book finally got me interested.
The beginning was so incredibly boring that I had to pause it for a few weeks, but picking it up again was definitely worth it (I rlly liked the way it ended, so).
I liked the ending, but I would’ve love to see it unfold a bit more, maybe an epilogue that showed us how they’re life was going after everything was over and how they handled the aftermath of the ending (saying it like this to avoid giving spoilers).
Anyway, despite the good, there was a lot of bad.
1. It was unbelievably repetitive. Honestly, it was making me sick at some point, reading again and again how they are so identical and how they did mischievous stuff being so identical and just the same shit over and over again.
2. The male characters (specially the one that appeared at the very end and the dad) were… well, we didn’t get to know them very well, which is specially irritating considering we spent the whole book interacting with him.
3. I just felt like there was so much wasted potential here. So many pages of the same repetitive stuff that could’ve been used to flesh out and develop the characters better.
4. Veronica is rlly annoying, rlly selfish, and kinda of an asshole. I don’t get how Olivia could put up with her for so long without choking her.
5. There were parts that are SOOO UNREALISTIC it’s hard for one to put one’s head around it, like (*SPOILEEEER*): How could you possibly not know that your wife, suddenly, became a virgin, after having slept with her like 5 times and knowing full well she wasn’t one?; and how could you just not question such drastic change in her behavior after, *casually*, the sister that behaves the exact same sweet way disappeared?
Again, really enjoyed like my last 5-4 hours reading it, but they couldn’t salvage the rest.
It was at the end of it all, like the last 5 chapters when this book finally got me interested.
The beginning was so incredibly boring that I had to pause it for a few weeks, but picking it up again was definitely worth it (I rlly liked the way it ended, so).
I liked the ending, but I would’ve love to see it unfold a bit more, maybe an epilogue that showed us how they’re life was going after everything was over and how they handled the aftermath of the ending (saying it like this to avoid giving spoilers).
Anyway, despite the good, there was a lot of bad.
1. It was unbelievably repetitive. Honestly, it was making me sick at some point, reading again and again how they are so identical and how they did mischievous stuff being so identical and just the same shit over and over again.
2. The male characters (specially the one that appeared at the very end and the dad) were… well, we didn’t get to know them very well, which is specially irritating considering we spent the whole book interacting with him.
3. I just felt like there was so much wasted potential here. So many pages of the same repetitive stuff that could’ve been used to flesh out and develop the characters better.
4. Veronica is rlly annoying, rlly selfish, and kinda of an asshole. I don’t get how Olivia could put up with her for so long without choking her.
5. There were parts that are SOOO UNREALISTIC it’s hard for one to put one’s head around it, like (*SPOILEEEER*): How could you possibly not know that your wife, suddenly, became a virgin, after having slept with her like 5 times and knowing full well she wasn’t one?; and how could you just not question such drastic change in her behavior after, *casually*, the sister that behaves the exact same sweet way disappeared?
Again, really enjoyed like my last 5-4 hours reading it, but they couldn’t salvage the rest.
October 9, 2017
This is the first Danielle Steel book I've read as an adult. The short version of the plot is that Victoria and Olivia are identical twins. The two of them switch places because of something stupid that Victoria does. The swiiiiiiitch doesn't happen till the second half of the book, but it all ends up being pretty predictable.
There were many things that irritated me about this book, most of all, Victoria's selfishness. The ending of the book was rather climatic, but it was such a simple and predictable read.
There were many things that irritated me about this book, most of all, Victoria's selfishness. The ending of the book was rather climatic, but it was such a simple and predictable read.
September 11, 2011
This is the first book I've read from Danielle Steel, and I am not quite excited.
There were just a few strong moments, and as a whole the plot was boring, and in the end it was more that stupid. Yes, it was unexpected, and this is one of these books that are surprising you, but the surprise was unpleasant. When I finished the book I had was feeling oppressed. It wasn't definitely my cup of tea.
There were just a few strong moments, and as a whole the plot was boring, and in the end it was more that stupid. Yes, it was unexpected, and this is one of these books that are surprising you, but the surprise was unpleasant. When I finished the book I had was feeling oppressed. It wasn't definitely my cup of tea.
October 21, 2010
I must say this was a very good book! It was always interesting and never a dull moment! It tells the story of the lives Of two twin sisters. These sisters are identical in so many ways, but not alike in so many others. It is a very touching story. The love that sisters can share is so heart warming in this story. This is a must read!
March 7, 2018
Very intriguing story and well played out. However, the quality of writing is still pretty poor. Maybe it is Steel’s writing style to repeat the same sentences over and over...or begin said repetitive sentences with “and”...or overuse commas...or continually have run on sentences. But I cannot believe the editors let it fly.
August 2, 2011
I am not a Danielle Steele fan. Ok...beat me up! Ms. Steele writes to a formula, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The bad thing about her formula: It is so simple that you figure it out on the second book you read. I like a little bit of a challenge.
December 24, 2023
exquisitley sensational, steel has ardently depicted such a fervently unique bond between two sisters "twins".. really enjoyed reading every word....steel is my favourite.:)
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January 23, 2013one of my favorites!
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