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Mirror, Mirror
LOOKS CAN KILL …
They have the perfect marriage, and he is the perfect husband--in and out of bed. Tender and seductive, James is a man who knows how to satisfy a woman's deepest desires. Amanda trusts him with her body and her life. Until she discovers his devastating betrayal. The other woman's name is Lydia—and she's gorgeous.
Now Amanda wants everything Lydia's got—her stunning face, her sexy body—and James. And she's going to get it …
But the truth is more horrifying than anyone can imagine. For Lydia isn't what—or who—she seems. Yet even Amanda can't begin to guess just how sick, twisted and deadly her rival really is …
(originally published as written by Valerie Stephens)
They have the perfect marriage, and he is the perfect husband--in and out of bed. Tender and seductive, James is a man who knows how to satisfy a woman's deepest desires. Amanda trusts him with her body and her life. Until she discovers his devastating betrayal. The other woman's name is Lydia—and she's gorgeous.
Now Amanda wants everything Lydia's got—her stunning face, her sexy body—and James. And she's going to get it …
But the truth is more horrifying than anyone can imagine. For Lydia isn't what—or who—she seems. Yet even Amanda can't begin to guess just how sick, twisted and deadly her rival really is …
(originally published as written by Valerie Stephens)
349 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 2, 2023
Behind the rather bland cover (geez Zebra!) lurks a surprising tense and creepy mystery/thriller by Stephen George, AKA Valerie Stephens (I believe this was the only time he used this pen name). As typical for George, Mirror, Mirror is set in the Twin Cities. Our main protagonist, Amanda, works in real estate, which is where she met her husband when she sold him some property (they were married one year before the tale starts).
George plunks the reader down to a party to celebrate the one year anniversary of Amanda and James, put on by Shelly, James' sister. Amanda is not having a good time while James cavorts with everyone; seeking solace, Amanda pigeonholes Shelly and tells her that she thinks James is having an affair. After just one year! Shelly, ruthlessly, tells her that maybe she should go on a diet and get some better clothes! Not the answer Amanda was hoping for! Finally, James finds her and takes her home, but then tells her he is going back to party! Amanda is crushed!
Now, supposedly, James and Amanda had been getting along swimmingly until fairly recently, when James came back from a business trip acting 'off'. Amanda suspects an affair. She even hires a PI and yes, he confirms it; some woman named Lydia met James in a hotel room and the PI even gets some pictures. Amanda seems to face two options: divorce or fight for her man, and she picks the latter. Besides going on a radical exercise plan/diet to dump 20 pounds, she lets her sister-in-law and her husband talk her into (or more aptly push her into) some fairly radical plastic surgery. While she was pretty before, now Amanda is stunning, with perky breasts and all! Strangely, however, she realizes that she actually now looks kinda like Lydia!
This may sound like a romance novel, something I usually avoid like the plague, but George adds in some really creepy aspects that just keep building. James professes that he is not having an affair and yes, Amanda still loves him, but when she tells her sister-in-law and hubbie about the affair, they start acting strange. As the novel progresses, it becomes obvious that they know something about this Lydia. When Lydia starts sending threating letters and actually tries to run Amanda down with her red sports car, Amanda finally goes to the cops, against the advice of her in laws and James. No joy here, as James tells the cops he does not know Lydia's last name, and Amanda has not yet been hurt...
There are several more creepy aspects, but I will stop here to avoid spoilers. George manages to slowly but steadily ramp up the tension and this became hard to put down. I am mixed on the denouement; it is very unique to be sure and I did not see it coming, but I found it a little OTT. I was tempted to bump it down a star for the big reveal, but given the strange, almost hypnotic and definitely creepy journey George took me on here, I will round up 3.5 starts to 4. Fun!
George plunks the reader down to a party to celebrate the one year anniversary of Amanda and James, put on by Shelly, James' sister. Amanda is not having a good time while James cavorts with everyone; seeking solace, Amanda pigeonholes Shelly and tells her that she thinks James is having an affair. After just one year! Shelly, ruthlessly, tells her that maybe she should go on a diet and get some better clothes! Not the answer Amanda was hoping for! Finally, James finds her and takes her home, but then tells her he is going back to party! Amanda is crushed!
Now, supposedly, James and Amanda had been getting along swimmingly until fairly recently, when James came back from a business trip acting 'off'. Amanda suspects an affair. She even hires a PI and yes, he confirms it; some woman named Lydia met James in a hotel room and the PI even gets some pictures. Amanda seems to face two options: divorce or fight for her man, and she picks the latter. Besides going on a radical exercise plan/diet to dump 20 pounds, she lets her sister-in-law and her husband talk her into (or more aptly push her into) some fairly radical plastic surgery. While she was pretty before, now Amanda is stunning, with perky breasts and all! Strangely, however, she realizes that she actually now looks kinda like Lydia!
This may sound like a romance novel, something I usually avoid like the plague, but George adds in some really creepy aspects that just keep building. James professes that he is not having an affair and yes, Amanda still loves him, but when she tells her sister-in-law and hubbie about the affair, they start acting strange. As the novel progresses, it becomes obvious that they know something about this Lydia. When Lydia starts sending threating letters and actually tries to run Amanda down with her red sports car, Amanda finally goes to the cops, against the advice of her in laws and James. No joy here, as James tells the cops he does not know Lydia's last name, and Amanda has not yet been hurt...
There are several more creepy aspects, but I will stop here to avoid spoilers. George manages to slowly but steadily ramp up the tension and this became hard to put down. I am mixed on the denouement; it is very unique to be sure and I did not see it coming, but I found it a little OTT. I was tempted to bump it down a star for the big reveal, but given the strange, almost hypnotic and definitely creepy journey George took me on here, I will round up 3.5 starts to 4. Fun!
April 28, 2023
With a weird kind of mauve colored and gold lettered cover, Mirror, Mirror looks like a cheaply produced Harlequin romance. And with the infamous Zebra “Z” logo on the spine, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking this particular book came from their “Paranormal Romance” line of publications. And, taking all of those things into consideration, I also would forgive you for thinking this one would be an automatic dud and yet another example of quickly written/produced schlock from the mid 90s.
But you’d be wrong.
Mirror, Mirror might just be the biggest surprise of the year 2023 (so far).
You see, this book was actually penned by Stephen R. George, who, after now reading 3 of his books, has proven he was a far more capable author than his fellow Zebra authors. Sure, this one is kinda of silly, and it’s not going to blow you away with lyrical prose, literary merit, or even originality, but it is immensely entertaining, keeping the tension pretty much constant from the very beginning.
The pacing is rocket fast leading to it being an incredibly fast read and while the eventual conclusion could be potentially triggering for some in this modern “woke” climate, I enjoyed what Stephens (George) did. Is it fully original? No. But when I thought I had figured this one out early on, and the big reveal finally happened, I was actually kind of shocked…in a good way.
But you’d be wrong.
Mirror, Mirror might just be the biggest surprise of the year 2023 (so far).
You see, this book was actually penned by Stephen R. George, who, after now reading 3 of his books, has proven he was a far more capable author than his fellow Zebra authors. Sure, this one is kinda of silly, and it’s not going to blow you away with lyrical prose, literary merit, or even originality, but it is immensely entertaining, keeping the tension pretty much constant from the very beginning.
The pacing is rocket fast leading to it being an incredibly fast read and while the eventual conclusion could be potentially triggering for some in this modern “woke” climate, I enjoyed what Stephens (George) did. Is it fully original? No. But when I thought I had figured this one out early on, and the big reveal finally happened, I was actually kind of shocked…in a good way.
November 3, 2025
Oh my, this book! When I saw this on my local bookstore, I bought it right away and started reading asap. I keep on reading chapter by chapter at night.
The plot is simple that's why I bought the book, and I didnt expect the ending at all! When I got into the plot-twist at the ending, my mind was blown and I laughed and almost couldn't believe it. It's a nice ending, it's a shock, and I really like it.
I couldnt give the full stars because I think, at the ending, we didnt get the chance to know Amanda's family more in the story. The story lacks information about her parents. And we only got to know them at the ending.
But I really enjoyed this book so much! Such a nice read!
The plot is simple that's why I bought the book, and I didnt expect the ending at all! When I got into the plot-twist at the ending, my mind was blown and I laughed and almost couldn't believe it. It's a nice ending, it's a shock, and I really like it.
I couldnt give the full stars because I think, at the ending, we didnt get the chance to know Amanda's family more in the story. The story lacks information about her parents. And we only got to know them at the ending.
But I really enjoyed this book so much! Such a nice read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews