Olivia Stanton has always been the scandalous twin, but when her saintly sister Kimberly Stanton mysteriously runs off the night before her wedding to Billionaire Alexander King without an explanation, Olivia weds Alexander in her place. Olivia Stanton is a notorious socialite hounded by the media as they track her every scandalous step and bad choice. Her one goal is to prove she is a serious career woman as she gets ready to pitch the most important ad campaign of her life. An obstacle is thrown into her path, when her twin Kimberly flees the night before her own wedding, asking Olivia to take her place. Olivia and Kim had switched places before but never with such high stakes. Olivia isn't happy about the exchange but feels like she owes it to her sister to buy her whatever time she needs. Olivia weds Alexander King in Kim's place hoping to be home by the wedding night. She manages to fool the wedding guests and even the groom until an encounter with her estranged father sends her running from the room in fear.
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As soon as Alexander sees “Kim” turn tail and run from her father, he figures out that “Kim” is really Olivia and believes she is up to no good. He is pissed to say the least, but after heated arguments, Alexander and Olivia come to a tentative agreement: Olivia will pretend to be Kim in public and perpetuate the façade of having a happy marriage until they can locate Kim. Alexander's goal is to have not a hint of scandal touch his life. He still believes his perfect marriage, with the good twin, will work out in the end.
As they play house, both Alexander and Olivia fight their growing feelings, conflicted for obvious reasons (he's married to her twin…for goodness sake). Their budding relationship moves forward when Kim calls to announce she married someone else.
The main conflict stems for Alexander's desire for the perfect wife. He wants a perfect wife so he can gain custody of his younger sister Emily. Growing up, his parents had an explosive relationship and were abusive to each other. At the tender age of seventeen, Alexander left his parents and took his sister with him. He struggles to protect Emily by keeping her away from their mother.
Alexander's childhood issues shape the way he sees women and marriage in general and that creates conflict in his relationship with Olivia. Once he and Olivia become intimate, he acts like she is only good enough to be his piece on the side, not his wife. This hurts Olivia greatly and drives the couple apart. Olivia is tired of being judged and found wanting.
Eventually, the press catches wind of Olivia's and Alexander's relationship and she is cast as the evil husband stealer in the press. Despite the press now swarming her every move, Olivia manages to mend fences between Emily, Alexander and their mother. In return, Alexander makes a grand gesture by calling a press conference and announcing to the world that Olivia is the innocent party. This is a big deal because Alexander values his privacy very highly. Alexander and Olivia declare their love and get engaged. The end.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked this story because Olivia isn't the typical romance heroine. She has made a lot of bad choices and carries a lot of baggage but still keeps her up beat personality and her will to improve herself.
Best scene in story:
When Olivia and Alexander are embracing and Olivia suggests she intercede with his sister Emily on his behalf because she thinks she can help and Alexander turns her down. Alexander's rejection is heartbreaking because it shows Olivia that Alexander doesn't see her as a serious relationship and is still searching for the perfect scandal free woman.
Opinion about the main character:
What I dislike most is Alexander's arrogance and his cold treatment of Olivia sometimes.
