I'm new to the forum and I'm not sure if this is the place to ask questions but here goes.

I started reading a book back in the late 80's/early 90's that was a romance novel. Honestly, there's a whole long story with it. My mother was cleaning hotel rooms at the time and someone left their book behind. After so many days of not being claimed, she bought it home. It sat on her bookshelf for about a week. It was summertime, I was bored, so I snitched it. I managed to get about halfway through it before she caught me with it and took it back. (Did I mention I was around ten at the time?) I have no idea what she did with it.

SO, for the past twenty years, this book has been in my head in an on and off fashion. I would like to know what happened in the story, but I can't remember the name of the book or the author. That puts me in quite a pickle, doesn't it? However, I do remember a few details:

The book was paperback. The inside cover also contained a beautiful blonde in a formal evening gown (?), that if I remember correctly was supposed to have Topaz eyes. I think her name was Valerie, but not quite sure.

She married Victor (Viktor maybe) who was quite a few years her senior. One of them couldn't have children so they hired a woman to carry a set of twins for them- her name was Ingrid (again, touchy on the name).

Victor had a brother that Valerie didn't like...I think his name was Raymond and he had blue eyes.

Victor died at one point in the book and Valerie became involved with a man named Max (Maxwell?). I think Valerie or Max was a musician at this point.

At this point the book was removed from my person... and I'm lost.

I know this isn't much to go on, but if someone could give me an author, title, inkling- anything- I would appreciate it!

Thanks,
D2

You should ask in the Love & Romance forum. I've seen them identify a book with descriptions like yours. It's actually pretty cool how much they remember and how little they need to identify a book sometimes.