Sandy M’s review of Triple Exposure by Colleen Thompson
Romantic Suspense released by Leisure 29 Jul 08

I know when I read a book by Colleen Thompson I’m going to be glued to every page, enjoying the romance and love of her characters, trying to figure out who the villain is, and never seeing that twist that comes out of left field until it hits me right between the eyes. This book is not the exception.

Rachel has returned home after the nightmare of a year she’s just gone through. She was charged with the killing of one of her photography students, and although she was acquitted, her life is in shambles and she hopes being back among family and friends will help her get past it all and start life anew. She finds out very quickly that was all too much to hope for.

Fallout of the tragedy and the trial still follow her and she has to deal with further legalities, her stepmother, who she’s never really gotten along with, and a vengeful former classmate who lashes out at her at every turn. The only bright spots in being home are her father and her love of flying and photography. And Zeke Pike. Although getting to know that handsome recluse of a man takes some doing.

Zeke has secrets that no one in Marfa has ever known, and once he gets to know Rachel, he begins to have feelings for her, he doesn’t want her to know anything of his past either. He’s been running and hiding for so long, he’s not quite sure why suddenly he’s thinking of staying put when things begin to spiral out of control and his whereabouts become known to those who would do him harm and those who would be harmed if he’s forced to face his secrets. Falling for Rachel was never part of his plan and only for her would he think of trying to make things right and then hope she would stand by him.

Every character, every secret, each mystery, each romance is written to perfection. Despite their secrets and their pasts, Zeke and Rachel learn to live and love in the moment and then want the forever they never thought they’d have or deserve. I really like Zeke. It’s a joy to watch him go from a man who says not a dozen words in a day to someone who opens up and wants to live life once again, wants to love and be loved again, who would give up everything for the woman who gave him the desire to want again.

There’s such a variety of secondary characters to keep you entertained and to keep you guessing who the villain is, so watch out for all those twists and turns that Ms. Thompson does so well. The storyline is interesting and keeps things moving along between Rachel’s notoriety and legal problems, the stalker who harasses her constantly, and Zeke’s dilemma between staying for love or fleeing for love.

I also like Ms. Thompson’s creativity in giving the villain ways to get rid of their target and her detail at deception that will make you rethink what you think you know at any given time during this book. Pick this one up if you want to be challenged, especially if you’re one of those readers who likes to try to outguess an author. You’re in for one big surprise.

Grade: A+

Summary:

A mother’s love. A son’s life snuffed out. A killer at large. Snapshots of reality, except sometimes layered images do not add up to a whole picture of the truth.

Better than anyone, photographer Rachel Copeland knows the camera can lie. That’s how lurid altered pictures of her appeared on the Internet, starting a downward spiral that ended with her shooting a nineteen-year-old stalker in self-defense. Fleeing the press and the threats of an unidentified female caller, she retreats to her remote hometown in the Texas desert. In Marfa, where mysterious lights hover in the night sky, folks are used to the unexplainable, and a person’s secrets are off limits. But recluse Zeke Pike takes that philosophy even further than Rachel herself. In her viewfinder Zeke’s male sensuality is highlighted, his unexpressed longing for human contact revealed. Through a soft-focus lens, she sees a future for them beyond their red-hot affair, never guessing their relationship will expose the lovers to more danger than either can imagine.

Read an excerpt here.