Double Exposure

by Charmaine Ross

Eden has fled to the beautiful high country in the Victorian Alps to escape her domineering family and to enjoy her greatest passion - photography. When she happens on a very attractive man swimming in a river, she can't resist snapping a few shots of him for her portfolio.

Adam Blackstone is an undercover cop living locally to infiltrate a gang of bikies suspected of drug trafficking. He soon realises the beautiful stranger in town has been photographing him and has to find out why.

Adam is a man who cannot trust anyone. He's intense, damaged, jaded. Eden is a woman has spent her life wrapped in cotton-wool, protected by controlling parents. She's meek, naïve and sweet. They must open their hearts and learn to trust one another if they are ever to be together. But first, they must survive the danger that threatens to tear them apart.

Double Exposure is an intense and thrilling romance that offers a blast of fresh alpine air in a pristine landscape. But amid the beautiful birdlife and the picturesque views lurks a menace that could spell disaster for Eden and Adam.

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2012

About the author

Charmaine Ross has penned over 50 heart-pounding tales straddling everything from reverse harem sci-fi and paranormal excitement to omegaverse allure and contemporary romance charm. Known for her blend of steam, full spice and all-the-feels, Charmaine's stories are your ticket to heart-stopping romance and boundless adventure.

Living with her endlessly supportive husband who has become a sounding board for her galaxy of ideas, Charmaine shares her lively home with two adult children and a pair of predictably spoiled cats. When she's not spinning tales, she's indulging in Netflix and Chill sessions, secretly hoping that one day, a Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire will swoop in and whisk her away.

With a wit as sharp as her imagination, Charmaine Ross fearlessly turns dreams into page-turning realities, steadfastly capturing the hearts of readers one mesmerizing story at a time.

Key tropes include:
- Scent matches
- Fated mates
- Hurt/ comfort
- Touch her and die
- Enemies to lovers

Catch up with her latest news at: https://www.charmainerossauthor.com/

Reviews

[Bernadette Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous story by Charmaine Ross. Her setting in the high country of Victoria is beautifully described and takes on a character of its own.
Eden was a wonderful heroine and Adam a truly desireable hero despite his rough exterior.
Eden is looking for her dream career and taking steps to achieve that. Ms Ross clearly understands what it is to take a risk and dream a dream and her prose in Chapter six of the book was nothing short of inspirational.
Eden explains to Adam that she fears losing herself if she continues to exist in her dull day job. 'I don't think life is ever safe. Even if you stuff everything up, I think it's a waste not to try to follow your dream. It's a waste of that spark you were born with. What you're here to do. To be.'
For me, this perfectly personifies how I've always felt about life.
I can highly recommend this book.

[Venetia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved about this book was its beautiful evocation of place interwoven with a subtle secondary imagery. The story is set in the highlands of Victoria, Australia, but on a symbolic level, the setting is Paradise itself. Eden has escaped the city rat race in pursuit of her dream of travel photography. One of the first things she finds is Adam, appropriately sans-fig-leaf (or any other form of clothing), bathing in a paradisical and icy river. Yet, as one might guess, this Garden also contains a snake - in the form of a gang of bikies.
Double Exposure is both a satisfying romance and a hymn to an iconic Australian landscape.

[Kaetrin · Rating 2 out of 5]

C-/D+ I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy this debut novel from Ms. Ross, part of Penguin Australia's new Destiny imprint. When I read the blurb - holidaying photographer snaps sexy photos of gorgeous man swimming in lake, said gorgeous man is an undercover cop so needs to know whether she's on the side of the angels or not - it sounded like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, for me, the reality didn't live up to it's promise. From very early on when Adam starts referring to Eden by her first name (when she hadn't told it to him), to the idea that Adam had been undercover for 2 years in relation to a marijuana crop (which just seemed excessive to me) to his very sad backstory ("I don't have any family, I had nothing to miss. Other police had wives, husbands, children and there was no telling how long this might take."), I felt the story didn't gel. It seemed like a lot of popular tropes in a mixed bag but I didn't feel engaged by the characters or the writing style. Eden and Adam both did some pretty stupid things, which felt like they needed to be there only to drive the plot (he needs to be on his own at this point so..., she's "allowed" to come on the police raid because she needs to be..., etc.) and did not make me feel they were as smart and resourceful as they were probably intended to be. As I said, this is the author's debut and it's a big thing to write a book and have it published, so kudos for that. Unfortunately, it wasn't a success for me - a great idea which fell down in the execution sadly.

http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...

[Mary Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book for anyone who enjoys a mix of excitement and romance, and is also drawn to the exotica of the Australian bush. The heroine is on a personal quest; the hero is involved in something dark and dangerous, and has lost himself in the process. Some very thoughful character development.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story full of drama, suspense, danger, villains, passion and love. Eden loves taking pictures and follows her dream of being photographer what she finds is danger, excitement and love. I just loved the drama, suspense the author gives me. The story is full of passion as these two take on one thing and then another. I had to laugh and even chuckled a few times. I really enjoyed the read.
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[Laila Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good well written story with nice storyline and plot. It has a lot of suspense, drama, danger, villains, emotions and love.The story is about undercover cop Adam and Eden who is a woman who has decided to follow her photographic passion.

Edens secret rendezvous takes a dramatic turn. She catches pictures of the perfect man for her with her camera. Engaging story that is more crime than romance.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good well-written story of suspense, drama, danger, villains, and love.This story is about undercover cop Adam and Eden a woman who has decided to follow her photographic passion for awhile.I would recommend this book.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherry Westendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. What an exciting, fun, suspenseful, and enjoyable read. Well written and a book to curl up with and read. An innocent girl and an experienced guy. He is not what he seems at first but what a way to meet someone. I recommend it. I was given a review copy and voluntarily review it

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eden's adventurous secret rendezvous takes a dangerous turn but with the click of her camera she discovers the perfect man for her. It's interesting enough to engage you into the plot. To me, it reads like more of a crime or police drama story then contemporary romance.

[Deirdre Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. The romance the intense and steamy moments really made it a page turner. It had me wanting more from this story the characters were great and the book was well written.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zeinab Dh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read and review this book. This is a new author for me but enjoyed the book. Everything is well written. I liked the plot and how it is filled with action steam sparks twists and much more that will keep you reading till the end.

[Aisha Oaktree · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a cute book, light and a quick read. I don't think I ever rolled my eyes this much in what should be a 'mushy' scene simply because it was totally inappropriate for the moment. He's a cop who has an epiphany right in the middle of huge bust, and totally spaces out<<< that right there can get you hurt. I did love the rest of the story though, how they sharpened each other and made the other willing to see more and do better with their lives. I loved that Eden was willing to try for more than what was expected of her & that she went for her dream even if it meant disappointing those who had planned and mapped out her life for her.

This story was short & sweet otherwise and I liked it well enough. I however had to chuckle at Adam's instance in his head that she was so "innocent", while he was so "horribly bad". The author gave the characters a few issues to make them more grounded and real, but at the same time, when Adam discussed his issues and kept insisting even if it was just to himself it kind of made it seem false. The first time okay we get it, but then he kept saying over and over and using it as an excuse to everything which made it hard to like him. Like if your such a horrible person why should I want to see you with Eden??

Other than that I actually liked reading the story especially because the main focus was on photography. Hence the name Double Exposure. it's a quuick evening read, so if you want some camera lust, a few interesting photo shoots & a lit bit fo a bad boy with an adventure thrown in, this one is for you.

happy reading
Aisha

*** FTC rules maintain that i must make you aware that I received this book for free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review.***

[Charmaine Ross]

I wanted to place a book in a part of the world I love and where I have spent half of my life. I've spent all my childhood, adulthood and now take my children to a little town in the Victorian High Country called Jamieson. All the places in this book I know well and it was with the greatest of pleasures that I managed to put them in one of my romances.

If you like light adventure and the thrill of falling in love, then I hope you'll like this book.