Recently divorced Tara Spencer is a devoted single mom to her eleven-year-old daughter and is still healing from her failed marriage of 14 years. As she embarks on an exciting new career, the last thing she needs is a man in her life.
When she meets Dr. Geoffrey Jensen, a handsome and charming psychotherapist, he isn’t what he seems. Adept at manipulation, Geoffrey toys with Tara’s mind compelling her to change for him.
When Tara discovers his shocking secret, will she find the courage to get out in time or will it be too late?
Chameleon is a nail-biting suspenseful domestic thriller sure to keep you up at night until you reach the last page.
Tasche Laine is a storyteller at heart, weaving tales across genres for readers of all ages. From her award-winning novels Closure and Chameleon, to the heartfelt mysteries of her young adult series, Chronicles of V, and the charming adventures of Lil Peter, co-written with her husband, Peter Valdez, Tasche’s writing is as versatile as it is captivating.
With a background in journalism, teaching, and editing, Tasche brings a keen eye and a compassionate touch to every story she tells. Now happily nestled in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two mischievous pups, Story and Page, she draws inspiration from misty mornings and towering trees.
Want to know what she’s writing next? Visit taschelaine.com to stay connected.
"Geoffrey had a plan for his new life; one where he could hide in plain sight".
CHAMELEON: a novel by the author of Closure by Tasche Laine
This is a tough book for me to rate but I think I will give it a four.
It really is not a mystery. This is a book about a dysfunctional and abusive relationship. It reminds me very much of the 'Dirty John" story.
The author does an exceptional job getting into the mind of Tara, the loving girlfriend who just wants to love and be loved. Her "boyfriend" is a controlling and murderous SOB and you maybe tempted, while reading this, to slap him. I know I was.
Anyway, as you can guess his behavior escalates and keeps escalating for the duration of the book. He cuts Tara off from almost everything she cares about..all in the name of "love". And the fact that he is a psychologist really makes it more interesting.
There are some cliches at the end which is why I almost gave it a 3.
SPOILERS:
So what happens to the poor cop? That is never explained. His family must be devastated but he is not developed. He seems to be in the book m ore as a plot device and after he is killed we get no follow up. And it was a very gimmicy ending.
I still liked this and would recommend to anyone who is comfortable with the subject matter.
"ADD IT TO YOUR LIST" Chameleon is an extraordinary sequel to Closure!
Exceptional plot with well developed characters and viewpoint without head-hopping.
A nonstop, suspenseful, psychological thriller that will have you turning pages unknowingly! This book captures and holds your attention from the prologue until the final page of 233.
The characters are so real that you will root for them from start to finish! Love Nala the dog, Dorey's uniqueness, and Tara and Jalina are who you would want for your best friend and daughter!
Tasche has a "GIFT" for writing and is easily A favorite author!
Chameleon was a fantastic read! I was instantly hooked in, flipping the pages to see what would come next. Tasche Laine did a great job of mixing in suspense, humor, and endearing characters. I also read her book Closure and I look forward to future books from this author. Her style is easy to read, yet very engaging and gripping. Highly recommend!
What a fun read! If you like reading books that have love, the need for acceptance, deceit, suspense, etc. then this book is for you. The title “Chameleon” is very fitting for how the characters in this book “change” themselves to fit their intrinsic needs. So find a quiet spot, cozy up, and dive into “Chameleon.”
I read Tasche Laine's book "Closure" and really enjoyed it. When I saw she wrote another book I had to read it. Wow, she exceeded my expectations. I couldn't put the book down.
Great read, engaging, moving, and authentic. I would recommend this book.
I looked forward to this so much as soon as I found out it was coming! Tasche writes beautifully and it’s so easy to fall into the story. I love this book and I think you will, too!
First, I want to thank Tasche Laine for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Tasche Laine couldn’t have picked a better title than Chameleon for her new mind twisting psychological thriller. This book sucked me in from the very beginning. From there on out with the sharp plot twists kept me intrigued till the end. This is one of the best books I have ever read from Tasche!
Tasche thought outside of the box and picked very unique and creative names for her characters in this book. I really thought it was refreshing. Many of the names I never heard of before.
This book does discuss important topics like mental illness, depression, narcissism, and touches on Buddhism.
Geoffrey, I had a love hate relationship within the book. He rubbed me the wrong way too many times. Many times, he had qualities of my ex boyfriends and I wanted to smack the heck out of him. Then other times I really liked him. Never in a book was I so annoyed with a character as I was with him.
The author did a remarkable job of creating a believable story. I wanted to kick the main characters a few times (it is so much easier to see the problems when you are on the outside looking in). Terra’s daughter is beautiful and delightful inside and out. I love seeing the relationship between Terra and her ex, they provide a great example of how to coparent and cooperate even though the marriage didn’t last. Terra’s friend Dory is so fun and full of life, I want to meet her. I found this book to be very compelling for me. I have known people that have been in emotionally and physiologically abusive relationships, this book sure did shed some light for me on what the thought process might look like for some of them. I would not recommend anyone read this if stories of such abuse could be a trigger, but for people like me, that have never personally dealt with being treated this way it could be very eye opening.
When newly divorced Tara Spencer’s friend suggests its time for her to get back into the dating scene, Tara isn’t convinced until she meets Geoffrey Jensen. The successful psychotherapist sweeps Tara off her feet with his charming good looks and attentiveness. Tara thinks Geoffrey may be the man of her dreams, but some things aren’t adding up. Will Tara discover Geoffrey’s secrets in time? For all lovers of psychological thrillers, Chameleon is a must read!
This book is hard to listen to because of the subject matter. It is very well written and gives you a feel for the evil mind of someone who is supposed to help. I will say that it is textbook for a divorced mother looking for someone and that someone taking advantage of that fact. Abuse is always a hard topic to bring to light. The narrator was excellent, I don’t think I have heard her before but will look for her in the future. The story makes you think and see things in a different context. Well done. I got this book for free from Story Origin for an honest review.
Tasche Laine brings Chameleon alive with realistic characters and an emotional plot. Tara Spencer begins a toxic relationship with Dr. Geoffrey Jensen, she does not see the direction it was taking as Geoffrey gradually controlled her appearance, friends, and faith. Tara's guilt over one failed marriage and Geoffrey's explosive behavior caused her to strive for perfection and approval in this new relationship. He is a master at excusing every outburst he has on circumstances and delightfully plays on Tara's compassionate heart and forgiving spirit. He underestimates the bond a mother has for her child. Tara takes a lot of demands from him, but steps up when she grasps her relationship with Geoffrey's deranged mind games concerns Jolina.
I found it ironic that a psychotherapist would be a psychopath. Tasche Laine hides the dominant Dr. Geoffrey Jensen in plain sight among the sane. The author writes with an intensity that slowly builds to a powerful finale. The pace quickly goes from an emotional scene to another as Geoffrey unravels the bond he was building with Tara with his unbalanced personality. Though the story is tragic, the author skillfully presents steps other women should recognize and avoid before they are snared in a violent marriage. This psychological thriller will chill you with how well the author portrays her characters and the depth of insanity one man will go to control the woman he loves.
I listened to the audio version of Chameleon, voiced by Marnye Young. She articulates very well as she varies her tone and speech to fit the character. She adds much to the emotion, quality, and whole experience of this novel that I may have missed if I only read the story. I was impressed with how Tara always sounds sweet and innocent, but her friend Dory came across brazen and bold; hiding that both characters came from the same voice.
Review written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
This book really impressed me! What called out to me in particular was the realistic feel to the whole novel.
The main character is relateable as well as believable. It keeps you on the edge of the seat since you are really involved in the story and finding yourself as part of it.
I found myself exceedingly involved with the characters to the point I found myself thinking about them as I was dozing off at night. I highly recommend this to all readers!
Chameleon drew me into the world of its psycho-mystery. I felt as if I was Tara, going through emotional challenges including dealing with her pre-teen daughter at the start. I often screamed at Geoffrey while he was manipulating people on his cunning way, then revealing himself out. It was very scary! Must read!
**TW: narcissism, emotional/verbal abuse, body shaming, manipulation, domestic violence
This book was such a wild ride and I loved every second of it. I read it awhile ago and am just now getting to review it, as I am new to Goodreads, but this review is definitely overdue.
In this story, we have Tara who is single and divorced, but coparenting successfully with her ex and just living life. Here comes in the charming Geoffrey/Jeff, who seems sane and normal at first, but then starts to show major manipulative and narcissistic tendencies. Unfortunately Tara is so blinded by love that she does everything in her power to keep Jeff happy, even though it costs her losing sight of who she truly is.
This book touches on domestic violence/IPV, and mental illness and does such a great job of it. So many women and men (myself included) have fallen victim to someone mistreating us because we think that is what love is. Think of this book as similar to the movie 'Enough' with Jennifer Lopez. It's not as much action per se as the movie, but the relationship dynamic is the same, althought not necessarily as physical for Tara and Jeff. I will not say much else because I do not want to ruin this book but it is an incredible quick read and an easy page turner. I didn't want to put it down at all really.
My only caveat, if anything, is Tara's daughter. I believe she is 10 but sometimes I felt like she was 6 or 7, just in her mannerisms and how she spoke with her mom and reacted in certain situations. She just didn't feel like a 10 year old to me. Also Tara was way way wayyy too forgiving. I understand that in real life some victims are like this but I found myself practically screaming at her in the book for not standing up for herself and very serious situations. But other than that, the writing is great and the plot is focused and it is a great read.
Tasche hit the nail on the head with this one. I do wish there was a part 2, I would definitely read a sequel.
I may have clicked the wrong version here... I listened to a digital copy, not the audio cd. But it's the same book and same narrator. And I love the narrator's voice! Man, she can read to me any time! She makes the characters come alive, and she changes her voice with each character! I got so much more out of listening to it than when I read the eBook. I've never been much of an audiobook fan before, but I guess I just haven't been listening to the right narrators. I'll definitely listen to more books by this narrator--Marnye Young! She breathes life into the characters and makes me truly feel for them. Great story, read by a great voice (voices!)!!
I was glad to see Tara's growth in this sequel to Closure. And it has all the elements of a best seller. It is well-written, has good character development, a believable plot, lots of tension and suspense...and very likable characters! Well, except for the character we're not supposed to like. The author does a great job of making sure we don't like him too--very convincing.
Chameleon is a gripping and suspenseful domestic thriller sure to keep you riveted until you reach the final page 5 STARS!.
This was a great 5-star read. Took me a few chapters to get into the story but once I did I couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and turns, keeps you guessing and on your toes, and total mind blown at the end. Tasche did so well with the writing and storyline in this book, keep up the amazing work 👏
I loved the characters of the story they were each unique & It was interesting exploring the families and people of other cultures. The story did a great job of keeping you entertain, interested for more until the last page and then more then.
Uncomplicated reading; just enough verbiage without getting too bogged down; sufficiently creepy to gain and keep me interested with just a touch of predictability until it changes!! I liked the book and just started a second book by the author.
Wow this was a "hold you tight" journey to the end as you wonder what is going to give, and how each character will devise a plan to keep the relationship alive. Would make a good movie!
Let me start by saying that I love a good suspense book! And when it comes from one of my favorite authors, even better! I dived into “Chameleon” without reading reviews, as I wanted to be surprised and enjoy the story to the fullest. It was an excellent read, the perfect psychological thriller that kept me on my toes until the very end. The author offers a believable story, with characters that feel like real people, and a plot that has plenty of twists and turns. The secret element? The bond between a mom and her daughter!
My opinion:
The story is written flawlessly, offering a gruesome perspective over what could very much happen in real life. A single mom who is trying to recover from a failed marriage, doing her best to care after her daughter. A new career, in a new place. Meeting someone might seem like a welcoming change, but the truth is rarely what it seems. Here is a story about manipulation, about using someone’s weakness to your own advantage, about dividing people for your own benefit. What will happen in the end? No spoilers from me, you will have to read the book to find out.
All I can say is that you will find yourself reading an amazing story, one which shows how people can hide their true selves so well, only to take advantage of others. However, it also goes to prove that people can find their strength along the way, fighting for what they want with all the available means. The author did a great job in creating the character of Dr. Geoffrey Jansen, I think he is the perfect psychopath, if such a thing can be said. Not only the character, but the story comes as warning sign for the women dealing with emotional vulnerability.
This is the kind of book that is hard to put down, as it offers a bit of everything. I loved the story in itself and the character development, and I think the plot is greatly woven, with plenty of tension and suspense to keep the reader hooked. I cannot tell you how it ends, but I can guarantee you will be satisfied. One of the things I liked is that the story was not predictable, as most books belonging to this genre tend to be. It felt good to be surprised, to wait for the climax. The backstory is also excellent, and I must applaud the author for the dialogue, which feels authentic. Given how many people get into toxic relationships, I think this story is definitely a must read!
Summary:
Another excellent read from Tasche Laine! She is an amazing author and I love her writing style. Her psychological thriller kept me hooked, I kept turning one page after the other, just to find out what happened. With an excellent backstory, great characters, and plenty of lessons to be learned, the author offers an excellent read, one which overflows with suspense and tension. If you love psychological thrillers, then you have to give this book a try, I am sure you will enjoy it!
Ok, the beginning and middle were good, some parts great, but the ending fell flat. Like, around Ch 32 (p200), the writing slowly deteriorates and gets predictable and cringey. The portrayal of the narcissistic MMC is spot on- beyond textbook to someone they present as a case study at Quantico. The FMC needs therapy to deal with her poor choices in men before trying again. Wow, I hope and pray I have never been, and would never be, that hungry for attention. She just kept *sings* "running right through them red flags". The prologue would have made sense worked into the story and was a weird introduction to the character. If I were editing this, I would've suggested having Officer Reynolds reveal the back story to the reader as he was in the background watching Jeff's deteriorating persona or some other means. I feel like the intensity dulled and the ending was softened, more "in case my grandma decides to read this" friendly, which is okay, but the quality of storytelling in the beginning and middle are what earned this a 4-star rating.
Warning! Don't start this book at bedtime - it's very difficult to put down. We have a typical scenario of a divorced, single mom that takes a chance to move on; to a new town, a new life, and new boyfriend. That is where typical ends. She is attracted to a therapist who proceeds to mess with her mind. This narcissistic manipulator brings his best game disguised with charm and good looks. The tension and suspense ramp up until you truly understand what a phycological thriller is supposed to look like. The characters, dialogue, and setting are well done and very believable. Chameleon is the perfect name for this novel as people change to fit their circumstances, both for good and bad. Highly recommend.
This is a very welcome sequel to ‘Closure’, although you won’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. I loved ‘Closure’, and this is a great read too. It is also a pleasure to see how the author’s writing has matured. Many of us get into toxic relationships, and poor Tara seems to do it more than most, but we can see why, and we can relate that to our experiences. Falling in love doesn’t come with much of an instruction guide, and many of us learn from our own mistakes rather than the wisdom of others. I found this an enjoyable read, with extra suspense thrown in!
Georgious, smart, intriguing sexy guys who always seem to come up with excuses for one thing of another—these are huge warning indicators that sometimes gullible women ignore because the “chemistry” is so passionate and intoxicating. Well,these are also key descriptions for narcissistic, sociopathic and even scarier— psychopathic personality types. Once these men have their sights, then hooks in you, watch out for their fiercely controlling “love” that often turns deadly as in “Chameleon.”
I loved Chameleon as a quick read. Tasche Laine kept me involved in the characters' lives and wanting more. Geoffrey reminded me of a current political figure in the United States and I kept wondering what new curveball Tara would be navigating next. If you're looking for a quick read, I recommend this book.
Fast pace and exhilarating. I really got into the book from the beginning. Tara meets a man who plays mind games with her, and she can't help but be who he wants her to be. The story is suspenceful to the end.