Flash Burnout

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"Telephoto lens. Zoom. In a shutter release millisecond, Blake's world turns upside down. The nameless woman with the snake tattoo is not just another assignment. 'That's my mom!' gasps Marissa. Saturated self-portrait: Blake, nice guy, class clown, always trying to get a laugh, not sure where to focus. Contrast. Shannon, Blake's GF. Total. Babe. Marissa, just a friend and fellow photographer. Shannon loves him; Marissa needs him. How is he supposed to frame them both in one shot?"--dust cover flap.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Good Setup, Decent Finish submitted by Caser on January 11, 2012, 1:07pm When aspiring photographer and comedian, Blake, accidentally captures his friend Marissa's missing mother in his snapshot of the homeless, Blake gets caught up in Marissa's fractured family life, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend, Shannon.

Blake's jokes are sometimes funny, other times lame, which makes him likeable if not entirely memorable. He has some moments of genuine insight that will resonate with readers, but more for their truth than for what they reveal about him. Shannon is essentially a fill in the blanks character in that she's a puzzle you've already solved dozens of times.

The plot is original and engaging, the language and dialogue mostly sharp, but the characters are disappointing in that they seem more like vessels for carrying the story, rather than engaging in their own right.