Double Exposure

by Jeannée Sacken

The second novel in the award-winning Annie Hawkins Green series.

November 2015—Seasoned war photojournalist Annie Hawkins returns home after an assignment to find her life falling apart. She’s under investigation for an incident that happened six months earlier in Afghanistan. Her best friend’s daughter, Seema, is still missing, apparently with her Taliban boyfriend. Her daughter Mel and friends are busy fundraising to rebuild the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls and expect Annie to deliver the money. To make matters worse, she has a major argument with the love of her life, Finn Cerelli, and they’re no longer speaking.

When Annie returns to Afghanistan to cover peace talks between the government and the Taliban, she takes a side trip to Wad Qol, where she discovers that not everyone wants the new school. Sabotage delays construction, and when a worker ends up dead, it’s clear the militants are to blame. It’s also obvious that they know exactly where Annie is.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller

411 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2022

About the author

A former English professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, Jeannée Sacken is now a photojournalist who travels the world, documenting the lives of women and children. She also photographs wildlife and is deeply committed to the conservation of endangered species. When not traveling, she lives with her husband and three cats in Shorewood, Wisconsin, where she's hard at work on the next novel in the award-winning Annie Hawkins series. Follow Jeannée at jeanneesacken.com

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Exposure
by Jeannée Sacken
Orange Hat Publishing, Ten16 Press
Pub Date: Sep 27

The second in this intriguing series featuring war photojournalist Annie Hawkins finds her life in chaos. She's being investigated for something that happened in Afghanistan six months ago. Her daughter raises funds with her friends to rebuild the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls there and wants her to deliver the money in person. A fierce argument with Annie's love, Seal Finn Cerelli, ends in their no longer communicating. Plus, sabotage occurs at the girls' school because the Taliban opposes education for girls.

The well-developed characters, exotic location, thrilling narrative, and hot-off-the-press issues make for one absorbing read. Highly recommended!

Thanks to author Jeannée Sacken, Orange Hat Publishing, Ten16 Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#DoubleExposure
#JeanneeSacken
#OrangeHatPublishingTen16Press
#mysterythrillernovels
#womensfictionnovels
#Afghanistannovel
#femalewarphotojournalists
#booktwoinanniehawkinsgreenseries
#bookstagramcommunity

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book in this series, but the details of what happened are spread throughout the beginning chapters. It seems I missed out on quite the story. It makes me wish I had read it first!

After three months in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, photojournalist Anne Hawkins Green is back in the United States where she is suddenly dealing with the aftermath of an incident that involved her in a prior trip to Afghanistan and troubles with her sixteen-year-old daughter that lead to troubles with her boyfriend, Finn Cerelli. Annie has six weeks at home before she has to return to Afghanistan. She leaves early, though, to make a quick stop in Wad Qol to deliver money for the girls' school that her daughter has fundraised for.

Things (danger) just escalate from there. So much action and fast paced storytelling. Great writing by this author. I instantly liked Annie and her Captain boyfriend, Finn. I loved their relationship, too. Finn seemed so strong and good. He was protective of Annie but knew he couldn't tell her what to do. I liked that even though he had some issues with Annie and what she was doing, he was there for her in the end.

Thank you to Get Red PR Books and the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: Double Exposure
AUTHOR: Jeannee Sacken
PUB DATE: 09.27.2022 Now Available
SYNOPSIS: Swipe Above

Annie Hawkins Green is back! Though Double Exposure is book two in the series, this book works well as a stand alone. In this high stakes read, Annie is placed in the most precarious situation affecting her home and personal life, and the women and children in Afgahanistan. In both worlds, she is rebuilding lives, only to find sabotage and struggles. Faced with an investigation, a missing girl, and a murder, Annie has a lot on her heart, but will she be able to leave room for the love of her life, Finn Cerelli.

I enjoyed both these books - the writing is incredibly immersive, fast paced, and I love reading about bad ass Annie. She is not only an inspiration but a true heroine.

[Amy (amy_alwaysreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Middle East. It’s always fascinated me.

My generation has grown up with an ever changing understanding of that region. From war to rebuilding to somewhere in between.

It’s not the politics that interests me, though important. It’s the women. While the cultural differences are seemingly vast, driven Afghan women continue to prove that at the heart, we are much the same.

In Double Exposure @authorjeanne uses her experiences as a photojournalist to give us a look into the complexities within Afghan society and the women that steer it towards a brighter tomorrow.

Annie Hawkins has just returned from being deeply imbedded in Yemen for her last assignment. But there will be no relaxing bathtub for her. Rather, she steps off the plane to find catastrophes in her personal and professional life await. Six weeks later back on Afghan soil, none of those problems have resolved. And this trip, with its focus on going against the Taliban in order to rebuild a school for Afghan girls, may just exacerbate each one.

In spite of the subject matter, this was a quick and easy read. I appreciated the submersion into Afghan life: their homes, their beliefs, their food, their dress, their dreams. And as a teacher, I valued the focus on the importance of education for a better tomorrow.

While easy to read and rich with culture, the writing itself felt undeveloped. Repetition, uninspired dialogue, and lots of forced storytelling made the overall prose feel stilted.

Still, go into this book for the glimpse into Afghan society.

This is the second book in the Annie Hawkins series. I was able to read it as a stand-alone.

Many thanks to @getredprbooks and @ten16press for the #gifted copy.

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series is as intriguing and thrilling as the first was.
Annie Hawkins is home again after the events of Behind The Lens but life here also has its challenges. Her strong willed daughter, Mel, is at odds with her dad and stepmom over her friendship with a Muslim girl. Her boyfriend, Finn, has stopped talking to her after an argument. A fellow journalist has filed suit over an incident that happened six months ago and then add to that the fact that her deceased best friend's daughter is still missing, presumably with her Taliban boyfriend in Afghanistan.
After Mel and her friend raise thousands of dollars to rebuild the girls school that was destroyed, they ask Annie to personally deliver the money before her next assignment back in Afghanistan. What follows is a harrowing adventure filled with danger and setbacks that threaten to take Annie down along with the school she's trying to build.

Like the first book in the series, this one is fast paced and well plotted. The writing puts you there in the middle of the action and made me want to try the food that I could almost smell cooking. The richly drawn characters feel real with personalities that are fitting to the role they play in the story and the topics are relevant to what life, especially for women and girls, is like in Afghanistan.

Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend you start with Behind The Lens to get the fullest picture of the continuing story. I'm really looking forward to what lies ahead for Annie, Finn and Mel and hope you get a chance to read and enjoy this series.

Thank you to the author, Ten 16 Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.

[Cindy Roesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

DOUBLE EXPOSURE (Ten16Press) by Jeannee Sacken is book two in the Annie Hawkins Green Series. You don't have to read book one, BEHIND THE LENS to know what's going on in DOUBLE EXPOSURE, but after reading DOUBLE EXPOSURE, I put BEHIND THE LENS on my TBR. I think you will, too.

So let's start at the beginning, Annie Hawkins is a badass woman war photojournalist and is finally planning to dump the last name of her ex. She's in a relationship with a Navy Seal, Finn Cerelli. He's the love of her life and I know readers will be swooning over this tough, sensitive, protective guy who supports just about everything she does.

Annie is under investigation for an incident that happened six months earlier in Afghanistan. Her best friend's daughter, Seema, is still missing, apparently with her Taliban boyfriend. Her daughter Mel and friends are busy fundraising to rebuild the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls in Afghanistan and expect Annie to deliver the money to Afghanistan. Her ex and Mel's stepmom continue to annoy both of them. And to make matters worse, Annie has a major argument with the love of her life, Finn Cerelli, and they're no longer speaking.

When Annie returns to Afghanistan to cover peace talks between the government and the Taliban, she takes a side trip to Wad Qol, where she discovers that not everyone wants the new school. Sabotage delays construction, and when a worker ends up dead, it's clear the militants are to blame. It's also obvious that they know exactly where Annie is and there's a bounty on her.

Reading DOUBLE EXPOSURE is an adrenalin rush. Every time I started reading, I felt as if I should put on my flak jacket, also known as body armor. It's also a wonderful story about women's friendships and how love can help a person through adversity.

[Stacey (reading2escape) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great follow-up to the first book in the series, Behind the Lens!

When Annie is assigned to cover peace talks in Afghanistan, she leaves a few weeks early to deliver funds that her daugher raised to rebuild the girls school in the village of Wad Qol. Unfortunately, once construction starts there are a string of incidents intended to sabotage the rebuilding efforts, and soon Annie finds that her life is in danger.

This started off as a bit of a slow burn, but things quickly picked up and there was a lot of action, mystery and suspense. Once again, I enjoyed learning about Afghani culture and I really liked how strong and resilient the female characters were. I'll be anxious to see what Annie is up to in the next book!

As with Jeannee's previous book, a portion of this book will go towards supporting girls' and women's education and healthcare in Afghanistan.

Thank you so much @authorjeanneesacken
and @ten16press for the gifted ARC of this book!

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jeannée Sacken draws upon her experience as an international photojournalist to heighten reality in Double Exposure, the sequel to Behind the Lens. Annie Hawkins Green is a veteran photojournalist embedded during wars around the world. She’s dropped her married name and now goes by simply Annie Hawkins. She returns to Afghanistan to try to rebuild the school her best friend started and which Annie helped fund, but in doing so, she exposes herself to more danger. As a result, she angers the men in her life. Her ex-husband declares he still loves her as his second marriage fails, and Cerelli, her new love, is angry at her hard-headedness and his own inability to adequately protect her. She continues to suppress her PTSD. Her daughter, a teenager as strong-willed as her mother, lays guilt-trips on Annie about never being there while encouraging her mom to pursue her life’s ambitions. A law suit filed by another female journalist complicates Annie's life at work just as her ex's impending divorce and her daughter's truculence complicate her home life.
Like Sacken's Behind the Lens, I could not put Double Exposure down. Having spent time in Afghanistan during my own stint as an international travel photographer, I identified strongly with Annie. Sacken’s vivid descriptions of people, places, foods, and the experience of taking photographs are authentic. She is true to the customs and religion of Afghans, sympathetic to their plight but wary of the effects of the Taliban and ISIS on the country. Annie herself is a strong female protagonist, one to be reckoned with by those who underestimate her drive and stamina. The other characters are convincing, multifaceted, and evolve over time, revealing layers that must be peeled away to reveal the truth. I confess I found an unexpected new “book boyfriend”—Finn Cerelli—and enjoyed Annie and Cerelli’s slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. I look forward to many more books in this series.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved “Behind the Lens,” the first book in this series, and was thrilled to get to visit the memorable characters once again. Annie, Cerelli, and Sawyer had lingered in my memory. Annie Hawkins Green is smart and tenacious but also has her flaws. She at times lets her heart rule her head. Cerelli is the “knight in shining armor.” And Sawyer is the loyal, trustworthy sidekick.

There were some strings left dangling from the first book that I wanted to be resolved. So, I am happy to say that I also loved “Double Exposure.”

I was immediately drawn into the story as Annie awaits her flight home. She has been in Saudi Arabia and Yemen on a three-month assignment. She is eager to get home to her teenage daughter Mel and her lover Captain Finn Cerelli. But when she arrives in the US, she finds she is under investigation for an incident that happened five months previously.

The flashbacks Sacken wove into the present-day story refreshed my memory of the incident, and the emotions I felt from that first book came flooding back into me.

The pace was a bit slower this time around, but the plot was still complex and suspenseful. Annie must juggle her responsibility as a single mother, demands from her ex-husband, and the needs of Afghan women and children. She also works to maintain her independence in her relationship with Cerelli, which isn’t that easy since they are both hardheaded and Cerelli is very protective of her. I love this quote from Cerelli regarding Annie: “You’re so fearless it terrifies me.”

Sacken’s incredible writing and career as a photojournalist bring a realistic look into the lives of the Afghan people, especially the women. I love the rays of sunshine that come through because of courageous women standing their ground.

It is not often that I hope for another book in a series when it seems all is resolved. But there was one issue that might still be unresolved so there is hope for another book. I would also love to have Sawyer in a bigger role.

“Double Exposure” has a lot to offer: amazing writing, family drama, strong friendships, a tender love story, memorable characters, set in a foreign land, and political intrigue. What more could one want?

In my opinion, you really should read “Behind the Lens” first. You won’t get the full emotions of the story without it.

Thank you to The Book Club Cookbook for the complimentary copy.

[Melissa Levens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Exposure
Author, Jeanee Sacken
Pub date: 9.27.22

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @getredpr and @authorjeannesacken for having me on tour for the second book in the Annie Hawkins (no longer Green) series!

Although this is the second in the series, Sacken brings her readers right back where we left off and gives readers plenty of information for Double Exposure to be read without having read the first. But of course, reading both will absolutely give you the best reading experience and allow readers to be fully immersed in photojournalist, Annie's dangerous, adventurous, and powerful story of religious and cultural divides, redemption, the strength of women, and of love.

Sis months later and back in the US, Annie now finds herself under investigation at work after a traumatic even in Afghanistan, at odds with her ex- husband regarding their teenage daughter Mel's care, and establishing her independence in her relationship with Finn Cerelli.

Mel and her new friends raise money to rebuild the Wad Quol school for Girls after it was tragically burned down and hope that Annie can somehow deliver it to the community and be a part of this amazing project that will give these girls a second chance for a better future. But tensions in Afghanistan are high and Annie's presence is quite known and not not everyone is thrilled about her return to their country.

With sabotage delating construction, ominous text messages being received from Seema, her best friend's daughter, and threats against Annie and her friends' lives, Double Exposure is a thrilling and fast- paced read filled with action, danger, and the amazing resilience of out strong female protagonist.

4.5 stars!

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book that immerses me in a world where I don’t live. And traveling through Afghanistan with Annie Hawkins Greene, a badass war photographer, gave me that and more!
After her daughter raises money, Annie travels to Afghanistan to help rebuild a destroyed girls' school. As a reader, once she arrives, we enter a world with danger everywhere. A world that is impossible to correctly navigate.

Double Exposure and Behind the Lens (Sacken's prior novel) are both fast reads with all the pacing of a written thriller. But the story is so much more. Annie has a teenage daughter and a lover who struggles with his own health issues and trauma. Add in that Annie herself has PTSD from her prior time in Afghanistan, and you have a combustible mix.

I loved Annie Hawkins Greene as a real badass woman. She’s courageous, but kind and culturally sensitive. She's filled with the humility. As humans, we need more empathy and openness to worlds unlike our own. Annie Hawkins Greene is a superb model for that.
Double Exposure is tense, dramatic, with engaging characters and meticulous research, and will keep you turning pages!

I was impressed by the diligent research this novel required. I was thrilled to learn about Landays (Afghan poetry), immerse myself in the mix of languages and cultural elements of Afghanistan, while being gripped by a story that held me at the edge of my seat.

I believe those who enjoy thrillers will especially appreciate the fast-paced nature of the novel, but as a lover of women’s fiction, it was ideal for me too because I related and enjoyed following the badass character of Annie Hawkins Greene.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Exposure, by Jeannée Sacken, is the sequel to her novel Behind the Lens. I read Double Exposure because I really liked Sacken’s first novel. However, you don’t have to read the first novel to read the second novel, but the first novel is also a great read.

Double Exposure is also a well-written, fast-paced story with engaging, memorable characters, and captivating story arcs. I appreciate the dedicated research Sacken did for both her novels because I learned something about Afghanistan and its struggles.

Annie Hawkins, a war photojournalist, is the main character in both novels. Double Exposure opens with Hawkins in Qatar waiting for a flight back to the United States. She longs to see her boyfriend U.S. Navy SEAL Finn Cerelli and her daughter Mel. However, her boss, Chris Cardona, demands to see her first when she arrives in Washington, D.C., then he informs her that she and their news organization are being sued by a rival news organization. Next her ex-husband calls, concerned about their daughter Mel, who has made friends with a Muslim family. Soon Annie will need to return to Afghanistan to cover the peace talks between the Afghani government and the Taliban, but she also hopes to find a young woman named Seema who disappeared in Afghanistan, and she wants to help rebuild a girls’ school. Annie has to keep her plans secret from Cerelli because he sees her plans as foolish.

In Double Exposure, Sacken weaves all the action together with snappy dialogue and intriguing twists and turns. And while her story is fiction, it’s also well researched. I appreciate that Sacken didn’t rely on stereotypes to tell Annie’s story.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🧳 love to travel
📸 are a photographer
🗺️ feel torn between two worlds
🏫 like to volunteer

• 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄

Annie Hawkins Green returns in this sequel, facing all new dangers and plenty of excitement.

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Annie has just returned for a long stint overseas. Eager to get home to her boyfriend and her daughter, she isn’t sure when she’ll be on the road again, until she learns that she’s been suspended from TNN for an incident 5 months prior. With her new vacation time, Annie vows to spend some time with her daughter Mel. But when Mel tells her she and other members of the community have raised money to rebuild the girl’s school in Wad Qol, Annie finds herself returning to the place she lost her best friend. She’ll face all new challenges as she travels back to Afghanistan, this time carrying a lot of cash, while enemies from her past try to seek her out.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Even though this was book two in the series, I had no trouble getting caught up on everything important that happened in book one. I really loved this story. Annie is such a headstrong character who seems fearless. She’ll do anything for the people she loves. I also liked her job as a war photographer. That’s just another reason for her courage. This story was full of ups and downs and mystery and thrills! I also enjoyed learning more about the Afghan culture. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy multiple genres in one book!

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the same energy, action, and drama as book one in the series, BEHIND THE LENS. Annie is still a strong main character and in this book I really enjoyed getting to feel that same strength of character in Annie’s 16 year old daughter, Mel.

I felt that the cultural aspects of Afghanistan were showcased beautifully throughout the read as was the continuation of Annie’s relationships in both Afghanistan and in the states.

There is plenty of intrigue as Annie fights to continue the legacy of her best friend, Darya.

I encourage you to read BEHIND THE LENS first for background on the characters and to better understand the complex situation Annie finds herself a part of in DOUBLE EXPOSURE.

This book takes place in 2015 and continues the story from book one, BEHIND THE LENS. Annie Hawkins takes a photojournalist assignment back in Afghanistan even though she is being investigated for an incident that occurred last time she was there.

Annie’s daughter Mel and her friend, Yasmine, have raised $30,000 to help rebuild the school in an Afghan village that was destroyed by the Taliban. Annie is tasked with getting the money into the right hands and documenting the progress of rebuilding before she must get to her paying assignment.

There are people who can’t easily forget and not only do not want to see the girls school rebuilt but want to see Annie dead.

[Amber Hayes Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie is a photojournalist who frequently works in the Middle East. She returns home to trouble with her ex and drama with her daughter. Her daughter has raised money with her friends to raise money for the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls in Afghanistan and they want Annie to take the money over when she heads back over to cover a story. When Annie goes over to cover her next story and takes the money over, she finds out that there are people who do not want the school build and are willing to sabotage and hurt people to delay it.

When I started reading this book, I could tell there was a backstory, but I just assumed the author would unveil more of it as I read. And I did learn more of it as I went along. But, I learned at the end of the book that this was actually the second book in a two-part series. Sometimes when that happens, I have learned enough that I don't need/want to read the first, but I definitely want to read the first book. The author has captured my attention and I want to learn more about Seema and her boyfriend and I definitely want to know more about Cerelli. I barely knew of him in this book and I was rooting for these two!

I learned a lot in this book that I didn't know previously and I want to thank NetGalley for this ARC!

[Judith von Kirchbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

intriguing insights - great suspense

Double Exposure features photojournalist, Annie Hawkins, as she returns home from Yemen only to quickly take back off to Afghanistan to rebuild a school for girls destroyed by the Taliban and cover diplomatic talks.
Set during the unstable period when the Taliban desperately tried to regain power by launching terrorist attacks against Afghans, the novel is a fast-paced, heart-wrenching tale of the people who stood strong in the face of terrorism. The book is well written and gripping, definitely a compelling read ! It has elements of spy, suspense and romance novels mixed with cultural knowledge.

Jeannée Sacken the author is a photojournalist just like the main character, Annie, and her experience adds an extra layer of authenticity to this action packed novel. I was quite impressed with the courage and determination of Annie (and actual photojournalists and journalists she stands for).

Unfortunately in August 2021, the Afghan government crumbled and the Taliban returned to power, shuttering schools for girls and launching further attacks against the Afghan people - this gave this book set in 2015 a strange sense of doom in my view since I could not detach myself from knowing what was in store …

[jmoura01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Exposure
by Jeannée Sacken
Pub Date: 27 Sep 2022
4/5 Stars

This is the second book in a series featuring photojournalist Annie Hawkins. It takes place roughly 6 months after her last assignment in Afghanistan. Annie returns to Afghanistan before her next assignment to bring fundraiser money for the rebuilding of the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls. Meanwhile, back home in the states, her daughter is feuding with her ex-husband and his wife, and Annie’s love, SEAL Finn Cerelli, has stopped speaking to her. The rebuilding of the school is unwanted by local militants and random acts of violence soon occur.

I hadn’t read the Sacken’s first novel, Behind the Lens, so I was unfamiliar with the characters and backstory. It was so interesting to learn a little about life in Afghanistan and the plight of females who live there. I did feel the story dragged a little until the end where the action really picked up. It was definitely worth reading, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orange Hat Publishing, Ten16 Press for the opportunity to read this Egalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Holly Doyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Goodness, gracious. I didn’t think it was possible, but I love this book as much as I loved the first book in this series, Behind the Lens. This newest book, Double Exposure, picks up where the first book left off.

Annie is home from Afghanistan dealing with a few issues - she and Cerelli have been seeing each other romantically back in the States, Mel is still struggling with living with her dad and evil step mother, and Annie just found out she is the subject in a lawsuit. And while she was in her last assignment elsewhere, Mel befriended an Afghan girl and they decided to raise money for the burned down girls school in Afghanistan - with the hopes of Annie hand delivering the money herself.

This book takes us on this fabulous journey following Annie’s return to Afghanistan. I cannot tell you how wonderful this book is - I absolutely adore it.

After reading two books, I am a huge Jeannee Sacken fan. Not only am I also a photographer, but I really enjoy her story telling abilities. She is truly gifted.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have realized that I usually read the same style, similar settings too much. I probably would have passed on this book only because I do not usually read about Afghanistan and the lives of their citizens, but I chose to pick it up because it was recommended to me by someone who really knows my book likes and I am thrilled to say I devoured the book. I enjoyed learning about the customs of a country I was not familiar with. The lives they live are so different than the life I live but there are many similarities.

Annie Hawkins is a heading back to Afghanistan to cover a special assignment but first she is going to right some wrongs that happened to her best friend and his daughter. This leads her directly into danger. I love her spunk, her knowing of right from wrong, her willingness to put herself in danger to find the answers she needs, and the lengths she will go to save her friends.

I did not realize this is the second in the series until I finished the book. I love when a series is standalones but I am going to find a copy of the first book just to learn more about a culture I do not know enough about and characters that I truly enjoyed getting to know.

[Debra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling sequel with enough twists and turns to keep you riveted right up to the tension-filled finale.

From the start, Annie Hawkins faces multiple crises—at home, involving her teenaged daughter; at work, as her career as a photojournalist is at stake; in her love life with Navy Seal Captain Cerelli; and finally, in Afghanistan, as she struggles to rebuild a school for girls.

In the US, Annie’s daughter, Mel, is maturing into a teenaged version of her mother—determined, passionate, and compassionate as she looks beyond her own needs to those of others. But just like Annie, Mel’s actions often lead to unintended consequences. In returning to Afghanistan, Annie is once again caught up in the country’s precarious struggles against the Taliban. And just like the country itself and the school for girls, Annie’s life is in danger.

In Double Exposure, a superbly crafted sequel to Behind the Lens, Jeannée Sacken captures the beauty and complexity of Afghanistan through the eyes and lens of Annie Hawkins—always with a tough, yet tender touch.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 picks up where 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬 left war photojournalist Annie Hawkins. She’s returning home from Afghanistan but is carrying a lot on her shoulders. A fellow journalist has filed an investigation against her, her friend Mel’s daughter Seema is missing, and her family life back here in the States is a mess. Even her steady-as-a-rock boyfriend Finn has stopped talking to her.

Annie returns to Afghanistan to cover the peace talks between the government and the Taliban. While in the country, she visits her friend Mel, who has raised money to rebuild the Girl’s School. Suddenly there are dangerous threats and sabotage. Someone is tracking Annie and is giving her a clear message.

I enjoy Jeannée Sacken’s writing. I got a sense of what photojournalist work is like and experienced the rich Afghani culture. I would suggest reading the first book to better understand the characters and previous events, but you could read this as a standalone.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @getredprbooks and @authorjeanneesacken for a spot on tour and the gifted books.

[Beth (what.beth.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Exposure is author Jeanée Sacken’s second novel following photojournalist Annie Hawkins. Her first book, Behind the Lens, was an engrossing and powerful story. And Double Exposure delivers much of the same feelings!

Annie is going back to Afghanistan in late 2015, this time for work and to bring money her daughter and friends have raised to rebuild the Wad Qal School for Girls. However, the trip is rife with issues from the beginning. Annie is strong and brave - but will she be able to get safely home to her daughter, or see her love, Captain Cerelli this time?

Sacken delivers a powerful story full of unknowns and uncertainty of who you can trust. It kept me glued to the page to find out what happened next! I loved her support for Afghanistan and her teenage daughter. I also adored her relationship with Cerelli - they complement each other so well. I hope this is not the end of Annie’s story.

Many thanks to @getredprbooks for the finished copy of Double Exposure.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a second in a series and not having read book 1 first, I didn't feel that I was lost in this next installment. I would have liked to know a few things that must be in book 1 beforehand but I felt ok with the knowledge I got through here.

Annie is a seasoned war photographer. She is tough and fearless. She's smart too. She does the best she can for her daughter when she's away (with the help of a good friend) . Her ex- husband though is such a racist pig of a man accusing his daughter's supposed "personality changes" on her friendship with a Muslim girl. Mel though is such an amazing girl. The fact that she takes it on her and her friend selves to raise money to rebuild a school that was burnt down in Afghanistan.

Annie is back in Afghanistan for a secret assignment but takes a side trip to try and find her best friend's daughter who has been missing. There are so many scary things that a lot of the book is tense but it was so good!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5/5

Annie Hawkins Green is back in Afghanistan and back in Wad Qol after a devastating six months following the death of her best friend and the disappearance of her niece Seema.

As Annie searches for clues to where Seema might be and helps to rebuild the burned down school she left behind, Annie continues to find that nothing is ever quite what it seems in Afghanistan. Featuring a familiar set of characters with Annie, Cerelli, Sawyer and Mel - the next chapter in Annie’s story is even more off the charts than the first.

An incredible follow up from Jeannée Sacken, I COULD NOT put this one down. I was immediately sucked into the next chapter in Annie’s story and couldn’t wait to find out what the next page had in store. Sacken’s research and commitment to exploring Afghani culture was clear and made the story even more personal. I appreciate the dramatic and personal touches she brought to each of the characters and I can only hope for more of Annie’s adventures. 5/5 stars for me!!

Thank you so much to Jeannée Sacken, Ten16 Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you like:
+ Adventurous female leads
+ You loved The Newsroom or Homeland
+ Middle eastern culture and story telling

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Annie Hawkins series. In this next book photo journalist Annie is still facing a mountain of problems. She's being investigated for an incident that happened in Afghanistan, her friend's daughter is still missing, her daughter is raising funds for the girls school and she had fight with Finn and now they aren't speaking. Once again Annie faces more danger and more problems when she returns to Afghanistan to cover peace talks. I love everything about this series. It has a little of everything, family drama, romance and enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages and wanting more when you reach the end. This can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend you read the first book to really get all the feels. Excellent read.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about other cultures and the battles and struggles the characters faced throughout the novel. This novel is packed with Annie’s powerful stories, her life she faced, her personal relationships with her daughter, her deceased best friend, her enemies to lover boyfriend and her dedication to her job as an international photojournalist. It is unputdownable and page-turner. Annie is definitely a force not to reckon with, and her perseverance for rebuilding the all-girls’ school in Afghanistan is so inspiring. This book is the second book to Annie Hawkins’ series but it could definitely be read alone. A must read!

Thank you GetRedPr for this amazing opportunity to partake on this booktour and to receive and to read this novel in exchange for my honest review. It is on sale now, so grab a copy today at your fave bookstores.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Exposure is the second book in the Annie Hawkins series, but it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Once again the author’s experience as a photojournalist shines through and she builds such a realistic atmosphere that paints the scene perfectly. I loved the continued focus on the strength of women, the impact of friendships, as well as the discussions about life post trauma and the importance of healing. The romantic relationships were more prominently featured in this book with a little more drama and angst than my usual reads, but that I’m sure romance readers will appreciate. It is a longer book with a slower pace, but was still a quick and enjoyable read. While there are more difficult subjects discussed, it’s done in a very approachable way. 3.5 rounded up

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Exposure is the second book in this fantastic series. I really love the heroine, Annie Hawkins who is a war photographer. Unfortunately, Annie has got into some trouble over something that happened months ago in Afghanistan.

The characters are well developed. A fantastic descriptive location with very timely issues.

I really enjoyed this book, and can be definitely read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Behind the Lens to get some backstory.

A compelling, exciting read that I really enjoyed.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as much as I did the first in this series. I was immediately drawn into the action again as Annie battles issues on the home front, deals with the complexities of her relationship with Finn, and continues her search for her best friend's daughter in Afghanistan.
Jeannée's writing style is so fluid that the pages turn themselves and I'm completely absorbed into the action. I feel as though as I am seeing and feeling the beauty and the terror of the foreign landscape and the unrest there as well as learning so much about a different part of the world and the culture and customs there too. The romance/danger combo that comes with a relationship involving their professions is a delicious side thrill!

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Marta Block · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second installment in the Annie Hawkins series is another page turner! Annie is front and center again, and her relationships with Cerelli and every other character are vividly drawn and keep the reader engaged and wondering about what will happen next!

Annie spends some time in the U.S. at the beginning of the book and the majority of the book in Afghanistan. She renews connections with characters from the first book (Behind the Lens) and continues to focus on healing past relationship issues as well as loss and grief and promising to focus on her PTSD in the future.

I love the deep connection to her daughter, Mel, that is highlighted in this installment. The contention between Annie and her ex-husband brings some interesting tension to the plot, while Annie’s drive to help the small community of Wad Qol sends her right back into harm’s way in 2015 Afghanistan.

There are surprising twists and turns, especially toward the end of the book, and it made me eager for the next installment in the series!