Love, passion and possession captured by her lens. 

Mem Swan stands reluctantly at the precipice of stardom. As Hollywood’s newest darling, she struggles to come to terms with the mercenary nature of the industry. Beauty equals money – and Mem’s is worth billions – but she longs for someone to see her. Really see her.

Enter Thea Voronov, an acclaimed portrait photographer whose work captures the souls of stars and catapults them to fame. She is ice cold, a complex tempest of talent and mystery, and she’s seen far too many vacant, pretty young things eager to exploit the power of her lens. 

When Mem steps into Thea’s studio, an unexpected spark ignites and Mem becomes her muse. It’s a role that binds them both in an intense dance of desire, domination and inspiration. In the exacting pull of Thea’s focus, they explore connection and creativity, limits and love, every shot leading them deeper into each other.

But as Mem’s star ascends, the lures of the industry beckon. For Thea, scarred by a past littered with opportunists, Mem’s rise echoes with narratives she’s long despised. Doubt becomes a deep shadow that blurs the image of the woman she’s come to adore.

Can the love that flourished in the darkroom survive the glaring spotlight of fame?

Book cover showing a women in an emerald green gown reclining on a leather sofa, the gown pulled back to reveal her legs, against a background of photographic negatives