They say everyone has a twin. For Samantha Smith, meeting hers at O'Hare Airport, in Chicago, is just what she needs to get out of her latest predicament. She convinces Jayne, an archivist, to go to California in her place to sign her dreaded divorce papers. Of course, the document won't be binding because the real "Samantha" never signed it. In switching places with Jayne, Samantha agrees to fly to San Francisco to help sort through her Grandnanny's belongings in her Victorian home, which will pave the way for her placement in a nursing home. This is what Jayne dreads.

The solution to both their problems isn't that simple. Samantha has a tainted life thanks to her con-man uncle. She has a list a mile long of illegal actions, which could easily put her behind bars if the authorities caught up with her. One of these crimes was stealing her soon-to-be-ex's valuable "Glueman" comic book. Now she's sending Jayne into her life and home unprepared. Samantha assumed Russell would be out of the country. Well, he wasn't and he's quickly confused about his feelings for the person he believes is his soon-to-be-ex. Things just aren't adding up for Russell. Samantha never watched The Hip and The Hopeless, never was sensitive to the thought of having children, never drank coffee, or shouted out names of presidents when she gets nervous or aroused. Yet, she was all of a sudden and she also was stalling when it came to signing the divorce papers.

No sooner does Samantha enter Grandnanny's home, does she hit an intruder over the head. The man in pain on the floor is actually Jayne's half-brother, Ben. So begins Ben's round with confusion as to why his half-sister is acting more aggressive and why he's strangely attracted to her. Being a journalist, he's going to dig for answers.

Though the two look identical, thanks to hair coloring and switching clothes, they actually are complete opposites in regards to lifestyles and personalities. Their "deal" leads to a number of humorous situations, continuous danger and some wacky secondary characters.

SPITTIN' IMAGE has a unique way of weaving a story. It provides both women's perspectives in first person, and occasionally throws in Samantha's Uncle Austin. Following the perspectives does take a little patience, but it's worth the effort. This is a fun book that makes you think anything is possible, including finding that "special person" to love.

3 out of 5 Roses
-Denise Fleischer, GWN Online book reviewer
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1/11/2002