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Seduction
Lights, camera, seduction ...
Actress Willow Carruthers is Australia's favourite daughter. Now living the dream life in London, with an Oscar on her shelf and a rock-star husband, the beautiful Willow seems to have it all – wealth, fame and three perfect children.
Kitty Middlemist, Willow's nanny, is used to flying under the radar. But a life-changing secret forces her to rethink her tactics. So when Willow suddenly falls from grace Kitty offers her the perfect place to hide - Middlemist Manor, the crumbling country estate Kitty owns with her reclusive older brother, Merrit.
Middlemist is the dream location for Willow's new movie, a gorgeous costume drama that the actress hopes will restore her fortunes. But sparks fly as Kitty and Merrit's ancestral home is taken over by a glamorous and demanding cast and crew, and the distinction between acting and real life becomes ever more blurred.
From London to LA, Byron Bay to Sydney, Seduction is a lush, compelling story about passion, betrayal and forgiveness, and the price of fame.
'This addictive novel is the perfect beach read.' New Idea
'A rollicking holiday read. ... fun and lightweight with likeable characters and lush description.' Bookseller&Publisher
'Glitzy, romantic and sexy … I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to those looking for a fast-paced light read with a hint of something different.' Book Muster Down Under
'A ripper read.' Summer's Best Beach Reads, OK!
'A fun beach read about the rich and famous - the one to pack.' Who
'A fun and lively read that draws you in.' The Hoopla
'An extremely enjoyable read that engaged me from start to finish.' 1 girl ... 2 many books
'A light and easy read for a lazy summer afternoon.' Book'd Out
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2012
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 9, 2013
The Blurb
“Actress Willow Carruthers is Australia’s favourite daughter. Now living the dream life in London, with an Oscar on her shelf and a rock-star husband, the beautiful Willow seems to have it all – wealth, fame and three perfect children.
Kitty Middlemist, Willow’s nanny, is used to flying under the radar. But a life-changing secret forces her to rethink her tactics.
So when Willow suddenly falls from grace Kitty offers her the perfect place to hide – Middlemist Manor, the crumbling ancestral home of Kitty and her reclusive older brother, Merritt.
Middlemist is the dream location for Willow’s new movie, a gorgeous costume drama that the actress hopes will restore her fortunes. But sparks fly as the house is taken over by a glamorous and demanding cast and crew, and the distinction between acting and real life becomes ever more blurred.
From London to LA, Byron Bay to Sydney, is a lush, compelling story about passion, betrayal, forgiveness and the price of fame.”
Summary
Willow Carruthers, beautiful movie star, wife and mother of three is living a life we can only dream about – little does she know that it’s about to shatter and the most unlikeliest of people will come to her rescue.
Whilst we are drawn into the drama surrounding Willow and come to learn that her husband Kerr has quite capably managed to squander all their money – leaving them almost penniless as well as homeless – her nanny, Kitty Middlemist, continues to be the one person she can rely on when it comes to organising her home and three children – Lucian, Poppy and Jinty.
But that’s not all, because when Kitty learns of Willow’s imminent homelessness (as well as her potential unemployment), she becomes Willow’s saving grace and offers her childhood home, Middlemist Manor, to Willow and the children as a roof over their heads - as well as a hideaway from the headlines about to make the tabloids – giving Willow the opportunity to try and re-gather her slowly crumbling life and career.
Middlemist Manor then becomes the “light at the end of the tunnel” so to speak, with lots of great things beginning to happen in both Willow’s and Kitty’s lives. Amidst the filming of the period movie in which Willow is the lead actress, both her and Kitty cross paths with affable Harold, producer extrordinaire of the movie being filmed; Merritt, who happens to be Kitty’s older brother and a qualified landscaper taking time out from his travels; and Ivo, the son of wealthy parents who doesn’t appear to have much ambition in life.
This historic family home may just be what everybody involved needs – and whilst some of these characters carry their own secrets, the house is about to reveal some secrets of its own!
My Thoughts
Kate Forster has drawn her characters well, albeit creating a certain amount of disdain in me for Willow and, I’m not sure what it is with the last two books I’ve read, but this is the second female character to whom I took an immediate dislike and then as the story progressed, warmed up to.
I had some difficulty engaging with her as she came across as rather superficial to begin with and, just as I was warming up to her she did it again in Part 2! Of course, being a mother myself, I was a bit perturbed at the emotional distance she managed to keep from her children and the difficulties she had interacting with them.
Kitty is gorgeous – in more ways than one. Although quite young, I warmed up to her immediately with her complete and utter selflessness. Eager to please everyone around her whilst harbouring a deep secret of her own, she managed to shine through, developing so well and becoming a character I thoroughly enjoyed.
Along with Merritt, whom I found to be quite upstanding, typically British and with hardly an arrogant bone in his body; and Harold, kindly benefactor and absolute darling (who truly was a guardian angel due to his timeous appearances in the most unlikeliest of places), Ivo was probably one of the characters who had the most to learn in this story and I really enjoyed the way his character grew with him ultimately realising that life is not all about “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll”.
Although I felt that there were some places in the book where there was too much going on, certain events could have been expanded upon and even though to my mind the plot was a bit weak and predictable, Kate has a noticeable talent which, like a fine wine, can only get better with time.
Glitzy, romantic and sexy, Seduction is Kate Forster’s second novel with characters from her first book The Perfect Location making a brief appearance.
This novel has earned 3 stars from me and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those of you looking for a fast-paced light read with a hint of something different.
My thanks goes to Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a copy.
A Bit About the Author (taken from her website)
Kate lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and dogs and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. She is an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and is also an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.
“Actress Willow Carruthers is Australia’s favourite daughter. Now living the dream life in London, with an Oscar on her shelf and a rock-star husband, the beautiful Willow seems to have it all – wealth, fame and three perfect children.
Kitty Middlemist, Willow’s nanny, is used to flying under the radar. But a life-changing secret forces her to rethink her tactics.
So when Willow suddenly falls from grace Kitty offers her the perfect place to hide – Middlemist Manor, the crumbling ancestral home of Kitty and her reclusive older brother, Merritt.
Middlemist is the dream location for Willow’s new movie, a gorgeous costume drama that the actress hopes will restore her fortunes. But sparks fly as the house is taken over by a glamorous and demanding cast and crew, and the distinction between acting and real life becomes ever more blurred.
From London to LA, Byron Bay to Sydney, is a lush, compelling story about passion, betrayal, forgiveness and the price of fame.”
Summary
Willow Carruthers, beautiful movie star, wife and mother of three is living a life we can only dream about – little does she know that it’s about to shatter and the most unlikeliest of people will come to her rescue.
Whilst we are drawn into the drama surrounding Willow and come to learn that her husband Kerr has quite capably managed to squander all their money – leaving them almost penniless as well as homeless – her nanny, Kitty Middlemist, continues to be the one person she can rely on when it comes to organising her home and three children – Lucian, Poppy and Jinty.
But that’s not all, because when Kitty learns of Willow’s imminent homelessness (as well as her potential unemployment), she becomes Willow’s saving grace and offers her childhood home, Middlemist Manor, to Willow and the children as a roof over their heads - as well as a hideaway from the headlines about to make the tabloids – giving Willow the opportunity to try and re-gather her slowly crumbling life and career.
Middlemist Manor then becomes the “light at the end of the tunnel” so to speak, with lots of great things beginning to happen in both Willow’s and Kitty’s lives. Amidst the filming of the period movie in which Willow is the lead actress, both her and Kitty cross paths with affable Harold, producer extrordinaire of the movie being filmed; Merritt, who happens to be Kitty’s older brother and a qualified landscaper taking time out from his travels; and Ivo, the son of wealthy parents who doesn’t appear to have much ambition in life.
This historic family home may just be what everybody involved needs – and whilst some of these characters carry their own secrets, the house is about to reveal some secrets of its own!
My Thoughts
Kate Forster has drawn her characters well, albeit creating a certain amount of disdain in me for Willow and, I’m not sure what it is with the last two books I’ve read, but this is the second female character to whom I took an immediate dislike and then as the story progressed, warmed up to.
I had some difficulty engaging with her as she came across as rather superficial to begin with and, just as I was warming up to her she did it again in Part 2! Of course, being a mother myself, I was a bit perturbed at the emotional distance she managed to keep from her children and the difficulties she had interacting with them.
Kitty is gorgeous – in more ways than one. Although quite young, I warmed up to her immediately with her complete and utter selflessness. Eager to please everyone around her whilst harbouring a deep secret of her own, she managed to shine through, developing so well and becoming a character I thoroughly enjoyed.
Along with Merritt, whom I found to be quite upstanding, typically British and with hardly an arrogant bone in his body; and Harold, kindly benefactor and absolute darling (who truly was a guardian angel due to his timeous appearances in the most unlikeliest of places), Ivo was probably one of the characters who had the most to learn in this story and I really enjoyed the way his character grew with him ultimately realising that life is not all about “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll”.
Although I felt that there were some places in the book where there was too much going on, certain events could have been expanded upon and even though to my mind the plot was a bit weak and predictable, Kate has a noticeable talent which, like a fine wine, can only get better with time.
Glitzy, romantic and sexy, Seduction is Kate Forster’s second novel with characters from her first book The Perfect Location making a brief appearance.
This novel has earned 3 stars from me and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those of you looking for a fast-paced light read with a hint of something different.
My thanks goes to Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a copy.
A Bit About the Author (taken from her website)
Kate lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and dogs and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. She is an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and is also an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.
January 4, 2013
Willow Carruthers is a golden girl of the tabloid world. The Australian born actress has had the glittering career, including an Oscar and married the requisite successful rock star and popped out three children. She seemed to have it all – fame, money, love, family. But now the husband has strayed, the photos are in the public eye and Willow faces divorce and financial ruin, thanks to her husband’s exuberant spending and the fact that there’s decidedly less income coming in now. Willow needs to return to work and soon, so she can support herself and her three children. Her husband is no where to be found and Willow isn’t sure she wants him located anyway.
Kitty Middlemist has worked for Willow as nanny to her three children for the past three years. She’s used to being the one in the background, keeping things afloat. When Willow admits that she has no money and needs a place to stay and to go back to work, Kitty thinks that she just might have the answer. When her father died, Kitty and her much-older brother Merritt inherited the family pile, which desperately needs some TLC. It was a source of bad memories for both of them so they locked it up and left due to the caveat placed upon them that prevents a sale for 10 years. It will be a perfect place for Kitty, Willow and the children to hole up while Willow attempts to secure a part in a period film being directed by an eccentric genius. And the period film just happens to be on the lookout for an ancestral pile that hasn’t been modernised within an inch of its life.
Middlemist becomes the dream location for the movie and production and actors descend upon it, much to the chagrin of Merritt, who has also returned to his family home. Three years have given him some perspective and now he thinks that he’d like to restore it to its former glory – something he can’t do without the massive injection of cash that allowing filming will give him. It also throws him into close contact with Willow and there’s something about the beautiful, fragile actress that draws Merritt and the attraction between them simmers even as every sort of complication arises to get in their way.
Seduction is Australian author Kate Forster’s second novel and takes us to the glittering world of the rich and famous – or the not so rich, as Willow Carruthers discovers. Her husband Kerr has pretty much squandered all of their money and now there’s nothing left and what they do have will need to be sold. Willow is forced to abandon her easy lifestyle and rely on the help of the nanny Kitty, who capably organises a home for them to stay in and takes care of the children while Willow does her best to get back into the acting world. Willow is quite brittle, distant emotionally from her children and husband and quite ill-equipped to cope alone. She’s lucky to have Kitty to organise things and look after her children and give her the freedom she needs to reboot her career. As you get further into the book, her character evolves and she becomes more human, more warm, more real with her children and she finally begins to see what they need from her, one of them in particular. She became more likable, as she wasn’t too sympathetic a character at the beginning, despite what she was going through.
I was very surprised just how invested I became in the story of Kitty, who really blossoms as a character in this novel. She starts off peripheral, the ‘hired help’ so to speak with no real relationship to Willow other than employer and employee. She has a natural knack with children, she’s eager to please and goes above and beyond the call of duty in her job. She meets the gorgeous Ivo, whom she has had a brief interaction with in the past and doesn’t want to be just another notch on his bedpost. In fact I think the development of the friendship between Ivo and Kitty was my favourite part of this novel. Ivo is the son of wealthy parents who has an art history degree but is basically wasting it and his intelligence, bumming around sleeping on friend’s couches and relying on wealthy lovers to keep him. The part in the period movie gives him some focus and his friendship with Kitty leads to him cleaning up his lifestyle almost without him noticing and it is through his time at Middlemist that he discovers his true calling. And the chemistry between them was fabulous – their interactions at the end of the novel when both of them are hurting are so fabulous. Ivo could’ve been a character that just didn’t work because like Willow, he’s not particularly likable at the beginning of the book. But the details that Forster adds to his character ended up making him very interesting.
Seduction surprised me – I was expecting a light, almost trashy beach read in the movie world judging by the glitzy cover but it turned out to be more than that. I really became quite invested in the characters of Willow, Merritt, Ivo, Kitty and Willow’s children. I think they were charmingly and accurately portrayed for their ages – I have a child the same age as Willow’s middle child who never stops talking and found there were some real similarities! There were things in the novel that seemed a little easy – how quickly Willow gets a part, how quickly the conflict with her husband Kerr is resolved – but all in all it was an extremely enjoyable read that had me engaged from start to finish.
Kitty Middlemist has worked for Willow as nanny to her three children for the past three years. She’s used to being the one in the background, keeping things afloat. When Willow admits that she has no money and needs a place to stay and to go back to work, Kitty thinks that she just might have the answer. When her father died, Kitty and her much-older brother Merritt inherited the family pile, which desperately needs some TLC. It was a source of bad memories for both of them so they locked it up and left due to the caveat placed upon them that prevents a sale for 10 years. It will be a perfect place for Kitty, Willow and the children to hole up while Willow attempts to secure a part in a period film being directed by an eccentric genius. And the period film just happens to be on the lookout for an ancestral pile that hasn’t been modernised within an inch of its life.
Middlemist becomes the dream location for the movie and production and actors descend upon it, much to the chagrin of Merritt, who has also returned to his family home. Three years have given him some perspective and now he thinks that he’d like to restore it to its former glory – something he can’t do without the massive injection of cash that allowing filming will give him. It also throws him into close contact with Willow and there’s something about the beautiful, fragile actress that draws Merritt and the attraction between them simmers even as every sort of complication arises to get in their way.
Seduction is Australian author Kate Forster’s second novel and takes us to the glittering world of the rich and famous – or the not so rich, as Willow Carruthers discovers. Her husband Kerr has pretty much squandered all of their money and now there’s nothing left and what they do have will need to be sold. Willow is forced to abandon her easy lifestyle and rely on the help of the nanny Kitty, who capably organises a home for them to stay in and takes care of the children while Willow does her best to get back into the acting world. Willow is quite brittle, distant emotionally from her children and husband and quite ill-equipped to cope alone. She’s lucky to have Kitty to organise things and look after her children and give her the freedom she needs to reboot her career. As you get further into the book, her character evolves and she becomes more human, more warm, more real with her children and she finally begins to see what they need from her, one of them in particular. She became more likable, as she wasn’t too sympathetic a character at the beginning, despite what she was going through.
I was very surprised just how invested I became in the story of Kitty, who really blossoms as a character in this novel. She starts off peripheral, the ‘hired help’ so to speak with no real relationship to Willow other than employer and employee. She has a natural knack with children, she’s eager to please and goes above and beyond the call of duty in her job. She meets the gorgeous Ivo, whom she has had a brief interaction with in the past and doesn’t want to be just another notch on his bedpost. In fact I think the development of the friendship between Ivo and Kitty was my favourite part of this novel. Ivo is the son of wealthy parents who has an art history degree but is basically wasting it and his intelligence, bumming around sleeping on friend’s couches and relying on wealthy lovers to keep him. The part in the period movie gives him some focus and his friendship with Kitty leads to him cleaning up his lifestyle almost without him noticing and it is through his time at Middlemist that he discovers his true calling. And the chemistry between them was fabulous – their interactions at the end of the novel when both of them are hurting are so fabulous. Ivo could’ve been a character that just didn’t work because like Willow, he’s not particularly likable at the beginning of the book. But the details that Forster adds to his character ended up making him very interesting.
Seduction surprised me – I was expecting a light, almost trashy beach read in the movie world judging by the glitzy cover but it turned out to be more than that. I really became quite invested in the characters of Willow, Merritt, Ivo, Kitty and Willow’s children. I think they were charmingly and accurately portrayed for their ages – I have a child the same age as Willow’s middle child who never stops talking and found there were some real similarities! There were things in the novel that seemed a little easy – how quickly Willow gets a part, how quickly the conflict with her husband Kerr is resolved – but all in all it was an extremely enjoyable read that had me engaged from start to finish.
January 24, 2013
Couldn't put this book down Enjoyed it very much It was easy to read
January 15, 2013
Willow Curruthers, an Oscar winning actress, had it all - wealth, fame, a rock god in her bed and three adorable children - until the tabloids publicly outed her cheating husband and she discovered the money was all gone. Homeless, jobless and penniless, she accepts the generous offer from her children's nanny, Kitty, to relocate with her to Middlemist, Kitty's ancestral home. The aging country mansion, the ownership of which Kitty shares with her brother, has been empty for years but quickly becomes home to Kitty, Willow and her children, Merrit, upon his surprise return to England, and a film crew, when Willow precipitously lands a film role for a period drama. As Middlemist is slowly restored to her former grandeur, Willow begins to find her feet but will she find herself seduced by the lure of fame and fortune once again?
My lack of sympathy for Willow almost saw me give up on Seduction after the first chapter. Having relinquished the care of her children to the nanny, Willow comes across as self absorbed and shallow, less interested in her family's well being than preserving appearances. Finding herself destitute, (well, except for a few thousand pounds left on her ex's credit card) shakes Willow to the core and as she begins to piece together a new life, one that includes Merrit Middlemist, that I slowly warmed to her, despite her eventual relapse into diva-dom.
It is Kitty, the unassuming nanny of Lucian, Poppy and Jinty Curruthers, who I thought to be the best character in Seduction. Eager to please and generous, Kitty who opens her home and heart to Willow and her children. Though practical and capable, Kitty lacks self confidence but soon begins to blossom with the attention of Ivo, a young, handsome actor in the movie filming at Middlemist. But Kitty's fragile poise is shattered when her deepest secret is revealed and she flees Middlemist, finding shelter with the eccentric film director, Harry.
I found the plot of Seduction to be fairly predictable though I thought there were some interesting elements, particularly in regards to the ongoing debate about Lucien's 'quirks'. I also liked they way in which Forster weaved the history of Middlemist Manor into the story.
The pace is fine though I thought the backstory for the characters in the first few chapters was revealed rather clumsily and the dialogue is sometimes a little stiff.
I enjoyed Seduction as a light and easy read for a lazy summer afternoon. Kate Forster is also the author of The Perfect Location which also combines an Australian actress with Hollywood glamour in an exotic locale.
September 3, 2013
One of the best reads I've had for a long while. I hated when I finished it, I wanted to keep reading!
March 31, 2013
Fantastic read. Found this book very hard to put down just like the perfect location. Think I have found my new Penny Vincenzi.
January 15, 2013
Love this book. Great story to read while sitting on the beach! Couldn't put it down!
May 15, 2017
Well, this book isn't going to win any awards for fantastic writing, but you know what? It was still an enjoyable, easy read. The characters were not particularly deep, but they were enjoyable (even if they do act in un-enjoyable ways). A fun read.
January 19, 2013
*** Spoiler Alert***
Seduction is the perfect lighthearted, escapist read. Although I rarely read books of this type, something about the blurb, introducing me to an out of work Australian actress who was living in London, drew me in. I'm glad it did. As it turns out, Seduction tells the story of a variety of quirky characters, all of whom are unhappy and want something more out of life. There is the leading lady, the annoying and selfish Willow Carruthers, whose marriage has just broken up and who seems to have an endless capacity to ignore reality (i.e. spending more money than she earns, refusing to admit that her son may have learning difficulties). We are then introduced to her young nanny, Kitty, who suffers from a low self-esteem and is hiding from a surprising problem of her own. From there, we discover that Willow is about to be evicted, but Kitty has a surprising solution. She is the joint owner of a large, unkempt country house so they can live there. They family arrives at the cottage at the same time as Kitty's long lost brother, the introverted Merritt. From there, numerous twists and turns begin as each character begins to rebuild his or her life.
The novel relies heavily on chance and coincidence (for example at one point, the PR agent that Willow jilted is revealed to be Merritt's ex-wife, whose current husband just happens to be the man who took Kitty's virginity and who eventually leaves her for the woman who Willow's husband had just had an affair and they all argue inside Merritt and Kitty's kitchen,) but the journey and conclusion make for fun light reading. I found myself warming to the characters more as the story went on, particularly to Willow and to Kitty's love interest, Ivo. I love the descriptions of Middlemist, but thought that more could have been done with the mystery surrounding the paintings.
A good read for a lazy summer afternoon.
Review Copy provided by Penguin Books Australia via Netgally.
This review previously appeared on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox
Seduction is the perfect lighthearted, escapist read. Although I rarely read books of this type, something about the blurb, introducing me to an out of work Australian actress who was living in London, drew me in. I'm glad it did. As it turns out, Seduction tells the story of a variety of quirky characters, all of whom are unhappy and want something more out of life. There is the leading lady, the annoying and selfish Willow Carruthers, whose marriage has just broken up and who seems to have an endless capacity to ignore reality (i.e. spending more money than she earns, refusing to admit that her son may have learning difficulties). We are then introduced to her young nanny, Kitty, who suffers from a low self-esteem and is hiding from a surprising problem of her own. From there, we discover that Willow is about to be evicted, but Kitty has a surprising solution. She is the joint owner of a large, unkempt country house so they can live there. They family arrives at the cottage at the same time as Kitty's long lost brother, the introverted Merritt. From there, numerous twists and turns begin as each character begins to rebuild his or her life.
The novel relies heavily on chance and coincidence (for example at one point, the PR agent that Willow jilted is revealed to be Merritt's ex-wife, whose current husband just happens to be the man who took Kitty's virginity and who eventually leaves her for the woman who Willow's husband had just had an affair and they all argue inside Merritt and Kitty's kitchen,) but the journey and conclusion make for fun light reading. I found myself warming to the characters more as the story went on, particularly to Willow and to Kitty's love interest, Ivo. I love the descriptions of Middlemist, but thought that more could have been done with the mystery surrounding the paintings.
A good read for a lazy summer afternoon.
Review Copy provided by Penguin Books Australia via Netgally.
This review previously appeared on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox
March 24, 2013
It was okay. I think I only finished it because I have been trapped in the airport for hours with nothing to do. The premise of the book had great potential, as did the characters. But it was super predictable, overly sappy and there was nothing unique about it. Very mainstream. If you're into books that are an easy read with loveable characters and happily ever afters, this is the book for you. If not, I'd give it a miss.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews