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Temptation
Losing her job and her husband at the same time, modern career woman Callie Smith meets network president Jason Kane while doing a small part on a soap opera and launches a new career, as well as a new romance. Original.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1996
162 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Sherryl Woods
555 books4,522 followersWith two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 2, 2014
This book was something I picked up on a lark at the thrift shop. It's not the genre I typically read. I found it very light. It's your typical old school romance novel where it fades to black during intimate scenes. Lots of feisty dialog from the heroine, a Wall Street banker turned actress, to the hero, a wealthy television executive. Of course they're both ridiculously good-looking and sexy. I'm not some elitist who hates romance books. I've read my fair share of romances, both contemporary and historic. The romance here was just too predictable and the hero was just too perfect. I skimmed through the last third of the book once I figured out the plot and ending. I would consider this good reading for anyone who enjoys neat, happy endings for the major characters.
October 25, 2025
Literally worst book I’ve ever read. Stopped 150 pages in. So boring. So predictable. No character development. Plot is not interesting.
January 2, 2021
I believe I found this book on the shelf at the local Y's book exchange. I've read at least one other book by this author.
The story is a bit silly IMO. Callie gets divorced and loses her job as a broker. Her friend gets her a walk-on part on the soap opera he stars in, the network head sees her bit part and becomes convinced she's the person who will save the failing program.
It's probably a bit wish-fulfillment lit since most of us dream of having a lucrative contract dropped in our lap and one that will make us both a star and a household name. Plus many women want a rich husband who can afford to shower her with luxuries.
It's also a romance, or rather a number of romances. Jason, the network head, falls in love with Callie. Callie's mother, a widow, rekindles an old romance with her mentor. Callie's friend, Terry, is in a committed relationship with Neil. And Hank may have started a romance with Callie's and Terry's co-star Lindsay.
It's also part mystery. Terry is getting mysterious notes mixed in with his fan mail advising him to "Tell all". Terry has a couple secrets: his relationship with Neil and a child he doesn't know from a failed marriage at a young age. When Callie tries to help him figure out who is sending the messages, she gets some too.
I didn't suspect who the culprit ended up being.
Sexual relationships are strongly implied but not graphically described. There are both heterosexual and homosexual characters in the story.
The story is a bit silly IMO. Callie gets divorced and loses her job as a broker. Her friend gets her a walk-on part on the soap opera he stars in, the network head sees her bit part and becomes convinced she's the person who will save the failing program.
It's probably a bit wish-fulfillment lit since most of us dream of having a lucrative contract dropped in our lap and one that will make us both a star and a household name. Plus many women want a rich husband who can afford to shower her with luxuries.
It's also a romance, or rather a number of romances. Jason, the network head, falls in love with Callie. Callie's mother, a widow, rekindles an old romance with her mentor. Callie's friend, Terry, is in a committed relationship with Neil. And Hank may have started a romance with Callie's and Terry's co-star Lindsay.
It's also part mystery. Terry is getting mysterious notes mixed in with his fan mail advising him to "Tell all". Terry has a couple secrets: his relationship with Neil and a child he doesn't know from a failed marriage at a young age. When Callie tries to help him figure out who is sending the messages, she gets some too.
I didn't suspect who the culprit ended up being.
Sexual relationships are strongly implied but not graphically described. There are both heterosexual and homosexual characters in the story.
December 22, 2023
Sherryl Woods known for her cozy romance titles, hits a high mark for a book full of romance, but with even more suspense and mystery. Callie Smith has lost her broker job on Wall Street in the economy downturn. Her mother Regina is have trouble managing her farm. When Callie is unable to find a job, she accepts a job acting on a soap opera to help her mother. Janson Kane the TV network president hired Callie because he was obsessed with her presence as an extra and thinks she can save the soap opera. Neither Kane nor Callie are interested in romance, let alone even like each other. Both characters rub each other the wrong way, but pull together to find out whose threating the lead actor on the soap. The story is face paced, full of action, suspence and mystery.
July 23, 2023
I struggled to finish this book. There was absolutely nothing about the plot or characters that kept me reading. There was nothing particularly wrong with the story, I just wasn’t attached to it. The book is a light romance and light action story, so in other words a little bit of both but not enough of either to be a winner. It’s unnecessarily long but a decent read. I was entertained but not completely transported into the world of the story. There was nothing that swept me off my feet, which is disappointing. Lukewarm is probably the best way to describe this book.
March 21, 2018
Good clean romance with no bad language and the sex is behind closed doors. The problem I had was the fact that a stockbroker with no acting experience suddenly gets hired as lead on a soap opera. Seriously, no acting experience and all of a sudden she is a star. It also seemed to drag and took me awhile to finish. Besides those two points, the characters are likeable and the hint of mystery is good.
April 4, 2019
The stars are mainly because this read is pretty dated. I liked Callie and Jason’s story, as well as Callie’s mother’s character arch. The soap opera details were fun. The mystery did really keep me guessing. I took a break in the middle of reading this, so it didn’t really keep me hooked, but I did enjoy it.
February 9, 2025
A very light listen that kept me company on walks. Most of the plot was pretty silly but I did enjoy watching the mother/daughter relationship forgive perceived past wrongs and develop into a healthy relationship.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
January 27, 2017
I usually love to read books by this author, but I just could not get in to this book. To me, this was not one of her better books.
June 28, 2017
Good summer, pool reading. Everything turns out rosy with a little fun, romance, and adventure in between.
October 18, 2018
Ok. Liked others better.
January 9, 2019
I really liked this book.
Callie and her mom,
Terry and Neil
Jason
Mikel.
I was fun to see events unfold.
Love the mystery of who done it.
Callie and her mom,
Terry and Neil
Jason
Mikel.
I was fun to see events unfold.
Love the mystery of who done it.
December 9, 2019
This was pretty good. I liked the characters well enough and the romance was all right. Not something that is a wow, but not too bad of a book.
March 19, 2022
A great "beach read"!
January 31, 2016
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
really 2.5 not even close to her later writing
Temptation by Sherryl Woods
Have read many of the authors later works and know I will enjoy this one as well.
Callie Smith dumped by her husband, her mother is visiting and she's lost her Wall Street job.
Jason Kane, finds her irresistible and plans to make Callie a star. He's director of a soap opera and he wants her full time on his show.
She does not want to go back to the farm to help her mother so her sister sends her mother to her in the city. She feels forced to take the job offer and others resent her being there.
As they spend more time together she learns about what makes him tick: is it all material things or is there a passion collecting the possessions.
The male actor is being threatened by things that are happening at work and she watches for clues at work.
The book also follows her mother and her return to the art world in the city that Callie lives where she is staying. Apartment breakin cause others to take things seriously... Hot steamy sex scenes.
really 2.5 not even close to her later writing
Temptation by Sherryl Woods
Have read many of the authors later works and know I will enjoy this one as well.
Callie Smith dumped by her husband, her mother is visiting and she's lost her Wall Street job.
Jason Kane, finds her irresistible and plans to make Callie a star. He's director of a soap opera and he wants her full time on his show.
She does not want to go back to the farm to help her mother so her sister sends her mother to her in the city. She feels forced to take the job offer and others resent her being there.
As they spend more time together she learns about what makes him tick: is it all material things or is there a passion collecting the possessions.
The male actor is being threatened by things that are happening at work and she watches for clues at work.
The book also follows her mother and her return to the art world in the city that Callie lives where she is staying. Apartment breakin cause others to take things seriously... Hot steamy sex scenes.
April 11, 2014
Temptation by Sherryl Woods
Have read many of the authors later works and know I will enjoy this one as well.
Callie Smith dumped by her husband, her mother is visiting and she's lost her Wall Street job.
Jason Kane, finds her irresistible and plans to make Callie a star. He's director of a soap opera and he wants her full time on his show.
She does not want to go back to the farm to help her mother so her sister sends her mother to her in the city. She feels forced to take the job offer and others resent her being there.
As they spend more time together she learns about what makes him tick: is it all material things or is there a passion collecting the possessions.
The male actor is being threatened by things that are happening at work and she watches for clues at work.
The book also follows her mother and her return to the art world in the city that Callie lives where she is staying. Apartment breakin cause others to take things seriously... Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Have read many of the authors later works and know I will enjoy this one as well.
Callie Smith dumped by her husband, her mother is visiting and she's lost her Wall Street job.
Jason Kane, finds her irresistible and plans to make Callie a star. He's director of a soap opera and he wants her full time on his show.
She does not want to go back to the farm to help her mother so her sister sends her mother to her in the city. She feels forced to take the job offer and others resent her being there.
As they spend more time together she learns about what makes him tick: is it all material things or is there a passion collecting the possessions.
The male actor is being threatened by things that are happening at work and she watches for clues at work.
The book also follows her mother and her return to the art world in the city that Callie lives where she is staying. Apartment breakin cause others to take things seriously... Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
September 6, 2013
Not a bad book. The characters saved the plot.
I liked Terry and Neil in particular.
It is sadly dated. I'm not sure that outing a soap opera star would have ruined their career even in '96. Choosing to reprint this in this day and time is a bit odd as the plot quickly becomes unbelievable.
Add to that, Regina, Callie's mom, runs into her old lover and is completely transformed. Do what? This is New York City. I know people keep their rent controlled apartments, but really?
A big time producer drops everything to cater to a minor actress. Really?
So, as I said, if I hadn't liked the characters, I would have dropped this in the donate pile. Now that I'm finished, I doubt I'll stick it back on the shelf to reread.
I liked Terry and Neil in particular.
It is sadly dated. I'm not sure that outing a soap opera star would have ruined their career even in '96. Choosing to reprint this in this day and time is a bit odd as the plot quickly becomes unbelievable.
Add to that, Regina, Callie's mom, runs into her old lover and is completely transformed. Do what? This is New York City. I know people keep their rent controlled apartments, but really?
A big time producer drops everything to cater to a minor actress. Really?
So, as I said, if I hadn't liked the characters, I would have dropped this in the donate pile. Now that I'm finished, I doubt I'll stick it back on the shelf to reread.
September 17, 2016
A typical suspense romance novel. Callie loses her husband to a younger woman and her job because of the economy all in a couple of months. She is depressed because no one is hiring stockbrokers and she doesn't want to return to Iowa. Living in New York has always been her dream. Then her next door neighbor and friend, Terry, convinces her to play a bit part on his soap opera. This leads to meeting the owner of the network and a staring role in the soap. While all this is going on, her friend Terry is receiving threats. Callie now needs to figure out who is doing this and why. There is also a side story about Callie's Mom and second chances which I enjoyed.
June 22, 2025
Callie Smith has lost her husband to a bimbo and her job to downsizing. To get her out of her mopping depression, her friend Terry, a handsome hunk on a soap opera (who is also gay), gets her a walk on part. The network president sees her and immediately likes how the camera loves her. She feels she is a stockbroker not an actress, but learning that Terry is getting threats and tells her she could help investigate their origins, and then her mother arriving to stay with her, leads her to take the job. That is just the beginning. . .
June 20, 2016
Did not like. Only read it because I have liked , even loved, many of the author's books. This fell way short. Was a chore to read and only persisted as I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't. Opinion may be due to my dislike of mysteries but felt this was poor in the romance category also. Nothing was realistic. No surprises.
October 3, 2013
Not the best of Sherryl Woods books as a little older; however purchased the re-release audio book as the cover was a draw as well as the author. Callie goes for a part on TV soap opera and meets Jason the network president with lots of drama along the way. (not wild about the performer).
July 17, 2014
Actually 3 1/2 our of 5 stars. It is a re-release of a book published in 1996, and that always annoys me. It is a good story, but not as good as her current writing would indicate. Predictable but enjoyable nevertheless.
November 21, 2014
Wasn't to sure about the introduction but I continued reading and it got better once the viewpoints changed. Also, random twist at the end. Not necessarily a good thing. I enjoyed the mothers side story.
February 19, 2015
I like the characters, but the premise is hard to buy into. I acted in NYC in the late 70s and most of the actresses I knew assumed an actor was gay unless told otherwise. Hard to believe anyone on the set would be surprised or even care about another actor's preferences!
April 4, 2013
Would classify this as a mindless, quick, very easy read......good for the beach or when you want to read something that doesn't take much energy on your part......
August 31, 2013
Talk about a different career choice! From Wall Street to Broadway? WOW! This story was terrific! I have found yet another author to read! YAY!
September 15, 2013
This was ok.
September 29, 2013
I enjoyed the development of Callie's mother throughout the story as much as I did the rest of the story. A quick, fun read.
January 30, 2014
Sherryl woodsia one of my favorite authors and Temptation is another good read. It is a perfect mix of romance, humor, and mystery.
September 22, 2013
Enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews