Cape Seduction

Beacon Point Romance #2

by Anne Carter

After being the backdrop for 1948's critically acclaimed tragic romance, Cape Seduction, Northern California's Dragon Rock Lighthouse sat shuttered and abandoned for decades-and it also happened to be the last place up-and-coming Hollywood starlet Darla Foster was seen alive.

When photojournalist Rebecca Burke locks horns with Los Angeles attorney Matt Farralone while trying to gain access to the derelict off-shore beacon, she encounters the spirit of the sassy, once-promising Oscar-hopeful Foster, and uncovers a 60-year-old secret that sets her world on end.

Genres: Mystery

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Anne Carter asserts, when asked about her life in Southern California, where she’s lived since she was two. She cites the people, the weather and the beach as factors in her love affair with the West coast. Family, too, provides an anchor to the area, which she describes as a melting pot of humanity, “rich with characters and plots just waiting to be written.”

While romantic mystery and suspense are her favorites, Anne has written middle grade mysteries, literary shorts, poetry and non-fiction. Long a lighthouse fanatic, it was only a matter of time before her obsessions intersected and a series of lighthouse novels emerged. Paranormal elements abound in POINT SURRENDER, CAPE SEDUCTION and ANGEL'S GATE, where mystery, romance and troubled ghosts provide hauntingly entertaining tales set in California lighthouses.

When she is not writing, editing or promoting, Anne enjoys time with her husband and three children, two grands and one neurotic dog. She is a skilled photo editor and loves restoring old snapshots and creating digital slideshows. Watch for the fourth paranormal lighthouse mystery, AMOROSO PASS, coming soon!

For more about Anne Carter and to read excerpts, visit www. BeaconStreetBooks.com or write AnneCarter@BeaconStreetBooks.com.

Reviews

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good mystery novel with a touch of historical fiction in it. It goes back and forth between 2008 and 1948. The story surrounds a lighthouse on the California coast with a shady history.. I did some research and came to the conclusion that the Dragon Rock lighthouse in the book bears a striking resemblance to The St. George Reef Lighthouse which sits six miles off the northern extreme coast of California.

Full review, pictures, and lighthouse facts here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...

[Deborah Acker-zolnoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the BEST BOOKS I have ever read! I could not put it down, and read all night long until I finished it.

[Susan Griscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the trips to the past as they interweaved with the present. Pam Ripling (writing as Anne Carter) takes us to the Hollywood of 1948, where the forbidden love of a married handsome actor, Jordan Kent, is struck by the charm and beauty of his young co-star, Darla Foster. Darla was such an easy character to love. I really felt her pain and her joys. Her moments of daydreaming of a life she so sorely wanted made me want it for her.

I was equally fascinated with the present day photojournalist, Rebecca Burke, as she desperately tries to convince Matt Farralone, the handsome lawyer charged with representing the owner of the lighthouse, to give her a tour of the lighthouse where they uncover a terrible secret.

I like the idea that Ms. Carter uses the inspiration from actual lighthouses in each of her lighthouse series. In "Cape Seduction," Dragon Rock Lighthouse was inspired by the real-life St. George Reef Lighthouse in Northern California, perched on a reef six miles from the coast. It was built in the late 1800's, and is only accessible by helicopter. It is the only off shore lighthouse in the world with public access. Flight costs are currently $195.00 per person. The location and the constant crashing waves fueled the awesomeness of the ominous atmosphere of Dragon Rock Lighthouse.

"Cape Seduction" is an enchanting read with a surprising twist ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys old movies and of course, ghosts and lighthouses.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book I realized how fitting the cover was and is, but for a potential new reader....

I was given this book in exchange for a honest review.

Cape Seduction is written in the present day and we also read the past and the story of Darla a young wannabe actress. Darla coaxes her boyfriend to introduce her to some bigwigs in Hollywood, she gets cast as the lead of the movie and after the movie releases she disappears forever. Darla was a bit annoying to me, I couldn't decide if she was a damn good actress of the screen or a beguiling mix of seductress and innocent. At times she was both but her inner monologue came across innocent.

Present Day we have Rebecca who is captivated by the lighthouse (setting for the movie) and wants a tour. Matt Farralone is the caretaker of the property and isnt allowed to let anyone in. Rebecca keeps seeing a ghost and knows its connected.

Eventually the movie plays out and we see how it ended and its tied up in a nice neat package. I enjoyed the twists and turns, parts of the outcome were slightly predictable, but overall a very good romance/mystery.

I only gave it four stars because I had trouble getting into the story at the beginning. It picked up really well and was an enjoyable read.

[Bella Doerres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Seduction
By Anne Carter

Anne Carter’s Cape Seduction is a paranormal mystery that has twists, turns, ghosts and is full of surprises. Usually I figure out a mystery in the first few chapters but I have to say I didn’t in Cape Seduction. I love the way Anne Carter weaves the story of Rebecca and Darla a missing starlet together by moving between the times of their two lives. Rebecca is a magazine photographer that happens upon an old lighthouse on one of her photo shoot runs on a fog filled highway. She is drawn to the ghostly vision of the old lighthouse feeling its haunting presence over the water. The more she uncovers about the old lighthouse the more haunting information is found. You need to read this fascinating mystery to discover how Rebecca is lead into solving this mystery and how it turns out is going to really surprise you. Now add to this mystery a hot attorney that has worked his way into Rebecca’s heart and a secret that may keep them apart forever and you will not want to put this one down.
Bella Doerres M Ed

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Seduction by Anne Carter is an excellent read! It was a bit more difficult to get started, but three chapters in, I was hooked. I loved the back and forth points of view, it gave real insight into the characters, both alive and dead. The timeline was perfectly structured to allow for a well plotted mystery. And just when tragedy begins to dawn, it is washed away by the sun! Another win for Anne Carter.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Anne Carter book, and I really liked it. The setting of the lighthouse and the quiet little seaside town is both romantic and mysterious, and I enjoyed the way the mystery played out. The characters were easy to see as flesh-and-blood people, good without being cloying and bad without being pathological. I'd definitely read another of this author's books.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cape Seduction by Anne Carter was certainly an interesting book. I enjoyed how you had a little bit of history throughout the book to learn the background of the lighthouse in question. It takes a strong writer to be able to properly pull the constant switching back and forth off. It was hard to get into at first but you're grateful that you tried by the end.