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Overdue For a Happy Ending
Mister Movie Star follows a talented but emotionally closed-off chef who takes a job as a personal chef to a Hollywood heartthrob, leading them to form an unexpected connection. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
George Reed Masters first appeared in Book 3 of my Olympic Peninsula series, The Magic Man, and made more appearances in Books 4 and 5. In Book 5 he is a guest at the compound when Lisette, a chef and restaurateur who is dating the main protagonist in that book, Edward, overhears Edward’s mom saying terrible things about her. George has a crush on Lisette and proposes that she come to work for him in Beverly Hills as his private chef. I always liked George, who in the earlier books is a bit of a scamp and an incorrigible flirt. I started wondering about the woman who could focus his wandering eye. (Lisette, of course, was destined to be with Edward, despite his awful mother.) He did need a private chef, so that’s where Rose comes in. For ten years, I lived in New York City, where I worked in a lot of restaurants as a waitress, hostess, and even, briefly, as a coat check girl at a chic nightclub. In that job, which started at 5 pm and ended at 5 am, I also sold cigarettes. (Truly a horrendous gig, but very illuminating.) So I do know a thing or two about the restaurant business. And yes, there’s a lot of bad behavior! I like to cook and do a credible job, but I’m not into labor intensive things like baking bread or making noodles from scratch. I even use canned beans. Like the mother in this book, I have a repertoire of favorite recipes.
Were there any characters that you especially enjoyed writing for?
I love all my characters! George and Rose are both close to my heart. Among the supporting characters, I enjoyed George’s diction coach Ms. Elgar, who I think might be overdue for a happy ending, maybe with one of the older characters from my other books. Something along the lines of Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day or Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Set at Christmas. Hmm. I also liked Dorian the rich and handsome veterinarian and thought he and the actress Jennifer Trakes would make an interesting couple.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Back before cell phones, etc., we all did a lot of staring into space. I passed the time by inventing stories. While in line at the supermarket, at the bank, long car trips with my family…. I couldn’t read in the car without getting carsick. Also at church. We were Episcopalians, and those services are loooong, so I just drifted off into daydreams. I also came up with stories in my head while jogging. My best friend and I used to tell each other stories while we were at the beach club lying on our towels, attempting to get tanned. (It was a long time ago, and we lived in Washington State, where it’s usually at least partly cloudy.) One of us would start, then the other would pick up the thread, back and forth. They usually started with falling into a hole in the backyard, like in Alice in Wonderland. I also played for hours with Barbie Dolls and paper dolls I made myself, and they acted out my stories. I’m not sure that answers your question, but that is a huge part of why I write romance now, because of all the stories that have kept me sane during hard times. I love to read, of course, and was a German Literature major in college. My taste in books is very eclectic.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m working on a romance staring country music diva Rina Bakersfield, the former girlfriend of my character Joe O’Connell, who as “Joe Bob Blade” is a country music star in my first book, The Silent Woodsman. She doesn’t come off well in that book, but that’s because she doesn’t get a point of view! By the time this story begins, she’s been through quite a lot and has an excellent sense of the absurd. (All my characters do, actually, because really, if you can’t laugh at yourself, life is way tougher than it needs to be.) She’s on her way through Nevada after her divorce when her car breaks down in Tonopah. (My husband and I have stayed there several times on our way back from Arizona to Washington State.) There she meets…. I’ll just leave it at that for now. I’m about 75k words in, and my books are usually somewhere around 90k words. I’ve had to do a deep dive into the country music business, and it’s fascinating. My books all take place in the recent past. This one starts in 2003. I’m not sure when it will come out. I record and edit all the audiobook versions myself, and that is a time-consuming process. So probably in February or March of next year. But I’ve also been contemplating a few different Christmas novellas based on characters from The Olympic Peninsula series. I’d like to get something like that out in time for the holidays. Fans can go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter, where you are the first to be updated!
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So maybe it’s not the best time to hire his aunt’s private chef, Rose. Has the punishing diet scrambled his brain? George wants her… badly. But unlike any other woman in his orbit, Rose is quiet and reserved, and a committed relationship with a civilian doesn’t jibe with his career plans. Though Rose feels the heat, she is determined to hold onto her job–and her heart.
Child of Hollywood royalty and his frequent co-star, George’s ex-wife Helena is a classic beauty with major talent. To win him back and take him far away from Rose, Helena dangles the perfect lure: a coveted role in her father’s next film.
Mister Movie Star
Mister Movie Star is a charming, flirty romp of a romance novel set against the glitzy backdrop of Beverly Hills and the more grounded vibe of the Pacific Northwest. At its heart, it’s about Rose Poppins—a talented but emotionally bruised chef—and George Reed Masters, the Hollywood heartthrob with a hidden depth and, as it turns out, a surprisingly grounded soul. When Rose lands a job as George’s personal chef, neither expects the whirlwind of attraction, awkwardness, and healing that’s about to unfold. It’s the kind of story that combines humor, heart, and heat in just the right doses.
I fell for the writing right away. It has this effortless, snappy rhythm—funny without trying too hard, emotional without feeling saccharine. From the first few pages, when Rose awkwardly fumbles her way into George’s estate (and into his arms, quite literally), I was hooked. That whole “mistaken identity” set-up where she thinks George is just the pool guy is classic. But it’s not just a gimmick—the banter that follows feels natural and genuinely fun, like you’re eavesdropping on two people falling into something big and messy and real. That moment when Rose realizes the “pool guy” is actually her movie star boss was deliciously cringey and delightful.
The deeper stuff hit me harder than I expected. Rose’s backstory with the sleazy chef and the fallout from that mess felt all too real. There’s this sharp moment when Rose reflects on how being a woman in a high-end kitchen already stacks the odds against her—and then a sleazy encounter pulls the rug out from under her. Her resilience, though, really got to me. She’s smart, funny, a little self-deprecating, and trying so hard not to get hurt again. You can’t help but root for her. And George, under the glitz, is just a guy trying to figure out what matters. His moments of vulnerability—like his existential dread over aging out of Hollywood, or wondering if he can carry off a British accent without sounding like a cartoon—give him this surprising, relatable depth.
The chemistry is off the charts. There’s this perfect blend of slow-burn tension and goofy sweetness. I loved their early kitchen scenes—Rose trying not to blush while George munches carrots like Bugs Bunny, or her awkward sandwich moment where she can’t stop staring at his indigo eyes. It’s romantic comedy gold. And somehow, amid all the flirting and fumbling, there’s this growing sense of trust, like they’re both learning how to be safe with someone again. That’s where the story really shines—not in the glamor, but in the quiet moments where they see each other for real.
If you love character-driven romances with heart, humor, and heat, this one’s a gem. Fans of Emily Henry or Katherine Center will probably feel right at home. It’s got enough Hollywood sparkle to keep things fun, but it’s the emotional beats that really stick with you. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a love story with depth—plus some good food, awkward falls, and the kind of witty repartee that’ll leave you grinning.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0F3RSKKNV
Love and Compassion
The Fallen Man follows an ex-priest who returns to his hometown, where he meets a woman with hidden dark secrets that, if revealed, would shatter lives. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
After my father died following a brief illness in early December 1994, a friend from New York came to visit and we spent several days together in Port Townsend during the Christmas season. The Victorians invented Christmas as we know it, so what better place to spend that holiday than a Victorian seaside village? For those few days, at least, I managed to put aside my grief and get caught up in the magic of the season.
Just about everyone (well, mostly the women) of my generation read The Thorn Birds, which came out in 1977 and was a huge bestseller. When I wrote The Fallen Man, I recalled little about that book except that I wanted a happier ending for Father Ralph and Meggie. A month ago, I finally re-read The Thorn Birds, and it’s still just as great and maddening as I remember. It turns out Edward and Ralph have little in common–other than their good looks, charm, and vocations to the priesthood–and their stories are very different. The Thorn Birds isn’t really a romance, more like women’s fiction/family saga.
I have a relative who converted to Catholicism in his 20s and became the most devout Catholic you can imagine. He very nearly became a priest. The conversion changed him utterly and not for the better. What I learned from him about Catholicism before we became estranged is woven throughout this story. What I didn’t realize when I was writing The Fallen Man was that I was using Edward to re-imagine my relationship with this relative.
Edward and Lisette both have things they wish to forget from their past, which causes them to struggle to move forward with their relationship. What inspired the characters and their relationship?
Edward has come to terms with his own demons when The Fallen Man begins, which is part of why he is so nonjudgmental when it comes to Lisette. While living in New York City in the 80s, I did a lot of caterwaitering for a fancy company called Glorious Foods. I was also a receptionist at the recording studio beneath Studio 54. Those were some wild times. The scandal that Lisette has survived isn’t based on reality, but it was easy enough to imagine something like that happening to a young woman who is too pretty and trusting for her own good. Young people are all too ready to blame themselves when others exploit their youth and naivete.
I have known more than a few women similar to Lisette, women with too many choices and talents to have the kind of focus that makes you truly excel at a profession. All the friends I met in New York and while doing theater and opera were charismatic and talented, but only a few truly “made it” as musicians, actors, or singers because…almost no one does! Not without a lot of luck and a really early start.
Lisette is introduced in Book 2 as, basically, “the woman who tries to seduce Liam at a gastropub in Port Angeles.” At the time I had no future plans for her. Then she showed up in Book 3 (hah, characters just do that sometimes) as Reynard’s girlfriend. And I thought, that’s the woman who will be Edward’s match. Like him, she’s a survivor: strong, no longer young, beautiful, flawed, and a little battered by life. She’s learned to laugh at herself and has long since realized that looks can only get you so far. When she notices Edward admiring her and learns his identity, she doesn’t believe for a moment that he could be serious about her. But Edward, who is ready for a real relationship, sees in Lisette exactly what he’s been waiting for: a mature woman, more capable of love and compassion than she realizes.
My husband and I met seventeen years ago when we were in our 40s, long after I’d given up on meeting my soul mate. Like us, Edward and Lisette discover that “the right one” can help us learn to laugh at the stupid stuff we did and the poor decisions we made before we met them.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Much as I loved spending time with Lisette and Edward, I had the most fun writing the scenes involving George Reed Masters, the roguish movie star who seems determined to crash the O’Connells’ ongoing party and hard-won peace of mind.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I wrote all 5 books of this series before I published Book 1, though I did a lot of rewriting and polishing before I released each one. I hope readers who are discovering the series through Books 4 or 5 will go back and get caught up. No guarantees about when my next book will appear. If I get on a roll, maybe in six months or so. Readers who sign up for my monthly newsletter can not only keep up to date about my next release but also learn what books, movies, and series are currently keeping me captivated.
I have three projects in mind, so I’ll have to see which one catches fire first. The first, unrelated to this series, will take place in Anacortes, Washington, where I currently live. Like Port Townsend, which isn’t far from here by ferry, Anacortes is a Victorian seaside village. Another idea I’ve been mulling over features George Reed Masters and another, Rina Bakersfield, Joe’s former girlfriend in Book 1. At one point I thought I could also do spinoffs starring Kilo and Reynard, but I’m not sure I can redeem them. Some fans of the series weren’t willing to forgive Jake’s shenanigans in Book 1, and Kilo and Reynard behave much more badly in Book 5. Maybe I could give them each a novella and see if they surprise me.
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Edward becomes a regular at Café Lisette, owned by the alluring and lissome Lisette Manegold. Based on scant evidence, his brother-in-law believes Lisette is a man-eater and a former call girl. Though those labels are off the mark, she has in fact buried an identity that would shock any family, let alone one as wealthy and respectable as the O’Connells.
Edward rejoices in his own fresh start and is prepared to overlook any and all dark secrets. It is Lisette who can’t forgive herself and move on. This Christmas season, they hope to reimagine the holiday together. If only the ghosts of the past will let them.
Book 5 of the Olympic Peninsula series.
The Fallen Man
The Fallen Man takes us deep into the Pacific Northwest’s Olympic Peninsula for a gripping exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the haunted landscapes of the human psyche. This romance novel revolves around Edward, a disillusioned ex-priest whose return to his hometown sets off a chain of events that threatens to unearth buried secrets and shatter fragile lives. Author Cat Treadgold’s narrative, which is rich with atmospheric detail and sharply drawn characters, draws the reader into a world where the past is never truly in the past, and redemption is a hard-earned prize.
Treadgold’s prose is a standout, melding poetic descriptions with a tense, driving plot that keeps the pages turning. The psychological depth she brings to her characters adds a compelling layer to the story, making their personal struggles resonate with universal themes of regret and the search for meaning. The rich, immersive experience is especially evident in the deep introspection of Edward, the protagonist, whose complex inner life adds significant depth to the story.
The dialogue in The Fallen Man is another high point for me because I felt it was crackling with authenticity and helped to flesh out the characters beyond their archetypal roles. Treadgold has a keen ear for speech patterns and regional dialects, which enhances the setting’s authenticity and helps anchor the story’s dramatic tensions in a real place. Despite some characters’ motivations feeling somewhat manufactured towards the climax, I felt, the interactions remain engaging and thought-provoking throughout.
The Fallen Man is a compelling read, particularly for readers who appreciate holiday romance novels that delve into the complexities of human emotions against a backdrop of natural beauty and small-town intrigue. Treadgold offers no easy answers but crafts a narrative that stays with the reader long after closing the book.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B0CY9RR5TZ
Hodgepodge of an Author’s Experience
The Changed Man follows a former CEO who leaves the family business to become a thriller author, causing some strain among family and friends. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In Book 1 of this series, The Silent Woodsman, fraternal twins Joe and Jake have a rivalry that dates back to high school. Joe was a musician and a babe magnet from an early age. He matured earlier than Jake and was far more confident; that gave him a distinct advantage with the girls. Two incidents in particular caused their estrangement, and that plays heavily into the plot. In this book, I wanted to redeem Jake, who never got a chance to justify his actions in Book 1.
My sister and I were close in age. She was “the athlete” and I was “the brain.” Actually, she was plenty brainy, and although I didn’t have her coordination, I was athletic, too. But for a while, we both felt trapped in our roles. So I definitely understand feeling irrationally competitive with a sibling. In Jake’s case, Joe did deserve some blame.
Inspiration… it’s all a hodgepodge of an author’s experience. I dated a track star at a Catholic high school when I was 16, so my memories of him play into it. I was a German literature major and am the daughter of a professor of Russian History, and writing romance novels is somewhat on par with writing thrillers–a profession some “serious” people look down on. Especially in academic circles. Let’s just say that I don’t rely on friends and relatives as my main fan base, although my sister and I are very close, and she is wonderfully supportive of my writing.
I dated a CEO once, who turned out to be dating someone in San Francisco at the same time.
Your characters’ energy and personality really bring this story to life. Did you incorporate anything from your own life into the characters in your novel?
Thank you! I share Jake’s appreciation for the absurd. I also know a man who hiked in the Himalayas with his best friend–the trip was a lifelong dream–only to have him drop dead in their hotel room. It made me think about how men cope with grief and how great it would be if his friend’s spirit could have comforted him somehow.
When I was 17, my family stayed in a hotel outside of Florence that was run by minor nobility. We met the son and his friend, and my sister and I had an extremely innocent “romance” with them. I put it in quotes because it involved nothing more than flirting, but it was very exciting to my innocent and naive teenage self.
I don’t write about evil characters. My antagonists are mostly immature and selfish–but charming. Before I met my husband, I had a weakness for “bad boys.” They didn’t treat me particularly well, but I don’t really blame them. They were clear about who they were; I just wasn’t listening. I have known several men like George Reed Masters. They’re a blast if you can keep from falling hard for them.
I enjoyed Jake and Chiara’s romantic relationship. How did it develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it, or was it organic?
I made it up as I went along, but I did have a clear idea in my head of who they are. Like Chiara, I am fascinated by how idioms reflect a country’s culture. My strongest languages are French and German, but I also studied Italian for a year in college. Chiara and Jake are both insecure, but also intelligent and intuitive. That plays into how their relationship develops. Both are powerfully attracted but neither quite believes anyone can truly love them back. Whenever I encounter a house (or castle) that’s been made into a museum, I want to tour it! Especially if it contains the original furniture. I love thinking about how people used to live in the days before technology. Chiara and Jake are also enchanted by the past, another thing they have in common.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
In Book 5, The Fallen Man, we learn Edward’s story. For the past ten years, Edward has been a priest in Philadelphia, but when he arrives in Port Townsend, he’s finished with the Church. When I was a kid, the big bestseller was The Thorn Birds. I wanted to write a story about a sexy priest who isn’t plagued by guilt or sexually repressed and doesn’t meet a bad end. Edward had his reasons–good ones–for becoming a priest. Read the book to find out why he becomes disenchanted. And of course, he meets a beautiful woman in Port Townsend to cushion his “fall.” I won’t give away who she is, though she’s appeared in prior books and has a brief scene in The Changed Man. Book 5 will be released June 1st. Right now, I’m giving it one final edit. I’ve been mulling over spinoff books featuring minor characters or the O’Connell children as adults since this series takes place in the ’90s.
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Now Jake is content to rattle around in a rented Victorian mansion. He appears easygoing, though distracted. His recently dead friend haunts his thoughts, making him fear for his sanity.
Jake has a new career, one frowned upon in his social circle. He writes thrillers. The muse he finds in Port Townsend is just as inappropriate: the married, beguiling Chiara.
The Changed Man
Cat Treadgold’s novel, The Changed Man presents a compelling story revolving around Jake O’Connell. A figure of disruption, Jake attends his brother’s wedding in Port Townsend, signaling a departure from his previous life as a CEO in North Bend. The narrative delves into Jake’s transformation and his complex relationship with his family, particularly his twin, country singer Joe Bob Blade. Resentment lingers as Jake grapples with his past role in the family business, setting the foundation for an engaging tale.
In Port Townsend, Jake inhabits a Victorian mansion, where his life appears content yet marked by distraction. The loss of a close friend looms over him, hinting at a troubled mental state. Treadgold introduces a new chapter in Jake’s life as he embarks on a career as a thriller author, a path met with skepticism by his peers. His muse, the captivating but married Chiara, adds layers to the story.
The novel skillfully explores the nuances of family dynamics, the complexities of life in Port Townsend, and the intriguing connections Jake forms, especially with Chiara. Treadgold’s narrative is rich with surprises, family secrets, and a mix of romance and passion. Her writing style is known for its depth, emotional insight, and ability to articulate complex feelings. She creates a setting that feels both idyllic and escapist, drawing the reader into a vividly imagined world.
In The Changed Man, the relationship between Jake and Chiara evolves with a slow-burning intensity, adding depth and a sense of anticipation for the reader. Treadgold examines the interplay of actions, words, desires, and familial bonds with notable precision. As part of a series that includes three other novels, Treadgold continues to deliver engaging narratives with well-developed characters and intricate plotlines. Her approach to the romance genre is both sweet and complex, satisfying readers with its richness and depth.
Pages: 345 | ASIN : B0CT2K916T
LITERARY TITAN 