A Studied Seduction

A Studied Seduction is a slow-burn romance set in Scotland. As his thirty-fifth birthday approaches, Arthur Ruthven worries that his life has stagnated. Once a history teacher in Edinburgh, he retired early after an incident involving a former pupil left him uneasy about teaching and uncertain whether he could return to the career he loved. He moves back in with his mother at their old family bookshop, hoping to put his teaching days and the anxieties around them behind him.

Arthur and Mason

Over the summer holidays, Arthur’s mother hires Mason Tierney to help at the bookshop. Mason is one of Arthur’s former students; five years have passed since they last met, and Mason is now twenty-one. He tries to be friendly, but Arthur wonders whether Mason is being too friendly—and whether his interest will bring back memories Arthur would rather bury.

Story and soundtrack

The linear story has no choices or branches and contains about 65,000 words, or roughly 2–3 hours of reading. It features two main characters, gay angst and a custom soundtrack.