BOSTON — Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a co-host of television's talk show, "The View," has been accused of plagiarism.

A lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts alleges that Hasselbeck lifted "word for word" content from a book on celiac disease written by a self-published author on Cape Cod.

Hasselbeck's book, "The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide," has appeared over the past month on several best-selling lists.

Author Susan Hassett filed the lawsuit, saying she sent Hasselbeck a copy of her "Living With Celiac Disease" book as a courtesy after the TV celebrity disclosed she had the illness last year.

Hasselbeck said in a statement that the allegations are baseless and she worked "diligently and tirelessly" on the book.