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The Lion's Den
Belle likes to think herself immune to the dizzying effects of fabulous wealth. But when her best friend, Summer, invites her on a glamorous getaway to the Mediterranean aboard her billionaire boyfriend's yacht, the only sensible answer is yes. Belle hopes the trip will be a much-needed break from her stalled acting career and uniquely humiliating waitressing job, but once she's aboard the luxurious Lion's Den, it soon becomes clear this jet-setting holiday is not as advertised.
Belle's dream vacation quickly devolves into a nightmare as she and the handful of other girls Summer invited are treated more like prisoners than guests by their controlling host-and in one terrifying moment, Belle comes to see Summer for who she truly a vicious gold digger who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Belle realizes she's going to have to keep her wits about her -- and her own big secret closely hidden -- if she wants to make it off the yacht alive.
Belle's dream vacation quickly devolves into a nightmare as she and the handful of other girls Summer invited are treated more like prisoners than guests by their controlling host-and in one terrifying moment, Belle comes to see Summer for who she truly a vicious gold digger who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Belle realizes she's going to have to keep her wits about her -- and her own big secret closely hidden -- if she wants to make it off the yacht alive.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2020
874 people are currently reading
38435 people want to read
About the author
Katherine St. John
5 books983 followersThe author of The Lion's Den, The Siren, and The Vicious Circle, Katherine St. John is a native of Mississippi and graduate of the University of Southern California. Over the years she has worked as an actress, screenwriter, director, photographer, producer, singer/songwriter, legal assistant, bartender/waitress, yoga instructor, real estate agent, and travel coordinator… but finds she likes writing novels best. Katherine currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,627 reviews
June 27, 2021
The Lion's Den suffers from too much of a good thing. What starts as a fun romp quickly morphs into an over-the-top, gaudy, melodramatic extravaganza that burned me out.
Belle, a struggling actress, is thrilled when her former best friend Summer invites her to spend a week aboard her wealthy boyfriend's yacht in the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. She obviously can't pass up such a chance. But after she boards, she starts to realize that something may be amiss.
On the surface, this seems like the perfect beach read: idyllic setting, glamor and decadence, and a little bit of a mystery woven in. But the more I read, the less I enjoyed, until it became almost painful to read any more of the insanity that was this story and these characters.
I'll just come out and say it: Belle annoyed me to no end. She lets her friends walk all over her while simultaneously sucking up to them. Each time they did crazy stuff to her (like drugging her or leaving her behind in a foreign country for being a few minutes late), she would apologize profusely and slavishly even though it wasn't her fault.
It doesn't help that she's also dim and a lush. She can't come up with words when she needs to, then blurts out random things when she shouldn't. She keeps complaining about how she doesn't feel well, then proceeds to drink copious amounts of alcohol, which makes her feel worse. Did I somehow stumble into a domestic thriller without realizing?
But the rest of the characters were no better. They were all superficial, backstabbing, and immensely unlikable. The drama between them was petty and salacious. It was like watching a reality show on steroids, where everyone acted as trashy as possible while also breaking every law they could. My eyes rolled so hard it's possible I bruised them.
And the mystery turned out to be predictable. It was written in an intentionally convoluted way to maximize the obfuscation and drama. Without that, it would have been simple and straightforward.
I was so excited when I started this book. But the more I read, the more stressed out I got. The craziness and the melodrama just kept ratcheting up, while our main character got dumber and drunker and more slavish. I'm just thankful I finally reached the merciful conclusion and can leave these awful characters and their dubious issues behind.
Belle, a struggling actress, is thrilled when her former best friend Summer invites her to spend a week aboard her wealthy boyfriend's yacht in the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. She obviously can't pass up such a chance. But after she boards, she starts to realize that something may be amiss.
On the surface, this seems like the perfect beach read: idyllic setting, glamor and decadence, and a little bit of a mystery woven in. But the more I read, the less I enjoyed, until it became almost painful to read any more of the insanity that was this story and these characters.
I'll just come out and say it: Belle annoyed me to no end. She lets her friends walk all over her while simultaneously sucking up to them. Each time they did crazy stuff to her (like drugging her or leaving her behind in a foreign country for being a few minutes late), she would apologize profusely and slavishly even though it wasn't her fault.
It doesn't help that she's also dim and a lush. She can't come up with words when she needs to, then blurts out random things when she shouldn't. She keeps complaining about how she doesn't feel well, then proceeds to drink copious amounts of alcohol, which makes her feel worse. Did I somehow stumble into a domestic thriller without realizing?
But the rest of the characters were no better. They were all superficial, backstabbing, and immensely unlikable. The drama between them was petty and salacious. It was like watching a reality show on steroids, where everyone acted as trashy as possible while also breaking every law they could. My eyes rolled so hard it's possible I bruised them.
And the mystery turned out to be predictable. It was written in an intentionally convoluted way to maximize the obfuscation and drama. Without that, it would have been simple and straightforward.
I was so excited when I started this book. But the more I read, the more stressed out I got. The craziness and the melodrama just kept ratcheting up, while our main character got dumber and drunker and more slavish. I'm just thankful I finally reached the merciful conclusion and can leave these awful characters and their dubious issues behind.
June 28, 2020
“A friend’s knife is always sharpest, but double betrayal is special torment.”
The Lion’s Den is a fast-paced, entertaining read about a group of girlfriends invited to spend the week on a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean. Filled with cattiness, betrayal, and deception, I could not put this book down!
When Belle, a sometimes working actress, is invited by her best-friend Summer to spend a week on her very much older boyfriend’s yacht in the Mediterranean, Belle accepts expecting a week of luxury and leisure. But from when she first boards the private jet to take them to their destination, Belle notices something is amiss. From where to sit, to what to wear, to what to eat, to being locked in her room at night, to one of the guests being murdered, Belle’s dream vacation quickly turns into a nightmare.
Belle is the only redeemable female character in this book. Her friends are vapid and hideous, and it is clear that they only care about themselves. There’s tons of backstabbing and non-stop cattiness. Their access to money reveals their true characters. However, there is a lot more to the story in the form of a mystery and revenge, which sucked me in and kept me turning the pages.
Told through Belle’s point of view, the narrative flips back and forth between the past and present, which enables the reader to find out how Summer and Belle became friends. We also slowly learn about the moment that ultimately destroys their friendship.
I needed an escape, and this book took me on an enjoyable journey to the Mediterranean! Belle compares the trip to being like The Real Housewives on a boat, which it very much is, but there’s a lot more to it, including secret agendas and intrigue. It's smartly written and avoids falling into the realm of the ridiculous. I highly recommend for a mindless diversion at its best!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The Lion’s Den is a fast-paced, entertaining read about a group of girlfriends invited to spend the week on a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean. Filled with cattiness, betrayal, and deception, I could not put this book down!
When Belle, a sometimes working actress, is invited by her best-friend Summer to spend a week on her very much older boyfriend’s yacht in the Mediterranean, Belle accepts expecting a week of luxury and leisure. But from when she first boards the private jet to take them to their destination, Belle notices something is amiss. From where to sit, to what to wear, to what to eat, to being locked in her room at night, to one of the guests being murdered, Belle’s dream vacation quickly turns into a nightmare.
Belle is the only redeemable female character in this book. Her friends are vapid and hideous, and it is clear that they only care about themselves. There’s tons of backstabbing and non-stop cattiness. Their access to money reveals their true characters. However, there is a lot more to the story in the form of a mystery and revenge, which sucked me in and kept me turning the pages.
Told through Belle’s point of view, the narrative flips back and forth between the past and present, which enables the reader to find out how Summer and Belle became friends. We also slowly learn about the moment that ultimately destroys their friendship.
I needed an escape, and this book took me on an enjoyable journey to the Mediterranean! Belle compares the trip to being like The Real Housewives on a boat, which it very much is, but there’s a lot more to it, including secret agendas and intrigue. It's smartly written and avoids falling into the realm of the ridiculous. I highly recommend for a mindless diversion at its best!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2020
***AVAILABLE NOW***
The only known predators of lions...are humans.
Look no further! You've found the perfect 2020 poolside read! (No COVID-19 or murder hornets to be found here, fellow readers!)
4.5 brutal stars
I was so in the mood for a backbiting, cat-and-mouse game in an exotic locale...and that's exactly what I got with The Lion's Den. Set primarily on a yacht in the Mediterranean sea, there were an untold number of less than desirable personalities in this story, but there was so much more than meets the eye with our protagonist, Belle. Summer, one of the many antagonists, was the character you'll absolutely love to hate. She was vile.
Narrated entirely by Belle, the story goes from the present, while she's on the yacht, to several years in the past, where we learn more about her relationship with Summer. The pacing was brilliantly done, and the book was nearly impossible to put down.
I was, when it was all said and done, extraordinarily pleased with this novel, particularly the fact that there was a small twist or two I didn't see coming, and I look forward to reading more of Katherine St. John's work.
Trust me, friends, you need this book in your life this summer.
I recommend this juicy, indulgent read to one and all!
Pick up your own copy June 30th.
The only known predators of lions...are humans.
Look no further! You've found the perfect 2020 poolside read! (No COVID-19 or murder hornets to be found here, fellow readers!)
4.5 brutal stars
I was so in the mood for a backbiting, cat-and-mouse game in an exotic locale...and that's exactly what I got with The Lion's Den. Set primarily on a yacht in the Mediterranean sea, there were an untold number of less than desirable personalities in this story, but there was so much more than meets the eye with our protagonist, Belle. Summer, one of the many antagonists, was the character you'll absolutely love to hate. She was vile.
Narrated entirely by Belle, the story goes from the present, while she's on the yacht, to several years in the past, where we learn more about her relationship with Summer. The pacing was brilliantly done, and the book was nearly impossible to put down.
I was, when it was all said and done, extraordinarily pleased with this novel, particularly the fact that there was a small twist or two I didn't see coming, and I look forward to reading more of Katherine St. John's work.
Trust me, friends, you need this book in your life this summer.
I recommend this juicy, indulgent read to one and all!
Pick up your own copy June 30th.
November 13, 2021
"The Lion's Den" by Katherine St. John is a beach read that packs a punch!
Belle has been invited by her long-time BFF, Summer, to cruise the Mediterranean on the yacht of her mega-rich and much older boyfriend, John, along with other invited guests. Belle's looking for a break from her flailing Hollywood acting career and this vacation certainly would hit a sweet spot for her.
What Belle envisioned as a glamorous vacation cruise quickly becomes something else entirely. John has crazy rules from the get-go! He's unreasonably controlling, secretive, and threatening. Summer abruptly morphs into someone Belle doesn't recognize or cares to be around.
With everything that's happening on this cruise, Belle's wondering if she'll be ever make it off John's yacht and return home safely...
This is the second book I've read from this author, and it quickly became my favorite. I was hooked immediately by Ms. St. John debut novel and her talent as a storyteller!
I was looking forward to a fun beach read to end the summer just like Belle was looking forward to a relaxing cruise. What I got was a creative, fast-paced surprise of a story that held my interest with unexpected layers of backstories and characters you 'love to hate'. All the important flavors I like in this type of story line.
The story is told in Belle's first person POV alternating between the present timeline, during the cruise, and the past timeline, all the important events leading up to it - the ones that connect all the dots!
Listening to the audiobook narrated by Christine Lakin was a wonderful experience and one I highly recommend. Her voicing skills brought this story to life.
If you're looking for an entertaining beach read that packs a punch with well-developed characters, a little suspense and twists you might not see coming, then this could be the one for you! The ending is quite satisfying, too!
4.5 stars rounded up!
Belle has been invited by her long-time BFF, Summer, to cruise the Mediterranean on the yacht of her mega-rich and much older boyfriend, John, along with other invited guests. Belle's looking for a break from her flailing Hollywood acting career and this vacation certainly would hit a sweet spot for her.
What Belle envisioned as a glamorous vacation cruise quickly becomes something else entirely. John has crazy rules from the get-go! He's unreasonably controlling, secretive, and threatening. Summer abruptly morphs into someone Belle doesn't recognize or cares to be around.
With everything that's happening on this cruise, Belle's wondering if she'll be ever make it off John's yacht and return home safely...
This is the second book I've read from this author, and it quickly became my favorite. I was hooked immediately by Ms. St. John debut novel and her talent as a storyteller!
I was looking forward to a fun beach read to end the summer just like Belle was looking forward to a relaxing cruise. What I got was a creative, fast-paced surprise of a story that held my interest with unexpected layers of backstories and characters you 'love to hate'. All the important flavors I like in this type of story line.
The story is told in Belle's first person POV alternating between the present timeline, during the cruise, and the past timeline, all the important events leading up to it - the ones that connect all the dots!
Listening to the audiobook narrated by Christine Lakin was a wonderful experience and one I highly recommend. Her voicing skills brought this story to life.
If you're looking for an entertaining beach read that packs a punch with well-developed characters, a little suspense and twists you might not see coming, then this could be the one for you! The ending is quite satisfying, too!
4.5 stars rounded up!
July 6, 2020
Well this was a juicy and deliciously wicked summer surprise!
Belle, a struggling actress and waitress/bartender, is invited to celebrate her BFF Summer’s birthday aboard her rich and older boyfriend’s yacht in the Mediterranean. Along with a few of their other girlfriends, everyone is ready for a week of sun and fun on the water. Unfortunately, it’s not smooth sailing. Summer and her boyfriend, John, are very particular about a lot of things, and there’s underlying tension between Belle and Summer. In an increasingly controlling environment, it becomes clear that Belle needs to watch her back if she wants to make it through the trip unscathed.
I loved this, and was hooked from the first page. Told from Belle’s POV, the story alternates between present day, and the years/months/days leading up to the trip. Belle is an awesome character...fully developed on paper and with the right amount of sweetness and snarky thoughts. Summer is despicable...someone you will love to hate as you see more of her actions and motivations. The tension builds at a steady pace, and I loved the twists I wasn’t expecting. There are also some darkly humorous moments that made me chuckle. It all leads to a 100% satisfying conclusion.
If you’re looking for a fun and suspenseful summer thriller, this book is for you!
Belle, a struggling actress and waitress/bartender, is invited to celebrate her BFF Summer’s birthday aboard her rich and older boyfriend’s yacht in the Mediterranean. Along with a few of their other girlfriends, everyone is ready for a week of sun and fun on the water. Unfortunately, it’s not smooth sailing. Summer and her boyfriend, John, are very particular about a lot of things, and there’s underlying tension between Belle and Summer. In an increasingly controlling environment, it becomes clear that Belle needs to watch her back if she wants to make it through the trip unscathed.
I loved this, and was hooked from the first page. Told from Belle’s POV, the story alternates between present day, and the years/months/days leading up to the trip. Belle is an awesome character...fully developed on paper and with the right amount of sweetness and snarky thoughts. Summer is despicable...someone you will love to hate as you see more of her actions and motivations. The tension builds at a steady pace, and I loved the twists I wasn’t expecting. There are also some darkly humorous moments that made me chuckle. It all leads to a 100% satisfying conclusion.
If you’re looking for a fun and suspenseful summer thriller, this book is for you!
March 20, 2021
Well this was fun!❤️ This book really has a bit of everything! I think that is one reason I found it so much fun. There was the catty, mean girl vibe...the gold digger...mixed in with mystery and suspense. One minute I was wrapped up in the the mean girl drama..the next I was wondering...who is going to die next!
When Belle has the chance to go on a cruise on her BFF's boyfriend's yacht...well she jumps at the chance. Off to the middle of the Mediterranean they go! Your passport you ask? No worries..you don't need that, we will just keep that for you..Oh by the way- there will be no cell service. We also may monitor your emails...Okay you all...I would say please...please...just leave me at the next port. Honestly, they probably would kick me off the yacht..or kill me because I would be driving them crazy!
This book is not all fluff and drama...it actually was very suspenseful at times and I worried what would happen next. I honestly couldn't put it down. This would be a great beach read, but I read it in the middle of winter...and loved it!
When Belle has the chance to go on a cruise on her BFF's boyfriend's yacht...well she jumps at the chance. Off to the middle of the Mediterranean they go! Your passport you ask? No worries..you don't need that, we will just keep that for you..Oh by the way- there will be no cell service. We also may monitor your emails...Okay you all...I would say please...please...just leave me at the next port. Honestly, they probably would kick me off the yacht..or kill me because I would be driving them crazy!
This book is not all fluff and drama...it actually was very suspenseful at times and I worried what would happen next. I honestly couldn't put it down. This would be a great beach read, but I read it in the middle of winter...and loved it!
October 10, 2020
Betrayal, secrets, deceit, and wealth are the words that come to mind after finishing The Lion’s Den, a fast-paced, fun, escapism story.
Belle is invited by her friend Summer to partake in a week long excursion through Europe on her rich older boyfriend’s yacht. Belle is skeptical given Summer’s past behavior but she could really use a break from every day life so she decides to accept. Things are sketchy as soon as Belle, Summer, and the rest of the group of girls board Lion’s Den, where they’re treated more as inmates than guests. The crew holds their passports and there are many unusual restrictions imposed on the group.
The story alternates between the present, on the yacht excursion, and the past, detailing the history of Belle and Summer’s friendship. One thing is clear: Summer knows no bounds and will do anything to get what she wants. Belle has to keep calm and carry on if she wants to leave this trip unharmed.
The Lion’s Den was suspenseful. I couldn’t get enough of the drama or building tension, which I tore through in my own tropical setting.
Belle is invited by her friend Summer to partake in a week long excursion through Europe on her rich older boyfriend’s yacht. Belle is skeptical given Summer’s past behavior but she could really use a break from every day life so she decides to accept. Things are sketchy as soon as Belle, Summer, and the rest of the group of girls board Lion’s Den, where they’re treated more as inmates than guests. The crew holds their passports and there are many unusual restrictions imposed on the group.
The story alternates between the present, on the yacht excursion, and the past, detailing the history of Belle and Summer’s friendship. One thing is clear: Summer knows no bounds and will do anything to get what she wants. Belle has to keep calm and carry on if she wants to leave this trip unharmed.
The Lion’s Den was suspenseful. I couldn’t get enough of the drama or building tension, which I tore through in my own tropical setting.
August 19, 2020
Well, FUCK!!!
I'm not sorry for cussing because this screwed my brains out. This was so good and thrilling at the same time.
Lion's Den is now my biggest surprise for this year. I was hesitant to read this at first because I judged this book way too early. I thought this going to involve only some petty drama between best friends in an expensive vacation to the Mediterranean. IN A YACHT! WITH OVERFLOWING DRINKS SERVED BY GOOD LOOKING CREW! WITH A BREATHTAKING VIEW!
Unfortunately, the holiday went wrong. Things happened. There were those parts that me laugh. There were also those parts that infuriated me. This book turned a complete 180 for me after finishing the first half. I even asked myself if I'm reading the same book LOL.
I'm not sorry for cussing because this screwed my brains out. This was so good and thrilling at the same time.
Lion's Den is now my biggest surprise for this year. I was hesitant to read this at first because I judged this book way too early. I thought this going to involve only some petty drama between best friends in an expensive vacation to the Mediterranean. IN A YACHT! WITH OVERFLOWING DRINKS SERVED BY GOOD LOOKING CREW! WITH A BREATHTAKING VIEW!
Unfortunately, the holiday went wrong. Things happened. There were those parts that me laugh. There were also those parts that infuriated me. This book turned a complete 180 for me after finishing the first half. I even asked myself if I'm reading the same book LOL.
July 3, 2021
A yacht in the Mediterranean. A vacation gone wrong. Shady weird things going on. Deception, betrayal, and backstabbing. Girl’s drama that might’ve ended with murder (or two). This was such an enjoyable summer read!
I wouldn’t have lasted an hour on that yacht without throwing someone from it, I’m surprised that the heroine made it through the whole week. This was such an entertaining fast paced book. It wasn’t completely “thrilling” and you‘d probably end up guessing almost everything right, but it was still an entertaining book to read that kept me interested. I really enjoyed it a lot! And ugggh I hated Summer so much!!
I wouldn’t have lasted an hour on that yacht without throwing someone from it, I’m surprised that the heroine made it through the whole week. This was such an entertaining fast paced book. It wasn’t completely “thrilling” and you‘d probably end up guessing almost everything right, but it was still an entertaining book to read that kept me interested. I really enjoyed it a lot! And ugggh I hated Summer so much!!
February 9, 2020
The more I got into the story, the more this one turned into a binge read. This is exactly the type of book I needed right now. Rich people behaving horribly. Doesn't get much better than that when you are in the mood for an escapism type read from your fairly boring and normal life.
Belle is an actress but still hasn't managed to nab that breakout star type role so she can't quit her job as a waitress quite yet. When her best friend, Summer, invites her on a Mediterranean getaway aboard her very wealthy and much older boyfriend's yacht, Belle can't turn an awesome invite like that down, can she? This trip might not be all that it's cracked up to be though. Summer is adamant that Belle and the other women she invited on the trip follow every rule her boyfriend has set for being a guest on his yacht. The rules are so controlling that Belle feels more like a prisoner than a guest. Is Belle going to play by the rules or rock the boat? (yeah I know what I did there)
The story alternates between the present time and the past which shows Belle and Summer when they were younger as well as things that happened within the last few months before the start of the trip. There are some predictable things about the story but then there were times I truly was caught off guard. This isn't the most mind blowing book I have ever read but I truly had fun reading it and that feeling increased the more the story progressed. If you enjoy reading about messed up individuals who behave in deliciously evil ways, this is a good read.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Belle is an actress but still hasn't managed to nab that breakout star type role so she can't quit her job as a waitress quite yet. When her best friend, Summer, invites her on a Mediterranean getaway aboard her very wealthy and much older boyfriend's yacht, Belle can't turn an awesome invite like that down, can she? This trip might not be all that it's cracked up to be though. Summer is adamant that Belle and the other women she invited on the trip follow every rule her boyfriend has set for being a guest on his yacht. The rules are so controlling that Belle feels more like a prisoner than a guest. Is Belle going to play by the rules or rock the boat? (yeah I know what I did there)
The story alternates between the present time and the past which shows Belle and Summer when they were younger as well as things that happened within the last few months before the start of the trip. There are some predictable things about the story but then there were times I truly was caught off guard. This isn't the most mind blowing book I have ever read but I truly had fun reading it and that feeling increased the more the story progressed. If you enjoy reading about messed up individuals who behave in deliciously evil ways, this is a good read.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2020
The Lion's Den was a great way to evade reality. It has a combo of good things:
Perfect summer reading: ✅
Mediterranean Yacht cruise ✅
Mystery aboard ✅
Our heroine is Belle. She is an actress but not famous yet. She has been invited by her best friend Summer to spend a week on her rich boyfriend's yacht cruising the Mediterranean. Summer has also invited her mother, her sister Brittani, her friend Wendy, Claire and unbeknownst to Summer, Brittani has decided to invite her friend Amythest, an exotic and interesting young woman.
As soon as the traveling begins, they realized things are not as they seem. Nothing gets done without the permission of Summer's boyfriend, John. They are told to sign an NDA, have no access to wifi, someone locks their room at night and John's goons are always hanging around.
Belle is the sole voice of the narration. It's she who tells us what is going on in the yacht and also the one who takes us back into the past. In the flashbacks, we learn how she met Summer, how they became friends and how their friendship evolved over time.
The Lion's Den kept my interest. I enjoyed Belle. She was a good character. She wasn't naive or too perfect, which made her relatable and likable. I also enjoyed the twists although I thought the ending was too cookie-cutter for me.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
**A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.**
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May 20, 2022
The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John is a 2020 Grand Central publication.
Belle’s best friend, Summer, has invited her on a Mediterranean getaway, along with a few other people, aboard her much older, and very rich boyfriend’s yacht. It’s an offer she can’t refuse, although there is some tension between Belle and Summer. It doesn’t take long for Belle to regret agreeing to this trip. Summer’s sugar daddy is beyond controlling and Summer is behaving like a witch on wheels, and that’s just for starters. As the week progresses, Belle begins to suspect something more sinister is afoot and she might be at the center of it…
Looking at the cover, one might be fooled into thinking this book is a lighter, chick-lit style mystery, but the story has some decidedly dark undertones. This is a mystery of sorts, but truly it reads more like a crime drama.
The book is a little too long and the pacing drags at times, but it has an interesting plot, and a surprising poignancy about it. Money is a key theme in the story, and how the pursuit of it corrupts the characters and can change someone so drastically they become unrecognizable to us.
While this is a tragic story of greed and murder, it is also a bit of a cautionary tale, as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and have already queued up another book by this author.
4 stars
Belle’s best friend, Summer, has invited her on a Mediterranean getaway, along with a few other people, aboard her much older, and very rich boyfriend’s yacht. It’s an offer she can’t refuse, although there is some tension between Belle and Summer. It doesn’t take long for Belle to regret agreeing to this trip. Summer’s sugar daddy is beyond controlling and Summer is behaving like a witch on wheels, and that’s just for starters. As the week progresses, Belle begins to suspect something more sinister is afoot and she might be at the center of it…
Looking at the cover, one might be fooled into thinking this book is a lighter, chick-lit style mystery, but the story has some decidedly dark undertones. This is a mystery of sorts, but truly it reads more like a crime drama.
The book is a little too long and the pacing drags at times, but it has an interesting plot, and a surprising poignancy about it. Money is a key theme in the story, and how the pursuit of it corrupts the characters and can change someone so drastically they become unrecognizable to us.
While this is a tragic story of greed and murder, it is also a bit of a cautionary tale, as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and have already queued up another book by this author.
4 stars
June 2, 2020
I’d read two books in a row that I had to force myself through, so I was looking for something that would really pull me in, and this one percent succeeded.
The tone at first seems like we’re reading a fun story of a week on a yacht with Belle’s wealthy friend. Well, Summer isn’t wealthy, but her 63-year-old boyfriend is. Belle is a semi-successful actress who sometimes still needs to pull shifts bartending to make it. She met Summer in high school and they both met Wendy in college. There’s Claire, Wendy’s pretty, quiet, completely nonthreatening-to-take-the-focus off Summer friend. Summer’s drunken mother who is on her fourth rich husband and Summer’s sister, who is as pretty as Summer, but painfully dumb, and Brittani’s friend, Amythest make up party of women John is taking to the French Riviera. Sounds fun, but the women quickly learn that everything they do will be dictated by John and Summer. They won’t have access to Wifi and are required to sign nondisclosure agreements. If they do ever get to take pictures, everything will be approved by John’s bodyguard/goons before it can be posted to social media.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that Summer has become a truly horrible friend and human being, but, through flashbacks, we begin to suspect she does more than lie and need the attention on herself at all times. In most mysteries of this kind, the tone is threatening and dark. This seems like a story about women who are beautiful and enjoy fashion, but it gets very suspenseful at points. Most important, I liked Belle. She’s nice without being so nice you’d want to puke.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 30, 2020.
The tone at first seems like we’re reading a fun story of a week on a yacht with Belle’s wealthy friend. Well, Summer isn’t wealthy, but her 63-year-old boyfriend is. Belle is a semi-successful actress who sometimes still needs to pull shifts bartending to make it. She met Summer in high school and they both met Wendy in college. There’s Claire, Wendy’s pretty, quiet, completely nonthreatening-to-take-the-focus off Summer friend. Summer’s drunken mother who is on her fourth rich husband and Summer’s sister, who is as pretty as Summer, but painfully dumb, and Brittani’s friend, Amythest make up party of women John is taking to the French Riviera. Sounds fun, but the women quickly learn that everything they do will be dictated by John and Summer. They won’t have access to Wifi and are required to sign nondisclosure agreements. If they do ever get to take pictures, everything will be approved by John’s bodyguard/goons before it can be posted to social media.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that Summer has become a truly horrible friend and human being, but, through flashbacks, we begin to suspect she does more than lie and need the attention on herself at all times. In most mysteries of this kind, the tone is threatening and dark. This seems like a story about women who are beautiful and enjoy fashion, but it gets very suspenseful at points. Most important, I liked Belle. She’s nice without being so nice you’d want to puke.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 30, 2020.
July 29, 2020
2.5 stars.
The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John is a soapy, melodramatic beach read about money, friendship, and betrayal.
Belle and Summer have been friends since high school. And while there were lots of good times, a great deal of their relationship has consisted of Summer taking advantage of Belle or Belle having to clean up after her.
Still, when Summer invites her on her extremely rich (and much, much older) boyfriend’s yacht for a Mediterranean cruise, Belle jumps at the chance to get away from her flagging acting career and her hellish bartending gig for a bit of luxury.
But it’s not long before Belle realizes that while the boat is beautiful and the locales are gorgeous, everything is not what it seems. Summer’s boyfriend is tremendously controlling, and the women are expected to be seen and not heard. It’s Summer’s behavior, however, that is most worrisome, and one night, Belle sees just how dangerous Summer can be to anyone who threatens what she wants.
So…I didn’t like this. I really wanted to DNF it, honestly, but kept with it in the hopes it would get better. Given the fact that the book fluctuates between past and present, you see what a horrible friend Summer was to Belle, so I don’t honestly understand how anyone would put up with Summer for as long as they did and believe all of her utter lies. I also didn't understand why everyone else seemed not to care about what was going on. St. John threw in some twists, which were interesting, but at the same time even those seemed a little far-fetched.
Others have really enjoyed this, though. I'm not sure what I missed here, but don't take my word as the sole decision whether or not to read this!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John is a soapy, melodramatic beach read about money, friendship, and betrayal.
Belle and Summer have been friends since high school. And while there were lots of good times, a great deal of their relationship has consisted of Summer taking advantage of Belle or Belle having to clean up after her.
Still, when Summer invites her on her extremely rich (and much, much older) boyfriend’s yacht for a Mediterranean cruise, Belle jumps at the chance to get away from her flagging acting career and her hellish bartending gig for a bit of luxury.
But it’s not long before Belle realizes that while the boat is beautiful and the locales are gorgeous, everything is not what it seems. Summer’s boyfriend is tremendously controlling, and the women are expected to be seen and not heard. It’s Summer’s behavior, however, that is most worrisome, and one night, Belle sees just how dangerous Summer can be to anyone who threatens what she wants.
So…I didn’t like this. I really wanted to DNF it, honestly, but kept with it in the hopes it would get better. Given the fact that the book fluctuates between past and present, you see what a horrible friend Summer was to Belle, so I don’t honestly understand how anyone would put up with Summer for as long as they did and believe all of her utter lies. I also didn't understand why everyone else seemed not to care about what was going on. St. John threw in some twists, which were interesting, but at the same time even those seemed a little far-fetched.
Others have really enjoyed this, though. I'm not sure what I missed here, but don't take my word as the sole decision whether or not to read this!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 7, 2021
THIS.WAS.EVERYTHING!!! Sex, betrayal, intrigue, murder, luxury...It was f*cking awesome! It’s been a while since I had so much fun reading a book! It definitely should be one of the books of the summer. Can’t wait to read more from Katherine St. John.
4,5 ⭐️
4,5 ⭐️
June 24, 2020
You guys. THIS BOOK. This isn’t the kind of book I'd normally pick up. I don't do thrillers. I legitimately could not put this down. My husband got annoyed with me lol
I love the writing. The plot keeps you guessing. It feels like Mean Girls, but on a yacht with billionaires and danger lol
Highly recommend!
I love the writing. The plot keeps you guessing. It feels like Mean Girls, but on a yacht with billionaires and danger lol
Highly recommend!
November 9, 2024
A lavish trip of a lifetime. One little catch. Isn’t there always!💁🏼
Belle’s bestie Summer is dating one of the wealthiest men in the world. Sure, he may already be married but that’s not slowing Summer down.
She’s quick to invite Belle and a few others to join her on her boyfriend’s yacht to celebrate her birthday. Belle can hardly say no.
But the trip of a lifetime quickly takes a strange turn. Summer and her billionaire boyfriend are in charge of everything. What they wear, eat and drink. Where they can go and who they can talk to. And the crew hold the passports so there is no getting off the yacht.
The yacht may be called The Lion’s Den for a good reason… as Belle feels like she just stepped into it!
🎧 I listen to the audio and Christine Lakin did an amazing job with the narration as always.
Belle’s bestie Summer is dating one of the wealthiest men in the world. Sure, he may already be married but that’s not slowing Summer down.
She’s quick to invite Belle and a few others to join her on her boyfriend’s yacht to celebrate her birthday. Belle can hardly say no.
But the trip of a lifetime quickly takes a strange turn. Summer and her billionaire boyfriend are in charge of everything. What they wear, eat and drink. Where they can go and who they can talk to. And the crew hold the passports so there is no getting off the yacht.
The yacht may be called The Lion’s Den for a good reason… as Belle feels like she just stepped into it!
🎧 I listen to the audio and Christine Lakin did an amazing job with the narration as always.
May 22, 2020
4 Stars!
You know that book you need to kick off the summer reading season? That's what The Lion's Den was for me. It gave me a whole lot more than I bargained for -- in the best way.
Belle and Summer are best friends and have been for awhile. However their lives are a bit different. Belle is a struggling actress and Summer is in a relationship with someone who gives her anything she wants. Summer invites Belle and some other girls on a yacht trip and although Summer hasn't treated Belle the best, she decides to go and enjoy.
What Belle didn't know was that this trip was going to be full of drama, there are a ton of rules and she was going to be watched the entire time. Belle starts to see Summer's true colors especially when a certain event occurs. Belle eventually realizes she is going to have to outsmart this group so that she can get home alive.
I initially went into this book thinking that it would be light and fun but it had a whole lot more to the storyline then just some people going on a yacht. It did give me serious Below Deck (hey Bravo fans!) vibes, aka really rich people sailing a yacht during the summer and getting waited on hand and foot. There's a plot twist that happens a little over half way in the book that turns this into a seriously juicy mystery.
If you're looking for a good summer book this one is a good choice. Bravo to the author as well as this is her debut!
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for my copy of this book! It's out now so put it on your summer TBR!
You know that book you need to kick off the summer reading season? That's what The Lion's Den was for me. It gave me a whole lot more than I bargained for -- in the best way.
Belle and Summer are best friends and have been for awhile. However their lives are a bit different. Belle is a struggling actress and Summer is in a relationship with someone who gives her anything she wants. Summer invites Belle and some other girls on a yacht trip and although Summer hasn't treated Belle the best, she decides to go and enjoy.
What Belle didn't know was that this trip was going to be full of drama, there are a ton of rules and she was going to be watched the entire time. Belle starts to see Summer's true colors especially when a certain event occurs. Belle eventually realizes she is going to have to outsmart this group so that she can get home alive.
I initially went into this book thinking that it would be light and fun but it had a whole lot more to the storyline then just some people going on a yacht. It did give me serious Below Deck (hey Bravo fans!) vibes, aka really rich people sailing a yacht during the summer and getting waited on hand and foot. There's a plot twist that happens a little over half way in the book that turns this into a seriously juicy mystery.
If you're looking for a good summer book this one is a good choice. Bravo to the author as well as this is her debut!
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for my copy of this book! It's out now so put it on your summer TBR!
March 8, 2020
It takes a long while to get a payoff when reading this book. Maybe the last 70 or 80 pages were interesting or at least supplied a bit of a surprise, but the first 270 or so were a slog for me. It wasn't exactly because of the superficial characters and their superficial lives and their lack of any redeeming qualities. I can handle that if the plot is interesting enough and the writing is good. But in this case the characters here have the vocabulary and complexity of thought of your average middle schooler. The author's writing ability is comparable.
I guess this is a fun beach read for voyeurs. If you like to watch rich people and gold diggers behaving badly but looking really good at the same time, this book is for you. I found the plot to be silly and simplistic. Main character Belle, struggling actress, gets an invitation from her ex-BFF Summer to go on a cruise to the Mediterranean on Summer's boyfriend's (for "boyfriend" read rich, old "Sugar Daddy") yacht. Well, no matter the fact that Belle and Summer are on the outs, how can Belle pass up the chance for an all-expenses-paid cruise along the coast of Italy and France?
Summer has also invited her mother, her sister, and a couple other beautiful young women on the trip. All are unbelievably superficial, unlikeable people and money-grubbing lovers of the good life, wanting expensive clothing, jewelry, men to make them feel special, and as little actual work as is humanly possible. Granted, it is likely that was the author's intention. Just a wicked look at some useless lives. Well, if so, she succeeded.
But back to the plot: The beautiful, young, vapid girls have their passports confiscated, their activities and onshore outings regimented and closely controlled, and even, it seems, they are drugged so they will sleep throughout the night. Their cabin doors may even be locked from the outside. So what's going on?
Bless me if I ever understood exactly what use these lovely women were to Summer's lover, John Lyon, why they were invited, why they needed to be controlled so carefully. I was expecting something nefarious like white slavers. Nothing became clear to me about why they were really there. Did I forget to read carefully enough? (BTW, was I supposed to say something like "reverse spoiler alert" about that white slaver comment?)
But this is Belle's story and, interspersed with the chapters about the yacht trip, we get flashback chapters in the Belle-Summer relationship, starting from 10 years ago up to only a week or so before the trip. This is to help us understand better what is going on and why Summer is the way she is, I suppose. But, as I said, after about 270 mind-numbing pages, there is only a slight payoff in a plot twist at the end.
If I have to read a story about very unlikeable people who are driven by sex and money, I'd like that story to be well written. This was not. Even the dialogue was banal and lacking any spark or cleverness. Even when the author was trying for her characters, especially Belle and a guy named Eric, to have deeper, more serious, more intellectual conversations, they stayed at a very superficial level. As I said, middle-school characters in adult bodies. Well, actually, I've met a few middle schoolers with deeper thought processes.
As a trashy romantic thriller, this is a success. However, it should be priced accordingly (i.e., low). This is, it seems, being heavily promoted and the price, IMO, is not right.,
I guess this is a fun beach read for voyeurs. If you like to watch rich people and gold diggers behaving badly but looking really good at the same time, this book is for you. I found the plot to be silly and simplistic. Main character Belle, struggling actress, gets an invitation from her ex-BFF Summer to go on a cruise to the Mediterranean on Summer's boyfriend's (for "boyfriend" read rich, old "Sugar Daddy") yacht. Well, no matter the fact that Belle and Summer are on the outs, how can Belle pass up the chance for an all-expenses-paid cruise along the coast of Italy and France?
Summer has also invited her mother, her sister, and a couple other beautiful young women on the trip. All are unbelievably superficial, unlikeable people and money-grubbing lovers of the good life, wanting expensive clothing, jewelry, men to make them feel special, and as little actual work as is humanly possible. Granted, it is likely that was the author's intention. Just a wicked look at some useless lives. Well, if so, she succeeded.
But back to the plot: The beautiful, young, vapid girls have their passports confiscated, their activities and onshore outings regimented and closely controlled, and even, it seems, they are drugged so they will sleep throughout the night. Their cabin doors may even be locked from the outside. So what's going on?
Bless me if I ever understood exactly what use these lovely women were to Summer's lover, John Lyon, why they were invited, why they needed to be controlled so carefully. I was expecting something nefarious like white slavers. Nothing became clear to me about why they were really there. Did I forget to read carefully enough? (BTW, was I supposed to say something like "reverse spoiler alert" about that white slaver comment?)
But this is Belle's story and, interspersed with the chapters about the yacht trip, we get flashback chapters in the Belle-Summer relationship, starting from 10 years ago up to only a week or so before the trip. This is to help us understand better what is going on and why Summer is the way she is, I suppose. But, as I said, after about 270 mind-numbing pages, there is only a slight payoff in a plot twist at the end.
If I have to read a story about very unlikeable people who are driven by sex and money, I'd like that story to be well written. This was not. Even the dialogue was banal and lacking any spark or cleverness. Even when the author was trying for her characters, especially Belle and a guy named Eric, to have deeper, more serious, more intellectual conversations, they stayed at a very superficial level. As I said, middle-school characters in adult bodies. Well, actually, I've met a few middle schoolers with deeper thought processes.
As a trashy romantic thriller, this is a success. However, it should be priced accordingly (i.e., low). This is, it seems, being heavily promoted and the price, IMO, is not right.,
July 8, 2020
Rated 4.5
Belle is off on a one week vacation to the French Riviera on a huge, private yacht with a group of beautiful friends to celebrate 26 year old Summer’s upcoming birthday. The trip is being hosted by Summer’s fabulously wealthy and much older boyfriend John. Belle and Summer have been friends since high school but the friendship has soured. Summer is selfish, a liar and is caught up in the lavish lifestyle of billionaire John. Although the relationship between the two friends is strained, how can Belle say no?
Initially impressed by the yacht, the incredible food and free-flowing champagne, this seems like a dream vacation. But the women are told that they must turn in their passports. Huh? Their phones do not have Wi-Fi access on board. Warning. The women are locked in their rooms at night. Warning. Warning. John controls every aspect of their trip making Belle feel more like a prisoner than a guest. What is going on here?! An entertaining thriller awaits.
This immensely fun book takes you into the world of the ridiculously rich with lots of people behaving very badly. The story is clever with some great twists and turns. A perfect binge-worthy escape.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Katherine St. John for an advance copy of The Lion’s Den. It was originally planned for a May 19 release but has been moved back to June 30, 2020, I assume, to give this impressive debut effort the launch it deserves.
Be sure to put this book on your radar!
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Belle is off on a one week vacation to the French Riviera on a huge, private yacht with a group of beautiful friends to celebrate 26 year old Summer’s upcoming birthday. The trip is being hosted by Summer’s fabulously wealthy and much older boyfriend John. Belle and Summer have been friends since high school but the friendship has soured. Summer is selfish, a liar and is caught up in the lavish lifestyle of billionaire John. Although the relationship between the two friends is strained, how can Belle say no?
Initially impressed by the yacht, the incredible food and free-flowing champagne, this seems like a dream vacation. But the women are told that they must turn in their passports. Huh? Their phones do not have Wi-Fi access on board. Warning. The women are locked in their rooms at night. Warning. Warning. John controls every aspect of their trip making Belle feel more like a prisoner than a guest. What is going on here?! An entertaining thriller awaits.
This immensely fun book takes you into the world of the ridiculously rich with lots of people behaving very badly. The story is clever with some great twists and turns. A perfect binge-worthy escape.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Katherine St. John for an advance copy of The Lion’s Den. It was originally planned for a May 19 release but has been moved back to June 30, 2020, I assume, to give this impressive debut effort the launch it deserves.
Be sure to put this book on your radar!
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
September 15, 2020
I received a copy of this book for free from the Publisher (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. What a crazy ride! This book really took me on an adventure through the lives of the rich.
This is a summer mystery novel that kept me guessing until the very end. All throughout the novel you know something is up, but it won’t all be revealed until the end. The way it all came about was very smart and clever. I liked how there were small little mentions of things that would later become integral to the plot and mystery.
One small issue that I had was that the book felt a little slow in the beginning. It took a bit to really get the book rolling. This was in part due to the flashbacks. The flashbacks were very important, but in the beginning I was super eager to learn more about the present day situation. As the book went on, I enjoyed the flashbacks more because they provided more insight into what was happening.
Additionally, I wanted to know a little bit more about what happened to some of the supporting characters afterwards. The book wraps up everything with the main character, but not for the supporting characters.
Overall, I recommend this book for anyone looking to get lost in a fun summer read!
Wow. What a crazy ride! This book really took me on an adventure through the lives of the rich.
This is a summer mystery novel that kept me guessing until the very end. All throughout the novel you know something is up, but it won’t all be revealed until the end. The way it all came about was very smart and clever. I liked how there were small little mentions of things that would later become integral to the plot and mystery.
One small issue that I had was that the book felt a little slow in the beginning. It took a bit to really get the book rolling. This was in part due to the flashbacks. The flashbacks were very important, but in the beginning I was super eager to learn more about the present day situation. As the book went on, I enjoyed the flashbacks more because they provided more insight into what was happening.
Additionally, I wanted to know a little bit more about what happened to some of the supporting characters afterwards. The book wraps up everything with the main character, but not for the supporting characters.
Overall, I recommend this book for anyone looking to get lost in a fun summer read!
July 6, 2024
4.5 Stars — THE LION’S DEN was something else! I’ve never wanted to smack so many characters in one book in my life. But, it was great fun to read.
Belle is a struggling actor who jumps at the chance to take a holiday to the Mediterranean to celebrate her friend Summer’s birthday. Summer’s billionaire boyfriend John is hosting Belle and a small group of friends aboard his mega yacht for a week. What could go wrong? Well, everything, it seems. When jealous gold digger Summer’s true colors come out, this dream vacation turns into a nightmare.
This fast-paced thriller moves between the past and present, and we get to see the evolution of Summer and Belle’s curious relationship. Goodness, there was a lot of drama, but it was addictive. The juicy twists were so fun. I loved the ending, but I did want to know more about what happened to some of the supporting cast. If you’re looking for a tense, summery thrill ride, this is it!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Belle is a struggling actor who jumps at the chance to take a holiday to the Mediterranean to celebrate her friend Summer’s birthday. Summer’s billionaire boyfriend John is hosting Belle and a small group of friends aboard his mega yacht for a week. What could go wrong? Well, everything, it seems. When jealous gold digger Summer’s true colors come out, this dream vacation turns into a nightmare.
This fast-paced thriller moves between the past and present, and we get to see the evolution of Summer and Belle’s curious relationship. Goodness, there was a lot of drama, but it was addictive. The juicy twists were so fun. I loved the ending, but I did want to know more about what happened to some of the supporting cast. If you’re looking for a tense, summery thrill ride, this is it!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
July 20, 2020
I'm not sure what it says about me, but I'm really starting to dig the trashy, catty, mean girl reads, and this one was all of the above and more!
The premise sounds almost trite - aspiring (aka struggling) actress, Belle, agrees to a week long French Riviera jaunt aboard her childhood best friend's boyfriend’s yacht. It's no surprise that before they even get their sea legs, all is not smooth sailing in paradise. Belle is super naive and makes extremely poor friend choices and even dumber choices when it comes to events on the yacht. It doesn't take her long to realize that her friendship with Summer is all for show, and that if Summer were handing out BFF necklaces, she wouldn't be getting one. Not to mention, Summer’s rich (and of course, old) boyfriend is a control freak who orders locked cabins at night, no internet, confiscated passports, etc. The storyline turned out to be anything but trite though, as the "why" behind all of it was quite brilliant and kept me guessing until the end.
St. John does a great job with the atmosphere and the timeline - ten years ago/two years ago/nine months ago - interspersed perfectly with the present. The storyline isn't overly dark, but it is deliciously trashy at times; and the pacing is fast and even though there were some eye rolling moments, it somehow managed to stay away from the ridiculous. Overall, a fun read with a surprisingly substantive plot. Katherine St. John is definitely one to add to my annual summer reading list! 4 stars.
The premise sounds almost trite - aspiring (aka struggling) actress, Belle, agrees to a week long French Riviera jaunt aboard her childhood best friend's boyfriend’s yacht. It's no surprise that before they even get their sea legs, all is not smooth sailing in paradise. Belle is super naive and makes extremely poor friend choices and even dumber choices when it comes to events on the yacht. It doesn't take her long to realize that her friendship with Summer is all for show, and that if Summer were handing out BFF necklaces, she wouldn't be getting one. Not to mention, Summer’s rich (and of course, old) boyfriend is a control freak who orders locked cabins at night, no internet, confiscated passports, etc. The storyline turned out to be anything but trite though, as the "why" behind all of it was quite brilliant and kept me guessing until the end.
St. John does a great job with the atmosphere and the timeline - ten years ago/two years ago/nine months ago - interspersed perfectly with the present. The storyline isn't overly dark, but it is deliciously trashy at times; and the pacing is fast and even though there were some eye rolling moments, it somehow managed to stay away from the ridiculous. Overall, a fun read with a surprisingly substantive plot. Katherine St. John is definitely one to add to my annual summer reading list! 4 stars.
March 3, 2021
Spring has sprung in flyover country which means your pal Kelly has been reading alllllllll things about destination weddings and tropical locales and this one, simply for the fact that . . . .
Full disclosure: I have no earthly idea why, but I actually read the blurb this time (despite the cover being enough for me to automatically request it from the library when it popped up in their recommendation window). So the story here is that Belle gets invited on a fabulous Mediterranean birthday getaway for her bestie Summer on summer’s latest geriatric conquest's yacht. Said geezer is so rich that he gets whatever he wants so meals are planned, the schedule is stringent and the guests are pretty much allowed to speak only when spoken to while in his presence. And he also requires NDAs to be signed and for everyone to turn over their passports. It’s pretty much all around hinky. For some reason the whole “treated like prisoners” and the guests having their passports taken away had my brain falling down a rabbit hole that this was either going to involve an attempt at human trafficking by the old rich dude who owned the yacht, or like ending up on some remote island where the women would all be hunted because I watched way too many episodes of this as a child . . . .
So spoiler alert, but not really, that is not how the story went down. Obviously I can’t say much without ruining everything, but I will say that if I were a DNFer, there’s a solid chance I would have thrown in the towel on this one. It was pretty much a one-way ticket to Dullsville until around the 65% mark when the action cranked up. At that point I was hooked and ended up with a final reaction of . . . .
Full disclosure: I have no earthly idea why, but I actually read the blurb this time (despite the cover being enough for me to automatically request it from the library when it popped up in their recommendation window). So the story here is that Belle gets invited on a fabulous Mediterranean birthday getaway for her bestie Summer on summer’s latest geriatric conquest's yacht. Said geezer is so rich that he gets whatever he wants so meals are planned, the schedule is stringent and the guests are pretty much allowed to speak only when spoken to while in his presence. And he also requires NDAs to be signed and for everyone to turn over their passports. It’s pretty much all around hinky. For some reason the whole “treated like prisoners” and the guests having their passports taken away had my brain falling down a rabbit hole that this was either going to involve an attempt at human trafficking by the old rich dude who owned the yacht, or like ending up on some remote island where the women would all be hunted because I watched way too many episodes of this as a child . . . .
So spoiler alert, but not really, that is not how the story went down. Obviously I can’t say much without ruining everything, but I will say that if I were a DNFer, there’s a solid chance I would have thrown in the towel on this one. It was pretty much a one-way ticket to Dullsville until around the 65% mark when the action cranked up. At that point I was hooked and ended up with a final reaction of . . . .
March 26, 2020
What an amazingly addictive read!
I spent the majority of the past 2 days just devouring this book. I really, really enjoyed it! I could have done without all the French/Italian/Spanish. It was pretty easy to figure out the gist of what they were saying, but there was more than was necessary.
It has everything you could want... definitely a perfect beach read for this summer.
But, can a girl get an epilogue?? I need to know what happens to everyone!
I spent the majority of the past 2 days just devouring this book. I really, really enjoyed it! I could have done without all the French/Italian/Spanish. It was pretty easy to figure out the gist of what they were saying, but there was more than was necessary.
It has everything you could want... definitely a perfect beach read for this summer.
But, can a girl get an epilogue?? I need to know what happens to everyone!
February 19, 2021
Audio 3 Stars
Story 3.5 Stars
Story 3.5 Stars
June 27, 2020
Alright I have yet another ideal summer read for you guys today, this one is wicked and salacious and way more fun that I was expecting it to be. It gave me Jackie Collins vibes with the whole rich people behaving badly thing and then also reminded me a little of Below Deck as it’s set mostly on a luxury yacht. I expected it to be fluffy and light, total brain candy and while it was, it also ended up being a little dark and mysterious as well.
This is all told from Belle’s POV as she joins her BFF Summer on her much older, much richer boyfriends yacht for a week spent luxuriating in the Mediterranean. It all winds up being too good to be true as the guests are all heavily monitored and controlled turning a dream vacation into a total nightmare. There are also flashback chapters dating all the way back to when Summer and Belle first met and then leading up to right before the trip began, and secrets, deception and lies are slowly revealed making this such a tantalizing read. It really is the ultimate summer binge read, entertaining and wildly fun!
This is all told from Belle’s POV as she joins her BFF Summer on her much older, much richer boyfriends yacht for a week spent luxuriating in the Mediterranean. It all winds up being too good to be true as the guests are all heavily monitored and controlled turning a dream vacation into a total nightmare. There are also flashback chapters dating all the way back to when Summer and Belle first met and then leading up to right before the trip began, and secrets, deception and lies are slowly revealed making this such a tantalizing read. It really is the ultimate summer binge read, entertaining and wildly fun!
June 7, 2021
This was not at all what I expected.
Sooo happy it was even better than I hoped for.
Well done Ms. St. John, well done indeed!
Sooo happy it was even better than I hoped for.
Well done Ms. St. John, well done indeed!
June 13, 2020
"The Lions Den" by Katherine St. John was such a great summer read!! This is not just a fun, light beachy read, this one had mystery, twists, and suspense!! (Thank you Grand Central pub for the gifted review copy!)
This book was a super entertaining summer thriller. The last third of the book really was the best, as that's when most of the action happens and the story all comes together. I really loved how this one ended, it was excellent!! This author thought of such a clever story and really pulled it off in my opinion!! If you feel like a great escape into the life of the rich, with wonderful descriptions of these beautiful warm places, with a twisty plot, I say give this one a try!
Belle and Summer are longtime friends but their relationship is strained. Belle is an actress struggling to find jobs and is waitressing to make money! Summer is now dating John, an older, very wealthy man! Summer invites Belle to spend a week on his yacht with a bunch of other girls to travel to the French Riviera! Belle says yes, as how could she turn down a week of luxury?!! Well Belle gets alot more than she expects. The girls are being treated more like prisoners than guests. Being locked in their rooms at night, and they can't use their phones because, well….no reception!! Belle soon realizes that her "friend" summer is not what she seems, and there is alot going on behind the scenes. John is very controlling over things like their schedules, food they eat, and what they wear. Belle overhears conversations that make her feel like there is something shady going on with John. This story goes back and forth between the present time on the yacht, to the recent past as you learn more about Belle and Summers past relationship which exposes some secrets! Such a great plot!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
This book was a super entertaining summer thriller. The last third of the book really was the best, as that's when most of the action happens and the story all comes together. I really loved how this one ended, it was excellent!! This author thought of such a clever story and really pulled it off in my opinion!! If you feel like a great escape into the life of the rich, with wonderful descriptions of these beautiful warm places, with a twisty plot, I say give this one a try!
Belle and Summer are longtime friends but their relationship is strained. Belle is an actress struggling to find jobs and is waitressing to make money! Summer is now dating John, an older, very wealthy man! Summer invites Belle to spend a week on his yacht with a bunch of other girls to travel to the French Riviera! Belle says yes, as how could she turn down a week of luxury?!! Well Belle gets alot more than she expects. The girls are being treated more like prisoners than guests. Being locked in their rooms at night, and they can't use their phones because, well….no reception!! Belle soon realizes that her "friend" summer is not what she seems, and there is alot going on behind the scenes. John is very controlling over things like their schedules, food they eat, and what they wear. Belle overhears conversations that make her feel like there is something shady going on with John. This story goes back and forth between the present time on the yacht, to the recent past as you learn more about Belle and Summers past relationship which exposes some secrets! Such a great plot!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
February 23, 2021
I was not expecting the twists and turns in this one!! Addictive and fun 😊
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