Sometimes you just need a detox read: a quick read that's fun where you don't have to think too hard and you're throughly entertained.⁣⁣
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘯 is perfect for that!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This was a light Thriller that read like an episode of Real Housewives, but with some murdery goodness mixed in! Rich people problems in expensive exquisite locales is a trope I'm always down for!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘯 you've got your classic nice girl Belle, who's trying to make it as an actress and is just barely squeaking by and then her plastic-surgery-enhanced childhood bestie Summer, who's decided to be a trophy wife and found herself a billionaire for a boyfriend. Sure this dude is hella old and caught up in some shady deals, but for Summer's birthday he's offering her friends an all expenses paid trip on his wicked nice yacht in the beautiful Mediterranean. Fancy meals, outfits, and private airfare provided!⁣⁣
Who could pass that up? ⁣⁣
I'd love a free luxury vacation... but since I can't actually go anywhere I loved reading about this one and it left me feeling pretty glad I'm stuck at home. ⁣⁣

Belle is an aspiring actress when she can get the work. Otherwise, she serves drinks working at a popular nightclub in LA. When she is offered an all-expense-paid week on a yacht in the French Riviera, she starts packing. The vacation does come with a downside. She is invited by her childhood best friend turned career opportunist, Summer. Summer has latched on to a billionaire business mogul, John, more than thirty years older.

Belle’s relationship with Summer is complicated. They were former neighbors in rural Georgia who grew up together. Renewed contact between the two has been ruined by Summer’s unreasonable demands and mooching behavior. Her boyfriend before the business mogul was Eric. Belle found herself attracted to Eric which made things awkward. Belle stayed as far away from Summer and Eric as possible because she knew Summer did not handle jealous feelings well. Staying away from them was difficult because Summer had moved into Belle’s apartment. Eventually, the relationship between Summer and Eric soured. Belle knew better than to attempt any further contact with Eric.

This book was a DELIGHT! Part ‘Mean Girls’, part ‘Real Housewives’, a boatload (see what I did there?!) of intrigue, and beautifully described setting on the French and Italian Riviera. This was the perfect escape read for a summer weekend. It was a great summer read. Fast paced with just enough twists and turns. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an easy read from a great writer!

I've giving this book a three star rating because it started out really slow for me. I honestly almost put it down and didn't finish it. I really liked the second half of the book when things picked up and interesting things started to happen.

With that said this would make a good beach read. You just need to know that the first bit is a little lackluster. The second half is a housewives episode mixed with a murder mystery. I liked the ending and the book wrapped itself up nicely.

Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John sounded like the perfect summer read. Belle and Summer have been friends since high school and have had the typical highs and lows that friendships go through. Summer is now dating a rich man over 30 years older than her. She has invited Belle and other friends to join them on a trip to Italy on his yacht for her birthday. Belle goes and she’s not getting the relaxing trip in the sun she thought she’d get as things begin to appear darker than she expected. ⁣
⁣
❤️Review❤️⁣
⁣
The Lion’s Den was a light read that is perfect for the summer. It has love and drama. The pacing was a little all over the place for me. Some chapters were really long and others were short. The first 40% we knew something was wrong, but it was hard to put my finger on what it could be. I will say I was surprised by the twists as they were finally revealed. I just wish we had a few more twists leading up to it to help strengthen my engagement. The ending did feel like it was tied up with a nice bow and I’m not sure I wanted it to be like that. If you are looking for a book that you can have fun with and not take super seriously, then this book will be for you!⁣
⁣
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣
⁣
If you could go on a trip on a yacht, where would you go?⁣
⁣
#bookstagram #netgalley #bookreview #summerreading #kindlereads #ebooks #2020books #newbookreleases #booklover #bookcommunity

Summer and you are best friends in high school in The Lion’s Den. Summer takes you to your high school French teacher’s apartment where his friend tries to sexually assault you. You’re sixteen.

Ten years later, Summer is now the trophy mistress of a mega-rich old man, John. She invites you and a few other female friends and family to vacation with her and John on his luxury yacht in the Italian Rivera. Before leaving John's private plane, you are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Next, John's goon takes everyone’s passport. Surely, there is nothing unusual in that deboarding procedure? Summer insists that is standard operating procedure for their guests. So why do you feel so uncomfortable?

So, it appears the rich are different—as are their mistresses. As the cruise carries on, it becomes apparent that John is doing shady deals and Summer has a different agenda than just vacationing with her friends and family.

The Lion's Den is a fascinating look into how the rich live. It is the perfect beach read. It’s an intriguing and fast read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This one was great and had a real surprise ending. Belle is invited on a luxury cruise on her best friend's boyfriend's yacht. Within hours, it proves to be not what she signed up for. The flashbacks and back story added to the suspense and made you root for Belle. Discusses: greed, friendship, survival, and loyalty. Definitely recommended.

Belle first met Summer when they were in summer school together. French. They bonded instantly and held on through the years, through good times and bad, while they lived close by and after Summer’s mother moved them away. Still the girls kept their friendship alive. Now it’s Summer’s 30th birthday, and she wants to celebrate big, so she invites Belle, a couple of their other friends, her mother, and her sister onto her billionaire boyfriend’s luxury yacht for a week in the Mediterranean. Who could say no to that?

Belle, an actress (and bartender/server), isn’t used to luxury like that. But with the private plane and the expensive gifts that Summer shares with her guests, the private yacht and the opulent meals and the expensive wines, Belle thinks maybe she could get used to it.

And yet, something is a little off.

Before they all got on the yacht, Belle and her fellow guests had to turn over their passports. The luxury yacht has no wifi, so they have no cell phone service. They had to sign non-disclosure agreements, and agree to get approval for any posts about the trip (they do have cell service in the port cities). And while all that rubs Belle the wrong way, she is far more disturbed by Summer’s behavior. Belle’s former best friend seems to be irritated with her, and Belle feels a little like she’s getting pushed to the side, frozen out a little, and she’s not sure why. Summer is keeping secrets from her, and Belle doesn’t like that.

But maybe, just maybe, Belle has secrets of her own.

The Lion’s Den is a riveting novel of women and their friendships, their secrets, their resentments, and their naked lust for the things they consider most important in life. Author Katherine St. John weaves together a story of years of friendship and loyalty, and the behaviors that can wear away at the women who share such a bond.

I loved this book at first, when I thought it was just about a luxury vacation with old friends. But then, it got a little mysterious, and I wondered where the story was going. And then there were more questions, building like a thriller, and I couldn’t put it down before I knew the whole truth of what was going on. This book is so much more than you think it will be, and it will take you places far beyond just France and Italy. It will take you to the very depths of the human soul. And you’ll be so glad you decided to spend that week on the luxury yacht, even without the wifi.

Egalleys for The Lion’s Den were provided by Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I'll admit, I completely fell for the premise and setting of this book! Friends Belle and Summer, along with several other ladies and Summer's super-wealthy sugar daddy, convene for a week on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranea.n. What was teased was a potential thriller as things begin to go wrong pretty quickly before the ladies are even onboard the yacht. The plot develops while alternating timelines between years before the week's vacation and present-day on the yacht. I'll be honest, I had issues with this story from the get-go. I found both Belle and Summer extremely unlikable and to me the plot called for us to root for Belle. She came across as a girl without any backbone or self-respect and it drove me nuts. Couple that with the fact that Summer was horrendous and all the girls still put up with her? Huh? It made no sense as to why any of them would choose to go on a week-long vacation with this girl, yacht, or no yacht. I've seen this billed as being for fans of Below Deck (don't like) and that should have been my first hint that this book wasn't for me. As the plot got more and more far fetched, I became more and more impatient to just finish quickly. Needless to say, the ending didn't redeem the story for me, it was actually the most far fetched part to be honest. A plus - this is a super fast read so If you enjoy soap operas that rely heavily on the melodramatic, this might be for you.

I love books that remind me of a particular author whose books I would DEVOUR. I am talking about Jackie Collins and this book has that juicy OMG quality to it. I am not comparing the two authors other than saying that the excitement/rush that a Collins book would give me, is the same with The Lion's Den.

Total fan girl.

I LOVED that is was a MEAN(boy was it!)and smart and yeah I bet you didn't see that coming type of book!LOL I can't say much without ruining things (yes that nasty word - SPOILERS).

If you are looking for a fun, sexy, book with a twist of mayhem this book is a sure bet!

I give it 4 hearts(out of 5).

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.**

A fast-paced summer beach read (if you can get to some water -- even better) featuring money and murder.

Isabella (Belle) Carter isn't exactly living the dream when she's invited to accompany her BFF, Summer Sanderson, on a luxury cruise on Summer's billionaire boyfriend's yacht to the Mediterranean. Accompanied by Summer's younger sister, Brittani and her mother, Rhonda, they join friends Wendy, Claire, and Amythest on John Lyons's private jet and fly into Genoa, Italy, to meet The Lion's Den. Several odd things cause Belle to become a bit wary about this trip: they are all asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, there's no Wi-Fi available on the yacht, and they are required to hand over their passports. It becomes obvious that John Lyons likes to be in control and every aspect of their time is managed. Meanwhile, things aren't going so well among the lovely ladies on board. Summer has jealousy issues and John seems to be involved with some shady business dealings. Will this dream vacation become a nightmare? NO SPOILERS.

Told from Belle's point of view, the narrative flips back and forth in time where the reader learns the history of Belle and Summer's friendship. With a few surprises that pop up late in the book, the plot takes a turn that may be unexpected. I enjoyed it as a nice change of pace from more serious topics and grisly crime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This book was some crazy fun! I wanted to let out a cheer at the end. Belle is just one of those characters that you fall in love with from the get-go. As I was reading wondering why she was even friends with Summer, I had no idea the machinations that were going on behind the scenes. Who wouldn't want to ride around on a yacht in the Mediterranean? I'm in. This cruise was not at all what Belle was expecting. Summer's rich older boyfriend John is a controlling freak. They are locked in at night. They cannot order their own food. Everything is monitored. They can't even leave if they like. That's okay, things have a way of working themselves out exactly as planned. This is one heck of a page turner that you will read very quickly.

For a first novel, this one is booming right out of the gate. I sure look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of this book.

If this review could include sound- it would start with a "slow clap." Katherine St. John has provided readers with the perfect juicy summertime read in the form of her novel, "The Lion's Den." The book tells the story of Belle who is a struggling actress/waitress just trying to get her big break. As a self-supported woman, Belle feels a little at odds with her friend Summer who recently has been dating a mega millionaire who happens to be decades older than her. When Summer invites Belle on a week long yacht cruise in the Mediterranean, Belle opts in thinking what could possibly go wrong. However, tensions on the boat start to rise when a series of lies and betrayals come to light. Soon things start to unravel and Belle is left wondering... is she really a prisoner on this yacht? Will she make it out of this trip alive?

This book is the quintessential beach read! It has a host of interesting and uniquely flawed characters that keep the storyline fresh and exciting. The author does a fabulous job of developing the plot without spoon feeding the reader, and as such the book will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Reading the novel feels like you are on a treasure hunt for clues to piece together, sporadic breakthroughs providing clarity and enabling progress towards the conclusion. The prose is simple and straightforward making "The Lion's Den" a quick, fun and immersive read.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Clever plots with lots of twists. Jealousy, intrigue, murder , secrets and much more aboard a billionaire's yacht. What more needs to be said. What more could happen during a week's time in the south of France. It grabs you from the first page and keeps you engrossed to the final page. Great characters. Don't miss this summer read.

This book took a minute to get into but once it gripped me I read it in two sittings. It's a wild ride and so much more sinister than your normal "rich people behaving badly" story. The pacing was a little off at the beginning and end but the middle is really engrossing. I liked the setting, the timeline jumps, and the ever-changing character dynamics.

Wow. I didn't expect for this book to get so intense. It's taunt and gripping. Very hard to put down because I became so engrossed with Belle I had to know how it turned out. Looking for an engrossing suspense to loose yourself in? Pick this up. Happy reading!

This novel was a pleasant surprise. Despite the slow start (which in retrospect serves the overall plot of the book), I found myself to be perfectly enchanted by this fast-paced beach read. The author does a particularly good job with the main character who is not only likeable, but who also plays a part in hiding what is really going on. To be honest, the reader can figure out where this book is going about halfway through, but it doesn't make it any less fun getting there. The love story was a bit trite, but my expectations on that score were rather small. Beautiful scenery, rich people behaving badly, and a strong female main character who keeps the plot moving forward. I am anxious to read the author's next book. Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book. .

“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.

This book was amazing! It was absolutely everything I was hoping it would be and more. Sexy, fun, lavish, and completely perfect for an escape from reality. I thought I was reading a love story like any other until about halfway through when I discovered how dark this novel’s characters really were. I came for the romance, but stayed for the strong female character who blew my mind in the ending!

I really enjoyed this book! It had a little bit of everything, it was funny, crazy, it had murder, mystery and chaos. The ladies on board this yacht are full of personality, maybe not great personalities, but they keep the story interesting. The friendships are tested and Belle really learns who she can trust. I liked the way the book flashed back to give you the background for the present situations. I would definitely read another book by Katherine St. John!