Thursday, August 11, 2022

Book Review: The Siren by Katherine St. John


 
Pages: 416
Genre: Adult Fiction
Pub. Date: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Grand Central
Source: Publisher for review
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
 

Goodreads says, "From Katherine St. John, author of The Lion's Den, comes another sublimely escapist thriller: When dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power hires his ex-wife, Stella Rivers, to act in his son's film, he sparks a firestorm on an isolated island that will unearth long-buried secrets -- and unravel years of lies. In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood's most notorious faces are assembled on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its sultry storyline and intimately connected cast. Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella, an infamously unstable actress, is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor, a fledgling producer, is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella's mysterious new assistant, harbors designs of her own that threaten to upend everyone's plans. With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. But as deceptions come to light, misplaced trust may prove more perilous than the storm itself."

 

Cole Power is Hollywood's Sexiest Man and is making a film entitled The Siren as it was written by his son.  The Siren will be shot on a remote Caribbean island, St. Genesius and playing opposite him is none other than his ex-wife, Stella Rivers.  With Cole and Stella back again, it will be sure to spark a lot of attention and controversy. Stella normally wouldn't accept this job as she is trying to live differently and out of Cole's toxic grasp, but she really needs this money and the chance to get back in the limelight. She is rebuilding not only her career, but also her life. Then there's Taylor, the producer, who is taking on this job after a major work scandal.  Like Stella, she hopes that that this will turn her career around. Lastly, there's Felicity, Stella's new assistant, who has a mysterious past.  Her motives for being on the island are unknown to everyone else, but let's just say she is hiding some major secrets.  During filming, secrets are unearthed, a major villain is uncovered, and to top it off, there's a serious tropical storm en route.  Katherine St. John's The Siren is a juicy summertime escape that will please movie buffs as well the type of reader who loves to curl up with a good celebrity gossip rag.

Stella is someone you can't help but feel for in The Siren. At first I thought she was a hot mess and questioned her motives, but as readers get to know her better, my heart went out to her. She was totally manipulated by Cole in the past and is dealing with her own demons when it comes to addiction.  She seemed really vulnerable in The Siren and while I didn't always agree with her actions, I sympathized with her, because she is definitely an underdog who is trying to overcome her difficult past.  While on the island, she really relies on her assistant, Felicity, and tries to avoid Cole's drama as much as possible, but she can't deny their past or their attraction.

Taylor, like Stella, is a bit wounded in The Siren. She made some questionable choices in her past, but is trying to escape her former scandals by working on this movie. She really needs this!  Her relationship with Cole is proving to not be healthy and the first few days there, she isn't off to a great start.

Felicity is the most mysterious one on the island in The Siren.  At first, readers aren't sure as to what brought Felicity and Stella together, but slowly St. John gives us the details regarding Felicity's backstory. I didn't see some of the twists coming, but definitely found myself rooting for her.  

The setting of The Siren is fantastic and it makes for a great beach read. It's definitely for readers who enjoy romance, some thrilling details, intrigue, and even a murder. I loved being caught up on the movie set and felt like I was reading an special edition of US Weekly at times. It's very obvious that St. John had an acting career at some point as she truly knows the ins and outs of the industry.

So, if you are looking for an absolutely entertaining beach read, look no further. I am glad The Siren just came out in paperback this past year as this version is perfect to throw in your pool bag before the summer season comes to a close.  Are you a fan of Katherine St. John? Have you read The Siren? Is it in your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 


2 comments:

  1. This sounds like the perfect soapy read for summer!

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    Replies
    1. It really is, especially if you enjoy Hollywood gossip! Thanks for visiting, Angela.

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