The Siren

In a story with themes that will cross the line for some readers, Reisz tackles the story of erotica writer Nora Sutherlin.who is leaving her old publishing house. The head of her new publisher orders Zachary Easton to edit Nora's novel. Zachary, still shell-shocked by his impending divorce back in his native Britain, is six weeks away from moving to the publisher's Los Angeles office and the last thing he wants to do is edit what he considers to be trash. Zach takes on the project with one caveat: he will have complete creative control. Zach soon finds that Nora isn't the trash-writing trollop he assumed, but a complicated woman whose twisted ideas of love were formed early in life. As both battle their demons--Nora, a sadistic old lover and Zach, regret over his failed--they find a true connection. While both characters are well drawn, the author never quite makes either completely sympathetic, and many are likely to find the themes contained in the story--including hard-core S&M and a sexual relationship with a Catholic priest--objectionable. Sensationalistic but not overly compelling. (Aug.)