Let me tell you, I love twisty books that somehow surround marriages and the crazy turns the relationships can take. I love crime novels- especially those where one spouse goes missing or ends up dead, and readers have to figure out where the other is the killer or perpetrator. This book hits ALL my marks and more. Dear Wife is an unexpected surprise. I thought I knew what this book was going to be like and how it was all going to play out but I was pleasantly shown I was wrong. This is a fantastic read! I can't wait for more books by the author based on this one!

I'll be thinking about this book for some time. The twists in the book are so well written. They make you go back through everything you've read in your mind, once you know the truth.
The author gave an intense account of the effects of domestic abuse through her main character Beth. How the abuser permeates their victims thoughts, and actions even when they've escaped the violence.
I'd recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers.

I really struggled to get into any book lately, but pushed through with this one. This book definitely was trying to give me Gone Girl vibes. I felt like there was a disconnect for most of the story but that did get resolved by the end - which is when it finally got interesting for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this book Kimberly Belle explores the frightening world of domestic violence. Beth is a battered wife who after careful planning is escaping from her husband of ten years. An intelligent and brave woman who decides to get out before her husband kills her.

The characters are interesting, the topic is very important but in places I felt that the book could have moved along a bit faster.

I wasn’t expecting that conclusion! Great plot, writing, and characters! It sucked me in quickly but did putter in the middle a bit where not a lot happens and nothing much was revealed.

Things do pick up again and there are some great twists and surprises. There are some horrible characters, so unlikable. Looking back there are clues to what is happening but the writing is so good that I never saw it coming. Great conclusion, will look forward to the next from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and HARLEQUIN - Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for a copy in exchange for a review.

Kimberly Belle wrote another amazing novel! I couldn’t put it down! Loveddd! Such an empowering book for women! Emma was so smart and loved how all the women worked together and wanted to help and just shows how far we can go when we back each other up! Yass you go for! 💪🏻

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this was very well done. It took me a minute to put it all together but I enjoyed the way the author kept me thinking. I figured it out about 3/4 the way through the book. Thank you for the ARC!

At this juncture I'm giving this an even-keel/uncomfortable 3-stars, even though the thriller itself was a 4 or 5-star read.

Unfortunately there were serious issues with racism and transphobia in the book that were upsetting enough I've sent the publisher a long, private note about it. I will refrain from writing an extensive or definitive review until I see whether or not the publisher does anything to address the issues. I might revise my rating up or down depending on whether the final publication copy changes.

TRIGGER WARNING for any readers who are trans/gender non-binary or sensitive (as all empathetic human beings should be) to transphobia. Also trigger warning for fatphobia, and an uncomfortable description of an allegedly Asian American person (part of the racism is how confusingly the person is described, in fact).

The plot of this book starts right from the first word. It engages the reader quickly and keeps up the pace. The narration alternates initially between Beth and Jeffery and both have a very distinct voice. Both the plot lines are equally interesting and you become eager to find out where this is headed. You know instantly that this is a domestic noir and you can only imagine the depth of the domestic violence to come if the book starts with 2 women disappearing.
The plot flows very smoothly and you can’t help but wonder how these 2 couples are connected. Each character is very well developed and adds to the thick plot. Even the most careful reader will be surprised with the plot twist at the end.
The multiple points of view help keep the narration fresh and intriguing. You do at times believe that you have figured this out but the twist in the tale is surprising and dark. This is a hard to put down book. It’s filled with tension and keeps you biting your nails all along. It’s a twisty novel that has many many surprises and revelations all along. It keeps you guessing and guessing wrong at that. While reading this book I was completely trapped in it. It made me forget everything around me and pulling myself away to even grab a bite was the hardest thing to do. I racked my brain to try and figure out the missing pieces, to assess who Beth and Sabine were, if and how they were connected and it ended up making my mind even murkier. The sudden subtle revelation that creeped up on me around the 70% mark in the book actually gave me goosebumps! I don’t want to say too much about the book and give something away inadvertently, so I’ll say this much, don’t try to ‘figure’ the plot. Read it, absorb and enjoy the dark twisted path Kimberly Belle has laid for you.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kimberly Belle and for sure won’t be the last! This is an author to watch out for. Her writing is easy to read and leaves you with many thoughts to chew on. This book is the work of amazingly talented author and I can’t wait to read more by her.
This is one of the must reads of 2019 and I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #DearWife

Also shared on: https://romasharma.blogspot.com

4.5 thrilling stars!

Kimberly Belle, you have yet to let me down! And with Dear Wife, you have outdone yourself. With equal parts thriller and domestic fiction, we learn of the missing Sabine, the "it's always the husband" Jeffrey, detective Marcus and then there's the woman on the run, Beth. All of these characters have something to hide, but it may not be what you think. In a fast paced, tensions high setting, we follow Beth as she runs from an abusive husband and the others as they hunt for missing Sabine. While you may think this story has an obvious path, you should disavow that notion right now - as your jaw will drop as twists are revealed. I can hardly wait another near to see what comes next from Belle!

**Trigger warning - domestic violence**

I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

"if there's one thing I've learned these past ten years, it's to trust no one, not even the people you're supposed to trust the most."
One amazing book! Not to be missed!
How do you go about changing your whole life to conceal and protect yourself from that person who wants your life? Can it be done? At what cost? It is survival of the fittest, to be sure.
The twists and turns kept me reading, kept me guessing and kept me from doing anything else until I found all the answers to the novel!
Kimberley Belle has done it again with this fascinating suspenseful book! It is a winner!

The twists and turns in this book left me in shock and made me want to read it all over again! This is a great page turner!

I binge read this book in two nights. At first I was hesitant to dive into a tale about domestic violence because the topic can be hard to read, but I was quickly enthralled because Kimberly Belle is a master at writing psychological suspense.

The story is told from multiple perspectives and in the beginning it comes from many. But as the story progresses, the perspectives narrow down to only a few people. There is one short line that is delivered 85% into the book and BOOM, it all came together for me on how everything ties together. The buildup of the story reminds me not to make assumptions about characters and their connections. I was completely fooled by the evidence presented, and I loved the trickery - it's very well written.

This book is about strong women, infidelity, love, control, domestic abuse, secrets, facades, and technology. I loved the technology aspect of the story, and how cell phones, computers, ATM cards and cameras can track individuals. No one can remain completely anonymous anymore. It's a fascinating perspective on how a digital footprint factors into crimes and missing persons.

I like how the author portrays the women characters as strong, smart, creative and courageous. The men are weak, confused, controlling, and even sappy. It's an empowering story about domestic abuse and brings light to this subject. In typical the Kimberly Belle style, she drops little bombs at the end of the story that made my jaw drop and I was unprepared for the big twists at the end. Well done.

I enjoyed this book SO MUCH MORE than I thought I would. It's just a deeply interesting and good book about a fierce woman and her fight to survive. I know there is technically a twist but it's not done in that annoying "LET'S ALL TRY TO OUT-TWIST EACH OTHER AND BE THE NEXT GONE GIRL" type way. It's done in an honest and organic way. I devoured this book and I'm so glad I read it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

A woman is on the run from an abusive husband, a man she feels will never stop looking for her. She has planned her escape for over a year, putting all her arrangements in place, covering her tracks, and leaving behind those who care for her in order to save her own life and gain independence.

Sabine Hardison is missing. Beth Murphy is on the run. Told from three points of view: the woman on the run, Sabine's husband Jeffrey, and the detective investigating Sabine's disappearance.

I was reminded of Sleeping with the Enemy, and still was not prepared for the twist.

I have not read anything by Kimberly Belle before, but I will be looking for more.

Read in February; blog review scheduled for June 10, 2019.

NetGalley/Harlequin
Mystery/Thriller. June 25, 2019. Print length: 384 pages.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is a story about domestic violence and mystery. A woman is missing and the police are searching for her. What I learned is that this was more than a missing person case. The story is told through the voices of different characters. Telling the story from different points of view kept me guessing and intrigued.

Just when I thought I had figured everything out, there would be a surprise. The story was engaging, moving at a fast pace.

The plot was taut with tension. The descriptions of domestic violence were real, the fear palpable. The characters were believable. A great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Kimberly Belle has easily become my one click author. I will easily go into a book of hers not having a clue what its about.
Dear Wife was another fantastic book written by this talented author . Plenty of twists and turns and a huge finish!! Definite page turner.

Wow! Kimberly Belle does it again! This book was a real page turner. This is the second book I've read by the author, but certainly won't be the last. The book begins with Sabine on the run from her husband, then takes many twists and turns. Just when I thought I might have it figured out everything changed. I will definitely be recommending Dear Wife to fellow readers.

Domestic violence is not an easy topic to bring into a recreational read, but the author designs a great storyline, drawing in the reader to care about the characters with the added bonus of surprise twists in the narrative.

This was a fantastic read! I thought I had the book figured out, but boy was I wrong! I never suspected this ending at all. A very well written and suspenseful thriller. A five star for sure!