This was a well done domestic thriller. I was hooked from page one and couldn't put it down. It was a tad predictable but still very enjoyable!

This is a great domestic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense level was well done. Where it fell short for me was characters development and I did not connect with anyone.

I will say, the one thing that kept me going through this book was how action-packed and fast paced it was. I listened to this on audio while painting and actually had to stop, put my brush down, and really listen to the story a couple of times because of how shocking things were. This book definitely started off with a bang and didn't let up through its entirety. The only reason I'm giving it a 3 star is because I really didn't care for the twist, it wasn't that shocking to me and honestly made me roll my eyes a little bit. The plot was good, some of the twists were good but the overall shocking ending didn't leave me gasping as I had hoped it would.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>My Darling Husband</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

Kimberly Belle's <i>My Darling Husband</i> is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the dark depths of family secrets and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. The novel centers around a seemingly perfect couple, Jade and Cam Lasky, whose lives are upended when their home is invaded by a masked intruder.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The plot unfolds through alternating perspectives, primarily from Jade and Cam, as they navigate the harrowing experience of a home invasion. The pacing is brisk, with tension mounting as the story progresses. Belle skillfully maintains suspense, ensuring readers remain engaged, eager to uncover the motives behind the invasion and the secrets the characters are hiding.

The characters are well-drawn, with Jade emerging as a strong and resourceful protagonist. Cam's perspective provides insight into the pressures and compromises that accompany his success. The masked intruder, while menacing, is also given depth, making him more than a one-dimensional villain. However, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Belle's writing is clear and concise, with an ability to evoke tension and emotion. Her use of multiple perspectives allows for a multifaceted view of the unfolding events, although at times, the shifts in viewpoint can disrupt the narrative flow.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>My Darling Husband</i> is a solid domestic thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. While it excels in building suspense and creating sympathetic protagonists, it falls short in character development. Fans of Belle's previous works and readers who enjoy fast-paced, suspenseful novels will find much to appreciate in this book. However, those looking for deeper character studies or more nuanced explorations of themes might find it lacking.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Jade and Cam seem to have it all. He is a celebrity chef and they have two beautiful children. When their home is invaded by someone wanting a ransom to let them go, Jade has to question everything she thinks she knows about her husband. What secrets is he hiding? Will this invader let them go or will they all have to die for her husband's secrets and lies?

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It sucks when you are in a marriage and you think you can trust the person completely. Only to have strangers let you know something is amiss in your relationship. Will Jade and Cam come out on the other side of this?

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and domestic suspense is popular.

Kimberly Belle writes really solid domestic thrillers. I don't understand why she doesn't have more recognition but I always enjoy her books and this one was no exception.

This was one seriously intense book, and its twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Of course, domestic thrillers/suspense tend to rely heavily on secrets, but Kimberly Belle takes that to a whole new level. The book is well-written, fast-paced, and almost impossible to look away from even for a few minutes - and that's all you're getting from me so I don't give anything away. If you enjoy tension-filled thrillers, this is one to read.

Kimberly Belle has done it again! She is quickly turning me into an “I’ll read anything she writes” fangirl. I insist on my reads being compelling - if they don’t keep me turning the pages and invested in the story, I am going to lose interest fast. I am happy to share that Kimberly Belle knows how to write a page turner!

My Darling Husband is centered around the Lasky family, whose patriarch is Cam, a celebrity chef known for his line of premium steak restaurants in the Atlanta area. Cam is husband to wife Jade, and father to their two children, Beatrix and Baxter. The Lasky family is rolling in dough, but their good luck and fortune is about to run out.

While Cam is dealing with a massive fire at his most profitable restaurant, Jade and the kids are taken hostage by a masked intruder in their Bucktown mansion. The intruder wants a sizable sum of money delivered to him within mere hours or else he will shoot Jade, Beatrix, and Baxter dead.

Cam finds his life diving into a tailspin as he attempts to pull together the impossible sum for the ransom. Meanwhile, Jade is battling for the life of not only herself, but also Beatrix and Baxter, as she tries to outsmart a man who obviously would love nothing more than to see them all dead.

My Darling Husband is a taut thriller from start to finish. This chaotic, tightly wound novel moves at a breakneck speed as the clock ticks down to the time the ransom is due. Survival novels are a particular favorite of mine, and the domestic element ( being held hostage at home) of this novel certainly gave it a hair-raising edge over the competition. I devoured this book and thoroughly enjoyed the dark and twisty rabbit hole it flung me down. Belle has a way of sneaking in subtle surprises when you least expect them, making My Darling Husband a truly engaging read.

I've really enjoyed Kimberly Belle's work in the past, but this one was a slog and I could not connect with the story.

My Darling Husband was an interesting domestic thriller. It is definitely suspenseful and I wanted to know what happened. This starts with Jade, mom of two, who finds a man in her garage when she pulls in with the kids. The man essentially holds her and her children hostage while he asks her husband for a strange number for ransom.

As we go through the day, we realize that this man isn't a stranger. This is purposeful and not everyone is as nice as they seem. There are some large parts of this where you have to suspend disbelief as well as some questions at the end that aren't fully answered. Overall, it was a decent, quick read, but nothing that will stick with me.

I really enjoyed this story.

There are three MC's, a husband with a secret, a man trying to tear him down for that secret and a mother determined to keep her children safe during a home invasion.

I absolutely loved the mother, Jade. She's everything a mother should be in such a terrible situation. But it also showed her in a different light of not remembering people she had previously met that are not as fortunate as her and her family. Not necessarily intentionally, though. Sometimes people are well meaning and life gets in the way. But in the case of this home invader, it showed the dark side of not following through with promises on both her and her husband's part.

The story told througbt he husband was from him being in jail for doing some shady shit his wife didn't know about.

And the story through the home invader was messed up, but showed again that people will do anything for their children.

I liked watching all the sides come out and how the story came together. Let me tell you, the daughter was one tough cookie! Loved her the most I think.

I'll definitely be reading anything else from this author. The writing, storyline and the lessons throughout were so well done.

My Darling Husband has to be Kimberly Belle's best book to date.
The storytelling was tight, each word mesmerizing and the twists of what you'd like a simple plot would be was anything but!
This was a 'start to finish' book that kept me awake, left me emotionally exhausted, but I woke up the next morning with no regrets!
Highly recommend!

Dark and twisted. When you think you live the perfect life u til you and your children are taking hostage and all the things you think you know are a lie, including your own husband.

My Darling Husband is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out My Darling Husband today.

This is my favourite Belle novel since 'The Marriage Lie'! Told in different perspecitives, this one had me guessing the whole time - and never guessing right! The way it's written it is hard not to put into perspective what it would feel like if this was happening to you - and it sure does get your heart racing!

Ooh time goes by and if i don't write the review right away...sigh. I'm trying to be better. The best i can do right now is give a star count...

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this one - all opinions are my own.

As usual, Kimberly Belle knocked it out of the park with another highly suspenseful and deeply compelling thriller that keeps you glued to the pages from start to finish.

I love the use of moving character perspectives to reveal the story, and the movement from "real time" during the home invasion to the future interview with Cam was perfectly done. While the twists weren't terribly wild or out of this world, they were satisfying and the payoff was ideal.

I also loved that no character was exactly what they seemed from the beginning. Give me nuanced and complicated characters any day.

No spoilers, but this is a fun, fast paced thriller that should be on any thriller lovers pile.

I have absolutely loved Kimberly Belle's other books, but I did not like this one. It started out interestingly enough, but I was waiting for it to grip me like all her other books have, and it just never did. I didn't really get invested in any of the characters and it just was difficult for me to finish, knowing I have other books in my TBR pile.