What a rollercoaster ride!! A dream vacation turns into an utter nightmare when Stella and Adam are involved in a bombing and Adam goes missing. Stella fears he is dead, but refuses to find out the truth. You won't believe what is actually happening. Who is this man she married and will Stella get to the bottom of the truth. I enjoyed this and the narrator was great a conveying anguish and mystery.

I am a big Kimberly Belle fan. I know with her books I will always find a solid read. My favorite remains The Marriage Lie so I will always recommend that one from her. The Paris Widow takes place in Paris so I loved the setting. Some of this story requires the reader to suspend belief, so if that is something you have a hard time doing this one may not be for you. I found myself figuring out most of the story, but it did not take away from my enjoyment in reading this one. Recommended if you are a fan of this author! Thank you to HTP books for my copy!

The Paris Widow is a gripping, historical thriller that’s both poignant and suspenseful. Belle’s writing draws you into the Parisian setting and keeps you hooked with its twists and emotional depth.

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle is an intense and gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows Stella, who thought she had finally found stability in her life with her husband Adam, after a tumultuous past. But when Adam goes missing after a devastating explosion in a Paris square, Stella’s world is turned upside down.

As the French police uncover disturbing revelations about Adam’s involvement in illegal antiquities dealings, Stella is left to question everything she thought she knew about her husband. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, she stays in Paris, risking her own safety as she uncovers secrets about Adam’s criminal ties and begins to suspect that her own life may be in danger.

Set against the beautiful yet dangerous backdrop of Paris and other European locales, The Paris Widow combines a captivating mystery with a haunting exploration of how the past can continue to haunt us. Belle’s fast-paced writing and well-crafted suspense draw readers in, making it impossible to put the book down. With shocking twists and an irresistible narrative, this book is perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers and anyone who loves a good mystery with unexpected revelations.

An addictive and electrifying read, The Paris Widow will leave you questioning what’s real, what’s hidden, and what price we’re willing to pay for the truth.

Thank you HTP / Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of The Paris Widow in exchange for my honest review.

Kimberly Belle has become a favorite for addicting, thrilling reads. She always manages to deliver pulse-pounding, edge-of-your seat reads that are completely binge-worthy and full of suspense and this latest one is no different!

Right from the start, I was pulled into this story and just knew this was going to be the type of book I wouldn’t put down until I finished it. It’s incredibly fast-paced and between the Paris setting, the cat-and-mouse game that ensues and all the twists, I was desperate to see how it would resolve.

I think having the story told in the present from Stella’s point of view and in the past from Adam’s point of view was such a smart move. It really allowed us to get to know Adam and his secrets in his own words and not have any be swayed by Stella’s view of him, especially once he goes missing and as she starts digging into things. Plus, it helps to keep the story moving!

I was also fascinated with the blood antiquities angle and really appreciated the author’s note at the end. I’m shocked how much of this story is rooted in reality!

For me, this was a decently average international thriller. Was I entertained? Most definitely, yes. Was it 100% believable? Not really. Pacing is quick and there is action almost right away. Would recommend to any thriller lover and anyone who wishes they could travel to Paris but can only do so via literature and other forms of media.

Fascinating read! Fast pace and keeping me guessing the whole way through! The blood antiquities background made this read very different from anything I have read before. The twists and turns weren’t obvious which made it that much more enjoyable. Love the Paris background with vivid imagery!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Paris Widow. It was a suspenseful novel set in Paris that involved many twists and turns.

It started off with a married couple taking a vacation/trip to Paris. The husband was an art dealer and had also planned a few work meetings while he was there. Just before the couple is to leave to go back to America they decide to go enjoy one more French meal and afternoon in Paris. While at the restaurant, the husband explained he'd heard from a work contact and wanted to go meet with him/her quickly before their flight was scheduled to leave. The wife agreed and they decided to meet back at the hotel when he was finished.

As you can probably guess, things did not go exactly as planned. When the husband neglected to appear at their hotel in a timely manner, the wife decided to go back and search for him near the restaurant. However, as she made her way closer to where they had left one another there was a huge explosion and the restaurant was completely blown to pieces.

This set the rest of the story up with the wife having to figure out what happened to her husband. She first needed to figure out if he even made it out of the explosion alive and also why the explosion happened in the first place.

It was a suspenseful story where a wife had to come to grips with not only the death of her husband in a foreign land, but she also had to try to figure out exactly who her husband truly was. Nothing was as it seemed. The wife quickly had to figure out what had happened to her husband and how she could make it back to America safely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC! I love me a thriller and this one did not disappoint.

This book was thoroughly engaging suspenseful and keeps the reader fully invested in the story. Keeps one guessing about the outcome which was totally unexpected.

Very good book! Wholeheartedly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley & HTP Books for an eARC of The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle!

This one gets your anxiety pumping from the very beginning! Stella and Adam had a whirlwind romance and they’re absolutely in love. That is, until Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square of Paris. Stella is mind-boggled about this tragedy, but then it comes to light that Adam has been on the French Police’s radar as someone who deals rare, stolen antiques.

Stella won’t go home until she has answers, but this will put her in danger. This book is like an action movie & thriller all rolled into one. I alternated between ebook and audio because I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the overseas setting and found the plot to be unique!

A Thrilling Journey Through Love and Deception

The novel follows Stella, who embarks on a dream European vacation with her husband, Adam. Their trip takes a dark turn in Paris when Adam disappears after a devastating explosion. As Stella searches for him, she uncovers shocking secrets about Adam’s involvement in the illicit trade of rare antiquities.

The author crafts a narrative filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Stella’s transformation from a trusting wife to a determined woman seeking the truth is both compelling and relatable. The vivid descriptions of Parisian locales add depth to the story, making the city’s charm juxtapose the unfolding danger.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Widow was an intriguing thriller about a young married couple caught up in a mystery. I enjoyed this book, but parts of it became a little overcomplicated for me. All in all, a good read!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read …. However, it turned out to be rather predictable and I found the plot dragging at times. I did really like the Paris setting which was what initially drew me to the book.

A dream vacation that turns deadly. When Stella met Adam , she thought she finally found a good guy. But when Adam goes missing, everything is not what it seems. Was Adam a target or was he a random victim? Stella knows she can’t leave until she finds out everything. It took a couple pages to get into this book but then I found it to be fast paced. Such a wild thriller! Thank you NetGalley, Kimberly and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

Stella and Adam, seemingly the perfect couple, find their lives upended when Adam vanishes in Paris after a bombing. As Stella relentlessly searches for her husband, she soon discovers that she must confront everything she believed about Adam.

From the outside, Stella and Adam’s life appears idyllic. They’re on a luxurious vacation when they’re separated—first by a deadly bomb blast and then by Adam’s apparent disappearance. Stella’s relentless search uncovers shocking lies and secrets. Who is the man she married, and why is she now being followed?

Determined to find answers, Stella refuses to return home until she uncovers the truth about Adam’s identity, the reason behind the bombing, and the person still after her. She goes to any extreme measure necessary, willing to risk everything to find the answers she seeks, even if it means sacrificing her own life.

While this electrifyingly fast-paced book was impossible to put down, the danger aspect that permeates the pages adds to its suspense. Additionally, the blood antiquities theme evokes Raiders of the Lost Ark vibes, especially as Stella delves deeper into the truth.

The Author’s Note at the end of the book further emphasizes the seriousness of the heinous crime, solidifying the historical aspects of the story. This is my fourth book by Kimberly Belle, and she certainly didn’t disappoint. In fact, this book just might be one of my favorite books of 2024.

Many thanks to Park Row and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This one was meh for me. It started off interesting but got kind of predictable and was a little bit of a boring read

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle. Stella and her husband Adam are on a vacation in Europe, following a business trip for him, when Adam suddenly is caught up in an explosion and disappears, presumed dead. Stella is blindsided and slowly realizes that Adam is not the innocent art dealer that she thought he was, he actually dealt in blood antiquities-stolen archeological artifacts. It is a very dangerous and very lucrative business. This is a thriller-as she tries to figure out what happened, which of the lies are actually true, and if her husband is actually dead. Fast moving and definitely kept me reading! #thepariswidow #kimberlybelle #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #lovetoread #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Paris Widow” in exchange for my honest opinion. I am a big fan of Kimberly Belle books and was thrilled to get a copy of her latest book. This story starts very close to the action and it doesn’t take long for tragedy to strike. The problem is that I didn’t have time to get to know the characters enough to really care about them. The plot seemed to stick at points and was fairly predictable. The chapters that went back in time weren’t super helpful in keeping the plot moving. I found myself wanting to finish so I could move on to my next book. I will still read future books by Belle, this one just wasn’t able to capture my interest.

“𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.”

I was excited to dive into Kimberley Belle’s latest, a thriller set in Paris, especially after devouring her co-written novel Young Rich Widows earlier in the year.

Belle drew me in right away a pulse pounding first few chapters that start with married couple Stella and Adam enjoying their last morning in Paris that immediately leads to an explosion and its immediate aftermath, with a missing Adam and a frantic Stella. I enjoyed having both Stella and Adam’s points of view, especially since Adam isn’t in a lot of the present day action, due to being missing, allowing the reader to get to know his secrets from his perspective. Even though they both make choices that endanger the other, I felt like Belle did a solid job at making their love for each other apparent, especially when considering the motivation behind some of their decisions. Paris really shines here - Belle’s descriptions had me reminiscing of my time in the city - it made me want to go back (although without an explosion and people chasing me please). The real life inspiration drawn from the underground world of art trading was incredibly interesting (and slight unnerving!) Belle also introduces a lot of shady characters, which allowed the story to read a bit like an adventure/spy thriller, with Stella unsure of who to trust and wondering just who was watching her. It made for quick page-turning, with some reveals that I didn’t see coming.

The Paris Widow is a story of love, money, betrayal, and change. It is a lot of fun, easily bingeable, and has the elements to make a great movie (think of Stella running through the Paris streets!). Thank you to Park Row Books, Harper Collins Canada & NetGalley for the ARC!