Member Reviews

Thanks to NetGalley, Kimberly Belle, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Paris Widow in the return of an honest review. I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The premise of this one was very intriguing. It started out really strong. The characters did not hold my interest though and the plot became a bit predictable. I lost interest pretty quickly, but stuck it out until the end. I can see how a lot of people would enjoy this book. It was not for me unfortunately.

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This was, as usual from Kimberly Belle, a great read! I thought the book was everything I like—-romantic at times, always suspenseful with several twists that were unpredictable, a roller coaster, and it taught me a lot about the world of antiquities and their dealers! I have never been disappointed by this author!

Fast-paced, full of action, and thrilling. Highly recommend this one for sure!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted digital copy of the book. My review is voluntary.

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I loved the premise of this story, the description of a spouse going missing while in a foreign country where you don't know the language or people or legal system, makes for a dark and twisted, page turning read!

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The Paris Widow is Kimberly Belle's latest #thriller and this one is a wild ride while also acting as an armchair adventure.

The idea of being in another country where you don't speak the language and your spouse goes missing during an explosion is just too much to even fathom. It made me anxious and Kimberly did a great job heightening that feeling for me. There's a whole lot of mystery and suspense throughout and I was definitely nervous for Stella the entire time! I was only able to guess at one thing and everything else completely surprised me.

My only concern is that some parts got confusing, when I wasn't sure who was doing the right or wrong thing in a situation. It felt vague during those times and I wasn't sure whose side to be on when that was the case.

This novel is releasing in June, so be sure to add it to your summer TBR. If you haven't read Kimberly's books yet, you have about three months to get to know how great of a thriller writer she is while waiting for this one. (Kimberly is one of my go-to thriller writers.) Perfect for fans of Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr.

Movie casting suggestions:
Stella: Holland Roden
Adam: James Wolk

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The Paris Widow
By: Kimberly Belle
Publisher- Park Row Books
Publishing date-June 11, 2024
Pages-304

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stella and Adam are winding down their vacation in Paris after a whirlwind vacation across Europe. After a last minute visit to a cafe before checking out of their hotel, an explosion at the cafe happens.

Adam had gone back to the cafe after forgetting his sunglasses when the explosion happens. Now he is missing! An investigation begins and terrorism is suspected.

She quickly finds out Adam is not who he claims to be, according to the police. They are accusing him of being involved in stolen antiquties.

Stella wants to find out the truth. Are the police correct? Is he being set up? Is Stella in danger now?

Another page-turner filled with secrets, adventure and stunning scenery. So glad I preordered this one! Love Belle’s books.

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3.5 ⭐️

Keeps you on the edge of your seat

Stella and Adam are a married couple on vacation in Paris when a bomb goes off. Stella is trying to find Adam and uncovers some truths.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row for this eARC!

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One of my favorite books over the last few years is Kimberly Belle’s The Marriage Lie. So I could not wait to get my hands on The Paris Widow and it certainly did not disappoint! Belle does a fabulous job of creating characters that you become invested in and I love her theme of sometimes the people closest to us not being who we thought they were. I stayed up all night finishing this one in one sitting! I just reviewed The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle. #TheParisWidow #NetGalley

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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle. This is a totally unpredictable cat-and-mouse thriller that I devoured in one sitting.

Stella is vacationing in Paris with her husband Adam when an explosion rips apart the block where they had enjoyed lunch only minutes before. Stella desperately tries to find Adam but he is nowhere to be found. Adam's disappearance- and presumed death- brings a slew of suspicious characters into Stella's life. As she struggles with the rumors surrounding her husband's business transactions, Stella finds herself in one dangerous situation after another. Who has her best interest in mind and who wants her to suffer the same fate as Adam?

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This was a fast paced, wild ride from start to finish. It was a little more “action “ packed than a lot of the psychological based thrillers I typically read, but the dual POV and cat and mouse plot kept me hooked!

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Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication!

I received this arc at the perfect time. I was sick at home and wanted a distracting read. This did the trick! I tore through this book in two days. It was the sweet spot for me between being set in Paris to the stolen art/antiquities angle that threads throughout the story. I found the main character believable and didn't see some of the twists coming!

I recommend this book if you are looking for a page-turner!

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ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀɪs ᴡɪᴅᴏᴡ
ʙʏ ᴋɪᴍʙᴇʀʟʏ ʙᴇʟʟᴇ
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ 𝟶𝟼/𝟷𝟷/𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺

J’ai adoré ce livre - I loved this book.
Stella and Adam are on vacation, touring Europe, and one day, Adam forgets a pair of sunglasses and heads back to the cafe where they are having lunch. A bomb goes off, and he is presumed dead.
This leaves Stella now a widow, but before she can mourn him, she soon learns her husband, Adam, isn’t who he says he is, and she is left to put the puzzle pieces together. And she’s got a doozie of a case to solve, all while trying to keep her past hidden.

I’ve read several of Kimberly’s books, and they are all exceptional. DEF ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR!!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ S̳T̳A̳R̳S̳

#booknerdigans #shelfie #bookshelf #instabooks #bookreview #bookcommunity #booksofinstagram #igbooks #booknerd #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #bookish #booklove #booksbooksbooks #bookclub #amreading #books #bookstagram #read #bookworm #booklover #kimberlybelle
#thepariswidow #parkrowbooks #netgalleyreader

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The Paris Widow, was captivating from the from the start. I loved the Paris setting, the characters and the fresh storyline about the illicit trade of blood antiquities. The story was a bit predictable in parts. This did not take away from the story for me. I loved the characters and felt the story was not rushed. The mystery unveiled at a pace that made satisfied to know I was on the right track of figuring out who was involved. I also loved the Oscar Wilde quotes throughout the book and found myself looking forward to seeing the next one used.

This was an excellent read. Thank you for the opportunity to read it for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Kimberly Belle. I am looking forward to reading her earlier books I missed. She must read author for me.

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AMAZING! This was unputdownable - I would have finished it in one sitting if I could! A cat and mouse type thriller is my fav type of thriller, and this one didn't disappoint! It was fast-paced with lots of twists and turns - and a huge twist at the end that I didn't see coming! I loved the overall plot subject and progression too. 5+++ stars! Highly recommend to all thriller lovers.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Paris Widow was a fun and fast paced thriller. Kimberly Belle is an automatic read for me and this one did not disappoint. I did sometimes get a little lost in the history and the antiques but overall this was a solid 4.5 read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

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Like other Kimberly Belle books, The Paris Widow was an excellent read. Fast pace, likeable character, and knowledge of what she is writing about (in this case, the setting in Paris). I liked that this was original and different, and the ending was a nice surprise too.

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“The Paris Widow” is a mystery (kinda thriller) book by Kimberly Belle. This book is told mainly by Stella, former flight attendant and wife to Adam. Stella and Adam are traveling around Europe - enjoying life and being with each other. In Paris, the unthinkable happens - a bomb goes off at the cafe they were just in and Adam is missing. Against her better judgement, Stella is interviewed by the press and dubbed “The Paris Widow.” She is frantic to know where Adam is and the French Police come calling … and start questioning Stella’s involvement in Adam’s involvement in stolen art. I’ll admit that I found the chapters narrated by Stella a lot more interesting than those narrated by Adam - I’m still not quite sure what Adam’s had to offer to the book other than historical asides for the most part. I did find it, for lack of a better word, convenient that Stella also had a hidden past too - and one that aligned with Adam. What was going on was a bit obvious at times, so I cannot say this read like a true mystery (more thriller). I do think this would be better as a movie - lots of action that calls for visual effects. I think this was, for the most part, an engaging book, but I cannot say it was suspenseful due to the predictability. Overall, a 3.75 read, bumped up to 4 stars.

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I've really enjoyed all the novels I read by Kimberly Belle and this one is no exception! (though I will say I prefer some of her others, specifically "Dear Wife" and "Stranger in the Lake")

3.5 stars

It was supposed to be a dream vacation, but turns into a nightmare when Stella's husband Adam goes missing. Where is he?

This definitely kept me on my toes the entire time and I finished in three days because I just had to know what happened next and what would be revealed next. I do agree with some other readers who said the plot and final reveal was a bit predictable, but there are only so many twists and turns that really feel unique these days. It might just be because I read the same genres over and over again.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for a chance to read this early in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Stella and her husband Adam are in the midst of a dream vacation in Europe when there’s a bombing at a cafe nearby. Stella has been separated from Adam and begins searching frantically for him. When she talks to the French police, she realizes that the Adam she thought she knew might have been living a double life. It’s possible that she didn’t know him at all.

I really enjoy Kimberly Belle’s books, and this one is really a wild ride! I loved the European setting and the famous places described in the book that really make the reader feel transported to Europe along with the characters. There are times that it’s really unclear who to trust which adds to the excitement of the thriller. The story is action packed and mysterious with well-placed reveals. The antiquities black market was an interesting and unique addition that I don’t think I’ve read in a thriller before! Overall, this was a twisty and fun cat and mouse chase through Paris that I’d recommend!

Thank you to Kimberly Belle, Harlequin Trade publishing, and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

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From the remarkable mind of Kimberly Belle comes your next favorite thriller, "The Paris Widow". Beginning to end, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. If I hadn't taken my sleeping pills so early, I would've finished it within 24 hours. It was that good! It was fast-paced, compelling, and a knockout of a book.
Meet Stella, who thought she found the man of her dreams, Adam, - a nice, normal guy - totally different from her previous suitor who had lived life on the side of danger. On a whirl wind dream vacation with her husband, a bomb goes off in a quaint French restaurant, where they had just left moments ago and where Adam was heading back to after forgetting his sunglasses there. Days go by with no sign of Adam and Stella is left to wonder if Adam was a victim of the bombing or if he made it out alive.
As the French police investigate, Stella learns more about Adam and the secret life he had, but it leaves her with more questions than answers. Even though she is being encouraged to go back home to the States, she refuses to leave Paris until she knows what is actually happening and whether or not Adam is dead or alive.
Meet Adam, who is embroiled in the business of rare and stolen blood antiquities from around the world with the face of a legit business. When he double crosses a client, he is a dead man walking. But is a good guy or bad guy? And will he get out of this alive? And if he does, will Stella still want him after learning her nice, normal husband is anything but?
I love Kimberly Belle's style of writing. She really puts us, as readers, in each scene with the characters. We see what they see. We feel what they feel. She is a must-read author for me. Look for this book when it hits shelves on June 12th, 2024 wherever books are sold. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book.

Reviewed on: Goodreads
Review Date: 03-07-24

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Stella and Adam are on a dream vacation. Trekking across Europe. Drinking wine and eating their way across Paris. Suddenly a bomb explodes and Adam is lost. Is he dead? Stella refuses to leave Paris until she finds her husband. She immediately learns that Adam is not the innocent person she thought he was. It seems like everyone is looking for Adam. The police, the British police, some sketchy extravagantly wealthy art dealers, etc etc. Stella is asking herself if her husband is the villain or victim in this story. It seems like Stella has some secrets in her past as well.

I’m torn with my thoughts on the book. It’s a suspense. As Stella investigates the disappearance of her husband the book seems a bit far fetched to me. Some secrets about Stella’s past emerge and I’m like really? That seems very convenient. Also how does Stella think that they are a regular middle class family? She’s like we shop at Costco. We are normal people. Where does she think the money comes from for this fabulous trip and all of these fancy decorations in the house. You honestly can’t make that much selling antiques. It seems like she is either looking the other way or really has her head in the sand.

I guess my major complaint with this book is that it’s pretty clear what is going on and there isn’t really a mystery to solve. To me it was a little too predictable.

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