Member Reviews
This captivating journey takes readers on a thrilling adventure from start to finish! It is undeniably an engrossing read that keeps you hooked until the very end. Stella and Adam embark on a European vacation, but their final day in Paris takes a terrifying turn when a bomb detonates. As chaos ensues, Stella finds herself frantically searching for Adam, unsure of his fate. What follows is a gripping tale of deception, theft, and homicide as Stella navigates her way through a web of lies in her desperate quest to locate Adam. I devoured this compelling story in one sitting, making it a must-add to your "To Be Read" list!
Thank you to Net Galley and Park Row Books for the advance copy.
Another hit by Kimberly Belle. She is an automatic read for me. This book kept me guessing what was going to happen to Stella with a different main plot than other books I have read lately.
This was a perfectly fine mystery, I just couldn’t really connect to the characters. It was a slow burn and followed a scammers. Overall it was just kind of fine
I love a book that instantly captures my attention and doesn’t let go. The Paris Widow is an action-packed page turner that I couldn’t put down brimming with secrets and twists. Plus it transports the reader to Paris, bonus points for that!
If you enjoy adrenaline-fueled, cat and mouse thrillers then I think THE PARIS WIDOW would be a nice choice for you. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this one because of the TYPE of thriller it is (terrorist attack on the city/man who may be a con artist etc.), but I zipped right through it. It’s intense, bingeable, and fast paced. Maybe it’s not my favorite book by the author (Stranger in the Lake is!) but the action-packed nature of the story is good and kept me interested throughout.
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Domestic Thrillers
❥ High Tension Thrillers
❥ Cat and Mouse thrillers
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)
Stella and Adam , a couple totally in love with each other begin a fantastic vacation in Paris. Adam finds and sells historical artifacts. After dining at a sidewalk cafe before heading to the airport to return home. Adam is missing his favorite sunglasses and insists on returning to retrieve them at the cafe. Then everything changes.
Non-stop intrigue begins. This novel captures you and doesn’t stop with unexpected events. Very surprising mystery/thriller for sure.
Kimberly Belle's 'The Paris Widow' is a gripping thriller that hooks you from the very start and never loosens its grip. From its compelling opening to the escalating tension as secrets are exposed, Belle expertly spins a web of intrigue and deception, keeping readers enthralled until the final page. A must-read for anyone who enjoys thrilling suspense and intricate storytelling.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this early version. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
You can never outrun your past or your secrets.
This is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that blends romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of Europe's most enchanting locales. When Stella meets Adam, she believes she has finally found stability after a chaotic past. However, her newfound peace shatters when Adam goes missing following a devastating explosion in the city square.
Stella's determination to uncover the truth about Adam, despite the danger stalking her through the streets of Paris, is compelling. Her transformation—from someone seeking normalcy to someone unraveling a dark mystery—is portrayed with depth and nuance, making her journey a page turner.
The setting is vividly depicted, with descriptions of Paris and other European locales bringing the scenes to life. This rich backdrop adds to the story's allure, juxtaposing the beauty of the surroundings with the sinister secrets lurking beneath.
The pacing of *The Paris Widow* is expertly handled. The plot twists are well-timed, maintaining a high level of suspense without overwhelming the reader. The mix of action and introspection creates moments of intense excitement and thoughtful reflection, ensuring a balanced and engaging narrative.
It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery set in beautiful locations. This book not only entertains but also digs into how the secrets of our past can shape our present, no matter how far we travel.
Very good contemporary suspense. Young married couple visiting Paris are separated when a bomb goes off on city street. Stella realizes she doesn’t really know her husband as she’s trying to find Adam. Good read without explicit language
Adam is a rare antique dealer who travels often to source items for his clients. Stella decides to meet him on his latest travel visiting various cities in Europe, happy and in love. On their last morning in Paris, Adam runs back to a café to get something he left behind and promises to meet Stella at the hotel.
There is an explosion, Stella starts to panic, frantically looking for Adam. Things are not what they seem, secrets to unravel and Stella is determined to figure it out!
An action-packed cat and mouse story, the writing was fast paced and easy to follow. Definitely binge worthy! It was told in combination of past and present. Past from Adam’s POV in the days prior to the explosion which I thought was clever, giving us just enough to go on.
Although entertaining throughout, the last third of the book lost a little magic. We learn a little about the MC’s past, but it felt out of place, there was no real build up to it, it didn’t feel believable to me, a little forced/unnatural.
Ultimately, it’s fun quick read. Perfect for those looking for a fast paced binge type read!
Lies, Lies, Deceptions, and Love... WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? The first half of this book had some serious 'The Last Thing He Told Me' vibes, If you loved that book, then you will surely love this book, too! It was a a wild ride of cat and mouse that kept me wanting more every bit of the way! I binged this book in less than a day!
Adam had a trip to Paris planned for work, where he is a dealer of rare antiques, and his wife Stella had was able to join this time. It was a vacation some only dream of, with dining and shopping in Malta, Capri in addition to Paris. But everything goes terribly wrong when Adam forgets his favorite pair of sunglasses and runs back to retrieve them.
Was it just a case of wrong place wrong time when possible terrorist attack takes place that takes out majority of the city square, including the cafe that Adam left his sunglasses in? Stella searches for days, speaking to police and reporters, after learning that Adam's phone goes straight to voicemail and police search for survivors and victims.
As the days pass, Stella starts to learn some very disheartening things about the man she calls her husband. But shes not leaving Paris without knowing what happened to him.
Thank you Netgalley & Park Row Publishing for the ARC of The Paris Widow in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own!
The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle is an action packed suspenseful thriller novel. The story in The Paris Widow is one that is told mainly from one point of view but a few chapters alternate to another and is mainly told in the current timeline with also some flashing back to past events with the characters.
Four years ago Stella met and fell in love with her now husband, Adam. Adam is a rare antiquities dealer who travels looking for unique items to bring back to his business in the states. Stella and Adam decided that Stella would accompany him on his latest trip to Paris to also have a bit of a romantic getaway too.
One day while touring around Paris Adam forgets his sunglasses as he and Stella are heading back to their hotel. Stella heads on without him as he rushes back to retrieve the glasses but a huge explosion takes place and Stella can’t find Adam anywhere in the mayhem after the incident with victims surrounding her everywhere she turns. As the time passes without Adam being found Stella learns from a French policeman that Adam may have been involved in illegal activities making him a target of the bombing.
I’ve read quite a few novels from author Kimberly Belle in the past so I was expecting to pick this one up and find a story that I would enjoy. What I really didn’t expect was the high intensity action and expected more of a psychological thriller but I wasn’t disappointed in the least for this change. There was still the psychological side with some adrenaline pumping and it all wrapped up together nicely. I was quite glad I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out was he or was he not the man our main character knew and if she would become a target herself so hats off to the the surprises along the way and I will definitely return to this author again to see what she will have in story for readers next.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kimberly Belle and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This one was so good. It starts off with a bang (literally) and it just never stops. I enjoyed the characters and the lies and wild secrets. I would definitely recommend. I love Belle’s writing.
The Paris wife by Kimberly Belle is a fun, summer, thriller! A wife wakes up one morning to a bombing in Paris in which her husband supposedly dies. Or does he?? She begins to investigate and realizes that her husband was involved in a dangerous operation and one which puts her in peril as she gets closer to the truth.
I don’t want to say any more about the plot, for risking of spoiling the fun. Belle has written a fast-paced, summer thriller and one in which should put her on the map of anticipated beach reads with future publications.
Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kimberly Belle doesn't disappoint when it comes to suspenseful thrillers. The title captured my attention and needed to know more! Adam and Stella are the idyllic couple on vacation when...wait for it...tragedy strikes. The questions about the sudden explosion that turned Stella's life upside down lead to a path of secrets and lies that she's not prepared for. Who is is guy she married?
The unravelling of Adam's activities is what makes a great summer or anytime read. Be prepared not to get get up from your seat when you start this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.
The Paris Widow is a fast paced mystery that follows Stella Knox as she is trying to find out if her husband Adam is still alive or one of the dead in the cafe's rubble after a bombing. As Stella navigates the streets of Paris searching for answers she has to remember to trust no one. People are trying to help her with the clues that she has found she now needs to contact someone from her past to help put the pieces together. This is an unforgettable mystery / thiller that will have you on th edge of your seat.
Stella and Adam have secret pasts in the world of art antiquities that come out after a bombing in Paris that was targeting Adam. Fast paced and hard to put down.
The banger I needed after many slow burners!!! Binged within a day!
At times I found Stella just *beyond* but then again, I’d probably be reacting the same. Cheers to that prologue because it allowed a significant understanding to Stella’s thought process and paranoia.
We have secrets and lies. We got cat and mouse. We have Bourne Triology vibes. I can see this be adapted for sure.
Lots happening! Thanks for the ARC!
An adrenaline rush! I loved it! Secrets galore, romance, a touch of glamor and lots of danger and betrayals. I couldn't put this book down and even when it ended I was still a bit stunned by how it all went down. This is a study in character development, aided by the two POVs; one "before" and one "after" that are intertwined in such a way to keep the tension continuously high. The character voices were fabulous and the character list was low, allowing each one to shine. I absolutely love how this book was written and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 305 / Genre: Psychological Thriller
Stella, a former flight attendant with a questionable past, is now living her best life. Married to a sweet, caring antiquities dealer and on vacation in Paris, Stella has no idea her entire life is about to be turned upside down. A terrorist explosion. Where is her husband? Is he dead or alive? She can’t leave until she finds him. But the more she digs, the more questions she discovers about the husband she thought she knew.
I loved this thriller! It was fast-paced and full of twists and interesting characters. The perfect beach read for your summer vacation.
Thank you, @NetGalley, @HarlequinBooks, and @KimberlySBelle for my gifted copy.