thank you netgalley for the free e-arc. i absolutely loved this book. i had previously read other books by belle and liked them all. i couldn't believe that i read this in one day (a few sittings but still), it was so action packed and easy to follow. i loved how belle had 2-3 main characters and a bunch of side characters but the side people came and went, never staying long and never confusing their characters. two twists i didn't expect and then the ending was really great, too.

Couple vacationing in Paris when tragedy strikes. The husband is presumed dead in a mysterious cafe bombing. While his widow anxiously awaits the outcome of a search, she starts to uncover secrets about the man she married. A very quick read.

Action Packed Thrill Ride For The War On Terror Era. If you're like me, you see a title like "The Paris Widow" and you're thinking this is going to be some WWII historical fiction novel that tends to blend into each other because it has both been done so much and because you've read so many of them.

Well, you'd be wrong, in this case.

Because *this* is actually one of those "who can I trust" action packed suspense thrillers where everybody has secrets and literally no one - not even the maid - can be trusted. It is one you're going to sit up reading well past bedtime because Belle has mastered the art of leaving the chapter on just enough of an edge that you *need* to read the next chapter to see what happens next... only to now find that you're a dozen chapters and a couple hours after you said "just one more chapter".

Set primarily in Paris, with some flashbacks to earlier interludes in Atlanta, Georgia (US) and others in a few different locations in and around the Mediterranean, this is one of those tales where while the settings don't become characters themselves, they are described so beautifully that you're going to wish you were there yourself.

Fans of the "ho hum this is just another story that oh fuck oh Fuck Oh FUck OH FUCK!" type of tale are going to have a particularly fun time with this one. (And let's be real here, that sentence was also fairly fun to write. :) )

So pick this book up, sit down in that beach chair right there on the pool deck, and prepare for the sunburn of your life as you get engrossed in this book for several hours until you finish it in one sitting. You've been warned. :)

Very much recommended.

Stella and Adam seem to be living a comfortable life while traveling through Europe. On the last day of their stay in Paris, an explosion rocks their world, and nothing will ever be the same. This was such an exciting read with a unique storyline. I felt like I was walking through Paris along with the characters, recognizing many of the sights. I even added a few more places to check out on my next trip to Paris! I loved the fast-paced adventure and the shocking twists throughout the book. The characters were full of dimension, which only added to the intrigue and mystery of the antiquities business and their part in it. Be sure not to miss the author’s note regarding world treasures at the end!

3.5 stars, rounded up. Solid mystery thriller.

I cruised quickly through this one as the pace was rapid and everything unfolded in an exciting way. Was it believable? Not at all, but it was fun for me regardless.

Stella and Adam have been married for four years and are on a combination work and pleasure trip around Europe. Adam runs a business where he purchases architectural antiques and preserves them in construction projects. Stella is a former flight attendant who can't wait to show Adam her favorite restaurant in Paris. After an amazing meal they are hurrying back to their hotel to check out to make their plane, but Adam returns to the restaurant for a forgotten item and is involved in an explosion. Stella searches, but Adam has disappeared. As she begins to talk to the authorities and search for him, secrets are uncovered, and their pasts and things they have hidden in their present begin to come to light.

I was all in for this thrilling trip around Europe and I liked Stella's pursuit of the truth. We get some flashbacks about their trip and see how things unfolded. There are some surprises, and in general this is a fun, exciting adventure of a thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats waiting to see what will happen next.

If you’re craving a thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than Kimberly Belle's latest masterpiece, "The Paris Widow." From the glamorous avenues of Paris to its shadowy underbelly, "The Paris Widow" masterfully blends the city's allure with a gripping mystery.

When Stella Knox married Adam, she thought she was trading her jet-setting, tumultuous past for a stable, loving future. But as they embark on a dream European vacation, their world is shattered by a devastating explosion in a Parisian city square. Adam vanishes, and Stella’s idyllic life is thrown into chaos.

Stella’s desperation to find her husband uncovers shocking truths: Adam was no ordinary man but a dealer in rare and stolen antiquities with a dangerous clientele. As she navigates this treacherous world, Stella must determine if Adam is a random victim or the attack's intended target.

Belle’s writing is captivating, making you feel Stella's panic, fear, and determination as she searches for answers. The story is perfectly paced, with each chapter pulling you deeper into a web of deceit and danger.

"The Paris Widow" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller with a mix of glamour, danger, and mystery. Prepare to be glued to the pages as you follow Stella’s quest through the captivating and treacherous streets of Paris. Kimberly Belle has delivered another five-star thriller that’s perfect for your summer reading list.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This story had me hooked from the beginning and as it progressed, I kept changing my mind as to what was happening. Was Adam an innocent victim of a bombing? Who could Stella trust in her quest to find out what happened to Adam?

I loved how the story went back and forth between the future and the recent past, and multiple locations. I felt like I was right there and experiencing all the emotions as Stella as she found piece after piece of information as to what Adam may have been involved with. This was a fast-paced story full of intrigue, backstabbing, danger, love and romance, and secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Paris Widow is a new thriller about a woman who is traveling with her husband and then something bad happens. She soon learns that her husband is not who she thought he was.

This book was just ok for me. I loved the Paris setting and the vacation vibes. I liked that it was fast paced and full of action. It was a quick read and I love that.

On the other hand, I was a bit annoyed with the characters. I don't like when a spouse has a secret identity and this book had that. I also just didn't connect with the characters.

I liked this book but didn't love it. I think there is an audience for it so I would still recommend it, it just didn't totally wow me.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Harlequin for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read by the author and she has now become a favorite! This one ticked all of the suspense, mystery, and thriller boxes for me! Such a fast paced, wild read that had me up late trying to figure out where it all would end.

Stella and Adam are a couple with secrets. While joining Adam on a business trip through Europe, life as they both know it unravels. Adam is missing after a Paris bombing, and Stella is trying to figure out what happened. Is Adam still alive? The police reveal that Adam has had a lengthy career dealing in stolen artifacts on the black market, unbeknownst to Stella. The more Stella digs into Adam's past, the more she she discovers that Adam is not who she thought he was. But Stella has secrets as well and as those come to the surface, they just might be linked to Adam.

I loved both characters and their revealed pasts that added such depth. The pace is fast and the story is twisty! I thought this was a very creative and different plot. The past like baggage seems to follow us where ever we go, I loved every page!!!

I always enjoy a Kimberly Belle book and this did not disappoint! It was fast-paced, suspenseful and honestly just fun to read. The twists and turns kept me engaged, and the concept of the art & antiquities trade was so interesting to me. Highly recommend this one for a fast summer read!

This year, I have been trying authors I haven't read before and have discovered some new faves. Add Kimberly Belle to that list! From the prologue, this had me on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down.

Stella and Adam are enjoying a wonderful vacation in Paris when tragedy strikes. Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. And if that isn't bad enough, Stella is stunned to learn from the French police that they have been investigating Adam for dealing in stolen antiquities. Did she really know the man she married? Stella refuses to leave Paris until she knows the full story, but there is danger behind every turn.

'Trust no one,' Stella is repeatedly warned in this action-packed thriller. And as a reader, I found myself unable to trust anyone either. The story twists and turns, revealing secrets and exposing the dark underbelly of those dealing in stolen or "blood" antiquities. Double-crossing, greed, and a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game are all set against a backdrop of fabulous places like Paris and Amsterdam. As an art lover, I was fascinated by the parts dealing with art and antiquities. I even googled a specific ring mentioned in the book, and it was real, as was its theft. Belle clearly did a lot of research.

I had so much fun reading this! It was well-plotted, suspenseful, and entertaining. I flew through it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row Books, and The Hive for the free book!

I've waited for so long for this book!!! I found out about this book while the author was still writing it. It sounded interesting and so full of mystery... but then I waited and waited... a full year passed and I forgot about this book, but the minute I saw it on netgalley I had to request it. And I got it! Thank you netgalley and Kimberly Belle for this opportunity to read the paris widow!

This book did not disappoint me in the slightest. Full of mystery and finding out about Adam and Stella. So good. I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Belle's books!

The Paris Widow is full of twists and turns you won't see coming. A true page turner that I couldn't put down from the very first page! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read this ARC.

While Stella and her husband are on a vacation/work trip to Europe, their hold world is turned upside down an explosion causes Adam to go missing. As Stella searches for her husband she find out he isn't who she thought he was. Can she figure out what is going on, who he really is and where he is?

I love the concept and storyline of The Paris Widow. The mystery was really intriguing and interesting. Parts were a little slow and repetitive for me though. Overall I did enjoy The Paris Widow and the mystery behind Adam!

I have loved every book Kimberly Belle I have ever read, and this one is right up there with the rest. Stella and Adam are on a European trip when something goes terribly wrong. While Stella is trying to figure out what happened, you find out details about both her and Adam's past. I love the way the story all tied together in a way I didn't expect. Even though there wasn't a big shocking twist, this was a very good fast paced thriller.

The Paris Widow dives into the world of illegal art trading. When Stella’s husband, Adam, goes missing after a bombing on their vacation in Paris, Stella is confronted with the fact that she never really knew her husband at all…She’s deemed “the Paris widow” and now has tasked herself with finding out what happened to her husband and who might be after her. This is a quick thriller full of mystery and intrigue from start to finish.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was face paced and covered a very interesting topic of illegal arts and antiquities trading. I loved the setting of Paris and other European countries in explored in Stella and Adam’s travels. I thought it was interesting the way all the characters came together and apart in different ways. I also really was happy with the ending. Definitely not a Belle book to miss!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the book #TheParisWidow by #KimberlyBelle. I read this book on one sitting and absolutely loved it. Adam and Stella are taking a dream vacation that turns horribly wrong. Adam goes back to the cafe for his sunglasses and suddenly it gets bombed. Stella has no clue if Adam is alive or dead. What she does find out is maybe she doesn’t know her husband like she thought. This book is a definite must read!

Oh wow! What a ride! This book kept giving me back to back drama, a “Who the bleep did I marry” type of situation. Stella and Adam are in Paris, for Adams work, hes an antiques dealer of sorts, something drastic happens, there are dead bodies and missing people. Stella ends up finding out that her husband isn’t who he seems and her life starts to unravel in such a crazy way. This was a HUGE page turner, kept me on my toes.

This book gave me whiplash as I sped through the pages trying to find out quickly what would happen next in this twisted tale of love and secrets. Adam and Stella are on a dream vacation when an explosion occurs at a little cafe and Adam is gone. Stella is left on her own to discover what was really happening in Adam’s life that endangered him so much and at the same time, she makes revelations about the secrets she is guarding from her own past. There are a lot of shady characters in this book that deals with the underworld of stolen antiquities, so there’s a big question throughout the novel of who can be trusted and who should be avoided. Just for the record, I kept guessing incorrectly, but I kept guessing because that is part of the entertainment value of this mesmerizing book. The pace is fast, the characters are not all relatable but they are all realistic and dynamically portrayed. This book is a spy thriller, a psych thriller, a mystery and a romance all rolled up into a neat package and in several settings throughout Europe. It was obvious that the author knew the areas well as the details she offered about the various places were fascinating, adding to the atmospheric drama of the story. This is a book that is masterfully crafted to capture the reader and it succeeded with me, becoming one of my favorite thrillers of the decade.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The prologue was interesting, and it immediately drew me into the story. This is a good read if you are looking for a summer thriller. A vacation of a lifetime- visiting beautiful locations like Amsterdam, Malta, Bilbao, the Amalfi Coast, Luxembourg, and Paris- turns into a nightmare. As Stella searches for her missing husband, she uncovers shocking details about him. With each chapter, you begin to wonder if Stella has secrets of her own, and who she can trust. I couldn’t wait to see how the story would wrap up. This is my third book by Belle, and I look forward to reading more by her.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Nonlinear timeline
✔️Alternating POVs
✔️Secrets & lies
✔️Antique and ancient artifacts

Favorite quote: “We don’t see things as they are , we see them as we are.”

Thank you @htp_hive for the ARC!