Oh my! I could not put this book down for wondering what was going to happen next. Who could be trusted and who not. This is a good book for an enjoyable vacation read and I will recommend that our library purchase it for public lending. The reader will enjoy trying to figure out, right along with the main character, just what in the world is going on. My first by this author, but no means my last. I recommend.

This kept my interest for sure, I read it in an afternoon. The original premise was interesting enough, a woman can’t find her husband after a bombing, but the way it escalated from there was an absolute blast to read.

3.5 stars

The Paris Widow is a whirlwind of a book! Captivating from the first chapter, it was action packed and each chapter was like peeling back another layer of an onion.
There were a couple gasp out loud moments I didn’t see coming, which I always enjoy. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that is perfect for summer.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun, fast-paced thriller in a great setting. It was a good popcorn movie of a book. Not a lot of substance but quick and entertaining.

I see it's labeled as a mystery. I wouldn't really call it that, especially in the whodunit sense. I guess it is in the sense that I never knew who the main character should trust and found myself constantly telling her not to trust anyone.

My biggest complaint is that I felt like it lost steam towards the end. The beginning really pulled me in and then... I don't know. It wasn't bad but it could've been better. All in all, though, I'd say this was definitely a decent summer thriller.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Stella and Adam Knox are having the time of their lives in Paris, as part of a long European vacation. Stella used to travel extensively as a flight attendant before she met Adam. However, Stella goes from overjoyed to devastated when Adam goes missing after an explosion at a cafe. Stella is at first hopeful that Adam survived, but then evidence is found that leads authorities to believe Adam is dead.

Although they seem like the perfect couple, it is soon revealed that Stella and Adam were both keeping dangerous secrets from each other. Stella can't believe some of the things being said about her beloved husband and she refuses to leave Paris until she gets to the truth. The book is twisty and suspenseful with a fun international setting. Even though I was interested in the story, I had a hard time connecting with either Stella or Adam. We didn't get to see enough of what Adam's thoughts were, and Stella's choices were often questionable. However, the plot kept me interested since I wasn't really sure if Adam had acted with good or bad intentions and the situations Stella found herself in were definitely engaging. You may have to suspend disbelief at times, but I enjoyed the story and the satisfying ending.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row Books, and The Hive. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle is a novel of international intrigue that will have you jetting around to some of Europe's most exciting destinations.

Stella and Adam are enjoying a decadent vacation in Paris when an explosion rocks a city square. Separated from her husband, Stella races around Paris in a desperate bid to ensure that he was uninjured in the blast. But her search will lead her to places that she never expected when police reveal that Adam has been on their radar for some time. Just how well does Stella really know the man with whom she has built a life?

I loved following Stella down the rabbit hole as she searches for the truth, and the international element added to the general intrigue of it all.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book. The Paris Widow is a fast summer read. Stella’s husband Adam has disappeared in a mysterious explosion while vacationing in Europe. In her quest to find him, Stella doesn’t know who to trust, much to her detriment (and the frustration of the reader!).

My favorite book this year. The Paris Widow is my first by this author, and wow, was I impressed! I found it wonderfully immersive from the get go. It crosses genres seamlessly with intrigue, romantic suspense, and thrilling scenes that have your heart racing. It would make a wonderful movie, as it has all the right components moving along at a good pace. The unique plot with unexpected twists has the reader totally hooked as to what is truth, what is not and who is who.

Read the publishers description. It says it all much better than I can. The author has based her subject matter on the illicit trade of blood antiquities, evidently a booming multi-billion dollar trade business from all over the world on the black market, which funds wars and terrorist activities. Who knew? The authors notes gives us factual information on this topic of which her novel is rooted. This is an eye opener to those of us who knew little about this matter, such as yours truly.

The main attraction of the novel is the relationship between husband and wife Adam and Stella, together 4 years and passionately in love. Viewpoints from both tell this story, so we know what each is feeling, thinking and what has transpired previously, going back to how they met. She a former airline hostess, and he an antiques dealer. They are vacationing, wandering throughout Europes most inviting locales with very descriptive settings one can easily envision, while they search for antiques that Adam can supply for his clients back home. He has his own small local business.

The story gets going when they have just left a quaint Parisian cafe after lunch and were walking back to their hotel when Adam realizes he has left his sunglasses at the cafe and runs back for them, telling Stella he’ll meet her at the hotel so they can check out. Before she reaches the hotel there is a big explosion talking down a whole city block that includes the area of the cafe. In the mayhem that follows Adam is nowhere to be found and doesn’t answer his cell phone.

From this point on you won’t want to put this book down. I read the first 30% of this in one sitting and whizzed through the rest shortly afterward, begrudging any interruptions. Kudos to author Kimberly Belle. I loved it and loved finding an author I will follow for more.

Release day coming right up June 11th. Pick this up, you won’t regret it.

My thanks to the following for my review copy.
#netgalley
#harlequin trade
#kimberlybelle

Can you trust the person you love the most? A fast paced trip across Europe full of secrets, lies and antiquities. Great summer read!

Wow! This book was an exhilarating ride from start to finish! If you crave mysteries brimming with unexpected twists and turns, then this is the book for you! I always dive into books without reading the blurb, and I chose this one specifically because it is set in Paris—a city that holds a special place in my heart. The author's vivid descriptions instantly transported me back to my time in the City of Light, making every scene come alive in my mind. The intricate plot and the rich, atmospheric writing kept me hooked until the very last page. I could almost smell the fresh croissants and hear the bustling streets of Paris. I am not going to give the details away with this book…you will just have to read for yourself! Truly, this book is a masterpiece that mystery lovers and Paris enthusiasts alike will devour with delight!

Main Characters:
-- Stella Knox – former flight attendant, high-end caterer to A-list celebrities, married to Adam for the past three years
-- Adam Knox – owns a shop in Atlanta that sells reclaimed antiques to builders and architects
-- Ben Sully – Stella’s former love interest, she met Adam shortly after leaving him, works in international finance
-- Arnaud Collomb – lieutenant colonel on the Paris Police Force
-- Lucas Fournier – from the Citizens Services department of the U.S. Embassy

I discovered Kimberly Belle last year when I read The Personal Assistant through a book club, so when I saw The Paris Widow on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. You’ll want to pick this one up.

The Prologue introduces us to someone smuggling something in her luggage while passing through France, and then the story cuts to the present day with Stella and Adam in Paris on vacation with a little work for Adam mixed in. The story proceeds through a dual timeline alternating from Stella’s point of view in the present and Adam’s point of view beginning 18 days prior. Stella’s timeline consists of trying to figure out what happened to Adam. Adam’s timeline explains how we got to the explosion.

This story contains a lot of players, twists, deception—all the makings of a great thriller. I had a lot of questions as I worked my way through it, and the deeper I got into the story, the more questions surfaced. Not only did I question what exactly happened to Adam, I started to question Stella and her past.

I do not want to give anything away here because I really enjoyed getting to the ending. This is suspenseful all the way through. It is easy to get lost in all of the developments, and I’m still not convinced that I know all the good guys from the bad guys. That’s all I’m going to say. I will look for Kimberly Belle again and again.

The Paris Widow should not be started if you don't have much time to read. It is one of those books that is so gripping that you can't put it down! I absolutely devoured the book reading it in 1 day. The Paris Widow is one thrill and twist after another. Imagine you married a man 4 years ago who checked all of your boxes and you've been happy ever since. Stella met Adam when helping her friend look for a rare book. Adam was filling in for the owner of the shop and he and Stella had an immediate attraction and connection. They fell in love quickly and married. Adam is an antiquities seller and operates a shop in town..

Adam and Stella take time off to travel around to some of the spots they've always wanted to go.. Towards the end of their trip they are enjoying a meal at a cafe' that Stella remembered from another trip. She was able to find it and Adam loved the food as much as she did. As they're walking back to their hotel to pack up for their trip to the airport, Adam realizes he forgot his sunglasses at the cafe'. He tells Stella to go ahead and get everything packed up and he'll meet her in a few minutes. As she is on her way back to the hotel, the ground shifts and there is a huge explosion coming from the area that Adam just walked toward. Once Stella realizes what has happened she runs back towards the smoke.

When Stella rounds the corner, the building that the cafe' was in is now gone. Rubble from the building is everywhere and there are bodies all over. Some people are injured and others are dead. Stella looks quickly at the people she can see, but doesn't see Adam anywhere. She keeps walking around and looking at the people. Adam is not there! Where could he be? She gives her name and a description of Adam to a police officer. Adam's name goes on a list of missing people. Stella is terrified and in a panic. She can't stop shaking. A tv reporter wants her to go on tv and tell people about her missing husband. She can't think of any reason not to as it might help if people are looking for him. Adam is nowhere and Stella is sick with worry.

When the police come to Stella's hotel room they tell a different story of who Adam is. They tell Stella that Adam has been on their watchlist as a person who sells stolen goods to criminals. Stella has no idea what they're talking about. The Adam she knows runs an antique shop in town and makes his living doing that. They also tell her that the bomb was set to take Adam out as he has made some very serious enemies. If the people who wanted to kill Adam think Stella knows about his other work, is she in danger? She begins to notice people around her and is sure she's being followed. When her hotel room is broken into, Stella knows she's got to take action.

Will Stella find Adam? Did Adam die in the explosion? Will Stella be able to find out about Adam's other work? Stella has also hidden something from Adam about her past. Should she go back and try to get help now? Will Stella be able to find out who's behind the bombing and help clear her husband? Did Adam really love her or was she played from the beginning? This book will have you putting your life on hold as you race to finish it! I rate The Paris Widow 5 stars with my very highest recommendation! Kimberly Belle has done it again and I can't wait for her next book! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of The Paris Widow in exchange for a fair review. #TheParisWidow

Fast-paced thrillers are my jam. The Paris Widow is just that.

Married couple Adam and Stella Knox are on a part work part pleasure European vacation. Adam works in the art industry and is traveling Europe to find additions for his shop. Stella, a former flight attendant, comes along for the ride. What’s been a whirlwind three week vacation comes to a shocking end when tragedy strikes. Adam and Stella are separated after an explosion. Stella’s desperate journey to find her husband, dead or alive, uncovers disturbing and troubling secrets.

I love that this book starts off with a bang. The alternating chapters flip back and forth between the earlier days of their vacation and the present. After starting off with mostly Stella’s perspective, the chapters begin to incorporate snippets of Adam’s. This method of storytelling always makes my heart happy. The slow release of secrets and suspense kept me flipping the pages.

If you’re looking for a quick read that incorporates a love story, suspense and the illicit trade of blood antiquities, you’ll find it here.

Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row Publisher and Kimberly Belle for this digital reviewer copy.

Blood antiquities are archaeological artefacts that have been plundered during conflicts and have been used to fund these wars. ~ Wikipedia

At the center of this new thriller set in Paris is the reality of 'blood antiquities.' We catch a glimmer of the operation in the Prologue.

Then we meet Adam and Stella. Hopscotching around the EU, they are living their best life. Finding the nooks and crannies off the beaten path. The galettes at the tiny French restaurant are 'to die for.' The explosion that follows lunch destroys a city block and detonates the nicely curated life that we thought they had.

Is Stella a widow? What about the accusations being made about her husband and his antique business? Who can she turn to for help?

This is a riveting read with high stakes. Dead or alive, Adam may not be the man Stella thought he was. Where does she go from here?

Ready for an exciting, virtual trip to Paris? Ça a l'air parfait. (That sounds perfect.)

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a solid thriller about a woman on vacation in Europe with her husband, who restores and sells antiquities. One sunny day, there is an explosion and Stella can't find her husband, who was in the cafe where the explosion happened. This is the beginning of the unraveling of their secrets and lies, histories revealed, and a cat and mouse chase through Paris. I couldn't stop reading once I started, and thoroughly enjoyed the story. It's very plot-based, and more could have been done to develop the personalities of all of the characters, but all in all it was a winner for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for the advance digital copy!

This book is filled with twists and turns. The pace is fast right from the start. Readers will fall in love with trying to solve the mystery of what really happened to Adam. Life is never as clear cut as we think it is. We all have a past. I can’t wait for readers to get this book in their hands. This is the perfect summer read, or great for your next book club.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I love a good mystery or thriller. So many I've picked up recently did not hit the mark because it read as though the plot was copy-pasted from the author's previous work. This is not the case with The Paris Widow. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down. I will definitely be recommending this to people in the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Widow. While it might not be a traditional thriller, it is certainly rich in mystery and suspense! From the very beginning, the book is packed with action, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to unravel the various mysteries. Despite my efforts, I only managed to guess one of the twists! This book is a wild ride filled with intrigue and excitement, making it a true page-turner. I highly recommend it! A big thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Paris Widow has everything that I look for in an escapist read. There are the setting, characters, storyline, suspense along with the inherent desire to just keep turning the pages until there are no more.

You won’t forget Stella and Adam. Suspend disbelief and dive right in.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book will be released on June 11th, 2024.
I was invited to participate in the Book Tour. My choice was to do an Excerpt Post. Below is the Link for it.

https://wendyreadsandwrites.blogspot.com/2024/06/blog-tour-paris-widow-novel-by-kimberly.html