It took me some time to really get into this one, but once I found a rhythm, I was hooked. Dazzling European locales. Art theft and blood antiquities. A stubborn, naïve, plucky protagonist. Altogether twisty-turny and great fun.

Many thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6445719288

https://www.instagram.com/stories/sldowney/3381215401829744896?igsh=emJyazZpZzRkcmU2

Imagine being on a Parisian vacation with the love of your life - visiting historical landmarks, eating amazing food, and laying out in the sun. One day, on your way back to the hotel from the restaurant, your husband goes back to grab the sunglasses he left at the table and an explosion goes off - and the restaurant, along with the entire square, has been blown up.

Stella Knox is a caterer who was once upon a time a flight attendant with a hisotry of dating terrible men. When she meets Adam, she thinks she's finally met a normal man, and agreed to getting married after a whopping 4 months of dating. Wanting to celebrate 4 years together, they set off to Paris where she inevitably gets the nickname, "The Paris Widow."

This book is told primarily in Stella's POV in the present with a few chapters of Adam's POV in the past (a few days before the explosion). In the days after the explosion, Stella tries to piece together what went wrong with Adam while interacting with the French lietenant Colonel, a man from the embassy, and a sudden man who has been following her around town.

This book kept me wanting more because honestly - where the f is Adam??? Does her past have to do with anything? Is she in danger due his other secret job? If you want a 'who done it/where are they' type of mystery, this book is for you! 4.5 stars rounded up :)

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Paris explodes. Stella Knox, once a carefree soul, finds herself thrust into a heart-pounding cat-and-mouse game on the city's vast streets. Her husband, Adam, vanishes after a bomb blast, and a dark truth surfaces – the charming antique dealer she loved might be a criminal mastermind.

Betrayal stings, suspicion burns, and secrets spill like blood in the City of Lights. This isn't your average vacation thriller. Strap in for a high-octane chase through Parisian alleys, where Stella races against time to uncover the truth about Adam and clear her own name.

Forget dinner, forget your phone – this novel demands your full attention. Twisty revelations, building pressure, and a pulse-pounding climax will leave you breathless. It's a gem that deserves a dedicated reading session, preferably on a comfortable couch with snacks at hand.

Stella joins her husband Adam on a work trip in Paris. They’re heading back to the hotel when Adam realizes he forgot his sunglasses at the cafe. During the brief time they are separated, there’s an explosion and now a frantic Stella can’t find her husband. As she searches, things start to come to light about Adam’s work. Stella is determined to get answers.

I feel like parts of it were a little convenient and unrealistic for me personally. I also hate when rationale for everything is just blurted out abruptly in conversation between characters to wrap up a story and I felt like this did that a little bit. I did really enjoy the read and it definitely kept my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley, Kimberly Belle and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for the ebook! This book had my head spinning trying to figure out what happened and where it all went wrong! A twisty tale of love and deceit. The question is how much can you forgive?

A bit of the classical “you don’t really know your spouse” trope, but I ultimately liked the premise of this story. A working dream vacation takes Adam and Stella throughout Europe until it is cut short after an alleged terrorist attack. Stella finds herself in the midst of a nightmare. Not only is she unable to find out if her husband is dead or alive, but she has become a target of one of Adam’s most notorious and deadly clients.

Stella’s character is a little flat in the beginning and it is very hard to sympathize with her naivete over Adam’s profession. This becomes a bit more entangled when we are queued into the fact that this is not her first foray into black market artifacts. However, I did find this story to be a fast and thrilling read. Stella really began to grow on me when she got her affairs in order and started to take control of the situation.

This is a fast paced thriller about a strong woman seeking the truth about her husband. An explosion and a missing husband who may be dead or alive sets the stage for this page turner. Stella, the wife, refuses to leave Paris until she finds out the truth about her husband Adam despite all the danger and nefarious people she encounters. Kimberly Belle does an excellent job writing about the many facets of marriage. The storyline is intriguing and keeps you turning the pages.
Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for an advanced eGalley of this book.
#TheParisWidow #KimberlyBelle #NetGalley

I gave The Paris Widow five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Net Galley and Park Row Publishers for this ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I loved this book! I devoured it! Stella, Stella, there was way more to you than I ever saw coming. And, Adam might be my book boyfriend.

I saw a couple reviewers who said it’s more telling than showing, especially when it comes to Stella and why she’s the way she is. And, while that is mostly true, I was able to picture the whole thing like a movie in my head. And, I think the showing was much more prevalent after the bombing - I could picture how frantic Stella was.

This is a fast paced cat and mouse thriller (think James Bond). I was totally invested in Stella - everybody else was a side character - even Adam - because the book is about the Paris widow, not her husband.

How well do you know your husband? Does he have a secret life that you don’t know about? Or are people telling you lies? Stella is with her husband on a vacation in Paris when he disappears in an explosion at a café in Paris. Intrigue, deception, and a thrilling cat and mouse game that may lead to deadly consequences makes this a real page turner!

Stella and Adam are on a vacation in Europe when Stella's life becomes a terrible nightmare! Adam has disappeared after an explosion in Paris. Is Adam still alive? Why are the police investigating his business dealings? Does his business as an antique dealer have something to do with his disappearance? There are many twists and turns to the story that kept me guessing until the end. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
In her signature style, Belle shines at crafting marriages full of secrets, lies, and deceit.
Her storytelling skills always make for compelling and thrilling reads.

The Paris Widow is a fast-paced tapestry of intrigue and was highly entertaining! The characters are so well developed with complexities and depth, and the attention to detail allows the reader to connect more with the story. Belle creates strong and resilient women in her books, and The Paris Widow is no different.
Stella is strong and determined to investigate her husband's secret life to find the truth.

The vibrant, descriptive, and atmospheric settings made for such an immersive Parisian experience in this cat and mouse thriller.
The author did a wonderful job writing about the illicit blood antiquities and the underground art world. It was thrilling and interesting and added a whole other level of intrigue to the story.
Be sure to read the author's note for more information on the blood antiquities.

I loved how Belle went in a different direction with the book by weaving historical fiction into her thriller, and it was done so seamlessly mixed with the mystery, romance, and suspense.
I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Thank to Netgally, the publisher and author for my copy. My review was voluntary

“Farei qualsiasi cosa per te” ~ I would do anything for you.

This is a spectacular thriller. I hadn’t planned on binge-reading, but I seriously couldn’t put this one down!

I quickly placed Kimberley Belle on my auto-read list!

Stella and Adam Knox are at the end of 21 spectacular days in Europe (6 countries, 10 stops) and about to call for a taxi to the airport when Adam discovers he’s left his glasses at the cafe. They decide to divide and conquer: he’ll go fetch his glasses and she’ll empty the safe and bring the luggage down to the lobby. Adam’s final words are, “See you in ten, back at the hotel.”

He doesn’t show up.

New-to-me-author Kimberly Belle immediately impressed me with her prologue; I knew I’d be reading about a woman who was confident at hiding something. I needed to know more! Then Belle’s pacing and her ability to put me through the gamut of emotions Stella was experiencing in her search for Adam confirmed for me that I had a fantastic book in my hands. I enjoyed her examination of the human psyche, why we tell lies of omission and the lessons we learn from our mistakes. Belle had me down a deep rabbit hole researching blood antiquities.

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

I loved the thought-provoking questions she had me consider:
1) In choosing a partner, do we choose that particular person because of our own history? Adam didn’t show any interest in peering into the dark corners of Stella’s past, didn’t want to know who else she’d dated, nor what other versions of her existed. Because she had something to hide, she was willing to overlook the same tell-tale signs in her husband of three years.
2) Do we project what we think our partner wants to see? That we’re normal, mainstream and respectable. Are we hiding who we really are because of expectations? Or are we a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of person?


I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

⭐️3.5
Indiana Jones vibes but in Paris.

Stella and Adam are the perfect couple making their way through little shops, indulging in delicious food and being “that couple” you love to hate.

Adam is an antiques dealer that seems to have a few secrets. Stella has some secrets as well.

This story hits the ground running when a bomb goes off and Stella and Adam are separated. Stella begins a race against time and hidden enemies to find her beloved husband.

This was not one of my favorites, but you’ll love it if you like the history of artifacts, lots of action and heist thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6352000904

Publication date: June 11, 2024

Stella and Adam are on a trip through Europe when the unthinkable happens in Paris. There is an explosion and Adam may be killed in the blast. This is the story of two people who keep secrets from each other. Do you really know your spouse? Who can Stella trust in searching for her husband? Should she just believe what she is being told and go home or should she follow the clues to see who her husband is/was?
Is Adam alive and if he is where is he hiding? Is Adam a criminal with people trying to kill him? Stella, also, has a past. Can her past help her solve the riddle of her husband's death.

This is an exciting read. You will be trying to figure out who is believable and who can be trusted. It will definitely keep you turning the pages. If you like books that grip you and keep you reading late into the night then this is a book for you.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #KimberlyBelle, and #ParkRow for a copy of this book
#TheParisWidow

First let me say, this book should be a movie! It has all the elements a good thriller movie needs: suspense, action, unreliable characters, art theft, violence, and a killer plot. The pace of the book was perfect. I never found myself bored or wanting more. The only reason I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars was because I guessed a big plot twist. However, guessing correctly didn’t take anything from the story. I absolutely loved this book and can’t recommend it enough!

A dream vacation for a couple in Paris is derailed when Stella’s husband, Adam goes missing after an explosion the people of Paris think may have been a terrorist attack.
Frantic to find out what happened to him, Stella stumbles upon secrets Adam had been keeping from her and finds herself entangled in a police investigation. The police tell her that Adam may have been the target of the explosion, but Stella isn’t certain, and now she’s questioning her entire marriage.

With a literal bang, Kimberly Belle starts ‘The Paris Widow’ and never lets up the pace. Filled with lies, deceit, stolen art, and embezzlement, this incredible page-turner takes you on a thrilling ride through luxurious European locations. Stella, the appealing protagonist, grapples with secrets from the past as she navigates the streets of Paris. Belle’s vibrant descriptions of the setting add to the allure of this suspenseful novel. A solid thriller that hooks you in from the beginning!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review is on goodreads and will be posted to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other indie book sites on publication day.

The Paris Widow
Kimberly Belle
6.11.24

Belle has done it again. Another thrilling adventure ride with unexpected twists and turns, riveting me to the pages!

Stella and Adam are on vacation in Europe, last stop: Paris. It’s their last day and they separate briefly – in this brief separation, there’s an explosion and Adam is in the blast zone. When Stella isn’t able to find or contact him, she is terrified and devastated. Fearing the worse, she remains in Paris while the authorities look for victims. Hope is fleeting as time runs out but things take a turn for the worse when a persistent French policeman insists that Adam is a criminal, dealing in the dangerous black market of blood antiquities.

Hold on to your hats because this book is non-stop action, thrills, and intrigue! The pages just turn in this one and I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together. The characters are perfect! There are those that I loved to love and those that I loved to hate and then, there were some that I judged unfairly but surprised me in the end. Love when that happens!

If you’re looking for a twisty compelling thriller, then The Paris Widow should be on your TBR!

Thank you so much @HTPBooks for this gifted DRC!

The Paris Widow was a twisty Parisian thriller that showcases Belle's familiarity with the setting. For some reason, I just wasn't connecting with Stella as a character, even though I was generally interested in the pretty action-packed plot. I'm not sure why it didn't connect with me, but I'm sure it will for some other people!

Stella and Adam are in Paris mixing business with pleasure, until the unthinkable happens. What happens next can only be described as a nightmare. How well do you know your spouse? Who can you trust?

Set in Paris, this book is full of international intrigue and drama and had me frantically turning the pages to see what happens next. Belle starts off in one direction and from there, the twists and turns kept on coming. She pulled me into the story where I actually forgot the beginning until it hit me. Not sure how she did it, but Belle made the characters likable, even with all their faults. I knew little of the stolen and rare antiquities market so I found this both intriguing and disturbing. If you are looking for something different from your usual vacation read, I highly recommend this book. Kimberly Belle has quickly become one of my favorite thriller writers. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for her next book.

Thanks to Harper Collins CA and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This started well.

Stella started anew after an incident made her see what a bad influence her ex was. Now she's got Adam, the perfect husband, with whom she's on a trip around her favorite places in Europe. They're on their last day when tragedy separates them, and she can't find Adam.

The beginning is really good, I love how the scene is set, how we admire Adam through Stella's eyes, how we mourn him when the bombing occurs and he's nowhere to be found. It wasn't over dramatic, it felt real. As Stella begins going after what could be behind the bombing, it's still exciting. I really wanted to know what was going on. Unfortunately, the story lost its charm to me as it developed.

It's not that it became a bad book, but the reasons behind the events, the plot twists, the action, it all made it be just like some hurried sequel to a classic, it's what I couldn't stop thinking. Suddenly, the book lost its uniqueness and just felt like a sequence of cliches or absurd revelations that felt out of place. As in, the tone set in the beginning didn't agree with the rest of it.

It's a quick read, the mysteries and solutions aren't bad or anything, but I feel like the beginning had promised me more and deeper.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.