A thriller in Paris, I couldn’t put this one down! I loved the characters and the plot line, a solid 4 stars!

When Stella met Adam, she believed she found a safe and stable relationship—a welcome departure from her past. However, her world is turned upside down when Adam disappears after an explosion in Paris. As police investigate, they uncover Adam’s involvement in the criminal world, shocking Stella. Desperate for the truth, Stella refuses to leave Paris until she has answers about what happened and who Adam really is… even if it means putting herself in danger.

Belle is an auto-buy author for me and this book did not disappoint. I was invested in the story as it was suspenseful, intriguing, and even a bit romantic. It’s set in various European cities, and I loved reading about each place as well as the history behind some artifacts. I also enjoyed how although the story was mostly told by Stella, we were given chapters from Adam’s POV in the days and weeks leading up to the explosion, which made you want to root for him/them as a couple. My only complaints are that it felt unrealistic at times, and Stella made many questionable choices.

Overall, this was a quick and fun read... add it to your TBR!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!
I’ve been a Kimberly Belle fan so this immediately piqued my interest. A cat & mouse game as a woman searches for answers about her husband’s hazy business dealings/past when he the presumed target of an attack. Clearly we are getting a story with blurred lines and chaos. The setting was beautiful. As someone who travels I enjoyed the culture and foodie references. However, there were minor issues for me with pacing. Around 60 percent I started to lose interest in the back and forth. Also, Stella frustrated me to no end. For a woman with so many resources and smarts she made some silly choices. I actually at one point screamed out “girl just go home”.

Without spoilers, I’ll say I was mostly intrigued by the side characters. The meat of the story was within the others.

Oh, the authors note was educational! 3.5 stars rounded up! Great for anyone who likes a story with history and layers.

The Paris Widow is a fast-paced chase with couple Adam and Stella caught in the middle of a war within blood antiquities trade. I enjoyed the story, however, it lagged in places and there are a few plot holes. I wish a few character stories/background was more fleshed out instead of lots of time spent explaining things that did not add to the story.

I thought it was a fun read and a new story for me, as I haven’t read books having to do with blood antiquities and it prompted an interest to do some research on my own into the topic, which made this book event better.
I liked the main character, I found her interesting but also mysterious, she is an example of more fleshed out.
Overall, a decent read and I enjoyed the ending. It’s interesting and fun once it picks up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for sharing the digital copy for me to review in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Paris Widow is the kind of book you want to read in one sitting! It is a fast paced story about a couple in France on vacation until an explosion happens and separates them. The twists and turns never stop throughout this story. Along the way, the reader is immersed in the world of antiquities, art dealers, spies, and people who will stop at nothing to own a particular object. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Published by ParkRow Books.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 11, 2024
Best-selling author Kimberly Belle’s newest novel, “The Paris Widow” is chock full of drama, intrigue and tension, and I couldn’t put it down!
Adam and Stella are on their honeymoon in Paris, happy, young and hopelessly in love, enjoying the sights and sounds. Until the day a bomb goes off in the town square, and Adam disappears. Desperate, and alone, Stella refuses to return home until she knows something, anything, about what happened to Adam. When she finally gets news, it isn’t the news she expects- not only is Adam alive but he disappeared on purpose. Some very dangerous people are looking for Adam and Stella may be next.
“Widow” is narrated by both Adam (before the bombing) and Stella (after). Both storylines not only craft sensational character development, but they serve to add more tension to the pulse-pounding plot as we learn more about what exactly Adam was up to, and the secrets Stella herself is keeping.
There are numerous twists and turns (it wouldn’t be a Belle novel if there wasn’t, after all) and the ending could’ve gone in any number of directions. As always, Belle managed to make the storyline flow in exactly the right way, and I was left guessing until the final pages.
The entire story takes place in France, so “Widow” provides an exotic locale for a bit of escapism, too, which seems to be what I’ve been seeking, if my recent novel choices are any indication.
“Widow” starts off with a bang and kept me on pins and needles (in the best way), all the way to the thrilling conclusion (and somehow still manages to be romantic? Belle continues to impress). I’ve been a fan of Belle since her early works and she keeps getting better and better! I look forward to devouring her next book, and enjoying it just as much!

I could not put this down! So many twists and turns, I loved every bit of it! Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for providing me with an arc in return for my honest review.

The mysterious underworld of art theft has always interested me (blame it on growing up near Boston after the Isabella Stewart Gaarder museum theft). This book fed that interest as it traveled around Europe with Stella, whose husband, she believed, bought and sold antique architectural elements. There's tons of suspense as the story rolls out and there's a bombing, a break-in, a murder, & more. Stella's a flawed person, but I rooted for her throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley & Kimberly Belle for an advanced copy for review.

Thanks Net Galley for a free copy of this book to review.

The premise of this book was so intriguing — the black market for buying and selling of stolen antiquities. Unfortunately it was poorly executed.

The biggest problem I had was in an effort to deliver twists and turns a lot of the story was hidden until there was a scene near the end when the characters made long speeches to explain the whole story. I prefer when the nuances of a story unfold in action and not in speeches

I felt the characters were transparent and predictable. No surprises in the story.

A twisty physiological thriller that takes place in Paris (with little checkins all over Europe). Loved it!!! And loved the combo of a European (mostly Parisian) vacay with a good thriller.

A beautiful, handsome and fawning married couple (yawn) become torn apart (well, not literally) when a bomb goes off in a cafe while they are shopping for antiques in Paris. The wife, who had left the cafe while her husband returned to retrieve his sunglasses, believes her husband either died in the explosion or escaped. Either way, nothing will be the same again.

The suspense is very good, although I'd have preferred more about the antiquities trade and less about the unrealistic love story. I have never read this author before, so I didn't know what I was in for, but this book reads as half suspense and half romance novel. The latter dragged it down for me, I'm sorry to say. If you want a real thrill ride through the world of art, nothing is better than L.S. Hilton's Maestra series.

Recommended for a suspenseful read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

The Paris Widow is a fun mystery with a unique premise. While at first the plot was a little cliche, as you learn more about the characters, particularly Stella, the story gets a lot more interesting. Stella does come across as a little naive for someone in her situation, but it doesn’t take away from rooting for her to figure out what happened to Adam. The pace of the story starts out very slow, but picks up a little over halfway. If you’re looking for a fun Parisian adventure/mystery read, I’d recommend this one. (4/5)

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

First half very interesting, but lost some steam in the third quarter.

A husband and wife, madly in love with each other and enjoying a vacation in Europe, face tragedy when a bomb goes off. As XYZ, who comes to be know as “The Paris Widow” in the news media, tries to uncover the truth behind what happened to her husband and why. Will she survive or become the next target?

I’m a huge fan of Turkish culture and language, and loved that there was some of that mixed in to the story. I struggle with characters who do things that are likely to get themselves killed. It’s also a peeve of mine when there are obvious red flags that the heroine is somehow completely blind to.

But I enjoyed the fact that the story wrapped up in a happy way, because who doesn’t love a happy ending

This was a quick fun read! Perfect to get you out of a slump. The characters were easy to follow. It was interesting to see how they intersect! The setting was fabulous,you could really feel the Paris atmosphere..

Thank you to Harlequin Trade and NetGalley for another great ARC! #netGalley #TheParisWidow

Adam and Stella have the great American marriage - soulmates in every way except they both have secrets from the past they are not sharing. While traipsing around Europe vacationing and a little of Adam’s business a bomb goes off right where Adam had gone to retrieve his sunglasses and Stella is left heartbroken and searching for answers as those secrets come back to haunt them. Think James Bond with a young married couple in the art/artifact collection world of the rich.

Enjoyable spy type thriller with lots of twists and surprises!

I’m a tried and true Kimberly Belle fan. However, this is missing a lot of the suspense from past favorites such as The Wife.

I felt this book was going nowhere and was stuck in place. Felt like the conflict was small was insignificant for so much damage. Also felt this book was more spy novel than thriller, which is usually not my favorite genre.

While it still was engaging, I found myself bored at times waiting for a resolution.

Stella and her husband Adam are enjoying lunch at an out of the way Paris cafe. Adam is an art dealer in antiquities and has gone to Paris to find pieces for his shop in the U.S. Adam realizes he left his sunglasses at the cafe. Rushed for time to check out of their hotel and get to the airport for their return flight, Adam tells Stella he will meet her at the hotel as he rushes off back to the cafe. There is a terrible explosion at the cafe. And therein brings the mystery and intrigue. What has happened to Adam? Stella is labeled the Paris widow by the press. The story unfolds thru Stella’s eyes and Adam’s. The police indicate that Adam is not who he seems. Stella begins her quest to find out what happened to Adam and the truth about Adam. Lots of plot twists and turns. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who enjoy a thrilling tale of suspense.

The Paris Widow
by Kimberely Belle
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris in this new edge-of-your-seat thriller from USA Today bestselling author, Kimberly Belle.
Belle relies too much on telling instead of showing Stella's character development. Although we learn about her past and the events that shaped her personality, we never see her in action. As a result, when her personality changes in the second half of the novel, it feels inauthentic and unconvincing. Similarly, her previous relationship lacked depth and believability, leaving me unconvinced.
There are some issues, especially in the telling aspect, and a few plot holes and plot devices that didn’t fully work, but it was fun to read and experience Paris and some other European cities. Also fascinating was the focus on the art black market


The Paris Widow explores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us—no matter how far we travel.

🎯 T H R I L L E R T H U R S D A Y 🎯 featuring “The Paris Widow” by Kimberley Belle!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Stella and Adam are travelling through Europe together for three weeks. Adam is a precious antiques dealer and has brought Stella along on his shopping trip to look for rare pieces for his shop back home.

But Adam is hiding something … and he starts to get uneasy when he thinks they are maybe being followed. Then on their last day, Adam forgets his sunglasses at the breakfast place and he runs back solo to grab them before they leave Paris. A shocking & massive explosion occurs in the city square near the restaurant and Adam is no where to be seen afterwards 💥!!!

Stella’s world comes crashing down as she desperately looks for her husband. Was Adam a victim of being at the wrong place at the wrong time?? Or was he actually the target?? The more shocking information Stella finds out about Adam, the more she begins to realize that she doesn’t know her husband at all.

WHAT exactly was Adam a part of?? And is Stella the next target??

This fast paced and atmospheric thriller is a wild ride full of secrets, betrayal, greed and a devious game of cat and mouse! Thank you kindly to @kimberlysbelle @parkrowbooks @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on June 11, 2024!

𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲
I just want to give a special thanks to @netgalley, @harlequin trade publishing/ park row for my first ever digital advanced readers copy. 🥹
I’m in my thriller era currently and this kicked off my summer reading! It’s deff be a book I’d have for pool days!

𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝘽𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙧𝙞 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝘼𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙. 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧?

This is my first Kimberly Belle book and it won’t be my last! From the story setting, secrets between spouses, and mysterious characters, this thriller was everything and more.
Comes out on June 11! Perfect for summer 🤠