I devoured this book in one sitting. It’s so fast-moving, with juicy twists that genuinely shocked me and plenty of characters you’ll love to hate. My idea of the perfect thriller—gripping, dramatic, and totally bingeable in audio form.

I wasn't crazy about this one. The characters left me cold, and it was annoying that the dutch characters were the ones with an accent, despite the story taking place in their home country.

2 ½ stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Kimberly Belle weaves a taut tale around two American expats, Rayna and Willow, whose lives collide after a shocking murder and millions in missing diamonds. It's a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages.
I loved the authentic Amsterdam setting and how Belle explored themes of trust, identity, and the darker side of the diamond market. It is one you won't want to put down and perfect for escaping into!

🎧 Audiobook Listener? I highly recommend grabbing the audiobook version! The narration by Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning truly brings Rayna and Willow's alternating perspectives to life, adding another layer of immersion to this thrilling ride. Perfect for your next commute or walk or day of chores!

When Raina wakes up from her one night stand to a dead body brutally murdered in the shower she realizes quickly how lucky she is to be alive. But whoever left her alive may not be done with her as she ends up in the middle of a diamond heist she knows nothing about. Enter the House of Prince, one of the biggest diamond dealers in all of Amsterdam and Raina ends up in the swirl of all their drama and just hope she makes it out alive.

Sometimes the narrator was a little over the top emotional, but overall I enjoyed the listening experience. The story was good, but nothing groundbreaking. It was a solid read for me!

Thanks to @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio I was able to enjoy 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑨𝑻 𝑨𝑭𝑭𝑨𝑰𝑹 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 & 𝑵𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑨𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒂 & 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊 𝑷𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, published June 3rd and accessed via @netgalley!

Rayna is needing a fresh start and decides to move to Amsterdam. Her newly revised self throws caution to the wind and gives in to enjoying a one-night stand, even posting a photo the morning after in the posh surroundings. The fun is short-lived, as she discovers the body of the handsome man dead in his shower.

Willow is married to an heir of a high end diamond house, and hears of his employee being killed, and also having diamonds stolen. She can't look away from this scandal, and finds Rayna to search for the truth.

This was a fun and thrilling story that gives a look into the cutthroat business of diamonds, both real and manufactured. The dual narration gave this story an easy way to keep track as the POV'S switched and the women uncovered clues while evading attention.

The one thing that has bothered me, however, is the term "Expat." This feels like an extremely classist term, only used by the wealthy (and usually white) immigrants (I am open to hear of this actually used outside of my experiences). In looking into the word more, I've found it distinguishes between immigrant by the nature of which one intends to live in the other country. In succinct essence, to be an Expat, you do not intend to integrate into the culture to which you have moved, whether temporarily or permanently. I have thoughts.

Anyway, for a solid suspense, I would recommend this story, and the audio format was fantastic!

This was an excellent audio. Dual narrators made this audio even better. Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning were the perfect choices for Willow and Reyna.

The International diamond trade in Amersterdam is savage. Reyna, an American expat living in Amsterdam, meets a handsome diamond broker named Xander. Xander works for the famous house of Prins, known for their diamonds going back decades. Reyna wakes up in Xander's bed one morning and shortly thereafter she finds Xander murdered in his own bathroom while she was sleeping. Diamonds are missing and Reyna is in danger. The only one who can help her is Willow. Another American expat married to one of the Prins.

I recommend this title in audio form if you have the choice. Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinaudio for a copy of this title.

Diamonds are not forever… it could end up in tragedy.
That is basically the premise of the story. Two expats were caught in the middle of a known [diamond] businessman’s death.
The first part of the novel really dragged too slow. But it kept up.
I liked the way the author writes the setting/locations it is as if i am also there too.

The narrators sound good and they pronounce the things so well. Some narrators dont

A compelling novel with a unique plot line, filled with surprising twists and sinister characters. It takes place in Holland and is told from dual perspectives, enhancing the story. The 3D printer and jewelry technology was both intriguing and unsettling.
I would have preferred a different voice for the audiobook, so I chose to read while listening.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read/listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for an advance listen of The Expat Affair.

Rayna came to Amsterdam to reinvent herself, and find herself again after a bad divorce that left her devastated. She’s determined to try new things and hopefully make a new home away from America. One of those new things is a one night stand with Xander. But when morning comes and Rayna finds Xander dead in his apartment, she realizes that she’s got herself involved with a powerful stranger and who knows what will happen if they discover who the woman sleeping in Xander’s bed was.

There’s definitely more to the plot, but I’m going to leave it with just this main snippet. If you’re curious in the rest you can find the full synopsis on Goodreads, Amazon, etc.

I enjoyed this one. I do have romantic suspense listed as one of the genres, and it’s not quite but that, but if you enjoy romantic suspense then you’ll enjoy this one. A romantic encounter is the catalyst and there are undertones of relationships throughout.

Be prepared to leave your belief at the door, this is a wild & farfetched ride - but it’s worth it. We’ve got a story that starts with a bang, and takes us on a slow burn, plot-setting first half where we meet a couple of enigmatic women who then take us on a wild ride until the end. I say all the time, a toxic relationship will pique my interest every time, and there is definitely a toxic family in this one!

One thing I really enjoyed was the Amsterdam setting. You can tell that Kimberly really loves her chosen location, it bleeds through in her writing. I wanted to visit before, but now I REALLY want to visit.

Thank you for the Advance copy of Expat Affair.

Kimberly Belle’s Expat Affair sparkles with suspense, mystery, and a touch of glamour. When an American woman relocates to Amsterdam in search of a fresh start, she hardly expects her new beginning to involve a murder investigation. What starts as a one-night stand spirals into a nightmare: theft, threats, and a trail of missing diamonds. Suddenly, she’s a prime suspect, being stalked by unknown enemies with dangerous motives.

Fast-paced and cleverly plotted, this novel is a whirlwind of shady characters and unexpected twists. Belle keeps readers guessing until the final page—who can be trusted, and who’s hiding far more than secrets?

An enjoyable read that was easy to follow and a plot that will have you hooked as you read along. I would recommend this title.

I loved the Expat Affair. The expert narration of the audiobook brings the story of an American woman navigating the mystery she’s uncovering of diamond smuggling and espionage.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?

The twists and turns kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out who murdered Xander after a one night stand gone wrong along with a missing fortune of diamonds. All this made for an action-packed storyline and a setting that made the book come alive. I couldn't get enough!


PLUS, the family is absolutely f-d up and completely unhinged, and y’all know that keeps me hooked!
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?

This is one of those stories that starts out steady. Then, the plot begins to ratchet up the pace, and I found myself flying through the rest of the book.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Dual POV
Mystery
Dysfunctional Family
Jewel Heist
Action Packed
Cat and Mouse
Amsterdam
Atmosphere

The Expats is a fast paced thriller. The Prins are world famous in the diamond industry. Rayna is an American who found herself involved with a rich diamond dealer after a night of drinking. This mystery thriller taking place in Amsterdam with its twists and turns will keep your interest.
I really enjoyed this read and would recommend it.

4 stars
Published June 2, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for a copy of this ARC/audiobook for an honest review.

Thanks again to NetGalley for a good audio thriller! The narrator was decent and able to hold my attention. I do prefer multiple narrators though. The story line was good but for some reason I wasn't overly impressed. Most of the characters I didn't care for and found them to be shallow. I will buy it for the library as it is a good solid 3 stars.

This was a great story to listen to and especially enjoyed the narrators.
Set in Amsterdam, the story centers around two U.S expats - Willow, the wife of a prominent member of one of the city's diamond merchant families and Rayna, a freelance travel writer who is sound asleep when her one-night stand - an employee of that same diamond merchant - is murdered.
Aside from the author's skillful treatment of how the murder is solved, the book offers a glimpse into the lives of the city's ultrawealthy, and the difficulties faced by transplanted American's trying to fit into Dutch culture. I also found the backstories on how Willow and Rayna came to relocate in Amsterdam and how their backgrounds related to what would follow very skillfully laid out. Synthetic diamonds, mysterious disappearances, a persistent detective - there's a lot to keep one turning the pages in this potboiler.

I found the book to be a little slow and repetitive, but it was entertaining enough to keep me listening. Sadly, it just didn’t work for me.

Biggest flaw: The over usage of the word “beige” drove me nuts. Lol.

Rayna and Willow’s story is full of mystery, thrill, secrets and suspense.

When Rayna wakes up from a tinder hookup she lays awake thinking she hit the jackpot! She is in a beautiful apartment, a beautiful bed and thinking about the amazing night she had. That soon turns to terror and her world flipped upside down when she finds the man she hooked up with dead in the shower, murdered. And why? Diamonds!

When Willow hears of Xander’s death it both scares and captivates her. She must find out what happened as she knows him from the Diamond company her husband owns, he had become her friend more than her acquaintance. With her own secrets threatening to be exposed she inserts herself into Rayna’s life for answers.

Two different POVs bring together all the lies and secrets, the near death experiences, the search for stolen diamonds, and finally an unlikely friendship.

Loved the two narratives and narrators!

This was a good mystery and who did it!

Thank you HTP Audio for the ALC and HTP / Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of The Expat Affair in exchange for my honest review.

Kimberly Belle has become a favorite for addicting, thrilling reads. She always manages to deliver pulse-pounding, edge-of-your seat reads that are completely binge-worthy and full of suspense and this latest one is no different!

International thrillers just hit a little differently…and this one was a winner from start to finish! A dead body in the bed next to you, two completely engaging POVs and stolen jewels – yes, please! Oh, and set it all in Amsterdam…how could I not love it? This book kept me guessing and hanging on with bated breath as I tried to figure out where it all was headed and I loved every second of it. I’m not sure how the author manages to create such unique, compelling reads every single time, but she does and she does it well.

I loved that the two main characters, Rayna and Willow, are so different from each other, yet I found myself equally invested in their stories. It would be easy to dislike them one or both of them, yet as the story progresses, I found it hard to not care for them and the predicaments they were in. I also loved the deep dive into the diamond industry, something I haven’t come across very often in books before. It was quite a fascinating study in this field, showing that you can learn a bit in thrillers!

This was such an addictive, binge-worthy read that is both highly entertaining yet informative as well. I love this author’s work and can now add another book to my list that I will be recommending.


Audio thoughts: This was amazing on audio, with the two narrators – Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning – doing a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Both added just the right amount of tension and suspense to their voice as needed and their pacing was spot on.

Kimberly Belle is an automatic read for me and I was so excited to receive an early copy of The Expat Affair.

The Expat Affair offers a suspenseful journey through the glamorous yet twisty world of the diamond business. I liked the two female expat protagonists, but the setting and plot details weren't developed to their full potential. This book takes place in Amsterdam- the author's writing didn't make me feel like we were anywhere special, and the plot went way too in-depth into mundane diamonds facts that I thought could have done without- it bogged down the story.

The book is fast-paced and twisty, so it kept me engaged, but just wasn't my favorites of Belle's.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.