I liked The Expat Affair, but I didn’t love it. The premise—glamour, deception, and the high-stakes world of diamonds—definitely drew me in, and the expat backdrop added intrigue and atmosphere. However, while I’ve always loved jewels, I realized the cutthroat side of the diamond industry wasn’t quite as fascinating to read about as I expected.

The writing was solid, and the characters had their compelling moments, but I found myself skimming through sections. That said, there were enough twists and stylish settings to keep me engaged to the end. Worth a read if you’re drawn to international thrillers or behind-the-scenes luxury, but it didn’t quite sparkle all the way through for me.

This book started out really good but then I lost intererst and really didn't care about the rest of it.

I would give this a 3.5. I thought it was a good plot and a good story overall. However, I felt like there were times that dragged and unneeded. I started to get a bit bored around 2/3rds of the way through the book. I did like how it all ended, though!

Listening to the audiobook is like a movie! Action and drama from the start. Felt like a real story with all the details about Amsterdam, diamonds, and 3D printing. Great character building as well. My only complaint about the audio format was the volume intensity. I get you need to portray feelings, but anytime a character got slightly dramatic, the voice actors got so loud and then would be practically whispering. I was constantly adjusting the volume.

A perfect thriller! I loved the Amsterdam setting and the two protagonists, Willow and Rayna. The diamond market—and the controversial development of lab-grown stones—provided a lot of danger and intrigue, which made this audiobook exciting. The family drama also set up some great twists. The two narrators were fantastic and I loved every minute! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle

This book a fast-paced thriller set in European cities. When an American expat begins a life abroad, things begin to unravel and lies begin to come to the surface. The author blends suspense with betrayal and reinvention. This book is well paced and keep you guessing until the ending. It is a good psychological thriller from beginning to end.

The narration is good and enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and thr publisher for the alc.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I liked this but didn't love it. The novel doesn't quite reach the heights of Belle’s previous works. Some of the plot twists felt predictable, and a few characters lacked the emotional depth needed to make their motivations fully believable. While the premise is compelling, the execution occasionally leans into melodrama, which may not appeal to all readers.

Kimberly Belle never lets me down. The Expat Affair kept me riveted, and I ended up listening to it in one day. (A first for me!) The story begins with a woman who wakes up after a one-night stand to find her date murdered in a bathroom. I could fill you in on what happens next, but I would have to kill you. I enjoyed reading about daily life in Amsterdam as well as the inner workings of the diamond industry. This is a great listen, and the narrator was superb.

The Expat Affair is a twisty, fast-paced domestic thriller set against the backdrop of glamorous European cities. When American expat Charlotte’s picture-perfect life abroad begins to unravel after her husband’s mysterious disappearance, secrets and lies bubble to the surface. Belle expertly blends suspense with emotional depth, exploring themes of betrayal, identity, and reinvention. With short, punchy chapters and well-placed red herrings, the novel keeps you guessing until the final reveal. A gripping beach or vacation read for fans of psychological thrillers with a jet-setting edge.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on edge and I couldn’t stop listening at all. I flew through this book in less than 24 hours. Enjoyed the characters and first book I’ve read from this author I will definitely pick up another one of hers.

A story that starts with murder and just keeps twisting the until we get to the end. It's a thrilling ride that includes stolen diamonds, secrets from everyone you meet, and pieces I never saw coming!

I was confused at points during this story as there was a lot happening, but Kimberly Belle did a great job of tying it all together and making it make sense.

The ending was unexpected and slightly crazy, but I loved it. Everyone gets exactly what they deserved, whether they wanted it or not.

Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning did a great job narrating this novel and navigating the alternating points of view.

✈️ARC REVIEW ✈️ 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
When steamy nights turn deadly, Amsterdam's glimmering secrets aren't just in the diamonds.

I traveled with Kimberly Belle as she traded Southern suspense for Dutch intrigue, whisking us away to a world where allure and danger stroll hand in hand along the picturesque canals. 💎 It blows my mind that diamonds can be lab-grown. I need to learn that trick! 💥💎

Meet Rayna, a newly divorced American woman who wakes up to find her date dead after their first night out. Ouch! Then there's Willow, the polished society wife peeling back the layers of her husband's secrets within Amsterdam's glittery elite. Two women, incredibly different yet suddenly entangled by one murder and a whole lot of secrets.

Belle weaves in themes of reinvention, cultural challenges, and the shiny lies people tell to survive. As a fan of dual narratives, I found the exchange between Rayna and Willow riveting.

I'll admit, the first part of the book didn't quite rev my engine like Belle's previous thrill rides (I'm still swooning over Dear Wife! 💓); however, the originality of the plot and the shocking finale kept me guessing.

If you want an international escape with a side of scandal, "The Expat Affair" is your passport to a world of deception, diamonds, and dangerous liaisons. It may not top my Belle favorites, but it showcases her fearless exploration of new horizons. Can't wait to tuck her next thriller into my travel bag! 💼

Thank you to the author and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this gifted ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Diamonds Diamonds and more Diamonds. When a Rayna's date turns up dead and his priceless diamonds missing, she becomes the main suspect. Willow is the wife of Thomas Prins, the CEO of Prins Diamonds, gets caught up in the missing diamond murder case. A very twisty and curvy thriller. Very fast paced and the ending caught me off guard.

The narrator was great.

Thank you for the ARC. I liked the narrator. I would have liked male narrator for the male voices. I find it difficult to follow when this happens. The book itself was an interesting read. I quite enjoyed it.

Talk about an intricate tale. This all starts with a murder but then it all boils down to the hunt for diamonds.

This story is told by Willow and Rayna.

Rayna has a one night stand with Xander. And when she wakes up…he is dead. Xander worked for the Prins. The Prins own a huge diamond business.

Then there is Willow. Willow is married to the CEO of The House of Prins. But as the House comes under scrutiny, tensions rise in her already strained marriage and Willow starts to wonder if Rayna might be the solution she’s been looking for.

Clear as mud…trust me the author creates a compelling story that takes you to the ground floor of the diamond industry and keeps you intrigued with great characters and high stakes risk!

The narrators are Jennifer Jill Araya; Marni Penning and let me tell you…they nailed this book.

Need a complex story of murder and family dysfunction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Expat Affair ~ Kimberly Belle
An American expat’s startling discovery plunges her into the deadly world of Amsterdam’s diamond industry.
An American expat looking for a fresh start stumbles into dangerous territory when a one night stand ends in murder. But when her path crosses with another expat whose husband was the former employer of the victim things get sticky. This devilish tail takes you to the underbelly of the diamond market.
It’s hard to know who to trust in this tangled, web of lies and secrets.

the setup…
Rayna Dumont is an American expatriate living in Amsterdam and working as a freelance travel writer. Licking her wounds following a brutal and scandalous divorce, she decides to throw caution to the wind one evening and go home with Xander, her Tinder date. She wakes the next morning to find him murdered in his penthouse apartment shower. She flees the building but later contacts the police. Unfortunately, murder wasn’t the only problem in that fancy apartment. See, Xander was a gemologist and millions of dollars worth of diamonds are missing. The prime suspect? Yeah, Rayna. There’s also another American expatriate in the mix, Willow Prins who is married to Thomas, the sixth-generation heir to the House of Prins, the family diamond dynasty who Xander worked for. She’s keenly interested in the investigation…and Rayna.

the heart of the story…
Get ready for whiplash as this story moves at a breakneck pace and the suspects shift just as quickly. Rayna and Willow provide the points of view and the contrasts couldn’t be more opposite. Rayna is an open book, trying desperately to clear her name and avoid those who want the diamonds they think she stole. Willow has an agenda but she’s cagey and a bit opaque. The Prins family is highly esteemed and masterful in the cutthroat world of the Diamond industry but she’s definitely not an insider.

the narration
Jennifer Jill Araya was perfection as Willow, smoothly delivering a performance that fit her character. Marni Penning was equally skilled with her voice for Rayna. And both handled the host of secondary characters and the Dutch nicely.

the bottom line…
This was smart, intricately plotted and well researched. I was fully invested in Rayna and found myself trusting no one. Willow kept me off balance but that felt intentional. Lots of intrigue, subterfuge and treachery here, just what I was hoping for in this kind of story.

Enjoyed this unique story! When Rayna wakes up from a steamy night with her fling the handsome Xander, she is completely unaware that he has been murd3red sometime between their last night rendezvous & this morning. And then there’s Willow, the wife of Xander’s ex boss and both of these ladies are thrown into a chaotic world of diamond thieves, criminals and corruption.

What enjoyed most…
• The Dual narration for Rayna and Willow’s characters! The 2 narrators did a phenomenal job bringing life to these characters.
• Storyline - I haven’t read many books about missing diamonds, but I enjoyed diving into this world.

Overall a good read that was very enjoyable & I can’t stress how great the narration was in the audiobook. Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to HTP audio and HTP Hive for the ALC of Kimberly Belle’s newest book!

I loved The Paris Widow by Kimberly so I was very excited when her newest hit NetGalley. I decided to take advantage of my HTP audio auto-approval and try it out as an audiobook. To me, the narrator did a fantastic job putting passion into the story and giving each character life and diversity.

While I don’t know much about the diamond industry, I still enjoyed the tidbits of info about it and the high stakes at risk. Kimberly really throws you for a whirl with a dysfunctional family, an atmospheric & international setting, many deceptions, and millions of dollars worth of diamonds. Some twists were predictable in this one but others caught me off guard.

Read this one if you like:
💎 Multiple POVs that slowly intertwine together
💎 Rich people doing bad things
💎 Twisty domestic thrillers
💎 Amsterdam setting
💎 Slower paced mystery books