Say "bonjour" to Kimberly Belle...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

Ever since I read The Marriage Lie, Kimberly Belle has become one of my go-to thriller writers. She always manages to keep me in suspense and guessing from beginning to end. And my heart races each time. I'm excited to celebrate the recent publication of her latest thriller, The Paris Widow, which earned five stars from me. (Reviewed here.) Be sure to buckle up for this armchair adventure, and check out our interview in the meantime. Thanks to Emi Battaglia PR, we have one copy to give away!

Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author with over one million copies sold worldwide, with titles including The Paris Widow, The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Kimberly’s novels have been optioned for film and television and selected by LibraryReads and Amazon & Apple Books Editors as Best Books of the Month, and the International Thriller Writers as nominee for best book of the year. She divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam. 

Visit Kimberly online:
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Synopsis:

When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice, normal guy—a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics.

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?

An irresistible, fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales, The Paris Widow explores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us—no matter how far we travel. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"I was glued to the pages of The Paris Widow! I couldn't stop reading and was blown away by the twists and turns. One of my favorite reads this year!" 

—Freida McFadden, New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid

“The Paris Widow is irresistible from the very first page. Simultaneously glamorous and harrowing, full of danger and excitement, with a passionate love story at its heart, this is the definition of a page-turner. I devoured it and so will you.” 

—Michele Campbell, internationally bestselling author of The Intern

"The Paris Widow is a gripping tale that takes you on a thrilling journey through some of the most enchanting locales of Europe. This book is a must-read for those seeking an enthralling escape into a world where danger and intrigue intersect with the enduring echoes of past secrets. Belle has crafted an irresistible page-turner that keeps you hooked from the first page until the very end." 

—Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of The Leftover Woman

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?

Just one? Hmm, hard to choose, but I think I would tell myself to stay true to the stories I really want to write. It’s so easy to let yourself get swayed by what editors think is best for your “brand” or what the market is clamoring for, and though you definitely shouldn’t ignore market trends, the best stories are the ones that demand to be told. Write the story that speaks to you, I’d tell myself, and the right readers will find it.

How is Stella similar to or different from you?

Stella and I share a keen wanderlust. Like her, I’m always thinking about my next trip, my next foreign adventure. As a former flight attendant, though, Stella has seen a lot more of the world than I have. She’d be a great travel partner, and the kind of loyal and fun person I’d choose as a friend. 

How much research did you have to do in order to bring Paris to life on the page?

The kind of research that meant multiple visits to Paris, thankfully. I stood at the base of the Eiffel Tower when it lit up at night. I walked the same piece of the Seine I chase Stella down. I drank café au lait and ate galettes at so many sidewalk cafés that I lost count. What is it they say? Paris is always a good idea, and all my visits really made the city come alive for me as I was writing.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 

Kristin Wiig. She was so fabulous in Palm Royale, and her accent was spot on. I’m nowhere near as funny as she is, but I’m always happy to laugh at my own expense. 

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?

While I’m spending a few weeks in the US for the book’s release, the rest of the summer I’ll be in Amsterdam –a season the city really comes alive. We’d start with a boat trip through the canals, the very best way to see the city, and make stops at some of the best highlights. The Anne Frank House, of course, along with the Rijks and Van Gogh museums, and no trip to Amsterdam is complete without a visit to the Red Light District. Smack in the middle of the chaos there is one of my favorite sights in the city, Our Lord in the Attic Museum, a 17th century canal home with a Catholic church in the attic. It’s an important bit of Dutch history—hidden churches like this one were tolerated by the Protestant city government., and vice versa when the Catholics were in charge. Even today, Dutch people are known for their live-and-let-live attitude.

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?

I watch more TV than movies these days, but I really loved American Fiction. It was such a scathing satire of the publishing industry, and a lot of it felt uncomfortably familiar. It’s a film that’s hilarious and entertaining but also very relevant, and not subtle about its themes. 

Thanks to Kimberly for chatting with us and to Emi Battaglia PR for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends June 23rd at midnight EST.

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