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My Darling Husband
Bestselling author of Dear Wife and The Marriage Lie, Kimberly Belle returns with her most heart-pounding thriller to date, as a masked home invader reveals the cracks in a marriage.
Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2021
About the author
Kimberly Belle
20 books4,505 followersKimberly 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,916 reviews
April 6, 2022
Happy pub day to this one of the most heart throbbing reads of the year! 🥳🥂🎈
Put put put put toot ( my heavy breathing effects) I’m congratulating myself to finish this book after suffering panic attacks at least 7 times, biting my nails, scraping my nail polish, stress eating three bags of hot munchies, 5 pints of ice cream, biting my cushions ( no food left and eventually I had to channel my anxiety to somewhere), swallowing feathers ( damn cushions! I have to order new ones), coughing up, falling down from couch, rolling up ( that’s the only way I can still hold my ereader and move my numb body through the direction of bathroom at the same time) ! But mostly I congratulate myself to finish it without risk of possible heart attack !
Argh! This is tense! Tenser than any random L. A. woman’s forehead who has been injected Botox at least hundred times!
Think about the movies Panic Room meets Funny Games: home invasion by dangerous intruder who threatens a woman and two children’s lives while her darling husband shared secrets bigger than my grandiose TBR list!
The story starts with a tv interview between Channel 7 reporter Juanita Moore ( second cousin of Julianne Moore, okay I lied, let’s continue )and Cam Lasky who was shunned by media for months, portrayed as one of the biggest grifters, most hated behind Pharma Bro, Martin Shkreli. We learn that Cam was once upon a time a top chef, owner of 5 highly appraised restaurants. But the reason behind public hate is not he has same treats with Gordon Ramsey. Hell, no! It’s connected to his family who suffered a big tragedy and the reason why they suffered so much connected with his tremendous lies he kept from them.
Cam and his wife Jade seem like power couple, having all including two adorable children in private school , spacious home, fancy cars, designer clothes, luxurious vacations! Such a dreamy life which turns into a nightmare with the web of lies crack the deceiving facade of their lives.
Pacing is incredibly heart pounding, minute by minute you’re observing the action packed, extremely disturbing interactions between the masked home invader and Jade who is smart, connecting the dots so fast, getting enough clues about the motivation and plan of their kidnapper, calculating everything to save her two children. But their intruder are always few steps ahead of her. Why? How can he know too much about their lives? How can he know so many details of their house and their daily habits? Was he spying on them before?
At the same time we see how Cam tries to find the ransom money , watching the footage of his home, witnessing how his family suffers under control of a villain!
Overall: this is intense, extremely high tension, exciting, breath taking , absolutely best book of the author earned my five unlawful entry, parenting, high tension, nail biter, mind bender stars!
Absolutely one of the best and most anticipated thrillers of the year!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin / Park Row for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Put put put put toot ( my heavy breathing effects) I’m congratulating myself to finish this book after suffering panic attacks at least 7 times, biting my nails, scraping my nail polish, stress eating three bags of hot munchies, 5 pints of ice cream, biting my cushions ( no food left and eventually I had to channel my anxiety to somewhere), swallowing feathers ( damn cushions! I have to order new ones), coughing up, falling down from couch, rolling up ( that’s the only way I can still hold my ereader and move my numb body through the direction of bathroom at the same time) ! But mostly I congratulate myself to finish it without risk of possible heart attack !
Argh! This is tense! Tenser than any random L. A. woman’s forehead who has been injected Botox at least hundred times!
Think about the movies Panic Room meets Funny Games: home invasion by dangerous intruder who threatens a woman and two children’s lives while her darling husband shared secrets bigger than my grandiose TBR list!
The story starts with a tv interview between Channel 7 reporter Juanita Moore ( second cousin of Julianne Moore, okay I lied, let’s continue )and Cam Lasky who was shunned by media for months, portrayed as one of the biggest grifters, most hated behind Pharma Bro, Martin Shkreli. We learn that Cam was once upon a time a top chef, owner of 5 highly appraised restaurants. But the reason behind public hate is not he has same treats with Gordon Ramsey. Hell, no! It’s connected to his family who suffered a big tragedy and the reason why they suffered so much connected with his tremendous lies he kept from them.
Cam and his wife Jade seem like power couple, having all including two adorable children in private school , spacious home, fancy cars, designer clothes, luxurious vacations! Such a dreamy life which turns into a nightmare with the web of lies crack the deceiving facade of their lives.
Pacing is incredibly heart pounding, minute by minute you’re observing the action packed, extremely disturbing interactions between the masked home invader and Jade who is smart, connecting the dots so fast, getting enough clues about the motivation and plan of their kidnapper, calculating everything to save her two children. But their intruder are always few steps ahead of her. Why? How can he know too much about their lives? How can he know so many details of their house and their daily habits? Was he spying on them before?
At the same time we see how Cam tries to find the ransom money , watching the footage of his home, witnessing how his family suffers under control of a villain!
Overall: this is intense, extremely high tension, exciting, breath taking , absolutely best book of the author earned my five unlawful entry, parenting, high tension, nail biter, mind bender stars!
Absolutely one of the best and most anticipated thrillers of the year!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin / Park Row for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
January 11, 2022
Disappointing
3.25 stars
My Darling Husband is a psychological thriller about a family held for ransom.
When Jade arrives home with her two young children to find an intruder in her garage, her life changes dramatically. Jade’s husband Cam only has hours to gather over $700,000 and pay up or risk losing his wife and children forever.
The narrative alternates between Jade, devoted wife held at gun-point, Cam; husband to Jade and celebrity chef; and Sebastian, the gun-wielding-ransom-demanding home invader (this isn't a spoiler, the villain is revealed early on, but his motives are not revealed until far into the novel). The narrative is uneven, as Jade's POV covers most chapters. I found Cam’s chapters to be the most interesting, but I wish they had more to them. Jade was annoying, but she grew on me; her character is the most developed. Sebastian’s chapters were pointless. I think this book could have been more interesting without his POV, as there would have been a greater element of mystery behind his motives.
The first chapter sets things up to be a juicy read. Once the home invasion occurs, a good level of tension and suspense is established. Sadly, it was predictable from there. At a certain point, events began to drag, and I grew bored while waiting for the final showdown that I knew was coming. When the big moment finally occurred, it was anticlimactic.
The characters make some frustrating and stupid choices. There is also a commentary on the U.S. healthcare system, which felt out of place. The ending just kind of happens with everything neatly wrapped together. I was hoping for a twist or a surprise or some oomph, but the events fall flat.
There isn’t much substance to My Darling Husband, but there is a lot of action. This is a decent popcorn thriller that kept me entertained, but I doubt I will remember much about this book in a month or two.
3.25 stars
My Darling Husband is a psychological thriller about a family held for ransom.
When Jade arrives home with her two young children to find an intruder in her garage, her life changes dramatically. Jade’s husband Cam only has hours to gather over $700,000 and pay up or risk losing his wife and children forever.
The narrative alternates between Jade, devoted wife held at gun-point, Cam; husband to Jade and celebrity chef; and Sebastian, the gun-wielding-ransom-demanding home invader (this isn't a spoiler, the villain is revealed early on, but his motives are not revealed until far into the novel). The narrative is uneven, as Jade's POV covers most chapters. I found Cam’s chapters to be the most interesting, but I wish they had more to them. Jade was annoying, but she grew on me; her character is the most developed. Sebastian’s chapters were pointless. I think this book could have been more interesting without his POV, as there would have been a greater element of mystery behind his motives.
The first chapter sets things up to be a juicy read. Once the home invasion occurs, a good level of tension and suspense is established. Sadly, it was predictable from there. At a certain point, events began to drag, and I grew bored while waiting for the final showdown that I knew was coming. When the big moment finally occurred, it was anticlimactic.
The characters make some frustrating and stupid choices. There is also a commentary on the U.S. healthcare system, which felt out of place. The ending just kind of happens with everything neatly wrapped together. I was hoping for a twist or a surprise or some oomph, but the events fall flat.
There isn’t much substance to My Darling Husband, but there is a lot of action. This is a decent popcorn thriller that kept me entertained, but I doubt I will remember much about this book in a month or two.
March 8, 2022
The book opens with an interview chapter between Juanita Moore of Channel 7 Action News and Cam Lasky-Atlanta’s Steak King-the brains behind the Lasky Steak restaurant empire.🥩
Juanita is giving Cam the opportunity to “set the record straight” on what happened on August 6th-the day that his wife Jade, and their two young children, Beatrix and Baxter (affectionately called the Bees!) were held hostage in their own home, by a masked invader.
“Knowing what you know now,” Juanita asks, “if you could go back and do things over, what would you do differently.”
Cam’s answer- EVERY SINGLE THING!!
The book then unfolds with alternating chapters of “the Interview”, and those told from the POV’s of Cam, Jade, and Sebastian-the masked invader who isn’t asking for a cool million-just $734, 296.
An intriguing amount to ask for…
Jade’s POV is from inside the house, as she and the children are being held hostage.
Maybe because this is my third book in as many months with this same scenario, I was NOT QUITE hanging off the edge of my seat, as I should have been considering the circumstances…
Sebastian’s POV takes place from inside the home as well.
The pace of Cam’s chapters IS fast, as he finds out about a catastrophic kitchen fire in his best performing restaurant AND the hostage situation, in the span of a few short hours, and he races to gather the ransom money.
And, you thought you were having a bad day?
The interview chapters are “after the fact”-filling in all of the blanks for us. Time runs out with the answer to ONE question, left unanswered…..no spoilers, but I think, the answer is YES.
What will you think?!
Although for much of the book I WAS engaged I wasn’t finding anything particularly fresh. But, towards the end, Kimberly Belle managed to surprise me with a couple of the reveals-showing once again why I auto-request her books! She is CONSISTENTLY entertaining!
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Park Row for my gifted copy provided through It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Juanita is giving Cam the opportunity to “set the record straight” on what happened on August 6th-the day that his wife Jade, and their two young children, Beatrix and Baxter (affectionately called the Bees!) were held hostage in their own home, by a masked invader.
“Knowing what you know now,” Juanita asks, “if you could go back and do things over, what would you do differently.”
Cam’s answer- EVERY SINGLE THING!!
The book then unfolds with alternating chapters of “the Interview”, and those told from the POV’s of Cam, Jade, and Sebastian-the masked invader who isn’t asking for a cool million-just $734, 296.
An intriguing amount to ask for…
Jade’s POV is from inside the house, as she and the children are being held hostage.
Maybe because this is my third book in as many months with this same scenario, I was NOT QUITE hanging off the edge of my seat, as I should have been considering the circumstances…
Sebastian’s POV takes place from inside the home as well.
The pace of Cam’s chapters IS fast, as he finds out about a catastrophic kitchen fire in his best performing restaurant AND the hostage situation, in the span of a few short hours, and he races to gather the ransom money.
And, you thought you were having a bad day?
The interview chapters are “after the fact”-filling in all of the blanks for us. Time runs out with the answer to ONE question, left unanswered…..no spoilers, but I think, the answer is YES.
What will you think?!
Although for much of the book I WAS engaged I wasn’t finding anything particularly fresh. But, towards the end, Kimberly Belle managed to surprise me with a couple of the reveals-showing once again why I auto-request her books! She is CONSISTENTLY entertaining!
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Park Row for my gifted copy provided through It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
December 28, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
$734,296.
That’s the amount that Cam Lasky, famed chef and restaurant owner, will have to pay in cash if he wants his wife and two children to live.
His wife, Jade, is already on edge when she makes her way home with the children...only to face a masked intruder with a gun. The intruder ties the three of them up and eventually makes his demands known. His implication is crystal clear as well. Cam needs to pay up, or they’re all dead.
While the clock ticks, Cam races around town trying to get the money. Jade tries to figure out a way to save her children and herself. She also asks herself some questions:
Who is this home invader?
Why the specific amount of money?
Why did he choose the Lasky family?
My Darling Husband hits the ground running from the first chapter, and rarely lets up. I was immediately invested in the story. Told from multiple POVs and two timelines, author Kimberly Belle excels at keeping things tense and moving right along.
Initially, I was more interested in the chapters with Cam trying to figure out how he was going to get so much money in so little time, but did end up warming up to the scenes with Jade and her children...along with the home invader.
I was hoping for a major twist at some point, and while that didn’t come to fruition, I have to say the intensity in the second half really increased, giving me feelings of dread and anxiety. I also found it to be thought-provoking and emotional at times.
While there may not be any major surprises, this book manages to entertain throughout...and at a fast pace to boot. This is also a situation where I would’ve greedily liked one more chapter...and yet, I also think the ending is perfect.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Park Row for providing me with a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 12/28/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
$734,296.
That’s the amount that Cam Lasky, famed chef and restaurant owner, will have to pay in cash if he wants his wife and two children to live.
His wife, Jade, is already on edge when she makes her way home with the children...only to face a masked intruder with a gun. The intruder ties the three of them up and eventually makes his demands known. His implication is crystal clear as well. Cam needs to pay up, or they’re all dead.
While the clock ticks, Cam races around town trying to get the money. Jade tries to figure out a way to save her children and herself. She also asks herself some questions:
Who is this home invader?
Why the specific amount of money?
Why did he choose the Lasky family?
My Darling Husband hits the ground running from the first chapter, and rarely lets up. I was immediately invested in the story. Told from multiple POVs and two timelines, author Kimberly Belle excels at keeping things tense and moving right along.
Initially, I was more interested in the chapters with Cam trying to figure out how he was going to get so much money in so little time, but did end up warming up to the scenes with Jade and her children...along with the home invader.
I was hoping for a major twist at some point, and while that didn’t come to fruition, I have to say the intensity in the second half really increased, giving me feelings of dread and anxiety. I also found it to be thought-provoking and emotional at times.
While there may not be any major surprises, this book manages to entertain throughout...and at a fast pace to boot. This is also a situation where I would’ve greedily liked one more chapter...and yet, I also think the ending is perfect.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Park Row for providing me with a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 12/28/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
November 8, 2021
A nail-biter from start to finish!
Cam Laskey is better known as the Steak King in Atlanta. And if you want a table at one of his premiere restaurants you may be waiting weeks (maybe months) for a reservation. But what’s really going on behind those kitchen doors?
Cam’s wife Jade and her two kids Beatrix and Baxter, (known as the Bee’s) pull into their garage never realizing there may be someone there hiding, waiting for them.
A tense, suspense-filled read as Cam races against time to save his family. While Jade channels every bit of a protective mama bear to save her children.
Impossible to put this book down! I devoured it in just a few sittings. Kimberly Belle clearly knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. I love her thrillers and cannot wait for her next!
Definitely one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin – Park Row.
Cam Laskey is better known as the Steak King in Atlanta. And if you want a table at one of his premiere restaurants you may be waiting weeks (maybe months) for a reservation. But what’s really going on behind those kitchen doors?
Cam’s wife Jade and her two kids Beatrix and Baxter, (known as the Bee’s) pull into their garage never realizing there may be someone there hiding, waiting for them.
A tense, suspense-filled read as Cam races against time to save his family. While Jade channels every bit of a protective mama bear to save her children.
Impossible to put this book down! I devoured it in just a few sittings. Kimberly Belle clearly knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. I love her thrillers and cannot wait for her next!
Definitely one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin – Park Row.
January 3, 2022
5 stars!
Pulse-pounding from start to finish!
Jade comes home with her two young children to find a masked gunman waiting. The gunman has Jade call Cam, her celebrity chef husband, demanding $750,000 by 7pm. Jade and her children are held hostage while Cam has three hours to deliver the money and save his family.
This was addictive, gripping and tension-filled. The suspense and tension starts from the very beginning and doesn’t let up AT ALL! I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book. Perspectives change from Cam, Jade, the gunman and snippets of a social media interview with Cam after the incident. Each perspective was done brilliantly keeping me completely consumed and not wanting to put the book down.
I’ve read most of this authors work and am a huge fan. I’m excited to say that this is her best yet! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Park Row for my review copy!
Pulse-pounding from start to finish!
Jade comes home with her two young children to find a masked gunman waiting. The gunman has Jade call Cam, her celebrity chef husband, demanding $750,000 by 7pm. Jade and her children are held hostage while Cam has three hours to deliver the money and save his family.
This was addictive, gripping and tension-filled. The suspense and tension starts from the very beginning and doesn’t let up AT ALL! I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book. Perspectives change from Cam, Jade, the gunman and snippets of a social media interview with Cam after the incident. Each perspective was done brilliantly keeping me completely consumed and not wanting to put the book down.
I’ve read most of this authors work and am a huge fan. I’m excited to say that this is her best yet! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Park Row for my review copy!
December 27, 2021
I enjoyed this year's offering by Belle much better than last year's Stranger in the Lake This one, although it doesn't really have any truly shocking twists, is a tense thriller from start to finish.
After picking up her six and nine year old kids from school, Jade Lasky heads home and is faced by a masked man with a gun in her garage. He restrains all of them and says that he will let them go if Jade's husband Cam, a wealthy chef-owner of many high end restaurants, brings him $734,296 in cash by 7 PM. If not, he will kill the children first and then Jade. As Cam sets out to try to gather the money, Jade and the kids try everything they can think of to get out of their frightening situation.
The tale is told from multiple points of view: Jade, Cam, the intruder, and sprinkled throughout is an after-the-fact interview with a very snarky Cam. We learn that each of them are hiding things, but some are hiding much more than others. The tension is palpable throughout, I tore through the pages at a rapid pace to see what would happen next and was pretty satisfied with the ending even though it was a little more open-ended than I would have liked.
There are a few things that require a bit of suspension of disbelief--especially when Cam is thinking that the insurance adjuster will just write him a check on the same day as the fire. Yeah, anyone who has dealt with insurance claims knows that it is an extremely slow process.
Overall this is more of a thriller than a mystery or suspense novel, but it also has some humanity and an intriguing look at wealth disparity and privilege. Kimberly Belle writes some very exciting books and I look forward to her next one.
Kindle and Audiobook out December 28, Paperback publication date (changed) March 8, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
After picking up her six and nine year old kids from school, Jade Lasky heads home and is faced by a masked man with a gun in her garage. He restrains all of them and says that he will let them go if Jade's husband Cam, a wealthy chef-owner of many high end restaurants, brings him $734,296 in cash by 7 PM. If not, he will kill the children first and then Jade. As Cam sets out to try to gather the money, Jade and the kids try everything they can think of to get out of their frightening situation.
The tale is told from multiple points of view: Jade, Cam, the intruder, and sprinkled throughout is an after-the-fact interview with a very snarky Cam. We learn that each of them are hiding things, but some are hiding much more than others. The tension is palpable throughout, I tore through the pages at a rapid pace to see what would happen next and was pretty satisfied with the ending even though it was a little more open-ended than I would have liked.
There are a few things that require a bit of suspension of disbelief--especially when Cam is thinking that the insurance adjuster will just write him a check on the same day as the fire. Yeah, anyone who has dealt with insurance claims knows that it is an extremely slow process.
Overall this is more of a thriller than a mystery or suspense novel, but it also has some humanity and an intriguing look at wealth disparity and privilege. Kimberly Belle writes some very exciting books and I look forward to her next one.
Kindle and Audiobook out December 28, Paperback publication date (changed) March 8, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
January 24, 2022
My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle is a 2022 Park Row Books publication.
Jake and Cam are living the life. Jake is a celebrity chef and provides his family with a comfortable lifestyle. But a home invasion changes everything.
Jade and her two children are held captive in their home, while Cam is instructed to gather ransom money to keep his family alive. While Cam calls in favors and furiously scrambles to gather the required amount of cash, Jade is left to wonder why her family has been targeted, as secrets float to the surface, exposing the dark corners in her marriage for all the world to see…
The home invasion premise is always one of the most intense crime fiction scenarios. A ticking clock, the constant threat of injury or death, intense, anxious criminals, are fertile ground for revelations to surface, which is what happens here.
I thought Cam relating the story in hindsight was unique, gives the reader a little break from the intensity, and never gives anything away in advance, other than Cam has been ripped apart by the press, he is now ‘canceled’, and carries around a massive chip on his shoulder. It will now be up to the reader to decide if Cam’s fate is deserved.
Still, for the story to work, it must be properly paced, and well-constructed and the author did an admiral job with both. The characters aren’t as well defined as I would have liked, but the surprises are well-timed, and mostly effective. The safety of two young children helps to increase the urgency and might even have saved the story from being just another run of the mill domestic thriller.
This is a solid effort by Kimberly Belle. It checks all the right boxes for a psychological/domestic thriller and delivers, overall, in all the ways that really matter.
3.5 stars
Jake and Cam are living the life. Jake is a celebrity chef and provides his family with a comfortable lifestyle. But a home invasion changes everything.
Jade and her two children are held captive in their home, while Cam is instructed to gather ransom money to keep his family alive. While Cam calls in favors and furiously scrambles to gather the required amount of cash, Jade is left to wonder why her family has been targeted, as secrets float to the surface, exposing the dark corners in her marriage for all the world to see…
The home invasion premise is always one of the most intense crime fiction scenarios. A ticking clock, the constant threat of injury or death, intense, anxious criminals, are fertile ground for revelations to surface, which is what happens here.
I thought Cam relating the story in hindsight was unique, gives the reader a little break from the intensity, and never gives anything away in advance, other than Cam has been ripped apart by the press, he is now ‘canceled’, and carries around a massive chip on his shoulder. It will now be up to the reader to decide if Cam’s fate is deserved.
Still, for the story to work, it must be properly paced, and well-constructed and the author did an admiral job with both. The characters aren’t as well defined as I would have liked, but the surprises are well-timed, and mostly effective. The safety of two young children helps to increase the urgency and might even have saved the story from being just another run of the mill domestic thriller.
This is a solid effort by Kimberly Belle. It checks all the right boxes for a psychological/domestic thriller and delivers, overall, in all the ways that really matter.
3.5 stars
December 29, 2021
Wow!! Her best yet in my opinion!!! ❤️ Kimberly Belle is pretty much to blame for my love of thrillers! The Marriage Lie started it all. So needless to say..I am a huge fan of her books! This however, is my all time favorite.
One of the most terrifying things that could happen ..a home invasion...Jade and her two children are living this nightmare...and quite frankly I was too! It was so atmospheric, tense and terrifying..I am not kidding when I say it made my pulse quicken.
It's a race against time...as Cam the well loved celebrity chef must pull out all the punches and make the ransom money deadline....or things won't end well.
As this kept building with intensity...it just got better and better...it seemed personal. What on earth could be the connection?
That feeling of being on top of a roller coaster and waiting for the bottom to drop out? That is what I felt while reading this book! Absolutely fantastic!
5 freak me out, anxiety ridden, up all night stars!!
Huge shoutout to Park Row for my gifted copy!
One of the most terrifying things that could happen ..a home invasion...Jade and her two children are living this nightmare...and quite frankly I was too! It was so atmospheric, tense and terrifying..I am not kidding when I say it made my pulse quicken.
It's a race against time...as Cam the well loved celebrity chef must pull out all the punches and make the ransom money deadline....or things won't end well.
As this kept building with intensity...it just got better and better...it seemed personal. What on earth could be the connection?
That feeling of being on top of a roller coaster and waiting for the bottom to drop out? That is what I felt while reading this book! Absolutely fantastic!
5 freak me out, anxiety ridden, up all night stars!!
Huge shoutout to Park Row for my gifted copy!
September 5, 2021
3.5 STARS
Payback?
Wife calls darling husband with a shocking statement.
Husband responds that if she is joking, it isn't funny.
She isn't joking.
We get an AFTER the scenes peek throughout the novel as the husband, Cam is interviewed by a news reporter. The crime is over and he is commenting on the various aspects. These chapters are interspersed as the kidnapping is unfolding.
This gave the story a little pizzazz.
There is a lot of action with a fast-moving plot, but not much suspense for this reader. Maybe because I only saw one way it would end and it did?!
This one will have you checking your webcams and double bolting your doors!
A quick read! Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT DEC 28, 2021
Payback?
Wife calls darling husband with a shocking statement.
Husband responds that if she is joking, it isn't funny.
She isn't joking.
We get an AFTER the scenes peek throughout the novel as the husband, Cam is interviewed by a news reporter. The crime is over and he is commenting on the various aspects. These chapters are interspersed as the kidnapping is unfolding.
This gave the story a little pizzazz.
There is a lot of action with a fast-moving plot, but not much suspense for this reader. Maybe because I only saw one way it would end and it did?!
This one will have you checking your webcams and double bolting your doors!
A quick read! Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT DEC 28, 2021
March 25, 2022
1.5 stars— One thing I have always been able to say about Kimberly Belle’s books was that they were solid thrillers that I enjoyed from beginning to end…. Until now. “My Darling Husband” tells the story of the kidnapping of a mother and her two kids at their home by a criminal who has a grudge for which he is seeking revenge. As the story unfolds and the more I learned about the kidnapped family (including the husband who is called upon to pay their ransom for their release)the less I liked them. The book is also saddled with a failing restaurant business subplot that is both annoying and boring. As the plot trods on, it loses all credibility as it continuously attempts to make a 9 year old into Wonder-woman all of the way to the climactic final scene. The only emotion I felt upon completion of this book was relief that it was over. Despite keeping a fast pace, the ridiculous twists and turns in this book barely kept my interest. Even if you are a Kimberly Belle fan like me, I would advise you to skip this clunker.
February 9, 2022
“Your American dream is my nightmare.”
Wow!! This was not exciting as I really hoped it would be, but it did its job.
So we got Jade and Cam, a married couple who shares everything with each other, or do they? They have two kids, Baxter and Beatrice. Baxter is your everyday innocent boy (bless his heart) who hasn’t been damaged by life yet, and Beatrice is a really smart kid who shocks me with her actions throughout the story. A masked home invader holds them hostage and demands that Cam brings a really specific large amount all in cash if he wants his family to live. Is this just about the money though?
We get Cam’s point of view in two different timelines, one where he is figuring out how to get the money, and another where he is being interviewed about the hostage situation. I liked how it illustrated how when you are going through something, you don't really think much, but when you're recounting your actions, you're suddenly like "What was I thinking?" The interviewer is a bit mean, but we learn a lot about him and why he probably isn’t the “darling” husband like his wife, kids, and even we as readers think he is. What kind of person is Cam and how has he been able to hide that side from his family?
Jade and Cam throughout the story think a lot about how they wished they had spent more time or spent the time they did have differently with their children. It really sucks that people have to grow through something like this before they realize what is actually precious to them in life right?
About the masked invader…..Yes, he gets his story too! Did Belle actually make us try to sympathize with him? Maybe. I’m not gonna say much because of spoilers, but his story brings up good points about the greediness of our system in America. What is his motive in holding Jade and her children hostage?
Overall reflections, this story is one of the many reminders that you really think you know what you are going to do in a tough situation. Well here is my chance to tell you to stop lying to yourself. Oh, also something that this book made me think about is legally right versus morally right. Crazy right? As I said, the American system has its faults, and sometimes you really gotta decide if being legally right clashes with your morals. Not everyone is leaving the “American dream” so please remember to be kind to everyone❤️.
Wow!! This was not exciting as I really hoped it would be, but it did its job.
So we got Jade and Cam, a married couple who shares everything with each other, or do they? They have two kids, Baxter and Beatrice. Baxter is your everyday innocent boy (bless his heart) who hasn’t been damaged by life yet, and Beatrice is a really smart kid who shocks me with her actions throughout the story. A masked home invader holds them hostage and demands that Cam brings a really specific large amount all in cash if he wants his family to live. Is this just about the money though?
We get Cam’s point of view in two different timelines, one where he is figuring out how to get the money, and another where he is being interviewed about the hostage situation. I liked how it illustrated how when you are going through something, you don't really think much, but when you're recounting your actions, you're suddenly like "What was I thinking?" The interviewer is a bit mean, but we learn a lot about him and why he probably isn’t the “darling” husband like his wife, kids, and even we as readers think he is. What kind of person is Cam and how has he been able to hide that side from his family?
Jade and Cam throughout the story think a lot about how they wished they had spent more time or spent the time they did have differently with their children. It really sucks that people have to grow through something like this before they realize what is actually precious to them in life right?
About the masked invader…..Yes, he gets his story too! Did Belle actually make us try to sympathize with him? Maybe. I’m not gonna say much because of spoilers, but his story brings up good points about the greediness of our system in America. What is his motive in holding Jade and her children hostage?
Overall reflections, this story is one of the many reminders that you really think you know what you are going to do in a tough situation. Well here is my chance to tell you to stop lying to yourself. Oh, also something that this book made me think about is legally right versus morally right. Crazy right? As I said, the American system has its faults, and sometimes you really gotta decide if being legally right clashes with your morals. Not everyone is leaving the “American dream” so please remember to be kind to everyone❤️.
December 21, 2021
Oh, how I love a shiny new thriller from Kimberly Belle! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
About the book: “Bestselling author of DEAR WIFE and THE MARRIAGE LIE, Kimberly Belle returns with her most heart-pounding thriler to date, as a masked home invader reveals the cracks in a marriage.”
Jade and Cam are living the “perfect” life with their two cute kids and happy marriage. Their restaurant is flourishing, and so are they. Until they aren’t. Until someone breaks into their home and a kidnapping with ransom takes place.
Cam has been playing the role of the perfect husband and father for a while, but he’s carrying a heavy load of secrets. And a scandal is in his very near future.
As ever, where Kimberly Belle excels most is the pacing. Quick chapters and tension from the start kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. So much tension, such a nail biter, this one got under my skin and felt so real. This was exactly the thriller I needed at the right time and one I could not put down!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “Bestselling author of DEAR WIFE and THE MARRIAGE LIE, Kimberly Belle returns with her most heart-pounding thriler to date, as a masked home invader reveals the cracks in a marriage.”
Jade and Cam are living the “perfect” life with their two cute kids and happy marriage. Their restaurant is flourishing, and so are they. Until they aren’t. Until someone breaks into their home and a kidnapping with ransom takes place.
Cam has been playing the role of the perfect husband and father for a while, but he’s carrying a heavy load of secrets. And a scandal is in his very near future.
As ever, where Kimberly Belle excels most is the pacing. Quick chapters and tension from the start kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. So much tension, such a nail biter, this one got under my skin and felt so real. This was exactly the thriller I needed at the right time and one I could not put down!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 21, 2022
5 stunning Stars ⭐️
This was Kimberly’s best book yet a manic wife with a gifted daughter Beatrix & toddler Baxter, they seemed to have the perfect marriage butCam isn’t what Jade thinks he is Jade is in grave danger as is her children .
The masked man knows her every move from the kids school to where she has Coffee
What is his motive? Will Jade ever feel safe again?
I enjoyed every minute of this nail biting thriller it was right in your face the whole time loved every minute.
This was Kimberly’s best book yet a manic wife with a gifted daughter Beatrix & toddler Baxter, they seemed to have the perfect marriage butCam isn’t what Jade thinks he is Jade is in grave danger as is her children .
The masked man knows her every move from the kids school to where she has Coffee
What is his motive? Will Jade ever feel safe again?
I enjoyed every minute of this nail biting thriller it was right in your face the whole time loved every minute.
Read
January 11, 2022DNF at 43%
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book, home invasion stories just aren't for me. Having lived in Connecticut when one took place, I just can't stomach this.
As many of you may know, I am highly sensitive when it comes to certain topics and have a hard time reading about them. It is what it is.
Thank you to my library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book, home invasion stories just aren't for me. Having lived in Connecticut when one took place, I just can't stomach this.
As many of you may know, I am highly sensitive when it comes to certain topics and have a hard time reading about them. It is what it is.
Thank you to my library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook.
March 10, 2022
4 thriller stars
This one kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was flipping the pages quickly to see how it would turn out! As a mother, this one brought some of my darkest fears to light! What would you do if someone took you and your children hostage in your home?
Meet Cam Lasky, Steak King of Atlanta, he’s got multiple restaurants, some with weeks-long waiting lists for a table. However, he’s skating on thin ice with financing and expanded too soon. Then, a fire rips through his most profitable restaurant.
His wife, Jade, has a home decorating business and she’s a great mother to their two children. Precocious Beatrix and Baxter (or the Bees for short!) keep her busy with activities and chauffeuring.
The masked man who takes Jade, Beatrix, and Baxter hostage demands an odd amount of money -$734,296 - and gives Cam just a few hours to produce the cash. And no police! Like many business owners, cash is not just lying around, and Cam is panicking trying to figure out how to meet the demands. What is the significance of that amount?
The situation at the house is tense and the man ties up Jade and the children while they wait for Cam. I was very worried for Jade and the kids. However, Jade is smart and is soon plotting to overcome the intruder.
This one had an interesting story telling technique where the storyline of the home invasion alternated with Cam giving an interview to a reporter in the future.
A fast-paced thriller that kept me entertained! This made for an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth. My thanks to my local library for the copy of this one to read.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was flipping the pages quickly to see how it would turn out! As a mother, this one brought some of my darkest fears to light! What would you do if someone took you and your children hostage in your home?
Meet Cam Lasky, Steak King of Atlanta, he’s got multiple restaurants, some with weeks-long waiting lists for a table. However, he’s skating on thin ice with financing and expanded too soon. Then, a fire rips through his most profitable restaurant.
His wife, Jade, has a home decorating business and she’s a great mother to their two children. Precocious Beatrix and Baxter (or the Bees for short!) keep her busy with activities and chauffeuring.
The masked man who takes Jade, Beatrix, and Baxter hostage demands an odd amount of money -$734,296 - and gives Cam just a few hours to produce the cash. And no police! Like many business owners, cash is not just lying around, and Cam is panicking trying to figure out how to meet the demands. What is the significance of that amount?
The situation at the house is tense and the man ties up Jade and the children while they wait for Cam. I was very worried for Jade and the kids. However, Jade is smart and is soon plotting to overcome the intruder.
This one had an interesting story telling technique where the storyline of the home invasion alternated with Cam giving an interview to a reporter in the future.
A fast-paced thriller that kept me entertained! This made for an excellent buddy read with Mary Beth. My thanks to my local library for the copy of this one to read.
December 28, 2021
Cam and Jade Lasky are the picture of success. He’s a celebrity chef and owner of five restaurants in Atlanta, known as the steak king, and she’s the beautiful stay at home mom to daughter Beatrix and son Baxter (the Bees). They live in a beautiful home in an affluent neighborhood so what could be wrong? Life for them changes when Jade comes home with the kids and is confronted by an armed, masked intruder.
This story gave me some serious heartburn! I kept shutting off my headphones because I couldn’t stand the suspense but then turning them back on as I had to see how the next scene turned out. The points of view are provided by Cam, Jade and the intruder (Sebastian) who I came to loathe. What makes things even more intriguing is Cam’s narrative being delivered through an interview with a reporter who’s not going easy on him. It’s obvious he’s doing the interview in the aftermath but there’s not one single clue about the outcome until the end.
I’m deliberately omitting more details because you should read/hear them firsthand. Sebastian was chilling and I took his threats seriously, as did Jade, which made things more ominous given the two children involved. And speaking of the children…I came to adore Beatrix, the true hero of this story. I think you will, too. Thank goodness multiple narrators were used for the audio version as it was important to give the main characters their own distinctive styles and voices. It mattered and they were outstanding. There are twisty turns and bends throughout and the ending felt right, leaving some things to my own imagination. This turned out to be much more than I anticipated (a good thing) but I’m glad it’s over! Put on your adult pants because this is an uneasy ride. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This story gave me some serious heartburn! I kept shutting off my headphones because I couldn’t stand the suspense but then turning them back on as I had to see how the next scene turned out. The points of view are provided by Cam, Jade and the intruder (Sebastian) who I came to loathe. What makes things even more intriguing is Cam’s narrative being delivered through an interview with a reporter who’s not going easy on him. It’s obvious he’s doing the interview in the aftermath but there’s not one single clue about the outcome until the end.
I’m deliberately omitting more details because you should read/hear them firsthand. Sebastian was chilling and I took his threats seriously, as did Jade, which made things more ominous given the two children involved. And speaking of the children…I came to adore Beatrix, the true hero of this story. I think you will, too. Thank goodness multiple narrators were used for the audio version as it was important to give the main characters their own distinctive styles and voices. It mattered and they were outstanding. There are twisty turns and bends throughout and the ending felt right, leaving some things to my own imagination. This turned out to be much more than I anticipated (a good thing) but I’m glad it’s over! Put on your adult pants because this is an uneasy ride. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
May 28, 2021
Bloody hell, Belle! What are you doing to me? You almost gave me a heart attack!
This novel should come with two warnings: a) clear your schedule because once you start you can’t stop, and b) hold on tight because you’re in for one hell of a ride. A tale of a perfect-marriage-until-you-scratch-the-surface meets terrifying home invasion begins at breakneck speed and doesn’t let up. Gripping, intense and utterly binge worthy, MY DARLING HUSBAND had me holding my breath more times than I can count. Fabulously constructed, brilliantly layered and secretive characters, plus heroines you’ll cheer for, Belle once again proves she’s a true master of domestic suspense. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up now!
This novel should come with two warnings: a) clear your schedule because once you start you can’t stop, and b) hold on tight because you’re in for one hell of a ride. A tale of a perfect-marriage-until-you-scratch-the-surface meets terrifying home invasion begins at breakneck speed and doesn’t let up. Gripping, intense and utterly binge worthy, MY DARLING HUSBAND had me holding my breath more times than I can count. Fabulously constructed, brilliantly layered and secretive characters, plus heroines you’ll cheer for, Belle once again proves she’s a true master of domestic suspense. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up now!
January 26, 2022
I do believe that I have a new favourite Kimberly Belle book. I did not want to put My Darling Husband down, it was so good. I loved the multiple points of view that we get throughout the story, as well as the interview with Cam that takes part months after the event. We are drip fed just enough information to keep going, and to want more. This was certainly a just one more chapter read - can't recommend it more.
A wealthy family's perfect life is about to come crashing down in one afternoon. Although, as wife Jade is about to find out, it really wasn't that perfect at all. Her husband, Cam Laskey is the steak king of Atlanta, with a chain of restaurants across the city that have a hefty price tag and a long waiting list. On arriving home with their children, Beatrix and Baxter, Jade discovers that somebody was waiting for them.
Locked in their own home and taken hostage, Jade and the kids are scared. The man finally tells Cam that he wants exactly $734, 296 in cash by 7pm that night, no police involved, or his family will die.
This is a story that really doesn't have a lot of unexpected twists, but is intense. You really feel the fear of this family as they try to break away from this madman in their beautiful home. Anything could happen to them and it will have your blood pressure rising.
Absolutely loved it and I am sure lovers of a good thriller or mystery will too.
Released in Australia on January 5th, thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a much anticipated early copy.
A wealthy family's perfect life is about to come crashing down in one afternoon. Although, as wife Jade is about to find out, it really wasn't that perfect at all. Her husband, Cam Laskey is the steak king of Atlanta, with a chain of restaurants across the city that have a hefty price tag and a long waiting list. On arriving home with their children, Beatrix and Baxter, Jade discovers that somebody was waiting for them.
Locked in their own home and taken hostage, Jade and the kids are scared. The man finally tells Cam that he wants exactly $734, 296 in cash by 7pm that night, no police involved, or his family will die.
This is a story that really doesn't have a lot of unexpected twists, but is intense. You really feel the fear of this family as they try to break away from this madman in their beautiful home. Anything could happen to them and it will have your blood pressure rising.
Absolutely loved it and I am sure lovers of a good thriller or mystery will too.
Released in Australia on January 5th, thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a much anticipated early copy.
January 12, 2022
Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a riveting thriller full of suspense. Unfortunately, only the beginning of the story provided that; it all quickly fizzled. This is a fast-action story, but lacked suspense.
Told from multiple POVs (Jade, Cam, home invader, and reporter) with short time-stamped chapters, it's easy to keep up with this fast-moving story. Unfortunately, it's also easy to see early on where it's all headed. The chapters including Jade and the home invader became mundane due to the constant dialogue between them. So much filler and explaining! The chapters involving Cam racing to come up with the $734,296 ransom money to save his wife and children were much more interesting and added urgency to the story.
Overall, this was just ok. The premise was interesting but the execution wasn't.
Told from multiple POVs (Jade, Cam, home invader, and reporter) with short time-stamped chapters, it's easy to keep up with this fast-moving story. Unfortunately, it's also easy to see early on where it's all headed. The chapters including Jade and the home invader became mundane due to the constant dialogue between them. So much filler and explaining! The chapters involving Cam racing to come up with the $734,296 ransom money to save his wife and children were much more interesting and added urgency to the story.
Overall, this was just ok. The premise was interesting but the execution wasn't.
December 28, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Kimberly!”
Get ready for another fast-paced, on the edge of your seat thriller from Kimberly Belle! It will have you white knuckling your Kindle and gasping for air!
Cam Lasky, the Steak King of Atlanta, has it all. Six restaurants, a multimillion dollar home, a supportive wife, and two adorable children. When a fire breaks out in his most successful restaurant, it threatens to leave him in financial ruin. Then, his wife Jade returns home with the kids from school pickup and is confronted with a terrifying home invasion. Who has taken her family hostage? What does he want? Does this have something to do with the fire? Why does he need exactly $734,296?
My Darling Husband is the redemption book that I craved from one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and loved them, except for Stranger in the Lake, which failed to surprise or excite me. However, she is back with her signature clever plots and readability. I was gripped on this adventure from the very first page! I enjoyed the switching of perspectives from Jade, to Sebastian, and to Cam. The interview also helps move the plot along and provides another layer to this mystery.
Something to consider is that this book did not terrify me. Is that good? Bad? I’m not sure, but it still managed to keep me intrigued! I also would have loved to hear more from Beatrix’s perspective. While I did figure out most of the twists, Ms. Belle still got me with one near the end! Interestingly, this is the third book that I have read recently with a reference to Prosopagnosia. This must be the new “it” illness for thriller writers to explore.
I highly recommend this book to those who love a quick and thrilling read!
4/5 stars
UPDATE: Review is featured here - https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/u...
Thank you to Edelweiss and Park Row/HarperCollins for the ARC of My Darling Husband in exchange for an honest review.
“Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Kimberly!”
Get ready for another fast-paced, on the edge of your seat thriller from Kimberly Belle! It will have you white knuckling your Kindle and gasping for air!
Cam Lasky, the Steak King of Atlanta, has it all. Six restaurants, a multimillion dollar home, a supportive wife, and two adorable children. When a fire breaks out in his most successful restaurant, it threatens to leave him in financial ruin. Then, his wife Jade returns home with the kids from school pickup and is confronted with a terrifying home invasion. Who has taken her family hostage? What does he want? Does this have something to do with the fire? Why does he need exactly $734,296?
My Darling Husband is the redemption book that I craved from one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and loved them, except for Stranger in the Lake, which failed to surprise or excite me. However, she is back with her signature clever plots and readability. I was gripped on this adventure from the very first page! I enjoyed the switching of perspectives from Jade, to Sebastian, and to Cam. The interview also helps move the plot along and provides another layer to this mystery.
Something to consider is that this book did not terrify me. Is that good? Bad? I’m not sure, but it still managed to keep me intrigued! I also would have loved to hear more from Beatrix’s perspective. While I did figure out most of the twists, Ms. Belle still got me with one near the end! Interestingly, this is the third book that I have read recently with a reference to Prosopagnosia. This must be the new “it” illness for thriller writers to explore.
I highly recommend this book to those who love a quick and thrilling read!
4/5 stars
UPDATE: Review is featured here - https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/u...
Thank you to Edelweiss and Park Row/HarperCollins for the ARC of My Darling Husband in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2022
4 Solid Stars
Jade and her two children were held hostage by a masked invader while her infamous husband, Cam, trying to deliver a specific amount of money…
I’m not a big fan of this type of story and this one isn’t something with a unique plot but the writing is addictive, at least for me! I was at the edge of my seat the whole time! It was exciting and a page-turner. Told in multiple POV, 1st person, it can be read as a standalone novel. It’s fast-paced and tension-filled. My first read by this author and definitely won’t be my last! Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and hope you like it as well!
Jade and her two children were held hostage by a masked invader while her infamous husband, Cam, trying to deliver a specific amount of money…
I’m not a big fan of this type of story and this one isn’t something with a unique plot but the writing is addictive, at least for me! I was at the edge of my seat the whole time! It was exciting and a page-turner. Told in multiple POV, 1st person, it can be read as a standalone novel. It’s fast-paced and tension-filled. My first read by this author and definitely won’t be my last! Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and hope you like it as well!
November 2, 2022
This review and others @Bookerification
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With its dark shadows and red text, this design is perfect for the thrilling story it represents. The pops of red and blue are not only striking but also allude to the suspense and intrigue within the narrative.
"When you push a man to the edge of a cliff, you can’t get pissy when he jumps"
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
The detailed and vivid writing style does a great job of building tension and suspense throughout the story. Complementing the immersive narrative are the multiple points of view (POVs) that provide insights into the perspectives and lives of the main characters. Most chapters also end with a cliffhanger, making the story gripping and delightfully hard to put down. There are even a few comical moments that provide a brief respite from the story's tension. These actually had me smiling and laughing out loud.
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story begins with an interview months after the attack, and the atmosphere is charged. Several hints are cleverly used to make readers curious and eager to know more. The events of that dreadful day are gradually revealed alongside previous events to create complex and realistic characters. Despite this, the pace is fast, and the suspense increases as the characters face limited time and high stakes. Equally gripping are the numerous secrets and twists revealed throughout the story. These culminate in an unpredictable yet satisfying ending.
“People are more open to a proposition if they’re part of the solution.”
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Jade is your typical, loving mother who is sometimes annoyed by her kids but would do anything to protect them. Her every thought and action revolves around this, and it is constantly shown, not just told. While this maternal instinct may not have made Jade's character the most relatable to me, it did make it easy to root for her. On the other hand, Cam, the proud celebrity chief, was much harder to root for - especially since he is shown to be somewhat self-centred and selfish. However, it is clear that Cam loves his family and would do anything for them, even if he does not show much consideration for others. Lastly, even the intruder is well-developed with a tragic backstory that raises themes surrounding wealth and greed for readers to consider.
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite the minor roles allotted to the two kids, I adored them both! Clever and rebellious, Beatrice is a great character who makes a few impressive moves and faces the attack like a boss. In contrast, Baxter is an innocent toddler who provides most of the comic relief. The remaining characters play specific roles within the story but fail to make much of an impression.
Ultimately, 'My Darling Husband' is a fast-paced story filled with tension and suspense. The main characters are also well-developed and more complex than they initially appear. Together, these kept the story highly entertaining and gripping. A similar thriller to read would be 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With its dark shadows and red text, this design is perfect for the thrilling story it represents. The pops of red and blue are not only striking but also allude to the suspense and intrigue within the narrative.
"When you push a man to the edge of a cliff, you can’t get pissy when he jumps"
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
The detailed and vivid writing style does a great job of building tension and suspense throughout the story. Complementing the immersive narrative are the multiple points of view (POVs) that provide insights into the perspectives and lives of the main characters. Most chapters also end with a cliffhanger, making the story gripping and delightfully hard to put down. There are even a few comical moments that provide a brief respite from the story's tension. These actually had me smiling and laughing out loud.
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story begins with an interview months after the attack, and the atmosphere is charged. Several hints are cleverly used to make readers curious and eager to know more. The events of that dreadful day are gradually revealed alongside previous events to create complex and realistic characters. Despite this, the pace is fast, and the suspense increases as the characters face limited time and high stakes. Equally gripping are the numerous secrets and twists revealed throughout the story. These culminate in an unpredictable yet satisfying ending.
“People are more open to a proposition if they’re part of the solution.”
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Jade is your typical, loving mother who is sometimes annoyed by her kids but would do anything to protect them. Her every thought and action revolves around this, and it is constantly shown, not just told. While this maternal instinct may not have made Jade's character the most relatable to me, it did make it easy to root for her. On the other hand, Cam, the proud celebrity chief, was much harder to root for - especially since he is shown to be somewhat self-centred and selfish. However, it is clear that Cam loves his family and would do anything for them, even if he does not show much consideration for others. Lastly, even the intruder is well-developed with a tragic backstory that raises themes surrounding wealth and greed for readers to consider.
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite the minor roles allotted to the two kids, I adored them both! Clever and rebellious, Beatrice is a great character who makes a few impressive moves and faces the attack like a boss. In contrast, Baxter is an innocent toddler who provides most of the comic relief. The remaining characters play specific roles within the story but fail to make much of an impression.
Ultimately, 'My Darling Husband' is a fast-paced story filled with tension and suspense. The main characters are also well-developed and more complex than they initially appear. Together, these kept the story highly entertaining and gripping. A similar thriller to read would be 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard.
November 25, 2021
First of all, thank you to Park Row Books and Kimberly Belle for my ARC of this book that comes out on December 12. In this fast-paced, edge of your seat drama, Kimberly Belle returns with a story about a masked intruder. Jade and Cam Lasky are a happy couple with two wonderful children, a beautiful house, and a growing restaurant business. Then one evening, Jade is confronted with a masked intruder in her home, holding her hostage. Cam is desperate to collect the ransom money but he has been keeping a big part of his life from Jade.
As the story unravels, Jade begins to find out that her husband may not be exactly who she thinks he is. Cam is not as financially stable as he led Jade to believe and he may have put their family in danger. Is this just a home invasion? Or is there more to the intruder than they first believed?
Thoughts: My Darling Husband kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire book. I loved the way Belle revealed layers of the story slowly, so the mystery always got more complex. This book took a common fear and explored what someone would do when put in that situation. The multiple points of view gave an interesting look at what the characters were thinking and skipped from the present to the past.
I loved the narrative about hidden secrets and the lengths families will go to protect one another. The characters were full of detail and easy to imagine and relate to. I found multiple characters I could root for and felt myself holding my breath with them many times throughout the book. The technique of showing time counting down really added to my sense of doom and panic. I couldn’t put this book down and think people who enjoy panic room style mysteries are going to love it! 5-stars!
First available on mysteryandsuspense.com
As the story unravels, Jade begins to find out that her husband may not be exactly who she thinks he is. Cam is not as financially stable as he led Jade to believe and he may have put their family in danger. Is this just a home invasion? Or is there more to the intruder than they first believed?
Thoughts: My Darling Husband kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire book. I loved the way Belle revealed layers of the story slowly, so the mystery always got more complex. This book took a common fear and explored what someone would do when put in that situation. The multiple points of view gave an interesting look at what the characters were thinking and skipped from the present to the past.
I loved the narrative about hidden secrets and the lengths families will go to protect one another. The characters were full of detail and easy to imagine and relate to. I found multiple characters I could root for and felt myself holding my breath with them many times throughout the book. The technique of showing time counting down really added to my sense of doom and panic. I couldn’t put this book down and think people who enjoy panic room style mysteries are going to love it! 5-stars!
First available on mysteryandsuspense.com
December 30, 2021
My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle is a suspenseful thriller novel. The story in this one is told by changing the point of view between the various characters to show the different sides to the ongoing story within.
Another case of things not always being as they seem from the outside. Jade and Cam Lasky on the outside are happily married with two wonderful children and quite well off. However when an intruder takes Jade hostage demanding a hefty ransom Cam has to scramble to obtain money he does not have with his celebrity chef image being just a mirage.
My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle was a thriller that pulled me in right away and kept my attention. The story flowed well while changing between the various characters to give all sides to the action going on within the book. I wouldn’t go as far to say this had likable characters but ones that you suspect all along and don’t dislike either that go well in this type of read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Another case of things not always being as they seem from the outside. Jade and Cam Lasky on the outside are happily married with two wonderful children and quite well off. However when an intruder takes Jade hostage demanding a hefty ransom Cam has to scramble to obtain money he does not have with his celebrity chef image being just a mirage.
My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle was a thriller that pulled me in right away and kept my attention. The story flowed well while changing between the various characters to give all sides to the action going on within the book. I wouldn’t go as far to say this had likable characters but ones that you suspect all along and don’t dislike either that go well in this type of read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 11, 2022
Set aside plenty of time to read this pulse-pounding thriller! Order pizza and prepare to hunker down in your favorite reading spot until you’re finished. The ending of each chapter coerces a peek at the next chapter and we all know how that turns out!
I was glued to the pages as I read about the unraveling of Cam and Jade’s perfect life. One minute you’re on top of the world, worrying about trivial life issues, and the next minute your fighting to stay alive. The thought of being in Jade’s shoes, the fear of being totally out of control, and the emotions brought on by watching my children traumatized, made my chest ache for her. Jade is the definition of Mama Bear!
Another outstanding thriller by this author! Preorder this one or be ready to run to the bookstore on release day.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Park Row books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
I was glued to the pages as I read about the unraveling of Cam and Jade’s perfect life. One minute you’re on top of the world, worrying about trivial life issues, and the next minute your fighting to stay alive. The thought of being in Jade’s shoes, the fear of being totally out of control, and the emotions brought on by watching my children traumatized, made my chest ache for her. Jade is the definition of Mama Bear!
Another outstanding thriller by this author! Preorder this one or be ready to run to the bookstore on release day.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Park Row books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
January 4, 2022
Not one of my "darling" book selections of 2021.
What could be better than a Kimberly Belle book about a home invasion?
Yes, I am a Kimberly Belle fan so my expectations were sky-high.
The book starts off with a bang. A mother and her two young children are taken hostage at gunpoint in their home by a masked intruder. The intruder demands a specific cash ransom of $734,296 from the husband.
Who is the gunman and why has he targeted this family?
And why was the gunman asking for that obscure sum of $734,296?
I have read multiple home invasion books and, unfortunately, "My Darling Husband" lacked the "wow" factor of its predecessors.
Quite frankly, the book just fell flat for me.
The middle dragged. The mother irritated me. The book featured one too many eye-rolling moments.
I was all set to be terrified and gasp and, instead, I had to pinch myself to stay awake.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook. The book was unfolded from multiple POVs and all of the narrators did a superb job.
Two stars, rounded up.
What could be better than a Kimberly Belle book about a home invasion?
Yes, I am a Kimberly Belle fan so my expectations were sky-high.
The book starts off with a bang. A mother and her two young children are taken hostage at gunpoint in their home by a masked intruder. The intruder demands a specific cash ransom of $734,296 from the husband.
Who is the gunman and why has he targeted this family?
And why was the gunman asking for that obscure sum of $734,296?
I have read multiple home invasion books and, unfortunately, "My Darling Husband" lacked the "wow" factor of its predecessors.
Quite frankly, the book just fell flat for me.
The middle dragged. The mother irritated me. The book featured one too many eye-rolling moments.
I was all set to be terrified and gasp and, instead, I had to pinch myself to stay awake.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook. The book was unfolded from multiple POVs and all of the narrators did a superb job.
Two stars, rounded up.
November 16, 2023
4.25⭐️
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ December 28, 2021
Est page Count ~ 331
Audio length ~ 10 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Natalie Duke, Seth Podowitz, Charlie Kevin
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ home invasion, secrets
Sharing an older, not overly thought provoking, review since it's my hubs birthday, and he's a darling sometimes.
Whoa, that was intense! I was on the edge of my seat and the narrators were so good that I didn’t want to stop listening. I love when there are multiple point of views and narrators as it make the story feel more real to me. There was a nice twist in there and a crazy ending.
Definitely recommend this thriller.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ December 28, 2021
Est page Count ~ 331
Audio length ~ 10 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Natalie Duke, Seth Podowitz, Charlie Kevin
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ home invasion, secrets
Sharing an older, not overly thought provoking, review since it's my hubs birthday, and he's a darling sometimes.
Whoa, that was intense! I was on the edge of my seat and the narrators were so good that I didn’t want to stop listening. I love when there are multiple point of views and narrators as it make the story feel more real to me. There was a nice twist in there and a crazy ending.
Definitely recommend this thriller.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 3, 2022
Well that went by quickly, but was I blown away? Eh, not really :(
Many will see the 3-Stars and think that means this is a bad book- not the case at all! It was in parts an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and in other parts mystery, but I just felt like I had read this story before. That being said, I wavered in my rating from 3-4 Stars, but sadly I just couldn't justify a full 4 Stars, so I rounded down.
In a nutshell, this is a story about a man named Cam Lasky, a celebrity chef also known as the Steak King of Atlanta (i believe that was the moniker anyway), who owns several successful restaurants, is happily married to Jade Lasky and has been blessed with two beautiful young children, Beatrix and Baxter. Essentially Cam has the American dream that everyone aspires to achieve - financial success, and a happy home. The Laskys have it all, so what could possibly go wrong?
As this novel begins, Cam is at his most successful steak shop, which was engulfed in flames just a few hours earlier, as a result of arson, the police inform him. While Cam wonders who could possibly have torched his most lucrative, bread-winning restaurant he receives a frantic call from Jade - a masked gunman has forced himself into their home and is demanding a ransom of just under $1 Million...OR ELSE!!! What began as an ordinary day for Cam has quickly became the worst day of his life, as he juggles the police investigation into the arson and how to discretely and without police involvement come up with the ransom request, which we find out quickly is a staggering amount Cam definitely does NOT have!
Told in several perspectives throughout the day, this did read very suspenseful at times. Other times it just felt like this whole story had been done before, so I was holding out for an epic twist at the end, setting this tale apart from its' predecessors. Did that twist come? Yes and no, it really depends on the reader. We do learn a lot about Cam and his business dealings, and the enemies he made along the way, and how greed can effect many lives - which I believe ultimately was the point of this novel, but something I can't quite put my finger on fell short somehow in the execution for me. Did I miss something?!
I may mull this over some and put this one down as a potential re-read down the line, but right now I have to go with my initial gut reactions, and that is quite simply that this was GOOD, but definitely not what I would call GREAT. I may be in the minority with this assessment, as I'm seeing a great deal of positive reviews out there, so don't take my word for it, give this one a shot!! It IS a quick read that you will probably tear through in just a couple of sittings, that's for certain.
Onto the next great read in this new year of 2022!!
Many will see the 3-Stars and think that means this is a bad book- not the case at all! It was in parts an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and in other parts mystery, but I just felt like I had read this story before. That being said, I wavered in my rating from 3-4 Stars, but sadly I just couldn't justify a full 4 Stars, so I rounded down.
In a nutshell, this is a story about a man named Cam Lasky, a celebrity chef also known as the Steak King of Atlanta (i believe that was the moniker anyway), who owns several successful restaurants, is happily married to Jade Lasky and has been blessed with two beautiful young children, Beatrix and Baxter. Essentially Cam has the American dream that everyone aspires to achieve - financial success, and a happy home. The Laskys have it all, so what could possibly go wrong?
As this novel begins, Cam is at his most successful steak shop, which was engulfed in flames just a few hours earlier, as a result of arson, the police inform him. While Cam wonders who could possibly have torched his most lucrative, bread-winning restaurant he receives a frantic call from Jade - a masked gunman has forced himself into their home and is demanding a ransom of just under $1 Million...OR ELSE!!! What began as an ordinary day for Cam has quickly became the worst day of his life, as he juggles the police investigation into the arson and how to discretely and without police involvement come up with the ransom request, which we find out quickly is a staggering amount Cam definitely does NOT have!
Told in several perspectives throughout the day, this did read very suspenseful at times. Other times it just felt like this whole story had been done before, so I was holding out for an epic twist at the end, setting this tale apart from its' predecessors. Did that twist come? Yes and no, it really depends on the reader. We do learn a lot about Cam and his business dealings, and the enemies he made along the way, and how greed can effect many lives - which I believe ultimately was the point of this novel, but something I can't quite put my finger on fell short somehow in the execution for me. Did I miss something?!
I may mull this over some and put this one down as a potential re-read down the line, but right now I have to go with my initial gut reactions, and that is quite simply that this was GOOD, but definitely not what I would call GREAT. I may be in the minority with this assessment, as I'm seeing a great deal of positive reviews out there, so don't take my word for it, give this one a shot!! It IS a quick read that you will probably tear through in just a couple of sittings, that's for certain.
Onto the next great read in this new year of 2022!!
March 3, 2023
4/5
Trilerių skaitau daug ir dar biškį, bet iki šiol neteko susidurti su tokiu, kuriame veiksmas vyksta pagrobimo/įkalinimo namuose metu. Klausimų, žinoma, daugiau nei atsakymų, o Kimberly Belle labai neblogai (na, nebent „Mano brangioji žmona“ buvo geriau) vynioja paslaptis. Gaila, kad gana anksti supratau kokia pagrobimo priežastis, bet tai įtampos nesumažina – čia daug saugiklių, kurie nei skaitytojams, nei veikėjams neleidžia atsipalaiduoti. Manau, sutiks ne vienas skaitęs – viena geriausių knygos dalių yra vaikų veikėjai. Įprastai pasakojimai iš jų požiūrio taško mane erzina (ir čia jų nebuvo), tačiau vaikams skiriama daug dėmesio ir jie – pilnaverčiai knygos veikėjai, įvairialypiai ir nenuspėjami. Labai patiko ir aštrus, kritiškas Belle žvilgsnis į socialinę neteisybę, JAV sveikatos apsaugos sistemą, finansinę nelygybę. Vienas tų atvejų, kai visi veikėjai dėl kažko truputį kalti. O kiti – tik kaltesni.
Labai patiko tai, kad esmė – ne kokia meilės istorija, nesikoncentruoja Belle į romantinį aspektą, kaip pvz. buvo jos romane „Atsisveikinimas“. Žinoma, yra čia šeiminė siužetinė linija, bet niekas nesiseilėja. Knyga įtraukia, skaitosi greitai, Kristinos Lukoševičės vertimas gyvas ir sklandus, vaikai suteikia taip reikalingo comic relief. O įdomiausia tai, kad net man, kaip pasikausčiusiai trilerių skaitytojai, buvo autorės sukurtos aplinkybės, kurios iki šiol dar buvo trileriuose nesutiktos. Vien už tai papildomas balas, kaip ir už temos daugialypiškumą, neskirstymą į „blogus“ ir „gerus“, kuris čia viską tik gadintų. Rekomenduoju.
Trilerių skaitau daug ir dar biškį, bet iki šiol neteko susidurti su tokiu, kuriame veiksmas vyksta pagrobimo/įkalinimo namuose metu. Klausimų, žinoma, daugiau nei atsakymų, o Kimberly Belle labai neblogai (na, nebent „Mano brangioji žmona“ buvo geriau) vynioja paslaptis. Gaila, kad gana anksti supratau kokia pagrobimo priežastis, bet tai įtampos nesumažina – čia daug saugiklių, kurie nei skaitytojams, nei veikėjams neleidžia atsipalaiduoti. Manau, sutiks ne vienas skaitęs – viena geriausių knygos dalių yra vaikų veikėjai. Įprastai pasakojimai iš jų požiūrio taško mane erzina (ir čia jų nebuvo), tačiau vaikams skiriama daug dėmesio ir jie – pilnaverčiai knygos veikėjai, įvairialypiai ir nenuspėjami. Labai patiko ir aštrus, kritiškas Belle žvilgsnis į socialinę neteisybę, JAV sveikatos apsaugos sistemą, finansinę nelygybę. Vienas tų atvejų, kai visi veikėjai dėl kažko truputį kalti. O kiti – tik kaltesni.
Labai patiko tai, kad esmė – ne kokia meilės istorija, nesikoncentruoja Belle į romantinį aspektą, kaip pvz. buvo jos romane „Atsisveikinimas“. Žinoma, yra čia šeiminė siužetinė linija, bet niekas nesiseilėja. Knyga įtraukia, skaitosi greitai, Kristinos Lukoševičės vertimas gyvas ir sklandus, vaikai suteikia taip reikalingo comic relief. O įdomiausia tai, kad net man, kaip pasikausčiusiai trilerių skaitytojai, buvo autorės sukurtos aplinkybės, kurios iki šiol dar buvo trileriuose nesutiktos. Vien už tai papildomas balas, kaip ir už temos daugialypiškumą, neskirstymą į „blogus“ ir „gerus“, kuris čia viską tik gadintų. Rekomenduoju.
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