Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Marriage Lie
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://kimberlybellebooks.com/
CITY: Atlanta
STATE: GA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
Lives in Atlanta, GA, and Amsterdam, Netherlands * http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/kimberly-belle
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Children: two.
EDUCATION:Agnes Scott College (Atlanta, GA), graduated.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has worked for nonprofit organizations.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Kimberley Belle is a writer based in Atlanta, GA. She holds a degree from Agnes Scott College and has worked for nonprofit organizations.
The Last Breath
In 2014, Belle released her first book, The Last Breath. The volume’s protagonist, Gia Andrews, has been working in humanitarian aid in another country when she learns that her father is ill and will die soon. She reluctantly returns to her hometown to care for him. Her father has been in prison for murdering her stepmother and has been released so that he can die at home. Gia’s siblings are not particularly excited to have her back, and townspeople protest outside her father’s house. The only people she feels comfortable with are the owner of a local restaurant, Jake, and a home-care worker named Fannie. A law professor comes to town to do research for a book he is writing about wrongful convictions. He tells Gia that her father may not have killed her stepmother. Gia begins asking more questions about her stepmother and discovers she had been having an affair. Other secrets are revealed, and Gia finds out the truth about the murder. Meanwhile, she and Jake begin acting on their attraction to each other.
A contributor to Kirkus Reviews remarked: “Belle’s a smooth writer whose characters are vibrant and truly reflect the area where the novel is set, but the plot—while clever—takes a back seat to … sexual exploits.” Mara Dabrishus, critic in Xpress Reviews, commented: “The unraveling of the lies and intrigue surrounding the town and family is an emotional roller-coaster ride.” Writing on the Bookreporter website, Renee Yeager suggested: “These characters and their distinctive voices are one of the reasons Belle shows great promise, and will likely cause those who read The Last Breath to seek out her next work. This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit.” Yeager added: “The plot is extremely ambitious and a lot of fun to read, even though it occasionally jumped the track a time or two through the course of the narrative. Gia and Jake didn’t always react to events as one might expect, which, depending on your point of view, might make them either more or less believable to you.” A reviewer on the SmexyBooks website asserted: “Elation and sorrow walk hand in hand in the book’s final moments, requiring us to reassess everything we have learned as our questions are finally answered. Though some answers were underwhelming, particularly in retrospect to the victim and the events leading up to her demise, overall The Last Breath is an enjoyable small town mystery suspense that solidifies the notion you can always go home.”
The Ones We Trust
In The Ones We Trust, an investigative journalist named Abigail Wolff is the daughter of a powerful military general. Her father instilled the traits of honesty, strength, and loyalty in her from the time she was a child. Abigail’s latest investigative project is to look into the death of a soldier named Zach Armstrong. She is inspired to take on the project after receiving documents about his death from an anonymous sender. Also, she knew Zach and Gabe, Zach’s brother. Abigail is reunited with Gabe as she pursues the investigation. She discovers that the military covered up Zach’s death and that her father may be among those responsible for doing so. Meanwhile, Gabe is initially suspicious of Abigail’s motive, but he finds himself becoming increasingly attracted to her. Eventually, a romantic relationship between them develops.
A contributor to the Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Review website described The Ones We Trust as “not predictable, full of emotion and characters that are so engaging.” “The plot was compelling and the characters intriguing,” asserted a critic on the My Novel Opinion website. A writer on the SmexyBooks website suggested: “Kimberly Belle has proven she is no one trick pony with this latest release. As strong and heartbreakingly poignant as her debut. … The Ones We Trust is a complex and thought-provoking drama that delivers a power filled story built on family and filled with grief, love, trust, betrayal. It asks you how far will you go and how much are you willing to give up in order discover the truth. Well researched and smoothly revealed, Belle expertly pulls all your emotions to the surface.”
The Marriage Lie
Belle tells the story of a married couple named Will and Iris Griffith in her 2017 novel, The Marriage Lie. From the outside, they seem to have the perfect life. Their relationship seems happy, and their home is beautiful. They have been together for seven years and begin discussing having children. After having a conversation about it, Will goes on a business trip to Orlando. On the same day, a flight from their airport on its way to Seattle crashes, killing all of the passengers. The airline contacts Iris, telling her that Will was one of the people who died. Iris discovers that Will had invented the event he was supposed to attend in Orlando. She determines to find out why Will was traveling to Seattle and what else he was hiding from her. She enlists Dave, her brother, to help her sort through the clues. As Iris and Dave investigate, Iris receives threatening text message from an anonymous sender, telling her to stop.
A Kirkus Reviews writer described The Marriage Lie as “a compelling adventure.” Stephanie Turza, contributor to Booklist, commented: “Belle isn’t afraid to keep her readers guessing until the very last page of this heart-pounding story.” “Numerous skillfully executed twists will force readers to constantly shift their allegiances,” noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer. The same reviewer called the novel “a surprising and fast-paced read.” Kate Ayers, critic on the Bookreporter website, remarked: “The pace is relentless, and the plot never runs in a straight line. Once that airplane headed for Seattle goes down, the questions begin to fly. People aren’t who they seem. … It’s smoke and mirrors! Beware, The Marriage Lie might very well undermine your confidence, your convictions, and your trust in loved ones. This one is a true brain twister!”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2016, Stephanie Turza, review of The Marriage Lie, p. 32.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2014, review of The Last Breath; November 1, 2016, review of The Marriage Lie.
Publishers Weekly, October 10, 2016, review of The Marriage Lie, p. 53.
Xpress Reviews, October 17, 2014, Mara Dabrishus, review of The Last Breath.
ONLINE
Bookreporter, http://www.bookreporter.com (November 14, 2013), Renee Yeager, review of The Last Breath; (January 6, 2017), Kate Ayers, review of The Marriage Lie.
Kimberly Belle Home Page, http://kimberlybellebooks.com/ (June 28, 2017).
Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Review, http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.my/ (August 21, 2015), review of The Ones We Trust.
My Novel Opinion, https://mynovelopinion.com/ (August 13, 2015), review of The Ones We Trust.
SmexyBooks, http://smexybooks.com (October 6, 2014), review of The Last Breath; (July 31, 2015), review of The Ones We Trust.
World As I See it, http://theworldasiseeitbloganddesigns.com/ (August 20, 2015), Margaret Tidwell, review of The Ones We Trust.
Home is where the laptop is.
I grew up in Eastern Tennessee, in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Back then I couldn’t find an ounce of beauty in the blue ridges and green valleys and roaring streams, couldn’t find an ounce of appeal in the winding country roads. I was slave to my wanderlust. The summer after high school, I fled to Atlanta to attend Agnes Scott College, a small liberal arts school for women and a four-year pit stop on my quest to see the world.
It was in Atlanta I met the Dutchman, who whisked me off to the Netherlands. What was meant to be a six-month stay turned into twelve freezing but fabulous years, during which I began checking off the countries on my to-see list. Two decades later, I’ve still not seen them all.
Living abroad changed me in ways I can’t count, and though I don’t have the passport to prove it, I am in my heart and soul half Dutch. I know the culture, I speak the language like a native, I love that country like my own.
Ten years ago, the Dutchman and I moved back to Atlanta with our two children, but every chance I get, I hop a plane to Amsterdam, so I can stick my toes in sandy Dutch soil.
And of course, wherever I go, the laptop also travels.
Kimberly Belle is the international bestselling author of three novels: The Last Breath, The Ones We Trust, and The Marriage Lie. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Kimberly worked in marketing and nonprofit fundraising before turning to writing fiction. She lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and currently divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Keep up with Kimberly on Facebook (www.facebook.com/KimberlyBelleBooks), Twitter (@KimberlySBelle), Instagram (@KimberlySBelle) or via her website at www.kimberlybellebooks.com.
QUOTED: "a compelling adventure."
Belle, Kimberly: THE MARRIAGE LIE
(Nov. 1, 2016):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Belle, Kimberly THE MARRIAGE LIE Harlequin MIRA (Adult Fiction) $15.99 12, 27 ISBN: 978-0-7783-1976-4
On the day after Iris and Will's seventh wedding anniversary, they're ready to start trying for a baby. But all is not as it seems.From the outside, it looks like they have a perfect marriage. Friends and family admire their beautiful home, great jobs, and passionate commitment to each other. All this changes when Will dies on a plane flight he wasn't supposed to be on. Scheduled to be en route to Florida to make a presentation at a cybersecurity conference, his name is found on the passenger manifest of a plane bound for Seattle after it crashes in a field. Looking through his files to try to figure out what he was up to, Iris finds a new will and $2.5 million in life insurance policies Will had taken out only months earlier. At a memorial service for the crash victims, she meets Corban, who introduces himself as a friend of Will's from the gym. According to Corban, Will was on his way to a job interview in Seattle, but the office he was interviewing with has never heard of him. Will doesn't seem to be hiding a secret lover, but nothing Iris believed about her husband turns out to be true. Iris proves herself a relentless investigator in a case that takes her to Will's hometown to solve the mystery of whom she married. High school classmates present a very different--and chilling--picture of Will. The suspense builds rapidly from there as Iris pulls back Will's layers of deception and solves the mystery of what the circumstances of his death meant for their marriage. A compelling adventure.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Belle, Kimberly: THE MARRIAGE LIE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468388902&it=r&asid=edf890b729332288a1884d604be5bd37. Accessed 29 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Belle isn't afraid to keep her readers guessing until the very last page of this heart-pounding story."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468388902
The Marriage Lie
Stephanie Turza
113.5 (Nov. 1, 2016): p32.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
The Marriage Lie. By Kimberly Belle. Dec. 2016. 336p. Harlequin/MIRA, paper, $15.99 (9780778319764).
Iris Griffith never thought her marriage was anything but perfect. Sure, Will could be annoying sometimes, but their partnership was rock solid. Then Iris receives a call from Liberty Airlines notifying her that Will was a passenger on Flight 23, which crashed en route from Atlanta to Seattle, with no survivors. Will had left from the Atlanta airport that morning, but he was headed to Orlando for a conference ... wasn't he? As Iris starts unraveling the series of lies behind her husband's disappearance, she realizes that the bedrock of her marriage was anything but solid. Belle harnesses her heroine's grief, disbelief, anger, and love to fuel this domestic thriller, splicing in modern technology for a ripped-from-the-headlines feel. Belle's taut pacing drives the story forward, and the relatability of the Griffiths will hit readers close to home. With plot twists around every corner, Belle isn't afraid to keep her readers guessing until the very last page of this heart-pounding story of one woman's desperate search for answers. --Stephanie Turza
Turza, Stephanie
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Turza, Stephanie. "The Marriage Lie." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2016, p. 32. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471142827&it=r&asid=95b3634e653a3846dea0ddb5a1bb2ba5. Accessed 29 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Numerous skillfully executed twists will force readers to constantly shift their allegiances."
"a surprising and fast-paced read."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471142827
The Marriage Lie
263.41 (Oct. 10, 2016): p53.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
The Marriage Lie
Kimberly Belle. Mira, $15.99 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-7783-1976-4
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Will and Iris Griffith have the perfect marriage and a dream home, and they've just started talking about children on the morning that Will leaves for a business trip in Orlando. When a plane bound for Seattle that same day crashes and kills everyone on board, Iris is stunned to discover Will's name on the passenger manifest, and the conference in Orlando at which he was scheduled to speak turns out not to exist at all. With the help of her brother, Dave, Iris attempts to learn why Will was bound for Seattle, and in the process, she discovers that almost everything she knew about Will is a total fabrication, including his birthplace and his friendships--and there's also a large sum of money suddenly missing from the company where he worked. Each piece of the puzzle seems to create more questions than answers, especially once Iris's phone begins receiving anonymous text messages ranging from concerned to outright threatening. This is not a unique premise, and Belle's (The Last Breath) main villain is a little bit cookie-cutter, but numerous skillfully executed twists will force readers to constantly shift their allegiances from character to character, never entirely sure who to trust or what's really going on. A surprising and fast-paced read. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Marriage Lie." Publishers Weekly, 10 Oct. 2016, p. 53+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466616140&it=r&asid=4bfcd42ca726f95b5bad917c5122c8f4. Accessed 29 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Belle's a smooth writer whose characters are vibrant and truly reflect the area where the novel is set, but the plot--while clever--takes a back seat to ... sexual exploits."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466616140
Belle, Kimberly: THE LAST BREATH
(Sept. 1, 2014):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Belle, Kimberly THE LAST BREATH Harlequin MIRA (Adult Fiction) $14.95 9, 30 ISBN: 978-0-7783-1722-7
A small Tennessee mountain town is awash in sex and scandal in Belle's first novel. Gia Andrews, a disaster relief worker, is also a convicted murderer's daughter. Her father, Ray, was convicted of killing his wife and Gia's stepmother, Ella Mae, and sentenced to life in prison. But Ray is dying, and prison officials are releasing him on compassionate grounds; Gia's uncle Cal, a prominent lawyer, has recruited her to return home from Kenya to care for her dad in his home in Rogersville. Despite the fact that she hasn't seen her father since she left many years ago, she returns, believing her brother, Bo, and sister, Lexi, will help her, but she finds that neither wants anything to do with their father. Her nearest allies turn out to be the home-care worker Uncle Cal has hired, Fannie, and the new man she meets, a bar-and-grill owner named Jake. When Gia meets a law professor planning to write a book about wrongful convictions, he tells her he believes Ray didn't kill Ella Mae and that Cal, who was Ray's attorney, didn't mount much of a defense. After looking into these allegations, Gia discovers her stepmother had an affair with another man and wonders whether her father could be innocent after all. While trying to unravel the mystery of who really killed Ella Mae, things heat up between Gia and Jake, and suddenly the mystery takes a whole new direction. Belle's a smooth writer whose characters are vibrant and truly reflect the area where the novel is set, but the plot--while clever--takes a back seat to Gia's and Ella Mae's separate, but equally steamy, sexual exploits. Thriller fans will find so much space devoted to Gia and Jake's sexual acrobatics that little time is left for the plot to develop.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Belle, Kimberly: THE LAST BREATH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA380746689&it=r&asid=eb8116e8c11e974734ed8a8dd61f8449. Accessed 29 May 2017.
QUOTED: "The unraveling of the lies and intrigue surrounding the town and family is an emotional roller-coaster ride."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A380746689
Belle, Kimberly. The Last Breath
Mara Dabrishus
(Oct. 17, 2014):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Belle, Kimberly. The Last Breath. Mira: Harlequin. Oct. 2014. 384p. ISBN 9780778317227. pap. $14.95; ebk. ISBN 9781460340233. F
Belle's debut has Gia Andrews returning home from a busy life abroad as a humanitarian aid worker to care for her terminally ill father, who has just been released from prison to die in the comfort of his own home. Reluctant to act as caregiver for her father--who murdered her stepmother in cold blood--Gia is forced into the role by familial obligation. When she returns to the small town she grew up in, she encounters protesters on her lawn and a chilly reception by her siblings. No one wants her father home, and Gia feels stuck. In order to cope, she spends time with the town's loved restaurateur, who, as Gia begins to find out more about what happened that fateful night, might have more of a connection with her past than anyone knows.
Verdict While the circumstances around the original murder go only surface deep, the unraveling of the lies and intrigue surrounding the town and family is an emotional roller-coaster ride. Belle has crafted a romantic, suspenseful women's fiction novel that will please fans of Mary Kubica and Diane Chamberlain.--Mara Dabrishus, Ursuline Coll. Lib., Pepper Pike, OH
Dabrishus, Mara
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Dabrishus, Mara. "Belle, Kimberly. The Last Breath." Xpress Reviews, 17 Oct. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA387827294&it=r&asid=98896f32fa27c6361bcd4863910a9c46. Accessed 29 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A387827294
QUOTED: "These characters and their distinctive voices are one of the reasons Belle shows great promise, and will likely cause those who read THE LAST BREATH to seek out her next work. This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit."
"The plot is extremely ambitious and a lot of fun to read, even though it occasionally jumped the track a time or two through the course of the narrative. Gia and Jake didn’t always react to events as one might expect, which, depending on your point of view, might make them either more or less believable to you."
The Last Breath
by Kimberly Belle
[Buy this book at IndieBound]
[Buy this book at Amazon]
[Buy this for Amazon Kindle]
[Buy this book at Barnes and Noble]
THE LAST BREATH is an impressive debut novel that is set in the hills of Appalachia in Eastern Tennessee, where the author, Kimberly Belle, grew up. In its opening pages, the year is 1994 and we meet Ella Mae Andrews shortly before she is brutally murdered during what she calls a “crime of passion.” The consequences to others, as well as the inherent mystery surrounding Ella Mae’s murder, make up the heart of this fast-paced, page-turning novel.
As THE LAST BREATH moves forward, it is 16 years after Ella Mae’s murder, and it would seem that justice has been served as her husband, Ray, is in prison for the crime. In an interesting twist of fate, however, Ray (who has pancreatic cancer) is being released from prison and returning home to die. As he will need around-the-clock care, his daughter, Gia, reluctantly agrees to come home to help care for him. She has been traveling the world as an international disaster relief expert for the past 16 years, ever since the people in their small town turned their backs on her family after her father’s conviction. For Gia and her siblings, Bo and Lexi, this was just another betrayal thrust upon them.
"This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit. There were times when I was convinced Ray was guilty, then Belle would throw another potential suspect in the mix and I thought for sure he was innocent."
Upon her arrival, she is greeted by her Uncle Cal, otherwise known as the Tennessee Tiger, one of the best defense lawyers (and her father’s trial attorney) in the state. Gia has always believed her uncle did a stellar job defending her father, but as the evidence against him piled up, there was only so much Cal could do; she knew her father was indeed guilty. However, this steadfast belief in her father’s guilt is soon shaken when Jeffrey Levine stops by her house. It seems Jeffrey is a law professor who is writing a true crime book about false convictions and believes he has found some evidence indicating that her father may have been unjustly convicted. Not only that, he suspects that Uncle Cal provided (at best) a “shoddy” defense. The question is: Why would he do that? It is at this point that Belle starts us on the roller coaster ride that makes up the remainder of the book. Along with Gia, we start to doubt Ray’s guilt and ask ourselves the question: If Ray didn’t kill Ella Mae, then who did?
The narrative moves along quickly by alternating Gia’s voice in the present with Ella Mae’s from the past. By doing this, Belle gives us glimpses about what was really going on in Ella Mae’s life leading up to her murder. We also get to know a few colorful people in Gia’s life. There’s her spunky sister Lexi, who remains somewhat bitter about Gia’s “abandoning” her 16 years ago. Then there’s Jake, a gorgeous bartender who takes a strong interest in Gia (and vice versa). Finally, there’s Frannie, the hospice nurse in charge of Ray’s care and quite possibly my favorite character of all. These characters and their distinctive voices are one of the reasons Belle shows great promise, and will likely cause those who read THE LAST BREATH to seek out her next work.
This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit. There were times when I was convinced Ray was guilty, then Belle would throw another potential suspect in the mix and I thought for sure he was innocent. That being said, the plot is extremely ambitious and a lot of fun to read, even though it occasionally jumped the track a time or two through the course of the narrative. Gia and Jake didn’t always react to events as one might expect, which, depending on your point of view, might make them either more or less believable to you.
November 14, 2013
Reviewed by Renee Yeager on The Last Breath
by Kimberly Belle
[Buy this book at IndieBound]
[Buy this book at Amazon]
[Buy this for Amazon Kindle]
[Buy this book at Barnes and Noble]
THE LAST BREATH is an impressive debut novel that is set in the hills of Appalachia in Eastern Tennessee, where the author, Kimberly Belle, grew up. In its opening pages, the year is 1994 and we meet Ella Mae Andrews shortly before she is brutally murdered during what she calls a “crime of passion.” The consequences to others, as well as the inherent mystery surrounding Ella Mae’s murder, make up the heart of this fast-paced, page-turning novel.
As THE LAST BREATH moves forward, it is 16 years after Ella Mae’s murder, and it would seem that justice has been served as her husband, Ray, is in prison for the crime. In an interesting twist of fate, however, Ray (who has pancreatic cancer) is being released from prison and returning home to die. As he will need around-the-clock care, his daughter, Gia, reluctantly agrees to come home to help care for him. She has been traveling the world as an international disaster relief expert for the past 16 years, ever since the people in their small town turned their backs on her family after her father’s conviction. For Gia and her siblings, Bo and Lexi, this was just another betrayal thrust upon them.
"This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit. There were times when I was convinced Ray was guilty, then Belle would throw another potential suspect in the mix and I thought for sure he was innocent."
Upon her arrival, she is greeted by her Uncle Cal, otherwise known as the Tennessee Tiger, one of the best defense lawyers (and her father’s trial attorney) in the state. Gia has always believed her uncle did a stellar job defending her father, but as the evidence against him piled up, there was only so much Cal could do; she knew her father was indeed guilty. However, this steadfast belief in her father’s guilt is soon shaken when Jeffrey Levine stops by her house. It seems Jeffrey is a law professor who is writing a true crime book about false convictions and believes he has found some evidence indicating that her father may have been unjustly convicted. Not only that, he suspects that Uncle Cal provided (at best) a “shoddy” defense. The question is: Why would he do that? It is at this point that Belle starts us on the roller coaster ride that makes up the remainder of the book. Along with Gia, we start to doubt Ray’s guilt and ask ourselves the question: If Ray didn’t kill Ella Mae, then who did?
The narrative moves along quickly by alternating Gia’s voice in the present with Ella Mae’s from the past. By doing this, Belle gives us glimpses about what was really going on in Ella Mae’s life leading up to her murder. We also get to know a few colorful people in Gia’s life. There’s her spunky sister Lexi, who remains somewhat bitter about Gia’s “abandoning” her 16 years ago. Then there’s Jake, a gorgeous bartender who takes a strong interest in Gia (and vice versa). Finally, there’s Frannie, the hospice nurse in charge of Ray’s care and quite possibly my favorite character of all. These characters and their distinctive voices are one of the reasons Belle shows great promise, and will likely cause those who read THE LAST BREATH to seek out her next work.
This book will appeal to readers looking for a true whodunit. There were times when I was convinced Ray was guilty, then Belle would throw another potential suspect in the mix and I thought for sure he was innocent. That being said, the plot is extremely ambitious and a lot of fun to read, even though it occasionally jumped the track a time or two through the course of the narrative. Gia and Jake didn’t always react to events as one might expect, which, depending on your point of view, might make them either more or less believable to you.
Reviewed by Renee Yeager on November 14, 2013
QUOTED: "The pace is relentless, and the plot never runs in a straight line. Once that airplane headed for Seattle goes down, the questions begin to fly. People aren’t who they seem. ... It’s smoke and mirrors! Beware, THE MARRIAGE LIE might very well undermine your confidence, your convictions, and your trust in loved ones. This one is a true brain twister!"
The Marriage Lie
by Kimberly Belle
[Buy this book at IndieBound]
[Buy this book at Amazon]
[Buy this for Amazon Kindle]
[Buy this book at Barnes and Noble]
Iris and Will Griffith have been married for seven years now, and life is good. Real good. They have their Atlanta dream home, excellent careers, and a love for each other that’s rare. At least that’s what Iris would say should you ask her. The day after their seventh anniversary starts out like many days, with the couple waking to entwined limbs and smiles. All too soon, though, Will has to disentangle himself and head off to a conference in Orlando.
A short time later, Iris hears news of an airplane crash that gives her some agonizingly tense moments. But she heaves a huge sigh of relief when she learns that the plane was headed for Seattle. She’s relieved, that is, until she hears more news, this of a much grimmer nature. Still, it confuses her. Why would Will have lied about going to Orlando? For what reason would he have gone to Seattle instead? Iris reassures herself that he wouldn’t have. The airline simply got it it wrong. Will went to Orlando, just as he told her. So she tries to contact him on his cell phone (can’t hurt to be absolutely sure), and she gets nothing but silence in return. A tiny niggle of suspicion begins to bloom. If only Will would return her calls. In the meantime, Iris won’t take anyone’s word as fact. She has to find out for herself. But when she starts digging deeper, she is shocked to discover how little she really knew about her husband.
"Fans of GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN will eat up Kimberly Belle’s latest novel. The pace is relentless, and the plot never runs in a straight line.... This one is a true brain twister!"
Fortunately, Iris has a loving family to support her at this time. Her mother hovers, while her father plays liaison between Iris and the airline. Dave, her twin brother, could hardly be more supportive. He leaps right in to help his sister unravel the puzzle. Whatever Iris needs, Dave is by her side every step of the way, and Mom and Dad stand with them both. Let Iris lean on family for now. But Dave and the others have lives they must go back to at some point. So, reluctantly, they leave Iris, with a promise that they all will get together again in just a few days.
Once her family has gone, things turn darker for Iris, leaning toward dangerous. And, with so many bizarre developments, Iris doesn’t know who to trust. The moment she thinks she has all of the answers, something else comes along to undermine her newfound confidence. Always, though, she returns to her basic question: What happened to Will? Was he on the plane to Seattle that crashed, or did he go to Orlando like he said? If he went to Orlando, why won’t he answer her calls? None of it makes sense. And then she gets some disturbing texts. They contain very perplexing information. But, while Iris starts to believe that Will is still alive, it could be simply a strong case of wishful thinking.
Fans of GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN will eat up Kimberly Belle’s latest novel. The pace is relentless, and the plot never runs in a straight line. Once that airplane headed for Seattle goes down, the questions begin to fly. People aren’t who they seem, don’t mean what they say, and lie about their intentions. It’s smoke and mirrors! Beware, THE MARRIAGE LIE might very well undermine your confidence, your convictions, and your trust in loved ones. This one is a true brain twister!
Reviewed by Kate Ayers on January 6, 2017
QUOTED: "Elation and sorrow walk hand in hand in the book’s final moments, requiring us to reassess everything we have learned as our questions are finally answered. Though some answers were underwhelming, particularly in retrospect to the victim and the events leading up to her demise, overall The Last Breath is an enjoyable small town mystery suspense that solidifies the notion you can always go home."
Review: The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle
October 6, 2014 By Tori 4 Comments
20579282The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle
Adult Fiction/Mystery Suspense
Paperback, 384 pages
September 30, 2014
Harlequin, MIRA
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: I came all this way because I’m not certain…
Gia Andrews, a humanitarian worker, left her small Tennessee home town sixteen years ago after her stepmother, Elle Mae, was murdered and her father convicted of the crime. When she receives news her father is being allowed to come home because he is dying, Gia comes home to care for him and to figure out exactly what happened that night.
Being known as the daughter of a murderer doesn’t do much to help ease her way back into small town life but meeting a certain attractive bartender helps to take away the sting. As Gia gets to know her father again and try to deal with the guilt of his crime and her abandonment of him, she soon discovers that everyone has a story to tell about that night. As Gia sifts through the half lies and truths, the past comes back to life and she soon discovers there was far more at stake than a simple crime of passion. And the consequences of discovering once and for all what really happened that night may devastate them all.
The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle is a thought provoking dramatic undertaking that takes a decade old crime and uses it to dissect and examine the characters who all were affected by it. While the mystery is a strong base the story is built on, I found the character dynamics far more prevalent. A trio of siblings, torn apart by their stepmother’s death and father’s conviction of the crime must come together and finally deal with the past and their own feelings towards their father and each other. Belle’s voice is a wonderful blend of humor, sorrow, and compassion as she tells us a story of love, loss, jealousy, guilt, and forgiveness. Using the past and the present, Belle guides us down a long twisting road, letting us form our own opinions about what happened as we listen to the victims recollections of what happened and the accounts of all those left behind to question and wonder.
Intense and personable characters bring the story to life, giving us an in depth look at how differently people can react to grief, anger, and embarrassment. Gia choose to leave town and save the world, a reaction to the fact she couldn’t save her family. Her sister Lexi and her brother Bo choose to stay in town; with Lexi flaunting herself in the public eye, never letting the town know the extent of her pain while Bo hides himself in his research lab. All three of them deserted their father when he was convicted, choosing to believe in the court’s assertion he was guilty. Their pain, fear, and mistrust is a living entity yet despite their animosity towards one another, Belle digs deep beneath the surface and draws out the love they feel for one another.
A sexy sweet romance weaves throughout, heightening the appeal and softening the harsher tones. Belle uses Gia’s and Ellie Mae’s multiple steamy sexual interludes to engage us further into the mystery and provide a bridge of understanding between the past and the present.
As the mystery swirls around, drawing in tighter and tighter towards the finale, a curious feeling overtakes the reader. Elation and sorrow walk hand in hand in the book’s final moments, requiring us to reassess everything we have learned as our questions are finally answered. Though some answers were underwhelming, particularly in retrospect to the victim and the events leading up to her demise, overall The Last Breath is an enjoyable small town mystery suspense that solidifies the notion you can always go home.
RATING: B
The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
20 Aug
Written By Margaret Tidwell
TLC Book Tours
The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle was a great book. Once I started reading I didn’t want to put the book down. I reminded me of books by one of my favorite authors so I know that was a big part of it for me. I love mystery books and this book didn’t let me down. I liked this one because I didn’t figure out the story after I was a few chapters in. With a lot of mystery books I tend to figure out who did it and I didn’t do that with this book so that made it interesting and kept me reading until the end of the book. If you love mystery books than I would recommend this book to you because it is so well written and I felt like I could relate to the characters.
The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
About The Book
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Mira (July 28, 2015)
When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan—with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.
The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier’s brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.
Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail’s search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping—and seeking hope in the impossible.
Kimberly Belle
About The Author
Kimberly Belle grew up in Eastern Tennessee, in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians. A graduate of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, Kimberly lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and has worked in marketing and fundraising for various nonprofits. She’s the author of two novels, THE LAST BREATH and THE ONES WE TRUST (August 2015). She divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Buy Your Own Copy
QUOTED: "not predictable, full of emotion and characters that are so engaging."
Friday, August 21, 2015
#MMBBR Review: The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle @KimberlySBelle
23638956
A moving and evocative exploration of grief and guilt in the wake of one family's devastating loss.
When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan -- with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.
The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier's brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.
Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail's search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping -- and seeking hope in the impossible.
I love when thrillers are actually thrillers...when they leave you almost stunned and thinking about them after you turned the last page! The Ones We Trust is one of those reads...not predictable, full of emotion and characters that are so engaging. I cannot wait to read more by Belle!!! 4.5 stars
Kimberly Belle
Kimberly Belle grew up in Eastern Tennessee, in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians. A graduate of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, Kimberly lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and has worked in marketing and fundraising for various nonprofits. Her debut novel, THE LAST BREATH, was published by Harlequin MIRA in September 2014. She divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
QUOTED: "The plot was compelling and the characters intriguing."
The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
Posted August 13, 2015 in A Novel Read / 1 Comment
I received this book from Author for review consideration.
The Ones We Trust by Kimberly BelleThe Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
Published by Harlequin MIRA on July 28th 2015
Genres: Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Author
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five-stars
A moving and evocative exploration of grief and guilt in the wake of one family's devastating loss.
When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan -- with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.
The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier's brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.
Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail's search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping -- and seeking hope in the impossible.
Kimberly Belle’s debut novel, The Last Breath, was one of my favorite books of 2014 so her next book was going to come with some level of expectation. Of course, I had been anticipating The Ones We Trust since Kimberly shared some brief details about it last November. Did it meet those expectations? Well, I read it in a day! The only book I have read in a day in a long, long time.
When reading The Last Breath, I guessed one of the twists quite early on but it didn’t deter my enjoyment of the book. While reading The Ones We Trust, I also played the guessing game, trying to figure out how the two leads Abigail was investigating were linked.
Early on we learn that Abigail has given up investigative journalism after uncovering a scandal which lead to a suicide. Quite happily curating links for a health and well-being website and redesigning her bathroom, Abigail is content with never writing another story again. That is until two quite juicy leads show up on her door step – literally in one case.
New information could lead to the truth behind the career-ending scandal, and after running in to a familiar face at the home improvement store, Abigail is faced with uncovering the truth behind a soldier’s death. A death that the Army have gone to great lengths hiding the truth.
The familiar face is Gabe, brother of actor-turned-soldier Zach. Abigail had never met Gabe before but the likeness to his brother is uncanny, and Abigail had interviewed Hollywood’s Golden Boy when he enlisted and recalled the numerous news stories following his premature death.
And so Abigail attempts to uncover the truth behind both stories. One is a bit too close to home, her father is a retired Army General, and the military plays a big part in her life.
There is a lot going on in The Ones We Trust, one reason I read it so fast. The plot was compelling and the characters intriguing, I just had to know how it all played out. Who came out on top, and how far would Abigail go to uncover the truth even if it meant betraying her father.
I have a feeling that come the end of the year, Kimberly Belle will be on my best of the year list again!
QUOTED: "Kimberly Belle has proven she is no one trick pony with this latest release. As strong and heartbreakingly poignant as her debut ... The Ones We Trust is a complex and thought-provoking drama that delivers a power filled story built on family and filled with grief, love, trust, betrayal. It asks you how far will you go and how much are you willing to give up in order discover the truth. Well researched and smoothly revealed, Belle expertly pulls all your emotions to the surface."
Review: The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
July 31, 2015 By Tori Leave a Comment
23638956The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
Romantic Suspense/Thriller
E book
July 28, 2015
Mira
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “The truth always come out eventually.”
One man will do anything to discover the truth behind his brother’s death.
One man will do anything to keep it buried.
The answer lies in the hands of one woman who will be forced to choose which is more important…loyalty or truth.
Abigail Wolff, an investigative journalist, turned in her press pass and resignation when a high profile story she wrote resulted in tragedy. Left bereft and guilt stricken over her actions in the affair, she is now works as a content curator for a health website. When she anonymously receives a packet of unclassified documents in the mail, alleging a military cover up in the death of a soldier, she finds herself poised on the edge of an abyss where she may be forced to betray the people she loves the most in order to find closure for a family she feels deserves the truth.
Kimberly Belle has proven she is no one trick pony with this latest release. As strong and heartbreakingly poignant as her debut, The Last Breathe, The Ones We Trust is a complex and thought-provoking drama that delivers a power filled story built on family and filled with grief, love, trust, betrayal. It asks you how far will you go and how much are you willing to give up in order discover the truth. Well researched and smoothly revealed, Belle expertly pulls all your emotions to the surface as you watch two families deal with the tragedy of losing someone they loved and trying valiantly to discover the reasons why.
The story reveals itself slowly, introducing these dynamic characters and their backstories while laying the groundwork for what’s to come. Two stories intertwine in here-one that serves to reminds Abigail of her past mistakes and one that gives her a chance to redeem herself-if only in her own eyes. One aspect I enjoy in Belle’s writing is the honesty she forces from her characters. While everyone would love to be hero and act above the board, we can’t negate the everyday emotions that make up our humanity. Love, lust, fear, anger, and selfishness exist and will always be a prevalent force no matter the situation we are in. Belle addresses these issues, showing us that it is very easy to be both the hero and villain of our own story.
Abigail is a strong, intelligent, forthright woman whose sense of loyalty and honesty are hardwired in her. An army brat, her father, a three star general, instilled strong values in her from day one of her life. Her determination to find out what happened to the slain soldier, Zach Armstrong, leads her to locate the Armstrong family and show them what she received. Unbeknownst to the family, Abigail not only knew Zach and interviewed him once upon a time, but she knows his brother Gabe as well. Mrs. Armstrong begs Abigail to write Zach’s story and bring the truth out in the open even though Abigail has repeatedly told her she is no longer a journalist. When Gabe comes to her, also asking for her help, Abigail is helpless to fight the tide of curiosity and begins her investigation. Unfortunately, her investigation leads her to her father and signs that he not only knows what really happened to Zach Armstrong…but had a hand in covering it up.
As Abigail works frantically to wipe away the darkness that surrounds Zach’s death, Belle uses her investigation to examine all of Abigail’s relationships and the effects her actions are having on them. How do you co-exist with your family whose goals are at odds with yours? How do you maintain loyalty? Should loyalty to family supersede all? How much is trust freely given and how much is painstakingly earned? Each person in here is forced to examine the motivations behind their actions and answer for them.
While the romance isn’t the main focus, it is a strong, sweetly defiant undercurrent that flows through the story. Family takes on new definitions as Abigail begins to form a romantic attachment to Gabe Armstrong. Grief stricken by the loss his brother and the toll it is taking on his family and himself, Gabe is distrustful of Abigail and is unsure if she is truly here to help or hinder his family’s investigation. His growing attraction to her becomes a source of confusion for him that sharpens under the growing evidence that the military wasn’t honest about his brother’s death.
As the mystery swirls around, drawing in tighter and tighter towards the finale, feelings of sorrow and relief overtakes the reader as we learn exactly what happened and why. The ending is bittersweet but hopeful as Abigail and Gabe learn that the truth is often layered in shades of gray and doesn’t always give us the answers we wanted to hear.
RATING: B+