Kaira Rouda is an instant-read author for me. I was thrilled to see she had a new book - AND there’s a sequel coming! This first book in her new series, Family Secrets, is The Second Mrs Strom, a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the start. The chapters alternate with Paul & Cecilia’s side of events, in the present and in the past. This is a couple I just wasn’t sure about & they kept it interesting along the entire ride!
Thank you, Kaira Rouda, bookouture, & netgalley, for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

What a juicy, drama filled book! Perfect vacation read. Paul Strom is so fun to hate on! He met his match with this wife for sure. A fast paced, fun read.

I hadn't read the first book in this mini-series, but it certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of this one. An extremely unlikable couple, I couldn't wait to see who won the battle between them. Highly recommended
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Second book in the series (oversight on my behalf) I usually like to read books in order but after reading other reviews on Goodreads, some are saying it’s better not to have read the first book before reading this one (I’ll have to let you guys be the judge of that).

The main character, Paul Storm, is a man we love to hate and hate to love (if you know, you know) he got so far under my skin that I wanted to scream at time! As for Cecilia, she intrigued me the most, I never truly believed she was this super naïve newly wed…. there was something about her that…. I don’t know…. just a feeling….

A very fast paced book, one that had me saying ‘one more chapter, promise!’

Mr Strom has been busy. After a questionable relationship with a wealthy elderly woman leaves him the sole heir to her estate, the second Mrs. Strom crazily catches his eye. Now in Paris, she is breaking all his rules. And there could be a child no one knew about...
We all know I love angry women - this one does not disappoint.

Fast paced, suspenseful and devious. Cecelia Strom marries a man she thinks is her forever. After a year passes, CeeCee is beginning to pick up on some strange indecents in her marriage...as she unravels who she is really married to, her own secrets are called in to question!

The Second Mrs Strom is a domestic thriller. Rich people behaving badly with dark skeletons in their closet. Several turns during the story led me down all kinds of dark paths! Definitely recommend. For fans of Freida McFadden, Liv Constantine, you'll enjoy this story,

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for a copy of this title. All my opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up. The Second Mrs. Strom is a sequel of sorts, but you don't have to have read Best Day Ever to enjoy this book. Paul Strom married Cecelia after a whirlwind courtship. They met at Esther's funeral, the woman who left her fortune to her companion, Paul. It is now their one year anniversary and they are celebrating in Paris. To the public they are a beautiful, happy couple, but in private, they are not happy. Who is Cecilia and did she set out to meet Paul for her own reasons? Paul may have loved Cecilia, but he has changed. He wants her home, barefoot and pregnant, as well as having a mistress on the side. Will their marriage end sooner rather than later?

I am not usually a fan of unlikable characters, but both Paul and Cecilia are exactly that. However, I still enjoyed this book and couldn't wait to get to the end to see what was going to happen. As we learned more about Paul, I began to think he was a psychopath, Cecilia was a liar and had lots of secrets. The book is well-plotted and written in such a way that the suspense was increased as the story progressed and there was a sense of impending doom and tragedy. There were many twists along the way, ones that kept me guessing along with my surprise at what happened. With unlikable characters, secrets, lies, little or no morals, and lots of mind games, I read and/or listened with interest. This was a book to go into cold, as well as to sit back and just enjoy the drama. If you enjoy an entertaining psychological thriller, then I recommend The Second Mrs. Strom. I enjoyed this one so much, I am going to read or listen to Best Day Ever to find out about Paul's life before Cecilia.

I seriously binge every book Kaira Rouda writes. They are some of the best popcorn thrillers out there, and The Second Mrs Strom was no exception!

Thank you to Bookouture for the copies to review.

First of all, if you can do audiobooks, I highly recommend you listen to this one. Paul is BACK with a new wife and the audio absolutely encapsulated him and brought him straight back to me, and it was so much fun listening to him just like in Best Day Ever. Second, did I mention Paul is BACK? I don’t want to spoil anything but he is one of my favorite villains, in one of my favorite thrillers, and I do think he has met his match in this sequel. Kaira Rouda is a favorite thriller author of mine and she has outdone herself here. I highly recommend this book (you will benefit from reading the first book FYI, although this can be read as a standalone) and I cannot wait to read the third book in this fabulous series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy books by this author and this one was no exception. This is a great thriller told from alternating points of view. But, you don't get enough to completely understand what is happening from the get-go. I despised Paul so much and wanted him to come to a painful demise by the end of the story! Lots of twists and turns in this one. I wanted a little more from the ending, but overall, this was a great read!

I loved Best Day Ever but this one, as the second of a series didnt grip me . I see from other reviews that I am in the minority.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

I absolutely love novels by Kaira Rouda and was thrilled to get my hands on The Second Mrs Strom. I loved the first novel in this series and was thrilled to continue one and see what would happen in this novel.

This was a fast-paced thriller that had me hooked until the very end. With so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, this one keeps you on the edge of your seat.

A definitely must read.

📚 BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Second Mrs. Strom By Kaira Rouda
Publication Date: August 16, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

If you're a fan of cat-and-mouse thrillers, The Second Mrs. Strom is a MUST-READ to add to your TBR list!! Everybody over at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse loves this author and this series -- and now I know why!

This domestic thriller featured the most clever cat-and-mouse storyline, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out which spouse was actually the one gaming the other. Both the main characters, Cecilia Strom and Paul Strom, are unreliable narrators and I couldn't figure who was the smarter or more devious of the two. I was riveted as I tried to figure out the way this thriller would turn out! The story is told from their alternating POVs and across multiple timelines...with the addition of intriguing Dear Diary excerpts written by a third party whose identity isn't revealed til late in the book.

The way this story was laid out made this SUCH an enjoyable and fun read! I was surprised at how quickly I read this book too, but the cat-and-mouse chase was so compelling that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the backdrop of Paris in the present day chapters, and the decadence of the Stroms' luxe lifestyle throughout the book captivated me. I appreciated the backstories Rouda detailed about Cecilia and Paul, as they added rich depth that helped me better understand the characters' personalities so much more too.

I didn't read the first book in this series, The Best Day Ever, which worried me a little bit before I started this one, but I found that it didn't matter. Though I'm sure I don't have the full background about Paul's past, I was able to jump right into this book with no problems at all and this book can easily be read as a standalone.

A huge thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Bookouture for inviting me to be a part of this book tour and providing me a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review!

#TheSecondMrsStrom #KairaRouda #thrillerbookloversthepulse #bookouture #booktour #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #whodunnit #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs

The Second Mrs Strom is a twisty and fun domestic suspense. While this is a sequel I do believe this would be ok as a stand alone as well. During this book I wasn't sure who was playing who and so it provided for the fun of figuring it out we all enjoy. If you like a good thriller I would highly suggest picking this one up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Paul Strom is back, and he’s just as twisted as we remember from Best Day Ever! 😳 Once again, Paul believes he’s in control, but is he really? Has he finally met his match in Cecilia, or is marriage number two destined for disaster? Their anniversary celebration in Paris might seem like the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds… but at what cost? 🗼💔
I loved the author’s use of alternating POVs between Mr. & Mrs. Strom, which added depth to the story. 📖 While some twists were predictable, they kept me hooked until the very end.

I’ll definitely be reading more from Kaira Rouda & highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller!

Many thanks to #NetGalley #Bookouture #TheSecondMrsStrom & KairaRouda for the ARC. My opinions are my own & freely expressed.

#ThrillerReads #BookstagramThriller #MysteryReads #BookRecommendations #PageTurner #ARCReview #TwistsAndTurns #BookLover

"The Second Mrs. Strom" is a fast-paced narrative brimming with twists and turns that kept me captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This book blew me away. Paul is back with a vengeance. However, this time, he has met his match with Cecilia. Told in alternate timelines throughout a day in Paris.
I absolutely LOVE Rouda's style of writing. Paul is so evil, you just want to push him off the Eiffel. Tower. I wish we had more of his ex-wife in the story though!
4.5 stars.

Paul is self-centered, narcissistic and controlling. He likes Cecilia to do what he tells her when he tells her. But this trip is not going as he anticipated.

Paul is ready to start a family. He though Cecilia was as well. But this trip is showing him otherwise.

Loved the dual POVs and seeing things from both sides.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is absolutely chock full of insane behavior from the main characters. I enjoyed the first book so much I was excited to see Paul back and see what he would get up to. It didn't disappoint.

Paul is now married to his new wife Cecelia. They are on their anniversary trip on Paris and things get wild! You're not sure who is the crazier one in the relationship. Who is more delusional?

I wasn't sure where this was headed but it did not disappoint. I don't want to give too many details but you need to read this book if you love insane characters like I do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc!

Yes I loved this book!! Paul is always one of my forever love characters! I’m so happy a sequel was made and it as great!