This wasn’t my favorite. I have enjoyed her books in the past but this one felt more YA with adults. The dialogue kind of drove me crazy. It is a slow burn that takes place over a day with some flashback chapters, and is the second book in a series. I felt I was able to understand what was going on even without reading book 1. Only one of the twists was truly shocking to me. The others I guessed way before they were revealed.

I stuffed up big-time when reading The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda. It wasn't until the very end I read the note by the author and she mentions taking Paul Strom out on a second outing following his appearance in Best Day Ever. Do'h!

I LOVED that book (it's my fave of Rouda's) and realising that would have given this so much more context. This opens with Paul narrating and he's surprisingly loathsome straight off... in Paris elbowing other tourists out of the way and literally telling them to "Shoo!". Had I realised he was the same character we loved to hate in Best Day Ever I would have understood that Rouda had no intention of us liking him or finding him more palatable. Of course if my memory was better I might have recalled his name or some of his backstory (which he shares here). But alas... I read this with fresh eyes and found myself somewhat agog at his smug arrogance.

Thankfully we have a second narrator, Cecilia - Paul's wife of one year - however she's initially a bit of an enigma, as we're taken back to the time she meets Paul, the pair marry and move across the country together. We learn Paul's former lover left him a fortune. Like hundreds of millions of dollars but he sees himself as very deserving rather than lucky. His sense of privilege is scary as is his very heightened sense of (quite frankly unjustified) superiority.

Rouda stages this cleverly as we hear from both Paul and Cecilia. It means we're privy to memories and thoughts as well as what they actually say - the latter often completely incongruous with their actual thoughts and feelings. I should mention I'd not read the backcover blurb (inset above) before starting this so wasn't expecting the extent of the duplicity, but we learn they're both playing a role and their games get twistier and twistier.

In the present this plays out over the course of a day. Again Paul's planned the 'best day ever' and there's a sense of foreboding given his rather manic frame of a mind - leaping back and forth from suspicion and seething anger to narcissistic confidence. And amidst the events of that day Cecilia's recapping the last year of her life, catching us up to the present.

This would be a great bookclub book as it would be interesting to gauge the extent readers find either character likeable - if at all. I must confess I found myself bonding with Cecilia though my perception of her did travel on a fairly tumultuous journey. I was reminded of the Steve Cavanagh book I just read featuring a somewhat-evil (sociopathic) character. It made me wonder if we judge people the same even the person they act out against (harm or kill) is actually not a nice person. Is it more palatable and are they forgivable? A la' Dexter - serial killer of the truly evil.

So there's much to think about here and Rouda ends it with some ambiguity and - again in her note - promises we'll be meeting at least one of the characters again. And at least I'll know to expect it next time, and there will be a next time as though this book is a mindf*ck of a ride, I very much enjoyed this rather twisted (rather than twisty) read.

Bestselling author Kaira Rouda (a long-time favorite and the queen of dark humor) is back with our favorite love-to-hate narcissistic devilish character from Best Day Ever (5 Stars) Paul Strom, in her latest dazzling thriller, THE SECOND MRS. STROM!

About...

Paul was left money by the rich Palm Beach older woman, Esther, divorced from Mia, his first wife, and estranged from his kids, now married to a much younger and beautiful Cecilia. They met at Esther's funeral. Was this a chance meeting or planned?

Paul is full of himself. He has an exciting Paris trip planned for their anniversary. Of course, he wants to control everything. Cecilia seems to be naive and goes along with Paul's narcissistic behavior, but watch out. There is more to Cecilia than you know as the book moves along.

Has Paul met his match? Absolutely! Paul is in for a surprise he never saw coming.

My thoughts...

Wickedly delicious!

OMG!! 5 STARS +++ Top books of 2024! The minute you receive a Kaira Rouda book, you drop everything. I have never laughed so hard. Paul has met his match! I LOVED this book! The banter and the one-liners are hilarious and highly entertaining.

A razor-sharp, gripping psychological thriller page-turner!

The dinner at the Eiffel Tower was priceless. I stayed up all night to finish in one sitting (well worth it-audio and e-book) and now cannot wait for the next—bring it on—more Cecilia Strom to continue. I loved all the supporting characters. Kaira, you outdid yourself!

No one does dark humor and snark better than Kaira Rouda! Since I live between West Palm and Palm Beach, I loved hanging out on Palm Beach Worth Avenue with all these fun, devilish characters. I can see Worth Avenue out my window, and every time I walk down the street or ride my bike, I think of Paul, Esther, and Cecilia. I would love to have seen Paul and Cecilia in the exquisite Florentine Room at the chic HMF (named after the resort's founder, Henry Morrison Flagler), Palm Beach's hottest and glam social scene at The Breakers!

What wicked FUN in Paris on the last night! —Best Night Ever! What an adventure and, oh, those twists! I loved seeing Cecilia from the beginning to the bold ending! REVENGE.

This book is a non-stop rollercoaster of entertainment. You'll find yourself laughing out loud, and you'll want to revisit it for the sheer joy it brings. Paul is a riot, and Cecilia is a killer character. To truly understand Paul's character and his first wife, you must read Best Day Ever first.

THE SECOND MRS. STORM checks ALL boxes! I have read all of Kaira's books and featured her on my #AuthorElevatorSeries three times, a devoted long-time fan. This is my absolute favorite of hers—a sequel, please.

Yes, a sequel is on the way! Family Secrets #2, What the Nanny Saw: A totally gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist, is set to release on Nov 13. I'm eagerly looking forward to catching up with Cecilia! (I'm thrilled to be part of the Bookouture blog team and to host on Nov 13).

Recs...

Kaira Rouda, Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Emily Shiner, Miranda Rijks, and Daniel Hurst fans, you MUST get this gem on your list! If you have not read Kaira Rouda, you better get started. She will become your favorite too!

Audiobook...

The audiobook was fantastic, narrated by the talented duo Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard, making the characters sizzle and come alive. A must-listen audio!

Special thanks to Bookouture for a gifted digital ARC and ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
Pub Date: Aug 16, 2024
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With sympathetic villains and a multiple point-of-view and timeline story that slowly unravels your perceptions of the characters, The Second Mrs Strom was a quick and enjoyable read. I have not read "Best Day Ever", in which Paul Strom previously made an appearance, so I went into this book completely blind about the characters, which worked for me. I largely anticipated the twists as they unfolded, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment (and I wasn't always quite right about things either). Paul and Cecilia met at a funeral and less than two years later, they are celebrating their first anniversary in Paris. But perhaps everything is not as peachy in their relationship as they present to the world, and perhaps they themselves are not quite who they present to each other. Deliciously twisty and twisted.

THE SECOND MRS. STROM by Kaira Rouda is a contemporary, adult, psychological thriller focusing on husband and wife Paul and Cecilia Strom.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Paul and Cecilia) using journal entries, present day and memories from the past THE SECOND MRS. STROM follows a few days in the life of married couple Paul and Cecilia Strom. Fifty year old, wanna-be Hollywood producer Paul Strom has whisked his much younger, thirty-year old wife Cecilia on trip to Paris France to celebrate their one year anniversary but all is not as is appears to be. Approximately two years earlier, Paul met Cecilia at the funeral of an elderly friend, a friend who left her entire estate to our story line hero. Cecilia, a struggling artist, began an instant flirtation, a flirtation that would see Cecilia and Paul married within the year but from the start there were issues that threatened their faltering marriage, issues that would inevitably place one another on a path towards betrayal and vengeance.

The world building focuses on the past, the present and a possible future for two people whose lives could not have been more different yet similar none-the-less. The secrets and lies, once revealed, threaten any possibility of a happily ever after; betrayal and vengeance, greed and deception are at the heart of a deadly plan to destroy one another.

THE SECOND MRS. STROM is a dramatic, dark and thought provoking tale of manipulation and madness, power and control. A richly detailed and complex story of greed and determination, THE SECOND MRS. STROM is a tragic and haunting look at years of built up anger and hate.



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This is a thriller novel with a lot of differences and surprises.

To begin with, the sharp, witty, and sarcastic dialogues between the husband-and-wife duo—with casual banter and flirtatious tone and, at times, some nasty riposte—are a definite hit for me.

The story is about Paul (50) and Cecilia (30). Obviously, you would have guessed that Cecilia is Paul’s second wife. The first wife is Mia, and she has two sons with Paul but leaves for another man (cheating wife—no judgement).

Now they are in Paris, precisely at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Their final day of a weeklong Paris vacation until the unexpected happens!

Flashback:
Paul Strom is looking for a break in Hollywood as a producer. He is rich now because Esther Wilmot, a tall figure and yesteryear celebrity, has transferred most of her property to Paul—her close confidant, escort, and carer/lover during her final days.

Cecilia is a young and ambitious artist and painter. She has not met Esther but has worked closely for her charities and parties, making invitations and artistic cards.

She had a very bad past—shifting between foster care and adopted families, and betrayal of family members.

The meeting point for Paul and Cecilia happened to be Esther’s celebration of life ceremony. It is love at first sight—how cliché!
They get married soon and move from West Palm Beach to Malibu to their (Paul’s) luxurious bungalow.

Paul notices some strange things happening with Cecilia. He gets a call from Esther’s estate agent telling him about her long-lost daughter (rather abandoned) trying to get her share of property (in fact, the whole pie).

Shockingly, he is not sure to believe this news, yet he has an eye on her young and sexy wife. She has some hidden agendas for sure. But what is it?

What happened in Paris? Why do the couple want to take revenge against each other in this play of cat and mouse? Does it involve ‘big’ money? Infidelity? Or sheer vengeance?

Read it to go through multiple emotions at once while crossing the lanes, cafes, and museums of Paris in its sheer beauty.

Happy reading! Remember, it is a page-turner!

What a twisty and turny story with surprises along the way.

Paul and Cecelia deserve each other…they are both horrible people. I’m surprised they last as long as they did. lol

Paul is a narcissist, self centered jerk. However, his antics and thoughts are what makes this book so entertaining.

Cecelia is diabolical but understand some of her thought process.

Angst paced and entertaining read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy.

Wow! Another fabulous read, Mrs Storm number two certainly keeps her husband on his toes.
Paul Storm is the king of narcissists, he can be charming, attentive, snaky and very controlling, but has he met his match?
The couple are in Paris to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary, in true Paul style he has every detail planned, their last day is to be extra special and finish with dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
This is a a rollercoaster read, quirky clever and a lot of fun. The humour is dark but very entertaining.

I recommend you read Best Day Ever first, this will help you know Paul’s conniving character and you will meet the first Mrs Storm, it is also a 5 star read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Congratulations to Kaira Rouda on another page turner. Now the question is, will there be another sequel? Yes please.

THE SECOND MRS STROM by @kairarouda ✨
PUB DAY REVIEW

Read this if you’re looking for an easily bingeable domestic thriller about a couple you’ll love to hate!🖤 two people meet at a funeral (what’s abnormal about that 😜) and are celebrating their one year anniversary in Paris a year later.

Under 300 pages and I finished in just one or two sittings! I recommend going in blind to this one, but swipe for #goodreads synop if you want the full blurb!

And, Kaira’s just announced a second book coming later this year where you’ll see characters again from this one ✨

Thanks SO much to @bookouture + @netgalley for my ARC!

Paul Strom is back!!

The Second Mrs.Strom is a thrilling sequel to The Best day ever. After his marriage to his first wife, Mia ended, Paul Storm has managed to snag himself a younger and gorgeous wife Cecilia. They plan to celebrate their first wedding anniversary in Paris. But for Paul, the day does not go as planned as his wife has other ideas.

Paul is his usual selfish, insanely controlling and arrogant self and you can't help but just love to hate him. He has finally met his match in Cecelia. Watching Cecilia refuse to bow down to his every whim and put him in his place was fun. There are a few twists along the way that kept me interested.

The less said about this book the better. It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading Best Day Ever to prepare for a wild and crazy ride.

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for an ARC to read and review.

This book is…well, I am not sure what to call it. It is a thriller for sure and full of drama, but it just sat differently with me. I have read Kaira Rouda before and loved her books, this book just felt different to me. Not in an entirely bad way but I did not love this book as much as her others.

I could not decide who was going to be the bad guy in this book. Paul and his young wife are both playing games with each other but who was going to win. Each time I thought I knew what would happen next, something would change, and I would be wrong. I like being wrong when trying to guess what would be happening next in a book.

I love the Paris setting. I could picture the city as they traveled around visiting well-known places and some lesser known.

The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda and narrated by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard
was a completely gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the very beginning till the end and very cleverly written. I loved it.

Now, If you had met me a year ago, you would never notice me. I am a beautiful woman, and a struggling nobody in a tiny apartment, I am invisible…......People walk past me and they don't see me........

I can't believe it I am now here I am in Paris, with my husband Paul. It was a whirlwind courtship with a stunning beach proposal I am so lucky and I have a huge diamond ring that sparkles in the light sitting on my finger..........Other women look at me with are so jealous!!! Paul is so handsome and rich.....I am the luckiest woman alive! We are so in love!!

But, they are so wrong!!! I am hiding a dark secret!

On our first meeting, Paul fell in so in love with me but, it wasn’t the coincidence he thinks it was. I wanted nothing from him, even all his money will not change how I feel about him!!!
And now he’s wronged me, I will stop at nothing to get what he owes me!!!!

WoW this was so good.........This is the first book I have read and listened to by this author and it will not be the last! I loved it

Big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture audio for my ARC.

The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda was a fun, fast paced read with that I completely devoured. Suspense thriller fans won’t want to miss a second trip on this wild ride!
I thought this was one heck of a good mystery/thriller. 
TSMS is a tightly plotted, atmospheric, and memorable thriller.

I love Kaira Rouda books! This one was so good! Her characters are not likable which is a mystery/thriller I kind of enjoy. It helps me to stay intrigued and question myself as to who the "bad guy" is. All the lies and deceit made this a page turner. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

Lies, lies and more lies. Deceit and selfishness are the name of the game in this book. I do not think I have ever disliked two characters more than the two main characters - Paul Strom and Cecelia. I guess this was by design by the author. You aren't supposed to like them. This author's signature is shock value, and I was definitely shocked by some of the revelations that are revealed.

Paul Strom is a snake in the grass, that much is very evident from the start. He thinks he has won the lottery when he coincidentally meets his future wife, Cecelia. Little does he know there is no such thing as a coincidence, especially when you are a millionaire. He thinks he is so smart and cunning. Both are characters are completely unstable and are astute at playing mind games. Cat and mouse games are one of my favorites, but in this case you are not certain who is the predator and who is the prey. It is mostly set in Paris, where Paul and Cecelia are celebrating their one year anniversary. The story goes back and forth from past to present in order to build this story up to the shocking climax. The suspense was almost unbearable at times as I pecked on my Kindle trying to get to the next page as quickly as possible.

This was a compulsively readable book that will stay with you long after you close the pages. I will not soon forget it.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Kaira Rouda, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Cecelia and Paul are in Paris celebrating their first wedding anniversary. But they both have secrets, and suddenly Paul isn't sure why Cecelia is acting so differently.

I think the synopsis of this book gives too much away, so go into this one as blind as possible, And for even more enjoyment, be sure to read Best Day Ever, still one of my top favorite books ever, and the first book in this series (I'm just hoping there will be more!). Because Paul is back, richer than ever, married to a younger woman who is giving him a run for his money. This is a twisty thriller and just a fun cat-and-mouse book, made better by the audio narration. Perfect escape read for the summer!

Rouda has a certain talent for writing about wealthy, unlikable people with secrets. Her books are a guilty pleasure through & through. Paul is absolutely obnoxious, his superiority complex is maddening. Cecilia has secrets & a plan to get back at Paul. It all deliciously comes together. The book is fast paced, and France locale adds escapism. As both of their paths unravel I found myself reading faster & faster. I liked the ending very much & I can see a possibility for a sequel perhaps.

If you liked messed up marriages, secrets & revenge this is a good read for you!

🇫🇷

Read if you like:
* The Prisoner by B.A. Paris
* The Engagement Party by Finley Turner
* A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, especially since I missed the first one that featured the male character. But surprisingly, I found that diving straight into this story worked out perfectly. My buddy reader, Marie, and I were both unaware of what we'd missed, but it didn't take away from the experience—in fact, it might have even enhanced it.

The story centers on a couple celebrating their first anniversary in Paris, but from the very beginning, it’s clear that their relationship is far from perfect. What I loved most was how they both wanted to get rid of each other but did so with a level of class and sophistication that made the whole situation oddly fascinating. The way they plotted against each other was both strange and compelling, drawing me in deeper with every chapter.

As the story unfolded, I was hooked by the way the author gradually revealed the past drama and the secrets that both characters were hiding. Each twist caught me off guard, adding layers to the plot that I didn’t see coming. The interplay between their current schemes and the past they’re trying to outrun was done masterfully, keeping me on edge and eager to uncover more.

In the end, this book turned out to be an unexpected delight. The blend of suspense, drama, and dark humor made it a truly engaging read. I may have missed the first book, but this one stands strong on its own, and I loved every minute of it.

I finished reading "The Second Mrs. Strom" by Kaira Rouda. I can best be described as a marriage thriller. Many thanks too NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This story is about a couple going on a romantic trip to Paris to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The book starts at the end so the reader knows that something bad is going to happen to one of them. Then the story goes to the past and present and we learn about the romantic history of Paul and Cecilia and how they came to be. We also quickly learn that Paul is a sociopatic narcicist and his wife is no better. They both have their reasons for getting married and for what they are about to do.

My favourite thing about this book was the setting. Paris and its wonderful sights are the main character of the book for me. I loved imagining myself visiting all the wonderful places mentioned in the book and the author did an excellent job of describing the beautiful city.

I don't have any other favourite things because quite frankly i had a hard time getting through this book. It was intriguing with an interesting back story. If was fun to find out what these characters really wanted and what their motivations were. But they were truly despicable people and I couldnt cheer for either of them. They were sociopaths, selfish, vengeful and self-serving. I didn't care what happened to them.

Another problem I had was that there were too many 'other' characters who were written in such a comical way that I lost interest in them. I couldn't really cheer for anyone or care for anyone because they were all a bunch of liars.

I did manage to finish this book and was happy when I got to the last page. But I felt like the last page left it open for a sequel... If there is a sequal, I don't thnk I will be reading it. So I cannot recommend this book. It just wasn;t for me.

Happy Reading

Cecilia and Paul are in Paris for their one-year wedding anniversary. It should be a happy occasion. It’s not. An interesting tale full of lies, deceit, greed, manipulation, tragedy, secrets revealed, revenge, and more! Lots of twists and turns.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.