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
Aug 2024 Must-Read Books
Aug Newsletter

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.

I hadn't read or listened to the first book so initially I thought it would have an impact but it doesn't - it all comes together. From the start I developed a distaste for Paul and the narrator captured how I imagined him to sound like - absolutely hateful. I binged this listen and it worked well as I wanted to find out how all the characters interacted and how it got resolved. I am now sufficiently intrigued to go back and listen to book 1 to see if it as good as this one. I like the way the ending is open.

The Second Mrs. Strom follows Cecilia and Paul who are spending their one year anniverary in Paris. Paul thinks that he can control every aspect of Cecilia's life but he doesn't even know the half of it. Just like Paul, Cecilia is hiding his past from her. Now they are playing a game of cat and mouse with each other as they are spending their last day in Paris. Paul and Cecilia meet at a Celebration of Life for Paul's former companion. From that day on they had a fast paced romanace that has them married only 6 months of dating. Only one of them are going back from thier romantic vacation.

THE SECOND MRS STROM is by Kaira Rouda and narrated by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard, published Aug. 16th.

A story with very unlikable characters, the multi-POV narration gave this domestic suspense points in the "who is worse" race! I think for those in the mood for this kind of popcorn suspense, it will be a hit. Unfortunately, I am in my August doldrums and it didn't have the punch I was hoping for. Still, it was a nice distraction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard do a fantastic job narrating this book and I highly recommend the audio version.

A male black widow killer meets his match his current wife. Paul Strom is an insufferable narcissist that preys on wealthy women who mysteriously end up dead after leaving him their fortunes. The current Mrs Strom has set her sights on Paul and its a race to see who will survive.

I honestly did not like Paul or Cecilia. I found the beginning of the book to be a bit slow but the pacing does pick up. I did like the alternating timelines which help fill in the background a bit. Despite being a part 2 of a series, this can be read as a standalone. This is definitely an entertaining read and would be good for the beach.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Good listen an overbearing narcissist husband a first anniversary in Paris what can go wrong lots of twists and turns

Well worth a listen

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Second Mrs. Strom by Kaira Rouda will be released on August 16th, 2024.

Another miss for me. I, unfortunately, found the characters to be very annoying and I really didn't connect with any of them.

Let me start by saying I never read A Perfect Day and didn't actually know this book was a sequel (although the title sort of suggested as much), which, from reading other reviews, perhaps is a good thing due to the overabundance of spoilers. As such, though, I had difficulty connecting with two very unlikeable characters in Paul and Cecilia. At least Paul is so viciously unlikeable he's actually quite funny. The Paris setting is perfect for this tale of misery, and Paul's ineptness at portraying himself as anything other than a self-righteous tourist who can't even pronounce "merci" is hilarious. Unfortunately, most of the twists are heavily foreshadowed, and I'm left somewhat baffled that Paul never figured out what Cecilia was doing, especially given what he's done himself in the past. The jumps between Cecilia's and Susan's diaries and Cecilia's recollections were a bit jarring and confusing, and at times felt contradictory or, at least, that the character was hiding key details even from herself. The narration by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard is excellent. If you enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith or War of the Roses, you will most likely enjoy this slow-burn thriller.

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!

This audiobook turned out to be an unexpectedly delightful experience, even though I hadn’t listened to the first one that featured the male character. My buddy reader, Marie, and I jumped into it without realizing what we might have missed, but it worked out perfectly—in fact, it added a layer of mystery to the story.

The plot centers on a couple celebrating their first anniversary in Paris, and right from the beginning, it’s clear their relationship is far from perfect. What I found most fascinating was how they both wanted to get rid of each other, yet did so with a level of class that made their twisted dynamic strangely compelling. The narrator’s delivery really brought out the sophistication and tension in their interactions, making the experience even more engaging.

As the story unfolded, I became captivated by the way their pasts were gradually revealed. The secrets and hidden motives added depth to the characters, and each twist kept me hooked. The narrator skillfully captured the suspense and drama, making every moment more intense and thrilling.

In the end, this audiobook was a real treat. The combination of a gripping plot, dark humor, and excellent narration made it a memorable listen. Even without the context of the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was completely drawn into the story.

Good plot, great ending

I loved listening to this book. As others have noted, you have a creepy guy who inherited a ton of money from a much older woman (who he was with to get the money) and then married a young woman. The new bride came with some surprises of her own, one that would not pass any inheritance laws of any court, but she still was a whole lot more sympathetic character than he was. The ending with their idyllic one year anniversary in Paris was. very good, if a little improbable. But that is half the fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Secret Identity, Morally Grey FMC, Inheritance Dispute
POV: Multiple, 1st Person
Cliffhanger?: No

The Praise: The Second Mrs. Strom was twisty and interesting. With a morally grey female protagonist, it keeps you teetering back and forth about her actions and whether or not they’re justified.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were fantastic. Nick Landrum perfectly conveyed Paul’s arrogance and Laurence Bouvard made sure Cecelia’s voice had an actual personality behind it.

The Critique: None!

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this. Between the intriguing plot and the talented narrators, this book was so much fun to listen to.

This was my first by this author, not knowing that this was a sequel to her previous book, I went in completely blind! This is a standalone sequel, so you can easily read this one without having read the first one. The narrator did a great job with alternating between both characters, I didn't have any trouble figuring out where we were in the book.

The storyline felt a little dramatic initially, perhaps a little out of touch with reality. As the book and the storyline progressed, I understood that was the premise of the book and really did enjoy the dramatic flair between husband and wife. I couldn't figure out whose side I was on!

Highly recommend!

thank you netgalley for this arc, all opinions are my own

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoutore for the audiobook to listen and review. The narration was spot on! I'm a fan of Rouda's thrillers so I had to request this one as soon as I saw it! Talk about so unlovable unreliable characters. Not really sure who was worse Paul or Cecilia. We meet them on their 1 year wedding anniversary in Paris. Both have a surprise for the other one and neither one of them is expecting it! Told in flashbacks we find out how they met and let's say it's not a match made in heaven.

The Second Mrs. Strom is a twisty multi POV story full of secrets, lies, and greed. It will keep you curious throughout the read, and the unlikeable narrators are interesting.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story which was performed by two narrators. The narrators did a good job. I listened at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

How can you not love (to hate!) Paul Strom?! I love that the narcissist himself has returned and is richer and more smug than ever! But has he met his match with his new young bride?

Told in a similar fashion to the best day ever, we walk through one what should be enchanting day through the streets of Paris with the beautiful Mr. and Mrs. Strom. It's a full year into their marriage and several years after the first Mrs. Strom exited the picture. Mr. Strom has "upgraded" and after conning a ridiculous wealthy socialite to leaving her estate to him, he's ready to re-flame the fires with his stunning new wife.

The flashbacks and diary entries kept me guessing and were really well done. There were some twists I wasn't expecting and I loved how everything unfolded and came together. No one and nothing is what it seemed! Except Paul of course!!

I listened to The Second Mrs. Strom on audio and it was well executed. I didn't particularly love the female narrator but she did work pretty well for Mrs. Strom. I listened to The Best Day Ever on audio as well and I think it was a different narrator for Paul but it didn't take anything away and I enjoyed them both.

I'm glad I read the first book in this series but I still would have thoroughly enjoyed it had I not. The plot was enough it's own here that the prior story wasn't entirely relevant and the necessary details were provided without rehashing the whole plot.

This was a fun one and I'm excited to read more by Rouda. Thank you to Bookouture and Kaira Rouda for the copy.

I seem to be in the minority, but I really didn’t love this book. I received an ARC audiobook from NetGalley and listened at 2x pace. That usually speaks to how easy the narrators are to understand, so I did appreciate that. I also appreciated the fact that there were two narrators, one for Paul and one for Cecilia. The whole book takes place over pretty much a single day (minus some flashbacks) and I found myself getting bored with it. Neither main character was very likable either.

I really enjoyed this one! I have loved all of Rouda's books that I've read so far but Best Day Ever has been my favorite, so I was super excited to read about Paul again (even though he is awful)! I'm happy to say that The Second Mrs. Strom did not disappoint and now I want to go back and do a re-read of Best Day Ever. 4 stars!

HOLY CRAP!! What did I just read???

As I’m reading through the reviews on Goodreads, I see that Paul, the MMC, was featured in a previous book that many have read. I don’t think I read that one, but, nonetheless, I didn’t like Paul…at all!
He’s a good looking, recently wealthy, narcissist, whose last love interest (much older) left him a bundle when she died…

At her funeral, he meets/picks up Cecilia, the MFC. WAIT…WHAT??!!??
Yes, you read that correctly. He’s an ass!
She’s at least 20 years his junior, blonde, pretty, and what he believes to be a ‘moldable’ character!

Well, sometimes things are not quite what they appear…and the book that follows will knock your socks off!

Wow! I’m not sure I’ve ever disliked one of the main characters so much!!

But once we start learning about Cecilia, well, I didn’t really care for her either!

So now it’s like, well, who do you hate the least? Who are you rooting for? And guess what? I still haven’t made up my mind on that end!

This is an Uber wealthy couple…neither of them having worked for a dime of it. BUT, he wants to control every penny that she spends! And he does not want to let her buy anything without his approval. And she’s not a fan of that.
This is just one example of what’s going on in the book.

If you like narcissistic characters…people who lie, cheat, steal and possibly kill… Well then, this might be right up your alley!

Mouth hanging open…multiple times!
I did kind of get a feel for what was going to happen in the long run…and although partially correct in one way…totally blown away in another!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released in a couple of days on 8/16/24!

#TheSecondMrsStromm by #KairaRouda and narrated nicely by #NickLandrum and #LaurenceBouvard.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, and click ‘LIKE’ below!! 📚⭐️