4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars.

This is the 3rd book in the Paul Strom series, and I think it's my favorite one so far! I don't usually stay up past my bedtime reading, but I certainly did with this book!

None of the characters are likeable, but that just kept me turning the pages to see what trouble they got into next. This books is very fast paced, and I enjoyed all of the twists that I didn't see coming. I would say this book could be read as a standalone, but I think it's more enjoyable knowing the background and tension of the characters.

I literally LOVE everything Kaira writes. This one had me unable to put my kindle down. The plot twists were great & the storyline kept me wanting to know more. I look forward to reading her next one!

Lizzie is a nanny for the rich Johnson family looking after three children who are incredibly spoiled and ungrateful. She is at her wits end and considers looking for a new family to work for, determined that this next family will be the right fit.
We also follow Cecelia, who is a new mother to Peyton. She seems overjoyed by her new daughter but is struggling with back pain and the fact her partner has been increasingly absent since the birth of their daughter. She wants out of the relationship since he doesn’t do anything to help, but she has a job which she loves at his company and she’s worried about losing it. I could really relate with Cecelia’s feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted after having a baby. It bought back so many memories and feelings after I had my own child. I think anyone who’s had children could relate to this character.

What I found really compelling about this story, is that I didn’t fully trust either of the main characters, Lizzie or Cecelia. They both had some demons and secrets from the past. The whole way through the book I couldn’t quite make up my mind about which one was the character that was up to something.
What I didn’t realise until I read the authors acknowledgements at the end is that this book, whilst entirely capable of being read as a standalone, is actually a continuation of sorts from Cecelia and her previous partner Paul. It’s definitely a book I will be seeking out to add some background to these characters from this book.

It’s a bit of a slow burn this one, but it creates a tense atmosphere which makes it hard to put down. I would recommend for anyone that likes a domestic thriller vibe in their reads. I feel there are some further twists this book could take as well so I’d be interested to see if there is a follow on book from this.

This is third book in the Best Day Ever series. Cecilia is back!!! A domestic thriller you can’t put down!! This can be read as a standalone.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kaira Road can do no wrong in my eyes. I always look forward to reading her latest and greatest. Her writing has a way of pulling you in with the first sentence, and not letting going until the last.

This book picks up after the wild events in The Second Mrs. Strom with Cecilia still recovering from her almost fatal fall thanks to her husband Paul. She has a new life and a new baby, and is falling apart. Crazy comes in the form of a new nanny, Lizzie. Just when I think the characters can’t get any more unstable I am proved wrong. I went back and forth on how to fell about Lizzie. Her tragic past rules her decision making/craziness, but at the same time I felt sorry for her. Don’t miss this one when it comes out next month!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #WhatTheNannySaw by #KairaRouda. I couldn’t put this book down and loved bed all the drama and suspense. In this Family Series book, Cecelia has had a baby with her new boyfriend, Evan. She is in desperate need of help since Evan never has time to pitch in at all. She hires a nanny, Lizzy, to help with her baby girl, Peyton. But it seems that the nanny is as great as she thought. She has let her into their lives and now her baby is missing. Who took her and why?

Bestselling Author Kaira Rouda (long-time favorite) and queen of dark humor returns with her popular Family Secrets series and the devilish Paul Strom following The Second Mrs. Strom, and Best Day Ever with her latest scandalous adventure, WHAT THE NANNY SAW —an addictive psychological domestic suspense thriller and a wicked game of cat-and-mouse that will have you on the edge of your seat from page one to the end.

Will someone be able to outsmart Cecilia? The answer lies within the pages of this gripping tale that will keep you guessing!

About...

We pick up from the last book with Cecilia (The Second Mrs. Strom) from Palm Beach. She is still in Malibu, with a new home on the beach. She is beautiful, has money, and has a beautiful baby. She is alive after Paris. She will get back to her art and her normal life.

However, due to the unfortunate accident in Paris (due to Paul), she has severe back problems that worsened during labor, and she needs help taking care of the baby, Peyton. She is overwhelmed, in pain, lack of sleep, and exhausted.

The father (Evan) proves not to be very dependable or helpful and is now having an affair. Five months with an absentee dad. First Paul, now Evan. Cecilia decides she will make it alone after her life has been upended, and she is almost at the end of her rope. But she has made it, and now Evan needs to go.

Paul is in prison, but somehow, he is communicating with her. She cannot seem to get rid of him. Will he be released soon and come after her for revenge and money?

Enter a perfect set-up. Two women meet (not so random) at a coffee shop in Malibu. One is Cecilia. The other appears to be a natural helper, a nanny (Lizzie) looking for a new position. A step up in life with a dream to create. And one day, a loving family of her own. After all, they need one another. But both women are hiding secrets and will do whatever it takes to protect the life of their dreams.

ANYTHING...

My Thoughts...

“Wildly entertaining! Diabolically twisted, a wicked game of cat and mouse domestic thriller infused with Kaira's signature deliciously dark humor.”

Kaira Rouda is fabulous! Anything she writes is a gem. She is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read all her books and am anxiously awaiting the next. No one does dark humor and domestic thrillers better. She keeps you laughing and guessing.

WHAT THE NANNY SAW is yet another devilish, wicked, fun tale!! Darkly comedic, twisty, and entertaining. From Juicy secrets, lies, betrayal, stalking, and more.

Kaira keeps you turning the pages with her funny banter and the characters' attempts to outdo one another with their devious schemes and gaslighting. Cecilia needs to stay on her toes with Paul, Evan, Marian, and Lizzie.

Has Cecilia finally met her match? Can she trust The Nanny, and what is her end game? Who has Peyton? The answers to these questions are as unpredictable as the story itself, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

I am hoping for more in the series! Cannot wait.

Recs...

For fans of the author (be sure to read her backlist) and those who enjoy humor with their dark, edgy thrillers! Also, for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, Miranda Rijks, and Jenova Rose.

Blog Tour

Join me on my blog on November 13 (pub day) for Bookouture Books-on-Tour Stop to learn more about Kaira and What the Nanny Saw.
PS Bonus: Check out (Three) Fun & fascinating #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Rides with Kaira (The Palms, The Widow, and The Favorite Daughter).

Thanks to Bookouture for a gifted, advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 13, 2024
My Rating: 5 STARS
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A solid popcorn thriller and a sequel to The Second Mrs. Strom, this book explores the challenges faced by a new mom with a mostly absent partner. The story gives insight into Cecilia’s struggles, though the unreliable nanny trope feels a bit repetitive, and the twists are fairly predictable—I found myself guessing most of them before they were revealed. The chapters alternate between Cecilia and Lizzie’s perspectives in a third-person narration, adding depth but not quite enough shock value. While it may not be gasp-worthy, it’s an easy, quick read with enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages.

Another great read by Kaira Rouda! Packed with great tension and thrills, I had no idea who to trust. Great characters that had me flipping pages long past my bedtime. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Thank you NetGalley, Kaira Rouda and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

You did it again, Kaira Rouda!!! What a thriller this was.. I could not put this one down!!! All the secrets just had me flipping pages as fast as I could!!! It will have you second guessing and realizing you just cannot trust everyone or anyone!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!!!

Good Enough Domestic Thriller. Technically, there *is* a twist in this book. I'll give it that. But the "shocking moment" described in the description (ok, Masked Singer's "reveal the revealing reveal") happens *late*. As in, personally I was expecting that particular moment to be somewhere no later than at least 2/3 into the book - and it happens closer to 90% in. I thought the book would turn more into a cat and mouse type book beyond that point, and to a degree, it did. But there just wasn't enough "there" there to really say this is even much above average for its genre, which is utter bullshit because I know Rouda is capable of so much more. Still, there's nothing technically/ objectively-ish wrong here, so by my own standards this *is* a 5* book, even though I find myself agreeing quite a bit with many of the 2* reviews from others.

At just over 300 pages, this book *does* in fact read much quicker, almost more like a sub-200 page book. So there is absolutely that going for it, particularly for those who don't have a lot of time to commit to a book. And there is absolutely a solid degree of "what is going to happen next" to keep you reading well past bedtime. It just seems that the ultimate payoff for staying up so late... doesn't quite land as well as it could, really. And hey, maybe that's more of a "me" thing.

So read this book yourself and see what you think - and leave a review yourself everywhere you can, whether it be Goodreads, Hardcover.app, BookHype.com, BookBub.com, or TheStoryGraph.com - all places you'll find this very review.

Recommended.

I loved The Second Mrs Strom! And was so excited to jump into the second story What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda.
Rouda is an instant-read author for me. I’ve always loved reading her books and this was another book that became easily addicting.
Fast paced, suspenseful and so devious.
The characters were well thought out and I really enjoyed how some of the story carries over from the first book.
This is a fast-paced narrative brimming with twists and turns that kept me captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Part of the appeal for books like this for me is trying to figure out what each character’s game is.
Lizzie has a butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth approach but why does she take so many pictures.
Cecilia spends money like it’s going out of style but what happens when it’s gone.
I figured out who was visiting Paul pretty early on and the other puzzle pieces fell onto place.
The ending was a bit abrupt but it’s an absorbing read.

OMG! This was could-not-put-it-down good! I loved the continuation of the story of the Stroms, two deeply flawed characters that some might say deserve each other. Enter Lizzie, super nanny and all around godsend, or is she? I still feel Cecelia's story isn't finished, and Kaira Rouda certainly knows how to tell a story.

This book is the sequel to The Second Mrs. Strom. It picks up after Paul was sent to prison, and Cecilia has moved on. She is a new mom, struggling with caring for an infant on her own, with no help. Then one day, she runs into Lizzie at the coffee shop and discovers that she is a nanny, looking for a new position. It seems like fate put Lizzie in her path, and she hires her. It all starts off so great. Lizzie is wonderful with Peyton, and Peyton loves Lizzie. But then little things start happening - things go missing, Lizzie taking advantage of her generosity one time too many, things like that. Lizzie is jealous of all that Cecilia has and wants to have the perfect little family - and she wants Peyton for herself.

This book was great. I had forgotten a lot of The Second Mrs. Strom, but there were a lot of references to it made throughout the book, so that really helped to refresh my memory. Lizzie was a bit stalker-y, sort of a Single White Female type character. You could see all of the gaslighting that Lizzie was doing, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see when or if she was going to get caught. I did have to suspend belief a few times, especially at the end, but the ride was so worth it. If you are a fan of twisty psychological thrillers, then you should definitely check this out!

While I did not read the other books in the series, I was still able to follow the characters and what was going on. It was a good suspense novel which kept the reader guessing as to who the "bad guy" really was, although about two thirds of the way through, I had it figured out. You have a nanny, a mother of a young child, an ex husband who had been in jail and the father of the child. The mother was not the best mother and you were kept guessing as to whether she was crazy. I think for me that the problem was that I did not quite connect to any of the characters. I wanted to connect to the mother but I couldn't quite. The other characters were more or less unlikeable. That said, it was a fairly quick read and I suspect I will read the others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this novel ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

There is a lesson to be learned in the newest Strom family book, and that is never trust anyone. This is another homerun for one of the queens of thrilling suspense that will suck you into its vortex and not let go until you read the last page.

Mrs. Strom (Cecelia) is in a very different place in this book, but the fear is still very present and very real. Taking care of a child is a lot more work than she bargained for when she kicked her partner out. It seems her prayers have been answered when Lizzy steps in as the nanny. But any readers of Ms. Rouda's books know that you cannot take anything for granted. No one can be be trusted. You never know what is going to happen in the next chapter, but you can rest assured that you will be shocked. Kaira Rouda's sharp writing, twisty plotlines and characters that you will love to hate make this another great one to be devoured in a short time. You will not be able to help yourself because you will have to know what is going to happen only to be shocked once again.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A must read!! This was my first book by @kairarouda & I jumped back to read the first book in the series!! I kept turning the pages! It was ADDICTING. Everyone seems unreliable you don’t know who to trust & it was an amazing ride!!

Thank you @thrillerbookloversthepulse & @kairarouda for an ARC of this novel!!

Pub Day: 11/13/2024! Make sure you get your copies!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Keira Rouda. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Celicia should be on the top of the world - she has a gorgeous house on the beach, money galore, and a beautiful new baby girl, Peyton. But she's struggling - Alex, her partner and Peyton's dad, has not been supportive and she fears he's cheating. Plus she's struggling with being a new mom. So when she meets Lizzie at a coffee shop, she hires her to be her new nanny. But Lizzie has some ulterior motives as well.

I'm a sucker for anything that Kaira Rouda writes, especially this series featuring Celicia Strom. For full effect, start with Best Day Ever, still one of my top favorite books, then read The Second Mrs. Strom. But even if you just jump right in on this book, you won't be disappointed, because there is enough info to catch up. Paul, Cecilia's ex, is still in prison, but is still somehow communicating with her, leaving her scared and paranoid. Both Lizzie and Cecilia will do anything they can to get what they want. This is another fun, twisted ride and I loved it - please say there will be another chapter in Cecilia's life for us to explore!

This is the first book I have ready by Kaira Rouda. I thoroughly enjoyed What the Nanny Saw. This kept you on the edge of your seat and had you guessing what was going to happen next and who was actually involved. I love the characters and very enjoyable This is a series but can be read alone but I will go back and read the other 2 also. I really enjoy her writting.
Thank you so much Booktouture and NetGalley for the early release copy of What the Nanny Saw by Kiara Rouda.