Member Reviews
THis book is the next part of Cecelia's story, after Paul goes to jail after The Second Mrs. Strom. It is actually book 3 of the stories featuring that horrible man, Paul Strom. Cecelia now has a baby, with Evan and her life unfolds and becomes too much for her to handle. She hires a nanny and doesn't really know much about her. The story unfolds from there. The tricks and deceipt pile up until right at the end. The twist of who was reaching out to Paul in prison was a surprise! The ending just seemed to happen quickly and wrap it all up neatly, so I'll be anxious to see if there will be more in the series. All in all, another great read from Ms. Rouda. I am a fan of hers and follow her on social media, along with the Killer Author Club. If you are a fan too, check the KAC!
Best Day Ever was a book I loved but I didnt enjoy The Second Mrs Strom or What the Nanny Saw so much.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review
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BEST DAY EVER is one of Kaira Rouda's best thrillers, and I was so happy to find out there would be a sequel, THE SECOND MRS. STROM. Well, Cecelia's story wasn't over yet, so look out for WHAT THE NANNY SAW this fall!
Lizzy is working as a nanny for a family who takes advantage of her. The mom is either drunk or sleeping off a hangover, the dad is lewd and inappropriate, and the kids, except for one, are all entitled brats. Lizzy needs more from her life, and she finds her purpose when she meets Cecelia, a frazzled new mom, in a coffee shop. Cecelia is instantly taken with the young woman, and after performing her due diligence, hires her. But what Cecelia doesn't know is that she didn't meet Lizzie by chance. Someone engineered it to get close to Cecelia and her baby girl.
Lizzy had a compelling backstory, so much so that I hope we get a book about her past. I wanted more of a presence from Paul, who was very much in the background in this installment; however, I think the door is open for us to hear more about him!
Thank you to Bookouture and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this much-anticipated early read. At the time this review was written, this title was expected to publish November 13, 2024.
having now read this book I realsie it's part of a series so I am playing catch up, that said this is a creepy and sinister tale, telling the story of Cecelia who hires Lizzie as a nanny for baby Peyton.
It is a pacy read and although I did guess during the book due to the 'clues' what was going to happen I found this an incredible book.
The author is a great storyteller and I was kept on tenterhooks. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series but if they are as good as this one I am in for a treat... I loved it...
Wowzer! A popcorn thriller that will have you flying through the pages. Cecilia is a little overwhelmed taking care of her baby -Peyton. She meets Lizzie by accident at a coffee shop and this encounter will change both of their lives. Lizzie is a nanny that has a plan. Mr Johnson gives the ick factor a whole new level of creepy dads. Lizzie can't get out of that house fast enough although you feel sorry for those kids.
Lizzie has a troubled past but believes she is a great nanny and can take care of Peyton. She acts so sweet and innocent but in reality she ulterior motives. It so addicting to read as you want to know what happens next. Cecilia is a little paranoid but given Paul is out of prison she has reason to be on edge.
This is set up for hopefully a third in the series?
Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! Iโm sorry to say, I found this novel quite mediocre. Kaira Rouda is one of my favorite authors and I was expecting her signature dark humor and quirky characters, but I felt the protagonist this novel was just always angry and unreasonable. I didnโt know this is the sequel to The Second Mrs. Strom, which I unfortunately havenโt read yetโฆ
This is my honest opinion and Iโm leaving my review voluntarily.
โWhat the Nanny Sawโ is technically a sequel to Kaira Roudaโs other books. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, it is slightly stronger if you have read at least the first book in this series (โBest Wife Everโ). Ms. Rouda does a good job of filling in the backstory, but I didnโt realize this was a sequel when I requested it but will admit that the filling in did help remind me why the name of the main character was so familiar. Anyway, this story is a dual POV book told from Cecilia, new Mom to Peyton, and Lizzie, a nanny. Cecilia is very private - yet also very trustworthy - and rather spur of the moment hires Lizzie. Lizzie isnโt all she appears to be - though she is an excellent carer for Peyton. When Cecilia begins receiving threatening messages, who is sending them - the ex-boyfriend, the former husband, or is it Lizzie herself? This was a really fast read for me and in Ms. Roudaโs style it held my attention and was a pretty fun ride. I was wondering what Lizzieโs game was - though it was spelled out pretty quickly from the beginning - though I did suspect a few things with other characters too. I found a few things a bit odd, but if you can ignore those, it was an entertaining read.
Another Kaira Rouda winner, this girl cannot be stopped. She just lays down the best novels time and time again. I had read the Second Mrs Storm a few weeks ago and I was so excited when a friend told me the sequel was up on NetGalley. I raced over there and requested this book and Iโm so happy I was able to read an early copy. I still had the first book fresh in my mind. I do this this one can be a stand alone, it does pick up where the first book left off but you donโt need to read the first to be able to enjoy this one.
This story follows the Nancy Lizzie and Cecelia (the Second Mrs Storm) as we discover Cecelia has a newborn and she desperately needs help figuring out how to navigate the sleep schedules, finding herself and having someone show her the ropes or what to do. I found myself routing for Cecelia in this one and eeek watch out for that Lizzie! There are hints from page one that she is not all that she seems.
My only critique would be about how the book handled the money that Cecelia has. It doesnโt add up for me from how the first book presented her wealth. I donโt want to write any spoilers but overall i felt the book needed a stronger reason to make that a storyline then what was written.
Go read this one!
Kaira Rouda never fails to draw me and keep me turning the pages.This was the third in the series each character especially the nanny was so well written so involving. #netgalley # bookouture
This is the 3rd book in the Best Day Ever series featuring the despicable Paul Strom. I loved the first two books and What the Nanny Saw did not disappoint!!! As much as I despise Paul I hope that Kaira continues to write about him for years to come!!! Twisty, juicy and so much fun!!!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review this book!!!
Didjt reliase when I requested that it was a sequel. That explains a few things. Was a good story! Thanks Net galley
I CANNOT get enough of the character Cecilia. I knew after โThe Second Mrs. Stormโ, the sequel to โBest Davy Everโ she was one to watch.
Cecelia is now raising a baby girl, while her soon to be ex-husband Paul is in prison. The father of the Peyton is Evan. Paul wants something from her, and Evan is wanting to be part of their lives.
She wants nothing to do with either man. Evan was sweet and seemed to be a great distraction from Paul situation. Now he has done something unforgivable and Cecelia is determined to raise their daughter with luxury and a mom who is present.
Raising her is exhausting and she meets Lizzie who she hires as a Nanny to look after Peyton. Things seem easy at first and Cecelia showers Lizzie with gifts and appreciates her help. Little does she know, Lizzie has alternative motives.
Jealousy, envy, revenge and power can be destructive. Rouda has created a character that is EVER-CHANGING and FUN to read.
I loved the first book starring mrs Strom and I was happy to connect with her again.
After everything she went through in the previous book, it's only natural Cecilia is on her guard. Some would call her maybe even a bit obsessive, but can you blame her? I would be too if I was in her shoes. On the other hand she is not an angel either and this also explains why she acts the way she does.
Even though I know she is not completely blameless, I did symphatise with her. Someone taking advantage of someone else to better themselves or a loved one is always despicable behaviour.ย
The author also includes a bit of correspondence between two people, informing us of no good. I felt that if I could figure out who the second person was, because the writer of the messages is named, it would help me later on. One sentence gave me the 'aha' moment and I will leave you guessing whether it helped me later on or not. ;)
I do hope the author still has lots of inspiration left for more books about Cecilia and her life. I will be a happy camper if this wish would come true.
I utterly enjoyed this book. 5 stars
Thank you
This was a strong sequel in the Family Secrets series, it had everything that I was hoping for in a psychological thriller novel. It was a tense story that felt like it could happen, the characters worked with the story and was invested in what was going on. Kaira Rouda has a great writing style and was able to create a great overall experience.
The adventures of Paul and Cecelia Strom continue in this fun and highly entertaining read! I was on the edge of my seat, flying through the pages with anticipation to see what would happen next. I simply couldn't read fast enough. Cecelia's character felt a little off from the first novel though. She didn't seem to be as ruthless. I wanted to scream at her over her gullible choices and naivete. Rouda certainly knows how to stir up my emotions. I kept trying to figure out the nanny's motivations and her end game. I'm still not quite sure if there was more to the explanation given, but I'll settle for what I know. I'm guessing and hoping that there will be a third book since this story ended without much of a resolution. I wanted a little more, but it was a fun, quick read and sets the tone for book three. I would certainly recommend, but not as a stand-alone. Start with Best Day Ever (featuring Paul Strom) and then continue with the start of this series, The Second Mrs. Strom. ย
Thank you to Bookouture for granting me early digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
I like this one better than the other Kaira Rouda books. Can you ever trust a nanny? Fans of Shari Lapena will enjoy this mystery. Looking forward to the next book.
Let me start by saying how much I love Kaira Roudaโs books! I was excited to see more from this series after reading Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom. These are not my favorite books of hers, however I love domestic thrillers and What the Nanny Saw really kept me entertained. Iโll eagerly be awaiting her next book!
This summer, I was invited on the book tour for โThe Second Mrs. Stromโ, and I really enjoyed it. I realized afterwards that it was a sequel to a book called โBest Day Everโ (which I finally purchased in the middle of reading this third book). As with the second book, this would be fine as a stand-alone, but it was great knowing a couple of the characters. I canโt wait for my copy of the first book in this series to arrive!
We know Cecelia from โThe Second Mrs. Stromโ, but she is a different person now. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Paul, is in prison, and sheโs now dating Evan, who gave her a daughter she wasnโt trying for. Once she got pregnant, Evan became distant, and when Peyton was born, he didnโt seem to want to connect with his daughter. Once Cecelia finds out heโs been unfaithful, she kicks him out of her luxurious home and refuses to let him see their child.
The problem is, Cecelia has severe back pain, loves her daughter so much but never felt maternal or anticipated having a child, and doesnโt feel she can do this on her own. After a breakdown at a coffee shop, she meets Lizzie, who surprisingly lives right next door. Lizzie is a nanny for the Johnson family, but after the kids got older and Mr. Johnson got pervy, she was looking for a new job. When she realized how much Cecelia needed her help (and how much sheโd be paid), she immediately quit, and moved in next door.
The two women get along great; they both love Peyton, and Lizzie loves living in the luxurious house on the ocean (at the Johnson house, she was relegated to the attic - not quite as nice as the guest suite she was given at Ceceliaโs house). Soon though, Evan and his mother start to come around asking to see Peyton, Paul is released from prison, Cecelia starts getting threatening texts, and the entire situation becomes out of control. Cecelia doesnโt trust anyone; even Lizzie is worrying her, and sheโs feeling like sheโs the worst mom ever. This ends with a terrifying twist, then perfection. I canโt wait to read the first book of this group, since I enjoyed the other two so much - look for that review soon. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour. โWhat The Nanny Sawโ will be released on November 13, 2024.)