Judith D Collins

Aug 174 min read

The Second Mrs. Strom

Series: Family Secrets #1

By: Kaira Rouda

Narrators: Nick Landrum,

Laurence Bouvard

Hachette UK - Bookouture

ISBN: 9781835252727

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 08/16/2024

Format: Other

My Rating: 5 Stars ++ (ARC)

COVER REVEAL

AUG 2024 MUST-READ BOOKS

I don’t want the perfect marriage. I want revenge…

If you had met me a year ago, you wouldn’t have noticed me. A beautiful woman, but a struggling nobody in a tiny apartment, invisible…

Meeting Paul changed that.

And now here I am in Paris, after a whirlwind courtship and a stunning beach proposal. I smile at my handsome husband, my eyes shining in the candlelight, my huge diamond ring sparkling on the starched white tablecloth. Other women look at me in envy. They see a couple completely in love.

They’re wrong.

Despite this incredible luxury vacation, my husband and I can’t escape our problems. I can’t get over what he did with that woman just after our wedding, and my bright smile can’t hide the hardness in my heart.

I wonder if Paul knows the truth. That our first meeting, when we fell in love, wasn’t the coincidence he thinks it was. That what I want from him has nothing to do with his money.

And now that he’s wronged me, I’ll stop at nothing to get it…

A completely gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked in and turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose.

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My Review

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.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars ++

Pub Date: Aug 16, 2024

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About the Author

Kaira Rouda is a USA TODAY, Amazon charts, and international bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novels include BEST DAY EVER, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, ALL THE DIFFERENCE, THE NEXT WIFE, and SOMEBODY'S HOME. Her latest novel is THE WIDOW. BENEATH THE SURFACE will be out in September, 2023. To date, Kaira's novels have been translated into more than ten languages.

She lives in Southern California with her family and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest: @KairaRouda; and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books.

If you'd like to host Kaira at your book club, in person or virtually, connect with the author, visit KairaRouda.com .