📚 BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Second Mrs. Strom By Kaira Rouda
Publication Date: August 16, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

If you're a fan of cat-and-mouse thrillers, The Second Mrs. Strom is a MUST-READ to add to your TBR list!! Everybody over at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse loves this author and this series -- and now I know why!

This domestic thriller featured the most clever cat-and-mouse storyline, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out which spouse was actually the one gaming the other. Both the main characters, Cecilia Strom and Paul Strom, are unreliable narrators and I couldn't figure who was the smarter or more devious of the two. I was riveted as I tried to figure out the way this thriller would turn out! The story is told from their alternating POVs and across multiple timelines...with the addition of intriguing Dear Diary excerpts written by a third party whose identity isn't revealed til late in the book.

The way this story was laid out made this SUCH an enjoyable and fun read! I was surprised at how quickly I read this book too, but the cat-and-mouse chase was so compelling that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the backdrop of Paris in the present day chapters, and the decadence of the Stroms' luxe lifestyle throughout the book captivated me. I appreciated the backstories Rouda detailed about Cecilia and Paul, as they added rich depth that helped me better understand the characters' personalities so much more too.

I didn't read the first book in this series, The Best Day Ever, which worried me a little bit before I started this one, but I found that it didn't matter. Though I'm sure I don't have the full background about Paul's past, I was able to jump right into this book with no problems at all and this book can easily be read as a standalone.

A huge thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Bookouture for inviting me to be a part of this book tour and providing me a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review!

#TheSecondMrsStrom #KairaRouda #thrillerbookloversthepulse #bookouture #booktour #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #whodunnit #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs

The Second Mrs Strom is a twisty and fun domestic suspense. While this is a sequel I do believe this would be ok as a stand alone as well. During this book I wasn't sure who was playing who and so it provided for the fun of figuring it out we all enjoy. If you like a good thriller I would highly suggest picking this one up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Paul Strom is back, and he’s just as twisted as we remember from Best Day Ever! 😳 Once again, Paul believes he’s in control, but is he really? Has he finally met his match in Cecilia, or is marriage number two destined for disaster? Their anniversary celebration in Paris might seem like the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds… but at what cost? 🗼💔
I loved the author’s use of alternating POVs between Mr. & Mrs. Strom, which added depth to the story. 📖 While some twists were predictable, they kept me hooked until the very end.

I’ll definitely be reading more from Kaira Rouda & highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller!

Many thanks to #NetGalley #Bookouture #TheSecondMrsStrom & KairaRouda for the ARC. My opinions are my own & freely expressed.

#ThrillerReads #BookstagramThriller #MysteryReads #BookRecommendations #PageTurner #ARCReview #TwistsAndTurns #BookLover

"The Second Mrs. Strom" is a fast-paced narrative brimming with twists and turns that kept me captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This book blew me away. Paul is back with a vengeance. However, this time, he has met his match with Cecilia. Told in alternate timelines throughout a day in Paris.
I absolutely LOVE Rouda's style of writing. Paul is so evil, you just want to push him off the Eiffel. Tower. I wish we had more of his ex-wife in the story though!
4.5 stars.

Paul is self-centered, narcissistic and controlling. He likes Cecilia to do what he tells her when he tells her. But this trip is not going as he anticipated.

Paul is ready to start a family. He though Cecilia was as well. But this trip is showing him otherwise.

Loved the dual POVs and seeing things from both sides.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is absolutely chock full of insane behavior from the main characters. I enjoyed the first book so much I was excited to see Paul back and see what he would get up to. It didn't disappoint.

Paul is now married to his new wife Cecelia. They are on their anniversary trip on Paris and things get wild! You're not sure who is the crazier one in the relationship. Who is more delusional?

I wasn't sure where this was headed but it did not disappoint. I don't want to give too many details but you need to read this book if you love insane characters like I do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc!

Yes I loved this book!! Paul is always one of my forever love characters! I’m so happy a sequel was made and it as great!

Had me hooked from the start! It been a great book to read for the long weekend!! Looking forward to reading more books from this author!

I loved Best Day Ever and was so excited to be reunited with the deliciously devious Paul Strom but unfortunately, The Second Mrs. Strom wasn’t as captivating as its predecessor and Paul’s antics felt a little tired this time around.

This book is the sequel to Best Day Ever, but it can be read as a standalone. Paul is still a narcissist in this sequel. We see his sly and conniving behavior present in this follow up book. But has he met his match in his new wife Cecelia?

I loved this well crafted story as the plot played out at a fast pace. I found both of the main characters despicable, so that left me to not care about the outcome as far as either of them was concerned. They were both unhinged. I did enjoy figuring out what Cecelia had planned as the story progressed. Overall, this was a good read. 3.5 stars round up.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I usually enjoy books by Kaira Rouda, but this one was a little lack luster. I found the story line to be repetitive and a little unbelievable. There were a couple of nice twists, but it just kept on and on. I found this book to be an okay read, but nothing memorable.

I went into this book fairly blind (which is unusual for me), so it took me a bit to realize that the male main character, Paul Strom, is the same returning sociopath from Best Day Ever. I loved that this book was told in dual POV so that we could see what both Paul and Cecilia are thinking. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks that showed Cecelia's life before Paul and in their first months of marriage. Neither of the main characters are particularly likeable, but all of the twists and turns kept me entertained and engaged.

Even though this is technically a sequel, it can easily be read as a standalone, but I want to go back and read Best Day Ever to remind myself of Paul's antics with his first wife.

Many thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the #gifted digital review copy!

I love me some Kaira Rouda! This was enjoyable from start to finish! I went in not having read the first book, but it worked as a standalone just fine. Rouda’s approach to her characters and plot always hits a nerve for me—in the best ways—such a talent!

I had such high hopes for this one. Unfortunately I found it to be over the top and far too predictable.

Paul Strom met Cecilia at the funeral of the very wealthy Esther Wilmot. Paul had been her escort and confidant for a long time. Cecilia have been making printed invitation and signage for Esther’s many parties held at her Palm Beach, Florida mansion. A very pretty young woman, Paul was mesmerized by Cecilia and her many charms. It wasn’t long before he asked her to marry him.

Paul is now very wealthy because Esther left all of her money to him. He has dreamed of being a producer in California so he and Cecilia marry quickly and head to Malibu where he has just purchased a very large home. Having lost contact with his first wife and two sons, Paul wants that again and tells Cecilia that he wants her to get pregnant right away and give him three children.

To celebrate their first anniversary, they spend a week in Paris visiting the sights and enjoying the French food. Ah, but something seems to have changed with Cecilia. She has become rather defiant and not the complacent wife she has been. What is going on with her and why is he afraid?

It was in 2017 that I read the first book about Paul Strom called “Best Day Ever” and I loved it. Now, Paul is back strutting his stuff thinking of himself as the King. But, wait! Is the King about to be bested by his new wife? This book is more humorous than scary. I chuckled a lot as I read it. No, I didn’t like Paul and, equally, I didn’t like Cecilia. I guess they had each met their match. Confused? Don’t be. Read this delightful book and enjoy this great story!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is my second book by this author and both were juicy, quick reads. I love the short chapters and this authors style of writing. The story unfolds piece by piece. There’s no shortage of drama and lies! I really enjoyed this read. It was so nice to read about the setting of Paris.

Paul is alone at the funeral of his companion when a beautiful woman strikes up a conversation with him. They become inseparable and Paul founds out he was the heir of his companions vast fortune and he has found the love of his life. They move from Florida to LA so Paul can become a director into a swanky huge mansion and live happily ever after…or do they? Bit by bit we discover secret after surprising secret and the lives of Paul and his new bride. Paul and Cecilia’s characters were so strong, I felt like I knew them. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to love or hate them throughout the book.

I highly recommend this thriller, it’s the perfect end of summer read! All of my thriller book loving friends @ are raving about this book, it’s worth the read!

5/5

This book was such a fast paced read. The characters were interesting and the multiple POVs made it so much more interesting. The twist(s) in the book truly had my jaw on the floor. Such a good read!

Another absolutely amazing book by Kaira Rouda. I cannot wait for the follow up book to come out. She never disappoints!

Fantastic and twisty! My first book by this author but it won't be the last. No problem following the story even though I hadn't read the first book. Loved it!