Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, Bookouture, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of What the Nanny Saw in exchange for my honest review.

It’s no secret that I love Kaira Rouda’s books. I’ve read every single one of them and just love the characters she creates – they are the ones you love to hate because they are so deliciously devious and this latest one is no different, with some returning favorites and a few new ones.

This book is a follow-up to The Second Mrs. Strom, picking up a few years after that book ended. While it could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading not only The Second Mrs. Strom but also The Best Day Ever before reading this one because that is were you first meet Paul and really he is at the heart of all three of these books and then Cecilia comes next. And both characters are such crazy characters you need to follow their character arcs from the beginning to fully appreciate them, at least I think!

In this book, Paul plays more of a back seat, but he is still there…which I loved because he is undoubtedly my favorite psychopath ever and of course he shows his true colors once or twice throughout the book, even though he is in jail. This book is primarily Cecilia and the Lizzie, the nanny’s story, and let me just say – it’s once again a story of matching wits.

What I love most about Kaira’s books is that she manages to craft characters that pull you in and then pull the wool out from under you. You are never sure whether you can trust them or not, they do such a good job of manipulating you. I loved how slowly the layers are peeled back from each of the characters here so that even if you thought you had things figured out, when a reveal would finally happen, it often did so at a moment you weren’t quite expecting.

This book was entertaining, twisty and completely binge-worthy. The characters get their due and I love that even though I figured some things out, there were still a few surprises I didn’t see coming. I really hope this is not the last we have seen of these characters…they are too fun to say goodbye to just yet!

Omg, Kaira Rouda did it again! It feels like it was just a few days (months?) ago when I read both psycho-Strom books. And now, there is the 3rd book, this time it’s about Celelia. The very same one you have met before – if you have read the previous books.

Kaira is an extremely talented crafter when it comes to writing characters you love to hate. And, as it turns out, she is a master of creating spinoffs and sequels for the very same characters you learned to love to hate.


p.s.
I feel like ONE MORE BOOK in the series is needed. Can you get enough of this sheer insanity? Because I can’t for sure.

A good book. A fast read with lots of twists. I really enjoyed this read. I had not read the previous book in this series, but did not feel lost.

What the Nanny Saw
Kiara Rouda
Bookouture
Book 2 Family Secrets
November 13, 2024

Cecilia is back!!! The question is - can she let her guard down ? What about Paul? Is he in the picture ?

5 years after Paul tries to kill Cecilia in The Second Mrs Strom she is living her best life with a baby girl, Peyton. Cecilia’s partner is little to no help and she hires a Lizzie who just unexpectedly shows up in her life.

Twists turns and holy smokes moments are what we have come to expect eom Kaira Rouda and she does not disappoint. This is a binge worthy read you should totally check out.

Cecilia has it all - a beautiful home, a perfect baby girl, and much of her former husband’s fortune. After Paul nearly killed her in Paris, he went to jail. But if Cecilia knows him at all, she knows he’ll never totally give up. When she discovers her boyfriend/father of her child is cheating on her, she throws him out. But taking care of a newborn is more difficult than she imagined, so Cecilia hires a nanny. Lizzie seems too good to be true…and Cecilia of all people should know that anyone who seems too good to be true…usually is…

Another fun and twisty installment in this series, “What the Nanny Saw” is a book we at The Pulse are loving! It was intriguing to see Cecilia let her guard down and be more vulnerable. After seeing her as such a “no mercy” type character, I almost felt sorry for her in this book. New motherhood is a topic that always holds a special place in my heart. Lizzie seemed to be the perfect companion for her and baby Peyton and I was intrigued to find out what her end game was. No spoilers, but, although Paul wasn’t actively a part of this book, his presence was still very much felt.

I would definitely recommend reading the first two books in this series (Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs Strom) before starting this one. But every single one of these books is a quick and twisty read! Kaira Rouda never disappoints!

Thank you to Bookouture and Kaira Rouda for the ARC! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

This book was gripping and I flew through it, but the "killer twist" really didn't do it for me. I kept waiting for something to be revealed at the end and felt a bit let down with the ending, honestly, which is a huge shame because the characters were so interesting, and the pacing was excellent.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I will include a short review in my upcoming October Reading Wrap-Up on YouTube.

Cecilia is back! It’s been five years since her husband, Paul, tried to kill her in Paris (The Second Mrs. Strom). Five years of getting her life and health back together. She now has a baby girl, Peyton, but it’s taken a toll on her health. With little to no help from her partner, Evan, she’s having a difficult time postpartum. When she comes to the decision to do things on her own, she’s completely overwhelmed until she unexpectedly meets Lizzie. Lizzie is a competent nanny looking for a change in her own life and is eager to move in and be the lifeline Cecilia needs, but all is not right in the Malibu household. Cecilia doesn’t seem like a fit mother and Lizzie is more than happy to take up the slack. When Cecilia starts to receive threatening texts and feels like someone is watching her, she immediately is worried about Paul. Is he still in prison? Is her new life in danger? Things heat up as Evan as his mom are desperate to have a relationship with Peyton and things turn wonky with the nanny, but the big question is, “where is Paul”? While a sequel to Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom, this book can be read as a stand alone. A bit on the soapy side, it was rather easy to see where Rouda was headed, but it was a still fun, quick read. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

What a wonderful series Loved all of the surprises and the ending was a perfect wrap up ! Sets up Paul to be the bad guy once again !!

Welcome back into the life of Cecelia Strom.
In this book, she’s raising her daughter Peyton with no help from her partner, she is having back issues, sleep deprived, and raising her daughter on her own, when she meets the nanny at a coffee shop.

At first all seems to be going well, but apparently nanny has her own agenda!

I absolutely could not turn the pages fast enough! I loved it!

Oh my goodness! This book drew me in right away. I'll admit some of the stuff was a little unbelievable, but definitely not enough to ruin the book. It's predictable, but still a super fun, easy great read.
Thank to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Lizzie is Cecelia's new nanny. She helps watch baby Peyton and slowly becomes a firm fixture in their life. Things seem pretty rosy....until they're not.

I am leaving the synopsis a bit vague on purpose because if you can, go into this one blind! I do recommend reading the first two books in this series so you know the characters and their backgrounds; however this book can also be read as a standalone.

I will read anything Kaira Rouda writes. Her books are cleverly written with twists you don't see coming at all - this was exactly what I got in What the Nanny Saw. I sped through the pages at such rapid speed - I just needed to know what was going to happen. And that ending, PLEASE tell me it was set up that way so we'll get another book in the series!!!

If you're after an intense thriller that will keep your heart pounding as you read, this will be one you'll love!

A great follow up to Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom (where we met Cecelia). This book follows Lizzie, the nanny, and Cecelia with her struggles to be a great mother to her newborn daughter Peyton. All the characters are horrible, but they are thoroughly entertaining.

Cecelia is still struggling with her divorce from Paul, and now her new man and baby daddy Evan isn't who she thought he was. And single motherhood is not for her. As if by magic, Lizzie appears and helps her out when Cecelia is struggling with Peyton and easily becomes the nanny she dreamed of. But everyone has secrets, and nothing goes as planned. A fun read that keeps you guessing, smiling, and enjoying the crazy-ride.

Wow! This is a great read.
I was quickly taken in by the plot and characters and raced through it. The ending was a little predictable but that certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
The story developed well and came with a plenty of twists. I’d highly recommend this book.

★★★★

It’s been five years since Paul and Cecilia’s once-romantic anniversary trip to Paris went spectacularly sideways. After surviving that dramatic plunge off the hotel roof bar (thanks, Paul!), Cecilia has found calmer waters in Malibu with Evan, and the two have recently welcomed a baby girl, Peyton, into their lives.

As for Paul? Well, he’s still cooling his heels in prison for the Paris debacle… for now, at least. But with his knack for smooth-talking, an early release seems more like a "when" than an "if."

Meanwhile, Cecilia confronts Evan about his sudden cold shoulder and starts to realize that life isn’t quite as rosy as it seems. Still grappling with the lingering pain of a broken back, Cecilia finally admits she’s overwhelmed by single-handedly juggling baby Peyton. Just in the nick of time, she meets sweet Lizzie at a local coffee shop. Lizzie, tired of wrangling four kids, their alcoholic mom, and their never-there dad, is practically begging for a gig that’s a little more mellow.

But with Lizzie stepping into her life, Cecilia’s world is about to flip upside down—again. Although this book focuses on Cecilia’s new life, Paul is never far from the shadows. When Cecilia starts receiving unsettling text messages from unknown numbers, she immediately suspects that Paul is up to his old tricks…

Thank you, NetGalley, Kaira Rouda, and Bookouture, for providing the third installment of this binge-worthy series in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I saw our favorite villain was back, I had to get my hands on this book! Paul is one of those rare characters I have a love/hate relationship with. Sure, he’s objectively awful—a full-blown malignant narcissist—but he’s so entertaining and wildly unpredictable that it makes for a fantastic read!

Cecilia is such a fantastic character! Sure, it’s a tad concerning that she’s got no friends or community—but then you consider the people around her, and it all makes sense. A little paranoia is probably wise! This one had a slower build compared to Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Storm, and I could have used a touch more drama, but it was still an engaging read. I loved watching Cecilia’s journey and growth throughout.

All the books work as standalones. But trust me, you’ll definitely want to know all their secrets. I am hoping for a fourth installment!

I was really interested in this book in the beginning. I was curious where Cecilia and Lizzie’s stories were going to take us. It then became predictable, and I got bored towards the end. The once exciting and dynamic characters became flat to me. I enjoyed the writing style and will read more books by Kaira Rouda. This particular story just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cecilia has it all; the perfect house, clothes, hair, body, car, and baby named Peyton, but she is deeply struggling. Her ex in prison keeps sending her threatening letters, and she just cut things off with her baby daddy who neglected his own baby and partner. Cecilia also has a flare up from an old back injury and also gets convinced she has post partum depression. Lizzie, a nanny, comes along at the most perfect time to help Cecilia manage her baby and house deeds. Then things around the house start seeming off. Is someone watching Cecilia? She then realizes Lizzie has been stealing and lying to her. Next thing we know, Peyton has been taken from her crib. Who did this and why?
This was a short fast paced read, but to me it wasn't thrilling. I was waiting for a twist and never received it. It was predictable and nothing shocking really happened...
I do want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you loved Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom, then get ready for What the Nanny Saw, because Cecilia’s story isn’t over yet! The diabolical Paul Strom is in prison, and Cecilia has it all: the money, a Malibu beach house, a darling baby girl, and a hot boyfriend. But Cecilia is a hot mess, struggling to mother baby Peyton while dealing with her own health problems. When she meets a young nanny named Lizzie in a coffee shop, she thinks Lizzie is the answer to her prayers. But this meeting was anything but chance, and Lizzie is anything but trustworthy.

This domestic suspense is fast-paced and I read it from cover to cover in a single day. The dual POV structure gives the reader both Cecilia’s and Lizzie’s perspectives, and it’s great to be able to see into both of their thoughts as the situation unravels. This book can easily be read as a standalone novel, but reading the other books in the series gives you great insight into some of the characters’ backstories.

My friends at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse loved The Second Mrs. Strom, and now they’re buzzing about this one! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Cecilia has it all. The house on the beach. The cute figure. The beautiful baby. But she’s a long way from perfect. What the nanny saw had my attention from start to finish… I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day. Can't wait for more from this amazing author What an absolute cracker of a book!!!… sucked me straight in…

OMG!!! This is a book I could not put down. It continues the characters in previous books but can be read as a standalone. The characters are devious inside but innocent on the outside. I love Kaira Rouda’s writing style!

I enjoy Rouda’s books and this is a good one! She always tells a good story. This is the follow-up to The Second Mrs. Strom, featuring Cecelia Strom; although reading this book would be helpful for the backstory, it can easily be read as a standalone. For a fast-paced, twisty story, with complicated characters, recommend this book and all of the author’s books!