It’s family, watch your back…

Everybody’s favorite family returns in this latest installment of The Kingsley family. When patriarch Richard named his daughter-in-law Paige the new president of his company, his two sons (one of which is Paige’s husband), as well as the other members of his family are less than thrilled. When Paige invites the family for an executive retreat in a posh resort in Laguna Beach, most of the family members are less than thrilled yet unable to stay away. With the arrival of Richard’s estranged daughter and (fifth!) ex-wife, and you know you’re in for some entertainment. Especially when the women of the family decide to team up together. What no one can plan for are the wild Santa Ana winds.

I loved Beneath the Surface so I was super excited to see Kiara Ronda had written a sequel about this crazy family! I adore Rouda’s writing style - her signature twists and psychological suspense permeate every one of her books and this one is no different.
To truly appreciate this story (and to get the full Kingsley family effect), it's best to read Beneath the Surface before digging into Under the Palms. But both are quick and entertaining reads so it isn’t hard to find yourself quickly immersed in the Kingsleys’ shenanigans. There’s lying, sneaking around, backstabbing - take your pick with the family - LOL! With the threat of the Santa Ana winds looming over their already volatile retreat, the tension leaps off the pages once again in this story. I also really love the articles about the family interspersed throughout - they give it a bit of a celebrity/hollywood feel that’s so unique and fun!

The perfect vacation story, “Under the Palms” reads best with a good glass of wine (or sparkling water) :)

Thank you to Kiara Ronda, Thomas & Mercer and Thriller Book Lover Promotions for the ARC! “Under the Palms” releases May 21, 2024.

The unscrupulous Kingsley family returns to make more bad choices and to exhibit more bad behavior in this follow up to Beneath the Surface. In Under the Palms, Richard Kingsley’s company, now run by his daughter-in-law, Paige, is off to an executive retreat at the posh Twin Palms Resort in Laguna Beach.

Both of Richard’s sons are jealous that Paige was named president of the company and will do just about anything to win their father’s favor but the Kingsley women are armed with secrets to prevent a takeover. All plans change when the Santa Ana winds threaten the family’s safety and somebody dies.

This is a family that you love to hate! They’re horrible people who do horrible things in the name of greed. This is book two in the series with most of the characters returning from book one. There are also a couple of new characters with sketchy backgrounds to liven things up! I would recommend reading this series in order. Never a dull moment, this novel is throughly entertaining and I look forward to reading about more Kingsley backstabbing!

3.5 rounded up

The Kingsley’s are back! This is the sequel to Below the Surface, which I really enjoyed, when we met the messed up family for the first time! This go around, they are holding a business retreat at a 5 star hotel and problems will arise as always! I couldn’t wait to find out who killed one of our key characters! I was glad that the author did a fabulous job reminding readers of what happened in book one, and loved how the chapters were told from all our main characters points of view. It was almost like each character was letting us into their mind and speaking directly to the reader in their chapters.

If you love family drama, you will love this book!❤️❤️

Kaira Rouda does a great job writing this book, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. I loved the use of the weekend retreat. The characters felt like they belonged in this story and that I was caring what happened to them. I was invested in what was happening and glad it worked so well.

Our favorite wealthy family is back this spring, the Kingsley's. With Paige at the head of the table, there is bound to be drama, She is in the process of. a divorce, trying to manage the business, and most of all, keep her family safe. This I told in multiple POV which is my favorite set up.

According to Richard, she is not a good leader. This leaves Ted and John vying for her position. I would most certainly read Beneath the Surface prior to this.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.
4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5.

The Kingsleys are back and better than ever!

Perfect Paige is President of the company, much to the dismay of John and Ted. She's planned a company retreat at a luxury resort, but the Santa Anna winds may put an end to it - if someone doesn't personally do it.

Richard, the patriarch and CEO, isn't pleased with Paige's performance and wants her out, which leaves John and Ted jockeying for the President position.

Stir in Serena, Richard's ex, and Sibley, his wild child daughter and the gang's all here.

Will they oust Paige? Will she hit them with something they don't see coming? Read to find out! It's filled with all the drama as the first, and then some.

Also props to the author. Everyone said the first had Dynasty vibes, and she hit us with a character named Krystle Carrington in this one. If you know, you know!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and for allowing me to be a part of this tour!

"Under the Palms" by Kaira Rouda offers readers a wild and gripping ride through the tangled web of a powerful family's dark secrets and cold-blooded ambition. As the second book in the Kingsley series, Rouda delivers a captivating narrative set against the backdrop of a weekend retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort.

Paige, the newly appointed president of Kingsley Global Enterprises, takes center stage as she orchestrates a family gathering that becomes a battleground for power, succession, and long-buried secrets. The Kingsley family, led by patriarch Richard Kingsley, is rife with internal conflicts, especially between Richard's sons, John and Ted, both vying for higher positions and aiming to push Paige out.

The family dynamics take a dramatic turn with the arrival of Richard's ex-wife, Serena, and his wayward daughter, Sibley, adding fuel to the already blazing familial tensions. As the Santa Ana winds intensify, so does the greed and betrayal within the family. Paige, facing challenges from all sides, discovers unexpected allies in her quest to navigate the treacherous territory of the Kingsley legacy.

Rouda expertly weaves a tale of corporate intrigue, power struggles, and family drama. The multiple points of view provide insight into each character's motivations, making for a rich and engaging storytelling experience. While the characters may not be inherently likable, their perspectives contribute to the complexity of the narrative.

The novel thrives on twists and turns, keeping readers eagerly turning pages to unravel the layers of deception and betrayal. The shocking ending adds a final punch to the narrative, leaving readers hungry for more of the Kingsley family saga.

"Under the Palms" stands out as a highly entertaining exploration of a dysfunctional family's dynamics, driven by ambition, secrets, and corporate maneuvering. Kaira Rouda's storytelling prowess shines in this engrossing novel, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy tales of family intrigue and high-stakes power plays. As the Kingsley series unfolds, the author promises readers an addictive journey into the world of the wealthy and powerful, where no one is truly safe.

She’s bacccckkk!! ❤️ The queen 👸 of cray is back and better than ever..bringing with her The Kingsleys… that little family that I LOVE to hate! ❤️🤷‍♀️

@kairarouda is truly the queen 👸 of cray… she is the master of the unlikable characters… Snarky, devious,deceptive… I LOVE them! 😂 Okay guys.. this is the second in The Kingsleys series… and let me tell you… I liked this one even more than the first!! @kairarouda killed it!! 🔥 Listen to this…

Tune in to this episode of The Kingsleys for a gathering at an exclusive resort in Laguna Beach🏝 … The Palms…as myself and the OC Scoop will tell you… this little family gives a whole new meaning to rich people 💰 behaving badly😉…and it wouldn’t be a Kingsley family get together… without a dead body or two…😳😳😳 … Just saying… 🤐

That ending!! 😳😳😳🤯 This family will do ANYTHING and I do mean ANYTHING to win !! 🏆 Just sitting here hoping @kairarouda is working on bringing this crazy family back into my life again with a third book!! 😉😍

@kairarouda is one of my very favorite authors!! ❤️ I am so grateful to have been offered an early copy.🥰

Hands down 5 stars!! Drama.. suspense… murder… yes please!! 🙋‍♀️🤷‍♀️

The Kingsleys are back. This book is part of a series but it was the first book I read. Background is provided via a gossip column and the column adds commentary throughout the book. There is no love lost in this family as they will all do whatever it takes to get ahead even at the expense of family. I hope there are more books in this series as I enjoyed reading about the Kingsleys. Right after I finished this book I read the first book, Beneath the Surface because I wanted to see what the family got up to in the first book.

The book has been narrated from multiple perspectives. The description is gripping and characters are interesting. The relationship between them is complex. So a lot of things happens in the plot. The book is full of suspense and It will keep you guessing till the end. Kingley family has dark secrets. Ted is Paige’s husband. While things are not working between them. Richard is patriarch of the family and John and Ted are his sons. They are hoping to get higher position in business. While there is a mystery of Serena, Richard’s ex-wife. And so many unthinkable things happens in the plot. Some characters had facades. The author has portrayed dysfunctional family and how dark secrets can destroy the family legacy.

It’s an action packed suspense thriller. It is full of suspense, mystery, secrets, twists, unexpected twists and betrayal. The revelations at the end were so shocking.

Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5

This was definitely a wild ride, and I really enjoyed it. This is the 2nd book in the author's Kingsley series, and I will most definitely be going back to read the 1st.

Paige is the new president of Kingsley Global Enterprises, and she's set up a corporate weekend retreat at a Luxurious Laguna Beach resort. The whole family will be there, and Richard Kingsley, the patriarch of the family, has some plans of his own for the weekend. His sons John, who is trying to move on from a past tragedy and Ted, the "golden boy" who happens to be married to Paige, are there. Both are hoping they will be appointed to a higher position and to push Paige out. When Sibley, Richard's "wild child" daughter and his ex Serena show up major drama, starts to unfold, and it appears Paige may have some allies after all. As the Santa Ana winds get stronger, so does the greed and betrayal. No one in the family is safe.

This book was SO entertaining! I was completely caught up in this dysfunctional family's drama. I was definitely turning pages to see what they would do next. This book was told in multiple POVs, and even though none of the characters are very likable, I really liked reading their perspectives. There were plenty of twists, and the ending totally shocked me. I really hope this family's story continues because I need more of the Kingsleys. I would highly recommend this book.

Paige, now in charge of the Kingsley's company, has organised a weekend retreat for the employees. All the Kingsley men are hoping for a fruitful weekend with talk of successorship back on the agenda as Richard is now unsure if Paige is right for the top job. It's back to the squabbling board....

The Kingsley's are back! I absolutely loved book one and could not wait to get stuck into Under the Palms. I have to admit, I was a little worried as to how much more drama one family could get into but wow, this book knocked my socks off! So many more secrets and lots of deceit - I loved it! I highly recommend reading Beneath the Surface before you pick this book up so you know about each character and their past. I now have all my fingers and toes crossed for a third installment!

After a disastrous family yacht trip, Ted’s estranged wife, Paige, has taken over the helm of Kingsley Global Enterprises as president. Reorganizing the company and their direction, she has arranged for a weekend retreat in Laguna Beach for the executive board. Surrounded in opulence but also her sly, conniving family members, the next two days are guaranteed to be nothing if not interesting.

Unluckily for Paige, however, her now estranged husband, Ted, and his brother, John, are hardly happy with her new rise to power and are intent to try and grasp it for themselves. Hoping to keep them at bay, she welcomes their wild child sister, Sibley, and Richard’s ex-wife, Serena, to the party. Little do the men know, but these three women have become fast friends and through their alliance have learned a few secrets. Secrets that they can and will use to their advantage.

Just like the last time the family was all together, though, things quickly get out of hand. Whether it is the harsh Santa Ana winds that are driving the angst or the fact that the Kingsleys are all together once again, they’re soon at each others’ throats. After all, this family has never exactly been about love and affection. There’s one question, however, waiting to be answered—just how far will each of them go to get what they think they deserve?

Phew! What a wild ride! Kaira Rouda sure knows how to craft a deviously cunning yet wildly dysfunctional family. And just like the first in the series, Beneath the Surface, Under the Palms had me eagerly watching who was trying to outsmart who in what was a devilishly good read. All I can say is that this action-packed ride of thrills and suspense was even, if possible, a step up from the last book. And, if you know Rouda, that’s quite the statement.

Right from the get-go, the plot was one shocking twist after another. Never knowing who was going to win in the end, I was totally blind as the plot unwound before me. Told through nearly all of the characters via multiple POVs, what could’ve been confusing was anything but. Instead, it felt more like an omniscient perspective that allowed me to see behind the curtain. Did that help me figure out who was the worst in the bunch? Happily, it definitely did not.

As for the characters, they are each thoroughly unlikeable, but only in the best possible way. Devious and manipulative, they each tried anything and everything to win in the end. Were they over-the-top in a delicious soap opera way? Absolutely, and I enjoyed every scandalous moment. Even better, there were plenty of characters I loved to hate and just a few that I would’ve done almost anything to have them come out on top. Did they? Well, I guess you’ll just have to read this one to find out.

While I loved the first in the series, which was a decidedly more low key tale of domestic suspense, this thriller totally blew it away, in my opinion. With a definite Succession-like vibe with some far more dangerous plot twists thrown in, this despicable family has yet again earned my undying love. If you love a good melodrama complete with all of the required tantalizing scandals, but also love a good death or two, this should definitely be on your TBR. One truly epic rollercoaster of a ride, it was the perfect popcorn thriller for this suspense loving gal. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Note: This series should definitely be read in order. This is no stand-alone, as you’d both be lost and missing out on quite a good time.

This was my first trip into the world of the Kingsleys, and I had no issues keeping up with all the action and in-fighting happening within this rich, yet jaded family. Rouda does a fabulous job of building internal and external conflict with the setting and the characters so pitted against each other. There were so many layers of intrigue to unpack while trying to figure out whodunnit. I loved the cast of characters with their distinctive personalities. Each character had their own personal goals which often conflicted with the goals of other characters vying for control of the family business. I'm hoping the Kingsleys story will continue.

Just when you think the Kingsley family couldn't get more evil and twisted, they're back in book two, this time at a posh five-star resort. In order to truly appreciate the family dynamics, this series is one that needs to be read in order, and, although I guess they could each be read as stand-alones, that wouldn't be my recommendation. Without a doubt, the Kingsley family vacations are to die for, and this series has become one of my recent guilty obsessions.

The Kingsleys are back, and more ruthless than ever! This family never has a shortage of drama and secrets! Like the last book, the three siblings and their significant others are pulling out all the stops to ruin each other. I didn’t think it was possible for them to hate each other more than they did in the first book, but these are the Kinsleys! I liked how the women of the story came together for one purpose ~ to keep Paige in power over John and Ted. I didn’t think I could be more disgusted by Ted and John, but I was wrong!
This is a fast paced read with a few shocking twists that I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait for the next book because this one ended on a cliffhanger!

Step into a world where lies intertwine with the pulsating beats of family drama, and the stage is set for an exhilarating saga of power dynamics. This narrative masterfully explores the intricate dance of speculation and superiority, delivering a spellbinding journey that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

The aversion to falsehoods serves as a guiding principle, yet the allure of triggers and the pursuit of being the alpha create a magnetic pull that propels the story forward. The characters navigate through a labyrinth of emotions, forming a rich tapestry of human relationships, where every twist and turn reveals a new layer of complexity.

Against the backdrop of changing weather, the narrative weaves a symbolic tapestry, reflecting the storm within the characters' lives. The relentless pursuit of standing out, coupled with a never-ending saga, paints a vivid picture of a world where every move is a calculated step in the grand play of life.

As the final pages hint at a continuation, this story promises not just a conclusion but invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where the only certainty is the uncertainty that lies ahead.

I wanted to like this book because I enjoyed the first one but because I didn’t want to reread the first book after just a year of it being out I gave up on this one because I found I wasn’t that interested in the characters anymore.

Thank you so much NetGalley for my gifted copy!

I fell in love with the dysfunction and drama that surrounded the Kingsley family in Beneath the Surface, so I was thrilled to hear their stories continue! I devoured this book. I was here for every ounce of scandal and betrayal! The ending still has me reeling! Will we see more of the Kingsley's? I really hope so!

Thank you Netgalley for this gifted ebook. Fans of drama and dark thrillers will LOVE this book. I read this with a group and we enjoyed the chat and totally dissected the book. It was a treat to read and squeeze inbetween all the holiday romance I have been currently reading. This was my first book by this author. I didnt know she was such a gifted writer. I will definitely add all of her future reads to my tbr.