This was a fun thriller filled with drama. Unfortunately, I just read a book with a similar plotline, so that may have had a negative impact on my experience. Still. I loved to hate the Kingsley family and loved to root for Paige. I read this as a stand-alone even though it is a sequel. The author did a great job of revealing prior incidents to keep readers current with the plot. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Fun read!

Thanks #netgalley and the publisher for my Arc in exchange of an honest review.

𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒔 is the second book in the Kaira Rouda series, which follows the famous Kingsleys, a family of billionaires.
The backstabbing members of this family will do just about anything to gain absolute power over the company. It was so much fun watching them try to outsmart themselves.

I highly recommend reading Book 1 to better understand the family dynamics. Unfortunately I haven't read it so I was a bit confused about what happened in book 1. But the book gave me strong ‘Succession’ and ‘Dynasty’ vibes which I really enjoyed.

The whole book takes place over a weekend at a luxury resort. There are countless twists and turns and the characters are all ruthless…. the kind you’re gonna love to hate! 😈 I would never have guessed the culprit!

Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda is labelled The Kingsleys #2. I hadn't realised it was the second in a series but I didn't feel like I was missing any backstory or context. Although - given the secrets of #1 (Beneath the Surface) are revealed here - it does render going back and reading that kinda pointless (from the whodunnit and why perspective anyway). 

I enjoyed the early parts of this novel though found almost all of the characters to be incredibly unlikeable. And in some ways they bordered on caricatures, they were soooo obvious. That being said, I appreciated the whodunnit and the game-playing that featured prominently.

As I'd not read the first book I had no idea why Richard had made daughter-in-law Paige president of the family company. The brief backstory we get about her experience with not-for-profits is hardly an indication that she had business-smarts. So that seemed a bit weird, unless it was solely a 'F*ck you!' to his problematic sons and wayward daughter. And though Paige plays the game exceptionally well here, I really didn't get any sense that she's crazy-clever. 

Though she fared better than other female characters including John's money-hungry recent girlfriend (Krystal Carrington - YES REALLY!) desperate for him to put a ring on it (though with a hidden agenda to make his family pay for the death of her brother); Richard's ex-wife Serena who cheated on her husband with his philandering, alcoholic and gambling addict son (Ted) and then got herself pregnant in an affair with some Italian dude, who doesn't feature here other than to completely throw things into disarray and force a revised climax. And then there's Sibley, Richard's daughter who I wanted to like but who - quite frankly - came across as a flighty bitch, falling for one of the hotel staff members after a conversation or two and changing her allegiances at the drop of a hat. (Or promise of money and love.) 

I absolutely adored the first book I read by Rouda, Best Day Ever, which made my 'best of the year' list back in 2017. I didn't enjoy this as much but she does seem to be able to create some evil / sociopathic characters. 

I have to say however... though the characters were thoroughly unlikeable and I ultimately cared little whether they lived or died, I'll probably tune in for #3 because there are some obvious red flags here including the fact that Paige's younger assistant who was supposedly spying on her for John and Ted, was (in fact) helping her, but also happens to be the son of some billionaire rival of Richard's. The already murky plot thickens! 

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this sneak peek. Unfortunately this book was not for me. I really like Kaira Rouda but I am not a fan of series books. I didn't realize when I requested this book that there was a book one. I still wholeheartedly recommend this author.

Stay tuned for my #AuthorElevatorSeries Chat with Kaira, where we go behind the scenes of the book and this mega-talented superstar author and long-time favorite. (pub day May 21).

Kaira Rouda (favorite author) is back following Beneath the Surface, where we were introduced to (The Kingsleys #1), with her latest scandalous thriller, UNDER THE PALMS (The Kingsleys #2).

When the family is invited to a weekend retreat, the knives come out in her latest devilish and witty installment of greed, dark secrets, revenge, power, betrayal, and MURDER.

No one does dark humor and scandal better than the queen, Kaira Rouda! The Kingsleys are keeping the funeral director busy!

Let the power plays begin! There is a lot of girl power in UNDER THE PALMS, and the Kingsley women are here to stay! The women have joined forces, putting aside their past differences to TAKE DOWN their greedy opponents. The pressure is on. Watch out.

DELECTABLE! Some will do anything to WIN, ATTAIN, or KEEP the power at Kingsley Global Enterprises.

Picking up for the last book with Paige, the new president, she has invited the family to the weekend Kingsley Corporate Retreat at the posh and luxurious Twin Palms Resort in Laguna Beach.

She has been on the job for eight months and is well-received by the media, touting fresh female leadership at one of Orange County's most influential companies. But the Santa Ana winds and more are coming to threaten the upcoming weekend retreat.

"The winds are not what we need this weekend. The winds remind you of how tentative everything is and how fast it can all be lost." —Paige

Of course, the sons are unhappy with Richard Kingsley's (the family patriarch's) decision to give Paige control of the company.

This includes John, the oldest son (accused of murdering his lawyer wife during the weekend mega-yacht trip to Cataline Island), and the golden boy, Ted, Paige's estranged husband.

Things get juicy when Richard's ex-wife, Serena, is back, his estranged daughter, Sibley, a delicious new Southern witty character, Krystle Carrington (John's latest squeeze, HILARIOUS) and Paige's new sexy assistant, Justin.

Even Richard threatens Paige due to a bad land deal that Ted approved. Some big juicy secrets and allies will keep the suspense high with nonstop action and another MURDER.

Told from alternating POVs:
~Richard
~Serena
~Paige
~Ted
~John
~Sibley
~Krystle (loved)
~OC Scoop

Everyone is hiding something, and there are shared SECRETS that can bring down the company. Who will survive?

🌴 From backstabbing, power plays, greed, corruption, and ambition to howling Santa Ana winds and wildfires exploding around them, UNDER THE PALMS is riveting, soapy, and drama-filled with dark humor, thrills, and twists you do not see coming, with divine commentary from OC Scoop, keeping you entertained until the last page is turned, awaiting the next in the series!

"The worst thing for a Kingsley man is for a Kingsley woman —or two—to outshine him."

Buckle up, fans, and get ready for a wild ride! If you enjoyed the soaps of the 80s, Falcon Crest, Dynasty, Dallas, and daytime Young and The Restless, you need to board the train. The Kingsleys are here to stay. Except if they keep getting murdered, I'm not sure how many family members will be left.

Highly entertaining. I loved #2 even more than #1! I cannot wait for the next in this sizzling series! Get the popcorn ready.

HOLLYWOOD: Be sure and check out the Hollywood Deadline News! Beneath the Surface is coming to the screen!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
May 2024 Must-Read Books
May Newsletter

UNDER THE PALMS
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery/drama
📖 261 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🌴💰😮😱
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/21/2024

💚𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💚

Thank you @kairarouda for the #gifted copy! The @thrillerbookloversthepulse is lucky enough to review this one!

Dive back into the world of the powerful Kingsley family with the gripping sequel to BENEATH THE SURFACE. This second installment is a rollercoaster of scandal, intrigue, & drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Packed with action packed thrills, the story unfolds through multiple points of view, allowing you to delve into the minds of each character. If you love stories with over-the-top, malicious characters seeking vengeance, then this is the book for you. Get ready for a wild ride!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
◽️ scandal & dark secrets
◽️ a luxurious beach resort
◽️ a powerful family

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Under Paige's leadership, the Kingsleys gather for a retreat at a lavish Laguna Beach resort. Richard Kingsley's sons, John and Ted, vie for succession, with Ted being Paige's estranged husband. Paige allies with Richard's ex-wife and daughter, holding a secret that could disrupt the family legacy. As power struggles intensify, the family faces threats beyond the Santa Ana winds. Amidst greed and betrayal, no Kingsley is safe.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Thomas&Mercer for the book #UnderThePalms by #KairaRouda. Beware the Santa Anna Winds. They are dangerous and so is the Kingsley family. There is a fight for the CEO and President position of the family business. And murder is not beyond their grasp. I could not put this hook down. Amazing!

The crazy Kingsley family is back with more drama than ever!
Richard Kingsley heart is failing and the family will do anything to have a place in the company. With his daughter in law, Paige, as current CEO, the sons will stop at nothing to get her out of there.
The woman of the family join as a team to take them down.
This book is full of unlikeable characters and you better have the popcorn ready for their drama and…..murder?!?!
Be sure to check out and read the first book of this crazy family, Beneath The Surface.

Even though this is book #2 in the Kingsley’s series,it can be read as a stand alone, as the author does a good job of incorporating the important details of the first book!

Everyone is shocked after the announcement on the yacht that Richard Kingsley, CEO of his own company, named Paige Kingsley, his daughter-in-law, as the President of the company, instead of his own sons. In the first 8 months, Paige has divorced Ted and has gotten the company involved with giving more to charities. Paige feels successful in her new role.

Everyone is invited to attend The First Annual Executive Global Enterprises Executive Retreat at Twins Palms Resorts in Laguna Beach. What are Richard’s motives for this retreat? Will Paige remain as President? Will the past catch-up to them? Is it what it seems?

Kaira Rouda’s writing just draws you in from the start! I loved all the twists and turns. Just when you think you figured it out, she throws in a curveball! The drama will keep you turning the pages to find out who will lead the company. A wonderful book to take on vacation!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, I was provided an ARC of Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #UnderthePalms #NetGalley

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Under the Palms continues the saga of The Kingsley's and what a story it is.

Kaira Rouda has knocked this one out of the park.

There is murder, backstabbing, secrets, jealousy, betrayal, plotting and conniving.

What more could you want.

Did I mention crazy?

Paige is the best, Ted and John are just nasty and the patriarch Richard takes the cake.

Twists and turns , a storm is brewing with the Santa Ana winds and the atmosphere is tense.

That's all I am saying .

Get your copy and hope no one disturbs you as you get lost in the Kingsley world.

What will happen next?

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a compelling read.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌."

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @kairarouda @amazonpublishing and @netgalley for this #gifted eARC.

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The kingsleys are back at it again , vying for their fathers attention, love, and approval - oh and money, of course. Don't think they aren't bringing their normal dysfunctional selves to the table either because it's the same old shenanigans-different location.
This time, Paige is in charge and clawing to keep her role as president while John and Ted are dying to oust her. There's a special appearance at the twin palms retreat by a familiar face, and of course , everything goes off course - which is always expected in their presence.

Of course, this retreat is full of surprises and MURDER, but who is the culprit, and who keeps sending Paige threatening messages?

All will be revealed in the shocking ending. - which of course I can't spoil!!!!

Definitely check out this continuation in the Kingsley drama!

PUB DATE:
May 21, 2024

QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ Have you ever stayed at an all-inclusive resort?
Where at?

AOTD - I went to Mexico w my family and fiancé one year and LOVED it.

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillerbooklovers #thrillerbookloversthepulse #thekingsleys #kairarouda #underthepalms #thrilleraddict #bookbuzz #upcomingrelease #upcomingthriller
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A fun, fast paced read about the family you love to hate.
Under The Palms is the second book in the Kingsley family series and while I accidentally read this one before the first, I can say it still kept my attention, keeping me interested in seeing where the rest of the story will take us and , more importantly, Paige.
You can check out my more in-depth spoiler free review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUqj-u8s_qw

This is the second book that has the wealthy Kingsley family of Southern California behaving badly. In the first book, BENEATH THE SURFACE, there is trouble on the family yacht. In the second book, the family is at a corporate retreat and the Santa Ana winds are blowing in trouble.

I love the multiple points of view in this book. There is even a pivotal character that had no voice in the first book that gets his own chapters in book two.

You can read this one as a stand-alone, but these books are quick reads and it’s worth reading book one to get a real deal feel at this scheming family.

Bring on book three!!

Are you looking for a delicious, easy to read, action packed thriller? If so, pick up this series. Beneath the Surface is the first book. They are both about the Kingsley Family, a horrible cast of unsavory characters that you looove to hate. This book is told from multiple POV’s in the present. The chapters are short and kept my attention, there is enough going on throughout the whole book to keep me guessing!

Richard Kingsley is the king of the world, rich, successful, powerful but unfortunately he is sick and getting older. He names his daughter in law Paige as his successor. But that makes his two sons, Ted (Paige’s husband) and John angry. While Paige is watching her back and trying to protect her new found position, all the Kingsley clan (her father in law, husband, his brother and Uncle Walter) all want to take her job and will stop at nothing to get it. Add in a crazy ex wife with a mafia baby daddy, conniving girlfriend desperate to save her family and marry rich, jewel thieving sister, an endless list of characters that will have you hating and rooting for the Kingsley family. But who do you trust?

Oh and did I mention they are at a perfect resort for a business retreat during crazy Santa Ana winds and a wildfire? This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I really loved the inserts from the OC Scoop. Every couple of chapters we got some gossip from the media throughout the book, this was a great touch.

🌴 Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, the author and Thriller Book Lovers for the opportunity to read this book. My opinions are honest and my own!

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for having me on this tour!

Ms. Rouda never disappoints! The Kingsleys are an interesting brood for sure....I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters and they pretty much remind me of everything I hate about Hollywood and reality TV, but Rouda is one of those authors who can write despicable characters and still deliver a heck of a story. Talk about rich people behaving badly!

I will say as well, that Rouda did a great job of filtering in details from book 1 because I read this as a standalone without having read the first book and still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Additional thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital review copy!

The twisty continuation of the first book by Kaira Rouda. You definitely need to read the first one before this one.

The family continues to try to shuffle for control of the empire. The backstabbing, manipulation and drama are on every page. It feels like this family can only think about to throw someone under the bus and kiss Dad's(Richard's) butt. As Paige fights to keep the presidency, Richard, the patriarch, is faced with his own demons of the fast.

The question you keep asking yourself is - Who is going to win in the end? And it takes until the end to find out!

I do want to preface this by saying I did not read the first book. Obviously I think that would have made a lot of the family dysfunctional relationships and drama clear from the start, however I wasn’t completely lost and was able to get a pretty clear picture quickly with this family mess!

I will say this book wasn’t one that gripped me and I found myself having a hard time connecting to it. A huge part of that was every character was extremely unlikeable and unhinged…. The crazy wealthy Kingsley family was returning with drama , secrets, and everyone had an agenda… their own success no matter what it took. From the previous book the Father, Richard, had appointed Paige his ex daughter in law as the CEO of the big company and nobody was happy about it… the two brothers.. exes , sisters , enter all the crazies to the vacation that was supposed to be pleasant…. I quickly realized with this family and cast of horrible characters. This vacation was going to be anything but pleasant.

This book had a lot of the crazy family dynamic drama if that is something that intrigues you then this is a book that would be good for you however, like I had stated because I couldn’t connect with any of the characters because I didn’t like any of them I couldn’t get into this book there was a lot going on And at the same time it felt repetitive. I just didn’t enjoy this one overall as much as I had hoped that I would however, it’s not to say that this is not going to be a book for others that enjoy that type of crazy, twisty, evil family, dynamic drama. I also quickly realized what was the outcome of the ending way sooner than I thought I would and that didn’t give me much motivation to want to keep reading although, like I said, the drama at times was entertaining.

Thank you to the Author, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

The second book in this series, and it was so much better than the first. While in the first book, it felt like nothing really happened until the end. This one had shit going on from the start.
Another book filled with the unlikeable but very rich Kingsleys, who appear to have it all. But as always, the more you have, the more you want. Each family member is intent on getting to the top, not caring who they step on to get there.
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first, and I'm excited to see where the story goes in the future.

I love a good psychological thriller with some rich family drama. The Kingsleys are back, and everyone is still plotting to be the CEO of the family company. Paige is currently the CEO, but brother John and Ted want her out. Of course, Richard, the narcissistic father, hasn't really made up his mind and I think he just enjoys seeing them all fight about it. His company, his power, his decision. Everyone is sooooo unlikable in this book! But I was definitely there for it all.

If you haven't read the first book in the series, I really recommend it because it sets the stage for the second book. What a crazy family! A great sequel to the Kingsley family drama!

The last time we saw the Kingsley’s, they were reeling from a disastrous family yacht trip. Richard Kinglsey was looking for a family member to appoint president of his company, Kingsley’s, and he decided to appoint Paige, his daughter-in-law.

Paige has been doing the job for some time now and thinks she’s doing a great job but John, the oldest son, and Ted, Paige’s estranged husband, are gunning for her job. When the biggest deal in company history goes wrong, Paige may be the one to take the fall even though she simply signed off on the deal. Hoping to raise spirits, Paige has set-up a weekend team-building retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort. When Paige senses that Richard is looking to dethrone her as president, the weekend quickly runs off the rails. When Richard’s ex-wife, Serena, and Richard’s wild daughter, Sibley, show up at the resort, tensions begin to grow even hotter. The Santa Anna winds are howling and stirring up more than just dirt. How many of the Kingsley’s can make it out of this weekend alive?

I hate to say it, but this book was a miss for me. I was hoping that the sequel may have been a better match based on the higher reviews, but I still could not seem to connect to the characters. I think this series just may not be a match for me. The story switches back and forth between the points of view of many of the family members. Each perspective is entertaining enough but there is something missing in the depth of the characters for me. While I typically have no problem with unlikable characters (a Kaira Rouda specialty), I do believe that the characters need to have something interesting about their story to draw you in but I didn’t find that with any of the characters in this book unfortunately. I will definitely continue to read what Kaira Rouda writes but I may call it quits for the Kingsley series. This one just wasn’t for me :)

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.