Dear Diamond

So loved this. Different from what you have written in the past and I couldn’t put it down. I so want more of this. It’s once you can’t stop reading once you start.

Stephie Walls never ceases to amaze me. Dear Diamond is another in a long line of amazing stories from a master! Walls creates characters that draw out every emotion. And just when you don’t think you can take any more of the feels, Walls hits you with another round. I’ve started planning for the book hangover that comes with a new Walls novel. But they are so worth every moment.

While Dear Diamond seems to be different than some of Walls’ other works on the surface, you’ll find it’s just as compelling as anything she’s written. Walls has a gift for creating beautifully flawed characters. Then she puts them into situations that should find that fault line and damage them beyond repair. But instead of breaking, somehow they find a way to rise above.

All Ryker ever wanted was out of Dacon, Illionios and away from Union 21. One choice, not even a horrible one, just an everyday choice by an 18-year old that didn’t want to walk home in the cold, changed everything. Leaving him trapped in the life he spent so much time and energy trying to escape. When he sees Diamond on the stage, he saw his chance to do what no one did for him – find a way out for her.

It’s almost eerie how Nikki’s life parallels Ryker’s, but in her case, her choice was to take responsibility for the horrible choices her mother is making in the throes of addiction. She’s sure she’s going to get clear and Swank is just a very temporary stop, a blip if you will, on her way to finding a way out.

I don’t want to go any further than that. I don’t want to take away from the, at times, heartwrenching story. Dear Diamond also shows Walls’ is a master at finding balance, because just when you think all is lost, there’s a light in the dark.

I have read almost all of the books written by Stephie Walls, but after reading DEAR DIAMOND, I must say it is an entirely different book from any of her others. When I first started reading, I actually turned back to the title page to make sure she was the author. I was drawn into the story from the first page, and even stayed up late to finish the book in one day. It really was that good!

On the west side of Dacon, Illinois, the Union 21 was run by the Silvano family and they controlled the entire place. Ryker Davis grew up there, but never wanted any part of Union 21. Unfortunately, his best friend since they were babies, was Chase Silvano. Being a Silvano in this world was like being royalty. Chase’s grandfather Jesse was the king of the Silvano clan, making Chase second in the line to the throne. Ryker’s affiliation with the Silvanos had not worked well for his future plans of leaving there, or any of the dreams he had worked hard to earn. He had been stuck remaining there and forever tied to the Silvano family.

Ryker was to attend a bachelor party for his best friend Chase. He hated that it was at Club Swank. A strip club run by Union 21, and wasn’t his kind of scene. He was at the bar having a drink, when a new girl took the stage. Her name was Diamond and he had not a clue why but she intrigued him. He did know that if she was on Swank’s stage that she was in deep trouble with U21. He had never crossed any of the Silvano family, but he knew for this girl he would make a stand at whatever cost. He also knew that no doubt that cost would be very high.

It wasn’t long until Ryker had to make a stand to rescue Diamond. And as they rode away with her on the back of his bike, their fate was aligned. Their stars had crossed, and now she had to trust him. What was a girl like her doing in a place like that? Did he rescue every damsel in distress? Her real name was Nikki Wilson and she was young, a bit immature, and in more trouble then she even knew. By helping her, he now was in danger from the very people that he considered family. Their souls touched. Their spirits bonded. She had fallen into the safety net of a man who appeared more dangerous than explosives, but had the heart of a warrior. The cards still seemed permanently stacked against them.

I fell in love with Ryker and Nikki from the first page.
Ryker is a tatted up Harley guy trying to stay on the straight and narrow after already spending some time in jail. He’s out for a drink and a young woman totally catches his eye, he finds out her name is Diamond and she’s tough as nails. He thinks she’s beautiful and sexy. She’s doing a job she hates but has no choice in. Her mother got in trouble with the local drug lord and she’s agreed to his terms for the pay back. Diamond is AKA Nikki a girl whose dream of getting out of the lower class neighborhood she grew up in is now out of the question. As much as she loves her mother, working where she’s working to bail her out is dangerous and not really Nikki’s thing, but she does meet Ryker who thinks she’s hot and that she needs protection. Ryker offers himself up for the job. Now they’re both in the drug lords sights and things will get worse before they get better. This book was fast paced and highly enjoyable. I really want a Ryker of my own. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Dear Diamond by Stephie Walls was a bit different from what I usually read from her. I dare to say, Dear Diamond was edgier, but I still enjoyed the ride. I love Stephie’s words so dang much—it doesn’t matter if she’s writing a contemporary or a darkish romance, she will pull at your heartstrings and make you fall in love with her characters.

Forced to pay her mother’s debt, Nikki will do whatever she needs to do to save her, even if that means to leave her innocence behind. Ryker Davis saw beyond the strip club, beyond the lap dances and the stripping, he saw Nikki—and he wants her.

Nikki and Ryker were dealt with a shitty pair of cards, but they are ready to play the game and hopefully get their happily ever after.

I’m not a fan of gauges, but I didn’t care. Ryker stole my heart—he was so deliciously hot, I would lick him if I could, no kidding.

The writing style, plus Ryker & Nikki’s journey showed me once again why I love reading Stephie Walls books. If you are up for an addictive, edgy, romantic story, you should definitely get yourself a copy of Dear Diamond.

Dear Diamond is something a little different from Stephie Walls! I have loved all her past offerings, and couldn’t wait to see what this was about!
Dear Diamond is a little darker, a little bit edgier and a whole lot of awesomeness.
Ryker is a different kind of hero, a guy with a dark past from a town ruled by a gang that he wants nothing to do with, even though his best friend is the heir apparent. Nikki is the heroine, also from the town who has tried to stay well clear of said gang, but has been put right in their path with thanks to her mother.
This story will have you hooked, hooked on Ryker, hooked on Nikki, hooked on their different kind of Stephie Walls story!

4.5 stars

I haven’t really read any books featuring female strippers before. If you are the same then I believe that this book is ideal for you to get started! “Dear Diamond” by Stephie Walls features a heroine that is forced to strip in order to save her mother from a gang and the hero that comes to her rescue.

Nikki is a very passionate and opinionated female. She may be forced to strip but she’s anything but happy about it. She makes her dislike for any Union 21 member apparent from the start and it’s the same look she gives Ryker the first time their eyes meet.

Ryker has the whole bad boy style going on but his heart is as soft as it gets. Even though, he tries to stay as far away as possible from the strip club and the gang, his association with the boss’s grandson makes it difficult. From the first time he lays his eyes on Nikki/Diamond he’s mesmerized and determined to get to know her.

Their relationship has so many ups and downs. With claiming her, he puts himself front and center to the gang’s boss. His determination really touched my heart and the way he is with Nikki is something else! The feelings between them are developing past and even though they try to stop it they can’t!!

One of my favorites for this month, “Dear Diamond” is definitely a book I’ll recommend!!!

Dear Diamond is not my first Stephie Walls read, however it is definitely different than what I have read from her… and it’s just as amazing!
Ryker sees Diamond, or Nikki, in a strip club while she’s up on stage performing, but something draws him to her that no other woman before her has possessed. She’s beautiful, a sexy dancer, and has excellent taste in music, but this isn’t what pulls Ryker in. And while Nikki is determined to avoid the sexy, tattooed mystery man, he isn’t having it.
This romance definitely has some darkness to it, but that’s part of the reason it is so good! I was on the edge of my seat and staying up way to late for someone with a toddler and a 3 month old, but I just couldn’t put it down. All I have left to say about Dear Diamond: it is a must read!!

The story just touches your soul and hopes for the characters to find love in a dismal place.
Sensitively written, beautifully penned, characterizing love’s power and tenacity to defy all odds. Against all written rules and loyalties, an unusual couple gets thrown together due to violent circumstances and is a testament that not all charming princes need a white steed. Some rescuers drive a Harley and are wearing an armour of tattoos. But they save damsels in distress for sure!!!

“I’d seen this neighborhood steal countless young lives and marry them with drugs, sex, and gangs. As lighthouses warned sailors away from rocks— Swank held the same power for devastation.”

Dacon, IL has projects like any big city and gang controlled areas. One such is Union 21 which controls the darkened streets and a neon lit, smoky club called the SWANK. Here the patrons come for strippers, sleazy shows and drugs. All the girls are there because they owe the Silvanos. Money, bodies and souls.

“He was dangerous. But our stars had aligned, and now, I had to trust him . My heart screamed yes. My head yelled no. In the end, intuition gave way to desire, and the remote possibility of a happily ever after outweighed the more distinct probability of a painful demise. Ryker twisted me into knots that I didn’t know could be tied. I’d become a bumbling idiot who blindly went into the lion’s den with a steak tied around my neck.”

Diamond -Nikki Wilson is one such innocent girl trapped in Jesse Silvanos cage and is forced to strip to save her mom. Silvanos owe Ryker Davis and he’s ready to cash in. The path to salvation and freedom is not easy but they don’t have any choice.
Ryker was a perfect Alpha, morally steadfast and very clear in his goals, not easily swayed he is a Protector!
Instant attraction leads to heated skins and boiling lust. They get intimate after trying to resist the magnetic initial attraction. But hearts are entwined and skirting love becomes harder

“I’m not going to try to get in your pants.”
“Even if you wanted to, it would never happen,”
“If I wanted it, you wouldn’t want to resist it.”

I liked the characters and was so mad at Tabitha, I mean how could a mom do that!!! I’m thinking chase is not done with Ryker and hopefully more books will follow.
Enjoyable read with lots of unexpected turns and surprises along the way!
4 stars for Unicorn woman

This book was absolutely amazing. It kept you hooked until the very end leaving it
hard to start another book after you finished and made you want to re read it just
to enjoy it a second time