A DARK MAFIA ROMANCEMy love is wasted like gemstones in the dust, walked over by an oblivious shoe. It takes many suffering years and layers of mountains to squeeze carbon into a precious stone. Now that I’m polished and hard like a diamond, he doesn’t get to kick me back into the dirt.Men like him don’t love women like me.They don’t love.Period.But he made me.He’ll live with me.Because diamonds … made me.
He’ll live with me.
Because diamonds are forever.
* Diamonds are Forever is Book 3 of the Diamonds are Forever trilogy and concludes the story. Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) and Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) must be read first to follow the story.
Other books in the Diamond Magnate collection:
Standalone Novel
Beauty in the Broken
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) – 19 May 2020
Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) – 14 July 2020
Diamonds are Forever (Book 3) – 15 September 2020
more
YES! It’s here! The perfect Grand Finale to a story that kept me hostage from the very first page.
Giving me the answers i was hoping to find.
Giving me the closure i craved.
Giving me the peace i needed more than my next breath.
When Zoe ran,Maxime was determined to do everything in his power to get her back.
Even going as far as threatening her that her brother and his family would carry the consequences if she didn’t return home with him.
And he didn’t stop there. Nope.
He made her marry him.
And even though Zoe dóes love him,she feels trapped.
Knowing he doesn’t love her,knowing he lied to her,time and time again.
She can’t trust this man,even though he makes her body sing.
The fact that he is in business with her brother only complicates matters.
Maxime needs his Zoe,more than his next breath.
But she’s changing,and he can’t understand why.
Until he tries to see things from her point of view.
Waiting for her to take the initiative isn’t working.
Trying to be patient isn’t working either.
And to make matters worse,there are threats looming over their heads he needs to deal with.
Because there are people that want to take Zoe out.
People that hate her,and the fact she is his wife.
Because handing the business and his fiancée over to his brother Alexis wasn’t enough.
No,his brother is determined to destroy him and ruin Zoe.
Can Maxim figure out how to keep his Zoe before it’s too late?
Can he figure out what love really is?
Can he find a way to keep Zoe safe?
To see Maxime struggle with emotions,something he isn’t used to,but something that Zoe brings out in him,was heartbreaking to watch
It made him vulnerable in a way he never was,but the fact that he tried to understand made me love him in spite of everything he did before.
To see Zoe struggle with her love for him,trying to protect her heart against breaking indefinitely,was devastating to see.
Her reluctance to trust in his efforts to change was understandable after all he had done.
She really tried to resist him,even though she craved his touch,because of his past manipulations.
But in spite of all that,she didn’t give up entirely.
Because of that same love.
This was a rollercoaster ride,keeping me glued to the pages,craving each and every word until the very last one gave me that closure i desperately needed
The final book! What can I say. So happy I got to ARC this series. What a wonderful story. First time I have ever felt sympathetic towards the male character. Outstanding author and have never been disappointed in anything she has written. On my list to buy the hard copy!!!!
Zoe has picked up the pieces of her life, and is trying to make a new beginning. But Maxime can’t imagine life without her and he is determined to claim her, even using her feelings for him against her. A powerful man, Maxime is willing to do anything in order to possess her. The only thing he can’t promise is to love her! Will Zoe prove him wrong? Maxime had everything planned out for his life with Zoe, and he was certain that she would obey him. But her childhood and her life with Maxime changed her, and she wants to live her life on her own terms. Gritty and brimming with passion, Maxime and Zoe’s story is intense and twisted. The book had unexpected twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat!
5* Forever Stars
I was “chomping at the bit” waiting to read the final book in the Diamonds Are Forever Trilogy. Each book has ended in a massive cliff-hanger and the anticipation of waiting was so worth it.
We are reunited with Zoe who is now in South Africa after fleeing France and Maxine. She is hiding in the shadows and trying to make a life for herself after her heart was broken by Maxine’s betrayal. What is holding Zoe together is her reunion with her brother Damian and his new family. When Maxine eventually tracks Zoe down, he once again manipulates and blackmails her to return with him to France. What he is not aware of is just how strong and brave Zoe has become, she is not his little flower he can stomp on anymore.
Her feelings and love for him are still strong but she is very guarded about showing them to him because she is struggling to trust him, and he still believes he is incapable of love.
I loved how strong and fierce Zoe became and how she slowly managed to break down the walls of Maxime’s cold heart. It was not an easy journey to get to their HEA, their emotions will be tested, and they will have to learn to trust each other. Their chemistry was explosive and real. I am sad to say goodbye to them but hopefully we will get some glimpse of them in future stories that are related to the Diamond world.
I highly recommend this fast paced, thrilling and sexy Trilogy.
WHOPPING 5 STARS!!
I definitely recommend this one!
This is the perfect conclusion to the gripping and emotional trilogy!
Though painfully emotional, this is magnetic! You will hate the characters, you will love them, but you won’t be able to leave them!
The author has beautifully portrayed Zoe’s transformation and how Maxime finally redeems himself in Zoe’s eyes.
The characters are powerful and realistic, the steam is all time high, and the feels and emotions are so damn painful to witness, but addictive all the same!
The story intriguing and won’t disappoint. The way Zoe sheds her old skin and becomes a stronger person, and the way Maxime realizes his shortcomings and gives Zoe closure shows just how impactful the characters are!
You should definitely read this one!
Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever Trilogy, Book 3
By: Charmaine Pauls
Narrated by: Lee Turner Smith, Adara Stevens
If you have listened to the first two books in the series, you know you need to grab this one to get your closure! There is so many loose ends and so much we need to hear! Luckily Charmaine Pauls bring it all together with a fabulous ending to the trilogy. We pick up where we left off in book 2, and thing are grim for Maxime and Zoe. Now back together again under duress, the two struggle with finding their happily ever after. Trust issues, money issues, family drama and love all are creating havoc. Will they find the balance and admit their true feelings? Love, love, love this dark, romantic suspense. It’s thrilling to listen to. I found myself frustrated at times, wanting to shake sense into both of them. I love how these two find their new selves together. It’s exhausting and exhilarating and I loved every minute!
Lee Turner Smith and Adara Stevens finish out the narration with their wonderful voices. They have become Maxime and Zoe for me, and fit the parts perfectly. Accents, emotions and nuances all come through clear and made the listen exciting and fun.
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“I don’t know if it’s guilt, or regret, or a mixture of both, but it’s a godawful feeling. Thank fuck I never felt those before. How do people live with them?”
Oh, Max…..bless your little psychotic heart. Nice wrap up to a great trilogy. I was happy to see some people get their comeuppance. Most of them were very well deserved. I especially loved the path Zoe and Max took to their happy ever after. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t pretty but it was theirs and it was true to them. They both did a lot of growing and I enjoyed being around for the ride. I’ll definitely be reading more books by Ms. Pauls. Starting with Lina and Damian.
I feel a bit sad whenever I get to the end of a Charmaine Pauls novel. I honestly hate it when these stories come to an end, because I could read about Maxime and Zoe’s ups and downs forever. I can’t decide if this series or the “Age Between Us” was a more emotionally draining set of books; I shed actual tears with and for Zoe. She experienced so much heartache and drama in such a small period of time. And for what?!! I think at some point in a woman’s (or man) life, she has dreamed of a “Prince charming” sweeping her off her feet. But to have someone taint your dreams or fantasies about love for their personal reasons, how do you cope with that? In the finale of this trilogy the story picks up after Maximes bombshell and Zoe has finally found her escape.
I had love/hate feelings for Maxime throughout this series. His inability to comprehend or express his love for Zoe made me feel sorry for him, but on the other hand, his obsessive nature and the way he went about trying to make or keep Zoe “happy” was not ideal. I’m glad we get a better understanding on why Maxime is emotionally devoid. He may not verbally express his love for Zoe in the way she expects, but in the end his actions spoke louder than words.
This was such a great story!! I really hate that it had to end lol. There’s so much more than just romance in this series. Yes, they have a HEA but it wasn’t easy getting there. I highly recommend this book!
This is the third book in the trilogy and must be read in order. I felt like I went on a journey throughout reading this story.
The setting of Africa was so interesting to me. I could picture it and these amazing characters in my head. Each book in the series was smoothly written, exciting and fulfilling.
I highly recommend this trilogy and am volunteering to leave a review.
Diamonds Are Forever: A Diamond Magnate Novel (Diamonds are Forever Trilogy Book 3)-
Charmaine Pauls
After the crazy cliffhanger at the end of Book 2 where Zoe escapes Maxime I was finally able to take a breath knowing she successfully reached South Africa and her brother. There were many conflicting emotions not only within Zoe but also within myself. Bring quite angry with Maxime’s actions especially in then last book I was nervous what would happen when he finds her.
This being a dark complicated romance the roller coaster third book had me captivated till the end.
The storytelling, character development and world building enhanced the books from beginning to end. Charmaine knows how to draw out the deep gut wrenching emotions and passion between Zoe and Maxime. The journey they take together and separately was excellently woven into the storyline taking the reader along this bumpy crazy ride as well.
There are several surprises and developments that turns the tables of fate on these main characters as they try to navigate their way back to each other . This series and the book that precedes the trilogy need to be read in order and hold onto your heart as you experience the world of Charmaine
Fantastic ending!!
What an awesome ending to this dark romance series! I loved it from very first book! Damian was so easy hate and love at the same time!! Such a bad man, but eventually shows he can care for someone. Zoe was the perfect innocent in the mess she found herself in. Innocent…. but full of spit and fire!
Make sure to read this series in order!!! These books are not stand alones and the story can not be followed unless read in order! Now run and grab this great series up and buckle up for a great ride!
Maxime and Zoe have had their battles and share of pain. I couldn’t wait to dive into this story to find out how things would turn out for this couple. A great read and wonderful ending to the trilogy.
~~ 5 ETERNAL STARS! ~~
“Our love shines like a diamond….”
Anticipation was at an all-time high for me as I dove into the final book in the DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER trilogy, and not surprisingly, Charmaine Pauls one again MESMERIZES with this mega lustrous conclusion. From start to finish, I was swept up into this thrillingly twisty, heartstoppingly intense concoction of dark, intoxicating passion, gut-punching emotion and breath-stealing mayhem that steals your breath and shatters your soul!
PREMISE:
This final installment picks up right where DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH left off, with Zoe Hart escaping Maxime Belshaw’s clutches and flying back to South Africa—solo– after reeling from a devastating betrayal. After learning he’s betrothed to the daughter of an Italian mafia boss to force an alliance between the families, he shattered her fairytale illusions of happily ever after. Now forced to grow up overnight, she realizes Maxime’s the villain in her story, not the dashing dark prince, But he is hot on her trail and vows to move heaven and earth to reclaim his delicate little flower before his vicious enemies get their hands on her first!.
As such, he tracks her down and manages to pull some more dirty, dastardly tricks to blackmail her into coming back home with him. But even though she’s has no choice but to leave her brother’s protection and return to Maxime’s gilded cage, oh my have the tables turned! Because not only are his dark and twisted psychological manipulations no longer going to fly with Zoe, but she plans to beat him at his own game. And If he wants to win back her affections, he’s going to have to change his ways and let her into his heart. But can this cold-hearted diamond magnate who feels incapable of love truly redeem himself in the eyes of the precious princess he will do anything to possess?
MY MUSINGS:
The mega talented Charmaine Pauls sure delivered on an electrifying ending to this wildly addictive trilogy about dark obsessive desire, treacherous secrets and lies….and the transformative power of love ! And after that nail biting cliffy, I was so eager to dive into this final story I was literally tingling with excitement!
The metamorphosis of these characters—sweet, starry-eyed Zoe grew a backbone of steel whereas dark, diabolical Maxime finally found his heart—-was riveting! As one can imagine by the past actions of this rich, powerful and “overbearingly possessive” anti-hero, he went positively INSANE when he discovered that his priceless treasure had flown the coop. And with his enemies circling like vultures, he was prepared to go to DRASTIC LENGTHS to steal her back. Which means some more cruel machinations were in order. But even though technically he got his way, worming his way back into Zoe’s good graces after betraying her trust is NO easy feat.
Eeeep! Karma is definitely a b*tch. For the naïve, submissive captive Maxime once found pleasure bending to his will is a changed woman and now this menacing mafia lord must find a way to atone for his sins and meet the disillusioned beauty in the middle if he has any hopes of keeping her forever! But she certainly does not make it easy on him! Because after all his lies and deceit, she has her heart locked away in a stone chamber.
“Zoe isn’t my little flower any longer. She’s grown into a prickly plant with sharp thorns.”
But in his cutthroat line of work, Maxime has NEVER backed down from a battle and he is preprepared to wage a war to earn back Zoe’s respect and love and will annihilate any foe who DARES to try to harm her. Which means sacrificing everything for her sake! But he stands to lose much more than his massive fortune and his almighty reputation—because in order to reclaim his wildflower, he must go through a major emotional metamorphosis which is nearly impossible this self-professed psychopath!
Holy moly! The wickedly brilliant Ms. Charmaine sure put these characters—and US! — through the ringer throughout the series and she did not relent in this epic finale. But I lived and breathed every single moment of their arduous journey together. She dug deep into the psyche of these complex, complicated characters in this third book and the inroads Zoe and Maxime make with one another as they try to find common ground and learn to love and accept each other, in all their tumultuous, perfectly imperfect glory, slayed my heart!
Although, true to form, Maxime still had some cruel, despicable tricks up his sleeve in this book, I still could not help but empathize with his plight and feel his sheer desperation down to my morrow. And because of that, I found myself rooting for him to regain Zoe’s heart. Which is a true testament of Ms. Charmaine’s immense talent that she made me fall for an anti-hero who definitely had done some monstrous things to our beloved heroine! But if you are expecting a smooth, straightforward ride, think again. Maxime has always been a very volatile, unpredictable hero—it’s anyone’s guess what this master manipulator’s next move would be–but his one Achille’s heel has ALWAYS been Zoe. And as their story plays out, and she test his limits, continuously pushing him to be a better man, we definitely see that his deep devotion for this heroine trumps all the darkness in his scarred soul! For she has always been the bright shining light in his melancholy world and as his cold, icy veneer is slowly chipped away, we learn that not only is this damaged man capable of true eternal love but he’s also worthy of being loved in return!
Bottom line? I was 100% invested in this beleaguered couple who together are “beautiful and dirty. Wrong and right.” They truly come full circle in this emotionally chaotic and deeply moving finale, and as with the first two books, the explosive chemistry between Zoe and Maxime was WICKED HOT! The palpable sexual tension between them was torturously titillating, and each time they combusted, their erotic interludes were so tantalizingly torrid and deliciously kinky, sizzling with fiery heat and feverish desire, it left me all aquiver!
I found the inclusion of Zoe’s ferociously protective older brother, Damian, into the mix infused additional emotional layers to their tempestuous tale. And talk about testosterone overload! ! It was a pure pleasure to see these two ruthless alpha males duke it out over Zoe, but despite everything, these two men had one thing in common—their abiding love for the heroine! (And as a side note, the bonus Lina/Damian epilogue at the end of the book was a DREAM COME TRUE. If you have not checked out their story, BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN, it’s a MUST READ!!!! )
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I felt the full gamut of frenzied emotions while binge reading the conclusion of this dark and twisted mafia fairytale. And at long last, as our dazzling duo finally get their fairytale ending and ride off into the glorious sunset together, I wept happy tears and basked in such sweet, heavenly bliss!
Highly recommend!
Diamonds are Forever is the 3rd and final book in the Diamonds Trilogy. The twists and turns, the engaging storyline, the addictive chemistry and steamy scenes all came together to make this novel one you won’t be able to put down.
Charmaine did an excellent job with character development in this tale and and shows us how much these characters have grown over the course of this trilogy. This story was intense and thrilling and will take you on a roller coaster ride as we watch Zoe and Maxime struggle to find their HEA. This well written page turner was the perfect conclusion and I would highly recommend this series to all lovers of dark romance.
This is the final book in the series and the conclusion to Maxime and Zoe’s explosive story.
I was literally waiting with baited breathe for this one especially after that doozy of a cliffhanger and shocking finale we were given in the previous book.
So when We left Zoe she was on a plane heading back to South Africa after escaping Maxime with the assistance of her brother
As you can imagine Maxime practically loses his mind and is totally prepared to do whatever it takes to find her and bring her back.
That old adage you reap what you sow definitely applies here as Maxime finally realises exactly what he has thrown away but in true psychopathic style, he again goes totally the wrong way about getting it all back using blackmail and manipulation to achieve his goals with disastrous end results.
The tables have most certainly turned as Zoe takes stock and reevaluates and this time it’s Maxime desperately trying to bridge the ever-widening gap and win Zoe’s affection back.
And It was actually quite satisfying to experience Maxime’s uphill battle and he really did do a great job of trying to redeem himself.
Realising he has to change and also be patient if he has any hope of reclaiming what he has so foolishly discarded.
And Zoe has defiantly changed from the naive stars in her eyes girl she once was much to Maxime’s regret.
Karma has never felt so sweet but I did start to feel a bit bad for him as time went on and he didn’t seem to be gaining any ground.
This third book was intense and all about redemption and acceptance on both sides and despite what a tool Maxime has been previously I still wanted him to get his fairy tale with Zoe and I was rooting for them every step of the way through this just wanting Zoe to give him another chance.
This series has been a rollercoaster of a ride with so many twists and turns and I was happy with where we finally arrived at such a good read.
This author always manages to deliver and this gets an easy thumbs up from me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Diamonds are forever (Diamonds are Forever Trilogy #3)
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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My love for this final book in this trilogy is like a Diamond and will last forever. I will read this series over and over… which is rare for me! Both Zoe and Maxime had to grow in so many ways and it was not an easy road for either of them. The story took us on a path of childish fairy tale love, heart break, self awareness, so much pain and finally the truth of what love is. 5 sparkling stars for this gem.
In Diamonds are Forever, we find the conclusion of the Diamond Magnat series by Charmaine Pauls. Zoe makes it clear to Maxime she will not continue their relationship as it was at the end of the last book. Although Max takes a step in the right direction to winning her back, his actions seem to provoke a change in Zoe, perhaps one not for the better.
Zoe and Maxime’s journey has been a long and complicated one. The couple had to decide whether a compromise in expectations is worth making their relationship work. One gives in, the other stands firm. It is both refreshing and frustrating, hoping they will conclude that persevering is worth it to stay together. At one point, I was pretty nervous for Zoe. When she gave in to cynicism, it briefly felt like it would kill her compassion. Like a bit of role reversal with Maxime.
The couple eventually meets in the middle, which I believe is the point. Despite all the manipulations, Zoe and Maxime deserve to find happiness in each other. They make each other better, and emotionally even each other out. Diamonds are Forever is a satisfying ending to their tale.
Please note: Book 3 in the series and must be read in order.
Maxime – dark, deadly, not a light hearted hero. Zoe – naive, optimistic and under a bad situation. When they first meet, trouble and drama understates the tension. But slowly the relationship changes, emotions become involved, motives become complex. Will the obstacles that rise be challenges too great to overcome? Will what happens behind closed doors be too revealing for public eyes? Will Maxime and Zoe come to a happier state of harmony?
Diamonds are Forever comes to an end in this exciting conclusion to the Diamonds are Forever trilogy.This picks up right where the last one left off. Zoe is gone and Maxime is freaking out about it. Does he choose the woman he is infatuated with or family duty? Mafia,deceit, lies, love and heartbreak are rolled into this fantastic story that will capture your heart and your mind. This book was steamy, thrilling, action packed, drama filled and bittersweet. Emotions are running high, will the monster fall in love or is it just a mind game? Charmaine Pauls did an outstanding job with this series. I enjoyed every second of it. Maxime was the type of character that I loved and hated at the same time. The Diamonds are Forever trilogy is a true gem, that I highly recommend.