A DARK MAFIA ROMANCEMen like us, we see things.We do things, things that make us unfeeling.That’s the price of power and money, of living la belle vie and running the French mafia. Then she came along like a pretty wildflower pushing through the cracks on a dirty pavement – fragile yet resilient, a breath of beauty among the filth. She was supposed to be just another job, a nameless person I was … another job, a nameless person I was to pluck from her life and hand to my brother, nothing but a pawn in the gamble of our diamond business.
There’s a psychological label for men like us.
We lack empathy and guilt.
We do things to have what we want, things that make flowers wilt.
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Dark Romance Readers LOVE this Dark and Twisted Romance! See what they have to say about Diamonds in the Dust:
“This book and what is to follow is a thing of beauty, in my opinion. I don’t think there is a better way to describe it.” Jessica Alcazar, Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Charmaine Pauls delivers her most complicated anti-hero and most adorable heroine to date in this very dark and twisted modern fairy tale romance.” Buffyanna, Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Diamonds in the Dust ends in a hell of a cliffhanger,plunging me into the abyss…. I need Diamonds in the Rough more than my next breath!” Cécile Smits, Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Charmaine Paul’s writes stories that capture the reader from page 1 and then gently weaves the story until the devastating end.” Kelly, Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
* Diamonds in the Dust is Book 1 of the Diamonds are Forever trilogy. The story continues in Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2), and concludes in Diamonds are Forever (Book 3).
Other novels in the Diamond Magnate collection:
Standalone Novel:
Beauty in the Broken
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy:
Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1)
Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2)
Diamonds are Forever (Book 3)
more
It’s good to know what has happened to Damian sister and I cannot wait to see what will come next. Máxime and Zoé they have much to go through so many roads to take. I’m excited and anxious to see what they still have to go through and if they will find their HEA. I’m so looking forward to know what awaits them.
I’ve been counting down the days ever since i knew this series was coming. Now that i have not one,but two of the three books,and know that i can keep reading just that little longer,i can finally indulge….And adding to my happiness,is the fact that i have both as an ARC as well!!
What did Zoe ever do wrong to deserve the life she’s living? Still,the dreams she has of a better life keep her going. Until the day Maxime barges into her life,taking her just because she’s Damian’s sister…Not only that,the only choice he gives her,is between staying with him or being abused by the other men in his family. And if she doesn’t behave,Damian (the only person she loves) will have to suffer…
Shattering her dreams by using them against her, breaks her heart and she can’t help but hate him for it. Until she meets the rest of the family….and finds out what could’ve been her fate. Has Maxime really been treating her that bad,compared to that? He may seem callous,but he dóes treat her reasonably well as long as she behaves…
Diamonds in the Dust ends in a hell of a cliffhanger,plunging me into the abyss….
I need Diamonds in the Rough more than my next breath!
A brilliantly written dark scorcher of a book, Diamonds in the Dust is my favorite read of 2020! I was in a huge reading funk when I got my hands on the early copy, but as soon as I started reading this, bam! I’m fully engaged and excited and in love with dark romance again. Highly recommend!
Maxime is a man who will stop at nothing to get power and money. Zoe was supposed to be just another job for him, a pawn to be used and discarded. But Zoe is so different than any woman he has encountered, so he makes a decision that will change their lives in unpredictable ways. Zoe is entrapped by Maxime, she is affraid of what he is capable of, but also can’t help be fascinated by him. She realises he is a dangerous and unpredictable man, who won’t hesitate to punish her if she disobeys him. She wants to survive, but she’s in danger of losing her heart to a man who has no heart! An emotional and gripping story about a man who thinks he is incapable of love and a woman who hasn’t lost hope that she’ll find love. Maxime and Zoe couldn’t be more different but they have undeniable chemistry! The first book in their trilogy is absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to read what adventures await them!
5* Sexy Monster Stars
Zoe Hart dreams of living the life of a princess, and not having to worry about making ends meet, and eating an apple and two tomatoes for dinner. Her only family is her brother Damian who she is very close to and is in jail. One afternoon after work her prince Maxime arrives and forcefully removes her from her meagre life and thrusts her into his dark and mafia lifestyle. Unfortunately, he is no “knight in shining armour”, he is a monster who is blackmailing her and teaching her cruel lessons which she struggles to understand being the naïve and romantic dreamer. Maxime did not foresee the strength and beauty that Zoe possesses and that this would evoke feelings for her he never anticipated experiencing. This was never the plan. Added to this is his ruthless brother who he has to keep in check because of his monstrous lifestyle.
This is a wonderful dark and compulsive read. You will get lost in the pages and before you know it you will have reached the end and wanting so much more! This is part 1 of the Diamonds are Forever Trilogy and as expected it ends on one massive cliffhanger. I cannot wait to read more about the dark and sexy Maxime and the sassy and strong Zoe. Hurry up July 14th
This book deserves 10 stars! Maxine is a mafia leader and Zoe is a sweet innocent pawn in a deadly game. I was enthralled with their story and hated seeing it end, especially knowing I have to wait for the next one. Charmaine has another hit on her hands! One of my favorite authors and she never disappoints!
Oh my gosh!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for writing this. I have been in a bit of a book slum for a while. This book hit the spot!!!
I love both Maxime and Zoe! Zoe is the perfect h. Not too weak, smart, but submissive in her way! Maxime is ruthless, wonderful, aggravating, sexy, oh wow. I want him for myself. *giggles*.
I can’t wait to get to read the next book in this series. The characters chemistry was amazing and the way you feel when you read it leaves you not wanting the book to end.
Very well written and I of course totally recommend.
Loved the book! Charmaine rocks as usual! This book is a page turner and I can’t wait until the next book of this series. Zoe name means life, and she doesn’t realize that she’s slowly bringing life and light back Maxime, who’s dark and haunted. Love the chemistry between the two and Zoe’s strength.
What a breathtaking story !
South Africa :
During yet another argument between her parents, little Zoe takes refuge in the closet where her 10-year-old brother Damian joins her.
Years later, little Zoe has grown.
As an adult, she struggles to make ends meet…
Despite her job, she does not satisfy her hunger every day…
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From the first paragraph, this intense novel leads us into terrible misery.
Zoe’s main character is super endearing, brave, and she certainly didn’t deserve what happened to her.
Here is an incredible inverted fairy tale in which anything is possible… unfortunately.
A reading that will leave you speechless.
And what an end !
Quick ! Give me the sequel!…
Another wonderful start to what I am sure is going to be an absolutely spellbinding story. Cannot wait for the continuation!
This is the first book in a new trilogy and set in the same world as Beauty in the Broken.
It’s a complete standalone and you don’t need to a have read the other to appreciate this.
This is set a few years before and features Damien’s younger sister Zoe.
Zoe finds herself the pawn of a powerful family and a tool used to control her brother.
Choosing the lesser of two evils she chooses to become Maxime’s mistress.
Avoiding a far worse fate than was in store for her previously.
This is not a sugar-pie romance it’s dark gritty and doesn’t hold back its punches.
Maxime himself is full of darkness his life so far has left his hands drenched in the blood and pain of his family’s enemies.
But he has never targeted an innocent before and Baulks at delivering Zoe into his sadistic family’s hands instead choosing to shield her somewhat in the only way he can.
Zoe’s life up till now has been hard from a violent and poor home she dreams of escaping and being rescued from it all by her prince.
Maxime is far from this imagined saviour but for the moment he’s all she’s got.
So yeh this was good but be prepared for some darkness as this is not a conventional love story.
I also have my own ideas of just what the Italian deal might just entail and if I’m right with where this is heading there’s gonna be a whole lot of angst coming for poor Zoe and she needs to seal up her heart tight.
This was very hot and steamy but that last intimate scene between Zoe and Maxime made me want to poke his bloody eyes out.
He may have done more damage than he can repair just to prove a point.
Then there’s that finale what a way to go out on pure brilliance and left me wanting more.
I am very much looking forward to the next instalment, this was quite a ride.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Diamonds In The Dust.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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Oh my God I love this book so much! I don’t know exactly how to describe this book except for it’s dark, haunting, sad and lovely. I feel love for both characters. In a world of black and white the story is amazingly gray.
Charmaine Pauls writes a truly diabolical story. It’s not evil; it’s not dark lust; it’s not cruel. It’s the consequences of every day decisions. Decisions that may or may not hold dire consequences, but our heroine is twisted up never knowing which way will sway. Her world is warped sideways with only her captor knowing the consequences of the labyrinth she now wades through. Her life is no longer her own, and I am totally enthralled by their journey together.
Diamonds in the Dust
by Charmaine Pauls
Narrated by Adara Stevens, Lee Turner Smith
Series: Diamonds are Forever Trilogy #1
Why have I not heard Charmaine Pauls books before? This is my kind of story. Featuring antihero Maxime, the underboss for the Belshaw family empire, and he is going to do whatever it takes to keep the family’s business profitable. That is where Zoe comes in. Innocent of everything, she is taken as a pawn to try and control her brother who is in jail. Maxime thinks she may be the key to getting the information he needs. But the dangerous man does not realize the impact she will have on him. In one breathe he is ruthless and mean and the next sweet and loving. Which leaves poor Zoe completely in turmoil. Her life is no longer her own and Maxime is not the worst of her threats.Where will it take us? What is in store for Zoe? Talk about falling into a book! This is exactly what I love. It has that hint of fairy tale. Zoe is a fabulous heroine. She is smart and spunky, has a way of seeing the best in people and never lets go of her dreams. Maxime is that evil monster with the hint of goodness, that we just want to crack open and find. And the story just unfolds with suspense and excitement that I could not stop listening to! I loved it, and can’t wait to see where the next installment of their story takes us.
The narration of book is spot on! Two new narrators to me, I found them cast perfectly. Adara Stevens is Zoe, and she has a young innocence in her voice that makes Zoe very likable. She adds a hint of spunk and maturity to her and makes her relatable. Lee Turner Smith is fantastic. A French accent to swoon you with, his voice just melts you even when Maxime is cruel. These two are quite the story telling team, and I look forward to more!
https://adbl.co/2TVeAv2
What the ever loving hell did I just read?!?!? And why did I enjoy every minute of it?!? Good God Almighty. I’m a nervous wreck and sweating because of the mother of all cliffies- literally. That’s really all I can say because I NEED the next book. Bye.
This is the 1st in a trilogy and what a brilliant beginning this is. Zoe is used as a pawn of a powerful family and she is used as a method of controlling her brother Damien. Zoe had always had a dream about escaping and being rescued by her “Prince Charming”, and Maxime is the closest to that. When Zoe is delivered into the hands of his sadistic family, Maxime is determined to protect her the only way he knows how. This is a brilliant story which is well written and flawless and is dark, raw, gritty, steamy, and with angst, which all leads to an all-consuming and powerful tale. I highly recommend for all.
This review may contain minor spoilers.
I am always anticipating for some authors to release new books, and Charmaine Pauls is quickly becoming one of them. After zipping through her Loan Shark series and reading Beauty in the Broken, I was excited for her to release Diamonds in the Dust. I knew she would not disappoint because I love the way she writes her characters and structures her stories. After reading the blurb for Diamonds in the Dust I knew it was right up my alley, and when the book finally dropped I got to reading.
Diamonds in the Dust is connected to her book Beauty in the Broken, and if you’ve read that (you really should) this book takes place a few years before Beauty in the Broken. Diamonds in the Dust is about Zoe Hart (the sister of Damian Hart, who is the male protagonist of Beauty in the Broken). Zoe Hart has been slaving away at a sweatshop after her older brother Damian was sentenced to a crime he didn’t commit. Zoe is dirt poor but has dreams to be a designer. She is, as Charmaine describes her in the story, like a daisy growing on the pavement of a street. She’s tough even though she might not be strong in the physical sense, and her poverty does not define her. One day walking home from work her life changes completely when two worlds collide. She is taken by a man named Maxime Belshaw and his intentions are less than stellar. Maxime knows Zoe’s weakness-her love for her brother Damian-and he uses this to his advantage when he tells her to come quietly. Any rebelliousness from her and Damian will be killed in jail. Zoe is confused, terrified, and enraged as to how her brother in jail could have made an enemy of Maxime, but she does not have a choice. He makes her a deal: stay with him for a few years, and then he’ll let her go.
What may seem like a story about a rich man kidnapping a poor woman, is actually much more complex. Zoe is nothing but a pawn and there is a story within that story. Even Zoe does not know the full extent of the game Maxime is playing. When I realized his plan, I had to stop reading. Maxime may be the most unforgivable hero Charmaine has ever written, and its made even more annoying because of his confidence and disregard of Zoe’s previous life. He snatches her from the only existence she’s ever known and expects her to be grateful. Talk about the audacity…And Zoe, poor naive Zoe, who I wish I could warn of her impending doom and heartache. She does not even know of the things coming for her.
So long story short, she is trapped in a gilded cage. Like a princess in an ivory tower with all of the comforts she can desire at her fingertips, but there is no real freedom here. Nothing truly belongs to her. She’s swimming with sharks now, and she is out of her depth.
I do know this, though. Zoe is a survivor and she is tenacious. She was getting her bearings in this book, but I have a feeling that in the coming books we’ll see her becoming the strong, independent female I know she can be. And Maxime…well he can go and fuck himself. Seriously, for most of the book, my kindle was clutched so tightly in my hand, and I was cursing his pigheadedness. The thing with Charmaine’s books is that the characters are consistent. The asshole doesn’t suddenly turn into a good guy when he meets the girl, in fact, he becomes more of an asshole, and I expect Maxime to be nothing less. I didn’t know quite how to contain myself after that cliffhanger, but I loved it. I like cliffhangers when done right (I know, I’m a masochist) and this one I felt was just dramatic enough. I cannot wait for the next book.
And oh yeah, that fucking “Italian deal” better not be what I think it is.
Five stars.
Charmaine Pauls – Diamonds in the Dust (Diamonds are Forever Trilogy 1)
I didnt want this to end. This is my first time reading Charmaine Pauls work. I love her writing style, and character development. Nothing was predictable and I was constantly at the edge of my seat. I cant wait to read more of her books.
The book started off slow but picked up fast from chapter 6. I’m intrigued by this story. Diamonds. Mafia. Power. Pawn.
The hero is someone you love to hate. I find it so fascinating that he commits the same punishments on himself as he commits to others. I liked the fact that he wasnt described as good looking man. He seemed more believable to his character and more realistic. The way he treats the heroine is both confusing and frustrating. Hes a gentleman who wants to make her fantasies come true with acts of romance and thoughtful gestures. But then hes cruel and ruthless. His harsh behaviour brings the heroine back to reality to the dire situation shes in. Hes a mystery and seems broken beyond repair. Somehow I dont think weve seen what hes fully capable of.
The heroine is a dreamer. She’s naive and innocent. Zoe is described as a daisy growing in the pavement cracks. She’s collateral that can’t be helped. In other words, she is a sheep amongst wolves. Her situation is hopeless but she stands up to the hero at times, and continues to fight. I have a feeling the heroes harsh handling of her is just the tip of the iceberg. Could he be preparing her of a darker reality in her future.
Diamond in the Dust ended in a cliff-hanger. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second instalment. I felt hopeless and could relate to what the heroine was going through. I need more of Maxime in my life!
The Diamonds are Forever series consists of 3 books. Continue Zoe and Maxime’s story in:
Book 2: Diamonds in the Rough (14 July 2020)
Book 3: Diamonds are Forever (15 September 2020)
I hope to see an introduction to the heroines brother, Damian. I’m most looking forward to the heroines character development, I expect her to come out fighting and stronger then her old self. Maximes world is still a mystery to me but I’m eager to delve deeper into all the secrecy.
Find out why I gave book two in the series 5 stars. Diamonds in the Rough
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4 and 1/2 stars
I found this to be a page turning tale. Charmaine Pauls has written a story that caught my attention and held it until the last page. Zoe and Maxime are like fire and ice. Zoe is an absolute spitfire who doesn’t back down. Yes she learns to pick her fights but she has integrity and ideals that she wants to uphold. I love that she fights. Fights for herself, for her soul and fights to ensure she can look at herself in the mirror when all is said and done. Maxime is a complicated man. He wants to invade Zoe’s mind and her body. He wants to use her own dreams and fantasies to chain her to him. In some way, I think that’s the cruelest of all. If Maxime was cold and heartless all the time, Zoe would hate him with a fiery passion but when he shows kindness he is giving her a false sense of reality. He’s taking away everything from her and trapping her in a new kind of nightmare. Despite his indifference, he has the capacity for good but I think he feels that he has gone down the path of his family for too long to change. Of course he isn’t nearly as cruel as his brother. But the lesser of two evils is still evil right? And no matter how pretty the cage, a cage is still a cage. This is why I go between liking Maxime and hating him. He is selfish in his desires and continues to keep the truth about why he is imprisoning Zoe from her. But then he shields her from the worse kind of punishments. I loved the ending even though it was a cliffhanger. I loved that Zoe took some control back. I’m interested to see how this plays out and the fall out of her actions.
Dark Romance is my go to and this intro to the Diamonds Trilogy fit the bit to a tee.
What a twisted web of lies, deceit, danger and intrigue. You wouldn’t expect anything less in a book involving the Underworld, but the complex characters as well as the underhanded scheming going on gives this story a depth of it’s own.
My heart broke for Zoe. What a treacherous life she had from such a young age, and it didn’t improve much as she got older. Enter the dark and dangerous Maxime and her world is about to crash into a whole other dimension.
As with any cliffhanger you can’t help but curse the author for leaving it where she did haha. Thankfully book 2 isn’t far away, and I for one can’t wait to see where this dark twisted rollercoaster will take me next.