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
Wow what an incredible start to this trilogy!
I loved everything about this story.
The characters have depth and are complex.
The plot is riveting.
And the written words come to life.
The descriptions Ms. Pauls gives throughout the book of places,foods and smells is superb.
It’s so vivid that I felt I was there and seeing all that was described.
I found Maxime to be intriguing and mysterious.
That man is so complex and multilayered.
I can’t wait until all his layers are peeled back and revealed.
He’s the future leader of his mafia family.
He doesn’t hide it nor shies away from it.
It’s in his blood and he wants it.
Max is dark and his needs match his personality.
Zoe is taken by Max for reasons that have nothing to do with her.
She is an innocent in everything that is happening around her.
I loved Zoe.
I found her to be strong and determined.
She’s brave and courageous.
The tension between Max and Zoe is an absolute living entity.
Both the sexual and the unknown in their dynamics can be felt so intensely.
It’s sizzles off the pages.
The plot isn’t something new.
But the reason behind the abduction is not something I’ve encountered before.
So it made the storyline more exciting.
I thought everything about this book was outstanding.
It kept and held my attention from the first sentence all the way through that whopping of a cliffhanger!
It was captivating and tantalizing.
It was dark and gritty.
It fulfills everything a dark mafia story should entail.
Plus more!
With how great Diamonds in the Dust and how much I loved it.
I’m certain this is going to be a phenomenal trilogy!
Diamonds in the Dust ( Diamonds are Forever Trilogy , Book #1 ) is in a word PHENOMENAL !!
ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way …
Prepare to strap in when you start this book as I can guarentee you won’t be putting it down until THE END !! Just note this book does end on a cliffhanger but you will easily be committed to wanting to read the series ( Book #2 coming end of June / mid July )
Ms Pauls writing of this book is exceptional – I’ve been a huge fan for several years but this book just blew me away !
What I liked so much about Diamonds in the Dust :
Amazing characters in Maxime Belshaw & Zoe Hart
Edge of your seat storyline
So much burning & sizzling chemistry your e-reader may just go up in flames
Mafia setting ( French mafia to be exact )
Such descriptive , situational & emotional detail – that it will tug at your heart strings.
Maxime kidnaps Zoe his plan being to keep her with him as his mistress until her brother Damon is released from prison. What he doesn’t plan on is rather than handing her over to his brother as originally planned he keeps her as his own. Zoe seems to defy Max at every turn – learning to pick her battles but eventually she begins to question who she is really becoming …
It’s written as Max having the power in their relationship but really does he ? Max eventually sees how wrong he is at having misjudged Zoe’s tenacity to survive at all costs without losing her sense of “self”.
I know this entire series will be top 10 reads for me this year – can’t wait to see where Max & Zoe’s story line is heading …
Highly recommend this book , series & author !!
Zoe is young ,naive and sweet.She has learnt that life is not a fairy tale. Zoe is going to meet Maxime and her life s going to change forever.Maxime is ruthless and no one stands in his way He always keeps to his words.When I started reading I couldn’t put it down.Charmaine Pauls is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can’t wait for the next book.
OMG!! What an absolutely stunning book to start off a series. I loved every second of it. I was completely captivated by the storyline and characters. Zoe and Maxime had me spellbound and riveted to every single word until the last word. It was so intriguing and captivating that I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely stunning !! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing dark read.
Anti-hero after my own heart
Maxime is a dark romance (anti-)hero after my own heart: cold, scarred (physically as well as mentally), ruthless, and brutal when cirumstances necessitate it. And he has a French accent (swoon for that alone). So it seems that in his relationship with Zoe – the heroine – he holds all the power, but although Zoe acquiesces to Maxime’s proposal for the moment, she has a core of strength that allows her to find pockets of resistance and to keep her innermost self untarnished by the things she is forced to endure and by the things Maxime makes her do (and reluctantly enjoy).
But before I delve deeper into the story, first some warnings: this is a dark romance that contains scenes of a sexual nature and quite graphic depictions of violence and abuse. Also the relationship between hero and heroine can best be described as forced consent, so if you are triggered by any of that, by all means steer clear of the book. If, on the other hand, you are like me, this will only make you want to read the book all the more.
Second warning: Diamonds in the Dust is the first book in a trilogy and it ends on a literal cliffhanger. The good news is that books two and three are going to be released at two month intervals, so maybe you will want to wait; me, I was unable to contain myself.
Also, Maxime and Zoe’s story is part of the Diamond Magnate collection and as such sort of a prequel to Beauty in the Broken. It can be read as a standalone, but there is a loose connection as Zoe is Damian’s sister. So, while Damian is still in prison, Zoe etches out a living as a seamstress in Johannesburg. She is poor, but she still has hope of one day becoming a fashion designers and she still clings to an ephemeral dream of getting rescued by a white knight. That’s when Maxime crashes into her life unexpectedly, only he is no knight in shining armor, quite the opposite: he is the heir and de facto leader of a French crime family who have their hands in the South African Diamond trade, and as his family wants to gain leverage over Damian, whose influence in the business is growing even while imprisoned, they decide to take his sister as a kind of byzantine hostage. Maxime is tasked with collecting her and delivering her to the family. But Zoe’s innocence and hope that she kept even while living in squalor touches something within him, and he decides that if Zoe has to become a pawn, she could just as well become his…
It’s difficult to put into words what exactly the qualities are that make me like – or rather crave – Charmaine Pauls’ brand of dark romance so much. I think it has to do with her ability to create the perfect tension between the dubious/forced consent position she usually places the heroine in and then showing us ways how that heroine manages to resist in small, but meaningful ways, even while outwardly surrendering. And although there is violence, the relationship between the main protagonists is always much more a battle of wills and it is definitively not one-sided. Her heroines are often put into positions where they seem to have no choice, and though in general they act sensibly and submit for the moment, they never give up and they look to (re-)assert their own agency, sometimes in dramatic ways that change the power dynamic. Her heroes are scary and fascinating (or fascinatingly scary), not because of the violence they are capable of, but because they usually keep a very tight check on their emotions and only apply violence with surgical precision.
5 exuberant stars and counting the days until I can get my hands on part 2 of Maxime and Zoe’s story.
I’ve read plenty by this author. I’m a fan. The hero Maxime is everything anti-hero. I LOVE anti-heroes. Your torn between loving and hating him. The heroine Zoe is a little too naive and a dreamer. It’s hard to believe she is Damians sister. The families backgrounds are tumultuous. She’s from the wrong side of the tracks and he’s the dark, mafia prince. I had a hard time believing how fast she capitulated. The dark boat punishment scene was just all kinds of wrong. I was drawn into the story. I’m intrigued and want to see what’s going to happen next.
Liked it – Need More
I know this is the first in the trilogy
– setting the tone, introducing the players and providing the foundation and overall pace for the story
Actually the pace might be what is tripping me up –
I guess I should clarify?
The story moves swiftly from the moment we leave the market and kept me turning the pages.
I was constantly on edge, a touch stressed (you know holding my breath, whisper shouting at my kindle) fearful of what lay ahead.
Maybe for me, it was too swift?
IDK – My connection with Maxime was not as strong as I would have preferred.
I wanted more.
Maxime is an arsehole, most definitely, but he is also a gentle giant.
Confusing, I know.
I need (want) more time with him.
I felt like I got glimpses of who he was,
Vague concepts without the details.
Teasers.
As the story progresses I have no doubt I will get the emotional connection I so desperately crave
For now am left wondering who the real Maxime is
Zoe actually got my hackles up.
There is a scene where …
I wanted to shake her – Yell at her to wake up – Duck tape her inner monologue.
She capitulated a bit too easy for me and I had trouble with her ping-ponging emotions –
Stay the course until you have a solid reason to detour!
I’m not sure how Zoe is going to adapt to her new reality
I am a big fan of Pauls’ work and this takes place in the same universe as Beauty and the Broken (You don’t have to read that collection previous to this one but trust me you will want to!)
The way this first episode plays I out?
I kind of expect that from Pauls
She likes to play with our minds before decimating our hearts
I already have a few directions plotted for our casts futures from all the little innuendos and character development we were given in this first episode
– Now to see if I am right
This ends on a literal cliff hanger and my nails are not that long … I need the next book ASAP
This hero has my brain all twisted inside. He’s the type of anti-hero that keeps you on edge. You’re never sure what line he’s going to cross and when he does cross a line, you’re constantly wondering if there’s something else at play. At least that’s how Maxime affected me. His total possessiveness concerning the heroine, Zoe, fed my romantic heart, even as the darkness within him drove the angst up.
This is slow where action is concerned, but it’s rich in character development as the storyline is laid out and everyone involved takes their place. The relationship between Maxime and Zoe is fraught with tension that I felt in every word and action making it almost impossible to set this book aside for any reason.
This ends in a whopping cliffhanger that I knew was coming, but I was still shocked when I got to it. Thank goodness this author is planning to release the remaining two books of this trilogy rather quickly.
I’m feeling a bit like I just took a couple of rounds in the ring. My boundaries were pushed, and I had to sit on this and think about how I really felt. I’m conflicted, but hopeful.
Maxime is my main cause of this conflict. He sees the treasure in Zoe, and his true aim is to protect her from a far evil than what he thinks he is. He’s not exactly wrong, but his way of teaching her is why I struggled with him. Although, I can see that part inside of him that would show a different man if they were in a better world.
Maxime is like a man with two personalities. One personality is the knight in shining armor and the other is a soft nightmare. I say soft because even when he becomes the nightmare, his intention are always to protect Zoe. See? It’s very conflicting. It’s also the reason why I think I’m going to love this series when it’s all said and done.
I’m very pleased with Zoe and how she handled an impossible situation. She’s had such hard life and she is only 21. She’s escapes the rough world by being a dreamer which makes people underestimate her. She’s a fighter and I loved it. I want to see that fight even if the situation is helpless.
This ended on a big cliffhanger and for once I was glad to see it. I think it will be a turning point for the next book.
**This is a dark story and there will be triggers for some readers.
Diamonds in the Dust is the first book in a new dark romance trilogy by this author, and even though I have not been into mafia-type romances for a while now I was very engaged in this one, reading it quickly. It has typical elements of a dark mafia romance but there were a few differences that were intriguing and the whole thing is elevated by this author’s writing style, which I always love.
The antihero, Maxime, is definitely a jerk (censor-safety descriptor!) to the heroine, Zoe, but the reader gets a peek into his mind (from chapters from his POV) that Zoe doesn’t have, and his motivations and self-imposed rules and justifications are super intriguing to me. Zoe struggles with the blackmail/captive situation she is in, and how to manage it in a way that she can live with, and I certainly don’t blame her. I’m very interested in how they are going to navigate their situation and romance, especially given what he has done to her and how differently the two of them view things. My dark scale is different than most readers but I would imagine it may be too dark for some, so be cautious if you are someone with triggers of things that are common elements in dark romances.
A MUST read for dark mafia romance lovers!!! One of my favorite dark reads of 2020!
Diamonds in the Dust was dark perfection! Loved this dark mafia romance immediately!! This story gives you the perfect dark hero to try to hate and of course the innocent heroine that pulls for your sympathy!
This book is going to leave you in a mouth dropping cliffhanger drooling for the next book, so be prepared!
Charmaine Paul’s writes stories that capture the reader from page 1 and then gently weaves the story until the devastating end.
Zoe dreams of princes and castles and the man of her dreams rising in and rescuing her from her life. But as her brother Damian tells her repeatedly, those stories are not real.
The journey that Zoe goes on with Maxime is wrought with lies, dangerous men, and unbridled passion.
But that ending…I can only imagine what will happen in book 2, and I hope I am right.
Diamonds in the Dust is the first book of a trilogy. It is set in the same world as Beauty in the Broken by this author, and is about Damien’s younger sister Zoe. The events in this first book take place before those in Beauty but I’m assuming that at some point they will catch up. You don’t have to have read Beauty to enjoy this story but I highly recommend that book too.
Zoe very much finds herself a pawn in a complicated game being played by a powerful mafia family, in order to engineer and control a situation involving her brother. She’s essentially kidnapped, and, with little real alternative once the stark reality of her situation is explained to her, she choses the lesser of two evils and, almost by default, becomes the mistress of underboss Maxime Belshaw. Maxime’s decision is spur of the moment, and his need to shield her from his despicable family is unexpected and comes as a real surprise to him. I love the way he’s confused by his feelings for her. Then again, the life he leads means he’s never come across someone like Zoe before.
I have to say I really liked Zoe. Left to fend for herself she’s barely scraping a living but nevertheless, she has managed to build a life and keep a roof over her head. Without warning, however, she finds herself stripped of her independence and manipulated at every turn. Maxime likes to control her by seemingly giving her choices but really these are no choices at all when one of them comes with severe consequences for her. Despite this, I admired the fact that Zoe doesn’t cower, or lose the will to stand up for herself whenever she can. Even in her compliance she often remains defiant, even if that defiance has to stay within the confines of her own mind for the most part. I loved her spirit and her intelligence and the way that, in Maxime’s words, she’s a little uncultured but not uneducated. There’s a difference. There are however, a certain amount of “my body betrayed me” scenarios here, which under the circumstances are to be expected and are another demonstration of Maxime’s command over her.
This author has a distinct style when it comes to her leading men and Maxime is the epitome of an antihero. He tries to be fair, in his own way, whilst still maintaining his dominance over Zoe and operating a sort of tit for tat method of reward and punishment. However, just when I stared to warm to him he did something that reminded me that he is actually a very bad man and quite frankly made me want to chop his bits off! He may be all Zoe has at the moment but make no mistake, he’s no Prince Charming.
There’s a certain amount of setting the ground rules in this first book and, be aware, it is a dark read with possible triggers for some. Life seems to have been cruel to both these characters in the past and I feel we’ve only just scratched the surface when it comes to their earlier lives, what experiences have made them into the people they are in the present. I have no idea what’s in store for this couple and book one ends with everything very much up in the air. I loved it and I’m extremely excited to find out what happens next when their story continues with book two, Diamonds in the Rough.
Whew!! What a way to start this new series. Zoe and Maxime’s story gets off to an epic start in this the first book of three. As such, it does end on a cliffhanger and I’m not going to lie, it is brutal!!!!!! Book two can’t release soon enough! This is a gritty and dark read. The story is intense, tension filled and twisty and gripping. Before the prologue was finished I was completely hooked. The characters are compelling and very complex. Zoe is scrappy and relatable. Life has not been kind to her but she has managed to stay a good person and remain sweet enough to cling to her dreams. Maxime is a love to hate type of man and trust me when I say he’ll do his very best to make you love and hate him in extreme measures. As the storyline unfolds, you quickly become caught up in it all and just want to keep reading. This is a read that is suspenseful, dramatic, thrilling, emotional and scorching hot but not for every reader because of the darkness in it. So if triggers are an issue for you, this might not be the book/series for you. Also, just in case you are wondering, this series does have ties to the standalone book: Beauty In The Broken. That book features Damien, Zoe’s brother. This series takes place before that book. If you haven’t read it and enjoy this book you should check it out. I highly recommend that one too, as it is one of my all time favorites. Of my own accord I am posting a impartial review.
Diamonds in the Dust is a highly addictive guilty pleasure in the arena of dark romances. Maxime and Zoe’s story pushes the envelope and brings a whole new level of intensity to this genre. This book will leave you breathless and yearning for more. Five stars for Charmaine Paul’s phenomenal ability to weave a spectacular story.
This book, the first in a trilogy is fantastic. Zoe, the innocent girl is caught up in this web with Maxime. Zoe’s brother is in jail. framed for something he didn’t do. I met him in Beauty and the Broken. He takes Zoe hostage but he decides not to give her to his brother who is a sociopath and would destroy her. So the tale begins and we see Zoe begin to fall for Maxime and Maxime is a very secretive person, but slowly we see him begin to fall for her. What was supposed to be a temporary assignment for Maxime and his family, is not turning out that way. We still do not know why they need her . It has something to do with the diamond mines but still do not know why taking Zoe hostage helps their mission. Of course the book ends on a cliffhanger and the next book will be awhile but I am absolutely loving this story. The sex is steamy and hot and their relationship is so interesting and awesome that it jumps off the pages. If I could I would give it 10 stars.
Charmaine, you have delivered another awesome book and trilogy.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! This is my reaction to the ending of this book.
OMG….What an opening book of the Diamonds are Forever Trilogy!
I opened my kindle to this book and didn’t put my kindle down until the very.last.page!!! Hook line and sinker I was tossed into the French Mafia and the South African life of a wildflower barely surviving.
The stage has been set and now the story will unfold.
Will the wildflower learn to ‘trust’ her abductor?
Will the Mafia man give up on his plan and hand over his wildflower to his brother?
This book will suck you in and before you know it, the cliffy that we all love to avoid, sneaks up on you…. Free falling until Diamonds in the Rough the next book is released!!! Can Not wait to see where we go next in this story! Well played, Charmaine Pauls!!!!
Charmaine Pauls…you have absolutely enticed and embedded your work into my soul!
What happens when your executioner also becomes your savior? How can the man that has sentenced you to a dark and devastating future also be your redeemer? When you feel that your death would be better than your life…
Maxime is the French underworld boss. He and his family touch everything, destruction and depravity reign supreme. This reputation is how Zoe finds herself both prize and prisoner to Maxime.
Zoe is an innocent in more ways than one. She’s led a life with a dark past but hopefulness of a better future. She barely gets by but she’s ok. But that changes when she becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Her cooperation is needed to secure the future of Maxime’s family. But her beauty takes hold of the cold hearted Maxime. He wants her submission but she refuses. Their own private war is waged. She hates and yearns for him, for his touch. He punishes and pleases her.
As he seeks more from Zoe, she softens her armor until the chink almost ends her.
This is my first experience with the author but most definitely not my last. She left me with a mind blowing cliffhanger. Dark, angst filled, and beautifully written.
Zoe and Maxime this book is on fire! The beginning pace is super fast and actually this entire first installment is! This has everything I look for in a mafia book. Anti heroes, pawned heroines. Plus its set in France which is a nice change for me. I just would have liked to see more of the couple developing. With the cliffy ending, I’ll be sure to be back for the next one!
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I have a love-hate relationship with series books. Cliffhangers are never a friend. But I knew what I was getting into when I accepted this review.
I just can’t skip a Pauls romance. Even though many of her stories follow a similar story pattern, there’s always thrills and angst, hot sex, and just enough darkness to keep you on edge.
The story is no different. She is a master of blending so many different aspects into her stories. The fact that this is part of a series adds another dimension too.
This book combines mental manipulation, actions, and consequences. Steamy scenes, edgy dark, twisted actions, and a cliffhanger that is very literal in many ways.
While I hate that I have to wait for the additional stories, I cannot wait defined how this story will pivot and change. So good!