A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE
Girls like me, we know how to survive.
We each have our own little ways, but we acquire those skills at the same tender age.
If you ask me how many times a person can die, I’ll tell you many times. As many times as a man stabs you in the stomach with betrayal and wrings out your heart with lies.
Girls like me, we live.
We don’t get a choice.
We step over the cliff and fall.… choice.
We step over the cliff and fall.
Eat, sleep, die, and repeat.
(Diamonds in the Rough is Book 2 of the Diamonds are Forever Trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Book 3, Diamonds are Forever, which concludes the story, will be released in September 2020.)
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I thoroughly loved reading the extraordinary and outstanding dark romance. Even though Zoe can’t help falling in love with her captor, Maxime, she’s heart broken when Maxime tells her he does not love her but cares for her a lot. When Zoe finds out Maxime is not only in the mafia, second in command, but also something that breaks her heart into a million pieces. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, full of suspense and mystery, and an engaging story riveting the reader from the first page until the last page of the story. Can’t wait to read the third book in the trilogy!
SPOILERS AHEAD. This book was an emotional rollercoaster. My heart broke over and over for Zoe but by the end, I was cheering and fist pumping. Clearly Maxime has lost his entire mind and Zoe did not stick around for him to find it. Honestly, after reading this book, I realize I am a very vindictive person. The house that Maxime decided to reassign to his new flame would have been burned to the ground with him and her in it. The audacity and the nerve of him to decide to steal Zoe’s life and then decide how her future would be as well. BOY BYE! Can’t wait for the finale. Let us all hope in book 3 that Maxime will either find the mind that he lost or Zoe will have found her real Prince/Knight in Shining Armor. Psychopath is too polite a term for Maxime!
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
I’m done! I need book 3 like my next breath, as IMO this story ends with an even bigger cliffhanger, that that left me even more broken inside with emotions that are still fighting to resolve what I feel in the end.
This story starts right after book one and it never slows down here, Ms. Pauls will put us in the routine of Zoe and Maxime to just destroy it with one push. She makes you feel safe And seen the right future, but as we all know it never happened easily so I should have anticipated something – yet still it was big and so out of mind!
I loved this story, how it had brought me to my knees with emotional impact. All books by Ms. Pauls are a must-read for me!
This penultimate book had me feeling mixed emotions all the way through.
I love how protective of Zoe Maxime is, always going to battle for her, even against his own family. That started in book 1 and continued through out this story too.
And while the twisted bond they share continues to grow there are devious plots afoot that had me wanting to take a rusty blade to a certain part of Maxime.
The deceit directed at poor Zoe had my heart breaking but my anger boiling. Being the strong willed young woman she is she didn’t let her feelings show. In fact she becomes very resourceful in making plans of her own. You go girl!!!
Of course being the middle book in this seriously twisted trilogy we are left dangling over the edge waiting to see if Zoe can pull it off, or whether Maxime will finally realise who is more important to him. I for one can’t wait to find out.
Diamonds in the Rough is Book 2 in the Diamonds are Forever Trilogy and lets just say this story packed a punch!
Charmaine continues to elevate this series with this book. I’ve never went from loving a character to loathing one as much as I did Maxime. That right there is true writing craft! I was absolutely appalled by his actions yet still want his character redeemed.
This story picks up where Diamonds in the Dust left off. This story was completely mesmerizing and I read it within 4 hours. I literally couldn’t put it down!
Great storyline. Excellent character development. Huge revelations and twists. Cliffhanger.
This book is was fantastic and I highly recommend it!!
5 stars!!!
Zoe is in a fight for her sanity. Max is selfish and won’t let her go. He doesn’t understand that what he is doing us slowly killing her.
Waiting for the next installment of this going to kill me. Just to read Max reaction to Zoe.
OMG !! This series is amazing !! I was so drawn to the characters Zoe and Maxime that I couldn’t stop reading it. I was totally captivated and riveted to every single word of this amazing book. An emotional ride that keeps me wanting more. It’s twist and turns so intriguing that it leaves your mind reeling from the power of its words . It holds you hostage as if your truly present in the story. I’m on pins and needles to have the next book to continue this stunning storyline. Absolutely stunning by the amazing author Charmaine Pauls !! I can’t recommend this series enough.
I was very excited to jump back into Maxime and Zoe’s story after that shocking ending in book one, Diamonds in the Dust. This story was sexy, dark and edgy and just when you think you know what’s going to happen, Pauls’ completely ensnares you further into this amazing story!
Diamonds in the Rough is more emotional than the last book as Zoe has fallen for her captor. But as she tries to push Maxime away to protect herself, she inevitably feels more and more deeper emotions for him. While I enjoyed this story immensely, my heart couldn’t help but break for Zoe as it was obvious Maxime was keeping himself emotionally distant from her.
Overall, this was a great installment in this fabulous trilogy and I can’t wait for more! 4 stars! ~Ratula
Are usually hate cliffhangers. But I am loving this book. Zoe and Max chemistry is off the charts. But you got to get over that kidnap thing.
Charmaine Pauls did it again! If this were a home run derby, Charmaine would win because she continues to knock them out of the park.
This book picks up right where the first book ends, as Zoe jumped off a literal cliff. The cliff jump really did a number on Maxime. He is starting to realize the depth of what he feels for Zoe and, against her best efforts, she’s starting to fall for him. Zoe is still very much aware that Max has an ulterior motive behind almost everything that he does for her and knows she’s in a gilded cage. My heart just hurt for Zoe in this book. Regardless of reality and what our minds tells us, deep down inside we want our fairy tales to come true and people should never give up on their dreams. Max is trying to make Zoe comfortable in her cage but he is making some of her dreams turn into unpleasant memories and then he made her world crash. The twist in the last portion of the book really makes you hurt. It was not only a stab to the heart but the knife was also twisted. The depth of the betrayal went beyond the main characters; all the way to the secondary characters like Benoit.
In my opinion, Zoe has always been under-estimated by Maxime, his family, and his staff in the depth of her intelligence and strength. I am glad to see her finally taking a stand and the steps to protect herself towards the end in this one. Reality hit her like the smell of a strong, expensive perfume. I also feel like we got some answers to questions from Book 1 and explanations for why some characters acted in certain ways or said certain things throughout Book 1 and early in Book 2. Some of the comments from Max’s mother and Francine make more sense now. Charmaine warned us this one would end in another cliffhanger, yet I am still wishing more pages would magically appear. The ending though for this book is perfect. I can’t wait for book 3.
Now please excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
**I was given an ARC of Diamonds in the Rough in exchange for an honest review. It was truly a pleasure.
WOW,WOW….WOW!!
Well where do I start? It has taken me several days to write this because everything I tried to write just didn’t seem to do it justice!
The only way i can think to describe this book is breath taking, the author really knows how to bring the characters to life, it is literally a work of art….I just loved every page!
The last 30% especially of this book i had my heart in my mouth at how Maxim was treating Zoe. I really wanted her to scream at him or fight him more and it really broke my heart! It was as if i was right there with Zoe feeling all her heartbreak, betrayal and disappointment. I think i literally re read the last four chapters over and over just trying to get my head around what had happened and I’m still a wreck now!!
The ending definitely left me on the edge of my seat with my mouth hanging open….book three can’t come fast enough!!!
Well done Charmaine you really have outdone yourself, if i could give you more stars I would!
If you like thrilling dark mafia books that are full of suspense, betrayal and secrets then you need to start this trilogy now!!
Thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC.
4.75 stars
This is the second book in the Diamonds are Forever series and it is not a standalone. The story picks up where the first book left off and continues the journey of Maxime and Zoe. It is one twisted relationship that these two have. The book itself is a dark mafia read that sucks the reader in from the beginning and brings out intense feelings as the pages turn. Ms. Pauls has done an outstanding job writing these characters and I can say I have never had such a visceral change of heart towards a character as I have with Maxime. Zoe is doing her best to acclimate to her newfound situation but factors outside of her control have her emotionally struggling and she feels alone especially after a betrayal. The book ends in a cliffhanger and September cannot get here soon enough to see what will become of these two. If you enjoy dark mafia reads, then this is one to one click and add to your tbr list! I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
These diamonds are spellbinding! 5 stars
This book was so absorbing that I lost track of time! You must read book 1, Diamonds in the Dust, as there was a resolution to the cliffhanger. That incident and resolution made Maxime realize he has deeper feelings for Zoe. She fell deeper under his spell too, but truths come out she didn’t know. She goes through so much in this book, and I totally felt for her. She was stronger than she realized, and I admired her for that. Maxime’s layers get peeled back more, and I loved that as he was a fascinating anti-hero. Zoe was the light to his darkness, and he refuses to give her up. They are bonded but their push/pull and love/hate relationship was so intense in this book that it almost broke me. What did break me was the last twist in this book; I was sobbing which goes to show how invested I am in these characters and their story. I have no idea how this story will play out in book 3 after that ending, but I cannot wait to read it. I love and highly recommend this book and series!
*I received an advanced copy of this ebook for my honest review.*
Once again Ms. Pauls has had me gripped and totally invested in the continuing story of Maxime and Zoe.
In bk 2 the relationship between them gets more complex.
Zoe falls deeply for Maxime.
She blindly believes everything that goes on around her.
She’s happy and excited with how things are developing.
Maxime is doing a lot to keep Zoe happy.
But as things progress not everything is as it seems on the surface.
When the outer layer is slowly starting to be revealed Zoe gets one shock after another.
In this book Maxime’s manipulative side is becoming more prominent.
And I’m not liking him so much now.
He may want Zoe happy.
But it’s still for purely selfish reasons.
Along with his manipulations coming to light so does secrets.
The secrets that will be discovered will send an earthquake and tremors that will have rock everything!
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.Zoe has fallen in love with Maxime.She doesn’t have a single friend.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 books.Can’t wait for the next book.
Hotdangit!
This book !
Finish it in one sitting, I end up staring at the wall with all the feels.
My heart hurt so bad for Zoe. I cried with her. Putting my self in her shoe, I feel like my love for Maxime was thrown at my face.
Maxime, this man…. Gaaah I hate him in this book. But watching Zoe hate and love him so much hurt the worst.
This man who have no emphaty. He who believe he can’t give her the love like she need.
His manipulative way.
His betrayal. His ultimate betrayal like a dagger straight to the heart and then spin and spin in it. Leaving a broken massive hole no one can cure.
His inability to feel.
His careless
My tears going down like rain even when I write this review.
For once I’m trully glad this book end in cliffy. For like Zoe, I need time and space away from Maxime to heal my heart
4.5 stars
The angst in this book is intense. My worst fears of what Maxime was up to in regards to the Italians came true. My heart hurt for Zoe. The author has done a brilliant job in this one building up how badly this betrayal would feel. I felt the betrayal and the angst that Zoe must have felt.
This continues where the first book ended. It doesn’t have the action or intense scenes, but rather seemed to concentrate on the web that Maxime has created in order to trap Zoe and as the poor fly, she truly was trapped in its clutches. Until she does something that is sure to set things in a different motion. I anticipate that this will cause the action to be more prevalent in the conclusion, not only for obvious reasons but also because Zoe is no longer waiting to gain the love that she wants from Maxime.
The steamy times were hot, but what I loved the most was the endearing times between these characters which made the betrayal hit home that much harder. I need September to get here so I can finally have the answers that I seek because I am still lost in what is going on and just how Damian plays into this whole concocted scheme that Maxime and his family have going on and just how Zoe was supposed to be the tilting factor towards what they want and hope to gain.
REAL diamonds don’t start out opulently beautiful- they start out ugly, dark, buried under the surface. Only under incredible circumstances- the perfect combination of intense pressure and unimaginable heat, painful cuts, and a literal earth shattering volcanic eruption- can the true beauty emerge from the ugly, from the rough. And oh my stars- does Charmaine Paul deliver a story that perfectly encapsulates that journey. Book 2 is a mind-blowing, psychologically electrifying, and emotional seduction. This love story is dark and intense, painful at times but cuttingly beautiful in others. No one does this type of story like Charmaine- the innocent, emotive heroine captured and trapped (not just physically but emotionally) by the dark, emotionless mafia anti-hero, the development of that Stockholm, co-dependent toxicity that is just so addictive, and the angsty emotional push-pull that rips at your heart and mind. Maxime and Zoe don’t yet have a love that is clear and shiny- we’re still buried under darkness and pressure.
Truth be told, I sometimes find that the second book in push-pull romance trilogies can be a bit frustrating- we have our relationship established and the feelings are there, but you know the HEA isn’t coming yet- which often leaves us in plot and character monotony, a “waiting for it” purgatory of book 2- but Charmaine is one of those authors who has CONSISTENTLY contradicted that trend- no stalling status quo here. This story moves quickly and keeps you on your toes, and our characters are dynamic, complex, and anything but monotonously static. Book 2 thankfully picks up immediately after that insane cliffhanger in book 1- from there I can’t say much without spoiling, but this really isn’t about plot. No, what I love about Charmaine’s stories is that they are really about character psychology, an enthralling study of how character heart and minds evolve and react when their limits are pushed, when they are forced to live in the grey, when the human response defies logic. When a captive, innocent connects with her manipulative, psychopathic captor.
Maxime continues to be everything I love in the coldhearted and manipulative captor. Charmaine’s heroes aren’t only physically dangerous and controlling, they are MENTALLY terrifying- ruthless, immoral, strategic and coercive, her heroes totally do a mind F on both our heroine and us as a reader. You never know if you need a cold shower or psychological help to temper your attraction, but either way, her heroes somehow make you want to punch them and kiss them in every breath. Maxime is a masterpiece- the cold, twisted, devious antihero- and here we start to see his heart thaw as these two settle into a new dynamic after the cliff hanger (LITERALLY, haha) from book 1 that jolts his deadened heart. Charmaine both gives us enough to feel like we are starting to GET him and his character journey but also still keeps some distance- which means Maxime still surprises us at every turn, his unpredictability keeps me rapidly turning pages. And Zoe is my favorite kind of heroine, and again, the one that Charmaine excels at- the softer, emotional and slightly naive leading lady who caves just a bit too easily- who knows her hard limits but isn’t too obstinate or resistant- who easily becomes the prey. Her growth I found to be the most compelling- her quiet inner strength and sense of self really rises to the surface in this sequel.
The chemistry continues to be scorching and, as I mentioned, intensely psychologically and emotionally ambivalent. I love how Charmaine uses character contrasts to highlight and build their connection- this is my favorite type of character connection- that dynamic tension of light and kind and good with dark and devious and dangerous. Seeing how the cold and unfeeling hero inspires strength and fortitude in our softer heroine, and how our sweet, innocent, more passive heroine somehow inspires gentleness and affection for the cold, broody beast. The chemistry is really masterfully architected – the intimacy and true feelings slithering into their relationship small moment by small moment until both we and our characters are jarred by the changing dynamics. Even so, their love is messy, damaging, bewildering- but OH so hot.
And just when I thought things couldn’t get any more intense, when I started to get comfortable in where I thought this story was going, Charmaine careens us down a dark path SO shocking that I literally screamed out loud. This conclusion was jaw dropping, heartbreaking, leaving me swimming in muddled tears of anger, sadness, fear, even hope. My mind and heart are TOTALLY eviscerated- thank goodness book 3 isn’t too far away. I don’t know how we’ll get there, but I’m so ready to watch these two figure out their messy, toxic, seemingly impossible love. I know it will be an explosive eruptive, but I’m hopeful these two can cut their way into a love as beautiful as a naturally born diamond.
If you think that the second book in the “Diamonds Are Forever” series, “Diamonds in the Rough” can’t possibly be as riveting, exciting, sensual and hot as the first book, then you’ve obviously never had the pleasure of reading a series by Charmaine Pauls. Maxime and Zoe are back and there are a lot of revelations and heart stopping moments as Zoe not only finds out the truth about Maxime’s motivation for kidnapping her and who and what Maxime Belshaw is.
Zoe Hart is trying to make a life for herself as Maxime’s captive/mistress. She barely has any freedom and has no one in her life except for the man who holds it in his hands and yet she finds herself falling in love with him. Not wanting to fall for the man who cut her off from everything and everyone she holds dear, she tries to fight her feelings but when she finds herself unable to do so, she opens up to him with hopes that maybe Maxime is her knight in shining armour after all. She soon finds out that Maxime is anything but a knight and that she may never get the white picket fence dream future with Maxime.
Try as he might, Maxime, knows that he is incapable of love. The best he can do is make sure that Zoe is safe and has everything she needs. He’s aware that she is a romantic and wants her own happily ever after and it would seem that she wants it with him. But that is the last thing that he can give her. All he needs to do now is to make her see and accept that. But with familial obligations hanging over his head and enemies surrounding him and Zoe, will he be able to keep her forever.
This book also ends on a cliffhanger and it’s hard to believe that this one may be even more exciting than that of the first book of the trilogy. I am holding my breath waiting to see how this series will end while starting to mourn the ending of such an enchanting series. Another decadent treat by the amazing Charmaine Pauls!
Thanks to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Diamond in the Rough is the Second book of the Diamonds Are forever Trilogy , written by Charmaine Pauls . Told in dual perspectives , this book pretty put my emotions through a blender. The storylines of all the books in the trilogy are connected , and it is a must to read Diamonds In The Dust before reading this book.
This book picked up where Diamonds in The Dust finished. That bloody cliffhanger from the first book had me jumping up and down for this book and when I Finally got to read , I was beyond escalated. My emotions are scattered everywhere after reading this book !
The one thing I didn’t expect after reading this book , was my need to chop Maxime into pieces!! I mean I really love that man , but that Italian deal of his had me wanting to slap him into the next year. Then there was his utter disregard for how Zoe felt. He just expected her to be okay with whatever he did. I just wanted to shake him so bad!!
I am gonna be the first in row to see how much grovels to get her back !! This is my shoutout to the author , please I need a lot of groveling scenes , or else I’ll go mad!!
Now let’s put my dramatics aside , On an overall basis this book was Ah-ma-zing!! I just loved the storyline and can’t wait for the next book!! There is not much I am going to say about the storyline of this book , as it may or may not be a spoiler for all the Maxime-Virgins out there !
This book is recommended to all the dark romance lovers with a bit of kidnapping in the twist!!