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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You are warned that this ends with a cliffhanger and I didnt think Charmaine Pauls could top the cliffhanger at the end of book 1 but this one has me mind blown.
The story of Zoe and Maxime start to unfurl at such a fast pace and takes you on an emotionally dependent ride. Zoes story is so well written that you feel her hurt,her joy and her fight to maintain herself. While Maxime is used to getting his way and you get many reminders of this throughout.
Without spoiling things, the complexity of Maximes charachter is in full force in this book.He shocks on so many levels.
This book leaves you feeling so deflated that it has finished but with a promise of so much more,that you cant wait for the next installment.
just have to do a shout out to Benoit, I hope he features more in the next book.
Left bereft but only by the brilliance 5 stars
4.5*
This book picks up where Dust left off. And it’s another incredible read.
My heart is torn over Zoe and Maxime. These two find themselves in an impossible situation.
Zoe has fallen in love with her kidnapper. And who can blame her. Maxime is the ultimate fantasy in so many ways. But apart from him she finds herself alone. She’s shunned by his family and doesn’t have a single friend. She’s lonely but in love. In love with a man who believes he’s incapable of loving her in return.
In reality Maxime is also a prisoner. He just has a longer leash. He’s trapped into this life with pressure bearing down from all sides. Yet he does everything within his power to make Zoe happy. Now don’t get the wrong idea. While I truly believe he loves her. He also manipulates and controls her every move.
I have to be honest. At times the first half of this book annoyed me. It felt like a never ending cycling of makeup sex. But stick with it. It gets good, so so very good.
Now ultimately what happens is not a surprise. We’ve known this was coming. But the way the story unfolds is breathtaking. I was reading until the early hours. And then I couldn’t sleep. Playing the ending over and over. Trying to work out where it will go from here. It’s a long time since a book has left me so desperate for the next one. My total lack of patience is the main reason I avoid cliffhangers.
Seriously how can I wait until September?
I just couldn’t move past this. So a re-read of Beauty in the Broken will have to do for now.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the author.
This is the second book in the Diamonds and Forever Trilogy, an amazingly Dark Mafia Romance. This trilogy is interconnected with The Beauty in the Broken. You don’t have to read it before, but believe me, you should. The story continues where the first book left off. OMG! Maxime is truly ruthless, powerful, dark, and intriguing. He is the perfect anti-hero. I love to hate/love/hate/hate him! Zoe, Damian’s sister from Beauty in the Broken, is a strong and wonderful character. My heart broke again for her! They share an undeniable and sizzling hot chemistry. This story is dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, and filled with danger, and unpredictable twists and turns. Once again, Adara Stevens and Lee Turner Smith did an outstanding job with the narration. I can’t wait to listen to the next and last book in this amazing trilogy, Diamonds are Forever. I love Charmaine Pauls’s writing. (review updated with the audiobook version)
Lush and decadent, Diamonds in the Rough ensnared me into a world where the refined are predators waiting to pounce, its opulence masks the bitter and unscrupulous, and the innocent are not made to thrive is such a callous, ego driven, patriarchal society.
Lulled into a false sense of security, the obstacles that Maxime and Zoe would have to face in book 2 seemed more likely by the hands of Maxime’s family. The fairytale world Maxime created for a very whimsical romantic Zoe was perfect and everything she could have dreamed of and yet… There was a deep niggling feeling that something was amiss. Once Zoe acclimated to Maxime and his brutish/cruel lessons, she found some semblance of contentment and dare I say happiness? It was a rough journey, but Zoe finally has the opportunity to pursue her passion in fashion design. She has the eye of an attentive lover who claims her as his “property” – this means something significant in a world where having mistress is not only tolerated but expected. Zoe is adorned with beautiful clothing, romantic getaways, a beautiful home… and yet there is this niggling feeling, a sense of foreboding that something is not quite right. And this is how Diamonds in the Rough plays out. I read with constant dread and the tension I felt was so thick I needed the bomb to drop, I wanted reprieve from this feeling of dread that had yet to transpire.
It was COMPLETELY FUCKING AWFUL…
It was COMPLETELY FUCKING DEVASTATING…
It was COMPLETELY FUCKING AMAZING!!!!
I was so excited to get wrapped in the world of Maxime! While book 1 was about Zoe navigating her relationship with Maxime, book 2 delved into Zoe’s ability to navigate Maxime’s world….
And it isn’t pretty.
It gets nasty!
You feel Zoe’s uncertainty, her insecurity, her lack of position! Mistress? Really? WTF!!!!!
It all builds up to that final moment when reality hits Zoe like a ton of bricks.
I was angry! And bitter! And really pissed off! I wanted to throw my kindle! I wanted to private message the author and FREAK THE FUCK OUT!
I’m 100% invested in Zoe, in her future, in her happiness and well, her gilded cage ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH!!!!! And so with all that…
THIS WAS ONE GAWD DAMN OUTSTANDING BOOK!
So, please heed the warnings. If you like your reads to give you the kind of vibe where you’re all topsy turvy, then you really need to read this book! It will give you all the feels that us reading masochists hate to love to endure! But if you don’t like cliffies, then hold off till book three in September because this cliffy is a big one… and you might not be happy – although I was pleasantly satisfied.
Special note to the author: It’s been a while since I read a book that made me this angry, frustrated, excited and oddly hopeful all at the same time. Thank you Ms Pauls, this work was perfectly cruel and outstanding!
You don’t want to miss this series, it is hawt as fuck!
Best wishes and enjoy.
I absolutely loved Diamonds in the Rough, possibly, even more than the first book in the series which rarely happens. In the second book we dive deeper into Zoe and Maxim’s relationship. As these two develop deeper feelings for each other, they both struggle to accept that reality, though in very different ways. Zoe’s plight is poignant and heartbreaking. I loved that she was able to acknowledge her feelings despite the situation she is in. Maxime is much more complicated, both due to circumstances as wll as perceived and real psychological and emotional scars. I loved getting more of an insight into his character and can’t wait to see how he develops in book three. Much like many of Charmaine’s alpha males, he is quite the manipulator, willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Diamonds in the Rough really focuses on the relationship between MCs. There’s still some action and movement in the overall storyline, but the relationship is the main focus. I have to say that I really despised some of the characters in this book and I do hope they get what’s coming to them. I was really excited about the turn of events at the end and can’t wait for book three!
I was on pins and needles waiting for this book….lets just say it picks right up at the cliffhanger literally. I could not imagine getting even deeper involved in the characters and story. Well as usual I was not disappointed. The story has managed to get even more twisted and uncertain. I am constantly surprised by outcomes of many of the situations presented. I do not always agree with the choices of the heroin, but isn’t that what is so great about reading? The writing puts me in her place and I can empathize totally with her feelings and decisions. Descriptions of people, places, emotions and especially thoughts are what makes Charmaine’s books some of the most gripping stories I have ever read. If you have never read one of her books, do yourself a favor and start. I recommend you check the order of the books to read as her writing just continues to build on each other. Beware this is not a cookie cutter romance as none of her writings are…. Be ready for the ups, downs and wild rides.
I love this trilogy and am fascinated by Maxime and his issues. I love seeing how Zoe affects him and how he responds to various things that happen. At several points in this second book of the trilogy I really, REALLY felt Zoe’s emotions. As usual, their story packs the heat, and this author writes super beautiful sentences that I absolutely love. Things build to an appropriate ending for a book two, and though I wouldn’t classify it as a cliffhanger personally, I am super looking forward to Maxime’s reaction and how things end up for them.
4.5 Stars
Charmaine Pauls is a one-click author for me, and I was jumping in my seat to read this book.
Book 1 left us off with the mother of all cliffhangers, and book 2 picks up right where book 1 finished. Our beautiful little flower Zoe realizes by the end of book 1 that her life is forever changed and she does something drastic to act out. Zoe had my sympathy for all of book 1, but in this book…sigh. I wept for Zoe, no lie. She was like a helpless little bug being entrapped in the web by the big bad spider, but in her case, she had no idea the extent of the deception and mindfuckery Maxime was willing to go to keep her trapped. She is finally living her life, content with her situation, but every time it seemed like she had a handle on her emotions, life threw another curveball at her. The poor girl couldn’t seem to catch a break. She is bound to a man who is selfish to his very core, who does not have many redeeming qualities, and who does not want to change. He would change the world around her for her, but when push came to shove, Zoe always bent for him.
Which brings me to Maxime.
Maxime, Maxime, Maxime. Oh, how I would like to hit you in the face with a chair. I thought he annoyed me in book 1. That was nothing compared to the amount of frustration I felt towards his character in this book. It was a good kind of frustration, it always is when an author makes you react so viscerally to a character. I think this is what Charmaine wanted, and this is how I feel reading all of her books. I become so invested that when her characters screw up, I need to walk away from the book to process what has happened. I found myself putting this book down many a time, thinking about how the fuck Zoe would get out of this mess because make no mistake, no matter how much I enjoyed Maxime, Zoe is my number one. She grew as a human throughout this journey of hers. She is tenacious as fuck, truly like a daisy growing through the cracks on a street. No matter how much she is stepped on she continues to grow and bring beauty to the world around her. The world is better for her being in it, but unfortunately for her, she is surrounded by pricks who don’t know her value.
Some parts of the book truly took my breath away due to the anger and hopelessness I felt. I was waiting for the inevitable to happen, and it did. I knew all along what that Italian deal meant, but when that blow came it didn’t make me any less furious towards Maxime. But with that came clarity, because Zoe finally understood where she stood in their relationship. She finally hit rock bottom, and the only way from there is up. I know Zoe will save herself because that’s what she’s always done.
As for Maxime, I hope he gets eaten by sharks.
I know this review is all about my feelings, but I’m feeling a lot of those feelings. Diamonds in the Rough stayed with me for a long time, and if you can handle characters which make you frustrated as fuck, read this series.
Cannot wait for book three.
Rough like uncut Diamonds, dull in appearance like the pain of unrequited love, but brilliant nonetheless, cause Diamonds Are Forever ! Charmaine pulls no punches and doesn’t slow down on the turns. The story careens at breakneck speed towards the impending crash, leaving treadmarks on Zoe’s heart. What started as an act of meticulous planning in book 1 soon turns to a mangled mess in book 2.
“He’s a hardened criminal with a dark heart, and I’m a naïve romantic with an abandoned princess fantasy. Somehow, we work together. Somehow, we’ve rubbed off on each other. We’re diamonds in the rough, cutting our edges together.”
Just like the gems, the story is packed with compressed heat of passion shared between Maxime and Zoe hart. She’s the quintessential Stockholm Syndrome victim and a girl with virginal, impressionable heart.
“He made me dependent on him in every sense—materially, physically, and emotionally. There’s nowhere else to turn to. There’s only this house now, this beautiful place I both love and hate, and him. Love and hate.”
Maxime remeins true to his form of being a cold-hearted, cold-blooded killer with an agenda. He has obligations and doesn’t let his emotions tamper with his destiny.
He doesn’t change his tune, only Zoe and me fell for this stone cold mafia don-in-the-making. Only nobody discounted for the emotions that silently creep between them and cage their hearts
“I’m still the pathologically lying, manipulative, coldhearted prick with the versatile criminal behavior and lack of moral judgment.”
“And high intelligence,” she adds, “not to mention ruthlessness.”
Zoe just wanted to be cuddled and loved and my heart just broke for her.
It’s awash with tears, very heavy on the sentiments and takes a toll on the heart.
I never saw the twist coming and got a whiplash from the slap in the face.
Exactly like book 1, the ending is on a major cliff ie and my heart legit died crying.
Cannot wait for book 3 now
4.5 stars for hearts in the wrong places
Diamonds in the Rough
Oh boy! This instalment of Maxime and Zoe’s story is an absolute page turning masterpiece. I actually read it from start to finish in a day and the last few chapters left me breathless! Oh the angst!!
Maxime and Zoe’s fiery and tempestuous relationship continues to unfold, with half truths being told and lies being uncovered. Zoe’s strength of character is tested to the limit while Maxime struggles with the unfamiliar feelings he has developed.
We are left with so many questions at the end of Diamonds in the Rough that I am going to count down the days until the next instalment. A brilliantly dark story, full of grit, raw passion and betrayal!
Unbelievable is the first words that come to me!! I am so into this series. Book 2, Diamonds in the Rough left me speechless. The end of this book was so full of angst and horror. Maxine is a deceitful, lying and treacherous person. I am sorry he can’t feel love for Zoe but to take ownership of her and then we find out about all of his lies and deceitfulness that have been going on for the past years while holding her captive. I know he is a wounded soul but to keep her captive while he attends to his business and the duties that come with it are beyond disgusting. Such a selfish man who is clueless to Zoe’s feelings. I do not want to give away any spoilers but I am so glad for Zoe doing what she does in the end. I can’t wait for the final book in this series. Charmaine you have truly outdid yourself with this series and this book in the series. If I could, I would give it 10 stars!!! BRAVO
Dark, dangerous, hot, and filled with shocking twists and turns, Diamonds in the Rough is every thing I hoped for and more! Maxime and Zoe took me on a rollercoaster of emotions with their all consuming passion, wrapped up in an addictive blend of anger, hurt and despair in this can’t put down read. This story just keeps getting better and I cannot wait for more!
WOW! I did not know how badly I need to read this next installment until I finished this book! Without a shadow of a doubt one of my new favorite series! I will definitely be rereading over and over again.
Zoe is bendable to a certain point but throughtout the story still questions everything. I love that she doesn’t just roll over and takes it! (No pun intended)
Shes strong when she needs to be and I love a good strong bad ass women. Someone who owns her feelings and isn’t afraid of saying what’s on her mind.
Max is just a torment soul who will keep Zoe at any and at all cost. I can’t say more about him without giving too much away, but I’ve never had feels about a character until I read this book. Every other character I’ve ever read I’m like “yea hes this or that and he really does care underneath… blah blah blah” I just have one word for him. Maybe you can let me know what yours if after you read this installment!
It’s going to be hard to keep my mind from wondering after this book and as too how the next installment will go.
Charmaine Paul’s just knows how to write a story and grips you so hard. Its raw and gritty. Her stories are so relatable and I love that you could totally put yourself her characters shoes.
I really really disliked Maxime in book one –
Now?
I hope the next time he cliff dives the tide is out!
For a moment, thank goodness it was fleeting, I truly believed even though he could not love completely that there was a chance – not your fault Zoe I didn’t see it coming either
And his family?
Scum! I have stronger words but…
This ends on a “to be continued” moment.
As with the first book in this trilogy, I feel like I’m missing something. It is most likely my greed to spend more time in their world immersed in the false bubble of love and fairy tale happiness.
Possibly I was not ready to have the blinders removed. To have my heart ripped from my chest. All hope shattered.
IDK
However, this does end I can only hope Zoe finds her happily ever after.
She has been through the fires of hell and even while she was aflame never once did she let them see her pain.
Diamonds In The Rough is the second installment of the Diamonds are forever trilogy.
I’m having a hard time judging and rating this book as I didn’t really see the story progressing much compared to book one, but i won’t know for sure until i have read book three.
The writing was really good, but the story arch wasn’t that great for me only because I wanted more…. As much a i loved Maxime in the first instalment, he shit me to tears in this one. I know I’ll get my answers in the third book so I’ll just sit here waiting patiently until then.
Do not let this review deter you from reading the series it’s honestly a great read, I just have questions. Lots and lots of questions..
You know its a great series when you love to hate the characters.
Wow, just wow! I tried hard not to start my review with these words but in the end I’ve given in because that’s exactly how I feel right now. This book is so good, well written and so wonderfully frustrating it took my breath away (and most of my words, clearly). Quite frankly I got so riled up on Zoe’s behalf, I wanted to throw my kindle. I loved it!
As we start this second book of the trilogy, we find that Maxime continues to have Zoe exactly where he wants her. He’s created a sort of twisted fairytale world for her, based on what he believes are her hopes and dreams, and tries to provide her with her ideal life. Of course she is still powerless and somewhat naïve, but I refuse to believe that this makes her weak. She’s young and not of the life she finds herself a part of, the mafia life. I could feel her frustrations and I wanted to scream with her over her feelings of helplessness and when people treated her poorly or judged her, as though she had a choice or free will. Despite the way he behaves, or maybe because of it, Zoe has fallen in love with Maxime, and the only thing she wants from him is his love in return. The one thing, either by conscious decision, or because of his biological makeup, he says he cannot give her.
“I wish to God I was capable of love,” he says. “I want to give it to you more than I want to do anything in the world, but this is who I am.” He strokes a thumb over my chin. “I can’t change my nature.”
Maxime is a master manipulator and his controlling of Zoe knows no bounds. My heart ached for her and I was beyond angry on her behalf when her true situation was revealed and the depths of his deception came to light. He delivers a devastating blow, one which has Zoe reeling and finally realising that maybe there is no hope left to be had. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as violent towards a fictional character as I have towards Maxime. Even though I think he really doesn’t understand why Zoe wouldn’t want the life he’s giving her, that he doesn’t feel things the way others do, I wanted to make him hurt and I’m not a violent person.
As this instalment came to a close, my heart was in my mouth. I sat and held my breath, my fingers and toes crossed, hoping that things wouldn’t end in disaster. I cling to the hope that Maxime will be able to redeem himself in the final book of the trilogy, Diamonds are Forever, but he has his work cut out. If he is capable of change, I believe the one person who could make him even want to try is Zoe.
“I lie awake, my heart thundering in my chest as I hold the woman who makes me feel, the only person in the world who makes me fear”
“WOW”!!! This again is a beautifully written book which deals with some very gut wrenching and intense emotions, it pulls you right into the two main characters and their story. You need to read Diamonds in the dust to experience the full impact of this fantastic trilogy and yes yet another cliffhanger at the end, my heart is in pieces
The chemistry between Maxime and Zoe is undeniable, they also have a fascinating connection too, once you bypass all Maximes lies, l absolutely loved witnessing the turmoil that obviously Maxime is putting himself through ( all because he feels he can’t demonstrate love), he is definitely protective and wants Zoe, just when you think the tide is turning he puts his barriers up again, just what game is he playing, but most of all how will it play out??? Zoe is wholeheartedly in love with Maxime, but where will this end??, is her heart strong enough to cope with all that Maxime is putting her through?? I am absolutely loving this series, my mind is buzzing with all the possibilities of where this story will go, but I’m not placing any bets as no doubt Charmaine Pauls has something up her sleeve and I need to prepare myself mentally and emotionally for the unexpected!! I was given this as an ARC by the author in exchange for a voluntary honest review which I was happy to provide.
Five shining stars sparkling with its own brilliance! Wow! Ms. Pauls has outdone herself with this installment of her Diamond Magnate trilogy.
I didn’t think I could become any more invested in these characters than I was at the ending of Diamonds in the Dust, but I am now totally engaged with this hero and heroine both individually and as a couple. My heart hurt for Zoe as she struggled to find something normal in this new life and when Max attempted to give it to her, my heart hurt for him as well. Their whole dysfunctional relationship had me wanting to cry.
While there is a ton of sizzle and steam, there isn’t a lot of action here and the feel of darkness is not quite as intense as in book 1. However, this never bogged down as this couple worked through their issues. The drama varies from light to heavy throughout and just when you start to think things are settling down, something new is revealed.
This story took me to a place that I never saw coming and tossed my emotions in every direction along the way. I loved that I couldn’t predict what was going to happen and as a result I’m even more clueless about what the next book will hold. Altogether, that leaves me very anxious and excited to get the next book into my greedy hands as soon as possible.
After the ending of the first book, I was dying to get my hands on the second one. What we get with the second installment of this trilogy is something so much more explosive and emotional that I could not put it down at all. The twists and turns and the jaw dropping moments. My heart was racing. My soul shattered for Zoe so much. With everything that she has endured and for what? Maxime shows a different side of himself in this one. It is endearing but also frustrating. It makes you wonder his true motives. Then when things come to light and things implode, I feel everything that Zoe did. But that girl has such a tenacity about her and keeps fighting. How things all play out and how she fights for herself was beyond amazing. As things rolled and the way the book ended, left me dying for the final book and needing answers. Honestly, this series is getting better with each book and it is very much a trilogy that needs to be read!
This middle part of the story was going along not at breakneck speed but a nice story when I realized I did not like Maxime and even now as I write this review, I am still not liking him very much. His lies just infuriated me. I really must reign it in because after all this is fiction. Zoe gives her heart and what does she get in return – not a damn thing. For the most part I always like the guy but I don’t know how Maxime is going to redeem himself. I know he will but there better be a lot of groveling. The ending (cliffhanger, yes) was perfect! For me, this is the crux of reading stories – they infuriate me and they make me love them.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.