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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10+ fabulous freaking stars!
Where to start…? Book 2 in this trilogy was absolutely amazing from the first page! Charmaine Paul’s left me with my mouth hanging open in book one, Diamonds in the Dust, and left me with my heart pounding out of my chest with Diamonds in the Rough!!!
This dark Mafia trilogy is a must read for lovers of this genre! This trilogy must be read in order!!! Now the cruel wait for the final book, Diamonds are Forever!
What can I say!!! I am furious!!! I love it!!! I am angry!!! I can’t wait till the next book!!! Yup. That is what I will say. All of them. This book is fabulous!!! I thought the first one was good. But dang it. This one was even better.
Zoe and Maxime continue their adventure in this second book. Oh by the way. If you haven’t read the first one then you need to because you don’t want to miss anything when it comes to this couple. I love them both!!! The chemistry is crazy between these too. I absolutely love them.
Of course if you can’t tell I would definitely recommend this book. I wish I could give it more than five stars. It is really that good.
I can’t wait for the next one!!!
This book completely blew my mind, glued it back together then blew it away again. The writing was amazing. The characters and chemistry were so good. Love Charmaine’s writing.
Wow! This story makes you feel all the drama that Zoe and Maxime are going through. It is stunningly well written and it has so much depth and personality to it. Yes, at times I think Zoe is a bit naive and wish she had a stronger backbone but her personality is so kind and caring that you absolutely feel her pain and anguish. The story has me anxious to find how where it is leading. Yes, it does end in a cliffhanger but the ride to get there is so worth it. The emotional pain and sorrow, the bit of action and the secrets that are revealed make such a great story. It is most definitely worth reading and doesn’t disappoint. The series is a must read!
Zoe has been through difficult situations all her life, but managed to overcome them and survive. She used to have dreams and hope for the future, but that was before Maxime. Now her heart and her very existence are in the hands of a mysterious man, who has no qualms to possess her in his own terms. She has given him everything and feels that all she got in return is betrayal! She can’t live without him, but staying with him seems unbearable. Can she escape her fate and what is the price she will have to pay?
Gripping and breathtaking, Diamonds in the Rough is brimming with passion and angst! Zoe is so strong and resilient, I admired her so much! Her heart is breaking but she finds the will to pick up her pieces and fight for her survival! Maxime has never felt love. He wants to protect Zoe from his enemies, but he is unable to protect her from himself. He feels for her what he has not felt for any woman, but he can’t give in to his feelings. Their life is filled with danger and violence. What will the future bring?
Charmaine has delivered the second book of this trilogy and I am telling you this book has me reeling!
The entire story has me so invested in the H and h that my heart was racing right through the end. If you are looking for a good dark romance/action story, this is it!
I was honored to receive this ARC for an honest review.
This one went much quicker than the first in the trilogy. I just couldn’t put it down!!!
Unfortunately I can’t say much more as with it being the middle book, every morsel of information is crucial and spoilerish.
Definitely a must click!
Charmaine Pauls has thrown me for a loop. She gave me just a touch of sunshine and hope only to wrench the knife deeper into my heart. I am so invested in this story and my heart hurts, my soul craves more, and I’m just praying that justice, Fate, and love intervene!
Maxime and Zoe seem to have met on equal ground and both are trying to survive this explosive and infernal situation. Zoe has come to terms with her fate and decides to accept what is offered in order to exist. Maxime finds moments of happiness and even more moments of worry and fear. This woman is more than he can accept or understand.
But as is norm for Maxime, trouble lurks at every turn. However, he’ll protect what’s his, the one thing that is truly his…Zoe. Zoe soon learns that her calm before the storm is about to become a brutal awakening that may just drown her heart and soul.
Zoe simply breaks my heart. Her strength and endeavor give us a heroine that we will our own strength to. Maxime, he is so complicated. I want to crush him, make him feel the true sting of life and pain. And then I want to remind him that he’s more than his name. He can be stronger. He can be what Zoe needs. He deserves to feel love.
This is Book 2 and once again, I was left breathless with this cliffhanger. So many possibilities, so many dreams, so much damage awaits. I anxiously awaiting the conclusion. Bravo Charmaine Pauls.
Charmaine Pauls has weaved an intense continuation of Zoe and Maxime’s story.
Oh how my heart broke for Zoe – all the things that Max kept from her to make her happy and they ended up doing the opposite. She wanted to fight, to stand her ground, to not fall for him but it was pointless – her heart wants what it wants and in the end her heart broke.
Maxime is a guy you grow to love, then hate. Just as he controls Zoe’s life, someone else controls part of his and he can’t back out on the deal he’s made. The things he does for Zoe, he does to make her happy. He does care for her and he does want her but he can’t love her the way she wants him to – the why to that becomes clear.
Diamonds in the Rough is an intense, emotional roller coaster of a journey for Zoe and Maxime. A brilliantly written story (by far my favourite of Charmaine Pauls – so far that may change with the last book of the trilogy) which has left me shook. It’s taken me a few days to pull together after that cliffhanger ending to actually write this review.
Now to wait for the final part in September, it’s going to be a long one.
Just in case anyone thought that Zoe and Maxime’s story couldn’t get more gut wrenching or intense, This author delivers book two in this couples series and ratchets up the feels to an epic level. If you have not read book one, Diamonds In The Dust yet, you need to. This is not a standalone book. It is in fact, the second book in a series of three. I am loving this series so much!! It is dark, emotional, steamy, gritty, dramatic, disturbing and filled with twists that will have your jaw on the floor. The characters are complex and compelling. I’m not going to lie, they both inspire conflicting emotions in me. I waffle between frustration, sympathy, annoyance and affection. The position that Zoe finds herself in (through no fault of her own) makes my heart ache for her, but sometimes her actions, wants and expectations made me want to ask her what she is thinking, while other times I am left just wanting to sit with her and be her friend. As for Maxime, the waters are even muddier. By no stretch of the imagination is he a good man. But he is a bad man that can do good things. He is hard and often brutal. Still I worry about him and for him. The glimmers of gentleness and of genuine caring that Zoe inspires in him are astonishing and beautiful. Yet, even after finishing book two, I feel that there are large chunks of vital info that we need to know to truly understand this character. Its right there, just out of reach but I can feel it and hopefully we’ll get that in the third book. Do try to be prepared because there are plenty of bombshells as this story continues to unfold and of course there is a emotional and dramatic cliffhanger waiting at the end. I can’t wait for book three and “fingers crossed” the HEA that I so want and wish for these two to have. I am posting a sincere review of my own accord.
Man! I can’t wait to read book 3! Maxime and Zoe are like fire! Hot! Hot! Hot! Zoe is a strong heroine and I admire her. Maxime has underestimated her. I didn’t know what to expect but I was surprised at the depth of deceit that Zoe uncovered. This book had such good descriptions. I found myself imagining things the book described. The mafia family is a hot mess all around. I cant wait to read what happens next! I highly recommend this book and series.
I am totally loving this series!!
Love, what the heck is that?
I didn’t think I could go from adoring a man to wanting to shank a man in a matter of a book! Wowza…Did Maxime pull a 180 on me. Zoe is the perfect match for Maxime, why oh why does everything prevent them from being a couple.
Devoured this book in one setting because I will admit, this series is addicting! The train wreck that you cant stop looking at… My heart sunk… but I am truly hopeful for book 3 to give me gentle CPR and resuscitate me back to life!
Way to go, Charmaine Pauls!!! You nailed it with this book. Now, bring on Diamonds are Forever, STAT!!!!!
Diamonds in the Rough is the second story in the Diamonds Are Forever trilogy by Charmaine Pauls. Diamonds in the Rough ensnared me from the beginning. I could not set this early copy I received down. By the end, I was bouncing in my seat.
The men are very dominating, but the leads are not abusive to their women. It may upset readers sensitive to those topics, but I enjoy the depictions. Charmaine Pauls creates the most intriguing dark and sensual characters.
After a tumultuous start, Zoe accepts her place with Maxime. His dominance becomes a passionate craving for her, and the couple begins the semblance of a relationship. When Maxime neglects to inform Zoe of crucial personal issues, Zoe has to determine what compromises she is prepared to make.
Random Spoilery Thoughts: Maxime broke my heart. Zoe struggles, and when she finally reaches some peace with her complex situation, he consistently makes it worse. I believe this will be a harsh lesson for him, especially when those feelings he doesn’t think exist smack him in the face. I absolutely cannot wait for the third Diamonds are Forever.
6 beautiful stars
This story twisted my mind and at 70% I was having heart palpitations.
My heart is breaking for Zoe. All she wants is someone to love her and to be able to love back.
I am so angry at Maxime. How can one man be so cold and cruel. He is willing to give her everything except the one thing she craves and needs.
Another ending that was totally unexpected and it leaves me wanting more!
I loved this one starts off right where book one Diamonds in the Dust ended. I totally didn’t expect the plot twist though. I’d be FURIOUS if I was Zoe. I’m loving how fast paced and action packed this story is and I can’t wait to read the conclusion.
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.
This book picks up right where Diamonds in the Dust left off. I’m not sure how I feel about Maxime. The way he treats Zoe, and constantly says she’s his light to his dark is actually romantic. But denying he’ll love her? We find out in this book about Maxime’s emotional problem. But I’m having a hard time buying it because he’s not even trying to acknowledge his true feelings. He’s accepting his diagnoses and that’s that. Everything he says and does for Zoe proves his love. Zoe’s pure heart and fairytale fantasy was cruelly ripped from her in the worst way possible. I broke right along with her at the end and I’m still trying to recover. I’m not sure how,or if, Maxine can ever make up for his betrayal. This author has such a unique gift of writing dark romances that want you to hate the H but you ultimately just can’t. I’m not sure how I can wait until September for Diamonds are Forever. Charmaine Pauls, you nailed another perfect dark romance!
OMG Charmaine what have you done to me!! That cliffhanger UGH! I love this trilogy and now I am so anxious to see what happens next. Diamonds in the rough leave off where book one ends. We continue with Maxime and Zoe story. We see Zoe fall completely in love with Maxime. But he is not capable of loving anyone! We see the struggle Zoe constantly has with her self and her feelings. I feel so bad for what has happened to her. I can feel that betrayal, Charmaine you know where to hit them where it hurts. I can not wait until September for the final book. Thank you Charmaine for this series. It is phenomenal!
Wow! This. Was. Hot. Definitely one of the hottest dark romance stories I’ve ever read. If there’s something that stands out among other things about Zoe and Maxime, it’s that they can’t take their hands off of each other. Their attraction and connection becoming powerful and strong in this second book.
I enjoyed ‘Diamonds in the Rough’ and totally understand what Zoe is feeling and why. Maxime has been beyond clever making her depend on him and only him. I liked Zoe way of thinking and acting. She has made the best of her situation to survive and find a bit of happiness in her life. She’s learning more details about Maxime’s “job” and the dangers that it entails. And still she finds the way to adapt and keep going.
And it’s been also interesting to know more aspects of Maxime’s controlling and manipulative personality. Regarding Zoe but also concerning his family and his enemies. Poor Zoe! Life with Maxime is becoming complicated and she’s going through some hard situations but she’s strong, determined, smart and brave enough to come up with a plan that maybe could save her from all the angst and suffering that she finds into.
Maxime needs a good lesson to learn and hopefully he will. Go Zoe! Can’t wait for book 3 to find out more!
*I voluntarily read this book for an honest review*
OMG! Dark romance is my thing and Charmaine Pauls is knocking this trilogy out of the park! Just when I think she couldn’t possibly write a better story, bam! She proves me wrong. Diamonds in the Rough is book 2 in the Diamonds are Forever trilogy and it is fantastic! Maxime is such a great anti hero! Love him, hate him. All of the feels are there. I loved this book so much and highly recommend this series.
5 stars isn’t enough!! Diamonds in the Rough was 100% amazing! Charmaine Pauls’ writing is original, deep and emotional. This book had you pinned to the couch, devouring every word as fast as you could read, making your heart break at times and palpitate at other times! She writes so that you feel the characters’ pain, their longings, their fear and their hope.
Maxime and Zoe continue their journey in the 2nd book of the Diamonds are Forever trilogy. This book was even more gut wrenching than the first as we get to know the characters better. Maxime is a psychiatrist’s dream come true, and I want to just figure him out and wake him up! What a heroine we have in Zoe!! My heart just goes out to her. She’s finding herself in a world where she’s alone, she’s stuck, she betrayed, and yet she continues to show such strength. I love the ending and cannot wait for book 3!!