Diamonds in the Dust: A Diamond Magnate Novel

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.

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.

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 story line 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.