Diamond in the Rough

Diamond in the Rough is an absolutely perfect title for this one, but at the same time, it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what this book is about. True to form, Skye Warren pulls you in from the very beginning, and she doesn't let go - not even after the last line has been read. The story is gripping, it's gritty, it's dark, and it's intense - crazy intense. This is one of those books that had I not been listening to it, I would've been white-knuckling my Kindle with each new twist and turn - and there are certainly a few of those. Elijah and Holly have terrific chemistry right from the start, and it has the feel of a magnetic force, pulling them together even when they might not be the best for each other. Skye Warren certainly has a gift for bringing out those feelings in her characters, and the attraction between these two is almost palpable. As if the story isn't good enough on its own, Jason Clarke and C J Bloom breathe life into Elijah and Holly, and they do it wonderfully. Between the writing and the narration, Diamond in the Rough is an unputdownable story right up to that last page, a last page that left me chomping at the bit for the next installment in this trilogy. And that's the closest thing to a spoiler I'm going to give. Basically, if you enjoy dark romance with elements of suspense, this is a must-read, one that I highly recommend.

Everything in their romance seemed to happen too soon and not believable. The word phrases and sentences were oddly placed, making it sometimes very difficult to follow. There were several times when I was down right confused and had to re-read just to barely comprehend. The romance scenes had no depth and they were basically skimmed over almost every time. This book didn't do it for me, and I skipped on reading or purchasing any other books in this series.

***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ***** Audiobooks like Diamonds in the Rough make me want go and read the the follow up books (Goldmine and Silver Lining) as fast as I can. That says a lot for the audiobook becauseI don't read nearly as much as I used too. Audio is really my preference so it takes a lot for me to want to rush right out to read the books... that isn't me anymore!! Diamond in the Rough was high action and super intense. Holly and Elijah are deep into some dangerous stuff! There's something about diamonds that just amp up the suspense and stressors... and I really found the story intense! (PS I just saw Gold Mine is out on audio too SQUEEEELL) These narrators are so good! Jason Clarke just has a way with his narration. I get pulled into his deep, melodic voice. He really seems to channel Elijah and just gets him. CJ Bloom rocked Holly's personality. I really felt her performance... she brought everything out that Holly was going through. I really loved this narration!!