Diamonds in the Rough: A Diamond Magnate Novel

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 terminator 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 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

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.

And yep the Italian deal was exactly what I thought it was excuse me while I take a moment to internally dissect Maxime inch by delicious inch what a complete an utter toss-bag. Poor poor Zoe she’s certainly been put through the emotional ringer by him. His actions here actually defy all sense of compassion and empathy. It’s like he can’t understand why she would even be upset and even seems to think she’ll get over it with time: no chance their sunshine, talk about needing a big reality check. Maxime’s constant manipulations and blase attitude towards a woman that has shown him nothing but love and regard well he deserves to lose her. I hope he chokes on his regret and I for one will be watching gleefully with pure delight at all the grovelling he will have to perform to maybe win Zoe’s affections back. That aside this kept my attention throughout and I was definitely invested in the unfolding drama. This was also excellently written full of passion and heat and even when I was hating Maxime which was a lot of the time let me tell you. I was also hoping he’d have an epiphany and realise just what he held in the palm of his hand: for an intelligent bloke he wasn’t half dense at times sigh. Zoe well I just wanted her to make a stand so I was cheering her on from the sidelines when she finally decided enough was enough. This ended leaving me wanting more and I am going to be on absolute pins waiting for the final piece of this story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Diamonds in the rough (Diamonds are forever trilogy #2).