Ayoh - Shop now
Out of Print--Limited Availability.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Diamonds in the Dust: A Diamond Magnate Novel (Diamonds are Forever Trilogy) Paperback – May 11, 2020

4.4 out of 5 stars 648 ratings

A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE

Men like us, we
see things.
We
do things, things that make us unfeeling.

That's the price of power and money, of living
la belle vie and running the French mafia. Then she came along like a pretty wildflower pushing through the cracks on a dirty pavement - fragile yet resilient, a breath of beauty among the filth. She was supposed to be just another job, a nameless person I was to pluck from her life and hand to my brother, nothing but a pawn in the gamble of our diamond business.

There's a psychological label for men like us.
We lack empathy and guilt.
We do
things to have what we want, things that make flowers wilt.

* Diamonds in the Dust is Book 1 of the Diamonds are Forever trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) will be released on 14 July 2020, and Diamonds are Forever (Book 3) on 15 September 2020.

Other novels in the Diamond Magnate collection:

Standalone Novel
Beauty in the Broken

Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) - 19 May 2020
Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) - 14 July 2020
Diamonds are Forever (Book 3) - 15 September 2020
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brilliantly written dark scorcher of a book, Diamonds in the Dust is my favorite read of 2020!" - Anna Zaires, New York Times Bestselling Author

"A sensational story which races towards an explosive ending like a ride on a runaway train, where you can see the crash coming but can't close your eyes or get off. Violent & addictive, it's a pulse pounding marathon of pain & pleasure. Passionate love at war with passionate hate and you don't get to choose sides." -
Book Bistro Blog

"This can't-put-it-down, beautifully crafted dark romance is intense with flawless and feel-worthy writing that pulled me to the edge, leaving me no choice but to surrender to this seductive and spellbinding story. I was a captive to this high-octane, hold-your-breath book. I lived and breathed this Beauty and the Beast-like story, which stole every breath, every thought, and every feel like a thief in the night. Pure addiction." -
Bookalicious Babes Blog

"Charmaine beautifully captures the battle of wills between one who can't feel and one who feels deeply and relentlessly. Her storytelling is not just a sequence of intriguing events. It is a journey into the minds of two very thoroughly envisioned characters who defy type-casting. Maxime and Zoe's thoughts, feelings, and perceptions are vividly conjured even as they shift and grow and re-evaluate their positions. Her words are pure poetry." -
Buffyanna, Goodreads

"Charmaine Pauls has written another breathtaking, mind-blowing, rip my heart out and leave me on the edge of my seat story! This trilogy takes place in the same Diamond Magnate world as Beauty in the Broken (which I recommend reading as a complement to this trilogy although it is not required). This world is a brutal one with many evil characters to go along with the anti-hero and heroine. The characters are so intricately developed that they immediately draw out the anticipated feelings." -
K. Lynn, Goodreads

"Delicious, Dark, Devious... Charmaine Pauls does it again!!! If you are a fan of Dark Romances, then you are in for a wild ride. You will be intrigued to understand what motivates the anti-hero Maxime and feel deeply for the innocent, naive and brave heroine Zoe. It is such a well crafted story that will pull you in and not let go until the very end. The psychological manipulation is done with such finesse, something that Charmaine Pauls excels at, with plenty of dark elements to keep you on your toes." -
D K, Goodreads

"As always, Charmaine Paul's writing creates intrigue, urgency and completely envelops my mind when I'm reading her novels." -
Becky, Goodreads

"Explosive and unpredictable with intriguing and complex characters." -
Sheena, Goodreads

"Maxime Belshaw is everything..." -
Book Loving Fairy-Blog

"Just Wow Fabulous Crazy good." -
Jamillah Smith, Goodreads

From the Author

Other novels in the Diamond Magnate collection:

Standalone Novel
Beauty in the Broken

Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) - 19 May 2020
Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) - 14 July 2020
Diamonds are Forever (Book 3) - 15 September 2020

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B088GMJ369
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 11, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8635178751
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.55 x 8 inches
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 648 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Charmaine Pauls
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Join Charmaine's newsletter on her website to be informed of new book releases.

Charmaine loves to write dark and edgy romance that will melt both your e-reader and your heart.

She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband whisked her away to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.

When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
648 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book captivating, with one review noting its cliffhanger ending that keeps readers engaged. The characters are well-developed and beautifully written, while the pacing is engaging. They appreciate the book's sexiness, with one review describing how the diamonds dazzled.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

19 customers mention "Story quality"16 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as captivating with unexpected twists and cliffhangers.

"...because I love the way she writes her characters and structures her stories...." Read more

"...The story was well-paced, the characters are beautifully written (yes, even the psychopath Maxime)...." Read more

"Really enjoyed reading this very well written and interesting book and highly recommend that you read it as well...." Read more

"...; along with fascinating settings and a well thought out and executed storyline. Charmaine Pauls is a sublime storyteller...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and beautifully written.

"...The thing with Charmaine's books is that the characters are consistent...." Read more

"...The story was well-paced, the characters are beautifully written (yes, even the psychopath Maxime)...." Read more

"...All the characters are strong in their own ways, however their weakness are often painful to themselves and others...." Read more

"...This is a well written book with complex and intriguing characters...." Read more

3 customers mention "Attention span"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning they were hooked from the first page and finished it in two days.

"...Fully developed characters that capture and keep your attention; along with fascinating settings and a well thought out and executed storyline...." Read more

"...They literally have me hooked from the first page and dying for the next one. I'm so curious to see where this next book is going to take us." Read more

"...With all the things I have to do in a day, I still read this awesome book in two days. I just couldn't help it. Can't wait to start the next!" Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging and meaningful, with one customer noting how it makes them desensitized to anything and everything.

"...Her heroes are scary and fascinating (or fascinatingly scary), not because of the violence they are capable of, but because they usually keep a very..." Read more

"...who is sexy, ruthless, emotionless, dark, broody, and desensitized to anything and everything...." Read more

"...Uniquely crafted tale and plot. Intense and engaging. Odd for me in a surprisingly good way...." Read more

3 customers mention "Sexiness"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sexy, with one mentioning how the diamonds dazzled.

"...charming Zoe was hoping for, but instead got a mafia prince; who is sexy, ruthless, emotionless, dark, broody, and desensitized to anything and..." Read more

"...how to describe this book except for it’s dark, haunting, sad and lovely. I feel love for both characters...." Read more

"These diamonds dazzled!..." Read more

Pure dark perfection!
5 out of 5 stars
Pure dark perfection!
Be forewarned Diamonds in the Dust is the first book in what will be a darkly addictive series that you won’t be able to put down. When you finish reading this first book, you will want more. Diamonds in the Dust is the first book in the series Diamonds are Forever Trilogy. To make this book more addictive, as if that is possible, it ends in a cliffhanger- but don’t worry, the next book, Diamonds in the Rough, will be available July 14, 2020, so we don’t have to wait too long. Diamonds in the Dust is set in the same beautifully dark world as Beauty in the Broken, but if you haven’t read this book, you can still enjoy Diamonds in the Dust. However, I recommend that you read Beauty in the Broken. In Diamonds in the Dust, we are introduced to the beautiful, spunky, resilient heroine Zoe Hart. Zoe has not had an easy life; growing up with an abusive father and a weak mother, her brother Damian has been her only savior. Unfortunately, he has been imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, leaving Zoe to fend for herself. Living amid poverty with barely enough to eat, Zoe clings to a childhood dream. Zoe is a dreamer, and this makes her vulnerable, but she is also a survivor. Ms. Pauls has created a near-perfect heroine full of depth and surprises. “One day, I’ll find my prince, and marry him, and be a princess, and live in a castle, and we’ll live happily ever after.” Ahhh, Zoe be careful what you wish for; you may get your prince but not precisely what you expected. Maxime Belshaw is defiantly not what she expected. Maxime is a hard, cruel, and dominant man who takes what he wants. He is an integral part of his family’s business – and that business is controlling the diamond trade. He plans to dominate the diamond trade by any means, including kidnapping Zoe. By kidnaping Zoe, Maxime plans to manipulate her brother, who, even from prison, has significant control of the diamond business. He was supposed to turn Zoe over to his brother after he kidnaps her; however, he becomes obsessed and fascinated with her innocence and goodness, and he can’t seem to let her go. “She’s a pretty little daisy that pushes through a crack on a dirty pavement, resilient and beautiful, surviving against all odds.” “Maybe, just maybe, if I know her secret, I’ll know how to be happy.” There are times in this book where you can feel Zoe’s goodness having a positive effect on Maxime. I had the feeling he wants to be a better man and let Zoe see not just his hard side but all of him, but he is so afraid to let his tenderness be seen. “The man I’m about to accept as my lover is harsh, unfeeling, unattractive, and a kidnapper. I don’t understand why he went to so much trouble for me…” So, he falls back to his old habits again, creating a delicious push and pull between them. The intense feelings that Maxime has for Zoe are palpable throughout this book. “Someday, she’ll long for me to touch her like this. There will come a day she won’t have to simply tolerate my touch. When I am done with her, she’s going to need it like a drug.” Through the beautiful writing of Ms. Pauls, we feel the stark difference between Zoe and Maxime; Zoe is warmth, light, and grace; Maxime, in contrast, is coldhearted, dark, and crude. This difference makes their relationship explosive, but it’s not just their sexual attraction. Ms. Pauls perfectly develops these two characters; they are complicated and intense, full of pain and desires, and they fit perfectly together. Ms. Pauls has done it again; Diamonds in the Dust is pure dark perfection. From the first page, Diamonds in the Dust goes from zero to one hundred miles an hour and doesn’t let up until the last word. A story that keeps you swooning over this antihero and, most importantly, keep you hoping for the that happily ever after that, this beautiful heroine so richly deserves. Ms. Pauls, as usual, writes beautifully, immersing the reader in a world full of exquisite darkness that will test your limits and have you asking for more. Diamonds in the Dust is action-packed, and before I knew it, I quickly finished this book. Diamonds in the Dust goes to the top of my 2020 list for romance books. I highly recommend you put this at this book at the top of your must-read book list. * Please note the quotes in my review are subject to change once the book is published. * ** I kindly received this book from Charmaine Pauls. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. **
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2020
    I am always anticipating for some authors to release new books, and Charmaine Pauls is quickly becoming one of them. After zipping through her Loan Shark series and reading Beauty in the Broken, I was excited for her to release Diamonds in the Dust. I knew she would not disappoint because I love the way she writes her characters and structures her stories. After reading the blurb for Diamonds in the Dust I knew it was right up my alley, and when the book finally dropped I got to reading.

    Diamonds in the Dust is connected to her book Beauty in the Broken, and if you've read that (you really should) this book takes place a few years before Beauty in the Broken. Diamonds in the Dust is about Zoe Hart (the sister of Damian Hart, who is the male protagonist of Beauty in the Broken). Zoe Hart has been slaving away at a sweatshop after her older brother Damian was sentenced to a crime he didn't commit. Zoe is dirt poor but has dreams to be a designer. She is, as Charmaine describes her in the story, like a daisy growing on the pavement of a street. She's tough even though she might not be strong in the physical sense, and her poverty does not define her. One day walking home from work her life changes completely when two worlds collide. She is taken by a man named Maxime Belshaw and his intentions are less than stellar. Maxime knows Zoe's weakness-her love for her brother Damian-and he uses this to his advantage when he tells her to come quietly. Any rebelliousness from her and Damian will be killed in jail. Zoe is confused, terrified, and enraged as to how her brother in jail could have made an enemy of Maxime, but she does not have a choice. He makes her a deal: stay with him for a few years, and then he'll let her go.

    What may seem like a story about a rich man kidnapping a poor woman, is actually much more complex. Zoe is nothing but a pawn and there is a story within that story. Even Zoe does not know the full extent of the game Maxime is playing. When I realized his plan, I had to stop reading. Maxime may be the most unforgivable hero Charmaine has ever written, and its made even more annoying because of his confidence and disregard of Zoe's previous life. He snatches her from the only existence she's ever known and expects her to be grateful. Talk about the audacity...And Zoe, poor naive Zoe, whom I wish I could warn of her impending doom and heartache. She does not even know of the things coming for her.
    So long story short, she is trapped in a gilded cage. Like a princess in an ivory tower with all of the comforts she can desire at her fingertips, but there is no real freedom here. Nothing truly belongs to her. She's swimming with sharks now, and she is out of her depth.

    I do know this, though. Zoe is a survivor and she is tenacious. She was getting her bearings in this book, but I have a feeling that in the coming books we'll see her becoming the strong, independent female I know she can be. And Maxime...well he can go die in a fire. Seriously, for most of the book, my kindle was clutched so tightly in my hand, and I was cursing his pigheadedness. The thing with Charmaine's books is that the characters are consistent. The antihero doesn't suddenly turn into a good guy when he meets the girl, in fact, he becomes more of an antihero, and I expect Maxime to be nothing less. I didn't know quite how to contain myself after that cliffhanger, but I loved it. I like cliffhangers when done right (I know, I'm a masochist) and this one I felt was just dramatic enough. I cannot wait for the next book.
    And oh yeah, that "Italian deal" better not be what I think it is.
    16 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
    Wow, this book is dark but in a different way than other dark mafia books. Maxine makes some pretty shady decisions that would make any sane woman not trust him. Then he wants her blind trust and obedience. His inner conflict is explained a bit, but there is just too much that’s not made clear about his brother and why his family turns a blind eye to his crimes. And also no insight into Z’s brother and his POV. The book is really well written. My complaint is that it’s left in a cliff hanger, and each book is expensive for an e-book. It should all be in one book, one flat fee. Or better yet Kindle unlimited.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2020
    Maxime is a dark romance (anti-)hero after my own heart: cold, scarred (physically as well as mentally), ruthless, and brutal when cirumstances necessitate it. And he has a French accent (swoon for that alone). So it seems that in his relationship with Zoe – the heroine - he holds all the power, but although Zoe acquiesces to Maxime’s proposal for the moment, she has a core of strength that allows her to find pockets of resistance and to keep her innermost self untarnished by the things she is forced to endure and by the things Maxime makes her do (and reluctantly enjoy).

    But before I delve deeper into the story, first some warnings: this is a dark romance that contains scenes of a sexual nature and quite graphic depictions of violence and abuse. Also the relationship between hero and heroine can best be described as forced consent, so if you are triggered by any of that, by all means steer clear of the book. If, on the other hand, you are like me, this will only make you want to read the book all the more.
    Second warning: Diamonds in the Dust is the first book in a trilogy and it ends on a literal cliffhanger. The good news is that books two and three are going to be released at two month intervals, so maybe you will want to wait; me, I was unable to contain myself.

    Also, Maxime and Zoe’s story is part of the Diamond Magnate collection and as such sort of a prequel to Beauty in the Broken. It can be read as a standalone, but there is a loose connection as Zoe is Damian’s sister. So, while Damian is still in prison, Zoe etches out a living as a seamstress in Johannesburg. She is poor, but she still has hope of one day becoming a fashion designers and she still clings to an ephemeral dream of getting rescued by a white knight. That’s when Maxime crashes into her life unexpectedly, only he is no knight in shining armor, quite the opposite: he is the heir and de facto leader of a French crime family who have their hands in the South African Diamond trade, and as his family wants to gain leverage over Damian, whose influence in the business is growing even while imprisoned, they decide to take his sister as a kind of byzantine hostage. Maxime is tasked with collecting her and delivering her to the family. But Zoe’s innocence and hope that she kept even while living in squalor touches something within him, and he decides that if Zoe has to become a pawn, she could just as well become his…

    It’s difficult to put into words what exactly the qualities are that make me like – or rather crave – Charmaine Pauls’ brand of dark romance so much. I think it has to do with her ability to create the perfect tension between the dubious/forced consent position she usually places the heroine in and then showing us ways how that heroine manages to resist in small, but meaningful ways, even while outwardly surrendering. And although there is violence, the relationship between the main protagonists is always much more a battle of wills and it is definitively not one-sided. Her heroines are often put into positions where they seem to have no choice, and though in general they act sensibly and submit for the moment, they never give up and they look to (re-)assert their own agency, sometimes in dramatic ways that change the power dynamic. Her heroes are scary and fascinating (or fascinatingly scary), not because of the violence they are capable of, but because they usually keep a very tight check on their emotions and only apply violence with surgical precision.

    5 exuberant stars and counting the days until I can get my hands on part 2 of Maxime and Zoe’s story.
    88 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Epic series
    Reviewed in Australia on September 21, 2020
    This is a gritty good series. You won't wanna out it down. Dont!. Great writing, great characters. Definatly a series for the harder reader.
  • Jinxx
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2020
    I’ve never read anything from this author before, but I will from now on. Brilliant writing, captivating storyline & very in-putdownable! I literally couldn’t put this book down & as soon as I finished it I was heading to Amazon to download the next book. I would highly recommend if you like a book to keep you hooked.
  • susie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful author x
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2021
    This is one of the best series of books I have ever read together with Charmaine's next series Stolen that is so good that I had to reread. Waiting eagerly for the next instalment of stolen to be released in June x
  • Pebbles
    2.0 out of 5 stars Review for all 3 books! Disappointing
    Reviewed in Australia on October 25, 2020
    The first book was fantastic a definite 5-star rating.

    The second book 4-star rating it would have been 5 stars but the page count was a little over 200 and considering the price we should have had more to read.

    Third book 1-star rating
    While I have enjoyed the different take on this Mafia series and the arcs in both Zoe and Maxime it was really grating on me how Zoe continually complains (to herself) that Maxime doesn’t love her and never will, it was getting exhausting and I started losing interest which is a shame because, before the longevity of Zoe’s internal whining my rating would have been 5 stars ⭐️ Even now she’s still doubting Maxime after 75% and beyond of the book, it’s slowly destroying all the enjoyment of this series for me it’s so depressing, I've started skimming now just to get it the end. I’m down to 3 stars now at 87% ☹️. Eventually, about 92% of the good stuff happens but it’s too late now because I lost interest. So damned disappointed 😔 I don’t know if I’ll ever read something from this author again.
  • Jellybean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2020
    Great writing and characters. Pleasure to read. Crime family story based largely in France. Great strong crime lord, intelligent and dark. Zoe, our heroine, dealing with her situation and his actions. Looking forward to next