Diamond in the Rough

By: Skye Warren

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, C J Bloom

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

I'm stepping off a nine-hour flight when it happens.

A white van. A dark hood. Every woman's worst nightmare.

"Diamond in the Rough is masterfully written, sinfully sexy, and utterly addictive! Skye Warren proves why she is the queen of dark and delicious romance." (Giana Darling, USA Today best-selling author)

Now I'm trapped in an abandoned church. The man who took me says I won't be hurt. The man in the cell next to me says that's a lie. I'll fight with every ounce of strength, but there are secrets in these walls. I'll need every single one of them to survive.

"Five glowing stars! Diamond in the Rough is the dark and dangerous world that I love from Skye Warren. You will be completely caught up in Elijah and Holly's story from the first page to the last." (New York Times best-selling author Aleatha Romig)

Diamond in the Rough is a new dark romance from New York Times best-selling author Skye Warren. Finding yourself has never been so dangerous....

©2019 Skye Warren (P)2019 Skye Warren

OH THE CHILLS & THRILLS.. & CLIFFHANGER ENDING

Of course it was brilliant, addictive and hot.. it’s Skye Warren - she’s written a twisted, suspenseful, multi-layered tale that has intrigue, tension, chemistry and sizzles oozing from the well-written chapters. As well as danger and dark devious undertones which makes you question moves, motives and just who can you trust. Because, along with children’s book author Holly, you gasp in shock and fear as she’s unceremoniously kidnapped on arrival in a foreign land at the start of a quest to find her missing sister. You marvel over SW’s abilities as a writer as she masterfully manoeuvres the tense and suspenseful plot twists.. and spins a web of truths, lies and half-truths.. and you pick up her puzzle pieces one by one and try and fit them together.

You get answers.. but then more grey areas as the storyline spins it’s gripping chills and thrills within Holly’s dark and dank prison cell. You sigh in relief that, in this nightmare situation, Holly‘s not alone.. but can this beaten bleeding man laying beside her be the same Elijah she briefly met in Paris when she was a sweet naive sixteen yr old.. and can he be trusted because she got stung by him before. The chemistry between them is still there, the pull towards him is still strong, her body responds to his touch. but he says he’s not a good man. There seems no way out for either of them.. then the dual POV plot really picks up its pace and spins it’s scenes once or twice more for Holly and for Elijah.. but where the Hell will it lead them? Well, I’ll be grabbing Part 2 just as soon as it’s released to find out.

Worth a credit? When I ‘one clicked’ this juicy delight there was no mention about a CLIFFHANGER ending so I just naively thought it was a savory, saucy short story written by a well-loved author and brought to life by two awesome narrators (.. love you Jason) so I gleefully got it. Yes, it’s creditworthy because the strong savvy, yet emotionally vulnerable, heroine braved, battled, bent.. and fell. Yes, it’s creditworthy because the emotionally damaged anti-hero struggled with his choices, revealed his dark demons and aligned his foes, his family, his feelings.. and mentally said “mine”. And yes, it’s creditworthy because the dual POV storyline holds suspense, danger, intrigue, raw dark animal attraction as well as chemistry, sex.. and more questions than answers.

✖️UPDATE✖️
THE NEXT TWO BOOKS ARE BARELY 4.5 HOURS LONG AND I’M SO FED UP SPENDING CREDITS FOR A STORY THAT’S CUT INTO SUCH SHORT BOOKS IMO FOR G R E E D!! SO SHAME ON YOU BECAUSE I SADLY WON’T BE FOLLOWING THIS COUPLE’S JOURNEY!!

MAKE a collection!!!!

The three books have been on audible for over two years. People asked about bundling them in the audible app so that we know what to purchase and what's first, second and third. It's a really good story, so I can live with with splitting one book into three so that I have to pay three credits instead of one. I think it's unethical but oh well... it's the author's decision. What I'm not OK with it pure laziness. HOW HARD IS IT TO CREATE A COLLECTION? IS IT TOO MUCH TO ADK?

Cliffhanger Alert…

This is book one of a Trilogy. The book is well written if a bit repetitive in parts. I was drawn in from the beginning & story progressed at a good pace. Looking forward to book 2. One note, it would be helpful if the books were linked in Audible as a Trilogy so folks know upfront without having to scroll thru the reviews or find out at the end of the book.

Dark, twisted, dirty perfection!

This is book 1 of a trilogy, so I am leaving this review for each book in the series for Holly & Elijah's story. Gold Mine is next. Don't pass it up!!! This love story appeals to anyone who enjoys the dark side of romance. He is dangerous and she can't get enough of his kind of danger. It's dirty, twisted, and beautiful in it's own unique way. There is a rhythm established when two people fit together to bring their darkness into the light. I Loved it! The narration is exquisite perfection, especially for such a complex romance that pulls at the strings of what should be acceptable. You want to just say it's all wrong, and give it a hard pass....but don't do it! It's deliciously exquisite dark romance that will pull you under! Dark, twisted, dirty perfection!

Quick Listen

Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable listen. I really love Jason Clarke so I’m always happen to hear him as a narrator. I haven’t listened to C J Bloom before but I think she did a great job.

The flow of the story was fine and it was interesting enough. I didn’t fall in love with the characters, and I didn’t feel completely sucked in. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t a 5 ⭐️ for me. This is my first Skye Warren read, I would read her work again.

I enjoyed the dangerous aspect of this novel, some of the steamy scenes weren’t my favorite scenes. Some of the vocabulary just didn’t work for me but the story telling was good. I appreciated the relationships that were rekindled and used throughout the story.

Love the Suspense

One trope I love is dark romance!! This was dark, suspenseful and really kept you interested in the story. Great storyline and amazing narrators. I recommend this book to all! This was my first Skye Warren book and I am so glad that I tried her book because I was not disappointed. This book does end in a cliffhanger there are 2 more books.

Loved It!

Wow. Is it hot in here or is it just me?

I really don't know why I’m surprised that I loved this book so much. Skye Warren is becoming one of my favorite authors. She has such a great writing style and has left me speechless every time I read one of her books. Elijah & Holly, our main characters are two of my newest favorite couples and Elijah is the newest member of my book boyfriend list. These two are so unique and they each have their own. I now have two new main characters that I really love. Elijah & Holly are captivating and such interesting characters I don't know what it is about them that I'm obsessed with, but it's something really good. This story was so good, I’m ready and I need more already!

I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook which always makes my reading experience even better and I have to say Jason Clarke & C J Bloom did a fantastic job at narrating this book. Both of their performances were gripping and kept me rooted in my seat. I truly didn't want to stop listening at all, even if it was to take a short break. I thought they made it easy to follow along and really kept me interested.

In my humble opinion, if you like reading dark romance and/or love Skye Warrens books, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’ll leave you breathless with your jaw to the floor and ready to jump into book two.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

On the edge of your seat suspense!

This book went from zero to hundred in a blink of an eye! The book starts off with the prequel so we know how Holland and Ellijah meet.

Fast forward years later and they are back together but not in a good way. Holland is kidnapped when she flies to Paris to find her sister who has gone missing. Holland is brought to the same place that Ellijah is at. It takes them a moment to put together the pieces of the puzzle.

The story is full of suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. This is a dark and sexy romance that is hot and you’re not going to want to stop until the very last sentence. Holland and her sister, London, have a close bond. But there’s also some secrets that Holland finds out along the way. But Ellijah has own secrets too. And I’m all for them. It adds to his character. He’s gruffy and alpha, two of my favorites.

I was given an audio code to listen to the audiobook version of this book. It was narrated by Jason Clarke and CJ Bloom. Both were the perfect choice for this story. Jason has a gruffy voice that makes suspense romance books even better. And I love CJ’s voice, she gets into the character and you feel like you’re right there with her.

The book does end on a cliffhanger because it’s a trilogy. All three books are out so dive right in for this wild ride!

Dark, Intense, Steamy Ride!!

Wow! Diamond in the Rough by Skye Warren was an intense, dark, and steamy ride. This audio is narrated by CJ Bloom and Jason Clarke.

I love the journey Holly and Elijah have in this story, and it is only the beginning. By chance encounter in Paris, these two meet. Holly starts as just a sweet, innocent sixteen year old on vacation with her family. Elijah is a so called security guard at Louvre Museum. They meet and there is instant attraction. Eight years pass and the two are incidentally thrown together in a intense, dark situation. The attraction and passion is still very much present although for Holly knowing who to trust is a big issue.

CJ Bloom is amazing as always in her performance of Holly. Her and Jason both do a fantastic job with accents and distinguishing different voices among side characters. Jason's performance is spot on of Elijah conveying all his determination to protect Holly, and his conflicted viewpoint of doing what is right. I love that with Jason, you never have to guess who is talking, and his female voice is amazing!! Yes, the Jason growl is in this book!

Overall, I really enjoyed book 1 of this trilogy. It does end on a cliffhanger, as do most romantic suspense thrillers in a trilogy. I'm looking forward to listening to Gold Mine next to see where this story goes!

Action packed & suspenseful

I didn’t think I would love this story but it truly surprised me! It was captivating, suspenseful, and intense type of read. Holly and Elijah is a steamy couple that have full of secrets that slowly reveal through the chapter. You can’t stop reading/listening to it at all. You are truly hungry for more thrills yet don’t forget, this is dark & twisted as well. I barely go for dark romance but the narrators, Jason Clarke and CJ Bloom, are so good as well the writing was superb to me! Yup, a good pack of action, a healthy dose of seduction and gritting moments. Keep in mind, however, some scenes might trigger you. Give it a shot! I did and I didn’t regret doing so!

Gritty and intense... hot!!!!!

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!!

gripping

Loved this story and the audio contained the prequel aswell which was a nice little bonus , I went in this story blind but became absolutely hooked and can't wait to listen/read the next book in the series to find out what happens next it starts off quite light in the prequel but once the main story gets going its definitely a slightly darker read which I absolutely loved
The narrators did an amazing job and I would definitely recommend the audio version

I'm hooked!

Oh, wow. I couldn’t inhale DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH by Skye Warren fast enough. It’s gritty, raw and filled to the brim with mystery and intrigue. I was hooked from the very first page – long before I even realized this is a spin-off of sorts from her book WANDERLUST, which was the first book I’ve ever read – and loved – by this author.

I loved everything about this one – the prequel, where Holly meets Elijah in France eight years prior and realizes he’s so much more than meets the eye, and then the chance meeting (or is it?) of them again under more than dire circumstances, when she’d only attempted to find her missing sister … Even with the knowledge of their previous encounter years ago, Elijah remains elusive and an utter enigma. Who is he really? Can she really trust him? Or would she be better off without him?

It’s been a while since a character kept me guessing as much as Elijah did – still does – and I love every damn second of it, while simultaneously cursing him for being so inscrutable. Add to that heart-pounding suspense, twists and turns to leave you reeling and off-the-charts chemistry between him and Holly, a heroine so brave and strong, yet utterly charming and sweet with her retellings of her stories as a children’s author. So, yeah, I’m completely hooked, craving to find out what the future has in store for these two.

The story is brought to life by the narrator duo of CJ Bloom and Jason Clarke. CJ Bloom perfectly portrays feisty and determined Holly, whereas Jason Clarke breathes life into Elijah with his amazingly growly, broody voice that only enhances his character’s charisma and enigma further. I need more!

Elijah and Holly!

Holly’s attempts to find her missing sister take a disastrous turn when she finds herself abducted and being held prisoner. It becomes a mixed blessing when she finds out that she has a fellow captor but seeing the abuse that he has endured doesn’t bode well for either one of them.

Elijah is a man of mystery who doesn’t allow many people close. When he finds out that she is girl he met briefly years earlier and hasn’t forgotten he will do anything to protect her and find a way out of the situation with no consideration of the consequences.

The characters are compelling, the intrigue keeps you guessing, the chemistry between them is off the charts and the captivating storyline has surprises you don’t see coming. It all escalates into a cliffhanger that leaves you wondering what the future holds for his couple. I thought that the narrators did a great job at bringing out the conflict that they were both feeling in respect to each other and where they thought their responsibilities lay.

Wanderlust meets a rough Diamonds

Oh wow! My favorite book of Skye Warren's is Wanderlust. I believe it might have been her first book. It is a truly dark book that was one of those books that stays with you. Well Diamonds in the Rough is a sequel of sorts. It is about the children of the couple in that story. The focus is on their youngest daughter Holland (Holly). Their family trip to Paris turns into quite an adventure for the teenage Holly as she meets a young handsome security guard named Elijah at the Louvre.

So a dangerous love affair begins between them years later that includes international spies and a mystery surrounding Em's missing sister Paige. I feel almost guilty for loving how steamy this book was. Very different from Wanderlust but still something so forbidden about it. It gives you the feels and tingles and makes you wonder what would have happened to the teenage Elijah and Holly had things gone differently?

Skye really gives a good plot to sink your teeth into and make you look forward to the next and next book in the series. Great characters and story that makes this well worth a credit! Can't wait for the next one!

More!!! More!!! More!!!!

Gritty, dark and delicious, Skye Warren writes her first book in the spinoff of the North Security trilogy. We met Elijah before and I am so glad we get his story. Starting with the prequel Hidden Gems, we get to hear when Elijah and Holly first met in France. Smitten with him, Holly finds out he is not exactly who she thought he was. Now 8 years later, she is going back to France to find her elusive sister London, only to be kidnapped and find out out her cell mate is the infamous Elijah! She finds him beaten and stabbed and our sorry really takes off from here. Thrilling suspense, twist and turns and off the charts passion, Skye Warren delivers a story I could not stop listening to. The lack of sleep is well worth it as these two keep us guessing. Elijah is the ultimate protective alpha, bruised and bleeding and still he keeps her safe. Holly, the children's author has grit. She is brave, but in a position question who she can trust. And the ending just leaves us wanting more. Questions still need answering, can she trust Elijah? What has London been up to? And where will it all lead? I can't wait for book 2! I need to get it queued up as soon as possible!

Narration of this story is impeccable. Skye Warren has two seasoned storytellers brining this trilogy to life. CJ Bloom shines as Holly. Feisty and passion flow from her as she fights for her freedom. I love everything she performs. Jason Clarke comes in as Elijah. Broody, tender and courageous, he pulls out all the stops giving us the perfect portal of Elijah. Looking forward to their next collaboration.

4.25 stars

4.25 stars

This author has already written one of my favourite books of the year, so when this came to my attention I had to have it.

This is action packed from the first chapter. (There is a prequel novella called Hidden Gem that you really should read that was included in my copy, but is available to read now) It rarely stops until the end. I wouldn't call this a captive romance exactly, but it as delicious as it is dark.
All I can really say about this is I was here for all the twists and turns and I didn't see that ending coming. No way. The audio is fire. Ms. Warren got some A+ narrators to voice Holly and Elijah. I really should continue this series because it was a WILD RIDE. I volunteered to review a complimentary audio copy. All opinions are my own.