The Diamond boys love their women…even if they don’t know it at the time. Alex and Leigh-Ann struggle to find middle ground in Diamond In the Rough. And Zach has no idea that a Diamond is a Girl’s Best Friend when he sets out to prove he doesn’t need women in his life. And then there’s Max, the youngest Diamond son. He discovers all the money in the world means nothing if Julie isn’t in his life. Follow the Diamond brothers as they fall in love with three strong women who know how to give as good as they get.Edward Diamond is one of the riches men in Canada, head of the multimillion-dollar Diamond Industries in Toronto. He is also famous for his wives. He is on number 5. Or is it 6? One never knows anymore. And his wives are in it for the money more the anything else. Each of his three sons are from different wives, yet very close in age (five years apart total). The latest wife is the same age as his sons, even flirting with them! The man didn’t even have much to do with his sons until they were in their teen years, then he became very interested in them getting involved in his business ventures and even offered to send them to college and such. He is still very self involved/centered. Some legacy!
Diamond In The Rough (book 1): Alex is the eldest son of Edward Diamond. He is also very bitter; he wants nothing to do with Edward or his money. When he refused to work for Edward, Edward threatened to ‘cut him off' and Alex said please do. Thus Alex started and runs his own independent ranch out in Manitoba. He is only at his dad’s eightieth birthday party for his mom’s benefit. This is where he meets Leigh-Ann.
Leigh-Ann is the current administrative assistant to Edward, really doing everything for him and his wife, not just work related, and very unappreciated. When Alex’s brother, Max, doesn’t seem to take the hint that she is not interested in him, she comes up with the idea of coming onto Alex as a way to get Max to back off so she can keep her job. She had no idea this would backfire and Alex would take her up on her offer. Nor did she expect to find him attractive. The last thing she expected was for Edward’s wife to push her into Alex’s arms so she could have some free time (when Leigh-Ann was to be watching her). This ends up with them spending the night together. And Leigh-Ann loosing her job, since Edward’s wife puts the blame on Leigh for her being out too late (not wanting to get caught).
Alex offers Leigh a job on his ranch. She thinks it is a true ad min job, he is thinking more ‘bed warmer.’ They end up finding a compromise of the two, esp. since his ranch does need help out in the middle of nowhere and she doesn’t have any other offers. But it is only a two month job and he will have to decide if he can admit to wanting more.
Diamond In The Rough is a little predictable, but has some cute parts. There are a few problems with the set up, but that is just being nit-picky. I did like that Leigh took on the ad min job anyway, even after starting a relationship with Alex, and didn’t just sit back and be ‘the girlfriend.’ And the baby calves are cute (yes, you would have to read the story to get the picture).
Diamond, A Girl’s Best Friend (book 2): Zach may be the middle son, but he acts like the responsible older child (since all the boys were raised by their own mothers, they have only child attitudes as well). He has taken on the presidency/CEO of Diamond Industries and all the pressures of running the company. This playboy extraordinaire has decided to take a break from women but needs a date for his brother’s wedding. So he asks his best friend Brianna, who he believes is a lesbian. And since she is gay, she is ‘safe’ while he is taking a break, no matter how attracted he is to her.
Brianna may be getting over her bad breakup with Don (Zach thinks its Dawn), but she has always had a crush on Zach. She thinks they are best friends because he would never be interested in someone like her. He talks her into going to his brother’s wedding with him, saying a change in scenery would be good for her. During the gathering, she finds out he thinks she is gay after his father announces it to everyone! She sets out to prove him wrong by seducing him, yet he thinks he just pulled her over to ‘his side of the fence’, not that she isn’t gay. It takes a while for him to finally get the message, but that leaves their friendship up in the air. And now they have to wonder if both have real feelings for the other as well…
Diamond, A Girl’s Best Friend is fast and cute. Talk about mixed signals! Zach deciding to “take a break” when he probably really wanted Bri all along but though he couldn’t have her. And Bri thinking Zach didn’t like her, when he kept cool cause he thought her gay. Yet it doesn’t come across like the comedy of errors I make it sound, really. And I loved how Brio “take a break” when he probably really wanted Bri all along but though he couldn’t have her. And Bri thinking Zach didn’t like her, when he kept cool cause he thought her gay. Yet it doesn’t come across like the comedy of errors I make it sound, really. And I loved how Bri gets even with the father (and Zach) for announcing that she is gay to everyone. That was guts-y and great! This was my favorite of the three stories.
A Diamond For Christmas (book 3): Max is the youngest Diamond brother. He may be a VP at the company, but in reality he doesn’t really do anything but show up. Footloose and Fancy Free has worked very well for him for years. But this Christmas his brother is on vacation and he is forced to step in as Santa Claus at the company Christmas party. That is where he meets Julie and hears her wish for A Diamond For Christmas, specifically him, Max! When she calls him by another name, he sets up a secret rendezvous realizing she doesn’t know she is talking to her dream man.
Julie has been in love with Max Diamond since she started working in the mail room two years ago. He doesn’t even know she exists. After the ‘rendezvous,’ Max comes to the mail room and starts a liaison program with her as the interaction person. Now she knows he was the guy from Christmas evening and he has started perusing her. But why?
Julie, and her mail room position, has pointed out to Max how little he does as VP. He decides to improve things for the company employees. And maybe even start to fill the VP position he currently holds. Now if he can just get his father and brother to take him seriously! And will he be able to live up to the new actions or is he destined to be a playboy all his life?
A Diamond For Christmas is a bit disappointing. Julie Loves Max?? She never met him! After meeting him, she still claims to love him even after he treats her so bad. I must be odd that I would not put up with that kind of behavior. She should have stood up for her self and demanded more for herself and from Max! And Max is just a spoiled brat! At least she caused him to become a better man, to use that old cliché. And he does have to go through the process, it doesn’t just happen overnight (I hate the unreal magical turn-around). In the end, he grew much more then she did.
Diamonds Are Forever is okay. Nothing outstanding, but not bad either. While claiming to be three full books, it reads more like inter-connected short stories, which ends up being a good thing. You can finish one part and come back later to the next story without losing the feel of the characters or plot. Diamonds Are Forever has the advantage of a series without having to wait months for the next one to come out.
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