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Diamond in the Rough #1
A Diamond in the Rough
25-year-old model Sophia Cavall has a seemingly nice life walking the runway until she begins to receive death threats through social media and is almost kidnapped by a masked figure. She tries to fight off her assailant, but luckily the attempt ends in failure when mysterious business magnate Oliver Black intervenes.
Sophie doesn’t know it, but the stakes are her life and her heart. Desperately needing support, she turns to a few trusted people, and to Oliver most of all. But can he be trusted, who speaks the truth, and the question on everyone’s who is the man in the mask?
Her checkered past returns to entangle her. She will come to realize that it is not dead after all…it is still very much alive.
A Diamond in the Rough is a love story, a thriller, funny in parts and moving in others. Most of all, it is a gripping debut novel that will have you guessing and turning pages until you reach the end.
Sophie doesn’t know it, but the stakes are her life and her heart. Desperately needing support, she turns to a few trusted people, and to Oliver most of all. But can he be trusted, who speaks the truth, and the question on everyone’s who is the man in the mask?
Her checkered past returns to entangle her. She will come to realize that it is not dead after all…it is still very much alive.
A Diamond in the Rough is a love story, a thriller, funny in parts and moving in others. Most of all, it is a gripping debut novel that will have you guessing and turning pages until you reach the end.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2015
4 people are currently reading
1769 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 13, 2015
Really enjoyed A Diamond in the Rough. There were several quotes that stuck out to me. My favorite was: "The universe has a habit of delivering us the things we need when we need them." The second best quote I loved, to give you an idea of my kinky mind was: "Even a five-year-old likes him. Don't fret, Gracie. He has a similar effect on me, except that it doesn't necessarily make me want to suck my thumb."
The characters and flow of the story, in my opinion, were much stronger than some of the heavy hitters who have an official book deals. I think many readers need to take more chances on indie authors!
It felt like there was some character growth which I liked and I'm curious to see how it develops in the next book.
The only challenge I had with the book and story was the use of the term Asperger's Syndrome - only because I was a Psych major in college and worked in the special needs community for ten years - specially individuals with autism of all age groups. If the term hyperthymesia was the only thing used, I would have said 4.5 STARS.
Congrats on a great first novel Elisa! Can't wait to read the next one. :)
The characters and flow of the story, in my opinion, were much stronger than some of the heavy hitters who have an official book deals. I think many readers need to take more chances on indie authors!
It felt like there was some character growth which I liked and I'm curious to see how it develops in the next book.
The only challenge I had with the book and story was the use of the term Asperger's Syndrome - only because I was a Psych major in college and worked in the special needs community for ten years - specially individuals with autism of all age groups. If the term hyperthymesia was the only thing used, I would have said 4.5 STARS.
Congrats on a great first novel Elisa! Can't wait to read the next one. :)
November 10, 2015
Advance Readers Copy (ARC) provided for my blog for an honest review by the lovely author
Title: A Diamond in the Rough
Series: Diamond in the Rough Series, #1
Author: Elisa Marie Hopkins
Source: eARC
Pages: 369
Genre: Conntemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: March 24th 2015
Date Read: Oct 28th, 2015
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Sorry for my delay in my review.
I was honored when the author Elisa Hopkins messaged me to review her debut novel because I enjoy reading debut novels from indie authors because most of my favorites are from newly indies. So when I first picked this book I was hooked, the plot line drew me and the writing was wonderful it made me want to devour it.
I loved the dialogue between the characters. It might have been slow in the beginning but it slowly worked it self up too be a great story. I liked that it was unpredictable I needed that after all the other books I've been reading lately.
I enjoyed the characters personality and I found it unique to have a model as a heroine. Don't really read those much.
Title: A Diamond in the Rough
Series: Diamond in the Rough Series, #1
Author: Elisa Marie Hopkins
Source: eARC
Pages: 369
Genre: Conntemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: March 24th 2015
Date Read: Oct 28th, 2015
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Sorry for my delay in my review.
I was honored when the author Elisa Hopkins messaged me to review her debut novel because I enjoy reading debut novels from indie authors because most of my favorites are from newly indies. So when I first picked this book I was hooked, the plot line drew me and the writing was wonderful it made me want to devour it.
I loved the dialogue between the characters. It might have been slow in the beginning but it slowly worked it self up too be a great story. I liked that it was unpredictable I needed that after all the other books I've been reading lately.
I enjoyed the characters personality and I found it unique to have a model as a heroine. Don't really read those much.
July 29, 2015
*I received an e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Review also posted on Let’s Say It’s A Blog
When Ms. Elisa, the author of A Diamond in the Rough first introduced her debut contemporary book on Goodreads, I was instantly intrigued by the simplicity of her book cover. It was plain yet elegant. I followed the link to her website to read the excerpt of the book and the minute I finished reading it, I knew that this book was no doubt my cup of tea.
A Diamond in the Rough was the combination of contemporary romance with slight thriller and was told in main character’s POV which was the heroine. I was really surprised with what I found in this book. A Diamond in the Rough had my mind jumping here and there trying to guess what would happen next but in the end all my guessing ended up completely wrong. Simply said, this book was totally unpredictable and would pull you deep into the book until the very last page (Or more. Just like it did to me. Because the ending was…well, I’ll tell you in a bit)!
Sophie Cavall was a successful model under the one of the top model agency in New York. She was often featured on billboards of famous clothing brands ads. She flew from state to state for photo shoots with professional photographers for new trends of underwear and swimsuit brands. Her life was amazing and might be what women her ages always dreamed of having. But not what was seen through her eyes, apparently.
For Sophie, her life was nothing but myriads of tortures. She was not having a nice life like people thought she had. She barely held on her modeling career as new faces came around every day. She owed debts to the company she worked for. Her roommate was one health-freak girl who could drive her insane day and night. And being a model… it wasn’t something that young-Sophie would ever choose to be in the first place.
When she thought things couldn’t get any worse, it did. Anonymous dead threats came to her door through social media but she tried to brush it off. When she was almost being kidnapped one day after work, she knew that it was more than just online pranks public figure always got.
Oliver Black met Sophie for the first time when she tried to fight the masked kidnapper in front of her agency building. Apparently he was not just some stranger passing by and it was not the only time they saw each other. Oliver was a genius entrepreneur who’s active in social project and had some connections that wired all the way to Sophie. A well-known businessman who happened to care about the terrors Sophie kept received.
Sophie might try to deny Oliver’s mysterious present in between her issue, but she surely couldn’t deny the comfort Oliver brought along with his presences. With Sophie’s defensive trait and protectiveness Oliver kept throwing around her, their togetherness was not the smooth one. Every conversation they had always ended up in arguments but it seemed like it was just the way they were. When the miserable part of the past came along and trust issue positioned itself on the table, Sophie was faced with the difficult choice of giving a second chance for some people in her life.
I swear, certain things in this book were something new for me. What the author chose to be the hero’s background was new. The way she slipped some brief meaningful scenes was new. Her idea of pairing these two unique characters together was new. I could go on with the list but it would take forever… Guess I’ll try to explain just the main points here.
Let’s talk about the characters.
Oliver was described of having a past that people around him would always worry about (No, not going to tell you guys what it was here). Most heroes often have similar vibes of dark past, but Oliver’s here was different. And original. Oliver Black was ridiculously genius but always so calm almost in every condition. He’s so down to earth as well, adding up to his list of charming points. What I love more about him was he’s protective toward Sophie but not too much. He never really tried to coerce Sophie to do things as he wanted it to. Instead, he willingly went to equal argument with Sophie to make his point.
God, how much I love their smart banters! Oliver with all his wise speeches and Sophie with her not-going-to-back-down-easily replies. Some people might think that Sophie’s character was a difficult one. But when you got to learn her past, it was understandable for her to act so. I cried along with her every time she did, thinking how she never cried but she did, so it must be really tough for her. I literally sobbed somewhere during 60% at her realization of the meaning Oliver’s presence for her.
Goodness! I’ll be damned if I didn’t fall in love with Ms. Elisa’s writing style! I had to admit, though, I was a little cautious of new author’s writing style. I met several who were focusing more on the plot of the story than the words to deliver the plot itself. But the minute I read the excerpt I knew that this was an exception. Ms. Elisa’s choice of words was excellent!
Oh, and don’t let me forget with the funny sides! Especially the ones of their banters cracked me up so bad!
And DON’T get me started with the romance!!
They might not be the perfect couple, they might not saying the ‘three words’ a lot, and God they never even hesitated of pointing the other’s daily bad habits! Really, it was not rude or cruel, though, it was them being honest ‘cause they knew that no matter what silly things they said to each other, what inside the hearts were what mattered the most.
Aside from the romantic part, A Diamond in the Rough brought up an original topic for its readers about real life issue. Sophie’s career as a model began with a painful start. As it was only two of them, her mother did anything to kept living including forcing her to join several beauty pageant contests. Her mom never cared of what Sophie felt. She only cared of the amount of money little Sophie would win and what kind of living it could support for them. Well, if we look around us, thing like this does happen in real life. I personally think that child beauty pageants are something not worth to attend to. I am not against them, though. But I personally would never let my kids one day to enter that kind of contests. I don’t know, for me no matter how the creator tries to fix it all the way to have some child-like vibes, it’s just so wrong to put your kids out to walk around there for people to see their outer beauty only. It’s just so wrong to plant that kind of mindset for the kids itself. Kids’ values are more than that. We surely want our kids to be valued not just by outer beauty but by inner beauty as well, right?
About the ‘terror’ thingy that was brought up here. Well, it led to certain issue that I personally dislike. I happened to just read book with that similar certain issue and it was annoyed the heck out of me. But Ms. Elisa really knew how to carefully put it in an enough level of amount to be on a romance book. Good thing, I could handle it well!
The ending was partly conclusive for now somehow, despite the fact that A Diamond in the Rough is the first book of the series (Yes, there’s a second book titled Black Diamond). But there were some things that needed to be concluded on the next installment but don’t let this worry you because the ending was nowhere near such hardcore cliffhanger. But if you’re an HEA lover (like me), surely you should be a bit patient to wait for the second book.
Well, this might be the longest review I ever wrote lol. But I’m just so excited for this book, so yeah… I recommend this book for contemporary romance book lover who’s in search for some fresh plot. Thanks for Ms. Elisa for writing this book! I’m so waiting for the next installment :)
Review also posted on Let’s Say It’s A Blog
When Ms. Elisa, the author of A Diamond in the Rough first introduced her debut contemporary book on Goodreads, I was instantly intrigued by the simplicity of her book cover. It was plain yet elegant. I followed the link to her website to read the excerpt of the book and the minute I finished reading it, I knew that this book was no doubt my cup of tea.
A Diamond in the Rough was the combination of contemporary romance with slight thriller and was told in main character’s POV which was the heroine. I was really surprised with what I found in this book. A Diamond in the Rough had my mind jumping here and there trying to guess what would happen next but in the end all my guessing ended up completely wrong. Simply said, this book was totally unpredictable and would pull you deep into the book until the very last page (Or more. Just like it did to me. Because the ending was…well, I’ll tell you in a bit)!
Sophie Cavall was a successful model under the one of the top model agency in New York. She was often featured on billboards of famous clothing brands ads. She flew from state to state for photo shoots with professional photographers for new trends of underwear and swimsuit brands. Her life was amazing and might be what women her ages always dreamed of having. But not what was seen through her eyes, apparently.
For Sophie, her life was nothing but myriads of tortures. She was not having a nice life like people thought she had. She barely held on her modeling career as new faces came around every day. She owed debts to the company she worked for. Her roommate was one health-freak girl who could drive her insane day and night. And being a model… it wasn’t something that young-Sophie would ever choose to be in the first place.
When she thought things couldn’t get any worse, it did. Anonymous dead threats came to her door through social media but she tried to brush it off. When she was almost being kidnapped one day after work, she knew that it was more than just online pranks public figure always got.
Oliver Black met Sophie for the first time when she tried to fight the masked kidnapper in front of her agency building. Apparently he was not just some stranger passing by and it was not the only time they saw each other. Oliver was a genius entrepreneur who’s active in social project and had some connections that wired all the way to Sophie. A well-known businessman who happened to care about the terrors Sophie kept received.
Sophie might try to deny Oliver’s mysterious present in between her issue, but she surely couldn’t deny the comfort Oliver brought along with his presences. With Sophie’s defensive trait and protectiveness Oliver kept throwing around her, their togetherness was not the smooth one. Every conversation they had always ended up in arguments but it seemed like it was just the way they were. When the miserable part of the past came along and trust issue positioned itself on the table, Sophie was faced with the difficult choice of giving a second chance for some people in her life.
I swear, certain things in this book were something new for me. What the author chose to be the hero’s background was new. The way she slipped some brief meaningful scenes was new. Her idea of pairing these two unique characters together was new. I could go on with the list but it would take forever… Guess I’ll try to explain just the main points here.
Let’s talk about the characters.
Oliver was described of having a past that people around him would always worry about (No, not going to tell you guys what it was here). Most heroes often have similar vibes of dark past, but Oliver’s here was different. And original. Oliver Black was ridiculously genius but always so calm almost in every condition. He’s so down to earth as well, adding up to his list of charming points. What I love more about him was he’s protective toward Sophie but not too much. He never really tried to coerce Sophie to do things as he wanted it to. Instead, he willingly went to equal argument with Sophie to make his point.
“I don’t want you to walk in my shoes, Sophie, nor do I want to walk in yours. I want you to walk beside me, as will I do the same.”
(Oliver Black; Chapter XIII, A Diamond in the Rough)
God, how much I love their smart banters! Oliver with all his wise speeches and Sophie with her not-going-to-back-down-easily replies. Some people might think that Sophie’s character was a difficult one. But when you got to learn her past, it was understandable for her to act so. I cried along with her every time she did, thinking how she never cried but she did, so it must be really tough for her. I literally sobbed somewhere during 60% at her realization of the meaning Oliver’s presence for her.
“A single tear slides down to my cheek, then another one, and another one. They are tears of hope, but most of all, tears of feeling wanted, feeling safe, feeling like no matter how horrible life is going, no matter how scary the world can be at times, or how many people have done me wrong in the past ―I will be okay. It’s like there’s a violent windstorm ripping trees and houses out of the ground, but the thickest armor protects my house, and it’s surrounded by the most bulletproof of windows.”
(Chapter XVI, A Diamond in the Rough)
Goodness! I’ll be damned if I didn’t fall in love with Ms. Elisa’s writing style! I had to admit, though, I was a little cautious of new author’s writing style. I met several who were focusing more on the plot of the story than the words to deliver the plot itself. But the minute I read the excerpt I knew that this was an exception. Ms. Elisa’s choice of words was excellent!
Oh, and don’t let me forget with the funny sides! Especially the ones of their banters cracked me up so bad!
“Will you play with me now?”
“I think it’s been enough for one day.”
“Come one, Oliver. I’m saying no.”
“Is it a fake no? Because your body keeps saying yes.”
“My body doesn’t know anything.”
“What does your heart say?”
“That’s number one on my list of unenlightened organs. It believes anything it hears. It’s screwed up in some way.”
(Chapter VI, A Diamond in the Rough)
And DON’T get me started with the romance!!
They might not be the perfect couple, they might not saying the ‘three words’ a lot, and God they never even hesitated of pointing the other’s daily bad habits! Really, it was not rude or cruel, though, it was them being honest ‘cause they knew that no matter what silly things they said to each other, what inside the hearts were what mattered the most.
“And at the end of the day, it didn’t matter if doves didn’t fly in magically when I told him how I felt. It didn’t matter if candles weren’t lit and cliché songs didn’t play. Oliver Black happened, and that was more than I could ever dream of.”
(Chapter XXII, A Diamond in the Rough)
Aside from the romantic part, A Diamond in the Rough brought up an original topic for its readers about real life issue. Sophie’s career as a model began with a painful start. As it was only two of them, her mother did anything to kept living including forcing her to join several beauty pageant contests. Her mom never cared of what Sophie felt. She only cared of the amount of money little Sophie would win and what kind of living it could support for them. Well, if we look around us, thing like this does happen in real life. I personally think that child beauty pageants are something not worth to attend to. I am not against them, though. But I personally would never let my kids one day to enter that kind of contests. I don’t know, for me no matter how the creator tries to fix it all the way to have some child-like vibes, it’s just so wrong to put your kids out to walk around there for people to see their outer beauty only. It’s just so wrong to plant that kind of mindset for the kids itself. Kids’ values are more than that. We surely want our kids to be valued not just by outer beauty but by inner beauty as well, right?
About the ‘terror’ thingy that was brought up here. Well, it led to certain issue that I personally dislike. I happened to just read book with that similar certain issue and it was annoyed the heck out of me. But Ms. Elisa really knew how to carefully put it in an enough level of amount to be on a romance book. Good thing, I could handle it well!
The ending was partly conclusive for now somehow, despite the fact that A Diamond in the Rough is the first book of the series (Yes, there’s a second book titled Black Diamond). But there were some things that needed to be concluded on the next installment but don’t let this worry you because the ending was nowhere near such hardcore cliffhanger. But if you’re an HEA lover (like me), surely you should be a bit patient to wait for the second book.
Well, this might be the longest review I ever wrote lol. But I’m just so excited for this book, so yeah… I recommend this book for contemporary romance book lover who’s in search for some fresh plot. Thanks for Ms. Elisa for writing this book! I’m so waiting for the next installment :)
August 6, 2015
3.5 Stars
My thanks to this author for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a debut novel, Elisa Hopkins has done a good job with the plotting, character building, and dialogues that are sure to entertain with their intelligence and witty banter. This author’s writing style shows smarts. The story is developed and written with a strong voice. It’s not a perfect read – but then again, how many of those does a reader ever encounter? A slow building scenario in the first half may test the patience of some readers, but you’ll find it’s worth the wait if you hang in there.
Both main characters are unpredictable, complicated and enigmatically portrayed. Bonding with them came with some difficulties for this reader. On the surface, this is a classic case of complete opposites attracting – one is calm and well put together; the other is chaotic and a complete mess. I never really connected or felt close to one over the other, but somehow together they managed to pique my curiosity.
It is from Sophie Cavall’s point of view that the story is told. She’s a 25-year old model, struggling financially and carrying the troubling effects of being thrown into the world of beauty and modeling at such a young age by her mother (who is a whole other story). And then there’s her attempted kidnapping that is foiled by a dark, handsome stranger who appears out of nowhere.
Oliver Black, a 29-year old genius billionaire, with his own trials and tribulations. On the surface he appears calm, charming and protective. But Oliver carries a few issues that bring on the “ick” vibes, trust issues among them, causing me to consider that he might have a bad thread running through him. Could he be a party to the kidnapping? He definitely carries some secrets.
The suspense and mystery portion of the storyline was lacking and, in my opinion, what I think is the weakest link in the story. Introduced early on and then dropped until near the end when the culprit was finally unveiled in a quick rush to the finish line, the suspense fell by the wayside overpowered by the building relationship and romance, which itself is the “behind closed doors” variety and lacks a bit of zest and energy. Finding a comfort zone between Sophie and Oliver escaped me. A lot less unnecessary bickering between these two over trivialities and more depth in the suspense would have been a better choice and more to my liking. On a positive note, the author did a great job in keeping the identity hidden among the variety found in the cast of secondary characters and a complete surprise for this reader.
The story ends on what I refer to as an “iffy” cliffhanger – it’s not the kind where you’re left hanging by your fingernails from a 100-foot cliff – just one that leaves questions unanswered and keeps readers thinking and questioning where the author will proceed with the story. This reader is certainly hoping for more balance between the romance and suspense in the next installment, Black Diamond, scheduled for release in September 2015.
My thanks to this author for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a debut novel, Elisa Hopkins has done a good job with the plotting, character building, and dialogues that are sure to entertain with their intelligence and witty banter. This author’s writing style shows smarts. The story is developed and written with a strong voice. It’s not a perfect read – but then again, how many of those does a reader ever encounter? A slow building scenario in the first half may test the patience of some readers, but you’ll find it’s worth the wait if you hang in there.
Both main characters are unpredictable, complicated and enigmatically portrayed. Bonding with them came with some difficulties for this reader. On the surface, this is a classic case of complete opposites attracting – one is calm and well put together; the other is chaotic and a complete mess. I never really connected or felt close to one over the other, but somehow together they managed to pique my curiosity.
It is from Sophie Cavall’s point of view that the story is told. She’s a 25-year old model, struggling financially and carrying the troubling effects of being thrown into the world of beauty and modeling at such a young age by her mother (who is a whole other story). And then there’s her attempted kidnapping that is foiled by a dark, handsome stranger who appears out of nowhere.
Oliver Black, a 29-year old genius billionaire, with his own trials and tribulations. On the surface he appears calm, charming and protective. But Oliver carries a few issues that bring on the “ick” vibes, trust issues among them, causing me to consider that he might have a bad thread running through him. Could he be a party to the kidnapping? He definitely carries some secrets.
The suspense and mystery portion of the storyline was lacking and, in my opinion, what I think is the weakest link in the story. Introduced early on and then dropped until near the end when the culprit was finally unveiled in a quick rush to the finish line, the suspense fell by the wayside overpowered by the building relationship and romance, which itself is the “behind closed doors” variety and lacks a bit of zest and energy. Finding a comfort zone between Sophie and Oliver escaped me. A lot less unnecessary bickering between these two over trivialities and more depth in the suspense would have been a better choice and more to my liking. On a positive note, the author did a great job in keeping the identity hidden among the variety found in the cast of secondary characters and a complete surprise for this reader.
The story ends on what I refer to as an “iffy” cliffhanger – it’s not the kind where you’re left hanging by your fingernails from a 100-foot cliff – just one that leaves questions unanswered and keeps readers thinking and questioning where the author will proceed with the story. This reader is certainly hoping for more balance between the romance and suspense in the next installment, Black Diamond, scheduled for release in September 2015.
July 31, 2015
3.5 stars.
Even though the book was good, some parts could've been better in my opinion. Oliver felt flat to me at first but then I started to like him. He was just adorable and sweet..and a really smart, it captured my attention. Sophie's personality kind of clashed with mine, but I felt sorry for her. For the way she grew up. She always so use to putting up an act.
I liked the whole fact that Sophie had death threats coming her way. It made things interesting, and intense. Her life is in danger, but she has no regards for her safety. Sometimes I wanted to yell at her! Oliver comes to the rescue one night when she almost gets taken. He's mysterious throughout the whole book, very secretive. Made me want to know more. Sometimes I wanted to jump inside his head just to see what's going on. I really liked how they were two totally different people yet they came together. It was absolutely cute! Loved them together.
I wished the book focused more on the mysterious suspenseful parts. Like who is doing this? Why are they doing this to Sophie? Most of the book revolved around Sophie and Oliver, which is fine, but sometimes I forgot that she was in danger, that someone wanted to take her out. More balance with that was needed. Also, some of the other characters weren't on my good side. Oh, and Sophie & Oliver's relationship should've had more build up. The ending really had me there wanting to know what's going to happen next.
I do have to say.. I am curious to see what happens in book two.. The way it ended has me wondering how this ride continues, what will happen to them.
Even though the book was good, some parts could've been better in my opinion. Oliver felt flat to me at first but then I started to like him. He was just adorable and sweet..and a really smart, it captured my attention. Sophie's personality kind of clashed with mine, but I felt sorry for her. For the way she grew up. She always so use to putting up an act.
I liked the whole fact that Sophie had death threats coming her way. It made things interesting, and intense. Her life is in danger, but she has no regards for her safety. Sometimes I wanted to yell at her! Oliver comes to the rescue one night when she almost gets taken. He's mysterious throughout the whole book, very secretive. Made me want to know more. Sometimes I wanted to jump inside his head just to see what's going on. I really liked how they were two totally different people yet they came together. It was absolutely cute! Loved them together.
I wished the book focused more on the mysterious suspenseful parts. Like who is doing this? Why are they doing this to Sophie? Most of the book revolved around Sophie and Oliver, which is fine, but sometimes I forgot that she was in danger, that someone wanted to take her out. More balance with that was needed. Also, some of the other characters weren't on my good side. Oh, and Sophie & Oliver's relationship should've had more build up. The ending really had me there wanting to know what's going to happen next.
I do have to say.. I am curious to see what happens in book two.. The way it ended has me wondering how this ride continues, what will happen to them.
March 18, 2015
The review was first up on
The author provided me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I responded to the author's request to review because I rarely see models as a protagonist. Usually models are either bitchy jealous ex - girlfriends or they are the bitchy frenemy to the heroine. So of course I was intrigued enough to respond favorably to the request.
"No matter what you chose to be, become role models, not supermodels."
Sophie Cavall is a 25 year old almost out of work supermodel. "Almost out of work" because she is getting too old to be in the modelling business and is still in a lot of debt to her own agency.
And if financial problems weren't enough, there is also someone who is sending threatening notes, messages and tweets to her. Though, she doesn't take it seriously, not even when there is a botched kidnapping attempt on her.
"You kept the truth from me because you thought I couldn't handle it. You were so wrong! I can take it straight up! That's what hurts me the most. I'm not some fragile thing that needs to be treated like a glass house, Oliver. It's humiliating and it just pisses me off that you pretend like I'm not strong. I get that you're a man....you feel the need to protect me. I get that you're afraid and my strength feels dangerous to you. And you know what? It should feel that way, because it is."
Sophie took a little time to grew up on me. It was hard to get a handle on her. Here is this beautiful girl, who is little insecure and is now getting threats (even a botched kidnapping attempt that tries to play off as a random mugging) but she never takes it seriously? Can we just say WHAAAT?
She is irritatingly stubborn (like I am the one to talk) and independent as hell. But what I loved the most about her character was that, even though the book was in her POV, she herself was an enigma to me. It wasn't until she revealed her past to Oliver that I even knew what happened. Isn't that awesome? She was a mystery and I loved piecing together the puzzle that was Sophie Cavall.
"A man like him needs someone twice like him. Twice as stubborn Twice as strong. A woman who can handle all that he is and all that baggage he carries."
Now, Oliver Black wasn't a puzzle, but boy was he taxing. I met Oliver Black when he helped Sophie during a botched kidnapping attempt and then later turns up at her apartment to give her hat back (Major creeper vibes there!!).
I did not trust Oliver at the start. I thought it was too convenient for him to be present at the exact time when Sophie is about to be kidnapped.And the fact that he turned up at her house? Nope just nope.
"You are the woman in my life, the only woman. I don't see why you shouldn't accept my help. I've done more for less important people. You have to trust me, otherwise what's the point? I wish you would come to me with your problems, Sophie, because I have solutions."
But Oliver also grew up on me. He was this self confident, highly intelligent, mcoking human being who believed that he knew the best for everybody. But to be fair, he did, but he forgot in caring for others that sometimes just sometimes, being there for the other person is more important than finding solutions. He is independent yet never understands why others need to be.
It doesn't make him a bad person or even a controlling one, it just made him inexperienced about caring for others. But he grew up through the course of the story! He really did! And by the end of the book, I absolutely adored him <3
"I don't want you to walk in my shoes, Sophie, nor do I want to walk in yours. I want you to walk besides me, as will I do the same."
But the romance between Sophie and Oliver? I am sorry but I could never feel that chemistry between them. It somehow felt forced at least till the end, where in I could see the love they had for each other.
Don't get me wrong, Oliver and Sophie were both amazing individuals but seeing them together, somehow felt forced. Maybe it was the fact that these two instantly fell for each other, or the fact that there was still a smidgen of doubt between them. There were a lot of things unanswered when they professed their love for each other (which is the biggest issue I had with this pairing to be fair!). But now that they are together, I kinda want to see where this relationship would go now that they are together.
"We don't lie to protect the other person, Oliver. We lie to protect ourselves from the consequences. We lie because we don't want to deal with our own feelings. We lie because we don't want things to change. Not by our hand, So a wall starts to build."
But I have to admit the one thing I stayed for was the mystery. Usually when a mystery is the sub - plot for a book, I tend to figure out quite quickly what actually is going one (definitely not bragging, but it's true!) but with this one, I did not and that had me quite hooked. And trust me, even if you could figure it out at the start, you definitely won't be able to guess who the perpetrator actually is.
"What does your heart say?""That's the number one on my unenlightened organs. It believes anything it hears. It's screwed up in some way."
This is Ms. Hopkins debut novel, so as such there are some improvements to be made, but her writing is amazing and has the ability to actually hook you in without you even realizing it. And has me intrigued enough to want my hands on the second installment the moment she is done writing it.
The author provided me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I responded to the author's request to review because I rarely see models as a protagonist. Usually models are either bitchy jealous ex - girlfriends or they are the bitchy frenemy to the heroine. So of course I was intrigued enough to respond favorably to the request.
"No matter what you chose to be, become role models, not supermodels."
Sophie Cavall is a 25 year old almost out of work supermodel. "Almost out of work" because she is getting too old to be in the modelling business and is still in a lot of debt to her own agency.
And if financial problems weren't enough, there is also someone who is sending threatening notes, messages and tweets to her. Though, she doesn't take it seriously, not even when there is a botched kidnapping attempt on her.
"You kept the truth from me because you thought I couldn't handle it. You were so wrong! I can take it straight up! That's what hurts me the most. I'm not some fragile thing that needs to be treated like a glass house, Oliver. It's humiliating and it just pisses me off that you pretend like I'm not strong. I get that you're a man....you feel the need to protect me. I get that you're afraid and my strength feels dangerous to you. And you know what? It should feel that way, because it is."
Sophie took a little time to grew up on me. It was hard to get a handle on her. Here is this beautiful girl, who is little insecure and is now getting threats (even a botched kidnapping attempt that tries to play off as a random mugging) but she never takes it seriously? Can we just say WHAAAT?
She is irritatingly stubborn (like I am the one to talk) and independent as hell. But what I loved the most about her character was that, even though the book was in her POV, she herself was an enigma to me. It wasn't until she revealed her past to Oliver that I even knew what happened. Isn't that awesome? She was a mystery and I loved piecing together the puzzle that was Sophie Cavall.
"A man like him needs someone twice like him. Twice as stubborn Twice as strong. A woman who can handle all that he is and all that baggage he carries."
Now, Oliver Black wasn't a puzzle, but boy was he taxing. I met Oliver Black when he helped Sophie during a botched kidnapping attempt and then later turns up at her apartment to give her hat back (Major creeper vibes there!!).
I did not trust Oliver at the start. I thought it was too convenient for him to be present at the exact time when Sophie is about to be kidnapped.And the fact that he turned up at her house? Nope just nope.
"You are the woman in my life, the only woman. I don't see why you shouldn't accept my help. I've done more for less important people. You have to trust me, otherwise what's the point? I wish you would come to me with your problems, Sophie, because I have solutions."
But Oliver also grew up on me. He was this self confident, highly intelligent, mcoking human being who believed that he knew the best for everybody. But to be fair, he did, but he forgot in caring for others that sometimes just sometimes, being there for the other person is more important than finding solutions. He is independent yet never understands why others need to be.
It doesn't make him a bad person or even a controlling one, it just made him inexperienced about caring for others. But he grew up through the course of the story! He really did! And by the end of the book, I absolutely adored him <3
"I don't want you to walk in my shoes, Sophie, nor do I want to walk in yours. I want you to walk besides me, as will I do the same."
But the romance between Sophie and Oliver? I am sorry but I could never feel that chemistry between them. It somehow felt forced at least till the end, where in I could see the love they had for each other.
Don't get me wrong, Oliver and Sophie were both amazing individuals but seeing them together, somehow felt forced. Maybe it was the fact that these two instantly fell for each other, or the fact that there was still a smidgen of doubt between them. There were a lot of things unanswered when they professed their love for each other (which is the biggest issue I had with this pairing to be fair!). But now that they are together, I kinda want to see where this relationship would go now that they are together.
"We don't lie to protect the other person, Oliver. We lie to protect ourselves from the consequences. We lie because we don't want to deal with our own feelings. We lie because we don't want things to change. Not by our hand, So a wall starts to build."
But I have to admit the one thing I stayed for was the mystery. Usually when a mystery is the sub - plot for a book, I tend to figure out quite quickly what actually is going one (definitely not bragging, but it's true!) but with this one, I did not and that had me quite hooked. And trust me, even if you could figure it out at the start, you definitely won't be able to guess who the perpetrator actually is.
"What does your heart say?""That's the number one on my unenlightened organs. It believes anything it hears. It's screwed up in some way."
This is Ms. Hopkins debut novel, so as such there are some improvements to be made, but her writing is amazing and has the ability to actually hook you in without you even realizing it. And has me intrigued enough to want my hands on the second installment the moment she is done writing it.
October 19, 2015
I'm surprised. This is not at all what I expected from the book. It had a bit of a slow start for me, to be honest. But it picked right up when I got to the middle part. It was mind boggling at best. The deeper I got into the story, the more it left me reeling and wondering. There were so many twists and turns, but I loved them. I love how the story made me think hard. It led me to believe one thing. There was a time I seriously thought I'd be right with my hunch, but I was completely wrong.
Oliver Black is such an enigma. He's insanely smart. You'd know right off the bat that he's someone special. He has a condition and it's what I loved most about him. I can't explain it—it's a flaw, but not completely. That part of him fascinated me so much. I enjoyed it every time that side of him came out to play. One could think he's the perfect man any woman would desire, but he has his own secrets. He values privacy too much that it actually reflects on his personality. He has an ego the size of the moon—he knows what he has, what he's working with, what he wants and he gets it. He has this aura where it seems like he owns the world. He has his commanding and domineering ways. He also has his protective, possessive and sweet side. But his quiet side where she keeps everything to himself, leaving you wondering what's going on in that head of his is what I disliked the most. I loved it every time he opened up to Sophie, sharing bits and pieces of himself, allowing us to understand him a little bit more. I guess by the end of the book, I could understand why he is the way he is. He has his own struggles. His relationship with Sophie isn't perfect at all, but you could see—feel—him try and do his best for the both of them. And I thinks that's what counts the most.
Life hasn't been that kind to Sophie Cavall. You'd think in the beginning how this could be possible when she's one of the most sought after and most popular models. But she's made her fair share of mistakes that's making her pay now. She's been receiving threats she tried so hard to ignore, until that one night she was almost kidnapped. Out of nowhere, a gorgeous man swoops in and helps her, allowing the kidnappers to get away. Not that it matters at the moment, since at least she's safe. And all of a sudden, that gorgeous human being—Oliver Black—who happens to be a big time and important man in the industry, inserts himself in her life without any warning. He becomes so present that feelings get developed, relationships are built, though rocky and unsteady. I liked Sophie's fighting power. She's so brave and strong that even though her life is starting to hit rock bottom, she's still not giving up. She's scared as hell, yet she doesn't let anyone see it. Some wouldn't agree with this, probably, but I admire her for it. Her independence is her strong suit, that she's not used to anybody swooping in and helping her with anything. She doesn't know how to act when someone actually cares for her. It's sad, knowing what she went through in the past to lead her to feel like this, but the woman she became is just amazing. And with her relationship with Oliver, I couldn't blame her with any of her decisions. She was scared and her trust was already so fragile, a white lie can shatter it right away. The way she reacted and handled things may not have been the smartest or most rational, but I couldn't see her doing anything less. It's who she is.
This book made me laugh, gasp, and even swoon at times. No, it's not your typical romance book. I don't even think it may be the book for everyone. I think you'd have to be able to connect with the characters to be able to understand and be in the moment of the book completely. If not, you won't even like it or just be lost and confused. It's all about the story though. The mysteries. At one point, I swear I felt like I was thrown into an episode of Criminal Minds. It was awesome. I'm so ready to see where this story goes. I need Black Diamond!
Oliver Black is such an enigma. He's insanely smart. You'd know right off the bat that he's someone special. He has a condition and it's what I loved most about him. I can't explain it—it's a flaw, but not completely. That part of him fascinated me so much. I enjoyed it every time that side of him came out to play. One could think he's the perfect man any woman would desire, but he has his own secrets. He values privacy too much that it actually reflects on his personality. He has an ego the size of the moon—he knows what he has, what he's working with, what he wants and he gets it. He has this aura where it seems like he owns the world. He has his commanding and domineering ways. He also has his protective, possessive and sweet side. But his quiet side where she keeps everything to himself, leaving you wondering what's going on in that head of his is what I disliked the most. I loved it every time he opened up to Sophie, sharing bits and pieces of himself, allowing us to understand him a little bit more. I guess by the end of the book, I could understand why he is the way he is. He has his own struggles. His relationship with Sophie isn't perfect at all, but you could see—feel—him try and do his best for the both of them. And I thinks that's what counts the most.
Life hasn't been that kind to Sophie Cavall. You'd think in the beginning how this could be possible when she's one of the most sought after and most popular models. But she's made her fair share of mistakes that's making her pay now. She's been receiving threats she tried so hard to ignore, until that one night she was almost kidnapped. Out of nowhere, a gorgeous man swoops in and helps her, allowing the kidnappers to get away. Not that it matters at the moment, since at least she's safe. And all of a sudden, that gorgeous human being—Oliver Black—who happens to be a big time and important man in the industry, inserts himself in her life without any warning. He becomes so present that feelings get developed, relationships are built, though rocky and unsteady. I liked Sophie's fighting power. She's so brave and strong that even though her life is starting to hit rock bottom, she's still not giving up. She's scared as hell, yet she doesn't let anyone see it. Some wouldn't agree with this, probably, but I admire her for it. Her independence is her strong suit, that she's not used to anybody swooping in and helping her with anything. She doesn't know how to act when someone actually cares for her. It's sad, knowing what she went through in the past to lead her to feel like this, but the woman she became is just amazing. And with her relationship with Oliver, I couldn't blame her with any of her decisions. She was scared and her trust was already so fragile, a white lie can shatter it right away. The way she reacted and handled things may not have been the smartest or most rational, but I couldn't see her doing anything less. It's who she is.
This book made me laugh, gasp, and even swoon at times. No, it's not your typical romance book. I don't even think it may be the book for everyone. I think you'd have to be able to connect with the characters to be able to understand and be in the moment of the book completely. If not, you won't even like it or just be lost and confused. It's all about the story though. The mysteries. At one point, I swear I felt like I was thrown into an episode of Criminal Minds. It was awesome. I'm so ready to see where this story goes. I need Black Diamond!
December 29, 2015
★★★½
The 25-year-old model Sophia Cavall seems to have a perfectly nice life, but it is not so for her. And transforming her already difficult life into a more threatening one are anonymous death threats which eventually mount to a kidnapping attempt, which is when the savvy, business tycoon Oliver Black steps in her life.
This book is really a romance novel with so little of suspense that we can hardly call it a thriller. It gives more attention to Sophie’s life, her struggles as a model, adjusting to the high-handedness of her boyfriend and coping with the shadows of her past.
One thing that I can attribute to the author’s talent is how complex and edgy she makes Sophie. There are so many layers to her character, beginning with her apparent dissatisfaction with her career. I could see how she wants to be known for more than her face. It made me wonder why she never tried to do something else, isn’t there always another option? But then I got know her true circumstance and that she is actually stuck. So you see, she isn’t the typical heroine-material but her struggles and character is very realistic. She has both her good-sides and an abundance of not-so-good-side. She might be more pessimistic than most, she might have a rather morbid sense of humour (which IMO just adds to her charm), she might act irrationally and she might even be melodramatic at times; but I liked her nonetheless.
I felt that Oliver is a little too perfect. He’s a genius billionaire, calm, collected and very much used to being in control. In a way, he does serve as a foil to Sophie, who is the exact opposite of serenity. However, his composed self did not really work for me until near the end when we see him as having his own set of issues to deal with; even so, I’m still not okay with his high-handed behaviour. In fact, referring to his first interaction with Sophie, even I would be freaked if someone goes through the effort of searching for me, rushes inside my house, makes himself comfortable and then tries to decipher my personality. And that limousine was definitely overkill. It’s a good thing Sophie doesn’t tolerate his superior attitude. Their shaky relationship with the endless to and fro banter does add a good deal of amusement to the story.
I also felt that the book seemed to drag a lot at times. There are a lot of introspections that only ended in contributing to the quantity of the story and not much to the quality. There are a lot of unnecessary arguments between the MCs where I fervently wished that they’d just get over with all the whining and get on with the mystery part. Another thing is that for being a model from childhood, I hoped that Sophie would have learnt more tact by now, but her hesitancy in public is quite apparent. It may be that the author was trying to portray her disinterest in modelling but being in limelight for so long, I thought that she should have gotten better at handling the attention of media. Also, The whole mystery angle kind of felt like being suddenly doused with a bucket of water. There is a proper built up to the romance part of the novel but that build up is lacking when it comes to the mystery part.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
The 25-year-old model Sophia Cavall seems to have a perfectly nice life, but it is not so for her. And transforming her already difficult life into a more threatening one are anonymous death threats which eventually mount to a kidnapping attempt, which is when the savvy, business tycoon Oliver Black steps in her life.
This book is really a romance novel with so little of suspense that we can hardly call it a thriller. It gives more attention to Sophie’s life, her struggles as a model, adjusting to the high-handedness of her boyfriend and coping with the shadows of her past.
One thing that I can attribute to the author’s talent is how complex and edgy she makes Sophie. There are so many layers to her character, beginning with her apparent dissatisfaction with her career. I could see how she wants to be known for more than her face. It made me wonder why she never tried to do something else, isn’t there always another option? But then I got know her true circumstance and that she is actually stuck. So you see, she isn’t the typical heroine-material but her struggles and character is very realistic. She has both her good-sides and an abundance of not-so-good-side. She might be more pessimistic than most, she might have a rather morbid sense of humour (which IMO just adds to her charm), she might act irrationally and she might even be melodramatic at times; but I liked her nonetheless.
I felt that Oliver is a little too perfect. He’s a genius billionaire, calm, collected and very much used to being in control. In a way, he does serve as a foil to Sophie, who is the exact opposite of serenity. However, his composed self did not really work for me until near the end when we see him as having his own set of issues to deal with; even so, I’m still not okay with his high-handed behaviour. In fact, referring to his first interaction with Sophie, even I would be freaked if someone goes through the effort of searching for me, rushes inside my house, makes himself comfortable and then tries to decipher my personality. And that limousine was definitely overkill. It’s a good thing Sophie doesn’t tolerate his superior attitude. Their shaky relationship with the endless to and fro banter does add a good deal of amusement to the story.
I also felt that the book seemed to drag a lot at times. There are a lot of introspections that only ended in contributing to the quantity of the story and not much to the quality. There are a lot of unnecessary arguments between the MCs where I fervently wished that they’d just get over with all the whining and get on with the mystery part. Another thing is that for being a model from childhood, I hoped that Sophie would have learnt more tact by now, but her hesitancy in public is quite apparent. It may be that the author was trying to portray her disinterest in modelling but being in limelight for so long, I thought that she should have gotten better at handling the attention of media. Also, The whole mystery angle kind of felt like being suddenly doused with a bucket of water. There is a proper built up to the romance part of the novel but that build up is lacking when it comes to the mystery part.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2015
A Hidden Gem
The Diamond In The Rough Series, by author, Elisa Marie Hopkins, was a beautiful, hidden gem, a DIAMOND to be exact, because it's extremely unique and outstanding!
In a nutshell, Diamond in the Rough (Book #1) and Black Diamond (Book #2) was a tale of: Romance and Love, Secrets and Lies, Manipulation and Paranoia, Life-Threatening and Mental Illnesses, Illegal Activities and Crime, and quite possibly...Kidnapping and Murder!
The Hero and Heroine, Oliver Black and Sophie Cavall, were quirky, complex characters, hiding parts of their broken selves. I thoroughly enjoyed their good times and the bad, but most especially...the dueling, sometimes humorous banter that existed between them. The Author created outstanding, well-developed main and secondary characters with hidden depths that branched into unexpected directions. I was never quite sure if some of these shady characters were friends or foes. The ominous, secondary characters added plenty of action and drama to this unpredictable series.
The overall plot contained a lot of mystery and suspense that kept me on my toes: alert and guessing! However, as I read the first book, Diamond in the Rough, I experienced some confusion that made it move a bit slowly at times. But I promise you this: the more you read, the more that's revealed, the better this series gets! The second book, Black Diamond, had a quicker pace and revealed some major shockers! The third and final book will be coming out in Spring, 2016!
I give this amazing series my 'Stamp of Approval' and highly recommend it! Since I read Books #1 and #2 back-to-back, I created one long, condensed review. This is the 'short and sweet' version. To see the full review of both books in its entirety, please read my all-inclusive review of Black Diamond (Book #2).
My Overall Rating of Both Books: 4+ Stars!!!
• Diamond in the Rough (Book #1): 3.5-4 Stars!
• Black Diamond (Book #2): 4.5-5 Stars!
The Diamond In The Rough Series, by author, Elisa Marie Hopkins, was a beautiful, hidden gem, a DIAMOND to be exact, because it's extremely unique and outstanding!
In a nutshell, Diamond in the Rough (Book #1) and Black Diamond (Book #2) was a tale of: Romance and Love, Secrets and Lies, Manipulation and Paranoia, Life-Threatening and Mental Illnesses, Illegal Activities and Crime, and quite possibly...Kidnapping and Murder!
The Hero and Heroine, Oliver Black and Sophie Cavall, were quirky, complex characters, hiding parts of their broken selves. I thoroughly enjoyed their good times and the bad, but most especially...the dueling, sometimes humorous banter that existed between them. The Author created outstanding, well-developed main and secondary characters with hidden depths that branched into unexpected directions. I was never quite sure if some of these shady characters were friends or foes. The ominous, secondary characters added plenty of action and drama to this unpredictable series.
The overall plot contained a lot of mystery and suspense that kept me on my toes: alert and guessing! However, as I read the first book, Diamond in the Rough, I experienced some confusion that made it move a bit slowly at times. But I promise you this: the more you read, the more that's revealed, the better this series gets! The second book, Black Diamond, had a quicker pace and revealed some major shockers! The third and final book will be coming out in Spring, 2016!
I give this amazing series my 'Stamp of Approval' and highly recommend it! Since I read Books #1 and #2 back-to-back, I created one long, condensed review. This is the 'short and sweet' version. To see the full review of both books in its entirety, please read my all-inclusive review of Black Diamond (Book #2).
My Overall Rating of Both Books: 4+ Stars!!!
• Diamond in the Rough (Book #1): 3.5-4 Stars!
• Black Diamond (Book #2): 4.5-5 Stars!
April 8, 2015
UPDATE:
I may revisit this book in the future but for now, I will be setting it as DNF
I am also changing my rating for this book. I feel one star was a bit too harsh, since the book was not really that bad and if I was in a better mind set, I may have enjoyed it. So now I am giving it 2 stars as what I did read was all grammatically correct and made sense, it was mainly the plot and the characters and dialogue which I did not like.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was contacted by the author for a completely honest review.
*I did not finish this book, I only read half*
I wanted to like this book, I really did. Especially since the other reviews were all five star ratings, but I just couldn't. The book is not bad, it is well written and I could definitely see why people really liked it. But the book just wasn't for me. I had read the sample online and I really enjoyed it, but then when I started reading further, it was just boring. Nothing really happened in the first half, which is why I stopped reading it. I found it was very slow building that if something hadn't happened in the first half, I just didn't want to waste my time.
The book is well written but just not captivating enough for my liking, and not what I was expecting going into it after reading the sample.
I may revisit this book in the future but for now, I will be setting it as DNF
I am also changing my rating for this book. I feel one star was a bit too harsh, since the book was not really that bad and if I was in a better mind set, I may have enjoyed it. So now I am giving it 2 stars as what I did read was all grammatically correct and made sense, it was mainly the plot and the characters and dialogue which I did not like.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was contacted by the author for a completely honest review.
*I did not finish this book, I only read half*
I wanted to like this book, I really did. Especially since the other reviews were all five star ratings, but I just couldn't. The book is not bad, it is well written and I could definitely see why people really liked it. But the book just wasn't for me. I had read the sample online and I really enjoyed it, but then when I started reading further, it was just boring. Nothing really happened in the first half, which is why I stopped reading it. I found it was very slow building that if something hadn't happened in the first half, I just didn't want to waste my time.
The book is well written but just not captivating enough for my liking, and not what I was expecting going into it after reading the sample.
September 3, 2016
Secrets!!!!! They dominate this book and I love secrets! If the truth is all out on the table too soon there is no reason to keep reading but The writer keeps those pages turning!
She also shows the darker side of the industry for modeling! I almost went into fashion for a career so some of the perspective shown in the book was what I thought at first to be a little out of date considering the industry has gotten better. However there's a dark side to all careers and this book is beautifully dark! Side note: I'm heavily against child pageant crap so with Sophie's background taken into account you can get the reserve she has.
Great chemistry between my book boyfriend Oliver and Sophie! Oliver is my kind of sensual classic man!!! He is so sexy!!!!
Great twist at the end! Might I say cliff hanger!!!!
She also shows the darker side of the industry for modeling! I almost went into fashion for a career so some of the perspective shown in the book was what I thought at first to be a little out of date considering the industry has gotten better. However there's a dark side to all careers and this book is beautifully dark! Side note: I'm heavily against child pageant crap so with Sophie's background taken into account you can get the reserve she has.
Great chemistry between my book boyfriend Oliver and Sophie! Oliver is my kind of sensual classic man!!! He is so sexy!!!!
Great twist at the end! Might I say cliff hanger!!!!
March 4, 2015
I was asked to read this book for an honest review. Having said that let me say how much I love this story! I could not put it down and I will be getting part 2 ASAP! I don't give spoilers so you are safe to read what I say.
This to me is an adult fairy tale I am so in love with all the characters and the story line. I could not stop reading and I had the most wonderful dreams with the thought of these characters running through my mind. Very well written, easy read, wonderful story of love and trust. I could feel Sophie's pain. I found myself crying at more then one part. I am truly in love with Sophie and Oliver!
Well Done Elisa, well done!
This to me is an adult fairy tale I am so in love with all the characters and the story line. I could not stop reading and I had the most wonderful dreams with the thought of these characters running through my mind. Very well written, easy read, wonderful story of love and trust. I could feel Sophie's pain. I found myself crying at more then one part. I am truly in love with Sophie and Oliver!
Well Done Elisa, well done!
June 29, 2016
it was a very slow read but i liked it! i love Oliver, he's basically what i would look for in a man/ husband because when he's angry he doesn't lash out on sophia, he's always with her in her ups and downs, when he loses his job and doesn't blame her, doesn't force her to do things just cuz he likes it that way, takes Sophias opinions highly, treats her with so much respect and there are so much more. He never cusses at her or yell and lose his temper even when sophia is being a lil cranky and a pain in the butt and he still doesn't lose his temper but stays patient with her. oliver makes this book bearable, i luv him!
April 5, 2017
Engaging, entertaining, and I loved how Elisa makes you think about the characters and their personalities, motivations, and how those factors intersect with their lives and each other. I look forward to the next in the series!
July 18, 2015
Review to come...
October 17, 2019
Diamond in the Rough is the second book in the American Heiresses series, although it is not necessary to read the first book (Flights of Fancy) before reading this one. Of course, Flights of Fancy was a fabulous book and if you like fun historical romance novels you will love it.
Miss Poppy Garrison's grandmother has finagled a way to involve her in the 1985 New York social season, and the book begins with a hilarious account of the disastrous results. As usual, Turano has created a character who, despite her best efforts, gets literally tangled up in the midst of an important dance and causes a scene that is definitely not considered appropriate by high society. As a person who has two left feet, I could immediately sympathize with Poppy and the situations she finds herself in.
As the book continues, mishaps and misunderstandings continue for this young woman who really has the best interest of others at heart. I realized about two-thirds of the way through the book that my face hurt from smiling so much as I read! I love Turano's books for this reason -- it is so seldom than any author is so brilliant at engaging the reader in such crazy and yet somehow realistic escapades that I laugh out loud. They are a great way to escape the drudgery and disasters that headline our daily news.
But these books are filled with so much more than just funny events. The characters have depth, intriguing secrets, and fascinating conversations. In addition, I love the historical details that are included. The descriptions of the clothing (and their advantages/disadvantages) have me both wanting to try something so beautiful and glad we don't have to wear such things these days! While I typically don't care much for romance books, there is so much more here that I don't mind the occasional predictability about who falls in love with whom.
Diamond in the Rough is a story of trying to fit in, wanting to change the world, and helping to open the eyes of others to needs they had ignored.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every book Jen Turano has written, and I will read every book she writes in the future.
Miss Poppy Garrison's grandmother has finagled a way to involve her in the 1985 New York social season, and the book begins with a hilarious account of the disastrous results. As usual, Turano has created a character who, despite her best efforts, gets literally tangled up in the midst of an important dance and causes a scene that is definitely not considered appropriate by high society. As a person who has two left feet, I could immediately sympathize with Poppy and the situations she finds herself in.
As the book continues, mishaps and misunderstandings continue for this young woman who really has the best interest of others at heart. I realized about two-thirds of the way through the book that my face hurt from smiling so much as I read! I love Turano's books for this reason -- it is so seldom than any author is so brilliant at engaging the reader in such crazy and yet somehow realistic escapades that I laugh out loud. They are a great way to escape the drudgery and disasters that headline our daily news.
But these books are filled with so much more than just funny events. The characters have depth, intriguing secrets, and fascinating conversations. In addition, I love the historical details that are included. The descriptions of the clothing (and their advantages/disadvantages) have me both wanting to try something so beautiful and glad we don't have to wear such things these days! While I typically don't care much for romance books, there is so much more here that I don't mind the occasional predictability about who falls in love with whom.
Diamond in the Rough is a story of trying to fit in, wanting to change the world, and helping to open the eyes of others to needs they had ignored.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every book Jen Turano has written, and I will read every book she writes in the future.
December 19, 2016
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
Wow. What a ride this was. Elisa Marie Hopkins, I bow to you and this masterpiece of literature you have created. This book was witty, deeply emotional, thrilling, enticing, and captivating from beginning to end. Exquisite and insightful writing about human behaviour following trauma, about trust and relationships. Although this book is classified as a 'romance' novel, it wasn't the main focus if the book; I mean it was in the sense that it focused building a relationship from shattered pieces and gluing them back together making an imperfect vase - a diamond in the rough, but it wasn't a book that paid much attention to the physical aspect of the relationship.
This was by far, one of my favourite books I have read. It kept me on my toes the whole length of the read. Even though the book was lengthy, it didn't feel long as I read it. Everything was nice and concise, the author never dwelling too long on unimportant aspects of the book. It kept a steady pace throughout and had great fluidity.
Overall, this was a beautiful book by a very talented author. I am beyond excited to read what else she has in store for us in the sequel.
Wow. What a ride this was. Elisa Marie Hopkins, I bow to you and this masterpiece of literature you have created. This book was witty, deeply emotional, thrilling, enticing, and captivating from beginning to end. Exquisite and insightful writing about human behaviour following trauma, about trust and relationships. Although this book is classified as a 'romance' novel, it wasn't the main focus if the book; I mean it was in the sense that it focused building a relationship from shattered pieces and gluing them back together making an imperfect vase - a diamond in the rough, but it wasn't a book that paid much attention to the physical aspect of the relationship.
This was by far, one of my favourite books I have read. It kept me on my toes the whole length of the read. Even though the book was lengthy, it didn't feel long as I read it. Everything was nice and concise, the author never dwelling too long on unimportant aspects of the book. It kept a steady pace throughout and had great fluidity.
Overall, this was a beautiful book by a very talented author. I am beyond excited to read what else she has in store for us in the sequel.
June 16, 2015
This was a strong debut, Elisa created such complex characters. I really enjoyed this read. I stayed up until I finished every last word.
The story revolves around Sophie a model who has been receiving threats via twitter. She brushes it off thinking it was people just being hurtful, that is until someone tries to drag her into a van. Instead of crying out for help, Sophie fought back. She was holding her own pretty well before the attempted kidnapper got the upper hand. When a Oliver Black yells at the man he panics and leaves Sophie.
Oliver is a very successful business man. He begins and odd relationship with Sophie. At the beginning it is more of a business, he wants to make sure that she is kept safe while not tarnishing the E Model name. But the chemistry between them was too much to ignore.
They are almost opposites, he is calm, collected, and has his life together, while her life is chaotic. She hides her fears behind self deprecating jokes. It actually took me about 200 pages for me to start to warm up to Oliver. There was just something off about it, the way he would rational things was more robotic.
I enjoyed watching their relationship change. These are two very stubborn people. She grew up not being able to rely on anyone and he is a fixer of all problems. They would take one step forward and two back.
I am so invested in these characters now. Sophie is very independent and fears having anything good in her life. She is a self-sabotager. She is true proud to ask for help. He is usually cool and level headed, but he gets so passionate and possessive of her. It is actually pretty frightening at times.
Elisa is a very good writer. I love the way she describes Sophie's fashion world so well. I felt like it was a mix between the Devil Wears Prada, and America's Next Top Model.
Elisa sprinkles these seeds of doubt with almost every interaction between Oliver and Sophie. He is so charming almost too good to be true. The bad guys were always a breath away and absolutely everyone was a suspect.
When the kidnapper/would be killer starts escalating, the police believe it to be two separate people. So many negative thoughts lurk in her mind, but she tries so hard to keep everything in the back of her mind.
I am giving this story a B.
The thriller part of the story was a very small portion compared to the romance. I want to say it was the last two chapters that we find who the kidnappers are. The ending was a rushed. I didn't feel satisfied, but there was a lot of character developing which makes me think this will be more of a series (in fact there was a sneak peak of the sequel in my review copy).
I also have to say there were so many great lines in this book. Here are a few of my favorite.
"Suddenly a kiss is not just a kiss. It is a potent, lethal weapon. An invitation. A question. An announcement. A force of nature too strong." - Sophie
"I do want to ravish you, Sophie, in ways that will make the neighbors complain." - Oliver
May 9, 2015
A Diamond in the Rough follows the story of a 25-year-old model named Sophia Cavall. Her seemingly normal, although starstruck life takes a twist for the worst when she begins signing into her social media and finding cruel messages threatening her life. Shortly after she starts recieving those messages, she's almost kidnapped by a masked figure. In the middle of the struggle for her freedom, she's rescued by a business mogle named Oliver Black.
Amidst all of the downfall of Sophie's security she reaches out for comfort in the arms of the man who originally saved her- Oliver. As the story unfolds more and more of Sophie's past comes back to haunt her. You're flung into a suspenseful twist of events that leaves you crawling from one page to the next with anticipation. You'll question Sophie's motives, actions, and choices of trust as you figure out who the masked man is, and why her past is catching up to her so quickly.
This story is a mix of genres. There's the romance between Sophie and Oliver. And then there's the polar opposite, thriller-effect that comes with Sophie's dangerous history and current life situation. This modern take on the timeless 'damsel in distress' tale is lead by a unique set of characters. Sophie, feminine in almost every way, is thrust into a place where she must survive and learn to read into people. Oliver, the stronger male character- leaves a lot of aire of mystery about him. A mystery that leads you to question his motives and Sophie's trust of him. The contrast is a fun one to read into, because the two characters truly do take on entirely different personas and watching them interact and seeing their story unfold was very engaging.
I feel like this particular romance/thriller would be a huge hit on many high school library shelves. It does deal with some themes that are a bit mature, but the setting and characters definitely appeal to the younger crowd- with issues like social media safety and the modeling industry being undertones in the story.
The book was well-written and the storyline was engaging. It is a definitely a page turner and the story does force you to keep moving through at a pretty fast paced. With many plot twists and strong character development, you are thrust into the story right away and left cautiously turning each page until you finally reach the end.
Amidst all of the downfall of Sophie's security she reaches out for comfort in the arms of the man who originally saved her- Oliver. As the story unfolds more and more of Sophie's past comes back to haunt her. You're flung into a suspenseful twist of events that leaves you crawling from one page to the next with anticipation. You'll question Sophie's motives, actions, and choices of trust as you figure out who the masked man is, and why her past is catching up to her so quickly.
This story is a mix of genres. There's the romance between Sophie and Oliver. And then there's the polar opposite, thriller-effect that comes with Sophie's dangerous history and current life situation. This modern take on the timeless 'damsel in distress' tale is lead by a unique set of characters. Sophie, feminine in almost every way, is thrust into a place where she must survive and learn to read into people. Oliver, the stronger male character- leaves a lot of aire of mystery about him. A mystery that leads you to question his motives and Sophie's trust of him. The contrast is a fun one to read into, because the two characters truly do take on entirely different personas and watching them interact and seeing their story unfold was very engaging.
I feel like this particular romance/thriller would be a huge hit on many high school library shelves. It does deal with some themes that are a bit mature, but the setting and characters definitely appeal to the younger crowd- with issues like social media safety and the modeling industry being undertones in the story.
The book was well-written and the storyline was engaging. It is a definitely a page turner and the story does force you to keep moving through at a pretty fast paced. With many plot twists and strong character development, you are thrust into the story right away and left cautiously turning each page until you finally reach the end.
October 20, 2015
Original Review Posted @ http://sandrathebookworm.blogspot.com...
The author was kind enough to provide me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was AMAZING, it kept me up to the wee hours of the night the only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting was because my eyes kept shutting after a while. Sophia is a model that has been receiving threats on twitter, but she thinks nothing of it it’s until the night she almost gets kidnapped, it is there where Oliver comes to the rescue and saves her, after that night Sophia starts meeting with Oliver to discuss her safety and how to go about with the press she and her model agency are getting. Oliver and Sophia grow feelings for each other and start dating; Oliver will do anything in his power to keep her safe.
Gosh, I couldn't get enough of this book! I just finished it a couple of hours ago and I'm still going through all the stuff that happened. I loved Hopkins writing it just kept me wanting to turn the pages. Sophia is a very strong character, I don't think I can go through half the stuff she goes through on a daily basis without breaking down, I really liked the emotional development she goes through. Oliver oh, Oliver gosh I fell in love with his character, he knows exactly what he wants and isn't afraid to go for it; when I would read scenes with Oliver in them I would get goosebumps the way he spoke and treated Sophia makes any girl dissolve into a puddle. I really liked the thriller part of the book it kept the book interesting and kept me on my toes just when I thought I knew who was sending the threats Hopkins would prove me wrong. I like a book that makes you think you know what’s going to happen and then changes it up on you. This book was such a good read and I'm glad that the sequel comes out tomorrow because this girl need more Oliver in her life, I really hope there is more of him on the second book. Also with that ending I can't wait to see where the story goes. If you haven't picked this book up yet, I highly recommend it! It has become one of my favorites.
-SandraTheBookWorm
The author was kind enough to provide me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was AMAZING, it kept me up to the wee hours of the night the only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting was because my eyes kept shutting after a while. Sophia is a model that has been receiving threats on twitter, but she thinks nothing of it it’s until the night she almost gets kidnapped, it is there where Oliver comes to the rescue and saves her, after that night Sophia starts meeting with Oliver to discuss her safety and how to go about with the press she and her model agency are getting. Oliver and Sophia grow feelings for each other and start dating; Oliver will do anything in his power to keep her safe.
Gosh, I couldn't get enough of this book! I just finished it a couple of hours ago and I'm still going through all the stuff that happened. I loved Hopkins writing it just kept me wanting to turn the pages. Sophia is a very strong character, I don't think I can go through half the stuff she goes through on a daily basis without breaking down, I really liked the emotional development she goes through. Oliver oh, Oliver gosh I fell in love with his character, he knows exactly what he wants and isn't afraid to go for it; when I would read scenes with Oliver in them I would get goosebumps the way he spoke and treated Sophia makes any girl dissolve into a puddle. I really liked the thriller part of the book it kept the book interesting and kept me on my toes just when I thought I knew who was sending the threats Hopkins would prove me wrong. I like a book that makes you think you know what’s going to happen and then changes it up on you. This book was such a good read and I'm glad that the sequel comes out tomorrow because this girl need more Oliver in her life, I really hope there is more of him on the second book. Also with that ending I can't wait to see where the story goes. If you haven't picked this book up yet, I highly recommend it! It has become one of my favorites.
-SandraTheBookWorm
August 3, 2015
*Me fue proporcionada una copia digital por parte de la autora para una reseña honesta*
Tengo muchas opiniones acerca de este libro y por diferentes razones, y anticipo que mi opinión contiene spoilers, debo comenzar diciendo que la mayor parte del libro fue tediosa para mi, la relación entre Sophie y Oliver me pareció muy apresurada, fue un "amor" instantáneo y para mi no funcionó, ademas la actitud de Oliver de el típico "hombre perfecto" que cree que Sophie es de su pertenecia y tiene que cuidar de ella y hacerse cargo de ella cuando, en algunas partes ella trata de mostrar su independencia, a su vez me desagrado que en un momento estuvieran peleados y a los 5 minutos ya estaban tan enamorados como si nada.
La mayoría de los personajes me parecieron un poco ilógicos, ya que les parecía normal que Sophie empezara una relación con alguien a quien acaba de conocer, y que además llego a su casa como si nada, y que al poco tiempo se fuera a vivir con él, más cuando la situación de Sophie era peligrosa por el intento de secuestro.
Sin embargo, debo decir que en general es una historia bien escrita, con frases muy buenas, y algunas buenas enseñanzas, creo que, al meno para mi, hubiera funcionado mejor si entre Sophie y Oliver hubiera existido una relación desde el principio y de ahí comenzar la historia, o solo enfocarse en el peligro al que Sophie se enfrentaba, ya que fue lo que más me llamó la atención y lo que me hacía querer más, ya que yo llegue a sospechar hasta de Jess, creo que el mayor fuerte de la autora podría ser el suspenso más que el romance.
Finalizo mi reseña diciendo que me interesa saber qué va a pasar con John y si Eric le esta haciendo algo malo a Jess, y bueno simplemente atar cabos, así que espero esta historia se quede en una bilogía.
Tengo muchas opiniones acerca de este libro y por diferentes razones, y anticipo que mi opinión contiene spoilers, debo comenzar diciendo que la mayor parte del libro fue tediosa para mi, la relación entre Sophie y Oliver me pareció muy apresurada, fue un "amor" instantáneo y para mi no funcionó, ademas la actitud de Oliver de el típico "hombre perfecto" que cree que Sophie es de su pertenecia y tiene que cuidar de ella y hacerse cargo de ella cuando, en algunas partes ella trata de mostrar su independencia, a su vez me desagrado que en un momento estuvieran peleados y a los 5 minutos ya estaban tan enamorados como si nada.
La mayoría de los personajes me parecieron un poco ilógicos, ya que les parecía normal que Sophie empezara una relación con alguien a quien acaba de conocer, y que además llego a su casa como si nada, y que al poco tiempo se fuera a vivir con él, más cuando la situación de Sophie era peligrosa por el intento de secuestro.
Sin embargo, debo decir que en general es una historia bien escrita, con frases muy buenas, y algunas buenas enseñanzas, creo que, al meno para mi, hubiera funcionado mejor si entre Sophie y Oliver hubiera existido una relación desde el principio y de ahí comenzar la historia, o solo enfocarse en el peligro al que Sophie se enfrentaba, ya que fue lo que más me llamó la atención y lo que me hacía querer más, ya que yo llegue a sospechar hasta de Jess, creo que el mayor fuerte de la autora podría ser el suspenso más que el romance.
Finalizo mi reseña diciendo que me interesa saber qué va a pasar con John y si Eric le esta haciendo algo malo a Jess, y bueno simplemente atar cabos, así que espero esta historia se quede en una bilogía.
March 10, 2016
A Diamond in the Rough is the best romantic suspense thriller I have read. For fans of Brenda Novak and Carla Neggers...watch out, Elisa Marie Hopkins is the new top writer in town. Her writing automatically draws readers into her plot. The plot starts out...leading readers into the main character's background and who she is while at the same time keeping readers in the dark...until an accident occurs and leaves Sophie feeling scared. She fights her way out of the situation and remains alive until the attacker comes after her again. The suspense will keep readers at the edge of their seats...and send their hearts into over drive. Sophie, an older model, dealing with lifes mess like paying her bills that just keep piling up higher and higher, has received some meancing threats...after she has been attacked her body is live with fear and caution. Someone wants her dead...and won't stop until she is.
Elisa Marie Hopkins has a talent for writing the best stories. Her words pull readers in from the beginning and keeps them hooked until the last page. Then reaching the last page, readers will be left begging for the next brilliantly written story. A Diamond in the Rough is so good. Readers will be up all night long until they finish the book. The plot is fast-paced, full of action, and keeps readers wondering what will happen next. The ending was wow...I can't say much without giving away details...but after reading this first novel by Elisa Marie Hopkins, I am dying with supense to read her next stunning novel. I loved reading this story, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. This is definitely a must read for all.
Elisa Marie Hopkins has a talent for writing the best stories. Her words pull readers in from the beginning and keeps them hooked until the last page. Then reaching the last page, readers will be left begging for the next brilliantly written story. A Diamond in the Rough is so good. Readers will be up all night long until they finish the book. The plot is fast-paced, full of action, and keeps readers wondering what will happen next. The ending was wow...I can't say much without giving away details...but after reading this first novel by Elisa Marie Hopkins, I am dying with supense to read her next stunning novel. I loved reading this story, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. This is definitely a must read for all.
March 6, 2016
This is my first outing with Ms. Hopkins. This lovely little romance wrapped around a mystery, is lovely! Sophie is a model, struggling as models do - most of her gigs pay with the clothes she wore and she is living in high end digs and paying most of the rent by auctioning the lovely clothes she wears. The mystery starts to spin - someone attempts to kidnap her off the street in broad daylight. She is doing a fair job of defending herself but is fortunate, that Oliver Black is in the right place at the right time. Oliver - is a millianaire and is connected to the agency that Sophie works for. He takes her safety to heart and the romance begins.
I would love to say more but if I start you won't need to read the novel :) It will pull you in and keep you awake until the almost end and then you have to wait and see if there will be a HEA. It's not a cliff hanger but the story isn't over by a long shot!
Ms. Hopkins, writing is strong, her plot lines are well thought and her characters are strong and realistic. I hope the wait for book 2 Black Diamond isn't long. If you are in the market for a wonderfully written millionaire romance with a mystery this one is definitely worth it!
I would love to say more but if I start you won't need to read the novel :) It will pull you in and keep you awake until the almost end and then you have to wait and see if there will be a HEA. It's not a cliff hanger but the story isn't over by a long shot!
Ms. Hopkins, writing is strong, her plot lines are well thought and her characters are strong and realistic. I hope the wait for book 2 Black Diamond isn't long. If you are in the market for a wonderfully written millionaire romance with a mystery this one is definitely worth it!
November 9, 2015
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
Wow! This book has a lot of ups and downs for you to get hooked into. It will definitely grip your attention and not let go. I enjoyed getting to read this book. Elise is a new author and this debut novel of hers is off to a great start.
Sophia is a hot shot runway model who's coming up on the end of her prime time in the spotlight. She works every job she possibly can and is still feeling the pressure. Not to mention - she's being threatened.
So the beginning of the book was a little bit of a "huh?" moment for me. There were some parts I probably should have gone back and read again after reading it a couple of times the first time through. I don't know if I was just distracted or what...but the story does pick up. There is a real story behind the model and of course to see how the relationship between Sophie and Oliver develops.
Oliver was her savior but his saving came with a price. Why would he have any interest in someone like Sophie anyway? She's a persona but that's not really Sophie.
The relationship that grows between these two characters was my favorite part of the storyline. You never can quite tell what they're going to choose to do say or will they walk away. It's quite entertaining. They definitely are good for keeping the each other on their toes.
Take a chance on A Diamond in the Rough. I bet you might just like it too.
Wow! This book has a lot of ups and downs for you to get hooked into. It will definitely grip your attention and not let go. I enjoyed getting to read this book. Elise is a new author and this debut novel of hers is off to a great start.
Sophia is a hot shot runway model who's coming up on the end of her prime time in the spotlight. She works every job she possibly can and is still feeling the pressure. Not to mention - she's being threatened.
So the beginning of the book was a little bit of a "huh?" moment for me. There were some parts I probably should have gone back and read again after reading it a couple of times the first time through. I don't know if I was just distracted or what...but the story does pick up. There is a real story behind the model and of course to see how the relationship between Sophie and Oliver develops.
Oliver was her savior but his saving came with a price. Why would he have any interest in someone like Sophie anyway? She's a persona but that's not really Sophie.
The relationship that grows between these two characters was my favorite part of the storyline. You never can quite tell what they're going to choose to do say or will they walk away. It's quite entertaining. They definitely are good for keeping the each other on their toes.
Take a chance on A Diamond in the Rough. I bet you might just like it too.
December 23, 2015
To start off, I've read tons of book throughout my life and I've honestly never been into one like I was into ADITR, seriously I finished it in like 2 hours, I couldn't stop turning pages. So ... What Ms. Elisa did here is a masterpiece. She is an amazing writer, Sophie and Oliver's story is so well written that you honestly think it is true, it has this very specific thing that makes it so real.
Now, onto the actual writing ... every word she uses is so coloquial, urban, normal? I dont even know how to describe it, its normal vocabulary I guess, no exaggerated quotes and unrealistic dialogues, which is a characteristic that almost every book lacks. The actual plot is so interesting, it takes loads of turns and spins, like at first I thought it was a little cliche but I was totally proved wrong.
Amazing characters, you really do fall in love with them, specially with Oliver he's just so clever and always says the right things, and his protective instinct is just so cute, sophie is a little bit exasperating sometimes, she's so insecure and ahhh! But honestly one learns to bare with her, and you get to understand her situation, she had a tough life that shaped her into being the way she is, it's a lovable book. I totally recommend it, looking forward to reading the next book of this series.
Now, onto the actual writing ... every word she uses is so coloquial, urban, normal? I dont even know how to describe it, its normal vocabulary I guess, no exaggerated quotes and unrealistic dialogues, which is a characteristic that almost every book lacks. The actual plot is so interesting, it takes loads of turns and spins, like at first I thought it was a little cliche but I was totally proved wrong.
Amazing characters, you really do fall in love with them, specially with Oliver he's just so clever and always says the right things, and his protective instinct is just so cute, sophie is a little bit exasperating sometimes, she's so insecure and ahhh! But honestly one learns to bare with her, and you get to understand her situation, she had a tough life that shaped her into being the way she is, it's a lovable book. I totally recommend it, looking forward to reading the next book of this series.
March 13, 2016
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
Wow. What a ride this was. Elisa Marie Hopkins, I bow to you and this masterpiece of literature you have created. This book was witty, deeply emotional, thrilling, enticing, and captivating from beginning to end. Exquisite and insightful writing about human behaviour following trauma, about trust and relationships. Although this book is classified as a 'romance' novel, it wasn't the main focus if the book; I mean it was in the sense that it focused building a relationship from shattered pieces and glueing them back together making an imperfect vase - a diamond in the rough, but it wasn't a book that paid much attention to the physical aspect of the relationship.
This was by far, one of my favourite books I have read. It kept me on my toes the whole length of the read. Even though the book was lengthy, it didn't feel long as I read it. Everything was nice and concise, the author never dwelling too long on unimportant aspects of the book. It kept a steady pace throughout and had great fluidity.
Overall, this was a beautiful book by a very talented author. I am beyond excited to read what else she has in store for us in the sequel.
Wow. What a ride this was. Elisa Marie Hopkins, I bow to you and this masterpiece of literature you have created. This book was witty, deeply emotional, thrilling, enticing, and captivating from beginning to end. Exquisite and insightful writing about human behaviour following trauma, about trust and relationships. Although this book is classified as a 'romance' novel, it wasn't the main focus if the book; I mean it was in the sense that it focused building a relationship from shattered pieces and glueing them back together making an imperfect vase - a diamond in the rough, but it wasn't a book that paid much attention to the physical aspect of the relationship.
This was by far, one of my favourite books I have read. It kept me on my toes the whole length of the read. Even though the book was lengthy, it didn't feel long as I read it. Everything was nice and concise, the author never dwelling too long on unimportant aspects of the book. It kept a steady pace throughout and had great fluidity.
Overall, this was a beautiful book by a very talented author. I am beyond excited to read what else she has in store for us in the sequel.
June 12, 2015
Sophie Cavall is a model, but she doesn’t live the way the others do. She’s struggling to make ends meet, she’s got a lot in her hands. And she’s been getting death threats lately. All seems complicated ans Sophie can’t wait to escape it all.
A botched kidnapping attempt by a masked man led her to Oliver Black, and her need to trust someone became her weakness in the end. Of all the wonderful riches she has longed for, she becomes the diamond in the rough.
Soon she find herself tied up, left for dead and no future looming over her. Towards the end of the book, I thought everything will be solved. I was wrong. Because clearly, there’s more coming on. And I’m so stoked and excited to be part of it. What I most loved about A Diamond in the Rough is that, this is a story filled with great humor, harsh truths but beautiful life lessons.
Author Elisa Marie Hopkins’s writing is sharp, delicious and brilliant. She wrote a novel that made me sweat and cry for Sophie. Hopkins has a way of bringing characters to life, and makes it easy for me to get sucked into the story and all its many twists and turns. I found myself immersed in this book in the best possible way. Now I’m gearing up to read more of her future novels.
A botched kidnapping attempt by a masked man led her to Oliver Black, and her need to trust someone became her weakness in the end. Of all the wonderful riches she has longed for, she becomes the diamond in the rough.
Soon she find herself tied up, left for dead and no future looming over her. Towards the end of the book, I thought everything will be solved. I was wrong. Because clearly, there’s more coming on. And I’m so stoked and excited to be part of it. What I most loved about A Diamond in the Rough is that, this is a story filled with great humor, harsh truths but beautiful life lessons.
Author Elisa Marie Hopkins’s writing is sharp, delicious and brilliant. She wrote a novel that made me sweat and cry for Sophie. Hopkins has a way of bringing characters to life, and makes it easy for me to get sucked into the story and all its many twists and turns. I found myself immersed in this book in the best possible way. Now I’m gearing up to read more of her future novels.
June 11, 2016
Sophie Cavall is a model and lately has been receiving threats on her life by an unknown source. She is in debt and keeps on working to pay everyone back and is really not getting further ahead in her life. When she is grabbed in the street by an unknown assailant and then rescued by Oliver Black, she hopes her life will be improving.
Oliver Black is extremely well off but he may be hiding as many secrets as Sophie is when it comes to both of their lives. As they gradually become closer they each need to decide if they are going to have an open and honest relationship or still keep secrets.
When it is clear that Oliver is holding back, he may put Sophie in more danger than he ever thought possible.
I enjoyed this book but I found it took me some time to warm up to the characters. Once I got to know them more I found that I enjoyed the book a lot more and was very interested to see where everything was going.
The amount of secrets in this book were huge and I really found that it allowed us to see more about the characters and all of their layers within themselves.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series as I really think there are many more secrets to be told!
Reviewed for Kylie`s Fiction Addiction
Oliver Black is extremely well off but he may be hiding as many secrets as Sophie is when it comes to both of their lives. As they gradually become closer they each need to decide if they are going to have an open and honest relationship or still keep secrets.
When it is clear that Oliver is holding back, he may put Sophie in more danger than he ever thought possible.
I enjoyed this book but I found it took me some time to warm up to the characters. Once I got to know them more I found that I enjoyed the book a lot more and was very interested to see where everything was going.
The amount of secrets in this book were huge and I really found that it allowed us to see more about the characters and all of their layers within themselves.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series as I really think there are many more secrets to be told!
Reviewed for Kylie`s Fiction Addiction
July 5, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange of a honest review.
I do not want to say too much, because you must read this book being in the unknown, not being influenced by critics. I think that's what makes A diamond in the Rough so unique.
The thing I liked most about this book is that we get to know the characters throughout the book. Elisa did a great job on the characters background. We often see meaningless persons in those kind of story, but not here. Sophia is a strong woman, with a rough past. She wants to give the impression that she is afraid of nothing, and that nothing affects her...
I could feel the pain she was bearing. It was easy to connect with her.
And Oliver, Dear Oliver. Protective, sometimes, too much. But aren't all too much protective over the people we care about? A bright man, talented, caring, secretly fragile, and I think it's why I loved him that much. He's proud of who he is, even when he talk about it. And that is SO important.
It's part thriller, part contemporary romance, Throughout my reading, I thought I had guessed the end. The plot twist made me change my mind a few time, and in the end I was far away from it.
I do not want to say too much, because you must read this book being in the unknown, not being influenced by critics. I think that's what makes A diamond in the Rough so unique.
The thing I liked most about this book is that we get to know the characters throughout the book. Elisa did a great job on the characters background. We often see meaningless persons in those kind of story, but not here. Sophia is a strong woman, with a rough past. She wants to give the impression that she is afraid of nothing, and that nothing affects her...
I could feel the pain she was bearing. It was easy to connect with her.
And Oliver, Dear Oliver. Protective, sometimes, too much. But aren't all too much protective over the people we care about? A bright man, talented, caring, secretly fragile, and I think it's why I loved him that much. He's proud of who he is, even when he talk about it. And that is SO important.
It's part thriller, part contemporary romance, Throughout my reading, I thought I had guessed the end. The plot twist made me change my mind a few time, and in the end I was far away from it.
August 19, 2015
A Diamond in the Rough had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I cried. I laughed. I got mad. But most of all, I fell in love.
Sophia and Oliver are very complex characters but their love story was truly one that I adored.
Sophie was a very relatable character for me. She was funny, sarcastic, and at times surprisingly inspirational. Initially, Oliver seemed perfect, too perfect, but then Hopkins manages to give him depth and dimension. I am so in love with Oliver now! Some of the other characters I liked, others not too much, but I understood where everyone was coming from.
I don't know anything about the modeling world or the fashion industry but I think people can learn a lot from this story, especially teenage girls who want to be models.
This book was really that great and it had me so hooked I could not put it down. I had my thoughts on who the kidnapper was, but honestly I could've never guessed.
I don't care if you're into romance or not, you need to read this! And I need to get my hands on the second book! When is it out?
Sophia and Oliver are very complex characters but their love story was truly one that I adored.
Sophie was a very relatable character for me. She was funny, sarcastic, and at times surprisingly inspirational. Initially, Oliver seemed perfect, too perfect, but then Hopkins manages to give him depth and dimension. I am so in love with Oliver now! Some of the other characters I liked, others not too much, but I understood where everyone was coming from.
I don't know anything about the modeling world or the fashion industry but I think people can learn a lot from this story, especially teenage girls who want to be models.
This book was really that great and it had me so hooked I could not put it down. I had my thoughts on who the kidnapper was, but honestly I could've never guessed.
I don't care if you're into romance or not, you need to read this! And I need to get my hands on the second book! When is it out?
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