What do you think?
Rate this book
Romancing the... #4
Romancing the Rough Diamond
Romancing The...
Trust is the most precious jewel of all.
When Mayfair jewelers Starsmith Stones wins the commission for a gay royal wedding, CEO Joel Sterling is recommended to the brilliant young designer Matt Barth—only to discover Matt’s the man with whom he shared an anonymous and passionate kiss on the celebration night.
Disenchanted with the commercial jewelry industry, Matt nowadays prefers muddy archaeological digs to designing. Openly resentful of Starsmith’s hostile takeover of his family’s firm, he is horrified at the realization he’ll be working with the man who engineered that deal—but the opportunity to create something fabulous and unique for the royal couple is too tempting to refuse.
Working as a team reignites the spark between Joel and Matt. But when betrayal from within Starsmith threatens both the project and Joel’s confidence, will they have built enough trust to keep their newfound love as precious as the royal jewels?
Dreamspun Desires Book 90
Trust is the most precious jewel of all.
When Mayfair jewelers Starsmith Stones wins the commission for a gay royal wedding, CEO Joel Sterling is recommended to the brilliant young designer Matt Barth—only to discover Matt’s the man with whom he shared an anonymous and passionate kiss on the celebration night.
Disenchanted with the commercial jewelry industry, Matt nowadays prefers muddy archaeological digs to designing. Openly resentful of Starsmith’s hostile takeover of his family’s firm, he is horrified at the realization he’ll be working with the man who engineered that deal—but the opportunity to create something fabulous and unique for the royal couple is too tempting to refuse.
Working as a team reignites the spark between Joel and Matt. But when betrayal from within Starsmith threatens both the project and Joel’s confidence, will they have built enough trust to keep their newfound love as precious as the royal jewels?
Dreamspun Desires Book 90
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2019
20 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Clare London
148 books434 followersClare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 18, 2019
Another addition to the “Romancing the…” series, each book being a standalone. I needed a light and cute contemporary romance with a zest of British favour : I got it.
Joel and Matt couldn’t be anymore different. Joel is CEO of a jewel company and, while being a great boss, is “as cool as a cucumber” as Matt would say. Matt, on the contrary, is quite vocal and brutally honest, but never with malice. A “rough diamond” as Joel would say.
Joel just bought Matt’s father’s company, something that Matt didn’t like at all and doesn’t hide. However, he’s persuaded to go working for Joel for a special and very confidential project : designing the jewels for a gay royal wedding coming soon (yes, William and Harry have a gay brother and its wedding is going to be celebrated full blast, hehehe).
Of course, Joel and Matt are quite attracted to each other, of course, they go for it, of course, it won’t be without some bumps. And of course, it’s cute to see them both going with gusto into their relationship, and fight, in a fun way, to get their HEA.
Nothing shattering, but mellow, light, amusing and with a bit of steam. A cute break.
ARC of “Romancing the Rough Diamond” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Joel and Matt couldn’t be anymore different. Joel is CEO of a jewel company and, while being a great boss, is “as cool as a cucumber” as Matt would say. Matt, on the contrary, is quite vocal and brutally honest, but never with malice. A “rough diamond” as Joel would say.
Joel just bought Matt’s father’s company, something that Matt didn’t like at all and doesn’t hide. However, he’s persuaded to go working for Joel for a special and very confidential project : designing the jewels for a gay royal wedding coming soon (yes, William and Harry have a gay brother and its wedding is going to be celebrated full blast, hehehe).
Of course, Joel and Matt are quite attracted to each other, of course, they go for it, of course, it won’t be without some bumps. And of course, it’s cute to see them both going with gusto into their relationship, and fight, in a fun way, to get their HEA.
Nothing shattering, but mellow, light, amusing and with a bit of steam. A cute break.
ARC of “Romancing the Rough Diamond” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2019
Joel and Matt
An English Royal Wedding is in progress, a gay wedding, Starsmith Stones is the company to provide jewelry for the grooms. A big honor, Joel, CEO of Starsmith Stones, worked hard to get this commission. After getting the positive phone-call he needed a drink to celebrate , luckily there is someone to join him.
Matt hates Starsmith Stones and the CEO Joel, who undermined his father’s company. But he can’t refuse the offer to join the team as a co-designer for the Royal jewelry.
Matt is passionate about everything he does; he also can be grumpy. Joel is more restrained, as head of the project, he watches his people work and create.
They are far from friendly with each other. But further in the project, they can’t deny there is more between them, everything changes when they get more intimate with each other.
They work as a team together, secretly on the Royal design. Everything goes well until it seems someone is leaking secrets. And someone wants to sabotage Starsmith Stones.
Joel wonders who wants to undermine Starsmith, until a little voice in his head is talking.
Trust is the big word, it’s all about trust. Talking about trust, we get a tip of Joel’s past and oh boy, that was something!
What a delicious story this was, every aspect was very enjoyable. The jewelry business, the ground digging Matt did, the project, family matters, the members of the team, all enjoyable. The content about designing for the Royal family was to a certain extent acceptable, for my pleasure maybe a bit ott. I did enjoy it and it was fun anyway! The whole scenery was quite original.
The process of designing was entertaining, I loved the details. The story had a well thought out and entertaining plot. Both men, with their characteristics, were fun and passionate. To watch them fight, laugh and see them rise and bloom in their relationship was top, and all their sexy moments, was just very appealing! Overall a well developed, steady and engagingly written, enjoyable story!
An English Royal Wedding is in progress, a gay wedding, Starsmith Stones is the company to provide jewelry for the grooms. A big honor, Joel, CEO of Starsmith Stones, worked hard to get this commission. After getting the positive phone-call he needed a drink to celebrate , luckily there is someone to join him.
Matt hates Starsmith Stones and the CEO Joel, who undermined his father’s company. But he can’t refuse the offer to join the team as a co-designer for the Royal jewelry.
Matt is passionate about everything he does; he also can be grumpy. Joel is more restrained, as head of the project, he watches his people work and create.
They are far from friendly with each other. But further in the project, they can’t deny there is more between them, everything changes when they get more intimate with each other.
They work as a team together, secretly on the Royal design. Everything goes well until it seems someone is leaking secrets. And someone wants to sabotage Starsmith Stones.
Joel wonders who wants to undermine Starsmith, until a little voice in his head is talking.
Trust is the big word, it’s all about trust. Talking about trust, we get a tip of Joel’s past and oh boy, that was something!
What a delicious story this was, every aspect was very enjoyable. The jewelry business, the ground digging Matt did, the project, family matters, the members of the team, all enjoyable. The content about designing for the Royal family was to a certain extent acceptable, for my pleasure maybe a bit ott. I did enjoy it and it was fun anyway! The whole scenery was quite original.
The process of designing was entertaining, I loved the details. The story had a well thought out and entertaining plot. Both men, with their characteristics, were fun and passionate. To watch them fight, laugh and see them rise and bloom in their relationship was top, and all their sexy moments, was just very appealing! Overall a well developed, steady and engagingly written, enjoyable story!
September 7, 2021
So much fun!
Clare London sure has a way with regular lads. She writes terrific salt of the earth type characters, and I've really enjoyed getting to know Matt and Joel.
This is a fun peek into the jewelry manufacturing biz, and the cast of folks which surround it. (I especially enjoyed the scenes with the royal family.) And Matt's family are fantastic.
Some fascinating insight into the business of high end jewelry in London, England - and a little archaeological history as well.
Romancing the Round Diamond is nicely performed by Joel Leslie, and listening to him perform this is making me want to re-visit the With A Kick series. Mr. Leslie does a stellar job with those as well.
an audiobook copy of Romancing the Rough Diamond was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Clare London sure has a way with regular lads. She writes terrific salt of the earth type characters, and I've really enjoyed getting to know Matt and Joel.
This is a fun peek into the jewelry manufacturing biz, and the cast of folks which surround it. (I especially enjoyed the scenes with the royal family.) And Matt's family are fantastic.
Some fascinating insight into the business of high end jewelry in London, England - and a little archaeological history as well.
Romancing the Round Diamond is nicely performed by Joel Leslie, and listening to him perform this is making me want to re-visit the With A Kick series. Mr. Leslie does a stellar job with those as well.
an audiobook copy of Romancing the Rough Diamond was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
August 19, 2019
An absolute gem (see what I did there 🤣 ) of a romance, this is my favourite of the Romancing books I've read so far.
There's an element of enemies to lovers about this but it's really more about trust. About opening up yourself to the risk of heartbreak because you find someone who might just be the perfect partner for your heart to find a home with.
I loved the Britishness of this as well although, as a Brit, I always have a small element of cringe when an author uses the existing British Royal Family and adds on a gay element to it.
A lot of that though is because the author, usually not British themselves, often gets the details wrong and calls it the English Throne or refers to the Queen of England etc, and that really grinds my gears.
Clare does use the existing Royal Family here, but it worked for me mostly because Prince Arthur and his opera singer fiance are treated more as an entity in their own right (even though William and Harry are his older brothers 😉 ) and we never really see them in connection with our real Royal Family.
The plot itself is a fairly straightforward one and it works well. Matt's a jewellery designer who's smarting because his family firm just got bought out - he thinks aggressively and without proper acknowledgement of its history - by the company Joel is CEO of.
Their first meet/cute is when they have no clue who the other is and it's a pretty chemistry-filled encounter before it comes to an unscheduled halt when Matt has to rush home to Norfolk.
Once they meet again, there's a delicious push/pull of attraction which is compounded by the high-pressure commission they're working on and I really loved the sparks which fly between them each time they're in the same room.
This book made me laugh a lot, it made me go awwwww quite a few times too and it's fairly steamy for a Dreamspun Desires imprint. All in all just my cup of tea.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiases review
There's an element of enemies to lovers about this but it's really more about trust. About opening up yourself to the risk of heartbreak because you find someone who might just be the perfect partner for your heart to find a home with.
I loved the Britishness of this as well although, as a Brit, I always have a small element of cringe when an author uses the existing British Royal Family and adds on a gay element to it.
A lot of that though is because the author, usually not British themselves, often gets the details wrong and calls it the English Throne or refers to the Queen of England etc, and that really grinds my gears.
Clare does use the existing Royal Family here, but it worked for me mostly because Prince Arthur and his opera singer fiance are treated more as an entity in their own right (even though William and Harry are his older brothers 😉 ) and we never really see them in connection with our real Royal Family.
The plot itself is a fairly straightforward one and it works well. Matt's a jewellery designer who's smarting because his family firm just got bought out - he thinks aggressively and without proper acknowledgement of its history - by the company Joel is CEO of.
Their first meet/cute is when they have no clue who the other is and it's a pretty chemistry-filled encounter before it comes to an unscheduled halt when Matt has to rush home to Norfolk.
Once they meet again, there's a delicious push/pull of attraction which is compounded by the high-pressure commission they're working on and I really loved the sparks which fly between them each time they're in the same room.
This book made me laugh a lot, it made me go awwwww quite a few times too and it's fairly steamy for a Dreamspun Desires imprint. All in all just my cup of tea.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiases review
October 31, 2020
4 stars... I think.
I'm left being a little confused after reading this. On one hand. It was absolutely hilarious. It was sweet. It was light. Matt and Joel were great both on each own and together.
On the other hand... I wanted to strangle my kindle at times because the MC's were being stubborn and making rash decisions.
So yeah, might need some time to know what I actually feel.
I'm left being a little confused after reading this. On one hand. It was absolutely hilarious. It was sweet. It was light. Matt and Joel were great both on each own and together.
On the other hand... I wanted to strangle my kindle at times because the MC's were being stubborn and making rash decisions.
So yeah, might need some time to know what I actually feel.
September 18, 2019
2.5 stars
Romancing the Rough Diamond is part of Clare London’s “Romancing the…” Series, although each book can be read as stand alone.
Matt Barth and Joel Sterling first met as strangers during one of jewelry trade events – they didn’t share each other’s last name. Then the next time, Joel meet Matt as CEO of Starsmith Stones, whose company recently commissioned to design the wedding jewelry for British Royal Family, and Matt as a jewelry designer who doesn’t really care about company/marketing life.
While I liked the idea… about someone working as jewelry designer and the fact that London created additional member of the British Royal Family, a younger brother of William and Harry, who’s out and proud and going to marry his lover … however, I wasn’t completely in love with the execution. In this case, mostly about trust issues between the two men.
I enjoy prickly characters, I definitely love quick banters … but in this case, I thought Matt was too snappish. His hatred towards the company life, what Matt thought of people focusing on money and profit rather than beauty, felt a little too strong to be “easily changed” by his feelings towards Joel. It was a little difficult for me to champion him.
When the big fight happened, it felt like something that couldn’t be avoided in any way, because Joel couldn’t completely trust Matt – with Matt’s stance towards the industry. To be honest, I’m not sure if they’re a good match *shrugs*
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Romancing the Rough Diamond is part of Clare London’s “Romancing the…” Series, although each book can be read as stand alone.
Matt Barth and Joel Sterling first met as strangers during one of jewelry trade events – they didn’t share each other’s last name. Then the next time, Joel meet Matt as CEO of Starsmith Stones, whose company recently commissioned to design the wedding jewelry for British Royal Family, and Matt as a jewelry designer who doesn’t really care about company/marketing life.
While I liked the idea… about someone working as jewelry designer and the fact that London created additional member of the British Royal Family, a younger brother of William and Harry, who’s out and proud and going to marry his lover … however, I wasn’t completely in love with the execution. In this case, mostly about trust issues between the two men.
I enjoy prickly characters, I definitely love quick banters … but in this case, I thought Matt was too snappish. His hatred towards the company life, what Matt thought of people focusing on money and profit rather than beauty, felt a little too strong to be “easily changed” by his feelings towards Joel. It was a little difficult for me to champion him.
When the big fight happened, it felt like something that couldn’t be avoided in any way, because Joel couldn’t completely trust Matt – with Matt’s stance towards the industry. To be honest, I’m not sure if they’re a good match *shrugs*
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 17, 2021
Shallow characters, who we are told like each other but I am not convinced. I read it for 50%. We got the 'kiss before becoming colleagues' cliché. The 'posh man on the farm' cliché . The 'rough man at court' cliché.
And Joel Leslie's performance could not make it better. Maybe he was as bored as I.
And Joel Leslie's performance could not make it better. Maybe he was as bored as I.
October 8, 2021
Ok, I’ve read the entire series. I don’t know why, I kept hoping for another ugly duckling. I loved that book. This one was ok. At least Joel Leslie was great.
September 17, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It’s like a comfort read to me. Boy meets boy. Boy falls for boy. Boy misunderstand boy, and there’s a lovely resolution at the end. Simple, but so good. Romancing the Rough Diamond was a fun read with compelling (and sweet) characters, and it just made me smile.
Both Jay and Matt are good men…no redemption necessary here. Matt’s resentment is, in my opinion, a bit justified. Jay doesn’t seem to understand that until Matt begins to open up to him. Both of them are nicely written and fully fleshed out. Their romance is adorable and sexy, and the banter/dialogue between them feels like real conversations. Nothing feels forced between them or the background characters.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It’s like a comfort read to me. Boy meets boy. Boy falls for boy. Boy misunderstand boy, and there’s a lovely resolution at the end. Simple, but so good. Romancing the Rough Diamond was a fun read with compelling (and sweet) characters, and it just made me smile.
Both Jay and Matt are good men…no redemption necessary here. Matt’s resentment is, in my opinion, a bit justified. Jay doesn’t seem to understand that until Matt begins to open up to him. Both of them are nicely written and fully fleshed out. Their romance is adorable and sexy, and the banter/dialogue between them feels like real conversations. Nothing feels forced between them or the background characters.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
September 2, 2021
IMO the two best things about this book were not the plot or the MCs...but rather Joel Leslie's narration and the prince and his fiancé other than that, it was just alright. It was not poorly written or anything like that, story flowed well, and it was easy to follow and the jewelry aspect was quite interesting and even the treasure dig. The thing is, everything was surface about the relationships, so then the story gets meh, as you are not really invested in the characters. Again, I will repeat the prince's story I want to read like yesterday. Overall, a good book, that was entertaining and I would recommend it if someone was looking for something like this.
eARC provided and this is my honest review.
eARC provided and this is my honest review.
September 9, 2019
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the fourth book in a series of stand-alones. I really enjoyed this one, so will be taking a look at the earlier ones when I get a chance.
I really liked the background story to this romance, which itself involved the romance of a royal wedding, and the contract for the wedding rings, and guest gifts. The awarding of the contract leads to our two leads finding themselves working together, in spite of some deep seated animosity from talented designer, Matt.
It is always fun when books are set in the UK, although having just driven up to Norfolk recently, it was definitely a commitment to travel back and fro to London, as it is really a long trip. But the idea of the dig, and the (very specific type of) mud, lots of fun! The finds were a lovely side story, and here's hoping Gary gets his reward.
Whilst the attraction takes these two men by surprise, and they almost react without thinking when they first meet. But as the story evolves, their connection develops more organically and we are not alone in hoping that they get their happy ending - certainly a number of the design team are keen to lend a helping hand.
A really entertaining read, definitely recommended for some fun escapism.
This is the fourth book in a series of stand-alones. I really enjoyed this one, so will be taking a look at the earlier ones when I get a chance.
I really liked the background story to this romance, which itself involved the romance of a royal wedding, and the contract for the wedding rings, and guest gifts. The awarding of the contract leads to our two leads finding themselves working together, in spite of some deep seated animosity from talented designer, Matt.
It is always fun when books are set in the UK, although having just driven up to Norfolk recently, it was definitely a commitment to travel back and fro to London, as it is really a long trip. But the idea of the dig, and the (very specific type of) mud, lots of fun! The finds were a lovely side story, and here's hoping Gary gets his reward.
Whilst the attraction takes these two men by surprise, and they almost react without thinking when they first meet. But as the story evolves, their connection develops more organically and we are not alone in hoping that they get their happy ending - certainly a number of the design team are keen to lend a helping hand.
A really entertaining read, definitely recommended for some fun escapism.
September 7, 2021
Matt + Joel = adorable (an audio review)
I’ve been reading a lot of paranormal romances recently and so was looking forward to something different. This book is that something different in all the good ways. Meet cute? Check. Mild conflict? Check. HEA? Absolutely.
Joel is a businessman who is responsible for nabbing the job of producing the jewellery and other assorted baubles for the upcoming nuptials of the first gay royal couple in British history. A real feather in his cap so to speak. That’s all well and good, but he needs the right designer. The solution? Matt. The problem? Minutes after they’d met, they’d locked lips. Not knowing who the other was, of course. The other problem? Matt blames Joel for the takeover of his family’s business and Joel blames Matt for mucking up the deal.
But the prestige of a royal wedding is on the line.
Now, I have to say that I loved the royal couple and I had hoped they might’ve had their own story. Just super sweet adorable and very much mischief makers. I loved the idea there could be a gay royal wedding. Hopefully in my lifetime…?
Anyway, I keep saying it’s a cute story – and it is. There are also some steamy scenes and a truly hilarious scene outside Buckingham Palace. And what is the difference between a palace and a castle? Had to think about that one.
Rounding out this delightful book is narrator Joel Leslie. He did a fabulous job and was perfect for this quirky book. Overall I enjoyed it and I’ll be going back and picking up the others.
I’ve been reading a lot of paranormal romances recently and so was looking forward to something different. This book is that something different in all the good ways. Meet cute? Check. Mild conflict? Check. HEA? Absolutely.
Joel is a businessman who is responsible for nabbing the job of producing the jewellery and other assorted baubles for the upcoming nuptials of the first gay royal couple in British history. A real feather in his cap so to speak. That’s all well and good, but he needs the right designer. The solution? Matt. The problem? Minutes after they’d met, they’d locked lips. Not knowing who the other was, of course. The other problem? Matt blames Joel for the takeover of his family’s business and Joel blames Matt for mucking up the deal.
But the prestige of a royal wedding is on the line.
Now, I have to say that I loved the royal couple and I had hoped they might’ve had their own story. Just super sweet adorable and very much mischief makers. I loved the idea there could be a gay royal wedding. Hopefully in my lifetime…?
Anyway, I keep saying it’s a cute story – and it is. There are also some steamy scenes and a truly hilarious scene outside Buckingham Palace. And what is the difference between a palace and a castle? Had to think about that one.
Rounding out this delightful book is narrator Joel Leslie. He did a fabulous job and was perfect for this quirky book. Overall I enjoyed it and I’ll be going back and picking up the others.
September 19, 2021
Schmuckdesign auf hohem Niveau
Ein interessantes Thema, das mich angesprochen und überzeugt hat.
Der CEO Joel Sterling von Starsmith Stones steht unter Druck. Das englische Königshaus sucht Designer für den Schmuck der ersten schwulen Hochzeit seiner Geschichte. Er ist ein hochmotivierter Mann, der liebt, was er tut und alles daran setzt, den Auftrag für Starsmith und sein Team zu sichern.
Matt Barth ist ein begabter Designer, der sehr erfolgreich Schmuckstücke kreiert hat. Er hat den kommerziellen Aspekten der Branche nie etwas abgewinnen können und ist jetzt an archäologischen Ausgrabungen seines Bruders beteiligt. Zu seiner Verbitterung trägt die feindliche Übernahme der Firma seines Vaters durch Starsmith Stones bei, bei der es sich zufällig um das von Joel geleitete Unternehmen handelt.
Die beiden Männer treffen sich zufällig bei einem Industry Awards Dinner, wissen nicht, wer der andere ist. Es funkt sofort zwischen ihnen und nach einem heftigen Flirt küssen sich die beiden. Doch Matt erhält einen beunruhigenden Anruf und muss zu seinem Bedauern den Empfang eilig verlassen.
Als Starsmith Stones nach Verstärkung für sein Designerteam sucht, wird auch dem talentierten Matt der Job angeboten. Matt will eigentlich absagen, da er nicht für den Erzfeind arbeiten will. Doch die Chance, Ringe und Gastgeschenke für das königliche Paar zu entwerfen, siegt über seine Frustration. Als er dann erkennt, wen er bei dem Dinner geküsst hat, ist er zuerst irritiert, doch dann ergreift er die Gelegenheit und schließt sich Joels Team an.
Mir hat das Paar Joel und Matt gefallen, die Entwicklung ihrer Beziehung während ihrer Zusammenarbeit, fühlte sich authentisch an. Ihre gegenseitige Anziehungskraft wurde begleitet von wachsendem Respekt und zunehmender Freundschaft. Erfolgreich erhalten sie den Auftrag von dem königlichen Prinzen.
Doch das Leben ist nicht immer so einfach und Unsicherheiten und Vertrauensprobleme tauchen auf. Letztendlich müssen beide Männer über ihren eigenen Schatten springen und ihrer Liebe eine Chance geben. Alles in allem eine Liebesgeschichte, die mich überzeugen konnte.
Ein interessantes Thema, das mich angesprochen und überzeugt hat.
Der CEO Joel Sterling von Starsmith Stones steht unter Druck. Das englische Königshaus sucht Designer für den Schmuck der ersten schwulen Hochzeit seiner Geschichte. Er ist ein hochmotivierter Mann, der liebt, was er tut und alles daran setzt, den Auftrag für Starsmith und sein Team zu sichern.
Matt Barth ist ein begabter Designer, der sehr erfolgreich Schmuckstücke kreiert hat. Er hat den kommerziellen Aspekten der Branche nie etwas abgewinnen können und ist jetzt an archäologischen Ausgrabungen seines Bruders beteiligt. Zu seiner Verbitterung trägt die feindliche Übernahme der Firma seines Vaters durch Starsmith Stones bei, bei der es sich zufällig um das von Joel geleitete Unternehmen handelt.
Die beiden Männer treffen sich zufällig bei einem Industry Awards Dinner, wissen nicht, wer der andere ist. Es funkt sofort zwischen ihnen und nach einem heftigen Flirt küssen sich die beiden. Doch Matt erhält einen beunruhigenden Anruf und muss zu seinem Bedauern den Empfang eilig verlassen.
Als Starsmith Stones nach Verstärkung für sein Designerteam sucht, wird auch dem talentierten Matt der Job angeboten. Matt will eigentlich absagen, da er nicht für den Erzfeind arbeiten will. Doch die Chance, Ringe und Gastgeschenke für das königliche Paar zu entwerfen, siegt über seine Frustration. Als er dann erkennt, wen er bei dem Dinner geküsst hat, ist er zuerst irritiert, doch dann ergreift er die Gelegenheit und schließt sich Joels Team an.
Mir hat das Paar Joel und Matt gefallen, die Entwicklung ihrer Beziehung während ihrer Zusammenarbeit, fühlte sich authentisch an. Ihre gegenseitige Anziehungskraft wurde begleitet von wachsendem Respekt und zunehmender Freundschaft. Erfolgreich erhalten sie den Auftrag von dem königlichen Prinzen.
Doch das Leben ist nicht immer so einfach und Unsicherheiten und Vertrauensprobleme tauchen auf. Letztendlich müssen beide Männer über ihren eigenen Schatten springen und ihrer Liebe eine Chance geben. Alles in allem eine Liebesgeschichte, die mich überzeugen konnte.
July 8, 2021
There's a royal wedding in the works and Starsmith Stones is in the hunt to win the commission to make rings for Prince Arthur (William and Harry's gay brother) and his longtime boyfriend Paolo Astra. Starsmith CEO Joel Sterling hires Matt Barth, a brilliant jewelry designer, to work on the commission, but Matt holds a grudge against Starsmith for the takeover of his family's jewelry business.
Clare London sets the stage with an interesting tale about creating the perfect rings for the royal wedding, paired with a romance between two very different men who nevertheless share a passion for their craft:
The ending manages to pull everything together and provide a lovely HEA for Joel and Matt, but I disliked that there had to be a contrived moment that tore apart that hard-earned trust before giving these two their well-deserved happy ending. 3.5 stars for "Romancing the Rough Diamond."
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Clare London sets the stage with an interesting tale about creating the perfect rings for the royal wedding, paired with a romance between two very different men who nevertheless share a passion for their craft:
Magic, that's what jewelry is. Or what it can be. Whatever the era, whatever the society. The metals, the gems, they're ageless. And if the very best designs can tap into that immortal stream of desire, can be truly ageless [...] Then that's the real treasure!There's heady attraction and steamy sex between the two, and their working relationship segues nicely into their romantic relationship as they get beyond their initial distrust of one another ... until Joel near sprains his arse leaping to an absolutely wrong conclusion about Matt (.... sadly enough tossing my Kindle aside in disgust and snarling "you bloody idiot!" did nothing to change Joel's mind). This is one of those plot devices I dislike almost as much as the Huge Misunderstanding / Miscommunication that drags on endlessly, yet could be cleared up with a sentence or two.
The ending manages to pull everything together and provide a lovely HEA for Joel and Matt, but I disliked that there had to be a contrived moment that tore apart that hard-earned trust before giving these two their well-deserved happy ending. 3.5 stars for "Romancing the Rough Diamond."
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
September 19, 2019
Clare London's Romancing the Rough Diamond it a sweet enemies to lovers romance.
There are a lot of reasons for Joel and Matt to not be together, but as they start working on a project together, the sparks fly. What follows is a love story that involves some misunderstandings, suspense, and conflict.
I definitely enjoyed this book. Joel and Matt are just cute together. They're complete opposites and watching them weave their lives together is fun. As for the jewels, that aspect becomes a good suspense story.
But it's the prince and his fiancée that add so much to this tale. I adore them, and I love the gay royal wedding aspect.
There's nothing super surprising in this story, but it's an enjoyable one. I enjoy the humor and the British elements.
Romancing the Rough Diamond is an entertaining romance between two men on opposite ends of the jewelry business, two men who's priorities are opposed. Clare London delights in this opposites attract romance.
There are a lot of reasons for Joel and Matt to not be together, but as they start working on a project together, the sparks fly. What follows is a love story that involves some misunderstandings, suspense, and conflict.
I definitely enjoyed this book. Joel and Matt are just cute together. They're complete opposites and watching them weave their lives together is fun. As for the jewels, that aspect becomes a good suspense story.
But it's the prince and his fiancée that add so much to this tale. I adore them, and I love the gay royal wedding aspect.
There's nothing super surprising in this story, but it's an enjoyable one. I enjoy the humor and the British elements.
Romancing the Rough Diamond is an entertaining romance between two men on opposite ends of the jewelry business, two men who's priorities are opposed. Clare London delights in this opposites attract romance.
October 5, 2019
After reading the blurb, I decided to give this book a try and I am so grateful I did. The writing and story-line caught my interest at once and I had a difficult time putting it down.
The pressure is on for CEO Joel Sterling to win the commission to create special jewelry to commemorate the first gay Royal Wedding. He is a driven man that loves what he does and getting this opportunity will be his biggest accomplishment. I really was drawn to Joel as he was a consummate professional but maintained an approachable air about him.
Matt Barth is a gifted designer who has created stunning pieces of jewelry. He has become resentful of the commercial aspects of the industry and now rather be involved in archaeological digs. Adding to his bitterness is the hostile takeover of his father’s firm by Starsmith Stones, which happens to be the company headed by Joel.
The two men meet at an industry awards dinner and not knowing each other’s past, bond almost immediately. They share a kiss of epic proportions. While Joel appears cool and confident at the dinner, Matt is uneasy and hates being stuck with this family obligation. Their initial meeting was sweet and flirty and this set the pace for the entire book. Matt has to leave the reception in a hurry and Joel regrets he lost his chance to learn more about this alluring man.
With a real opportunity to earn this prestigious stately project, one of the Starsmith’s designers wants to get the assistance from a talented rogue jeweler who turns out to be the man Joel shared that molten kiss. Matt, at first, fights the idea of collaborating with his nemesis but the temptation of this venture beckons him to design the perfect gifts for the Royal couple.
I loved the fact that even though the pair did not know each other very long it was not an insta-love moment. The development of their relationship as they spent many long hours working together felt authentic. Their mutual attraction was dynamic and almost melted my kindle. This was balanced with a growing respect and friendship.
Life isn’t always so simple and insecurities and trust issues surface. The problems felt real to me in such a competitive job market and the MC’s behaviors were understandable. The issues were not contrived and the connection between Matt and Joel rang true. Love, determination and challenged perceptions echo throughout this lovely story. I absolutely recommend this regal treasure.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement.***
The pressure is on for CEO Joel Sterling to win the commission to create special jewelry to commemorate the first gay Royal Wedding. He is a driven man that loves what he does and getting this opportunity will be his biggest accomplishment. I really was drawn to Joel as he was a consummate professional but maintained an approachable air about him.
Matt Barth is a gifted designer who has created stunning pieces of jewelry. He has become resentful of the commercial aspects of the industry and now rather be involved in archaeological digs. Adding to his bitterness is the hostile takeover of his father’s firm by Starsmith Stones, which happens to be the company headed by Joel.
The two men meet at an industry awards dinner and not knowing each other’s past, bond almost immediately. They share a kiss of epic proportions. While Joel appears cool and confident at the dinner, Matt is uneasy and hates being stuck with this family obligation. Their initial meeting was sweet and flirty and this set the pace for the entire book. Matt has to leave the reception in a hurry and Joel regrets he lost his chance to learn more about this alluring man.
With a real opportunity to earn this prestigious stately project, one of the Starsmith’s designers wants to get the assistance from a talented rogue jeweler who turns out to be the man Joel shared that molten kiss. Matt, at first, fights the idea of collaborating with his nemesis but the temptation of this venture beckons him to design the perfect gifts for the Royal couple.
I loved the fact that even though the pair did not know each other very long it was not an insta-love moment. The development of their relationship as they spent many long hours working together felt authentic. Their mutual attraction was dynamic and almost melted my kindle. This was balanced with a growing respect and friendship.
Life isn’t always so simple and insecurities and trust issues surface. The problems felt real to me in such a competitive job market and the MC’s behaviors were understandable. The issues were not contrived and the connection between Matt and Joel rang true. Love, determination and challenged perceptions echo throughout this lovely story. I absolutely recommend this regal treasure.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement.***
September 17, 2019
Clare London’s Romancing the Rough Diamond has readers wondering – who is the true diamond? Like a rock can hide precious stones, this novel, where people and circumstances aren’t all they seem, is a gem.
Elegant, cool-headed Joel Sterling, unusually young CEO of Starsmith Stones, is about to elevate the posh jeweler by snagging a regal commission. It’s the first royal gay wedding! To develop a truly unique collection, Joel hires designer Matt Barth, the unpolished, fiery son of the man who sold his jewelry store to Starsmith. Matt found the sale objectionable. But before they knew each other’s workplace identities, Joel and Matt had met … and shared an unforgettably passionate discussion and kiss. Oh, the kiss!
At one level, this is a romance. Joel and Matt are honest, decent men who are willing to give one another the benefit of the doubt. Their relationship progresses on a slow but relatively smooth arc, until a facet of the royal project hits a horrendous flaw. London’s approach is straightforward, with none of the plot or character subterfuge other authors sometimes use. It could be mistaken as simple, except for the difficult issues she tackles.
Because, at a deeper level, London deftly examines how people – from royalty to farmers – undertake personas that constrict them. Not only are Matt and Joel different than they seem, they aren’t even the men they think they are. Meanwhile, readers are entertained by questions of profit versus creativity in an industry that deals with the most precious medium – shiny metals and gems. When everything goes off the rails, which side will Joel and Matt show? Can they rise to their best selves in time to rescue their romance and the royal project?
London’s superb observations make this book sparkle with humanity, zest and humor. For example, lip biting is a well-known sign of lust. But how about this? “He bit his lower lip, then let the plump flesh slide out from under his teeth.” Or this: “Teresa was still talking, while whisking her margarita with a swizzle stick so fiercely she might have been a witch at her pot in the opening scene of Macbeth.”
For easy reading, delightful characters, a dash of humor and a lighthearted look at how we fool ourselves, the standalone Romancing the Rough Diamond is golden!
Elegant, cool-headed Joel Sterling, unusually young CEO of Starsmith Stones, is about to elevate the posh jeweler by snagging a regal commission. It’s the first royal gay wedding! To develop a truly unique collection, Joel hires designer Matt Barth, the unpolished, fiery son of the man who sold his jewelry store to Starsmith. Matt found the sale objectionable. But before they knew each other’s workplace identities, Joel and Matt had met … and shared an unforgettably passionate discussion and kiss. Oh, the kiss!
At one level, this is a romance. Joel and Matt are honest, decent men who are willing to give one another the benefit of the doubt. Their relationship progresses on a slow but relatively smooth arc, until a facet of the royal project hits a horrendous flaw. London’s approach is straightforward, with none of the plot or character subterfuge other authors sometimes use. It could be mistaken as simple, except for the difficult issues she tackles.
Because, at a deeper level, London deftly examines how people – from royalty to farmers – undertake personas that constrict them. Not only are Matt and Joel different than they seem, they aren’t even the men they think they are. Meanwhile, readers are entertained by questions of profit versus creativity in an industry that deals with the most precious medium – shiny metals and gems. When everything goes off the rails, which side will Joel and Matt show? Can they rise to their best selves in time to rescue their romance and the royal project?
London’s superb observations make this book sparkle with humanity, zest and humor. For example, lip biting is a well-known sign of lust. But how about this? “He bit his lower lip, then let the plump flesh slide out from under his teeth.” Or this: “Teresa was still talking, while whisking her margarita with a swizzle stick so fiercely she might have been a witch at her pot in the opening scene of Macbeth.”
For easy reading, delightful characters, a dash of humor and a lighthearted look at how we fool ourselves, the standalone Romancing the Rough Diamond is golden!
August 27, 2021
A Delightful Gem of a Story! Fabulous Narration & Audible Listen🎧
Romancing the Rough Diamond
Dreamspinner, Book 4
By: Clare London
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story is original and entertaining with interesting storylines that immediately grabbed my attention and captivated it the entire time. Though this is the fourth book in the series it stands on its own, it is actually my first Clare London book and definitely not my last. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too. Joel Sterling and Matt Barth are opposites in most way but they share an eye for jewelry design, they hit it off when they first meet but neither knew who the other was. Joel is the CEO of Starsmith Stones and they were commissioned the job to design the jewelry for the upcoming royal wedding, the youngest royal, Prince Arthur, is marrying his boyfriend Paola Astra. They want Matt Barth on the team, he has a great eye for design. Unbeknownst to Joel that he had already met Matt but their second meeting does not go as well as their first. Matt despises what Starsmith Stones did to force his father out of business. He much rather be digging for lost treasures on his sister’s farm, but it is an honor to work on the royal line and he could use the money. I loved these two together, they were perfect for each other and the chemistry between them was undeniable, they also made a great team. This is a fabulously plotted romance story, there is plenty of drama, angst, a touch of humor, some heartfelt emotions and some hot loving. Secondary characters are great too. Clare London, thank you for this wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Joel Leslie is a talented narrator and voice artist. He does an exceptional job portraying the characters, taking each role and making it his own, sounding believable in every role he played and is absolutely brilliant with accents, handles the dialogue with ease and switches roles flawlessly. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the characters’ emotions and projects them into his performance. Joel Leslie is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another wonderful listen.
Thank you #GRR
Romancing the Rough Diamond
Dreamspinner, Book 4
By: Clare London
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story is original and entertaining with interesting storylines that immediately grabbed my attention and captivated it the entire time. Though this is the fourth book in the series it stands on its own, it is actually my first Clare London book and definitely not my last. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too. Joel Sterling and Matt Barth are opposites in most way but they share an eye for jewelry design, they hit it off when they first meet but neither knew who the other was. Joel is the CEO of Starsmith Stones and they were commissioned the job to design the jewelry for the upcoming royal wedding, the youngest royal, Prince Arthur, is marrying his boyfriend Paola Astra. They want Matt Barth on the team, he has a great eye for design. Unbeknownst to Joel that he had already met Matt but their second meeting does not go as well as their first. Matt despises what Starsmith Stones did to force his father out of business. He much rather be digging for lost treasures on his sister’s farm, but it is an honor to work on the royal line and he could use the money. I loved these two together, they were perfect for each other and the chemistry between them was undeniable, they also made a great team. This is a fabulously plotted romance story, there is plenty of drama, angst, a touch of humor, some heartfelt emotions and some hot loving. Secondary characters are great too. Clare London, thank you for this wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Joel Leslie is a talented narrator and voice artist. He does an exceptional job portraying the characters, taking each role and making it his own, sounding believable in every role he played and is absolutely brilliant with accents, handles the dialogue with ease and switches roles flawlessly. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the characters’ emotions and projects them into his performance. Joel Leslie is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another wonderful listen.
Thank you #GRR
August 21, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel! it has all the right things to make for an entertaining m/m romance novel. Matt and Joel meet and find that they have instant chemistry in spite of the fact they agree to exchange nothing more than first names. They have a great conversation.... realizing without details that they have a lot in common with respect to the art of jewelry design. Then, after an emergency phone call to Matt, they part without a way to contact each other.
The next time Matt and Joel meet it doesn't go nearly as well as their introduction. Joel is inadvertently the head of a company that took over Matt's family jewelry business from his ailing father.
There are several things that I loved about this book! Matt and Joel and two very different characters and they clash at first. I loved the way their relationship developed. The instant attraction was there, for sure, but this is no "Insta love" book. Both men are complex characters and have different challenges to overcome.
Matt is gruff, quick to anger but also quick to forgive. He's forthright and candid... perhaps a little too-real sometimes. Joel is a very clever businessman but also loves the art behind the business. He has a darker family history that makes honesty and lack of complication important to him. Maybe his business means "too" much to him but he's okay with that.
There is a lovely embedded plot in this novel. The Prince in the Royal Family is marrying his partner and Joel's company has been contracted to make the wedding jewelry and gifts. I adored the Royal couple. In their brief appearances in the novel, London wrote them as complete characters. I'd love to read a story about them.
This is a fast-moving, engaging gay romance. The supporting characters are well-written and hold their own, which I always enjoy. I loved the wit and humor in the novel and the emotion hit just the right notes! Definitely a 4 star book for me.
The next time Matt and Joel meet it doesn't go nearly as well as their introduction. Joel is inadvertently the head of a company that took over Matt's family jewelry business from his ailing father.
There are several things that I loved about this book! Matt and Joel and two very different characters and they clash at first. I loved the way their relationship developed. The instant attraction was there, for sure, but this is no "Insta love" book. Both men are complex characters and have different challenges to overcome.
Matt is gruff, quick to anger but also quick to forgive. He's forthright and candid... perhaps a little too-real sometimes. Joel is a very clever businessman but also loves the art behind the business. He has a darker family history that makes honesty and lack of complication important to him. Maybe his business means "too" much to him but he's okay with that.
There is a lovely embedded plot in this novel. The Prince in the Royal Family is marrying his partner and Joel's company has been contracted to make the wedding jewelry and gifts. I adored the Royal couple. In their brief appearances in the novel, London wrote them as complete characters. I'd love to read a story about them.
This is a fast-moving, engaging gay romance. The supporting characters are well-written and hold their own, which I always enjoy. I loved the wit and humor in the novel and the emotion hit just the right notes! Definitely a 4 star book for me.
September 21, 2019
A bit angsty and very romantic with a great HEA.
I've read quite a few books by Clare London and really enjoyed them but Romancing the Rough Diamond has just jumped to the top of the list for me; I loved it!
This book is a great enemies-to-lovers story. I've haven't read too many books with this trope and I really loved this one. It has the added "royal" element of the two MCs working together to create something magnificent for the upcoming gay royal wedding.
Although Matt blames Joel, the CEO of Starsmith Stones, for the failure of his family's jewelry business he agrees to work for him to design jewelry for the prince and his fiancé. They become closer as they work together and soon a great romance begins.
I loved everything about this story but darn if I can find the right words to do it justice. Writers sometimes experience periods where they have difficulty finding the words they need to put down on paper. This reviewer has been experiencing that same condition lately. All I can say is that Romancing the Rough Diamond kept me engaged right from the beginning and didn't let me go, even after I finished reading it.
A copy of this book/audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on September 30, 2019)
I've read quite a few books by Clare London and really enjoyed them but Romancing the Rough Diamond has just jumped to the top of the list for me; I loved it!
This book is a great enemies-to-lovers story. I've haven't read too many books with this trope and I really loved this one. It has the added "royal" element of the two MCs working together to create something magnificent for the upcoming gay royal wedding.
Although Matt blames Joel, the CEO of Starsmith Stones, for the failure of his family's jewelry business he agrees to work for him to design jewelry for the prince and his fiancé. They become closer as they work together and soon a great romance begins.
I loved everything about this story but darn if I can find the right words to do it justice. Writers sometimes experience periods where they have difficulty finding the words they need to put down on paper. This reviewer has been experiencing that same condition lately. All I can say is that Romancing the Rough Diamond kept me engaged right from the beginning and didn't let me go, even after I finished reading it.
A copy of this book/audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on September 30, 2019)
September 17, 2019
This is the kind of story, you wish was based on real life. If you love feel-good romance, a happy ending and a few twists and turns that throw obstacles in the way and add a bit more depth to a nice straightforward love story, then you’re going to love it every bit as much as I did.
I really enjoyed this, Joel and Matt are total opposites, but somehow go together. The development of their relationship was spot on. There’s also plenty of room for character development, some dodgy going ons, and an instant attraction between our MCs which is spoiled by some mistrust and miscommunication on their
I particularly loved the dialogue in this book – the exchanges between the two main characters are wonderful, the light humour is so perfectly judged, and there’s a warmth about them as a couple that was perfect.
However, what with the few misunderstandings, and neither character revealing what they really feel, there's a few moments when their happy ending looks like it’s just not going to happen.
When the ending arrived – it was so thoroughly lovely, one of those unforgettable cinematic romantic moments, that brought an enormous smile to my face.
Lovely bit of fantasy, nice get a way from it all read. Recommended.
I really enjoyed this, Joel and Matt are total opposites, but somehow go together. The development of their relationship was spot on. There’s also plenty of room for character development, some dodgy going ons, and an instant attraction between our MCs which is spoiled by some mistrust and miscommunication on their
I particularly loved the dialogue in this book – the exchanges between the two main characters are wonderful, the light humour is so perfectly judged, and there’s a warmth about them as a couple that was perfect.
However, what with the few misunderstandings, and neither character revealing what they really feel, there's a few moments when their happy ending looks like it’s just not going to happen.
When the ending arrived – it was so thoroughly lovely, one of those unforgettable cinematic romantic moments, that brought an enormous smile to my face.
Lovely bit of fantasy, nice get a way from it all read. Recommended.
October 1, 2019
The fourth entry in Clare London’s “Romancing the…” series, Romancing the Rough Diamond was an entertaining read for me, and fits well with the series. I always like when books start out with a fun or steamy first meet scene, then come back with the “that was YOU?” type of second meeting to throw things off between the main characters. It’s how they find their way back to that chemistry of the first meeting that then draws me in.
The author does a great job of that here, and though at times Matt can come across as exceedingly gruff, his tendency to put his foot in his mouth helped endear him to me and balance out the brusque exterior. He feels very much like an Everyman amongst some more polished characters.
The matchup of him with Joel is a good one, and while there are trust issues that cause some havoc (which I’m kind of on the fence about), I thought the two of them made a great couple.
This one’s bouncing between 3.5 and 4 stars for me, leaning closer to 4. If you’re a fan of the series—or just M/M romance in general, you’ll enjoy this latest story…though I do confess that Ugly Duckling is still my favorite ;-) This book is for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
The author does a great job of that here, and though at times Matt can come across as exceedingly gruff, his tendency to put his foot in his mouth helped endear him to me and balance out the brusque exterior. He feels very much like an Everyman amongst some more polished characters.
The matchup of him with Joel is a good one, and while there are trust issues that cause some havoc (which I’m kind of on the fence about), I thought the two of them made a great couple.
This one’s bouncing between 3.5 and 4 stars for me, leaning closer to 4. If you’re a fan of the series—or just M/M romance in general, you’ll enjoy this latest story…though I do confess that Ugly Duckling is still my favorite ;-) This book is for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
September 7, 2021
Rough Diamond or Royal Jewels
I have to be honest about the first part of this book, and I almost gave up on it. It just didn't grip me at all. I kept stopping the audio, and it took me days to finally get far enough through that. I then got engrossed in it and couldn't put it down. I'm so glad that I persevered.
The two MC have a brief past without knowing who each other was. Then a rocky start to their working relationship with a hefty dose of hatred from Matt towards Joel.
The Jewellers Starsmith win the ultimate commission from the Royal Household to design the wedding bands for the Prince and his soon to be husband.
The story is good, and the characters are well written, but as I said, in the first quarter of the book, I struggled with it, but it redeemed itself.
Well narrated, clean and clear. Joel Leslie is always a joy to listen to.
Romancing the Rough Diamond
By: Clare London
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Series: Dreamspinner, Book 4
Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚 📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible
I received this audiobook for free from GRR, and my review is my opinion and an honest review.
I have to be honest about the first part of this book, and I almost gave up on it. It just didn't grip me at all. I kept stopping the audio, and it took me days to finally get far enough through that. I then got engrossed in it and couldn't put it down. I'm so glad that I persevered.
The two MC have a brief past without knowing who each other was. Then a rocky start to their working relationship with a hefty dose of hatred from Matt towards Joel.
The Jewellers Starsmith win the ultimate commission from the Royal Household to design the wedding bands for the Prince and his soon to be husband.
The story is good, and the characters are well written, but as I said, in the first quarter of the book, I struggled with it, but it redeemed itself.
Well narrated, clean and clear. Joel Leslie is always a joy to listen to.
Romancing the Rough Diamond
By: Clare London
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Series: Dreamspinner, Book 4
Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚 📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible
I received this audiobook for free from GRR, and my review is my opinion and an honest review.
November 12, 2020
‘Romancing the Rough Diamond’ is set in the competitive world of jewelry design in London, with the excitement of a gay Royal wedding (unfortunately fictional) and the secrecy around it at its center. At the same time it is the tumultuous story about two dedicated, passionate, stubborn men who start off not believing they can work together, never mind fall in love. This tale is filled with cutthroat competition and its consequences, company and personal secrets, the desire of a creative man to be free from corporate entanglements, and a suspected betrayal that may destroy everything the two main characters have built together while working on a top-secret Royal commission. But there is also humor, some very nice British touches, and some heartwarming scenes that made me smile, laugh out loud, and almost cry a few times.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 5, 2021
Audio = 5 stars
Joel is a pleasure to listen to no matter what the book is and this was no exception. His accent is lovely and he brings the story alive. Expressing all the emotions. Although there isn't much difference between the 2 MCs voices he did a great job with the side characters voices.
As for the story, this was a fairly quick read that was light, sweet and humorous at times. Unfortunately I thought that it was just ok. I didn't hate it but I didn't overly like it. I got bored alot of the time and kept zoning out and had to re-listen to chapters. The characters were likeable and they did have good chemisty and there were some steamy scenes. I just had no interest in the general plot. I was actually more curious about the gay Prince. This is my first time reading this author and I thought that the actual writing was good so I would probably give them another chance but I wouldn't really recommend this one.
Joel is a pleasure to listen to no matter what the book is and this was no exception. His accent is lovely and he brings the story alive. Expressing all the emotions. Although there isn't much difference between the 2 MCs voices he did a great job with the side characters voices.
As for the story, this was a fairly quick read that was light, sweet and humorous at times. Unfortunately I thought that it was just ok. I didn't hate it but I didn't overly like it. I got bored alot of the time and kept zoning out and had to re-listen to chapters. The characters were likeable and they did have good chemisty and there were some steamy scenes. I just had no interest in the general plot. I was actually more curious about the gay Prince. This is my first time reading this author and I thought that the actual writing was good so I would probably give them another chance but I wouldn't really recommend this one.
August 29, 2021
Matt and Joel are very different in their ways of viewing the world, but they see their way to each other with a mutual attraction. Matt is extremely honest and I love it. I am the same way.
I listened to this book through audible. I think this book was a solid 3-3.5 stars. It was funny and light, but I often found myself spacing out and having to re-listen to a chapter. I liked the concept of the book, but I was bored with the story from time to time.
The narrator Joel Leslie, is a treat to listen to. He did a fantastic job with this book. I’m always amazing on the ability of narrators with their voice acting skills. I could always tell the characters and views apart.
*Listener Note: I received a free copy of this audiobook through Gay Romance Reviews (GRR) and this is my honest review.
I listened to this book through audible. I think this book was a solid 3-3.5 stars. It was funny and light, but I often found myself spacing out and having to re-listen to a chapter. I liked the concept of the book, but I was bored with the story from time to time.
The narrator Joel Leslie, is a treat to listen to. He did a fantastic job with this book. I’m always amazing on the ability of narrators with their voice acting skills. I could always tell the characters and views apart.
*Listener Note: I received a free copy of this audiobook through Gay Romance Reviews (GRR) and this is my honest review.
September 26, 2021
Romancing the Rough Diamond is the fourth book in the Romancing series. However, each book in the series is completely independent of each other abc should be read as standalones. This book featured an enemy-to-lovers trope which was done well. The passion between Joel and Matt was fiery and fierce which led to some steamy intimate scenes. I also enjoyed the characterization of the secondary characters who were all entertaining. There a few hilarious moments that caught me off guard and had me laughing out loud in public. This was a fun read with drama, slight angst, humor, and romance.
The audiobook was narrated by Joel Leslie who did a fantastic job. The characters were all voiced perfectly and performed well. I thought the overall audiobook production was smooth which made this a great listen.
The audiobook was narrated by Joel Leslie who did a fantastic job. The characters were all voiced perfectly and performed well. I thought the overall audiobook production was smooth which made this a great listen.
dnf
June 28, 2025You know, this doesn't normally happen, but I forgot that I already tried to read this one. Tried and failed. And it's a DNF again the second time around. Look, corporations are evil, I get it. But Matt, you can't rage about how corporations are evil while also working for and benefiting from a corporation. It just makes you look like an asshat.
____________________
DNF. No rating.
This is the story of jewelers and the jewelry they design. Details of that profession are shown in painstaking detail. Meanwhile, the romance between the MCs is almost entirely told and not shown, making this less of a romance and more like recruitment material for the jewelry design profession. I decided to quit when the author began a lecture on design licensing via the MC's internal monologue. Pass.
____________________
DNF. No rating.
This is the story of jewelers and the jewelry they design. Details of that profession are shown in painstaking detail. Meanwhile, the romance between the MCs is almost entirely told and not shown, making this less of a romance and more like recruitment material for the jewelry design profession. I decided to quit when the author began a lecture on design licensing via the MC's internal monologue. Pass.
February 19, 2022
2.5*
This was...well-intentioned. The main characters are likable, if somewhat erratic. The idea was interesting, and I did like the idea of a younger brother for William and Harry. I didn't quite trust in the depiction of a jewelry business, and I had been looking forward to that aspect. However, I did love the archaeological inspiration for the jewelry. Everyone in the story was overly invested in the MCs getting together and staying together, which is romantic but not believable. I did wonder about the editing, because many small things seemed off about the story, just enough to keep me from being fully engaged.
I didn't hate this, but I don't know that I'd read another by Ms. London.
This was...well-intentioned. The main characters are likable, if somewhat erratic. The idea was interesting, and I did like the idea of a younger brother for William and Harry. I didn't quite trust in the depiction of a jewelry business, and I had been looking forward to that aspect. However, I did love the archaeological inspiration for the jewelry. Everyone in the story was overly invested in the MCs getting together and staying together, which is romantic but not believable. I did wonder about the editing, because many small things seemed off about the story, just enough to keep me from being fully engaged.
I didn't hate this, but I don't know that I'd read another by Ms. London.
September 12, 2021
Clare London rarely disappoints and neither does Joel Leslie, as a combo I've not had anything less than a stellar experience.
This is a later book in the Romancing the... series but each book is standalone and there's no need to have read/listened to any of the others (except you should, especially Ugly Duckling, which is my favourite).
I love hard headed, stubborn Matt and his rekindled love of his profession. And his passion for history and family. And there's a pair of meddlesome princes who are determined to play fairy godmother.
It's a very British rom-com romance with an excellent performance.
Highly recommended
This is a later book in the Romancing the... series but each book is standalone and there's no need to have read/listened to any of the others (except you should, especially Ugly Duckling, which is my favourite).
I love hard headed, stubborn Matt and his rekindled love of his profession. And his passion for history and family. And there's a pair of meddlesome princes who are determined to play fairy godmother.
It's a very British rom-com romance with an excellent performance.
Highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews