Diamonds In The Rough by Michelle Madow

Diamonds In The Rough by Michelle Madow

Release Date - October 28, 2014

Publisher Website - Harlequin Teen
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 448 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

All-access doesn't mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

The Secret Diamond Sisters was a fun, flirty, drama filled read that I enjoy immensely. Diamonds in the Rough is everything I loved about the first novel, only more. Everything was heightened. The romances were steamier. The secrets even more devastating. The consequences even more crushing. I've mentioned previously that this novel is begging to be made into a CW television show, and this sequel cemented that feeling.

This series is blending a city known for it's decadence with the type of drama that makes CW television shows so addictive. The fast paced speed in which bombshells are dropped and secrets unravel will leave a feeling of whiplash. Each time you think there is nothing else to be unveiled, Michelle tosses another element into the mix. She tortures her characters without mercy and the readers are the ones to benefit.

The first book was, I felt, much lighter in tone. The Diamond sisters were dealing with huge issues, but it came off as more fun and flirty. This book, however, is like a wrecking ball. Plenty of secrets are revealed by the end of this novel. Earth shattering ones that will forever change the people involved. This novel's overall tone is one of changes. Quite a few of the characters experience growth, and surprisingly it's the ones you may not expect. Prepare to have everything you thought you knew about these characters to be turned upside down. I found myself sympathizing with characters I didn't expect to, swooning over guys who I didn't like the first time around, and disliking some of the decisions other characters made. It's a wild roller coaster ride, and none of the characters end the novel untouched by the events that take place.

The romances are heating up and each of the Diamond sisters has a guy or two that has caught their attention. None of the potential romances have gone the way I unexpected them to. The romance aspect of the story is one of the strongest elements in Michelle's writing. She creates unhurried, realistic connections. It never feels like an insta-love situation or that things are progressing too quickly.

The fallout from this book will still be felt into the final installment. There is a rather delightful, if cutesy, aspect to Savannah's storyline that I am praying continues to be explored. The impact of one of this novel's biggest reveals has yet to be truly explored, and that has set up the third novel to be quite the scandal filled installment.

Boasting juicier secrets, more extravagant luxury, and higher stakes consequences, Michelle Madow has delivered a sequel that will truly satisfy fans of this series. They will eagerly devour this in one sitting and breathlessly wait for the final book. Michelle Madow has shown that in her world of decadently sinful Las Vegas nothing is as it seems, and all bets are off.