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Fractured Diamond: A Christian Romantic Suspense Novel
Christian Romantic Suspense
Standalone Novel
After a vicious attack leaves Brianna Gem paranoid, she decides to hire private security. Little does she know, the man she hires is none other than Bobby Ackard, her high school sweetheart. It’s been six years since Bobby dumped Brianna—now he’ll be following her around everywhere she goes. Protecting her. Neither Brianna nor Bobby are kids anymore, but Bobby’s still got those piercing blue eyes and that dangerous smile. Absolutely nothing about him has changed but everything is different about Bri—and how could it not be? The last time Brianna saw her ex, they were madly in love. Then she found herself suddenly abandoned and drowning in rumors about her boyfriend. He was at the center of a police investigation before he dumped her and vanished six years ago. Now he's back, but with his arrival comes a new load of drama and mystery.
Is it possible that Bobby isn’t the man Brianna thought he was? Could he be tied to the dangerous gangs of New York? Did he have something to do with the attack that led to their reunion?
Maybe Bobby’s untimely return is just a chance encounter. It might even be a gift from God so they can finally clear the air. Brianna has been targeted more than once. Her life could very well be in danger and Bobby could be her saving grace. But as Brianna gets to know him again and begins to peel back the layers covering the secret of his disappearance six years ago, she starts to wonder if their connection is a coincidence or a curse. Fractured Diamond is a standalone novel that takes place ten years after the Withered Rose trilogy . While some characters from its prequel series do make an appearance throughout the novel, the storyline is unrelated and can be enjoyed without reading Withered Rose .
***WARNING***
Due to gang-related activity, this book is recommended for adult readers
Other Books by Valicity
Withered Rose Trilogy
Cross Academy Series
I AM MAN Saga
The 'I' Word
Patches
Standalone Novel
After a vicious attack leaves Brianna Gem paranoid, she decides to hire private security. Little does she know, the man she hires is none other than Bobby Ackard, her high school sweetheart. It’s been six years since Bobby dumped Brianna—now he’ll be following her around everywhere she goes. Protecting her. Neither Brianna nor Bobby are kids anymore, but Bobby’s still got those piercing blue eyes and that dangerous smile. Absolutely nothing about him has changed but everything is different about Bri—and how could it not be? The last time Brianna saw her ex, they were madly in love. Then she found herself suddenly abandoned and drowning in rumors about her boyfriend. He was at the center of a police investigation before he dumped her and vanished six years ago. Now he's back, but with his arrival comes a new load of drama and mystery.
Is it possible that Bobby isn’t the man Brianna thought he was? Could he be tied to the dangerous gangs of New York? Did he have something to do with the attack that led to their reunion?
Maybe Bobby’s untimely return is just a chance encounter. It might even be a gift from God so they can finally clear the air. Brianna has been targeted more than once. Her life could very well be in danger and Bobby could be her saving grace. But as Brianna gets to know him again and begins to peel back the layers covering the secret of his disappearance six years ago, she starts to wonder if their connection is a coincidence or a curse. Fractured Diamond is a standalone novel that takes place ten years after the Withered Rose trilogy . While some characters from its prequel series do make an appearance throughout the novel, the storyline is unrelated and can be enjoyed without reading Withered Rose .
***WARNING***
Due to gang-related activity, this book is recommended for adult readers
Other Books by Valicity
Withered Rose Trilogy
Cross Academy Series
I AM MAN Saga
The 'I' Word
Patches
269 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2022
170 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Valicity Elaine
36 books642 followersI love fantasy and magic and quirky high school stories. Writing is my passion, Jesus is my life.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 18, 2025
I would like to start by saying I don’t think it’s the author or the book’s fault but this was totally a “not for me” 😢
I really wanted to like this because I absolutely adore the content this author puts out there. If I’m honest though (which I always try to be) I just don’t think the mafia romance trope is for me. I have another one I’d like to give a try so I’m going to give mafia one more go before I make the official judgement that it’s not a book I’ll enjoy. But guess what? That’s totally okay and my loss could absolutely be your gain. If you like the Mafia scenario but are looking for a cleaner read with more Christian themes, definitely try this!
I resonated most with the MMC. He’s flawed but he is humble and repentant and that ultimately leads him to the Lord and honestly his journey was beautiful.
The FMC was difficult for me to resonate with because I just felt like I have a very different Christian experience than what she’d had. She was raised in a Christian home that honestly kind of used their faith as a weapon of judgment and condemnation. Which is unfortunate but definitely happens. And her faith just didnt seem to have deep roots, she was very easily swayed by feelings & temptation. I will say her cousin was an awesome supporting character in regard to this and kept pointing her back to the Word of God and I loved that for her. I did like to see how sometimes the Christian faith can be messy but God is still good even when Christians fail.
💖 PG/closed-door romance
🫢 mild/infrequent use of explicit language
CW/TW: anxiety, PTSD, murder, betrayal, wrongful imprisonment
I really wanted to like this because I absolutely adore the content this author puts out there. If I’m honest though (which I always try to be) I just don’t think the mafia romance trope is for me. I have another one I’d like to give a try so I’m going to give mafia one more go before I make the official judgement that it’s not a book I’ll enjoy. But guess what? That’s totally okay and my loss could absolutely be your gain. If you like the Mafia scenario but are looking for a cleaner read with more Christian themes, definitely try this!
I resonated most with the MMC. He’s flawed but he is humble and repentant and that ultimately leads him to the Lord and honestly his journey was beautiful.
The FMC was difficult for me to resonate with because I just felt like I have a very different Christian experience than what she’d had. She was raised in a Christian home that honestly kind of used their faith as a weapon of judgment and condemnation. Which is unfortunate but definitely happens. And her faith just didnt seem to have deep roots, she was very easily swayed by feelings & temptation. I will say her cousin was an awesome supporting character in regard to this and kept pointing her back to the Word of God and I loved that for her. I did like to see how sometimes the Christian faith can be messy but God is still good even when Christians fail.
💖 PG/closed-door romance
🫢 mild/infrequent use of explicit language
CW/TW: anxiety, PTSD, murder, betrayal, wrongful imprisonment
February 1, 2024
I read this on the recommendation of indie author Elizabeth Wheatley because she said Christian fiction isn't typically her thing but that she enjoyed this mafia inspired romance. And I would say I fall into the same line of thinking now that I have finished "Fractured Diamond." While I recognize that not all books labeled "Christian fiction" are cheesy or underdeveloped plots in lieu of sermons, I usually find them, as one might say, a little on the nose. And when authors go out of their way to be specific (quoting Bible verses, stating theological positions, etc.), my radar goes up because how God is represented in fiction matters. Having said both of those things, I think Valicity Elaine's story is a decent stab at telling a contemporary love story of the good Christian girl who falls hard for the ex-mafia bad boy. My main critique would be that the writing is too direct and lacks nuance; as a reader, I don't want an author to hold my hand and talk me through everything– I want to feel what is happening and I want to fill in the blanks because the book has provoked me to think. The 3rd act breakup was beyond frustrating but that kills me anytime it shows up in a story and doesn't necessarily reflect its necessity (or lack thereof) for this book. Honestly, if you like suspenseful stories about the underbelly of New York, wanted to date the bad boy in high school (and reform him just a little bit!), and don't like wading through violent scenes and countless profanity, this book will hit the spot. Bonus: it's free on Kindle.
March 25, 2023
Not so Christian
This book was listed as a Christian novel. I found very little 'Christian' in it. I was very disappointed in the loose morals of the "Christian" characters. The foul language, though few, was disappointing to read. The struggles may be real but I didn't need a graphic description of those struggles.
This book was listed as a Christian novel. I found very little 'Christian' in it. I was very disappointed in the loose morals of the "Christian" characters. The foul language, though few, was disappointing to read. The struggles may be real but I didn't need a graphic description of those struggles.
May 6, 2025
characters: 4/10
writing:6/10
plot:3/10
writing:6/10
plot:3/10
September 25, 2024
This was really good imo
Okay, let me start by saying I found Ms.Valicity Elaine a little while ago through her “I am man” series (which I haven’t read bc I’ve been busy spending money on Blades of Acktar and Ilyon chronicles— I am man is my next buy though). When I went to her YouTube I saw that she had a free book to kinda get a feel for her writing… this is my conclusion (this review is immediately after I finished the book).
Language: “Crap”, “freaking”, and “suck” are used but I personally don’t consider that language. Bobby says “p***” a couple times mentally and begins to type
“a—“ to Bri, but changed his mind out of respect for her faith. Realistically it would have been worse, but with it being a Christian novel she obviously had to dumb it down which I am happy about and I was able to get past it.
Sex: There are numerous references (not in detail just as like a “this happened”, not a “I remember when he…” thing) to the first time they “made love” as teenagers, but it is repented for and I wasn’t really bothered. There is a near-sex moment but again, out of respect for her faith, it’s stopped and repented for and they take precautions against ever letting it get that close again (like Bobby not even being allowed to sleep on her couch anymore). It’s really not bad and I would rate it PG-13 at most.
Gore: There’s not really any gore. Mentions of bear rape, stabbings, being shot, beatings, etc. but nothing too crazy for New York.
First of all, I love Bobby. He had so much respect for Bris faith when even she struggled respecting it and he wasn’t even a Christian. I saw one review saying it wasn’t as “Christian as they had hoped”… but idk if they even made it to the end. It is a story of growth and repentance and forgiveness, so as the story progresses, God becomes a more prominent topic.
Bri was hard at first. She was a bit like a puppy, happy and sweet one minute and then biting you the next. She did grow a lot though and I am glad for it.
Verna was probably my favorite character. She was so strong in her faith and constantly encouraging Bri, sending her scriptures, praying for her, etc. and I loved it!
Plot wise I thought it was good too. I was worried when kindle said it was only 200 pages, but it actually played out really well! I didn’t find the page too fast/slow at all either.
Another thing I loved was the bit of German 😆 as a German learner myself, I was really happy to see it added.
In conclusion, as a 16 year old, I would say it’s fine for 16+. I would not let my younger sisters read it yet, but it is a story of screwing up and finding God to help you through it.
I do think I will read more from this author 100%. I would have referred a bit less emphasis on sex that happened six years ago, but at the same time it was written from the perspective of mostly non-believers. Even Bri wasn’t strong in her faith. I’m not excusing their mistakes, but I am saying it is realistic.
Okay, let me start by saying I found Ms.Valicity Elaine a little while ago through her “I am man” series (which I haven’t read bc I’ve been busy spending money on Blades of Acktar and Ilyon chronicles— I am man is my next buy though). When I went to her YouTube I saw that she had a free book to kinda get a feel for her writing… this is my conclusion (this review is immediately after I finished the book).
Language: “Crap”, “freaking”, and “suck” are used but I personally don’t consider that language. Bobby says “p***” a couple times mentally and begins to type
“a—“ to Bri, but changed his mind out of respect for her faith. Realistically it would have been worse, but with it being a Christian novel she obviously had to dumb it down which I am happy about and I was able to get past it.
Sex: There are numerous references (not in detail just as like a “this happened”, not a “I remember when he…” thing) to the first time they “made love” as teenagers, but it is repented for and I wasn’t really bothered. There is a near-sex moment but again, out of respect for her faith, it’s stopped and repented for and they take precautions against ever letting it get that close again (like Bobby not even being allowed to sleep on her couch anymore). It’s really not bad and I would rate it PG-13 at most.
Gore: There’s not really any gore. Mentions of bear rape, stabbings, being shot, beatings, etc. but nothing too crazy for New York.
First of all, I love Bobby. He had so much respect for Bris faith when even she struggled respecting it and he wasn’t even a Christian. I saw one review saying it wasn’t as “Christian as they had hoped”… but idk if they even made it to the end. It is a story of growth and repentance and forgiveness, so as the story progresses, God becomes a more prominent topic.
Bri was hard at first. She was a bit like a puppy, happy and sweet one minute and then biting you the next. She did grow a lot though and I am glad for it.
Verna was probably my favorite character. She was so strong in her faith and constantly encouraging Bri, sending her scriptures, praying for her, etc. and I loved it!
Plot wise I thought it was good too. I was worried when kindle said it was only 200 pages, but it actually played out really well! I didn’t find the page too fast/slow at all either.
Another thing I loved was the bit of German 😆 as a German learner myself, I was really happy to see it added.
In conclusion, as a 16 year old, I would say it’s fine for 16+. I would not let my younger sisters read it yet, but it is a story of screwing up and finding God to help you through it.
I do think I will read more from this author 100%. I would have referred a bit less emphasis on sex that happened six years ago, but at the same time it was written from the perspective of mostly non-believers. Even Bri wasn’t strong in her faith. I’m not excusing their mistakes, but I am saying it is realistic.
July 30, 2025
one of the best Christian romance writers
I absolutely love every single book I’ve read of Valicity’s. She is proof that Christian stories can be “can’t put it down” page turners.
It’s been so long since I’ve been able to get through books in less than a day, but once you start one of her stories… you can’t wait days to figure out how they end. The writing is well done, and I truly enjoy the character development in all of her books. This book especially caught me by surprise. A lot of plot twists and things I never thought of- the ending was great, all though I am sad we didn’t get to hear more details of their wedding. I know it was something small and quick, but that’s my only “complaint”
I love that she always includes scripture and keeps it Christ centered. I know people have said that her books are inappropriate for Christians to read and that they’re too dark. I disagree entirely. I love that she includes the imperfect Christians stories and their growth in faith. The pious Christians and Pharisee Christians that are holier than thou ruin it for all of us.
Her stories are full of scripture, God’s love, God’s graces, and just how much we need Him
It doesn’t hurt that the romance is well- spicy- without being gross
God wanted us to enjoy our partners. And I guarantee these characters did.
Quit judging, and go out and read more of her books- in fact, I’m going to need her to write many, many more. I’m on a journey to read them all.
This one is probably my second favorite of hers next to the Withered Rose trilogy.
I’m fighting all the urge to re read it and instead keep reading her other works.
I absolutely love every single book I’ve read of Valicity’s. She is proof that Christian stories can be “can’t put it down” page turners.
It’s been so long since I’ve been able to get through books in less than a day, but once you start one of her stories… you can’t wait days to figure out how they end. The writing is well done, and I truly enjoy the character development in all of her books. This book especially caught me by surprise. A lot of plot twists and things I never thought of- the ending was great, all though I am sad we didn’t get to hear more details of their wedding. I know it was something small and quick, but that’s my only “complaint”
I love that she always includes scripture and keeps it Christ centered. I know people have said that her books are inappropriate for Christians to read and that they’re too dark. I disagree entirely. I love that she includes the imperfect Christians stories and their growth in faith. The pious Christians and Pharisee Christians that are holier than thou ruin it for all of us.
Her stories are full of scripture, God’s love, God’s graces, and just how much we need Him
It doesn’t hurt that the romance is well- spicy- without being gross
God wanted us to enjoy our partners. And I guarantee these characters did.
Quit judging, and go out and read more of her books- in fact, I’m going to need her to write many, many more. I’m on a journey to read them all.
This one is probably my second favorite of hers next to the Withered Rose trilogy.
I’m fighting all the urge to re read it and instead keep reading her other works.
January 9, 2025
An author called Elizabeth Wheatley recommended this book, saying she's not into mafia Christian but this one works. Overall, the story fell flat for me, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
I liked that it acknowledged how judgmental Christians can be and how religion becomes a prison instead of a way to flourish, because of its followers. It was good to see it from a nonjudgmental point of view, that it's not about judgment, it's about recognizing mistakes, forgiving, accepting and try to become better. Hats off to the author for making sure this message gets delivered in the book.
April 7, 2025
Anything Valicity Elaine writes I will read. She’s my auto read author and I need a physical copy of her books as trophies on my shelf. Her writing style is emotional, engaging, and truly like you are in the head of the MC’s. Realistic, raw, unfiltered (to a certain extent) the thing I love most is she is a Christian and her FMC’s are always openly Christian’s protagonists in these dark worlds (cough cough the mafia) and truly they’re not only encouraging but ADDICTING and engaging.
September 23, 2025
I read this after reading all of the other mafia books written by Valicity and to be honest it doesn’t even compare. I didnt enjoy this, mainly because there was too much recap of past events rather than story development. Whilst you empathised for the main characters none of them were really loveable as a couple that you’d want to get a happy ending. I wanted Bobby to be vindicated but aside from that it was just an ok story in my opinion.
September 17, 2024
I was really excited to read this book but I was unable to connect with it. While I truly appreciate the Christianity aspect of the novel, I found the writing subpar. The frequent reminders of past events disrupted the flow of the novel. I think this author shows potential, but “fractured diamond” felt more like reading a first draft than a fully polished novel.
December 22, 2024
An influencer said she doesn't usually like Christian novels or mafia novels vlbut she liked this one. Christian mafia wasn't a genre I was aware of so I was intrigued. it was a quick read but it fell a little flat for me. I also didn't like the implication that medication and therapy made one less than because God should be enough.
December 27, 2024
Awesome book!
It was so exciting that I couldn't put it down. I read it for almost 2 hours straight, whereas normally, I just read while I eat breakfast... about 30 minutes before starting my workday. Great action, great Christian philosophy in how God can change a person from the inside out.
It was so exciting that I couldn't put it down. I read it for almost 2 hours straight, whereas normally, I just read while I eat breakfast... about 30 minutes before starting my workday. Great action, great Christian philosophy in how God can change a person from the inside out.
October 15, 2023
It was a different read! I didn't care for some language used. I don't feel that cussing needs to be in christian books.
January 26, 2025
This book kept challenging itself to reach new levels of atrocity with each passing page, and every time, it won.
Read
April 3, 2025DNF. Well-written, but just not my cuppa tea 🤷🏽♀️
September 27, 2025
Ok
“You can’t let the mistakes of Christians stop you from following Christ. Every time you let their behavior get to you, the devil wins.”
Decent book, not my favorite
“You can’t let the mistakes of Christians stop you from following Christ. Every time you let their behavior get to you, the devil wins.”
Decent book, not my favorite
December 18, 2025
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the Withered Rose series or the other one, but still good!
December 31, 2025
This was unlike any Christian Fiction, I’ve ever read and I loved it.
March 22, 2024
The plot was boring to me and I knew who was responsible for everything pretty early on. Also, the sexual tension was much and the description of their sexual past was unnecessary, and sadly this was my first Christian book. I would not recommend.
February 18, 2025
Not popular enough
June 9, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️ - Fractured Diamond 💎
TROPES:
💎 Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
💎 Bodyguard MMC
💎 Mafia Aspect
💎 Second Chance Romance
💎 Dual POV
Fractured Diamond is a novella that takes place after the events of the Withered Rose Trilogy, but can be read as a standalone. Although the story is of a shorter length, the author did a phenomenal job of maintaining the plot/character development/Godly message within the book. I highly suggest Withered Rose fans to read it 🥰
TROPES:
💎 Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
💎 Bodyguard MMC
💎 Mafia Aspect
💎 Second Chance Romance
💎 Dual POV
Fractured Diamond is a novella that takes place after the events of the Withered Rose Trilogy, but can be read as a standalone. Although the story is of a shorter length, the author did a phenomenal job of maintaining the plot/character development/Godly message within the book. I highly suggest Withered Rose fans to read it 🥰
July 31, 2025
Fractured Diamond is a standalone spinoff novel taking place in the crime ridden world of the Withered Rose trilogy.
💎Second chance romance
💎Love interest with dark past
💎Post Mafia world
💎Faith aspect
🫶🏼closed door
💎Second chance romance
💎Love interest with dark past
💎Post Mafia world
💎Faith aspect
🫶🏼closed door
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews