Diamond Heart: A Dark Cowboy Romance

Wounded Hearts #2

by R. Collins

When my brother died, the last person I expected to show up at his funeral was Colton Banks. Fifteen years my senior, my dead brother’s best friend, and the boy I swore I would marry when I was a little girl. One thing led to another after the funeral, and he gave me my first kiss. A week after he left, I found out I was pregnant. But I never got the chance to tell him. Fast-forward five years, my first and only true love shows up out of the blue, shatters my heart in two (again), slaps me, seduces me, and threatens to ruin my life. The former man of my dreams is now a monster. Instead of the little girl he once knew, I’m an exotic dancer. A single mother, and still head over heels for him. Even if I wasn’t, he’s claimed me, and now that he’s back, he’s promised to never let me go.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2025

About the author

R. Collins is a dark romance author with a passion for storytelling that began at a young age. A lifelong admirer of romance in all its forms, she is particularly drawn to the darker, more complex aspects of love—where desire, obsession, and vulnerability intertwine. Her writing journey started with poetry, where she honed her ability to capture raw emotions and complex feelings in every word. Now, she channels that same emotional depth into crafting interracial dark romance novels that explore intense, often forbidden connections between characters from different walks of life. Each story she tells delves into the depths of passion, the shadows of longing, and the unexpected twists that love can bring.

Reviews

[CLorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

R. Collins excels at creating interestingly damaged characters and slightly unhinged males with but an inner core of sweetness. Diamond Heart is a bit of a departure from her usual stellar storytelling. Most of the problems can be attributed to the MMC, Colton. Unfortunately, while Colton certainly fills the unhinged requirement, he is extremely childish (for a man of his age) and borderline unlikable. We first encountered Colton in Bleeding Blackheart where he provided support and friendship to Gunnar. I looked forward to reading his story but his “romance” with Presley was underdeveloped and uninspiring. Colton left Georgia after an argument with Jamal his best friend; when he learns that Jamal has died, he returns for the funeral. After a one-night-stand with Presley, Jamal’s much younger sister, Colton leaves again. He returns years later to see his ailing father but sees Presley by accident. Even though he did not come home to reconnect with Presley he is now determined to be in her life. He has no answers for his absence, no words of reconciliation, and I could not see his appeal for Presley. She was weak and did not hold him accountable for his treatment of her and his lack of care about the possible consequences of their night together. After so many stellar books, Diamond Heart is a miss, but I look forward to the next book by the gifted Ms. Collins.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/diamon...

[A P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not hold back. It’s dark, intense, and at times downright unsettling—but I couldn’t stop reading. The relationship between Presley and Colton is one of the most toxic I’ve seen in a dark romance, and there were moments I genuinely thought he wouldn’t redeem himself. But when he finally does? One of the best character transformations I’ve come across. R. Collins does an incredible job making you want to root for him, even when he’s at his worst.

Presley is a fantastic FMC—strong, independent, and an amazing mother to their son, who plays a major role in the story. Their group dynamic is one of the highlights of the book, and despite Colton’s flaws, his devotion to being the best father possible is one of his most admirable traits.

And let’s talk about the spice—whew. This book is hot & heavy to the absolute max. It is not for the faint of heart, and if you like your romance scorching, you won’t be disappointed.

And that climax? Holy shit. I won’t spoil anything, but trust me, you’ll be glued to the pages. If you love dark romance that pushes boundaries but delivers a deeply satisfying payoff, this one is a must-read.

[Nelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Diamond Heart" represents a noticeable decline in R. Collins' storytelling abilities, particularly disappointing for readers like me that's familiar with her earlier, stronger work. This second-chance romance featuring Presley and Colton fails to deliver on multiple fronts, continuing what appears to be an unfortunate downward trend in the author's recent books I've read so far.

This was a frustrating read that relies on contrived plot devices rather than authentic character development or believable emotions.

The central conflict—Presley having Colton's child and never telling him about it for four years, while he simultaneously makes no effort to contact her—creates a foundation of implausibility that the story never recovers from. The revelation of their four-year-old son only adds to the sense that these characters make decisions solely to generate drama rather than from any authentic motivation.

We're asked to believe that Colton "always loved" Presley despite vanishing from her life without explanation after their night together. Similarly, we're expected to accept that Presley harbored deep feelings for him while choosing to keep his child a secret. These contradictions aren't thoughtfully explored but rather thrown at readers as if emotional complexity can be achieved through inconsistency alone.

The narrative lacks the necessary emotional groundwork to make these grand declarations of enduring love feel earned. Instead of witnessing a compelling journey of two people overcoming genuine obstacles, we're presented with artificial barriers that could be resolved with a single honest conversation.

The writing remains basic throughout, failing to delve into the psychological complexities that such a situation would realistically create. How does Presley justify her decision? What internal struggles did Colton face during those years? These questions go largely unanswered in favor of superficial romantic gestures that ring hollow.

For a story dealing with serious themes like grief, parenthood, and reconnection, "Diamond Heart" shows remarkably little depth or nuance, ultimately delivering a romance that's as unconvincing as it is unsatisfying.

For those who like myself who appreciated Collins' earlier novels, "Diamond Heart" will likely feel like a hollow imitation—recognizable in basic structure but missing the emotional authenticity and narrative craftsmanship that once made her work stand out.

This regression in quality suggests an author perhaps rushing to meet deadlines rather than taking the time to develop meaningful stories and believable characters.

[b ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

YEAHHHHHHHH EVERYONE RISE FOR COLT & PRESLEY. seriously enjoyed this one sooo much! i feel like these darkness was scaled back a little compared to the first book in this series, but still dark enough to make sure you're checking trigger warnings (chef's kiss 😚!). the romance & the spice was sooooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 i'm assuming R Collins has a reoccurring theme for the breeding kink & YEAH i'm here for it! 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ & for dominant men who think they are entitled to everything (in fiction only!) 🙏🏻 loved our confident queen Presley & was so happy to see her standing her ground and growing throughout the book. the last 20% had me ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT & so happy with how everything wrapped up.

GIDDY TO START DALLAS' BOOK!!!! R Collins, i love you

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3–3.5⭐️?? This was a very well-written story; the author really immerses you in her writing.

Let’s talk about Colton; he had me so frustrated and irritated for a good chunk of this book. He was very immature, and I was so annoyed that Presley kept giving him the time of day. I get this story ropes in some dark themes, but Presley, sista… you were better off with literally anyone else. I enjoyed Presley as our heroine; she was authentic and true to herself. Loved baby Colt and Elie as well. Overall, if Colton wasn’t so insufferable, I think their romance would’ve been more enjoyable, he def had what it takes to be the perfect hero for her but again some small details I couldn't get past. I did, however love that gesture he did for Mr. Lewis and his family, props to him.

[Kate Krizanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️. Colton was a bit harder to love than Gunner. He pulled no punches. But I liked that Presley constantly put him in check when he was acting too possessive and downright disrespectful to her wishes and routine.