From the wild Cornish coast to the tumultuous frontier of British India, feisty Raven Barrancourt must sail halfway round the world to seek a fortune that will save her beloved ancestral home. But what she finds in India is worth more than silver, gold, or any fabled jewel...
Sea captain Charles St. Germain doesn’t need the distraction of a black-haired beauty on the voyage to India, where a dangerous mission awaits him. Mutiny, espionage, and the search for a coveted diamond threaten his duties, but far more dangerous is his growing passion for a woman he knows he can’t have.
As book one of the “Forbidden Gems Trilogy,” “Diamond Dark” brings the sweeping romance of India to tempestuous life.
Even though Ellen was born in Germany, she was raised in New Jersey (insert Jersey joke here). That’s probably why she suffered extreme culture shock when her family moved to South Carolina when she was sixteen.
After all, it's hard to be uprooted from a pretty colonial town, say goodbye to lifelong friends, and be dragged 800 miles south by your parents. Ellen freely admits that the transformation from Jersey Girl to Southern Belle was a rocky one.
But steeped in history, the Lowcountry of South Carolina is the perfect place for a writer to live, because Charleston’s gorgeous historic houses, cobblestone streets, and moss-draped gardens serve as the ultimate “romance laboratory.”
So 40 years later has Ellen acclimated to living here? "Heck yeah, y’all."
Diamond Dark is the first book in the The Forbidden Gems Trilogy Book. Ellen Tanner Marsh is a new to me author but I am certainly glad to have discovered her books. After a horse riding accident claims the life of her father, Raven Barrancourt is forced to grow up quickly. With her mother dying in childbirth years before and being raised by servants Raven grows up the wildchild answering to no one but herself. Finding out her father owes quite a lot of debt at the time of his death and that it threatens her livelihood and her childhood home and that she may soon be homeless she is knocked down a peg or two. I mean who wouldn't be presented with these circumstances? With her beauty she has plenty of suitors and an especially wealthy one promises to help her with her circumstances if she'd only marry him. Having no intention of being shackled to this slimy toad she asks for 9 months time to get the money together her father owes and if she can't she'll marry him. I was really engrossed with the tale of Raven and her Captain Charles. With an enchanting sometimes dangerous plot I had to keep reading late into the night. The historical descriptions of the exotic location kept the pages flying past and my enjoyment high. Passion,fast paced and oh my a huge diamond. What is to become of it? This book ends in a cliff-hanger so I am looking forward to the next swoon worthy book. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Monkeypaw Press. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
Wow! First, thank you for my copy to read and review. I have to say when I got the book in the mail, I was so surprised at the absolutely exquistely wrapped package! My book came in a beautiful sturdy box, the book was tissue-wrapped and there were - best part - little diamonds scattered throughout the box. I was so blown away, and the handwritten note from the author was the final touch - thank you for that most elegant gift!
I truly loved this book and I would highly recommend it as a must read. The book is steeped in wonderful detail and imagery that it's no effort to believe yourself right there alongside Raven and Charles. The history of the time and places are so well written that I felt like a sponge wanting to soak up every word. The only thing was the cliffhanger at the end - oh the agony of having to wait for the sequel! But I can't wait to see what happens next with Raven and Charles...
If you enjoy historical romances, then you MUST read Diamond Dark!!
Diamond Dark was the perfect summer read for me! It was a story of forbidden love and takes place in the far away land of India. Raven Barrencourt and Charles St. Germain are quite the couple. I loved how they met, how they re-meet, and I loved how much each one of them desired the other.
It had quite the adventure in it, and clearly swept me off my feet. As far being a historical romance, it was definitely set back in historical times, but the scenes were up to present time in the sense that they got the job done. I found myself reading faster because I couldn't wait for them to interact again. Each time they were together they made my heart fill up with love more and more.
I loved how dangerous the book feels- it gives off just enough suspense to keep you interested. I felt like at times I was peeking back into a diary from a long time ago.
I really enjoyed the writing, the characters, the scenery that was imagined in my head, and lots more about this book. I would definitely recommend this book if you were looking for a new historical romance because it definitely marked off everything on my list.
Entertaining but open ended. A girl from Cornwall travels to India in the early 19th century. Entertaining read although only a part 1 of a story (I hate that marketing concept). I doubt that women of high class would risk a pregnancy while unwed in those days or loose their virginity when they were not married as it would destroy your chances on a marriage and society's blessing,
India and US slavery. Part 2 of a story that in my opinion is better than the first half. With an uprising brewing in India and illegal slavetrade to the US this novel is very action packed. It also has a realistic love story.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and loved book 1 even more so.
I liked the way the author used alternating viewpoints to get different perspectives on the same situation. Looking forward to book 3.....and her other books too.