Beauty in the Broken

Diamond Magnate #2

by Charmaine Pauls

A DIAMOND MAGNATE DARK ROMANCE NOVEL

Six years ago, Harold Dalton framed me for theft and sent me to jail to steal my diamond discovery. He gave his daughter to Jack Clarke in exchange for the excavation rights. Today, I'm walking free, and I'm coming for him with a vengeance. Six years of cruelty make beasts out of men. I'm going to take back what he stole from me, and more. I'm not interested in his properties or shares. I don't want his small change. I want his biggest asset. Beautiful, mentally unstable, Angelina Dalton-Clarke.

Worth billions, she's the wealthiest widow in the country, and also the craziest. Her self-harming tendencies had Jack declare her incompetent before he put a gun to his head and blew out his brains. Lina isn't allowed to touch a cent of her riches. Her father manages her finances. He has all the signing power. As her husband, that chore will fall to me. But if she thinks I only want her for her money, she's sadly mistaken.

* This book is a stand-alone. No cliffhangers.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Romance, BDSM, Erotica, Abuse, Contemporary Romance

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2019

About the author

Charmaine loves to write dark and edgy romance that will melt both your e-reader and your heart.

She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.

When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fuck this book. F U C K this B O O K.

Theres dark romance and then theres stupid dark romance; this one being the latter. I'm seething right now. This has my blood sugar up to uncomfortable levels. I hated almost every part of this book and yet I kept reading, waiting for some kind of redemption from the hero or some kind show of willpower from the heroine.

I'm tearing this miserable excuse for a book to shreds.

The "Hero":
-Is a sadist. He beats the h brutaly until she passes out and bleeds. Awesome. Also uses humiliation.
-Is over the top controlling and possessive. NOT the sexy kind. The kind that makes you want to kick him in the balls.
-Wont let the state recognize that the heroine is mentally competent because he likes the control he has over her with everyone thinking shes a lunatic.
-Makes the heroine dress in revealing clothing so it shows her scars from the abuse of her previous marriage to a room full of people.
-Feels betrayed that the heroine gave away her virginity to her first husband while he was in prison.... even though he stated hes been with many many women previously.
-Treats her like an a sex toy.
-Just assumes shes a pampered daddy girl until the 85% mark of the book.

The "heroine"
-TSTL. Has no sense of self preservation.
-Betraying body alert in the worst way. Hero beats her and humiliates her and yet she gets wet *grinds teeth together*
-Has suffered years and years and YEARS of abuse from both her father and first husband but refuses to tell anyone about anything, causing MASSIVE amounts of miscommunication and endless opened ended dialogue. But suddenly she gets turned on when the hero is abusing her because hes "dominant and attractive."
-Lets everyone push her around and suffers in silence.
-Tries to get OW to seduce husband so she can get secret documents but then gets jealous of the thought of hero with OW *smacks forehead*
-Somehow falls in love with the hero even though he brutalizes her, which makes her run away, only to be recaptured by the hero so he can TATTOO HIS NAME ON HER SKIN AND PUT A GPS CHIP IN HER NECK. FUCKKKK THATTTTTTT. holy moly fuck that.
(This was my breaking point. This was when I threw my iPad across the room in anger. This is NOT BDSM lifestyle. This is NOT a love story. This is NOT fucking romantic)
-And last but not least.... gets kidnapped not once, but TWICE. *grinds teeth even harder together*

I am a huge fan of dark romance. Take a look at my shelves for proof. But this... this is just terrible. How much suffering does the heroine have to go through? How much can the hero be a complete and under irredeemable douche bag before you start hoping the heroine falls in love with the security guard who actually cares for her well being? On top of the terrible plot, there was zero character development... unless you count them falling in love? I dont. I wanted the hero to be vulnerable to the heroine at least one time but the entire book was the hero showing how powerful he is against the h.

Safety (if you've kept reading at this point)
-H was celibate for six years cause he was in jail. Doesnt have sex with anyone else once he sees the heroine.
-OM/OW drama. There are two side characters (man and woman) that live in the house with H and h. Both are in love with the hero and both cause misery to the heroine.
-Heroine is raped and abused in first marriage (and I could argue the second too)
-Miscarriage but turns out to be a secret baby. (not even bothering to unpack this lil tidbit in this review because I was skimming at this point)
-non consensual BDSM (spanking, whipping, canning, humiliation, sexual torture)
-3 months seperation at the end of the book cause why the fuck not.
-Bruh I dont know what else im exhausted.

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: ➳ Beauty in the Broken

Author: ➳ Charmaine Paul

Published: ➳ May 14th 2019



ღ I must say I love when I find new author that leaves me wanting to read more of her work

↪Happy reading ↩


➳ Some might say this this a dark read; I would have to disagree. I feel like it somewhere in middle… now don’t go in think just Cuz I put in the Middle range this isn’t good read, on the contrary. I found it be very sad at times, believe it or not even romantic at times……but yet at time very sweet in a twisted way

➳ Damian Hart, what can I say this man is sexy as hell in his own crazy way. but he also looking for revenge. Damn I would be too after severing six years for a crime he didn’t commit.

➳Damien is free & he is coming after what is his.

''I’m a man in an eighty-thousand-rand suit, a man with a vendetta.''

➳Only thing is will he find his vendettas?

➳ Angelina Dalton-Clarke. Daughter of Harold Dalton. Widow of Jack Clarke. She inherited her late husband’s fortune. Worth billions, she’s the wealthiest widow in the country, & also the craziest, so they say

➳ Lord I’d love to tell you so much more about Lina & her story, but I fear I might just spoil the book for you

➳ What I can do is tell you few things I didn’t like. I didn’t like at times Damian wanted to punish Lina for every Lil damn thing. Or how high the price for Lina freedom might cost.. maybe this might help you understand Damian⬇

''She’s been the focus of my fantasies, both the vengeful and lustful kind, for the past six years.''


➳Oh how I wish that Damian was able to torture the spoiled & pampered Harold Dalton more

➳Harold once told Damian that ⬇
“She’ll never be yours. She’s destined for someone worthy of her.”

➳In the end will Harold be right?

📚 Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion & my honest review 💕

💕 ✎Paulette Review ❤ 💕

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |


THIS SOUNDS DECADENTLY TWISTED!

Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
Six years ago, Harold Dalton framed me for theft and sent me to jail to steal my diamond discovery. He gave his daughter to Jack Clarke in exchange for the excavation rights. Today, I'm walking free, and I'm coming for him with a vengeance. Six years of cruelty make beasts out of men. I'm going to take back what he stole from me, and more. I'm not interested in his properties or shares. I don't want his small change. I want his biggest asset. Beautiful, mentally unstable, Angelina Dalton-Clarke.
Worth billions, she's the wealthiest widow in the country, and also the craziest. Her self-harming tendencies had Jack declare her incompetent before he put a gun to his head and blew out his brains. Lina isn't allowed to touch a cent of her riches. Her father manages her finances. He has all the signing power. As her husband, that chore will fall to me. But if she thinks I only want her for her money, she's sadly mistaken.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 30th June - 1st July 2020

Enjoyed it just as much the second time round.

Original review.

Short review - Wow

Longer review - My only worry going into this book was would be too dark for me?While it’s certainly a dark read it wasn’t too much but more on that later.

Damian Hart has served six years for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s out and he’s after revenge.

‘I’m not the twenty-two-year-old man who walked through this door in a threadbare shirt. I’m a man in an eighty-thousand-rand suit, a man with a vendetta. Six years is a long time, long enough to soak in the juices of your vengeance until your heart is cooked in all that bitter acid.
Six years of cruelty and torture make beasts out of men. Six years in the company of the hardest criminals and most notorious mobsters also make the right connections and a fortune.’

If people expected Damian to return a broken man they are in for a huge shock. He is rich and ruthless and has only one goal.

Damian intends to not only ruin Harold Dalton but anyone who participated in his incarceration. Plus he’s going to marry Angelina Dalton. Harolds spoilt and pampered mentally unstable daughter. Who also happens to be worth billions. With her money he’ll be unstoppable.

So the scene is set for a dark tale of vengeance.

But....

While Damian is ruthless he’s also human and he’s obsessed with Lina.

‘There’s something in her eyes, something like hurt, as if I’m at fault for not trusting her when she can’t be trusted. Even then, even if trust isn’t something I can give her, I want her. I have a feeling I’ll want her forever. No, I know with the kind of clarity that comes once in a scary lifetime. Lina is my obsession, now that I have her even more than before, if such a thing is possible. Nothing can ever happen to her...’

“You married me for money and sex. If you have both, why not let me go? What more could you possibly want?”
“For you to need me like food and water.”

What unfolds is Damian torn between his growing feelings for Lina and his need to punish her. After all she not only played a part in his downfall but then she went and married another man.

This story is masterfully told. It held me completely enthralled from the first page to the last.

As with any well told story I really felt for the characters. I was annoyed that Damian didn’t figure it all out earlier. I hated that he punished her and didn’t understand what we did.
But then he’s torn and has so much going on. He’s fresh out of prison and has an empire to build. Or should that be a mine to dig?

I hated that Lina had suffered so much. And continued to suffer. I wanted her to trust him to open her heart. But I understood why she couldn’t.

Back to the dark.

While we know Lina has suffered dreadfully in the past most of it is off page. So while it makes for difficult reading we don’t actually live it with her. This made it easier for me. In fact it made all the difference. The same can’t be said however for her treatment at the hands of Damian. But then we have the advantage of knowing how he feels. He’s not vicious or evil. Again it’s not easy reading but it is compelling. I couldn’t put this book down.
With the exception of two food breaks and having to drive my daughter to work (where she’d left her car last night) I read this in one sitting. I hate to say how close the call was between reading this book and driving my daughter. But we won’t dwell on that now since I’ve finished.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the author.

[Bookadmirer]

This book is supposed to be dark romance but I think it's not a romance but glorifying abusive relationship.

This book had lots of issues. I don't understand if authors are confused about what dark romance actually is. Dark romance may have heavy elements but that doesn't mean it has to be abusive. The male protagonist of this book was completely cruel, he beats the female protagonist, left her unconscious. I am done with this kind of book.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh and holy heck! This book had me wrapped in its clutches from the first page until the last! And I never wanted it to end.





Six years ago a poor young Damian attended a dinner party, met a beautiful young girl he would never forget, and ended up in prison for six years. Now he’s out to not only regain what was stolen from him, but for revenge. As part of his plan, he forces that young woman into marriage, a marriage where he will remain in complete control of every legal decision on her behalf and complete control of her body.

”You married me for money and sex. If you have both, why not let me go? What more could you possibly want?”
“For you to need me like food and water.”





Lina remembers that young boy from six years ago. He would be impossible to forget. But her life suddenly went from merely being unwanted to being very complicated. That tends to happen when you’re announced as incompetent, crazy, and suicidal. Now that young boy has returned but in his place is a cold, hard man and his demands might actually help her to find the one thing that means more to her than anything ever has or ever will.

Gah! I absolutely loved Damian and Lina. Damian is a dark, dangerous hero with some serious possessive tendencies. Jealous, protective, “mine” mentality? Check, check and CHECK!

”How does one put obsession in words? How do I look her in the eyes and confess that I’ll hunt her to the end of her days? I’ll never set her free…”






He also derives desire from inflicting pain and while his methods in that area with Lina were absolutely sizzling there were times that I was uncomfortable. But then again, so was Lina. Neither one of these characters trust freely, if at all, and this type of sexual relationship requires a huge amount of trust.




My heart hurt for Lina, for all she had survived. But my gawd, the girl was strong, resilient and determined. Even as life beat her down, even as her husband spread his darkness across her skin, and even as her freedom always remained out of her reach, she never gave up. She wasn’t your usual kick@$$ heroine. Her strength was not in her muscles or fighting abilities, it was in her determination to throw off her mantel of “crazy” as well as to find that one bit of information she so desperately needed.

The chemistry between Damian and Lina was true and honest upon their first meeting. The next time, things take a more dangerous turn. From that point onward their relationship was constantly shifting and evolving, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. While Damian did some things that I found hard to accept, there is no doubt that “the grovel” was real even if presented in a different style than what we’re used to reading. I LOVED his method because as much as he adored and loved and couldn’t live without Lina, he ultimately wanted her happiness. Sigh and Swoon – after the angst fest of course.




I’m totally recommending this to anyone who likes a little dark with their romance, a heroine who has some serious past baggage, and a hero who will do just about anything to keep her.

Dual POV
Safe no ow drama; om drama comes in the form of a man who is in love with the hero; h is not a virgin; H has been celibate since he met h
Triggers rape - no details on page; abuse; violence; no child molestation; the following spoiler is a trigger for those who have something other than what is listed – this is a big spoiler loss of child at 8 months pregnancy

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this really was a fabulous read, one that from the instant I started I just couldn't put down.
Uniquely set in South Africa this one is a standalone story taking place within the powerful world of Diamond mining.
At the centre of the storm here we have Damien and Lina.
So the latter's father set Damien up sending him to prison and then stealing his diamond mine.
Damien is now a total badass with the criminal connections to match after his stint behind bars,
so It's inevitable that Damien is now out for blood when he is finally released.
Emerging from his incarceration a totally changed man there are only a few things now that Damien desires and at the top of his list is his enemies daughter Lina followed by the total annihilation of her dirty dealing father.
So this was at its heart a revenge and forced marriage trope.
Damien himself I found to be very controlling and though his behaviour at times really bordered on the extreme this was more because of his own internal jealousy rearing its ugly head.
The man was really his own worst enemy when it came to dealing with Lina totally escalating situations beyond what is actually normal
With his penchant for punishment and pain, this could have gone badly astray luckily Damien's inner darkness and intensity was slightly tempered by the fact that it was quite apparent from the start that rather than make Lina pay what he really wants is her regard and ultimately her heart.
He just has a really crap way of accomplishing his ultimate goal.
In this regard a totally obsessive and rigid alpha male So if this is your jam then you're in luck as this is totally heavy in that direction.
Lina herself is extremely damaged and all think her crazy because of her supposed past actions.
She also doesn't do herself any favours either her lack of sharing really doesn't help her overall situation: though I could hardly blame the poor girl for playing her cards so close to her chest considering her past history, a truth that Damien himself seems overly oblivious to despite the many clues heavily dropped less than subtley in his direction.
Despite Damiens extremely dark mood swings and somewhat cavalier attitude I actually didn't find this one that dark.
Maybe because of just how much this showcased to me Damien's inner turmoil and feelings I could deal.
He also was really aware of showing her the respect she has lacked in the past in regards to other people and the public and he doesn't want her humiliated publicly in any way, I really liked that fact about him that he cared enough to draw himself in slightly.
Don't mistake me he still put Lina in some awful situations behind closed doors which were at times hard to get a handle on his whys.
This was also so heartbreakingly tragic in places and my heart hurt at times for poor Lina past treatment especially when the full extent of her past finally became apparent here.
This book just has so much going for it and it is one that I recommend highly.
well written and with a style that makes for such ease of reading this one was a definite page-turner straight from the start.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Beauty in the Broken.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is no secret that I LOVED this author's Loan Shark duet, so when I read the synopsis for this book, I was ALL over it. It should have been a slam dunk for me. Unfortunately, I struggled all the way through. Not that it was a badly written book. It wasn't. This author is a fantastic writer. I love that the book was set in South Africa. I thought it had an original plot. I adored Lina. It was relatively low angst, but there was a lot of OW and OM drama (both of them lusting after the hero). There was even a pretty good twist. All good things...

 
However, I found it to also be very slow and wordy at times. It was a long book at 350 pages, and I did find it hard to stay engaged in the story. However, by far my main issue with this one was Damian himself. I just didn't like him. He was an a$$hole who whenever Lina did ANYTHING he deemed out of line he would "punish" her. He whipped her. He caned her (drawing blood). He humiliated her. Even after he realized he loved her he was STILL kept treating her as a prisoner forcing a tattoo and tracking device. and not letting her have her freedom. There was just nothing likable about him for me. I wanted him to treat her like an actual human being, especially after all she had been though. And that happened WAY too late in the book for my taste.

Sp yea, this one ended up being a mixed bag for me. It happens, and I am just one reviewer in a sea of many. 

 

 

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I loved both the hero and the heroine and the writing was phenomenal.

This is a darker book but I would put it at a mid-level dark. The heroine has suffered horrible abuse but it's mostly past tense so you don't have to endure the actual acts in the book. In present time, she is mistreated by a side character but not to the extremes of her past. This is why I say it's mid-level dark.

The hero is into BDSM and he does punish her by those methods. I never felt he was cruel to her but this is my perspective. He was always aware of her limits and took very good care of her.

Damian is obsessed with Lina ever since he laid eyes on her at her fathers dinner party. That night is a catalyst to his downfall orchestrated by her father and he believes by the heroine, as well. He's a very dangerous man and that is due to what her father did to him.

When he gets out of jail, his first action is to take the heroine in a forced marriage. For a man who believes the heroine betrayed him, he treated her with such care and protected her to extremes.

Lina was such a strong heroine. I can't even imagine the horrors she dealt with and she was never truly broken. She is one of my favorite heroines and would love to see more like her.

Damian is dark, edgy and extremely possessive of Lina. I am such a huge fan of this type of hero and he surpassed my expectations. Again, I want more heroes like Damian.

I could list so many things that made me love this book but I also don't want to spoil anything for other readers. To me, this is a must read!

[Leo (Queen of the Rants and Spoilers)]

It makes me fucking sick that women like books with these contents. Hero humiliates and beat the heroine, leaves her unconscious and bleeding and he’s a sweet and worthy hero?
I’m done, so done!

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Dark, twisted, and so damn good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s been along time since I’ve read a dark story. I’ve picked up several that claim to be, however, this one truly encompasses the dark romance as I usually envision it.

The story is fraught with triggers and as stated previously definitely not for the faint of heart.

Loaded with scenes of BDSM, punishment, crime, violence, and eventually a happily ever after, this book covers the entire realm of emotions.

It’s hard to say whether a book like this is something you love or identify with, but you simply have the knowledge whether it was written exceptionally well, or if it was just okay.

The way I tell that is by the fact I can’t put the book down and my emotions are all over the place. Both of these occurred while reading this book.

Pauls tackled the writing with exceptional passion, both dark and light, with scenes that leave you gasping and emotionally tied to the story.

This is not a short book. It took me two days to finish it and I have to say I’m glad it ended on a lighter note as I am not sure I could’ve handled any different ending.

This type of story is not something I can read on a regular basis which is why am glad I jump around in the genres. However, if Pauls writes more stories like this, trust me, I’m all in. Not a book you will forget!

* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/beauty-in-th...

[Yasemin˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a dark romance; it's straight-up abuse!!

He likes inflicting pain on her, but she doesn’t like it and doesn’t get aroused. 

So even after he knows this, he doesn’t stop.

I don't have any triggers, but it was uncomfortable to read these scenes.


There were some other horrible things the MMC did: 

- takes her choices
- doesn't let her get her legal sanity back
- lets her sell her body for documents, even though he doesn’t give them to her at the end (she sold her body for meals before)

[Fre06 Begum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damian made this story for me! This is a guy who deserves to be called a worthy hero!

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers!


2.5 ⭐


This is mentally and emotionally draining AF. Why did I finish this? 😭😂


MCs:
— Damian, 28
— Angelina, 24

Book info:
— Panic attacks
— Abuse (Physical, mental, sexual)
— Revenge
— Attempted sexual assault
— Mariticide
— Somnophilia
— Branding
— No cheating
— OMD/OWD
— Third act breakup (3 mos, both celibate)
— Violence
— Second-chance (ish)
— HEA


Overview:

Damian had a business proposal about diamonds for Harold, Lina's father. He went to one of his parties, and this is where he met her. She gave him a shawl because he was freezing, and this act of kindness is the start of his obsession with Lina. However, the night didn't end up the way Damian was hoping. Harold betrayed him, stole his business idea, and framed him for theft, which sent him to jail. Six years later, Damian wants to get his revenge and finally claim his girl.


I'm not yet sure how to feel about the whole story; I have a hate/love relationship with the MCs and the whole plot. And I still don't know how to review this. They kind of have a pattern, and this immensely annoyed the crap out of me.
— Lina will stand her ground
— Damien will punish her (harsh)
— They'll hate-fuck
— He'll soothe the physical pain he caused
— They'll be fine for a few days
— Rinse and repeat


Things I didn't like

— Damian's punishment for Lina, he used a paddle, whip, and cane to dole out punishments/lessons when she stood her ground, and he says this a lot: "I won't hurt you if you don't deserve it." He whipped her one time until she passed out; she wouldn't give him the answer he wanted, so he didn't stop the punishment until her body gave up. This whipping left her with welts, bruises, and a whole lot of body pain. The breaking point in these lessons was when he punished her using a cane until her skin broke. This is the most extreme he doled out, and he only stopped because she bled out. This made it hard for Lina to walk without the aid of a wall; she was literally dragging her feet to move. 😤 These punishments only stopped around 70% of the book (I think), so the heroine is beaten almost half of the story. 😑

— How much Damian hates that Lina gave her virginity to someone; he told her that she should've waited for him. Gosh, the audacity of this guy! He's a manhoe before meeting her, and six years later, he's annoyed that she gave her v-card to someone. He didn't know that she was married off to her abusive husband so that her asshole father would get mining rights. The man was old enough to be Lina's father, yet she agreed because her father told her so; she was married at eighteen.

— The horror that Lina went through for the last five years she was married. 💔

— Zane (OMD). He's Damian's friend in prison, and he took him to be his butler when they both got out. And this asshat is in love with Damian. Zane hates Lina with every fiber of his being. He physically assaulted Lina on numerous occasions; he backhanded (so hard that her lip split), choked, pushed, and gave her bruises. 😡 He has never shied away from telling her how much he wants her out of Damian's life. Of course, Damian didn't know about any of these attacks. Lina never told him, and Zane always manipulates the narrative making Lina looks bad. Damian didn't believe Lina at first, mainly because of her reputation and her history in an institution. But when he saw it for himself, he can't stop feeling guilty for letting these things happened under his roof.

— Anne (OWD). Zane's sister, who has been after Damian. She went to Damian's house, saying she had nowhere to go, and Lina, being the good person that she is, told her that she could stay with them. Anne tried to seduce Damian every chance she got; this fucking woman is relentless. But thank God, Damian has eyes only for Lina. He didn't kick her out immediately because he cares about Zane, so he's civil with Anne despite her constant flirting, even in front of Lina. 😤 He should've done something sooner, to be honest.

— Andries. Zane and Anne's grandfather—this family is freaking shameless. They're living in Damian's house, but all of them treated Lina like shit. This old troll almost killed Lina by spearing his rake into her heart just because she wanted to build an ecosystem for the endangered animals. He got away so easily that I would've wanted Damian to punish him, but then, a-fucking-gain, he has to consider Zane. 😤

— Harold. Lina's known father to her growing up. They're not really related because her mom cheated, and she's the result of that. But this prick didn't let her forget that fact. This is a vile fictional character, and I can't believe how a person can do the things he did in this story. He's a selfish prick and an even waste of space in a fictional world.

— The fact that Josh was stolen and Lina missed the first two years of his life. Harold, the asshole, made her believe that she lost the baby, and he didn't even tell her where he was "buried". 😭

— Lina was kidnapped twice in this book; this poor woman deserves a freaking break. 🤦‍♀️

— Lina's kindness and compassion—I know these are good traits in general, but because of them, she couldn't stay mad at Damian, even though he hurt her a lot. I really thought after the whipping she had, she would at least resist him; in reality, it would've been futile, but still, a little effort would at least show some self-preservation. She didn't resist and even had sex with him that night after he put ointments on the welts. 🤦‍♀️

Things I liked

— Lina. This woman is so resilient and strong. I can only imagine the things she went through, and for her to still fight for her life was so admirable. She struggled because of the traumas, but she tried to get past them, and these hardships in her life didn't make her lose her compassion. I'm just so proud of her. ❤️

— Damian's integrity. When he says something, he's going to follow through (even punishments 😑). He never lied to Lina, and that's something I liked about him.

— He took revenge on all those people who hurt Lina and made her life miserable.👏

— He stayed celibate for the last 6 years. Granted, he was in prison, but there are days when he could've chosen to sleep with the sex workers sent to the prison, but he didn't. After meeting Lina, he knew right then that she'd be it for him.

— That he's willing to let go of his revenge plan just to get back Lina.

— He listened to her and gave her space when she reconciled with her son. He gave her the freedom that she had been wanting ever since.

— That he puts her first all the time, even though the way he shows it is craptastic at best.

— When he realized he fucked up so badly after caning Lina, he burned all the tools he used to inflict pain. He vowed to do his punishment in other ways that would not hurt Lina that much.

Overall, I loved it and hated it at the same time. There are times I want to throw my Kindle at the nearest wall because I'm so frustrated with the MCs. They have a really messed-up and toxic relationship, but they get along with each other. They're fucked in their own ways, and somehow they still made it work, or at least they tried to. Damian didn't redeem himself, I can't get past all the pain he inflicted on Lina. I don't think the last 20% of the book could make up for the horrendous acts he did. 😑

Also, the ending was almost rushed; I would've wanted a scene between Lina and her son, but none of that happened on page. This is already a long book; if the toxicity of these two were cut short in some pages, I really would've wanted to read Lina's interaction with Josh and Damian to him as well.
 
Anyway, if readers want some heavy, draining, and triggering stories and are into dark romance, they should go for this. I feel like I'm inside a soap opera with everything that unfolds here, and it was overwhelming (unsure if good or bad). 

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3.75 stars ***

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝Caring for a man who’ll never love me will be the worst betrayal my heart can muster.❞

Charmaine Pauls—author of THE LOAN SHARK DUET—is back with another beautifully twisted, dark romance with BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN.

After reading The Loan Shark Duet, Charmaine Pauls has become one of my favorite dark romance authors. I always wonder who is more twisted: the author for writing these books or me for reading them. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter because I consider myself a proud fan of the Dark Romance genre and I love Charmaine’s brand of darkness!

BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN, it's all consuming, it's gritty, it's sexy, it's MIND-BLOWING, but also incredibly romantic in its own way—a dark romance that will melt your heart.

I fell hard and deep into this story; it sank into me and didn't let me go. One of my top reads of 2019, a deliciously dark must-read that will have you falling in love with this unforgettable story.

I need more of this world, here's to hoping Charmaine decides to give us MORE!

[Rain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book by Pauls that I’ve cringed while reading. She has a formula of a broken man/woman that I can usually deal with. There is dark romance, and then there is whatever this was. It had such violent BDSM, that absolutely wasn’t about pleasure. This h is basically tortured by first her father, then her first husband, then another husband. It was torture porn.

[Betül · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**



"I hate him with a deep-sated intensity, but he knows how to make my body come alive when my heart has been dead for so long."

Beauty in the Broken started out really strong and I was looking forward to how the story and characters would develop. Damian wants revenge and ruin Lina for all others, however, deep inside there is also love that turned into obsession in the six years he spent in jail. Damian is an anti-hero, he had his dark side and loved to punish Lina and turn her body against her. I am not a big fan of BDSM in my romance, so I was glad it didn't take over the whole story. All Lina wants is her freedom and Damian makes it knows that she will never be free of him. She belongs to him and he will never let her go. It wasn't the healthiest relationship in my opinion

"He takes me by seduction, manipulation, and trade. Nothing I give is given freely. My love still belongs to me."

I was still thinking about rating it at least 3.5 stars, because there were things I liked. I think the writing was really good, and that Lina had her very strong moments. I liked that she didn't give up and tried to fight. However, the last quarter of the book was a disappointment. I was rolling my eyes constantly and I really hated the decisions both Damian and Lina made. It was just too extreme and over the top. I discovered I was unable to connect to Damian, I just didn't like him at all. I love anti-heroes, but I couldn't love Damian. I liked Lina more, but she easily forgot all the things Damian did to her. I didn't believe in their love. I think the author tried to do too much in the last part of the book. The first 75% of the book had a slow and steady pace, which I really enjoyed.

[Jessica 🔮 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - 4.75 stars

Beauty in the broken confirmed that The Loan Shark Duet wasn't a fluke. I'm defenitely in love with Charmaine Paul's idea of dark romance: excellent writing, exotic setting, complex characters, scorching chemistry, delicious relationships development, twist and turns, action and hot steamy times (if you're into domination/submission) .
A page turner ✨
I can't wait to read the other Series set in the same universe. 🖤

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus Christ on a cracker … wow.

I just burst out laughing because I was about to write “holy dark/twisted greatness batkids” but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of what I just read. If I use those words to describe what this story emanates, you’re not going to get the correct idea. BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH MORE.

If you’re a sensitive reader (and by sensitive, I mean you want your fiction to be gumdrops and rainbows because if you wanted real life, you’d just … I dunno what, but I know you know what I mean), walk away now. This isn’t for you. Seriously. Just walk away. You’ve been warned.

This book took me longer than expected to finish. NOT because I wasn’t balls to the wall invested in every word of the story, but because I had to take mini breaks, or I might give myself a stroke. The story itself is powerful and the prose is charged. That’s the easiest way to make you understand. Charmaine Pauls will pull you into this story and as you read, you will feel like it’s happening around you. Like you’re right there as it all happens. There aren’t that many authors I’ve ever read that can accomplish that; this is one of them. She’s managed to do it with every book I’ve read of hers. She is unstoppable in her talent.

Okay, so let’s talk about the journey to HEA for Damian and Lina. There is a lot to their story. So much so that you might even be tempted to think “too much” or “unnecessary drama”, but I can assure you, it is none of those things. Yes, there are a lot of twists in this story you must keep up with, but the author has done an impeccable job of layering every single one to make a smooth transition into the next. There is so much darkness to both Damian and Lina, that I had to remind myself this was a standalone LOL I had serious doubts about their HEA on many occasions but then I realized something … They may have been two people full of darkness, but they were each other’s light. They were each other’s redemption.

I can’t give you a play by play of this journey because … well, there’s too many LOL But I can say the title of this book is spot on to this journey. It’s a beautifully broken path of two people destined to find light thru darkness. It’s rough and it’s not pretty, but it is magnificent. #TRUST

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Even monsters can be kind if you give them reason to be.”

5+++ stars. I am smitten with this book. Talk about a dark, twisted, emotionally draining read. I loved it so much. The author put my emotions through the fucking wringer but man was it worth it. I cried a lot. I got pissed off and had to sit my kindle down a lot and yet all I wanted to do was keep reading. I went through an entire bottle of wine over this book. It was great. Now, allow me to gush about this book for just a second. Buckle up, folks, this might be lengthy.

I don’t think I can reiterate enough that this is a very dark and often times difficult book to read. Charmaine Pauls is an author that I adore because when she writes dark she writes fucking dark. She pulls no punches whatsoever. This book is violent and filled to the brim with angst. So much angst. All of the angst.

Lina is an incredibly and strong and enduring character and I was rooting for her from the very beginning. She has been through hell and back and life just kept kicking her down. She’s constantly being abused. Physically, emotionally, mentally and she takes all of that shit on the chin and keeps going. She has a goal that she’s trying to achieve and she lets nothing or no one stand in her way. She does start off the book very timid almost and kind of passive so to watch her transformation and seeing how hard she was willing to fight for her freedom was amazing. Her story is heartbreaking which makes the ending even more satisfying. That girl deserved all of the peace and happiness.

”I’m not coming to you broken and needing to be fixed. I’m coming to you whole, offering you everything I have, if you’ll have it.

Damian. Oh, boy. That bastard. That possessive, dangerous, delicious bastard. I love him so much and I’m equal parts horrified and unashamed about it. He was difficult to figure out and understand and he was an absolute monster to Lina and yet somehow someway the author made me fall in love with him. His character development is absolutely perfect because it felt natural and true to who he is. It’s not an overnight 180, it’s very slow and gradual that comes together so well in the end. He stayed true to himself but just a better version.

This honestly didn’t feel like a romance to me until almost the end and it’s perfect that way. In a twisted and demented way it is a romance but you don’t get those gushy warm and fuzzy feeling until then. I appreciated that so much because both characters really needed to work on themselves and figure out just what exactly they wanted and what they were willing to compromise. There is a very strong lust and passion between them throughout that make for some really intense and well done sex scenes.

There’s just so much at stake in this book, for both Lina and Damian. There’s plenty of enemies standing between them and to see them overcome it all is very rewarding.

I honestly could go on all day about this book but I won’t. Just know that (if you can handle the material and subject matter) I highly recommend it. It’s one of those books that’s going to stick with me for a long time.

*Arc provided in exchange for an honest review from the author

[Vicky Sp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensione in Anteprima sulla mia pagina Bookstagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCqlakPHQ...

Damian era finalmente un uomo libero. Sei anni erano stati lunghi da trascorrere in prigione, dove aveva vissuto crudeltà e torture indicibili, capaci di trasformare gli uomini in bestie.

Ma la convivenza obbligata con i criminali più duri e più famosi, gli aveva fatto avere i giusti collegamenti e una cospicua fortuna.
Damian proveniva dai bassifondi, ma conosceva bene le regole della borghesia.
Quando anni addietro si era rivolto a Harold Dalton, il famoso magnate dei diamanti, per chiedere ingenuamente la mano di sua figlia, l’uomo lo aveva deriso:
«Non sarà mai tua. È destinata a qualcuno degno di lei.»

Damian sapeva come restituire insulti, però l’uomo gli aveva dato un pugno nello stomaco con quell’amara verità. Ma lui desiderava lo stesso che Angelina fosse sua. E questa fantasia lo aveva perseguitato ogni lunga e solitaria notte trascorsa in carcere, dove era stato confinato perché Dalton, usando un vile espediente, lo aveva ingiustamente accusato di furto.

Da uomo libero, ci aveva riprovato e aveva chiesto nuovamente Angelina in moglie. Quando si era presentato dalla donna, si era accorto con grande dispiacere che della ragazza angelica conosciuta tempo prima, non era rimasto più niente.
“Che aspetto ha una persona pazza? Non il suo. Prendete me: non immaginereste mai quanto sono disturbato semplicemente guardandomi”.
Su di lei circolavano voci circa una certa instabilità mentale.

Il peggio era nei suoi occhi vacui e nel silenzio inquietante nel quale restava lì, ferma davanti a lui, permettendogli di valutarla, e di trovarla, tra le altre cose, fin troppo magra.
«La freddezza e la follia mi attirano. Sono un uomo che brama ardentemente le cose danneggiate, abbastanza da sapere che ciò che mi sta di fronte è soltanto rovinato»

La desiderava tanto, ancor di più di quando aveva diciotto anni ed era bella come una principessa. Ne era ossessionato.
«Ho perso la mia coscienza molto tempo fa in una cella fredda dietro le sbarre, ma sono sempre stato debole per lei»

Angelina venne a conoscenza dei subdoli piani che Damian aveva per lei. La anelava da tanto tempo, ed era sicuramente capace di cose terrificanti pur di ottenere ciò che bramava. Era abituato a sporcarsi le mani, perché aveva dovuto combattere duramente per sopravvivere.
Damian gridava pericolo e dominio e lei non aveva modo di sottrarsi alle sue richieste.

Lina si domandava chi fosse in realtà l’uomo che con le sue braccia calde e forti la portava in camera da letto ogni notte, così attento con lei, come se potesse spezzarsi. Non era più quel ragazzo che le aveva detto che un giorno l’ avrebbe sposata. Era un adulto adesso, tanto manipolatore da imporle il matrimonio e abbastanza perverso da prendere ciò che voleva.

«Ti ho aspettata sei anni, Lina, e sappi che ottengo sempre quello che voglio, soprattutto quando qualcuno mi dice che non posso averlo»
«È per il piacere della caccia?»
«La caccia, si. E molto altro» .

Damian negli ultimi sei anni aveva speso tutte le sue energie per recuperare la miniera, che per lui significava tutto, anche più del denaro. Creando l’iniziativa Diamante Nero, aveva trasformato un progetto morto in uno redditizio. Il giacimento rappresentava la somma della sua intera esistenza.
Ma avrebbe corso il rischio di perdere la miniera in virtù di un progetto più grande o a fronte di una grave minaccia?

Un dark romance d’eccezione, con i tratti del thriller psicologico. La trama è davvero molto ricercata e sviluppata nei minimi dettagli, tanto che alcune scene tolgono letteralmente il fiato.
Lina è una donna spezzata per quanto ha subito in passato, nasconde un segreto che la dilania, ed è dotata un livello di sopportazione del dolore abbastanza alto. Ha una forza di volontà ammirevole ed è un personaggio che evolve durante la lettura.

Con lei Damian sarà duro e sadico, una caratteristica della sua natura, ma anche molto premuroso, con delle sfaccettature che non ci si aspetta da un uomo come lui.
La parte hot è presente e ben descritta, come si conviene ad un romanzo oscuro e dai connotati del BDSM.
Ho adorato leggere questa storia.

*Ringrazio la casa editrice per la copia digitale *

[Vanessa97 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo è il primo libro che leggo di questa autrice e ne sono rimasta incantata. Ha una scrittura che ti cattura fin da subito, capace di farti provare rutte le emozioni che provano i protagonisti! La storia parla di Damian e Lina. Damien è stato incolpato ingiustamente di furto dal padre di Lina e ha trascorso gli ultimi 6 anni della sua vita in prigione per un crimine che nn ha commesso. In questi sei anni Damien, ha fatto diverse conoscenze e fatto diversi favori in prigione che poi l'anno portato ad essere un uomo molto ricco e potente appena uscito di prigione. Damien in questi 6 anni ha pianificato alla perfezione la sua vendetta e infatti appena uscito va trovare Dalton, padre di Lina. La sua intenzione è molto chiara, sposare Lina, che durante qiesti sei anni è diventata la vedova più ricca del paese, ma anche la più pazza. Infatti girano tante voci dei suoi tentati suicidi, della sua problematica di anoressia e bulimia, tanto da arrivare a toglierle la possibilità di decidere per la sua vita, infatti essendo incapace lei nn puo avere alcun centesimo del patrimonio lasciatele dal precedente marito.
Quando Lina scopre del matrimonio non ne è contenta, ma sa che non ha altra scelta. La relazione tra Damien e Lina si evolve tra colpi di scena, alti e bassi che rendono questa storia reale. Lina nasconde molti segreti, di cui nn rivelerò nulla, ma Damien capisce subito che questa ragazza è tutto fuorché pazza e anoressica.
Lina è un personaggio fantastico dolce, spezzata da quello che ha subito, forte e capace di tenere testa a Damien. Damien è il classico cattivo ragazzo, formatosi in prigione ma che nel libro fa un percorso di crescita straordinario passando da persona fredda e vendicativa ad un marito iperprotettivo e passionale. I personaggi secondari sono molto importanti in questa storia, delineati bene, alcuni li amerete altri, ovviamente li odierete. Nel complesso questo libro merita tutte e 5 le stelle!

[Cécile Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true Broken Beauty! Charmaine Pauls at her best,and i loved it!

Lina is the daughter of Harold,and the widow of Jake. A crazy woman. One that’s broken.
Damian met her when she was 18,at her father’s house. At that time,she was a sweet,innocent girl. One that lent him her sjawl to give him comfort against the cold during his wait for her father.
And then it was her father that set him up and stole his mine. After getting out of jail 6 years later,he takes revenge. He forces Harold to hand over Lina. They marry,but because they don’t really trust eachother,misunderstandings build. Damian read her medical files,but the woman he lives with doesn’t fit those files. Will he find out who Lina really is? What happened to her? Will she learn to trust him enough to tell him?

This was a journey of two damaged people that were each the missing part of the other. That needed, so badly,to heal....
It was a journey on which i cursed,it was a journey on which i cried. But it was a story i was glad to have read!

[Monadh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neo-gothic story of twisted love and unexpected female empowerment

This story is dark and twisted, and deeply disturbing on a visceral level, and despite that, or rather because of that, I loved it so much. It gripped me from the first page, turned me inside out, and didn’t let me go until very end.

If you are like me, trigger warnings don’t really have a dissuasive effect on you, but rather the opposite. This book contains plenty of possible triggers, including domestic abuse, physical and mental torture, dub-con (non-con), BDSM (pain), and violence. And although compared to all the other things it seems almost innocuous, the worst one for me was the issue of incapacitation in the legal sense, which I will expand on below. Consider yourself warned and continue at your own peril.

The revenge trope is not exactly a rarity in dark (erotic) romance, but it’s one of my favorites regardless. A young Damian Hart had his diamond mine stolen by Harold Dalton and on top of that he was put in prison on trumped up charges. After he gets out, he wants nothing more than to ruin and destroy Dalton, and in his mind the best way to achieve this is to marry Dalton’s daughter Angelina, who is the heiress to Dalton’s fortune and who has also inherited the wealth of her late husband Jack Clarke. This also connects to one of the few points of criticism I have: Damian goes into prison dirt poor but when he comes out, he is filthy rich, and presumably he made his fortune by doing jobs for various factions in prison. I had a really difficult time to buy this scenario, but because I liked the book overall so much, I was willing to suspend my disbelief.

After the violent death of her husband Lina was declared Incompetent and placed in a mental asylum for her supposed issues and self-harming tendencies, before returning home to her father who is now her guardian. So she doesn’t really have a say or a choice when Damian pressures her father into agreeing to have her marry him. And that’s where the neo-gothic element comes in. It’s not too far back in history when women didn’t have the right of self-determination but went from the guardianship of their father (or another male relation) into the guardianship of their husbands, without having any autonomy over any aspect of their lives. So in the beginning of the book it wasn’t quite clear to me whether it was set in the present or in the past, until the hero (or rather anti-hero) was described as wearing Jeans and a T-Shirt. Adding to the gloomy feeling is also Damian’s historical house and especially the other inhabitants, who are not exactly overjoyed with the new lady of the house and are pursuing their own agendas.

The book is atmospherically dense and much of the tension is derived from the contest of wills between Damian and Lina. Damian initially has the upper hand, but he soon comes to realize that Lina is not as crazy as the tabloids made her out to be and that she is not as spoiled as he initially believed. Lina, on the other hand, is at a disadvantage; despite her wealth she is totally dependent on Damian for everything, she can’t even go grocery shopping or drive herself. Also, she is not as immune to the advances of her husband as she would like to be and is involuntarily excited by his kinky side (mostly). Over the course of the book she is slowly reclaiming her independence step by step. One of the most impressive aspects of the story for me was the description of Lina’s interior psychic landscape, so intense and evocative that I could almost bodily feel the anxiety attacks she suffered as a result of the trauma of her past experiences.

While in the beginning the power exchange is very much structured in favor of Damian, this slowly changes over time, as he realizes that the pursuit of revenge is no longer his primary objective. Lina has objectives of her own, and while for quite some time that was all that sustained her, she finds that she wants to be more than simply an accessory to her husband.

Beauty in the Broken is an amazing amalgamation of psychological thriller, erotic love story and, not least, a story of female empowerment (even though it doesn’t seem like that in the beginning). It will resonate long after you have read the last word and put down the book. 5+++ stars from me!

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Charmaine Pauls since The Loan Shark duet and could not wait to get more of her delicious darkness. Beauty in the Broken was such an amazing story. I was hooked on Damian and Lina's story. It was provocative, sexy, had shades of darkness that I love and was a love story of the ages! I could not get enough!

Without giving away any spoilers, Angelina "Lina" Dalton-Clarke and Damian Hart have a tumultuous history. Imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, Damian decides to take revenge on the man who framed him by stealing his most prized possession  - his mentally incompetent daughter. But as Damien gets to know Lina and learns her innermost secrets and pain, what he once thought was fact is so far from being true that it is shocking.

I loved this story so much. It was so riveting and addicting that I could not stop reading. It was sexy, passionate and filled with so much dark edginess. I loved Damian's dark compulsive obsession with Lina and how he was so protective of her. Likewise when we find out the truth about Lina and what was done to her, I could not stop rooting for her. Her strength and determination was something to be reckoned with! All in all this story hooked me from the start and could not put this story down once! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula 

[Sammy ❤️Just Let Me Read Blog ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and sexy and emotionally compelling, Beauty in the Broken by Charmaine Pauls was a story that absolutely blew me away. Damian and Lina's story was both heartbreaking and beautiful. It was a story of strength and pain and revenge. It was intense and passionate and completely addictive.

"You're mine now, Lina. I own you in every way."

I found this book hard to read at times. Not because of the dark themes, which I enjoyed, but because of the horrible treatment that Lina was subjected to by those who were supposed to love her. The author writes with such emotional depth, bringing Lina’s pain to life through her words. She was a character whose strength was hidden beneath the surface, and her perseverance through so much emotional and physical turmoil made me fall in love with her character. Her battles with Damian were so intense and her inner strength played a big part in that.

"He loves the fight. I see it in his brooding eyes every time he forces me to resist, only to keep me hovering on the brink of pleasure before pushing me over ever so slowly."

Damian was such a great hero. I loved his unwavering possessiveness when it came to Lina. His loyalty to her even before their marriage was amazing. His obsession with her spanned years and never waned. He was brutal with Lina at times, but I never felt as though he was cruel to her just for the sake of being cruel. His years in prison molded him into a different man, and the ruthless side of him definitely came out in their interactions. The bond forged between may have began with the physical, but in the end became so much more.

"It's raw and beautiful. It's fragile. It's our pact, our give and take, although I'm not sure who's on the giving or receiving end."

The writing in this book was excellent. I loved the way the plot flowed so smoothly. The secondary characters were well written, each bringing another layer to the storyline. The book is a pretty long one but not once was I bored while reading. The twists were subtle and never overdone, and the darker elements didn't overwhelm the plot. There was action and suspense, angst, sizzling hot romance, and a beautifully emotional love story that will pull at the reader’s heartstrings. Charmaine Pauls is so skilled at writing in this genre and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

[MsMoxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt Charmaine Pauls’ Diamond Magnate Novel is a 5 STARS read! Beauty in the Broken is a richly layered story set in Diamond Country, South Africa and told in dual perspective, thereby allowing the reader to glimpse into the minds of two very guarded and damaged individuals. The name of the book says it all, poetic in its meaning, the deeply harrowing story leaves the reader wondering if the two main characters, Damian and Lina, ever stood a real chance of surviving the corrupt and exploitative diamond world?

Damian is out of prison, and he wants to punish the parties involved in framing him for theft, resulting in his false imprisonment. He intends to punish everyone who aided in framing him, even those who were indirectly involved, specifically, the rich, entitled, privileged and beautiful daughter of wealthy Diamond Magnate Harold Dalton. Damian has a score to settle and he will take no prisoners. With a penchant for cruelty, Damian blackmails Lina’s father for her hand in marriage and for the rights as her legal guardian, thereby gaining full control over her late husband’s fortune. Lina is declared mentally unstable and unfit to be independent. Damian hopes to exploit Lina’s condition to punish her for the part she played in his false imprisonment. It’s an ugly situation, Damian is cruel, a sadist to his core and he plans on breaking Lina until she is nothing but a shell of herself. The catch? Someone already beat Damian to it. Will Damian’s cruel sadistic tendencies tip Lina over the edge? Or is Damian’s brand of cruelty exactly what Lina needs to ignite the dying embers of her shattered heart and soul?

Wow!!!! I really can’t express clearly enough how much I loved this book! Beauty in the Broken gave me all the feels I look for in a book! Ms Pauls, I’m singing you praises for this beauty of a book! Damian and Lina’s story had me ugly crying over the death of innocence. To read about two people who have this potential opportunity to find their mark in the world but to then instantly have it ripped from them in one heartless act, had me crying in despair for Lina and Damian. The author has such a brilliant way of immersing the reader into this gritty world where corruption and greed reign, all cleverly disguised by wealth, luxury, and refinement. This juxtaposition gives a false sense of comfort whereby one may assume the characters will err on the side of caution by making honourable decisions based on their social standing. However being wealthy and refined by polite society’s standard is not synonymous with being good and kind. Both Lina and Damian are fooled by this notion of wealth and refinement equating to goodness, and it is their lived experiences that tell a different story when placing trust in the wrong hands. They have both been exploited and now exist as shells of their former selves. It is harrowing and painful to read and yet so beautiful to see two broken people try to find their way in life again and learn how to thrive once more. They are truly “beauty in the broken”. Damian will do anything to have it all, and Lina learns how to navigate her new life without being further destroyed. Their life together is sad, destructive and so beautiful. Damian and Lina’s “dance” is breathtaking, intense and at times sweet and touching. I was cheering for both of these characters to get their HEA!!!! The secondary characters were also masterfully written with purpose to really explore Lina and Damian’s characters! I loved every part of this story and was sad when I turned to the last page and saw that it was over.

Everything about Beauty in the Broken is perfect! ❤️

Thanks Ms Pauls for another amazing gut wrenching, emotional read! I loved it! 😘

[SansaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely on my top 2019 reads.

“Pick, Lina, unless you want me to pick for you. Trust me, if I do, I’ll fuck your clit, pussy, or ass—maybe all three—with the stick-end of this whip until you give me what I want.”





Charmaine Paul’s books are always a hit with me. I absolutely love her writing and her unique story teller ways. This was no different. From character development, plot, and dark romance, she delivered a compelling beautiful story that was a page turner.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE all of Charmaine Pauls books and everytime I read one I say that is her BEST so far...well Beauty in the Broken is her BEST so far and the best book I have read this year!
Lina has such a tragic and broken life. She has endured so much. And now here comes Damian back in her life. He treats her, and their marriage, brutally and dreadfully. Anger can make a man do unthinkable things.
All Lina wants is her freedom and rights. Is that too much to ask for?
Bad things keep happening to Lina and through it all she stays true to who she is and what she wants.
And I must say here that Damian avenges the wrongs that have been done to Lina in his own way. I just wish Anne and Zane would have been punished severely.
I absolutely recommend this book!!