Book Review: A Deal for the Tycoon’s Diamonds by Emmy Grayson

Back Cover: Aspiring fashion designer Anna Vega has spent years healing after her former best friend Antonio Cabrera’s rejection. She is mortified after she literally falls into the billionaire’s arms, sparking headlines. Antonio’s solution for refocusing the unwanted attention? A ruse of romance.

After a brush with tragedy, Antonio chose to mold himself into the perfect businessman. Anna has always been a gleaming diamond that he has never felt worthy of. Antonio knows that he wants Anna to stay in his life. Before that can happen he will have to let her see beyond the impenetrable man he has become.

It starts right at the action. It’s like when you get invited to a party but you don’t get there until right before the action starts. Right before the fight or just in time to see the football player and the geek hook up. Like right in the nick of time. At peak party.

The spice levels were lower than Bridgerton this season and that’s not to say that they were bad, just very short and nondescript. Unlike Bridgerton, I found myself more ravenous for the foods described than for the swoon-worthy scenes. I found myself reading this in more of a study of craft way and less in an enjoyable way. I found myself highlighting and circling things that I found interesting or applicable to my writing. I also have to say that I found myself wondering if the author was a historical romance writer previous to this book. Don’t get me wrong, the use of wording was entertaining and descriptive, but I thought a few of the chosen wording fit better in a historical romance context rather than contemporary romance. A Deal for the Tycoon’s Diamonds is a quick read and gives you the dopamine hit every romance junky is looking for, just not the spicy hit some of us want along with it. I can’t say that I will read this one again for pleasure’s sake, but for craft’s sake, I could do it. If you’re looking for a short road trip read or a beach day pal this would be a good fit. It doesn’t make you invest too deeply in any of the happenings or the characters.

All in all, this was a quick read that left me overall happy to have read it.