Customer Reviews

The Diamond Syndicate

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The Diamond Syndicate chronicles the life of Diamond Reed and her transformation from daddy's little girl into a mistress of manipulation. Diamond's father taught her the rules of the game at an early age and Diamond was a very quick learner. As a young child Diamond was so proficient at getting what she wanted that her own mother would suffer beatings at the hands of her father if Diamond's demands weren't met. By the time Diamond reached adulthood her good looks and banging body easily garnered her male benefactors but her demanding attitude would eventually run them away.

Quickly tiring of boring sugar daddies Diamond decides to branch out and work her charms on the young block huggers. This wouldn't be a problem if they weren't friends of her teenaged son Dante. Dante's a bookworm who's been successful at avoiding his mother's schemes no matter how hard she tries to rope him in. But once Diamond begins recruiting Dante's friends he finds himself unwillingly involved in her plots. But when one plot lands the mother and son duo in jail for murder will Dante be able to avoid being penalized for Diamond's transgressions?

Author Erica Hilton does an excellent job developing both Diamond and Dante Reed's characters. The exploration into Diamond's upbringing helps readers to empathize with Diamond's domineering personality and also to sympathize with Dante's submissive personality; which of course was a direct result from growing up under Diamond's tyranny. This helps the novel supersede what could have easily been a simple tale about an oversexed cougar taking advantage of horny neighborhood teens.

Diamond Reed dreams of living the glamorous life by any means necessary. She's beyond reproach and has no conscience about who she hurts while trying to `get hers.' Spoiled as a child, she honed the skill of manipulation while watching her father abuse her mother. Feeling no sympathy, she in turn incites some of those beatings. Love is a foreign word in Diamond's world; she has no perception of its meaning.

Living life fast and furious, Diamond becomes a single mom and wastes no time blaming young Dante for her failures . Everyone has a place and purpose in her world, and they are all to be used for her benefit. Medicaid case worker Shakeeda Bingham naively falls victim to assisting Diamond in one of her illegal schemes and discovers the malevolent side of her co-conspirator. Using her feminine wiles, Diamond lures young ballers in and plays them for all they're worth. She uses her sexual prowess to influence them to more lucrative criminal activity while challenging them mentally, as well as physically, against one another in their quest for her love.

Does Diamond achieve her lifelong goal of becoming rich and beautiful? Will she reap all the evil that she has sown? Will young Dante have to pay for his mother's transgressions? Can her sexual hold over the youngsters remain intact, or will they outwit her in the end? How many will fall under her tyranny?

Diamond Syndicate by Erica Hilton is definitely a fast paced as well as unique read. Erica Hilton's depiction of an evil, cunning, and intelligent vixen is exemplary and will astound you with each captivating, unfolding scene. Super read! Great job Ms. Hilton!

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban Reviews

DIAMOND SYNDICATE by Erica Hilton is the story of Diamond Reed. When she was little, her father led her to believe that she was a diamond in the rough. Since she was his diamond, he treated her like the precious gem she was named after. He taught her not to take any crap off anyone, whether man or woman. He told her that if she saw something and she wanted it, to take it. Unfortunately for him, he finds out too late that in teaching her these things he raised her to be a selfish and cold woman.

Diamond was not cut out to be a normal mother. Angry that she let her guard down one time and got pregnant she takes her anger out on her son, Dante. She manipulates him into doing whatever and whenever she wants his entire life. Dante loves his mother so much; all he wants to do is please her, regardless if some of the things she tells him to do are wrong. Determined to go to college to make something of himself, Dante is surprised to find out that his mother has other plans. Diamond has all the young boys on the block at her beck and call, involved in all her shady scams to make money. DIAMOND SYNDICATE is the little organization of young street thugs that Diamond put together to get money anyway her mind could conjure up. What will happen to Diamond and her Syndicate?

DIAMOND SYNDICATE was a mediocre read because: 1. I did not see where a syndicate came in, 2. A few things did not make much sense. The story is one of love, betrayal, murder and deceit. People you think are your friends really are your enemies, and blood may not be thicker than water. If you like street-lit books, as well as novels with these type of themes, then you might find this book enjoyable.

The book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Reviewed by Leona
APOOO BookClub
Final Rating: 2.5 stars

It's just something about Diamond Reed. She's always had no trouble manipulating men and getting what she wants, starting with her father. Now the single mother of a teenaged son, Diamond is finding it harder to get what she wants from men her own age. However, her appetite for the finer things in life has not changed. In her 30's with a body that still turns heads, Diamond decides to change her prey of choice, seeking the young dealers in the neighborhood - her son's friends. At 16 and 17 years of age, they'll practically do anything for Diamond for a little taste. And so the Diamond Syndicate is formed. Diamond and her young team of hustlers are making money until things go terribly, terribly wrong. Then it's every man for himself and Diamond for none!

"The Diamond Syndicate" is an average read. No flashing lights or ringing bells. To the author's credit, it was a twist on an age-old theme - older woman/younger man. However, I couldn't quite accept the relationship(s). She wasn't a cougar. Call it what it was and that's that Diamond was a child molester. For me, it was hard to get past that. Again, to the author's credit, she created a unique and very unlikable character in Diamond. Placing my disdain for Diamond to the side, Hilton also did a good job building a foundation for Diamond's behavior by starting with her sordid past. While it didn't justify her actions, it certainly offered readers some insight. A quick, well written and paced novel, "The Diamond Syndicate" is still missing something to give it that umph to make it a really good read.

Recommend:
Dirty Little Angel

A single mother to a teenaged son, Diamond transforms into a vicious cougar with an insatiable appetite for men less than half her age. She preys on her son's friends for sex, molding them into a team of young men who line her ever growing pocketbook with the spoils of crimes they commit under her leadership. This was a good book from start to finish.

Alot of things in the storyline didnt make sense and it kinda skipped all of the place. It could have been better. So it was an okay read, I got through the whole book.

This book keeps you wondering how the end is going to be. it keeps you own your feet, at moments you hate this woman and her son but in the end it all works out for both of them .

This book was a mess... (good) I would have given a higher star, but some of these new authors need to find a spell check or a gramar check. Plus, have someone else read the book, before you put it out there. There was a few errors and names were misplaced when speaking of someone else. But other than that, it was a good story line. I just cant help to wonder what happened to Diamond's mother and father. I guess the father created that monster. And she was a monster. The book could have told us more of how Diamond grew up, after attending a few years of college. But Diamond was a damaged child from the start. I felt really bad for Dante, because he was going in the right direction until his crazy mother, made him do the things he was doing. I guess there will be another book coming out, so we can find out about, the mother, the father and Trey. I guess we know that Trey went to jail for life, with all the drugs they caught him with. And Diamond, Im sure she will come out of her Coma...... So Ms. Erica Hilton, get to writing and please make sure you have someone proof read your next book..

I've had this book for months and finally got around to reading it. I have read Erica Hilton's previous novels and enjoyed them both, this one was no different.

Diamond Reed is a single mother taking care of her teen son Dante. Diamond was spoiled as a child by her father and has never worked a day in her life. Diamond loves to get by in life by getting men to take care of her finacially. Diamond recruits an army of yound thigs, most of them Dante's friends, and soon they are known as the Diamond Syndicate; a ruthless crew who is
involved in everything from fraud to drugs to murder!!!

Diamond soon drags the college bound Dante into her illegal dealings. Dante has always been forced to do what his evil controlling mother wants him to. But Dante soon realizes his mother only cares about herself and it may be too late to take a stand against her because Diamond and Dante are in some serious trouble!!!

Diamond Reed is a spoiled-rotten, scandalous, and materialistic female that only comprehends dollar signs. As a young child, Diamond was daddy's little girl and mama's pain; then her mother decided to leave, forcing her father full responsibility to care for her.

As a teenager, Diamond turned thirteen in age but acted more like a twenty-one year old adult. She began doing everything she wanted and never suffered consequences. During high school, Diamond took the sex game to extreme levels and utilized herself freely to get money.

After giving birth to her son, Dante, she returns back to her old habits - only this time, her prowl is young boys. Diamond is not responsible but somehow seems to acquire the finer things in life as she manipulates all men to fulfill her desires. Now, Diamond plots a scandalous operation that involves her son, Dante, and others, that will eventually change their lives forever. Will Diamond ever change for her and her son? Will Dante realize Diamond's ways?

"The Diamond Syndicate" by Erica Hilton is drama-filled! Overall, exciting novel and I will continue to look for more novels from author Erica Hilton in the future!

Reviewed by: Tekisha