Diamond

In this faltering first volume of the Diamond erotic trilogy, Elyot (On Demand) promises more than she delivers. When Jenna Myatt Diamond’s glamorous L.A. life falls apart, she returns to her hometown of Bledburn, England, and purchases Harville Hall in hopes of restoring its former glory. But with it comes a surprise interloper, Jason Watson, artist and fugitive from the law. Jenna decides to prove Jason’s innocence and make him into a world-class figure in the art world. Jason wants only to hide out and explore the passion growing between them, fed by Jenna’s hidden kinky side. Jenna repeatedly ignores the needs of those around her in favor of pursuing her own goals, even if it means she and her friends end up in prison. Worse, these emotional betrayals are resolved without consequences. All of this could be forgiven if the romantic relationship had sizzle, but Elyot’s renderings of both sex and love are flat and uninspired. The resolution is abrupt, confusing, and unsatisfying; it seems intended as a promise of more to come in future volumes, but instead is simply a disappointment. (June)