I’m sad to see the series go, but excited for what’s next! After bingeing the first three books in this sexy and suspenseful series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Sands does such a fantastic job of weaving each book in the series together in a way that makes you feel like you already have a vested interest in the couple before you even turn the first page. So I knew from the teases we got about Rafe and Cleo that she was going to turn his world upside down – and she does. It’s not my favorite of the series, but the bar is pretty high at this point. This was still so incredibly easy to binge and get lost in for a few hours, and I loved the tension between these two. It’s definitely got some darker (potentially triggering) content, but the vibe as a whole is tense, sexy, and a little playful. Our buttoned up antihero is out of his element with his whirlwind of a new wife, and watching them slowly get things right was very entertaining.
The story follows Cleo (19), a woman who has done everything she can to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage. She’s a wildcard who intentionally tarnished her reputation, but she loves her sisters – and that’s why she agrees to marry her sister’s fiancé at the last minute. Cleo is intimidated by Rafaele’s cold, brutal personality, and she wants nothing to do with her new husband. But Rafaele (27) is secretly pleased by the change of fiancée. He’s always been more drawn to Cleo than her sister, and he wouldn’t mind taming the spitfire until she becomes the perfect wife. Unfortunately for him, Cleo won’t make that easy, and she sneaks past his defenses before he even knows what’s happening. But Rafaele has been taught that giving into his emotions is a sign of weakness, so there’s no way he’ll ever fall for his wife… right?
I highly recommend reading this series in order, not only because it’s a whole lot of fun, but also because they are so interconnected. Even describing the premise of this one spoils parts of the previous books, and the relationship feels much richer knowing the backstory. I was already excited for Rafaele and Cleo, and they did not disappoint. Though Rafe likes to put on an emotionless front and bury his feelings, it was easy to see through his thoughts and actions that Cleo was getting under his skin. He’s not the monster he claims to be, and there are several situations where he’s forced to confront that headfirst. Cleo adds such a comedic element to the story, pushing back and demanding more. I will say that I was frustrated by how long Rafe resisted the emotional connection, but that’s a major part of the story. I get it, but I did miss having more of the softer moments. This love story progresses at its own unique pace, and it easily held my attention the whole way through. What a great way to wrap up the core series while spinning off into something that has me equally intrigued.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49y7VMo
Audio Note:
There’s a reason why I waited for the audio to release and then dove in the day that happened – all of these books are excellent on audio! This one is particularly good, because it’s duet narration. That lends a more effortless flow to the story and makes it even more immersive. I’ve enjoyed Michelle Sparks’ narration in the past and she does a fantastic job here as well. Very enjoyable. This antihero is American, so we get the treat of Teddy Hamilton performing. Never a hardship, that’s for sure, lol. He does a great job as well. Together, they make for a sexy and entertaining listen. I wouldn’t recommend listening to this at the office as it’s the spiciest installment of the series and it doesn’t waste any time delivering the sexual tension. The runtime (11 hours) means you can get through it in a single day if you’re hooked, and that’s just what I did. Highly recommended in the format, each book has been even better because of the audio experience.
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4bGeaiT
Blurb:
From the author of When She Unravels, comes a new arranged marriage, standalone dark mafia romance.
The most brutal don in the city has a weakness: me.
I never wanted the life my parents tried to force on me, so I vowed I’d never marry a mobster.
Yet here I am, walking down the aisle toward mobster of the century, all to save my sister.
Rafaele Messero. Cold, ruthless, and irritatingly handsome.
Not that I’ve noticed.
After all, this marriage is the end of all my hopes and dreams.
And for him, it’s nothing more than a calculated business move.
At least that’s what I think, until he snaps at the priest to hurry up so that he can kiss me.
He’s known as the ice prince, but when his lips crash down on mine, all I feel is searing heat.
That’s when I know I’m in serious trouble.
My plan was to keep my distance from Rafaele, but he’s not interested in that.
He’s interested in me.
Now that I know what he craves, I vow to never give it to him.
I will never submit to my husband, no matter how relentlessly he tries to conquer me.
~~
When She Loves is an arranged marriage mafia romance, with no cheating and an HEA. It can be read as a complete standalone.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49y7VMo
Start the series today!
While the romance in each book stands alone, there is a lot of interconnectivity between the storylines, so I recommend reading the series in order. Sands does a fantastic job of making the subplot interesting and important, and you get a real feel for the characters before even beginning their love stories. I really enjoyed When She Unravels, so it was no hardship to start there!
He’s the most powerful man in Ibiza, and he’ll do anything to make me his.
I’ve been raised to be the perfect mafia wife, but when my marriage turns into a horrific nightmare, I have no choice but to leave everything behind and start a new life.
I find myself alone in Ibiza—a place that swallows innocent girls like me alive. I’m robbed the day I arrive, left with nothing but a few euros and the clothes on my back.
My desperation leads me right to Damiano De Rossi. He rules over this island with an iron fist and beneath his strikingly handsome face lies a wicked darkness. I ask him for a job. He gives me far more than that—degradation, jealousy, and toe-curling lust.
When my resistance to him is all but gone, a secret is revealed, and we fall apart like a house of cards.
I know what I have to do. Run.
But when I try, I discover…he’s already got me bound.
When She Unravels is an 18+ dark mafia romance with mature themes, profanity, and plenty of steam. It’s book one in The Fallen series but can be read as a standalone.
Read the audiobook review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/499eHrp
About the Author:
Gabrielle Sands is a romance author who writes sexy, smart, dangerous romance. Her heroes are powerful mafiosos and her heroines always keep these alpha men on their toes. Gabrielle loves to travel and often writes her favorite destinations into her books.
When she’s not writing, Gabrielle enjoys exploring whatever city she’s in, grabbing a cocktail or two, and reading her favorite books. She lives in the most romantic small town in Mexico with her husband.
Follow Jeeves on social media!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Jeeves Reads Romance 