Author: Gabrielle Sands

First Published: 15 December 2023

Series: The Fallen

“Cleo, when I look at you, I see the entire universe.” 

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Gabrielle for sending a copy my way!

Also, this is a sequel; I will try and keep my review as spoiler free as possible but just be wary if you haven’t read the first three books of The Fallen Series.

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.

Each book in this series just keeps getting better. When She Loves is the perfect final instalment of The Fallen Series. Cleo and Rafe are totally opposite. Cleo wants to do everything to make Rafe’s life hell and Rafe will stop at nothing until Cleo yields to being his wife.

When She Loves takes place right after When She Falls. Rafe has agreed to marry Cleo in place of Gemma days before their wedding. Cleo has given up her freedom and her chance to chase her dreams to protect her sister. The wedding needs to go ahead to ensure peace between the Garzolo and Massero families. Rafe has already done his part of the deal and kept Garzolo out of jail and now he’s coming to collect his wife. Cleo seems to be Rafe’s only weakness. She is the wild child of her family, which she plans to use to her advantage and has created a plan to ruin his life. In this game of wits who will end up the victor?

I’ve adored what we have seen of Cleo from the rest of the series and loved getting a chance to know her more. Underneath her wild child exterior is a woman who spent her childhood rebelling against her lot in life. Everyone is quick to write her off and belittle her. Rather than give in to the idea that she will never be good enough, Cleo uses her rebellious front as a shield. She’s quick to cause trouble, which is this safety net to protect herself from rejection. It was beautiful to see her grow up and gain her confidence. While she wasn’t abused like her sisters, her parents’ lack of care of toxicity still impacted her. I loved how she was able to build her relationship is Rafe’s cousin, Loretta. By opening up to Loretta and having a frank conversation, the pair were able to work together and help save Loretta’s business. Through this whole process, Cleo learns that the way the Massero run their business is different from the stereotypical, patriarchal way her father runs the Garzolo family.

Rafe is the quintessential cold, calculating Mafia Don. He’s ruthless and will do whatever he needs to remain in control and amass power. Learning about his childhood and how his father trained him, broke my heart. I couldn’t imagine going through that and makes sense why control is so important and why he views any sort of relationship as a weakness that his enemies can exploit. Poor Rafe is convinced that he is going to be able to get Cleo out of his system after they sleep together, and his life will go back to normal. I loved watching him struggle with his growing feelings for Cleo and the way he slowly realizes that showing emotion is not a weakness and isn’t a loss of control. If you love a morally grey, possessive hero who’s only soft on their love interest then Rafe is the man for you. My ovaries just about exploded every time he stood up for Cleo and demanded that no one mess with his wife.

The sexual chemistry between Cleo and Rafe is electric. The pair are both interested in being in control – Cleo wants her freedom and Rafe wants Cleo. Cleo is quick to withhold sex. The pair engage in a game where they try and tempt each other to give in. I loved how Rafe remained collected despite all the drama and antics Cleo pulled. It helps her learn that he values her more than just what her image and name provide. And I loved watching Rafe slowly thaw and learn to love. There is a third act break up and the reasons behind it are tense and heartbreaking. Rafe’s grovelling well and truly makes up for it. Like always with Gabrielle Sands’ romance, the steamy is off the charts, and the scene in the office left me needing to cool down.

I have been so hesitant to try mafia romance because I was worried no one would be able to capture that nuance of that old-world tradition and ruthless violence. But I shouldn’t have worried because Gabrielle Sands has aced it – at this point wouldn’t be surprised if she has some insider goss. That balance of violence with their honour and strict code of conduct is depicted effortlessly. I adore all the mafia politics here. It makes sense for the story since Rafe is a Don and is heavily embedded in this crime world.

If you love possessive heroes, strong heroines who refuse to bend to expectations and a plot that has a perfect balance of mafia and romance, then When She Loves is for you. I am so sad that this series is over. I cannot wait for the first book in the spin-off series.