Author: Gabrielle Sands

Series: Fallen Gods

First Published: 25 July 2024

“Then you better get used to it, because I take care of what’s mine, Sunshine.”

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!

This is a spin off from The Fallen Series; I will try and keep my review as spoiler free as possible but just be wary if you haven’t read The Fallen Series, in particular, When She Loves.

Pretending to date my handsome new housemate was already a bad idea, but then I discover he’s no ordinary guy—he’s a mobster in hiding. And in this story, he’s not the hero, but the wicked villain.

Rowan Miller isn’t used to hearing the word “no.”

I guess when you’re 6’5, gorgeously tattooed, and sculpted like a Michelangelo masterpiece, women tend to throw themselves at you. But in a small town like Darkwater Hollow, a reputation as a womanizer will catch up with you—and your business—eventually. Which is why Rowan needs a fake girlfriend to prove he’s reformed.

Enter, me.

When my house goes up in flames, I agree to Rowan’s offer in exchange for a place to stay.

After my last brutal break up, I’ve sworn off charming, smooth-talking men. But the way Rowan looks at me—hungry and possessive—makes my pulse race and my skin sizzle with heat. The longer we pretend to be in love, the more real it feels.

Just when I think I’ve broken my unlucky streak, I discover Rowan’s hiding secrets. Big ones, like his real name.

Will his dark past bring us closer together? Or will it destroy everything we’ve built?

Oh my god! That last line! That last line! Why are there no more pages? That last 30% or so was a wild ride. When He Desires is another fantastic release from Gabrielle Sands. I wasn’t sure how I would do with the small-town vibes, but I should not have doubted it, as this was amazing.

Blake is working her ass off to leave her small town of Darkwater Hollow. After the year she’s had – her mother died and her ex-boyfriend cheated on her – she needs a fresh start. Blake is really going through the motions. She’s drowning in medical bills and working a minimum-wage job at a bar where her ex is her boss. Blake needs to sell her house to clear the debt and start fresh. She doesn’t need any distractions, especially those of her next-door neighbour’s 6’5, charming and handsome variety. But Rowan Miller isn’t used to hearing the word ‘no’ and will do anything to get Blake in his bed. Rowan and his business partner Sam have arrived in Darkwater Hollow looking for their own fresh start. They have bought a local renovation business, and it’s going well until Rowan unknowingly sleeps with married women, and the small town turns against them. When a fire ravages Blake’s living room, leaving her stranded in Darkwater Hollow until she can afford the repairs, Rowan swoops in, offering that his company will handle the repairs for free, and she can stay with him at his house and exchange all Blake has to do is fake date Rowan in hopes that it will improve his imagine and get business booming again. However, Blake’s jealous ex and her dead father’s connection to the local biker gang bring Rowan’s secrets to life. His past enemies come calling to claim their revenge.

My heart goes out to Blake. The amount of hardship she’s been through. I love how, especially after finding her ex cheating on her while she’s still grieving her mother’s death, she starts to put up boundaries and not bow down to the town’s expectations. You can feel how trapped Blake feels in this town. The townspeople judge her purely because she grew up in a trailer park, and she should be so lucky that her ex looked her way since he’s the mayor’s son and Darkwater Hollow’s golden boy. That feeling is exactly why I don’t find small-town romance sweet and swoony. I loved that Blake got to experience how a genuine relationship should be with Rowan.

Rowan has been run out of home. He’s forced to start a new life and stay undercover. I enjoyed his perspective chapters as you can see how much he struggles with being ‘normal’. Rowan can’t resort to his usual violent and deadly tactics to get what he wants. Thankfully, he has Sam with him to break through his rage and keep him on the straight and narrow. He’s quickly intrigued by Blake. Her snark and instant dislike make him want to charm her pants. And it’s in these moments you can see that spark of his charming old self poke through.

The romance was a deliciously slow burn. I was eating this up. The tension was high! I loved it when Blake got all possessive and jealous over women flirting with Rowan, and she somehow kept sitting on his lap. And the way Rowan never entertained these flirtations while in their fake dating situation and treated her with such respect made me swoon. I adored just how well he knows her. When the sexual tension finally hit, he got her to write a list of why their sleeping together was a bad idea and then proceeded to refute every item on the list; so good! The steam here is excellent; I’m looking at your bar scene. And that bookshop! Also, the way Rowan came through all John Wick like at the end to save Blake, was one of the hottest things I’ve read. I get why it would be traumatizing for Blake, but we love a competent man who knows how to protect the ones he loves. Honestly, Rowan is a top-tier book boyfriend.

Given the ending and the secrets that have come to the forefront, I expect the romance to hit a rocky patch in the sequel. Blake will be reeling from being betrayed, and Rowan is trying to keep them both alive. I am hoping we get a good grovel scene. Also, I am excited to return to New York and the mafia vibes.

I could ramble on much longer, but it’s safe to say I adored When He Desires. I am counting down the days until the sequel, When He Takes, is released. If you are looking for a mafia romance with fake dating, hidden identities, and grumpy sunshine vibes where she’s the grump, look no further. When He Desires is the book for you!