Author: Gabrielle Sands

Series: Fall God

First Published: 31 August 2024

“Wherever you go, I go, Sunshine. Always.”

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

I will try and keep my review as spoiler free as possible but just be wary if you haven’t read the first book, When He Desires.

I’ve fallen for a monster. A man who doesn’t ask for what he wants—he takes. And now, he’s taken me.

Rowan Miller isn’t who I thought he was. He’s Nero De Luca, the ex-consigliere of a notorious New York mob family, and he’s been lying to me from the moment we met.

If I return home to Darkwater Hollow, it will be a death sentence.

But staying with Nero means diving headfirst into the perilous underworld of New York—a place I’m ill-equipped to navigate.

I should despise Nero for his betrayal, and a part of me does. But as I’m drawn deeper into his world, I begin to see that not all darkness is the same.

Now, I’m caught between two worlds and two versions of a man I thought I knew. Can I trust Nero to protect me from even greater dangers?

Or is my only chance at safety escaping his iron grasp and running away?

When He Takes was the most perfect ending for Nero and Blake. I adored being back in New York as the stakes were high. We had all the tension as they knew one wrong move and everything would end horribly. I was obsessively flying through to figure out what happened next. The book hangover I got from finishing this was no joke.

What a rollercoaster the plot is! I was hooked the entire way. We have Nero doing everything in his power to ensure that Blake is safe before handing himself over to a rival mafia family, The Ferraros. He is expecting to be executed on sight, but assistance from an unlikely source lets Nero keep his life. He’s turned errand boy for The Ferraros’ psychotic enforcer, which is a long fall from grace. An image The Ferraros and Rafe Messero – Nero’s old Don – are hoping to use to bring down a common enemy. Gifted with a second chance, Nero plans to earn Blake’s trust and win her love back. However, Blake, hurt by Nero’s lies and betrayal, wants nothing more than to escape New York and the criminal underworld she found herself in. Blake might need to make her own deals to get the money and new identity she needs to escape and live a safe life.

Blake has a strict sense of right and wrong. Most likely due to her dad being a bikie and growing up in a small town. She spends most of this book wrestling with her moral compass. She is disgusted that Nero is in the mafia – that he is a criminal and has killed people. But she is constantly being reminded that he is a good person. He treats her better than any boyfriend ever has, and – unlike her ex, who sold her out – Nero is willing to sacrifice himself for her safety. Blake learns that nothing is black and white and how to live in a grey area. I adore the mob wife training she gets from Vita. It was a fun touch. Honestly, the way Blake called in the calvary when it looked like she and Nero were done for was genius. The courage she showed to help save them – couldn’t have been me!

Nero might have to be my favourite hero Gabrielle has written. The man replaces all the books Blake lost in the first book, including hunting down every special edition. Like, who would not forgive him after that? Nero’s whole focus is to keep Blake safe. Yes, he misses the power and prestige his old job provided, but he is willing to give it all away for her safety and her love. Queue the swoon. I love how cheeky Nero is and how he uses their force proximity to try and woo Blake. Boy, he does not play fair! I have no idea how Blake resisted him for so long.

The sexual tension between these two is high, even while Blake feels betrayed by Nero’s lies. And when we add a ton of forced proximity with a dash of fake dating, the tension turns explosive. And I was here for every second. Also, that whole scene in the sex club was seriously hot, especially that moment where Nero goes all murderous and threatens to end those who wrong his wife. Honestly, I was a puddle of goo at that stage. I also love the scene when they go to Nero’s beach house. They get a chance away from their dangerous job and have the space to get to know each other and connect. I loved that they had this space to let down their walls and be vulnerable with each other.

I have said it before, but I love how much Mafia Gabrielle puts in her books. We get all the glitz, glamour, scheming, politics, and danger, which I eat it up. I am fascinated with the gentlemanly rules of engagement that hide the dark, dangerous side of their business dealings. She was able to capture that vibe perfectly. I also love getting cameos from characters from the Fallen series – in particular, from Rafe and Cleo.

I feel like I say this every time, but the Fallen God duet might just be my favourite work of Gabrielle Sands. Honestly, she does mafia romance to perfection! And with the uncovered plot line, we get more insight into this mafia world. I highly, highly recommend this series – and her Fallen series – if you want a deliciously dark mafia romance. I have my fingers and toes crossed that we get Alessio’s book ASAP since I want to know more about him!