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The Fallen #4
When She Loves
Cleo & Rafaele's story
464 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,818 reviews
January 29, 2024
What can I say? I absolutely hated this book. The best part was when it was over. The mmc did not deserve the fmc at all. The way he treated her was disgusting. He treated her like a cum hole for months. 🙅♀️
“Reluctantly, I drag my gaze back up to her face.” All he wanted was to stare at her tits😐. What was her face not good enough for you?
“No one would see her showing off the body that I f*cking own.” OWN?!😃🫸
This was all just a game to him. Just to sleep with her.
“I almost have her. By now, I've realized that the way past her defenses isn't through her body, but through her mind.” Literally still talking that crap at 47%🙄.
“I might never be able to love her—my ability to love was ruthlessly trained out of me—but I can appreciate her. It will be enough for her, because it will be more than anything she's ever gotten before. She won't know the differ-ence. How could she?
Our game is almost at its end. She put up a far stronger defense than I anticipated, but with each passing day, I chip at it bit by bit.” Just wow🥴. That is so sad.
“I drag my thumb over my bottom lip. Yes, that's it. I'm going to fuck her until I tire of her. Until I can evict her from the space she's inhabited in my head like an illegal squatter. Now that our game's done and she's spread her legs, the intrigue is gone. It won't take me long to get back to safe ground. I’m sure of it.” 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
The fmc is delusional. He does not love you!
“He's more than a don, more than a killer, more than my prison warden.” Well, what is he🔎? Cause he ain’t a good husband.
“She jerks like she'd been slapped. God, I want to slap her.” In his monologue, he said that talking about the fmc. Literally WHAT?😒
The mmc talked so much crap about his father.
“He treated them like possessions devoid of thoughts and feelings.” He is just like his father. Hypocrite.
Then the third act happened. I can’t believe she forgave him for what he said. Her own family members got her to forgive him. Are you kidding me? Also I can’t stand when the mmc’s best friend or family is the one who getting through to him and gets him to apologize and try to win her back.
“It took losing you for me to understand that you are everything to me.” It shouldn't have to be like that. Am I supposed to swoon to that?🤨
Also, why does the fmc always have to be a virgin in a mafia romance?
This isn’t really a spoiler because this was in the beginning, but I did not realize that he was planning on marrying her sister beforehand😳.
Edit: I have realized a lot of people are pressed reading this review. This is my personal opinion❗️. Dark romance doesn’t have to have abuse in it. Because I have read plenty that doesn’t have it. It doesn’t make me a snowflake. It makes me someone who doesn’t want to read about a man abusing a woman🤷♀️. I’m not judging someone for reading it, so please don’t judge me for reviewing it and it not being my cup of tea🩷.
“Reluctantly, I drag my gaze back up to her face.” All he wanted was to stare at her tits😐. What was her face not good enough for you?
“No one would see her showing off the body that I f*cking own.” OWN?!😃🫸
This was all just a game to him. Just to sleep with her.
“I almost have her. By now, I've realized that the way past her defenses isn't through her body, but through her mind.” Literally still talking that crap at 47%🙄.
“I might never be able to love her—my ability to love was ruthlessly trained out of me—but I can appreciate her. It will be enough for her, because it will be more than anything she's ever gotten before. She won't know the differ-ence. How could she?
Our game is almost at its end. She put up a far stronger defense than I anticipated, but with each passing day, I chip at it bit by bit.” Just wow🥴. That is so sad.
“I drag my thumb over my bottom lip. Yes, that's it. I'm going to fuck her until I tire of her. Until I can evict her from the space she's inhabited in my head like an illegal squatter. Now that our game's done and she's spread her legs, the intrigue is gone. It won't take me long to get back to safe ground. I’m sure of it.” 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
The fmc is delusional. He does not love you!
“He's more than a don, more than a killer, more than my prison warden.” Well, what is he🔎? Cause he ain’t a good husband.
“She jerks like she'd been slapped. God, I want to slap her.” In his monologue, he said that talking about the fmc. Literally WHAT?😒
The mmc talked so much crap about his father.
“He treated them like possessions devoid of thoughts and feelings.” He is just like his father. Hypocrite.
Then the third act happened. I can’t believe she forgave him for what he said. Her own family members got her to forgive him. Are you kidding me? Also I can’t stand when the mmc’s best friend or family is the one who getting through to him and gets him to apologize and try to win her back.
“It took losing you for me to understand that you are everything to me.” It shouldn't have to be like that. Am I supposed to swoon to that?🤨
Also, why does the fmc always have to be a virgin in a mafia romance?
This isn’t really a spoiler because this was in the beginning, but I did not realize that he was planning on marrying her sister beforehand😳.
Edit: I have realized a lot of people are pressed reading this review. This is my personal opinion❗️. Dark romance doesn’t have to have abuse in it. Because I have read plenty that doesn’t have it. It doesn’t make me a snowflake. It makes me someone who doesn’t want to read about a man abusing a woman🤷♀️. I’m not judging someone for reading it, so please don’t judge me for reviewing it and it not being my cup of tea🩷.
June 10, 2024
4.5 stars
at the end of the day it’s always the robotic, unfeeling character begging on his knees for forgiveness that hits deliciously.
——————
manifesting the 5 stars 🕯
”Cleo, when I look at you, I see the entire universe. It took losing you for me to understand that you are everything to me. there might have been a ‘before’ you, but there is no ‘after’. I can’t function without you. I can’t sleep, I can’t think, I can barely fucking breathe. Without you, I exist in a horrible dark place that’s devoid of everything that makes life worth living. please come back to me. I love you.”
at the end of the day it’s always the robotic, unfeeling character begging on his knees for forgiveness that hits deliciously.
——————
manifesting the 5 stars 🕯
February 5, 2024
we as a society need more men who gets down on their knees to beg for their woman’s forgiveness
June 28, 2024
DNF’d @35%
You couldn’t pay me to give a single fuck abt any of the characters lmao
You couldn’t pay me to give a single fuck abt any of the characters lmao
December 21, 2023
i hope whoever suggested that to me is having a horrible day
December 19, 2023
MCs:
- Rafaele, 27
- Cleo, 19
Book info:
- Mafia romance
- No cheating, omd/owd
- With third act breakup
- Violence
- Abuse (Physical, Emotional)
- Mention of rape
- Virgin FMC 🙄
- HEA
This was okay, but probably the least favorite of mine in the series.
Cleo took her sister's place, marrying Rafe. She doesn't want to, but since her sister has always looked out for her, she wants to make sure she's happy, and she has no problem marrying her sister's fiance to make that happen. (her sister is pregnant and in love with someone else)
Rafe's decision to accept the new bride should have been seen as impulsive, but despite being engaged to Cleo's sister, nobody knew how much he was interested in her.
In just three days, they got married and shared a tense home because Cleo felt trapped in this union and Rafe wanted to possess her in every way. At least Cleo put up a fight, and I liked that portion of the story. Rafe was used to locking up his feelings and never showing them, but he's different with her.
The third act then begins at 78%. He pushed her away, said a lot of hurtful things to her, and said that he wanted to get a divorce.
For the record, I'm sad about Rafe's childhood experiences and that they caused him to shut down his feelings. But the way he handled the situation with Cleo didn't sit well with me. Even though the emotions are running high, he shouldn't have done that to her.
Then, the grovel began at 90%—10% was far too little to win his wife back, at least for me. He made the decision to fly to her to get Cleo back after they had been apart for two weeks. He finally opened up about his life to her during his two-day grovel. It's funny that he didn't do it before losing her.
Plus, these discussions typically last no more than 30 minutes each day. Really, what sort of grovelling was that? Of course, he most likely took advantage of the opportunity to say everything he wanted to say in the time that Cleo spared. But I still feel that he should apologize more. Even though I sensed his sincerity, it's not enough for me.
His cruel actions and words hurt her so much that I struggled with the rest of the book because of it. Although I will never be able to forgive him for what he did, Cleo is a better person for giving him another chance.
Overall, this was okay, but for some reason, the story didn't intrigue me. I'm sure this will work for other readers.
- Rafaele, 27
- Cleo, 19
Book info:
- Mafia romance
- No cheating, omd/owd
- With third act breakup
- Violence
- Abuse (Physical, Emotional)
- Mention of rape
- Virgin FMC 🙄
- HEA
This was okay, but probably the least favorite of mine in the series.
Cleo took her sister's place, marrying Rafe. She doesn't want to, but since her sister has always looked out for her, she wants to make sure she's happy, and she has no problem marrying her sister's fiance to make that happen. (her sister is pregnant and in love with someone else)
Rafe's decision to accept the new bride should have been seen as impulsive, but despite being engaged to Cleo's sister, nobody knew how much he was interested in her.
In just three days, they got married and shared a tense home because Cleo felt trapped in this union and Rafe wanted to possess her in every way. At least Cleo put up a fight, and I liked that portion of the story. Rafe was used to locking up his feelings and never showing them, but he's different with her.
The third act then begins at 78%. He pushed her away, said a lot of hurtful things to her, and said that he wanted to get a divorce.
For the record, I'm sad about Rafe's childhood experiences and that they caused him to shut down his feelings. But the way he handled the situation with Cleo didn't sit well with me. Even though the emotions are running high, he shouldn't have done that to her.
Then, the grovel began at 90%—10% was far too little to win his wife back, at least for me. He made the decision to fly to her to get Cleo back after they had been apart for two weeks. He finally opened up about his life to her during his two-day grovel. It's funny that he didn't do it before losing her.
Plus, these discussions typically last no more than 30 minutes each day. Really, what sort of grovelling was that? Of course, he most likely took advantage of the opportunity to say everything he wanted to say in the time that Cleo spared. But I still feel that he should apologize more. Even though I sensed his sincerity, it's not enough for me.
His cruel actions and words hurt her so much that I struggled with the rest of the book because of it. Although I will never be able to forgive him for what he did, Cleo is a better person for giving him another chance.
Overall, this was okay, but for some reason, the story didn't intrigue me. I'm sure this will work for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
“Cleo, when I look at you, I see the entire universe. It took losing you for me to understand that you are everything to me. There might have been a ‘before’ you, but there is no ‘after’. I can’t function without you. I can’t sleep, I can’t think, I can barely fucking breathe. Without you, I exist in a horrible dark place that’s devoid of everything that makes life worth living. Please come back to me. I love you.”
This was genuinely is the best book in this series. I had some big expectations based on some glimpses we got of Cleo and Rafaele in previous books and they did not disappoint. I was enraptured by the arranged marriage situation from the moment I saw it coming and Gabrielle delivered everything I expected from this trope. The story kicked of brilliantly with Cleo and Rafaele in an arranged marriage and them finding ways and making plans to tame each other but how miserably failed at it.
Cleo is such a fun personality. She is so much different from her sisters and definitely a lot dramatic and badass in every way. She is a little menace and the way she drove Rafaele crazy and annoyed him with her antics had me laughing out loud. She never gave in to Rafaele without putting up a fight, always pushing him to his limits and demanding more. She made him work for everything until the very end and I love a woman who can make her man beg on his knees and she had Rafaele on his knees in just a few weeks after leaving him.
“I will carve out your tongue and ram it down your throat for speaking that way to my wife,” I growl. “Apologize right now.”
Rafaele is portrayed as cold-hearted, calculated, ruthless and possessive mafia don. He doesn't feel love or any emotion because he was trained that way. To simply say, he is a monster in people's eyes. His obsession with Cleo was insane and his whole “whatever my wife wants, my wife gets” thing was so hot. And I was proud of him the way he begged in the end. It was needed and man did not disappoint in begging his wife to come back to him.
“I didn’t tame you. You are the one who conquered me—thoroughly and completely. I am not the man you married, not anymore. But if you give me a chance, I will be the husband you deserve.”
Cleo and Rafaele were perfect in every manner. Their contrasting personalities created explosive chemistry and their intense and crazy push and pull dynamics had me entirely hooked. Also the presentation of bloodied sheet for proof of their consummation? That scene was epic and hilarious. I adored their every interaction and the banter between these two was so good. Their romance was captivating, charming and definitely intensely hot. The third act breakup in the end was worth every minute because Rafaele was suffering for what he did to Cleo and I loved the grovelling and begging.
“You always have a choice. You can go home.”
“You are my home.”
I can't believe I binge read this series in just a week. I want more of this sexy and suspenseful mafia romance series and some characters showed potential to have their own stories written so I am just gonna wait here with my candles lit for Gabrielle to pop out those books and give us more possessive and broody mafia heroes.
December 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''Can she see how she weakens me?''
Safety warnings:
- H 27 / h 18
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Violence/d*ath
- Attempted assault
- Physical/verbal abuse
- Child abuse
- Mention of domestic violence
- Mention of r*pe
- Blackmail
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Raf meets his match in Cleo. That's all I could think about during the beginning of this book, Cleo takes no shit from anyone as she has learned all her life to rebel against what is expected since she did not want to be subjected to her father’s plots and her mother’s emotionless love.
As we know from the previous book Cleo has taken the place of her sister Gemma who ends up pregnant by her MMC Ras right before she is set to marry Rafe, thankfully Rafe had never had any feelings or eyes for Gemma and always wanted Cleo instead, so he jumps to the opportunity to marry her. This sadly does not go well with his family as they all see her as a nuisance and a slut (she spent her life rebelling and making people believe things about her).
I really appreciated how he came alive with her and felt things even though he himself rebelled against them. Their banter was really fun to read, and I think Cleo was a very different FMC then the previous ones, so it was a breath of fresh air with her POV and thought process.
The list she made to ruin his life was a great touch too.
Rafe opens up about his childhood (well actually his mom does to Cleo first) about how he witnessed his father beating up his mother for years in order to get his emotions removed from him and made into the robot his father wanted (he was only 10 when it all started). He seems cold because that is what he was basically programmed to be and feeling anything always resulted in pain.
Cleo’s father and the infamous idiot of the century really did not come to terms with the fact his daughters all married above him? He was the selfish prick we always knew he was, and he got his at the end.
I really liked this up until the Nero incident, I think that whole plot could have been avoided since it made me super sad to see it all go down this way for him. Nero accidently kills the nephew of a rival mafia Don (Gino Ferraro) when Cleo gets kidnapped by her father, and this is the same Don who Rafe is trying to smooth things over. Sadly, the nephew dies, and Nero is then placed on the literal chopping block by Gino and is demanded he dies.
Rafe and the rest of this series MMC's come up with a plan to fake his death and get away with it but this means that Nero and Sandro (the young driver who we meet) are both sent off to exile far away and can never return. Honestly, this sucked. I kind of wished we had gotten a different outcome. NOW I KNOW WE WILL GET HIS BOOK which is actually a duet, but I am so hoping he can come back somehow and be with Rafe again. We also know that Nero’s FMC is not someone we have met and that his book will be MF (thank fuck because for a minute I thought Sandro would be involved too).
I also wish we had gotten a scene where Rafe talks to Nero after he leaves? Idk.
Anyways, during this whole fiasco Rafe loses his shit and basically breaks up with Cleo in the worst way and this sends her away and they spend some time separated but he of course realizes how stupid he was and comes back and grovels.
I needed more grovel from him, but I also feel like we could have gotten an extended epilogue on the couples? Years from now and what they were up to? It felt like a missed opportunity.
Book 3 still stands as my favorite in this series and I'm glad to see that Gabrielle will write books about Nero, Vince and the Ferraro brothers who we briefly meet in this book. Thankfully this means this is not the end of seeing everyone we have gotten to know during this series!
''Can she see how she weakens me?''
Safety warnings:
- H 27 / h 18
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Violence/d*ath
- Attempted assault
- Physical/verbal abuse
- Child abuse
- Mention of domestic violence
- Mention of r*pe
- Blackmail
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Raf meets his match in Cleo. That's all I could think about during the beginning of this book, Cleo takes no shit from anyone as she has learned all her life to rebel against what is expected since she did not want to be subjected to her father’s plots and her mother’s emotionless love.
As we know from the previous book Cleo has taken the place of her sister Gemma who ends up pregnant by her MMC Ras right before she is set to marry Rafe, thankfully Rafe had never had any feelings or eyes for Gemma and always wanted Cleo instead, so he jumps to the opportunity to marry her. This sadly does not go well with his family as they all see her as a nuisance and a slut (she spent her life rebelling and making people believe things about her).
I really appreciated how he came alive with her and felt things even though he himself rebelled against them. Their banter was really fun to read, and I think Cleo was a very different FMC then the previous ones, so it was a breath of fresh air with her POV and thought process.
The list she made to ruin his life was a great touch too.
Rafe opens up about his childhood (well actually his mom does to Cleo first) about how he witnessed his father beating up his mother for years in order to get his emotions removed from him and made into the robot his father wanted (he was only 10 when it all started). He seems cold because that is what he was basically programmed to be and feeling anything always resulted in pain.
Cleo’s father and the infamous idiot of the century really did not come to terms with the fact his daughters all married above him? He was the selfish prick we always knew he was, and he got his at the end.
I really liked this up until the Nero incident, I think that whole plot could have been avoided since it made me super sad to see it all go down this way for him. Nero accidently kills the nephew of a rival mafia Don (Gino Ferraro) when Cleo gets kidnapped by her father, and this is the same Don who Rafe is trying to smooth things over. Sadly, the nephew dies, and Nero is then placed on the literal chopping block by Gino and is demanded he dies.
Rafe and the rest of this series MMC's come up with a plan to fake his death and get away with it but this means that Nero and Sandro (the young driver who we meet) are both sent off to exile far away and can never return. Honestly, this sucked. I kind of wished we had gotten a different outcome. NOW I KNOW WE WILL GET HIS BOOK which is actually a duet, but I am so hoping he can come back somehow and be with Rafe again. We also know that Nero’s FMC is not someone we have met and that his book will be MF (thank fuck because for a minute I thought Sandro would be involved too).
I also wish we had gotten a scene where Rafe talks to Nero after he leaves? Idk.
Anyways, during this whole fiasco Rafe loses his shit and basically breaks up with Cleo in the worst way and this sends her away and they spend some time separated but he of course realizes how stupid he was and comes back and grovels.
I needed more grovel from him, but I also feel like we could have gotten an extended epilogue on the couples? Years from now and what they were up to? It felt like a missed opportunity.
Book 3 still stands as my favorite in this series and I'm glad to see that Gabrielle will write books about Nero, Vince and the Ferraro brothers who we briefly meet in this book. Thankfully this means this is not the end of seeing everyone we have gotten to know during this series!
April 30, 2024
More men need to get on their knees & beg for forgiveness.
March 21, 2024
After reading When She Falls(book 3) I had high hopes for When She Loves(book 4) but.. no. Cleo and Rafaele had so much potential but the execution was really poor. Disappointing end to the series.
Cleo
In the books before this one she came across as a bad bitch. I love strong, sassy, confident woman who take no shit, and that’s what I was hoping for here. But she came across as more of a naive, spoiled and arrogant child in her own book.
Rafaele
He’s got no personality besides his trauma and role as a leader. Unlikable. Annoying. Dumb.
Throughout the book he tries to tell himself he doesn’t have any feelings, he just needs to ”fuck her out of his system” and how he has one purpose: being a leader. He has trauma from his childhood and was trained not to feel anything, I know. But he did in fact feel things and he knew this but kept denying it. You mean to tell me a man able to lead a mafia can’t even analyse and understand his own feelings? The ”mc in denial about his/her feelings” can only take you so far, after a while it just gets extremely irritating. And then on to ”I’m not supposed to have feelings for her, it’s better for everyone if I don’t” STFU PLEEEASE
She’s done this to me. Made me into someone not worth the responsibility I’ve been given. Made me into a weak, impulsive, emotional man. This can’t go on. ”It’s her fault” What are you, seven?
Rafaele & Cleo
The sexual tension and the cover? Great. Everything else? Not so great. For being the last book in a series, the one that’s supposed to tie everything together, it was really disappointing. I’m not even sure what the plot was, it was just a mess. And the third act break-up? I’ve never seen anything so stupid before.
Their relationship felt forced, unauthentic. To me it seemed like the author took two characters who were both meant to get their own book but decided to throw them together instead because she didn’t have enough time to write two books.
The sweet moments were missing and we didn’t get to see Rafaele treat Cleo like a wife should be treated until the very end. It’s to late to change by that point. Instead we just got to hear over and over how he wanted her body and how he was going to make her give in and have sex with him.
Edit: It’s been two days and I can for the life of me not remember what I read.
2 stars
Cleo
In the books before this one she came across as a bad bitch. I love strong, sassy, confident woman who take no shit, and that’s what I was hoping for here. But she came across as more of a naive, spoiled and arrogant child in her own book.
Rafaele
He’s got no personality besides his trauma and role as a leader. Unlikable. Annoying. Dumb.
Throughout the book he tries to tell himself he doesn’t have any feelings, he just needs to ”fuck her out of his system” and how he has one purpose: being a leader. He has trauma from his childhood and was trained not to feel anything, I know. But he did in fact feel things and he knew this but kept denying it. You mean to tell me a man able to lead a mafia can’t even analyse and understand his own feelings? The ”mc in denial about his/her feelings” can only take you so far, after a while it just gets extremely irritating. And then on to ”I’m not supposed to have feelings for her, it’s better for everyone if I don’t” STFU PLEEEASE
She’s done this to me. Made me into someone not worth the responsibility I’ve been given. Made me into a weak, impulsive, emotional man. This can’t go on. ”It’s her fault” What are you, seven?
Rafaele & Cleo
The sexual tension and the cover? Great. Everything else? Not so great. For being the last book in a series, the one that’s supposed to tie everything together, it was really disappointing. I’m not even sure what the plot was, it was just a mess. And the third act break-up? I’ve never seen anything so stupid before.
Their relationship felt forced, unauthentic. To me it seemed like the author took two characters who were both meant to get their own book but decided to throw them together instead because she didn’t have enough time to write two books.
The sweet moments were missing and we didn’t get to see Rafaele treat Cleo like a wife should be treated until the very end. It’s to late to change by that point. Instead we just got to hear over and over how he wanted her body and how he was going to make her give in and have sex with him.
Edit: It’s been two days and I can for the life of me not remember what I read.
2 stars
December 6, 2025
2 Stars
I don't know this was going good then it just became hella boring and sigh 🧍♀️
how hard is it for a girl to get a good mafia romance these days
⋆ ̊.𓂃❣️.⊹ ݁ Pre-read .꒷ 🦋. 𖦹˙—
𓂃ꨄˎˊ˗⤷ I didn't like Rafaele in that last book but the way he looks at Cleo? Oh I know I'm gonna love him here 🤤
I don't know this was going good then it just became hella boring and sigh 🧍♀️
how hard is it for a girl to get a good mafia romance these days
⋆ ̊.𓂃❣️.⊹ ݁ Pre-read .꒷ 🦋. 𖦹˙—
𓂃ꨄˎˊ˗⤷ I didn't like Rafaele in that last book but the way he looks at Cleo? Oh I know I'm gonna love him here 🤤
December 19, 2023
» My God, can you stop pawing at me?«
» Why would I? You're my wife.«
» Don't remind me.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒐
I learned to love her in the previous book as she took Gemma’s place as Rafaeles wife. Cleo is stubborn, confident and so fucking lovely. She does everything for the people she cares for and I just loved her character.
❥ 𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒆
I was curious about him since his first appearance in the „Fallen“-series. He is mysterious, quiet and super dangerous but he can’t deny his attraction towards Cleo. His backstory surprised me and I felt with him.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I was so fucking excited for this book and it definitely lived up to my expectations!
The whole „Fallen“-series is awesome and I loved each book. The author has an incredible writing style and knows how to catch the emotions and deliver them to readers. I love the worldbuilding and the fact that every book is connected.
The story of Cleo and Rafaele was already mentioned in the previous book and the author just delivered with this one - wow! I was glued to my kindle because this couple was intense. There were many emotions, a lot of action and drama and SO much tension!! I loved both characters and their story just fits both of them. They have to go through a lot but at the end love wins and I‘m so happy for them!
I can’t wait for Nero‘s duet and I hope that the three Ferraro brothers will get books as well, they kinda make me curious.
This mafia series is a must read for all mafia and darkromance fans - just go, read it and have a lot of fun!
»It’s the way you see something in me. Something that no one else does. Around you, I’m not just a fuckup that needs fixing.«
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 5/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
possessive and protective hero, found family, virgin heroine, enemies to lovers, abusive parents, mafia, age gap, arranged marriage
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: 19 (Cleo) and 27 (Rafaele)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
Tempted by the Devil - Michelle Heard
Relentless Devil - Kylie Kent
Bound by Duty - Cora Reilly
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 When She Unravels ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 When She Tempts ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 When She Falls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 When She Loves ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
» Why would I? You're my wife.«
» Don't remind me.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒐
I learned to love her in the previous book as she took Gemma’s place as Rafaeles wife. Cleo is stubborn, confident and so fucking lovely. She does everything for the people she cares for and I just loved her character.
❥ 𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒆
I was curious about him since his first appearance in the „Fallen“-series. He is mysterious, quiet and super dangerous but he can’t deny his attraction towards Cleo. His backstory surprised me and I felt with him.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I was so fucking excited for this book and it definitely lived up to my expectations!
The whole „Fallen“-series is awesome and I loved each book. The author has an incredible writing style and knows how to catch the emotions and deliver them to readers. I love the worldbuilding and the fact that every book is connected.
The story of Cleo and Rafaele was already mentioned in the previous book and the author just delivered with this one - wow! I was glued to my kindle because this couple was intense. There were many emotions, a lot of action and drama and SO much tension!! I loved both characters and their story just fits both of them. They have to go through a lot but at the end love wins and I‘m so happy for them!
I can’t wait for Nero‘s duet and I hope that the three Ferraro brothers will get books as well, they kinda make me curious.
This mafia series is a must read for all mafia and darkromance fans - just go, read it and have a lot of fun!
»It’s the way you see something in me. Something that no one else does. Around you, I’m not just a fuckup that needs fixing.«
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 5/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
possessive and protective hero, found family, virgin heroine, enemies to lovers, abusive parents, mafia, age gap, arranged marriage
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: 19 (Cleo) and 27 (Rafaele)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
Tempted by the Devil - Michelle Heard
Relentless Devil - Kylie Kent
Bound by Duty - Cora Reilly
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 When She Unravels ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 When She Tempts ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 When She Falls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 When She Loves ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 5, 2024
They 100% got a divorce after the book ended
May 17, 2024
Another fabulous instalment. This series is killer. I highly rate this audiobook too! Much better than the others I’ve listened too.
April 27, 2024
OH
MY
GOODNESS!!
Este es un matriominio arreglado, después de que Gemma cancelara su compromiso con Rafe y se fuera con Ras, Cloe toma su lugar, después de todo se tiene que llevar a cabo una boda.
Cloe piensa que Rafe es un hombre frio que la dejará en paz lo que nunca pensó es que él la quisiera a ella y lo último que quiere es estar encarcelada en un matrimonio, ella quieres y libertad, pero Rafe quiere a su esposa.
De los cuatro este es de los más spicy.
Amé mucho a Rafe es de esos protagonistas que son todos fríos y controlados que dicen no amar a nadie pero que protegen y besan el suelo por donde pisa la mujer que aman.
Cloe nunca ha sentido que tuviera ningún valor siempre ha sido subajada por sus padres, diciéndole que es una inútil, por lo que ella se rebelaba aunque recibiera insultos no le afectaban pero en el fondo creyó lo que decían de ella, pero gracias a Rafe que creía en ella empezó a tener más confianza y a enamorarse de su esposo del que quería huir.
Me encantó la historia de Rafe y Cloe.
Yo necesito un libro de Nero por favor digánme que habrá libro para él.
Después de ese final me niego a creer que termine así.
MY
GOODNESS!!
Este es un matriominio arreglado, después de que Gemma cancelara su compromiso con Rafe y se fuera con Ras, Cloe toma su lugar, después de todo se tiene que llevar a cabo una boda.
Cloe piensa que Rafe es un hombre frio que la dejará en paz lo que nunca pensó es que él la quisiera a ella y lo último que quiere es estar encarcelada en un matrimonio, ella quieres y libertad, pero Rafe quiere a su esposa.
De los cuatro este es de los más spicy.
Amé mucho a Rafe es de esos protagonistas que son todos fríos y controlados que dicen no amar a nadie pero que protegen y besan el suelo por donde pisa la mujer que aman.
Cloe nunca ha sentido que tuviera ningún valor siempre ha sido subajada por sus padres, diciéndole que es una inútil, por lo que ella se rebelaba aunque recibiera insultos no le afectaban pero en el fondo creyó lo que decían de ella, pero gracias a Rafe que creía en ella empezó a tener más confianza y a enamorarse de su esposo del que quería huir.
Me encantó la historia de Rafe y Cloe.
Yo necesito un libro de Nero por favor digánme que habrá libro para él.
Después de ese final me niego a creer que termine así.
Want to read
September 18, 2023I think Cleo's story is gonna be the most interesting. There's def gonna be banters and bickering and the sneak peak🤌🏻
"I’m aware there are rumors floating around about my future wife. Good thing they’re completely unfounded. From now on, anyone who speaks a word of them will lose their tongue. Have I made myself clear, Uncle?" Oh raf-😩.(from: When she falls)
I'm looking forward for their story so much!!
"I’m aware there are rumors floating around about my future wife. Good thing they’re completely unfounded. From now on, anyone who speaks a word of them will lose their tongue. Have I made myself clear, Uncle?" Oh raf-😩.(from: When she falls)
I'm looking forward for their story so much!!
December 23, 2023
4.5/5 ⭐️
🤍 Virgin heroine
🤍 Arranged marriage
🤍 Mafia
🤍 Enemies to lovers
🤍 Age gap ( 20 l 27 )
🚩no cheating or sharing, no OW/OM
Loved this book about Cleo and Raf 😍🫶
They are sooo cute together and the tension is everything 🧎🏻♀️
They are enemies but he is secretly obsessed with her & it is really nice to read 🫂✨️
I believe this series is over now but I'm already excited to read about Nero ( Rafs best friend) which will be a new series 🤍✨️💥
🤍 Virgin heroine
🤍 Arranged marriage
🤍 Mafia
🤍 Enemies to lovers
🤍 Age gap ( 20 l 27 )
🚩no cheating or sharing, no OW/OM
Loved this book about Cleo and Raf 😍🫶
They are sooo cute together and the tension is everything 🧎🏻♀️
They are enemies but he is secretly obsessed with her & it is really nice to read 🫂✨️
I believe this series is over now but I'm already excited to read about Nero ( Rafs best friend) which will be a new series 🤍✨️💥
dnf
December 26, 2023DNF @ 20% - heroine is a bitch for no reason. I don’t know what her problem is but she’s super annoying. She’s mad at the hero for shit that hasn’t even happened yet. I really hate overly combative heroines.
Also… if the hero was so obsessed with her why was he willing to marry her sister? He’s the guy in charge -
Just say you want the other sister 🤷🏼♀️ I don’t get it.
Also… if the hero was so obsessed with her why was he willing to marry her sister? He’s the guy in charge -
Just say you want the other sister 🤷🏼♀️ I don’t get it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
*chef kiss* rafe and cleo are a beautiful and funny couple. i love them.
December 16, 2023
This was excellent. I enjoyed this couple so much. The 3rd act had me worried but it brought a good grovel.
5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
CW: rape, torture, death, abusive parents
5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
CW: rape, torture, death, abusive parents
December 20, 2024
honestly i cannot deal with the emotionally detached male.
so i basically skipped from like sixty percent to the epilogue.
so i basically skipped from like sixty percent to the epilogue.
March 26, 2025
5 ⭐️s
I HAVE BEEN GIGGLING ABOUT THEM SINCE BOOK 3 AND GOSH I WAS FOAMING IN THE MOUTH BY THE TIME I GOT TO THEIR OWN BOOK.
I love Rafe and Cleo so much gosh. Their banter was out of this world and the CHEMISTRY?!! Hellooooooo. Gosh i havent been this feral since i read Darkverse and the Sinners anonymous series. This right here is what i’ve been looking for.
I LISTENED TO THE AUDIOBOOK AND HOLY MOLLY THE MICHELLE SPARKS AND TEDDY HAMILTON ATEEEE.
‼️Spoilers‼️
Although i didn’t like the third act breakup I ATE the groveling tho. Ugh i miss them already.
I HAVE BEEN GIGGLING ABOUT THEM SINCE BOOK 3 AND GOSH I WAS FOAMING IN THE MOUTH BY THE TIME I GOT TO THEIR OWN BOOK.
I love Rafe and Cleo so much gosh. Their banter was out of this world and the CHEMISTRY?!! Hellooooooo. Gosh i havent been this feral since i read Darkverse and the Sinners anonymous series. This right here is what i’ve been looking for.
I LISTENED TO THE AUDIOBOOK AND HOLY MOLLY THE MICHELLE SPARKS AND TEDDY HAMILTON ATEEEE.
‼️Spoilers‼️
Although i didn’t like the third act breakup I ATE the groveling tho. Ugh i miss them already.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2023
⭐️ The MMC’s inner monologue was enough reason to want to forget I ever read that book.
Some examples: (the MMC about the FMC)
“Now that our game’s done and she’s spread her legs, the intrigue is gone.”
“She jerks like she’d been slapped. God, I want to slap her.”
Some examples: (the MMC about the FMC)
“Now that our game’s done and she’s spread her legs, the intrigue is gone.”
“She jerks like she’d been slapped. God, I want to slap her.”
August 12, 2025
what.the.hell. this went from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE WAS SO MAD HE WANTED TO SLAP HER... AARON WARNER WOULD NEVER WHAT THE HELL.
THE ONLY THING HE CARED ABOUG IS LUST THATS ALL HE WANTED, NOTHING TO DO WITH HER PERSONALITY
100% DIVORCE AFTER THE BOOK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE WAS SO MAD HE WANTED TO SLAP HER... AARON WARNER WOULD NEVER WHAT THE HELL.
THE ONLY THING HE CARED ABOUG IS LUST THATS ALL HE WANTED, NOTHING TO DO WITH HER PERSONALITY
100% DIVORCE AFTER THE BOOK.
July 30, 2024
Остання книга в цій серії і я прочитала її швидше ніж всі попередні, не дивлячись на її об‘єм майже в 500 сторінок🫣 було неможливо відірватись від неї❤️🔥
Рафаель Мессеро — 27 років, дон однієї з Нью-Йорських мафіозних сімей.
Клео Гарзоло — 19 років, дочка дона сім‘ї «Гарзоло».
В зв‘язку з всіма подіями які відбувалися в попередній книзі, Клео змушена вийти заміж за Рафаеля, щоб врятувати свою сестру. Але шлюб з доном - це її найбільший жах, бо понад все вона хоче свободи а в даному випадку її в неї відберуть. Тому вона вирішує скласти план як зруйнувати цей шлюб, щоб її чоловік захотів з нею розлучитися. Але чи зможе вона повністю виконати свій план, коли почне помічати що за холодною зовнішністю Рафаеля є щось більше..
Клео - наймолодша з дочок Гарзоло, і хоч батько та мати, її не били але емоційно над нею знущалися. Вона в свою чергу була бунтівницею, ніколи не мовчала і говорила те що думала. І прикладала максимум зусиль, щоб стати «непридатною» до шлюбу, зробила так щоб всі повірили що вона спить з ким завгодно. Одягалася в відверті сукні, не робила бездоганої зачіски та макіяжу, як вимагала її мати. Клео була некерованою та емоційною, мріяла втекти з цього світу мафії та вступити в коледж, жити життя звичайної людини.
Рафаель в 13 років прийняв клятву та вбив людину, і це все про що мріяв його батько - ідеальний спадкоємець. Я відразу почала здогадуватись, що ця його без емоційність це добре відтренерована маска, але ж якою ціною. Його дитинство — це без перебільшень суцільний жах, все що змусив пережити його батько💔🥺 Після того як відкрилася вся правда про це я була в ступорі, так мафія - це жорстокість, але батько Рафаеля - це монстр🤬
Звісно враховуючи всі ці події Раф став ідеальним доном, але коли в його житті з‘явилася емоційна красуня дружина - цю маску стало все важче втримати.
Любовна лінія - мені сподобалася, але знову ж таки тут мої одні з улюблених тропів: «різниця у віці», «договірний шлюб», «вимушена близькість», «від ненависті до кохання». Рафаель важав, що кохання - це прояв слабкості, тому хотів будувати ці стосунки тільки на взаємній повазі та фізічній близькості. Клео в свою чергу не хотіла мати жодних стосунків з ним тим паче фізичних. Але коли вони живуть в одній кімнаті та ділять одне ліжко на двох, межі з часом розмиваються і на перший план виходить — фізичний потяг та хіть🫣🔥
Те як розвивались їх стосунки було гармонійно і цілком передбачливо, але водночас так захоплювало що неможливо було відірватись. Так можливо вкінці було надто драматично, але меншого я і неочікувала. Яка ще реакція на такі подія мала бути в Рафаеля, він все життя стримував свої емоції а в один момент вони всі вибухнули.
Мене дуже розчулив фінал та те, як Рафаель став перед Клео на коліна та благав його пробачити🥹
Ця книга варта уваги🖤 герої та сюжет дуже цікавий та тримає в напрузі🔥 вистачає теми мафії та любовної лінії👌🏻тому для мене це однозначно 5/5⭐️
Рафаель Мессеро — 27 років, дон однієї з Нью-Йорських мафіозних сімей.
Клео Гарзоло — 19 років, дочка дона сім‘ї «Гарзоло».
В зв‘язку з всіма подіями які відбувалися в попередній книзі, Клео змушена вийти заміж за Рафаеля, щоб врятувати свою сестру. Але шлюб з доном - це її найбільший жах, бо понад все вона хоче свободи а в даному випадку її в неї відберуть. Тому вона вирішує скласти план як зруйнувати цей шлюб, щоб її чоловік захотів з нею розлучитися. Але чи зможе вона повністю виконати свій план, коли почне помічати що за холодною зовнішністю Рафаеля є щось більше..
Клео - наймолодша з дочок Гарзоло, і хоч батько та мати, її не били але емоційно над нею знущалися. Вона в свою чергу була бунтівницею, ніколи не мовчала і говорила те що думала. І прикладала максимум зусиль, щоб стати «непридатною» до шлюбу, зробила так щоб всі повірили що вона спить з ким завгодно. Одягалася в відверті сукні, не робила бездоганої зачіски та макіяжу, як вимагала її мати. Клео була некерованою та емоційною, мріяла втекти з цього світу мафії та вступити в коледж, жити життя звичайної людини.
Рафаель в 13 років прийняв клятву та вбив людину, і це все про що мріяв його батько - ідеальний спадкоємець. Я відразу почала здогадуватись, що ця його без емоційність це добре відтренерована маска, але ж якою ціною. Його дитинство — це без перебільшень суцільний жах, все що змусив пережити його батько💔🥺 Після того як відкрилася вся правда про це я була в ступорі, так мафія - це жорстокість, але батько Рафаеля - це монстр🤬
Звісно враховуючи всі ці події Раф став ідеальним доном, але коли в його житті з‘явилася емоційна красуня дружина - цю маску стало все важче втримати.
Любовна лінія - мені сподобалася, але знову ж таки тут мої одні з улюблених тропів: «різниця у віці», «договірний шлюб», «вимушена близькість», «від ненависті до кохання». Рафаель важав, що кохання - це прояв слабкості, тому хотів будувати ці стосунки тільки на взаємній повазі та фізічній близькості. Клео в свою чергу не хотіла мати жодних стосунків з ним тим паче фізичних. Але коли вони живуть в одній кімнаті та ділять одне ліжко на двох, межі з часом розмиваються і на перший план виходить — фізичний потяг та хіть🫣🔥
Те як розвивались їх стосунки було гармонійно і цілком передбачливо, але водночас так захоплювало що неможливо було відірватись. Так можливо вкінці було надто драматично, але меншого я і неочікувала. Яка ще реакція на такі подія мала бути в Рафаеля, він все життя стримував свої емоції а в один момент вони всі вибухнули.
Мене дуже розчулив фінал та те, як Рафаель став перед Клео на коліна та благав його пробачити🥹
Ця книга варта уваги🖤 герої та сюжет дуже цікавий та тримає в напрузі🔥 вистачає теми мафії та любовної лінії👌🏻тому для мене це однозначно 5/5⭐️
December 27, 2023
I honestly don't know when will I learn to not get influenced by tiktok🤦🧑🦯
I have nothing to say about it. I honestly don't remember most of it . It was fast paced and just something, sure . But nothing I will pick up again .
I have nothing to say about it. I honestly don't remember most of it . It was fast paced and just something, sure . But nothing I will pick up again .
December 15, 2023
had high expectations… they were not met
December 22, 2023
4 stars
I knew I'd love Rafaele and Cleo! It's a really cute-angsty arranged marriage book and aaaahh redheads never dissapoint! 😮💨♥️
• When She Unravels – 2.75 stars
I knew I'd love Rafaele and Cleo! It's a really cute-angsty arranged marriage book and aaaahh redheads never dissapoint! 😮💨♥️
• When She Unravels – 2.75 stars
no-way-jose
May 4, 2024Note to self: per many reviews, heroine is a miserable cow for no reason.
January 15, 2024
the fmc should've stabbed him in his balls for all the bullshit he's put her through
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,818 reviews