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The Fallen #3
Aşka Düşünce
Bir adam bana böyle bakmamalıydı. Özellikle de ben başkasıyla nişanlıyken...
Karanlık bir dünyanın içine doğmuştum. Hayatım boyunca bana hep itaat etmem gerektiği öğretilmişti. Kaderimse ailemin imzaladığı bir anlaşmadan ibaretti. Sevmediğim bir adamla nişanlıydım. Ve ben. Ailem için bu evliliğe boyun eğmek zorundaydım. Ta ki onu görene kadar.
Ras Sorrentino.
Damiano'nun sağkolu. Sert bakışlarıyla hem korku hem de arzu uyandıran, tek bir dokunuşuyla içimdeki tüm duvarları yıkan adam.
Onunla ilk karşılaştığımda, beni öldürmeye geldiğini sanmıştım. İkinci karşılaşmamızda, ben onu öldürmek istemiştim. Üçüncüsünde ise ablam, onun donuyla evlenirken kilisede ona öfkeyle bakmıştım.
Ama onun bana bakışı, nişan yüzüğümü eritmek ister gibiydi.
Ondan nefret etsem de bedenim ona her geçen gün biraz daha teslim oluyordu. Aileme karşı bir ihanetti bu. Kalbime geçiremediğim bir söz.
İhanetlerle örülü bu dünyada, tek bir yanlış adım her şeyi yok edebilirdi.
Ve ben, kime tutunacağımı iyi seçmek zorundaydım.
Karanlık bir dünyanın içine doğmuştum. Hayatım boyunca bana hep itaat etmem gerektiği öğretilmişti. Kaderimse ailemin imzaladığı bir anlaşmadan ibaretti. Sevmediğim bir adamla nişanlıydım. Ve ben. Ailem için bu evliliğe boyun eğmek zorundaydım. Ta ki onu görene kadar.
Ras Sorrentino.
Damiano'nun sağkolu. Sert bakışlarıyla hem korku hem de arzu uyandıran, tek bir dokunuşuyla içimdeki tüm duvarları yıkan adam.
Onunla ilk karşılaştığımda, beni öldürmeye geldiğini sanmıştım. İkinci karşılaşmamızda, ben onu öldürmek istemiştim. Üçüncüsünde ise ablam, onun donuyla evlenirken kilisede ona öfkeyle bakmıştım.
Ama onun bana bakışı, nişan yüzüğümü eritmek ister gibiydi.
Ondan nefret etsem de bedenim ona her geçen gün biraz daha teslim oluyordu. Aileme karşı bir ihanetti bu. Kalbime geçiremediğim bir söz.
İhanetlerle örülü bu dünyada, tek bir yanlış adım her şeyi yok edebilirdi.
Ve ben, kime tutunacağımı iyi seçmek zorundaydım.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
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16278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,146 reviews
February 13, 2024
I was looking forward to this book unfortunately i hate it & its all Gemmas fault.
I thought she was going to be sassy. Unfortunately, she is insecure ,naïve & constantly makes dumb ass choices .
Zero backbone.
Another huge no-no was that the mmc was in love with another woman before he met Gemma. in a romance novel ,for me , that’s just… no
(I hated the third act)
Sn: he keeps calling her peaches, and all I can think about is Bowser PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES 🍑
I thought she was going to be sassy. Unfortunately, she is insecure ,naïve & constantly makes dumb ass choices .
Zero backbone.
Another huge no-no was that the mmc was in love with another woman before he met Gemma. in a romance novel ,for me , that’s just… no
(I hated the third act)
Sn: he keeps calling her peaches, and all I can think about is Bowser PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES 🍑
December 27, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Definitely my favorite of the series (so far!)
''Our eyes meet, and I see the universe inside of hers''
Safety warnings:
- H 30 / h 20
- No cheating (between MC's)
- No OW drama
- OM drama (FMC is engaged - arranged marriage)
- Violence/d*ath
- Physical/mental abuse
- Child neglect
- Fatshaming
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Oh Gemma, how you ended up bringing my favorite FMC and story so far. I did not see this coming tbh, I expected angst and push/pull situation with her and Ras, but I did not expect to devour this book so quickly and fall in love with them and their story.
Ras was *chefs kiss*. He was everything. Gemma had no choice but to fall in love with him and honestly nobody blames her.
As we know from the prior books, Gemma is engaged to a cold-hearted mafia Don after the arrangement is made by her father (the same guy who will be the MMC for book 4 and engaged to her younger sister).
Gemma and Rafaele have nothing between them, they barely speak nor spend time together. It's all a business transaction and we find out how deep her father is willing to go to save his own skin and sell his daughter to just have his freedom. Rafaele is the only one who can stop the investigation against him from the Feds so he sells his daughter and his Don position, claiming Rafaele as his heir instead of his son (who btw actually concocts this plan as he doesn't want the position either - Vince will be getting his own book!).
Ras feels everything for Gemma and all he cares about is making sure she is safe after finding bruises on her cheek and suspects her father of being the abusive prick. Which he is btw. He has been physically violent against Gemma for years and her mother knows it, allows it, and never comforts her. We also find out that Gemma suppressed childhood memories of abuse from her mother when she would fat shame her and emotionally hurt her.
It's heartbreaking when we find out how deep this pain goes and how deep Gemma hid it even within herself.
Gemma needs to be a virgin once she marries and this is something she is adamant about but with Ras around everything is up in the air and once she finds out how her father never cared about her (she always wanted validation) she cracks and sleeps with Ras, severing her only value.
Sadly, the moment Ras and Cleo witness her father beating her is the moment everything implodes, Ras goes against orders and takes her away somewhere far and nobody knows where. She knows he is ruining his life and possibly in danger after defying orders and leaves him heartbroken and decides to go back to marry Rafaele for everyone’s sake.
BUT once she finds out she is pregnant (literally days before the wedding), the engagement is off and Cleo her younger sister takes over and marries Rafaele freeing Gemma to go and be with Ras in Italy.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster, the hits just kept coming for Gemma (figuratively and literally). She wanted to be the perfect daughter and loved by her parents that she was willing to do everything they wanted with no care about herself. It was hard to read sometimes since you can see clearly how even her mother was just useless and uncaring. They were both judgmental and cold. Selfish mostly.
Ras and Gemma were perfect though, I loved their banter and that is one of the most consistent things in this book. Gemma was someone else in the world but with him she was free and herself. She was not holding back and able to express herself in ways she never had a chance to without repercussions.
Honorable mention to Churro btw. The parrot that nobody asked for, but everyone loves haha
I will say one thing that did bug me but I let it go after was how he mentioned Sarah (the girl he loved when he was a teen and lost), and how we never got closure on her actual life status, yes we know she married the guy she left Ras for but it didn’t seem like a good marriage and I kind of wanted her to apologize? Idk get some sort of confirmation she knows she made a mistake etc.
Definitely my favorite of the series (so far!)
''Our eyes meet, and I see the universe inside of hers''
Safety warnings:
- H 30 / h 20
- No cheating (between MC's)
- No OW drama
- OM drama (FMC is engaged - arranged marriage)
- Violence/d*ath
- Physical/mental abuse
- Child neglect
- Fatshaming
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Oh Gemma, how you ended up bringing my favorite FMC and story so far. I did not see this coming tbh, I expected angst and push/pull situation with her and Ras, but I did not expect to devour this book so quickly and fall in love with them and their story.
Ras was *chefs kiss*. He was everything. Gemma had no choice but to fall in love with him and honestly nobody blames her.
As we know from the prior books, Gemma is engaged to a cold-hearted mafia Don after the arrangement is made by her father (the same guy who will be the MMC for book 4 and engaged to her younger sister).
Gemma and Rafaele have nothing between them, they barely speak nor spend time together. It's all a business transaction and we find out how deep her father is willing to go to save his own skin and sell his daughter to just have his freedom. Rafaele is the only one who can stop the investigation against him from the Feds so he sells his daughter and his Don position, claiming Rafaele as his heir instead of his son (who btw actually concocts this plan as he doesn't want the position either - Vince will be getting his own book!).
Ras feels everything for Gemma and all he cares about is making sure she is safe after finding bruises on her cheek and suspects her father of being the abusive prick. Which he is btw. He has been physically violent against Gemma for years and her mother knows it, allows it, and never comforts her. We also find out that Gemma suppressed childhood memories of abuse from her mother when she would fat shame her and emotionally hurt her.
It's heartbreaking when we find out how deep this pain goes and how deep Gemma hid it even within herself.
Gemma needs to be a virgin once she marries and this is something she is adamant about but with Ras around everything is up in the air and once she finds out how her father never cared about her (she always wanted validation) she cracks and sleeps with Ras, severing her only value.
Sadly, the moment Ras and Cleo witness her father beating her is the moment everything implodes, Ras goes against orders and takes her away somewhere far and nobody knows where. She knows he is ruining his life and possibly in danger after defying orders and leaves him heartbroken and decides to go back to marry Rafaele for everyone’s sake.
BUT once she finds out she is pregnant (literally days before the wedding), the engagement is off and Cleo her younger sister takes over and marries Rafaele freeing Gemma to go and be with Ras in Italy.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster, the hits just kept coming for Gemma (figuratively and literally). She wanted to be the perfect daughter and loved by her parents that she was willing to do everything they wanted with no care about herself. It was hard to read sometimes since you can see clearly how even her mother was just useless and uncaring. They were both judgmental and cold. Selfish mostly.
Ras and Gemma were perfect though, I loved their banter and that is one of the most consistent things in this book. Gemma was someone else in the world but with him she was free and herself. She was not holding back and able to express herself in ways she never had a chance to without repercussions.
Honorable mention to Churro btw. The parrot that nobody asked for, but everyone loves haha
I will say one thing that did bug me but I let it go after was how he mentioned Sarah (the girl he loved when he was a teen and lost), and how we never got closure on her actual life status, yes we know she married the guy she left Ras for but it didn’t seem like a good marriage and I kind of wanted her to apologize? Idk get some sort of confirmation she knows she made a mistake etc.
March 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐
Ras (30) and Gemma (20) first met in book 1 of this series. Which was 6 months ago in the present time in this book. There was no mention of what they were up to during those months. But Gemma had already been engaged since their first meetup.
Then they have to interact again to celebrate her sister's wedding. It was supposed to be a weekend stay, I think, and she and her family have to go back to NY. All throughout her stay for the wedding, Ras wouldn't stop pestering her and wouldn't leave her alone. She was annoyed at him and didn't want to do anything with Ras. But then, after the wedding, she caught a bug, and her selfish father chose to leave her alone because he had meetings scheduled in NY. She was sick, and Ras took care of her throughout her ordeal.
Since Dem (Ras' boss) wanted to check the credibility of Gemma's father and fiancée, he ordered Ras to take Gemma back to NY once she's finally okay. Ras stayed in their mansion so he could keep an eye on Gemma, but mostly on her father. And that's where everything starts to change between them.
Gemma was a people-pleaser and fixer—not a good combination, in my opinion. She agreed to marry Rafaele without asking why. She believed her father when he told her it was for the family, and she didn't ask further about this arrangement. Despite being a good, responsible, and selfless daughter, her parents still find reason to berate and abuse her. She endured emotional and physical abuse but didn't tell anyone about her situation. Sometimes it was so frustrating reading her POV because I kept hoping she'd finally learn to stand up for herself, but every time she just caved in and let them walk all over her. Had it not been for Ras's persistence, she'd never have found her backbone.
Ras was a loyal underboss and friend to Dem. A decade of his life was spent working with his friend to build their current empire. He was burned by love before and decided to keep women at arm's length. But when he saw Gemma, he felt a lot of things, and his idea of never letting anyone in was thrown out the window so quickly. He antagonizes her every chance he gets just to see the feistiness in her whenever she gets mad. He was playing with fire, even though he knew that she was engaged. He tried to fight his attraction to her, but it just didn't work out. Then he saw her getting beat up by her father, and all he saw was red. He hurt her father and took Gemma to another country. For the first time in his life, he didn't follow his boss's order and went with his emotions.
But Gemma cannot stop being the fixer, and she took it upon herself to solve the predicaments of her family. She left Ras and went back to NY to settle everything. However, Ras didn't go back to Italy; after Gemma left for NY he followed her the next day. He stalked her for a week, making sure she was okay and safe. Then a lot of things happened in the end, and eventually they found their way back to each other, and there was no bloodshed that occurred.
This was a good read. I enjoyed it, though I think this is way too long (500+ pages). There were a lot of twists, lies, and betrayals that happened here. I kind of found it hard to connect with the MCs at the beginning. Ras was a real jerk to Gemma, and she acted like a petulant teenager on some occasions. The chemistry wasn't palpable either, but that can be a me case; however, the sexual tension is there. I liked the dress-altering scene, and it was hot. However, their first time, which happened at the 60% mark, was so bland. maybe I'm not in the mood??? But I've come to like their succeeding steamy scenes.
Another thing is that what happened to her father was so anticlimactic, and I was annoyed that he was set free. It wasn't mentioned, either, who was the traitor who fed him to the feds. I want Gemma's parents to suffer, but I don't know if that'll happen in the succeeding books. Everything was wrapped up, and this ended in a HFN situation.
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- OM drama (she's engaged the majority of the book, but it was business arrangement only)
- OW drama (not really a drama, but when Gemma got better from the flu and they're about to leave for NY. They went to Ras' penthouse to pick up some things, and he called this OW to pick up his parrot and take care of it while he was gone. The OW touched and flirted with Ras in front of Gemma; she also told Ras to call her once he got back. Ras said she's just a friend, and there was no elaboration on whether they slept before. But I think they did, with the way she was so comfortable touching him 🤷♀️)
- Abuse (Emotional and Physical)
- Violence
- Body shaming
- Assault (groping)
- Surprise Pregnancy
- Virgin FMC
- Not sure if the MMC is a manhoe, he has been with women but kept them at arms length. Not sure what this means 🤷♀️
Ras (30) and Gemma (20) first met in book 1 of this series. Which was 6 months ago in the present time in this book. There was no mention of what they were up to during those months. But Gemma had already been engaged since their first meetup.
Then they have to interact again to celebrate her sister's wedding. It was supposed to be a weekend stay, I think, and she and her family have to go back to NY. All throughout her stay for the wedding, Ras wouldn't stop pestering her and wouldn't leave her alone. She was annoyed at him and didn't want to do anything with Ras. But then, after the wedding, she caught a bug, and her selfish father chose to leave her alone because he had meetings scheduled in NY. She was sick, and Ras took care of her throughout her ordeal.
Since Dem (Ras' boss) wanted to check the credibility of Gemma's father and fiancée, he ordered Ras to take Gemma back to NY once she's finally okay. Ras stayed in their mansion so he could keep an eye on Gemma, but mostly on her father. And that's where everything starts to change between them.
Gemma was a people-pleaser and fixer—not a good combination, in my opinion. She agreed to marry Rafaele without asking why. She believed her father when he told her it was for the family, and she didn't ask further about this arrangement. Despite being a good, responsible, and selfless daughter, her parents still find reason to berate and abuse her. She endured emotional and physical abuse but didn't tell anyone about her situation. Sometimes it was so frustrating reading her POV because I kept hoping she'd finally learn to stand up for herself, but every time she just caved in and let them walk all over her. Had it not been for Ras's persistence, she'd never have found her backbone.
Ras was a loyal underboss and friend to Dem. A decade of his life was spent working with his friend to build their current empire. He was burned by love before and decided to keep women at arm's length. But when he saw Gemma, he felt a lot of things, and his idea of never letting anyone in was thrown out the window so quickly. He antagonizes her every chance he gets just to see the feistiness in her whenever she gets mad. He was playing with fire, even though he knew that she was engaged. He tried to fight his attraction to her, but it just didn't work out. Then he saw her getting beat up by her father, and all he saw was red. He hurt her father and took Gemma to another country. For the first time in his life, he didn't follow his boss's order and went with his emotions.
But Gemma cannot stop being the fixer, and she took it upon herself to solve the predicaments of her family. She left Ras and went back to NY to settle everything. However, Ras didn't go back to Italy; after Gemma left for NY he followed her the next day. He stalked her for a week, making sure she was okay and safe. Then a lot of things happened in the end, and eventually they found their way back to each other, and there was no bloodshed that occurred.
This was a good read. I enjoyed it, though I think this is way too long (500+ pages). There were a lot of twists, lies, and betrayals that happened here. I kind of found it hard to connect with the MCs at the beginning. Ras was a real jerk to Gemma, and she acted like a petulant teenager on some occasions. The chemistry wasn't palpable either, but that can be a me case; however, the sexual tension is there. I liked the dress-altering scene, and it was hot. However, their first time, which happened at the 60% mark, was so bland. maybe I'm not in the mood??? But I've come to like their succeeding steamy scenes.
Another thing is that what happened to her father was so anticlimactic, and I was annoyed that he was set free. It wasn't mentioned, either, who was the traitor who fed him to the feds. I want Gemma's parents to suffer, but I don't know if that'll happen in the succeeding books. Everything was wrapped up, and this ended in a HFN situation.
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- OM drama (she's engaged the majority of the book, but it was business arrangement only)
- OW drama (not really a drama, but when Gemma got better from the flu and they're about to leave for NY. They went to Ras' penthouse to pick up some things, and he called this OW to pick up his parrot and take care of it while he was gone. The OW touched and flirted with Ras in front of Gemma; she also told Ras to call her once he got back. Ras said she's just a friend, and there was no elaboration on whether they slept before. But I think they did, with the way she was so comfortable touching him 🤷♀️)
- Abuse (Emotional and Physical)
- Violence
- Body shaming
- Assault (groping)
- Surprise Pregnancy
- Virgin FMC
- Not sure if the MMC is a manhoe, he has been with women but kept them at arms length. Not sure what this means 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2025
Leaving you was a mistake. The worst mistake of my life. I couldn’t stand the thought of you losing everything for me, but now I see that I should have trusted you to make that decision for yourself.
★ᯓ 4 Stars ᯓ★
⤷Again this kinda ate tbh 🤭
Not as good as I wanted it to be but it definitely did the job. I was very much entertained their banter and the drama was so good.
♡ Ras: This man was so hot, I don't know what it is with men that have man buns but I have read only 2 books with those men and they BOTH delivered.
I love him but he deserves better 🤷♀️
The man YEARNSSSS for her he had me weak in the knees 🤌🤌🤌
ꨄ︎ Gemma: I knowww her attitude and personality come from neglect and stuff but she really needed to get her shit together I'm sorry.
She was so annoying, like your father WHO HITS YOU was gonna be fucked WHY THE FUCK DID YOU GO BACK AND HELP HIM?!?!🧍♀️
Lord have mercy she was just an idiot like it's not always up to you to fix your father's shit show I know that's how they raised you but you're old enough to have braincells of your own.
I know half the shit she did wasn't her fault considering it was how her parents raised her but like c'mon I was pissed.
The plot for this one was good tbh the betrayal and stuff was really nice. Her father really needs to be killed.
Anyways holy yap, I talk alot when I'm pissed 😭😭😭
𓆩💚𓆪Pre-read𓆩💚𓆪
⤷Ras is gonna be so hot ik it 🤭
★ᯓ 4 Stars ᯓ★
⤷Again this kinda ate tbh 🤭
Not as good as I wanted it to be but it definitely did the job. I was very much entertained their banter and the drama was so good.
♡ Ras: This man was so hot, I don't know what it is with men that have man buns but I have read only 2 books with those men and they BOTH delivered.
I love him but he deserves better 🤷♀️
The man YEARNSSSS for her he had me weak in the knees 🤌🤌🤌
ꨄ︎ Gemma: I knowww her attitude and personality come from neglect and stuff but she really needed to get her shit together I'm sorry.
She was so annoying, like your father WHO HITS YOU was gonna be fucked WHY THE FUCK DID YOU GO BACK AND HELP HIM?!?!🧍♀️
Lord have mercy she was just an idiot like it's not always up to you to fix your father's shit show I know that's how they raised you but you're old enough to have braincells of your own.
I know half the shit she did wasn't her fault considering it was how her parents raised her but like c'mon I was pissed.
The plot for this one was good tbh the betrayal and stuff was really nice. Her father really needs to be killed.
Anyways holy yap, I talk alot when I'm pissed 😭😭😭
𓆩💚𓆪Pre-read𓆩💚𓆪
⤷Ras is gonna be so hot ik it 🤭
September 19, 2024
I lost my appetite after all those OW dramas. Then I skimmed a lot. Ras Says he is attracted to her while —
🚩His past Lover Sara has a huge impact on him that's why he never dated anyone. Pathetic FMC Gemma has no impact like this.
🚩It's clear MMC Ras slept with the woman who took care of his pet. When the OW was making sex conversation he didn't grump, brush her hand away or anything when she was touching him. He listened to OW's talk smiling while FMC Gemma was literally in front of him. WHAT A DISRESPECT!
🚩Ras loved someone named Sara before Gemma. He did mourn after losing Sara to his bully.
🚩He still finds Sara beautiful even though he feels nothing for her. YEAH NOT CONVINCING!
🚩He didn't tell her about his ex lover Sara.
🚩He still remembers how he met his Ex Sara and I think he very much worships this.
🚩After all this Ex lover and ex hookup dramas Gemma being NAIVE, PATHETIC, BRAINLESS, VIRGIN annoyed the hell out of me.
Heroine: Gemma acts like all strong but in reality she has no backbone. He loves her trashy father and shitty family. Her logic of staying engaged was most illogical thing. She would take slaps and bruises from her father but she talks back with Ras. SHE IS SO ANNOYING!!!
Her brother Vince was practically her asshole father's clone. Both of them equally disgusted me.
Hero: Wannabe Alpha who has problematic emotions. he falls in love like leaf falls off from the tree. It's really easy for him to fall in love. I think all the women he hooked up with in his past he thought he was in love with each of them. It's just my opinion...
🚩His past Lover Sara has a huge impact on him that's why he never dated anyone. Pathetic FMC Gemma has no impact like this.
🚩It's clear MMC Ras slept with the woman who took care of his pet. When the OW was making sex conversation he didn't grump, brush her hand away or anything when she was touching him. He listened to OW's talk smiling while FMC Gemma was literally in front of him. WHAT A DISRESPECT!
🚩Ras loved someone named Sara before Gemma. He did mourn after losing Sara to his bully.
🚩He still finds Sara beautiful even though he feels nothing for her. YEAH NOT CONVINCING!
🚩He didn't tell her about his ex lover Sara.
🚩He still remembers how he met his Ex Sara and I think he very much worships this.
🚩After all this Ex lover and ex hookup dramas Gemma being NAIVE, PATHETIC, BRAINLESS, VIRGIN annoyed the hell out of me.
Heroine: Gemma acts like all strong but in reality she has no backbone. He loves her trashy father and shitty family. Her logic of staying engaged was most illogical thing. She would take slaps and bruises from her father but she talks back with Ras. SHE IS SO ANNOYING!!!
Her brother Vince was practically her asshole father's clone. Both of them equally disgusted me.
Hero: Wannabe Alpha who has problematic emotions. he falls in love like leaf falls off from the tree. It's really easy for him to fall in love. I think all the women he hooked up with in his past he thought he was in love with each of them. It's just my opinion...
August 17, 2025
3,5.
It’s a good story maybe a little faster than the other two books and a bit disappointing for me. The series is great.
It’s worth reading.
It’s a good story maybe a little faster than the other two books and a bit disappointing for me. The series is great.
It’s worth reading.
December 19, 2023
» You make me so fucking happy that I feel like a new man.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑮𝒆𝒎𝒎𝒂
This girl has the purest soul I ever read about. Her whole family betrayed and used her and she still helps everyone and set their well being over her own. It hurts me how selfless she was and how selfish her sister, brother and parents were. Her so called „father“ didn‘t even deserved this title. I LOVE Gemma with my whole heart. I‘m glad she got her happy end - this girl deserved the world and more.
❥ 𝑹𝒂𝒔
He‘s the only one who cared about Gemma and helped her in every possible way. This man has a heart of gold. He is cute and dangerous at the same time, exactly the man Gemma needs. I really liked him and the way his character developed throughout the book.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
The story of Gemma and Ras had me in chockhold. I got really emotional reading it and suffered with poor Gem. I‘m glad that her sister came to her right mind and finally did something for Gemma as well (Cleo will get her own book - btw I‘m so excited!) - that’s the least she could do. This book was so good in every possible way: the character building, the story, the tension & emotions, the writing style and the smut. So happy I picked this up - Loved it!
plot: 5/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
keywords: mafia, dislike to love, forbidden love, abusive parents, possessive and protective hero
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...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑮𝒆𝒎𝒎𝒂
This girl has the purest soul I ever read about. Her whole family betrayed and used her and she still helps everyone and set their well being over her own. It hurts me how selfless she was and how selfish her sister, brother and parents were. Her so called „father“ didn‘t even deserved this title. I LOVE Gemma with my whole heart. I‘m glad she got her happy end - this girl deserved the world and more.
❥ 𝑹𝒂𝒔
He‘s the only one who cared about Gemma and helped her in every possible way. This man has a heart of gold. He is cute and dangerous at the same time, exactly the man Gemma needs. I really liked him and the way his character developed throughout the book.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
The story of Gemma and Ras had me in chockhold. I got really emotional reading it and suffered with poor Gem. I‘m glad that her sister came to her right mind and finally did something for Gemma as well (Cleo will get her own book - btw I‘m so excited!) - that’s the least she could do. This book was so good in every possible way: the character building, the story, the tension & emotions, the writing style and the smut. So happy I picked this up - Loved it!
plot: 5/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
keywords: mafia, dislike to love, forbidden love, abusive parents, possessive and protective hero
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...
August 5, 2023
Boring and unnecessarily dragged
April 28, 2024
ETA: I forgot to add this in my original review, but I really don't like it when the MMC has been in love before the FMC. But I could let it go in this one since Ras didn't have any lingering feelings (he mentions not feeling anything anymore when he sees his ex gf from afar). One thing that did annoy me tho was the OW who came to his apartment to take his parrot to her place and take care of it while he was away with Gemma. I mean, why was she so handsy with him? Ras did say that she was a friend so imma be delusional and believe that what he said was true and that he'd never slept with her despite her trying to. Gemma not standing up to her family for a LONGGGGG time is another reason why I docked a star. It's not a bad book - it's good. Just my least fave in the series :)
Forbidden romance, you say? All those little glances from across the room and jealousy scenes??? Naur cause that shit hits hard frrrrrr. GemmaRas were everything and I absolutely loved how Ras was the one who fell first and harder. Gemma, well, she was a character I never thought I'd relate to on such a deep level but here we are ig. As usual, Miss Gabrielle has managed to nail it and I can always trust her to get me out of a funk!!! 10/10 would recommend😮💨
Forbidden romance, you say? All those little glances from across the room and jealousy scenes??? Naur cause that shit hits hard frrrrrr. GemmaRas were everything and I absolutely loved how Ras was the one who fell first and harder. Gemma, well, she was a character I never thought I'd relate to on such a deep level but here we are ig. As usual, Miss Gabrielle has managed to nail it and I can always trust her to get me out of a funk!!! 10/10 would recommend😮💨
July 12, 2023
I just finished this book and I have a LOT to say so y'all better buckle up
I knew it from the dedication, this book was gonna SLAP !
First of all , Forbidden romance once again remains 🔛🔝 I may have been wrong when I said the 2nd book is my fav , THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY MY FAV ! Have you ever felt like you were minding your own business drinking a cup of tea in a cafe and out of nowhere a disgustingly happy couple passes in front of you with little hearts floating around them and you're reminded of how lonely you are ? Bcuz this is EXACTLY what happened to me . THE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK IS THE TYPE OF SHIT THAT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOUR DEFINITION OF LOVE . this is what I mean when I say I want the characters to fall HARD for each other and suffocate when they're not together . With every minute I spent reading this book , my standards kept getting higher and higher ! Seriously when I had about 30 pages left I kept rereading every page bcuz I didn't want the book to end 😭
Ras is the type of man women dream of ( I'm women ) like he knows what he's doing and looks hot while doing it . He's so soft for his Gemma and would literally give up his whole world for her . It made me wanna cry . his backstory was heart aching and I'm so glad we got to see him moving on from his trauma and finding his closure . Also Don't even get me started on him during the smut like man was fucking WILD istgg like reading smut is my coping mechanism so I got used to it but the shit he fucking said and did made my forget my own name .... If I don't get my hands on this man rn 🔪🔪🔪
Gemma , my beautiful baby , the way I relate to her so much . This girl went through HELL ( and I mean it ) and managed to stay sane while literally being twenty yo, her story was so heart clenching I started crying , I wish I could hug her . She deserves THE WORLD . And her character development was the best , the way her vision changed and started seeing things differently... I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT . COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPIER FOR HER ! HER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT WAS EVERYTHING! and I absolutely loved the way her daddy issues and healing process were written like you can literally FEEL IT . I don't wanna dive into details bcuz I feel like anything I'll say is a spoiler but seriously Gemma is my fav fallen girl so far ! I was already on my toes to get inside her head and see her pov of things and she absolutely shaked me to my core . SHE WENT THROUGH A LOT .
The plot was INSANE like I just love it when it's not only about the romance but also what's going on in their world and Gabrielle pulled that off ! The writing? Fucking INCREDIBLE like it was so smooth omg . ISTG I feel like a happy mom with all the characters getting their happy ending !
The character I hate the most and u should too is Stefan Garzolo or Grazalo whatever that bitch's name is . This motherfucker made me so mad I wish he could fuxking get his dick cut off , his legs cut off , his hands cut off , his eyeballs stabbed , his tongue cut off and his body skinned alive over and over . I don't hate a single person in this whole word as much as I hate him . I would rather sit naked on a hot grill that even glance his way omfg .
Anyways, the smut was so hot and THE PRAISE OMFG . Ras is just *sighs* ...amazing .
"Crawl to me " IEBSJNEJDENJSNWKSSNEKSNSJSJSSNJSJSN SAY NO MORE
I know I talked about this already but the romance in this book was amazing , maybe bcuz I haven't read a book in about 3 months bcuz life happened but I LOVED THE LOVE BETWEEN RASGEMMA like they FIGHTED for each other tho the one thing that disturbed me was the miscommunication at the end like we already have enough miscommunications irl we don't need that here but I get why it was necessary, the girl was fucking traumatized bcuz of her father , and that is another reason for mee to love Ras bcuz he healed her , seriously as I said he's PERFECT AND SO OBSESSED! And the emotions between them were so intense I felt like I was with them damn
Also If I don't get Cleo and her lover ( I don't wanna spoil ) story I'm gonna go insane , the moment HE was introduced in the book I fuxking lost it . I NEED HIIS BOOK RN OMG PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ I'M BEGGING . also my Cleo needs more hype she's literally so incredible I fucking love her .
This series has become my therapy atp . I LOVE THE FALLEN WORLD SM I CAN'T-
In conclusion: this book gets a ★★★★★ stars , go read it rn !!!!
This was just a fraction of what this book did to me bcuz I'm ruined rn and I can't stop thinking about it and my emotions are all over the place . just finished it and I already want to reread it .
Thaank you so much Gabrielle for writing this wonderful love story . I hope you never get stuck in traffic , ur fav drink is miraculously in ur fridge , ur pillow is cold on both sides , and you're as happy as ur characters ! Also as a fan who's been there since the release of when she unravels , I just want to let you know that ur writing is getting better with each book ! And I'm so fucking happy for u , I feel like a proud mom omg !
Keep up the good work xoxo
I knew it from the dedication, this book was gonna SLAP !
First of all , Forbidden romance once again remains 🔛🔝 I may have been wrong when I said the 2nd book is my fav , THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY MY FAV ! Have you ever felt like you were minding your own business drinking a cup of tea in a cafe and out of nowhere a disgustingly happy couple passes in front of you with little hearts floating around them and you're reminded of how lonely you are ? Bcuz this is EXACTLY what happened to me . THE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK IS THE TYPE OF SHIT THAT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOUR DEFINITION OF LOVE . this is what I mean when I say I want the characters to fall HARD for each other and suffocate when they're not together . With every minute I spent reading this book , my standards kept getting higher and higher ! Seriously when I had about 30 pages left I kept rereading every page bcuz I didn't want the book to end 😭
Ras is the type of man women dream of ( I'm women ) like he knows what he's doing and looks hot while doing it . He's so soft for his Gemma and would literally give up his whole world for her . It made me wanna cry . his backstory was heart aching and I'm so glad we got to see him moving on from his trauma and finding his closure . Also Don't even get me started on him during the smut like man was fucking WILD istgg like reading smut is my coping mechanism so I got used to it but the shit he fucking said and did made my forget my own name .... If I don't get my hands on this man rn 🔪🔪🔪
Gemma , my beautiful baby , the way I relate to her so much . This girl went through HELL ( and I mean it ) and managed to stay sane while literally being twenty yo, her story was so heart clenching I started crying , I wish I could hug her . She deserves THE WORLD . And her character development was the best , the way her vision changed and started seeing things differently... I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT . COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPIER FOR HER ! HER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT WAS EVERYTHING! and I absolutely loved the way her daddy issues and healing process were written like you can literally FEEL IT . I don't wanna dive into details bcuz I feel like anything I'll say is a spoiler but seriously Gemma is my fav fallen girl so far ! I was already on my toes to get inside her head and see her pov of things and she absolutely shaked me to my core . SHE WENT THROUGH A LOT .
The plot was INSANE like I just love it when it's not only about the romance but also what's going on in their world and Gabrielle pulled that off ! The writing? Fucking INCREDIBLE like it was so smooth omg . ISTG I feel like a happy mom with all the characters getting their happy ending !
The character I hate the most and u should too is Stefan Garzolo or Grazalo whatever that bitch's name is . This motherfucker made me so mad I wish he could fuxking get his dick cut off , his legs cut off , his hands cut off , his eyeballs stabbed , his tongue cut off and his body skinned alive over and over . I don't hate a single person in this whole word as much as I hate him . I would rather sit naked on a hot grill that even glance his way omfg .
Anyways, the smut was so hot and THE PRAISE OMFG . Ras is just *sighs* ...amazing .
"Crawl to me " IEBSJNEJDENJSNWKSSNEKSNSJSJSSNJSJSN SAY NO MORE
I know I talked about this already but the romance in this book was amazing , maybe bcuz I haven't read a book in about 3 months bcuz life happened but I LOVED THE LOVE BETWEEN RASGEMMA like they FIGHTED for each other tho the one thing that disturbed me was the miscommunication at the end like we already have enough miscommunications irl we don't need that here but I get why it was necessary, the girl was fucking traumatized bcuz of her father , and that is another reason for mee to love Ras bcuz he healed her , seriously as I said he's PERFECT AND SO OBSESSED! And the emotions between them were so intense I felt like I was with them damn
Also If I don't get Cleo and her lover ( I don't wanna spoil ) story I'm gonna go insane , the moment HE was introduced in the book I fuxking lost it . I NEED HIIS BOOK RN OMG PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ I'M BEGGING . also my Cleo needs more hype she's literally so incredible I fucking love her .
This series has become my therapy atp . I LOVE THE FALLEN WORLD SM I CAN'T-
In conclusion: this book gets a ★★★★★ stars , go read it rn !!!!
This was just a fraction of what this book did to me bcuz I'm ruined rn and I can't stop thinking about it and my emotions are all over the place . just finished it and I already want to reread it .
Thaank you so much Gabrielle for writing this wonderful love story . I hope you never get stuck in traffic , ur fav drink is miraculously in ur fridge , ur pillow is cold on both sides , and you're as happy as ur characters ! Also as a fan who's been there since the release of when she unravels , I just want to let you know that ur writing is getting better with each book ! And I'm so fucking happy for u , I feel like a proud mom omg !
Keep up the good work xoxo
July 24, 2024
До цієї книги, я мала певні очікування а саме до головної героїні. І нажаль вона мене розчарувала.
Рас(Кассіо) Соррентіно — 30 років, радник нового дона Казалезі.
Джемма Гарзоло — 20 років, донька дона Нью-Йорської «Каморри».
Події розгортаються на весіллі Даміано та Валентини(сестра Джемми), вся сім‘я збирається щоб відсвяткувати важливий союз. Вел намагається переконатися, що з сестрами все впорядку і батько їх незмушує до небажаного шлюбу. Джемма старається показати, що шлюб з Рафаелем це її вибір, який має допомогти сім‘ї стояти міцно на ногах. Та коли одного дня вона отруїлася їжею, не сім‘я про неї подбала а людина яку вона ненавидить.
Джемма - максимально не мій персонаж. Вона сліпо вірила в слова батьків, і нехотіла нікого слухати. Батько який б‘є її, якщо вона зробить якийсь не такий рух. Мати, яка контролює все що вона їсть і постійно знущається над нею емоційно. І не дивлячись на це все, Джемма - хоче пожертвувати собою на благо цієї сім‘ї…🫠 Я не розумію, чому вона так довго не бачила їх «справжнього лиця»? Так вона травмована психологічно з дитинтва, але їй стільки разів пропонували вихід з цього всього, але кожен раз вона відмовлялась.
Рас - це мій промінь світла в цій книзі😍 саме його персонаж для мене витягнув цю книгу на краще. Він пережив не легкі шкільні роки з булінгом та побиттями. В процесі всього втратив перше кохання, яке дуже розбило йому серце. Коли він був у дипресії після цього, саме Даміано врятував і повернув мету у його життя.
З цього моменту Рас вирішив, що його вірність та життя належать тільки Даміано. До моменту, коли в його життя вірвалась красива дівчина яка палко його ненавиділа.
Любовна лінія, не скажу що вона мене дуже захопила, так як головна героїня дуже довго не могла розібратись з своїми почуттями. Між героями відчувалась хімія, особливо на початку книги - коли вони ненавиділи один одного. А далі я відчувала якісь емоції тільки від Раса, Джемма була сконцентрована на сім‘ї та порятунку людей які того не варті. Вже після весілля, коли вони поїхали в Нью-Йорк тоді в ці «стосунки» почала включатися і вона. Який розвиток чекав на них далі, мене трішки шокувало. Я не чекала, що після стількох вчинків які Рас зробив заради неї, вона знову вчинить по дурному.
Ця книга була цікава та насичена подіями, легко читалася🙌🏻 багато інформації яка готує та інтригує нас до прочитання наступної книги. Я довго думала, як оцінити цю книгу бо головна героїня була максимально «не моя», багато її вчинків є не обдуманими та не логічними. Все врятував і витягнув головний герой та розвиток сюжету, а саме те хто ж буде новим доном Нью-Йорської «Коморри» і які там домовленості. Тому 3.5⭐️, хоча спочатку думала і над меншою оцінкою🫣
Наступна істор��я Клео та Рафаеля, і я маю до них певні очікування🙃 сподіваюсь вони виправдаються🤞🏻
April 27, 2024
OMG
OMG
OMG
I LIKED IT A LOT
Este libro es de Gemma la hermana de Valentina y Ras el Segundo al mando de Damiano.
Gemma está comprometida en matrimonio arreglado con el Don más joven y despiado de NY y lo hace por el bien de su familia ya que han estado en guerra han muerto varios miembros de su familia y su matrimonio los va a fortalecer y darles estabilidad.
Ella y Ras no han tenido el mejor de los encuentros y cada vez que están juntos él la provoca y sale a relucir una Gemma llena de fuego, ya que con su familia es la chica buena y complaciente pero su espíritu se apaga.
Debido a Gemma se enferma en la boda de su hermana en Ibiza Ras la tiene que cuidar y a él le dan le encomienda de llevarla de regreso a NY y estar unos días ahí averiguando si él papá de ella no le está ocultando nada y vigilar a Gemma porque sospechan que alguien la está agrediendo.
Gemma y Ras pasan tiempo juntos, se van enamorando pero su amor es imposible porque ella tiene obligaciones con su familia y no quiere poner en riesgo las relaciones entre las familias y Ras también se siente impotente porque saber que arruinaría los negocios de la organización de Italia con los de NY.
Este ha sido mi libro favorito hasta el momento, está lleno de angst, de frustración e impotencia.
Ras me cayó muy bien es de esos protagonistas divertidos y juguetones, pero también es protector y leal, tiene sus propios demonios del pasado.
Gemma al principio me desesperaba, pero es una mujer que ha sido maltratada por sus padres tanto psicológica como físicamente, ella cree que su valor reside en ser obediente y complacer a sus padres, siempre protegiendo y poniendo a todos antes que ella.
Me gustó su evolución y como fue agarrando coraje y valentía.
El siguiente libro es matrimonio arreglado ahora sí entre los protagonistas entre un hombre frío y en control y la chica más rebelde que existe.
OMG
OMG
I LIKED IT A LOT
Este libro es de Gemma la hermana de Valentina y Ras el Segundo al mando de Damiano.
Gemma está comprometida en matrimonio arreglado con el Don más joven y despiado de NY y lo hace por el bien de su familia ya que han estado en guerra han muerto varios miembros de su familia y su matrimonio los va a fortalecer y darles estabilidad.
Ella y Ras no han tenido el mejor de los encuentros y cada vez que están juntos él la provoca y sale a relucir una Gemma llena de fuego, ya que con su familia es la chica buena y complaciente pero su espíritu se apaga.
Debido a Gemma se enferma en la boda de su hermana en Ibiza Ras la tiene que cuidar y a él le dan le encomienda de llevarla de regreso a NY y estar unos días ahí averiguando si él papá de ella no le está ocultando nada y vigilar a Gemma porque sospechan que alguien la está agrediendo.
Gemma y Ras pasan tiempo juntos, se van enamorando pero su amor es imposible porque ella tiene obligaciones con su familia y no quiere poner en riesgo las relaciones entre las familias y Ras también se siente impotente porque saber que arruinaría los negocios de la organización de Italia con los de NY.
Este ha sido mi libro favorito hasta el momento, está lleno de angst, de frustración e impotencia.
Ras me cayó muy bien es de esos protagonistas divertidos y juguetones, pero también es protector y leal, tiene sus propios demonios del pasado.
Gemma al principio me desesperaba, pero es una mujer que ha sido maltratada por sus padres tanto psicológica como físicamente, ella cree que su valor reside en ser obediente y complacer a sus padres, siempre protegiendo y poniendo a todos antes que ella.
Me gustó su evolución y como fue agarrando coraje y valentía.
El siguiente libro es matrimonio arreglado ahora sí entre los protagonistas entre un hombre frío y en control y la chica más rebelde que existe.
September 22, 2024
“I want her. I feel something for her. She’s got a rope wrapped around my heart, and when she tugs on it, I can’t do anything but follow.”
Ras and Gemma were more like side character material than they were main protagonists of a mafia romance. I don't know what but there was always something missing with their story. I just wasn't fully satisfied. The plot was intriguing enough for me to finish this book but it was unnecessarily long. Ras and Gemma could've had a novella and it would be perfect for them.
Gemma deserves the best. Her character wasn't of a badass woman but her character had depth. I felt bad for things she had endured in her life and she didn't deserve it. Her father is an asshole and he better be dead by the end of this series. Ras was sweet and thoughtful. He didn't gave any dangerous vibes but he was more of a protective type which I liked about him. I liked seeing the softer side of Ras for Gemma and how he did everything in his power to protect her from her father. He fell first and fell harder for her.
“It’s like his touch somehow got encoded in me at a cellular level, and now my skin is programmed to crave it.”
The romance was fine. The first half was full of angst but the second was filled with sweet and spicy moments along with some vulnerable moments Ras and Gemma shared when they opened up to each other about their past. They have chemistry and a connection and everything but they still didn't hold my attention like other couples in this series did.
“You are the air I breathe. You are the ground that keeps me standing. Without you, I’m nothing, Gemma.”
I am so excited for Cleo's book. A crazy red head woman and a cold-hearted monster husband who doesn't believe in love? I am going to devour their book!
July 1, 2025
4,25 ⭐
Ras & Gemma 💚
Ras & Gemma 💚
May 16, 2025
"You are the air I breathe. You are the ground that keeps me standing. Without you, I'm nothing, Gemma"
Sin duda, estaba intrigada por cómo se iba a resolver la historia evidente entre Ras y Gemma. Y ha pasado de todo.
Gemma acepta un compromiso con un joven Don de NY para fortalecer a su familia porque, como ha hecho toda su vida, siempre hace lo que es mejor para los demás.
Gemma es el personaje discordante de esta serie, es la típica hija de la mafia educada para obedecer y complacer, primero a los padres, luego al marido. Donde el resto de protagonistas son decididas y fuertes, Gemma no, tiene que evolucionar y toma decisiones que te enfadan porque no las puedes compartir.
Ras nunca ha querido nada para sí mismo, siempre ha luchado por los objetivos de Damiano. Pero, esta vez, puede ser la primera que quiere algo.
Y mientras la boda de Gemma se acerca rápidamente, se descubren las mentiras, se toman decisiones que pueden cambiarlo todo, se rompen acuerdos y se introduce el siguiente libro, que madre mía si promete.
Sin duda, estaba intrigada por cómo se iba a resolver la historia evidente entre Ras y Gemma. Y ha pasado de todo.
Gemma acepta un compromiso con un joven Don de NY para fortalecer a su familia porque, como ha hecho toda su vida, siempre hace lo que es mejor para los demás.
Gemma es el personaje discordante de esta serie, es la típica hija de la mafia educada para obedecer y complacer, primero a los padres, luego al marido. Donde el resto de protagonistas son decididas y fuertes, Gemma no, tiene que evolucionar y toma decisiones que te enfadan porque no las puedes compartir.
Ras nunca ha querido nada para sí mismo, siempre ha luchado por los objetivos de Damiano. Pero, esta vez, puede ser la primera que quiere algo.
Y mientras la boda de Gemma se acerca rápidamente, se descubren las mentiras, se toman decisiones que pueden cambiarlo todo, se rompen acuerdos y se introduce el siguiente libro, que madre mía si promete.
November 27, 2023
THIS SERIES.
My heart. I am always searching for the mafia book that makes me forget the world is a dumpster fire and I have to work to live. This is pure mind candy.
I’ve been such a fan of this series from the jump (When She Unravels) and by book two (When She Tempts) Gabrielle Sands firmly cemented herself as one of my GO-TO mafia darlings. She’s up there with Catherine Wiltcher, RuNyx and Haley Jenner at this point.
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, he falls first, or mafia romance, look no further. 5 solid stars.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.
My heart. I am always searching for the mafia book that makes me forget the world is a dumpster fire and I have to work to live. This is pure mind candy.
I’ve been such a fan of this series from the jump (When She Unravels) and by book two (When She Tempts) Gabrielle Sands firmly cemented herself as one of my GO-TO mafia darlings. She’s up there with Catherine Wiltcher, RuNyx and Haley Jenner at this point.
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, he falls first, or mafia romance, look no further. 5 solid stars.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.
March 31, 2024
It took me a bit to get into this one but I ultimately enjoyed myself once I did! The forbidden-ness of it was so addictive and the burn was slowww🤭 This was pain with humor and hotness sprinkled in.
I loved how Ras was able to finally bring the true Gemma out! She felt she had this great duty to her family and neglected her own wants and needs (I related to her a bit too much I fear). I’m glad she finally chose herself and didn’t put the wants of others above her own happiness.
The list of people I need to fight def increased with this book. Need her parents to die more than anything.
Giorgio was my fave made man but Ras took his crown with this one. I love him BAD😩 The way he understood the assignment and PRAISED HER?? Homie had me sweatin for real. Lord it’s me again 🧎🏽♀️
And I truly loved the Cleo and Rafaele bits 🤭 Very excited for their story.
⤷ Fave quotes/lines:
• A dry chuckle leaves Papà’s mouth. “Damiano De Rossi. You’re a handsome guy, huh? I can see now why my daughter is so partial to you. You know women, they’re drawn to pretty things.”
Damiano’s smile is a sharp, crooked line. “I wonder what drew your wife to you then, Garzolo.”
• I stop by her side. “This is a nice spot.”
She sniffs. “It is. Great cliff.”
A seagull soars over our heads.
“I’m thinking of throwing myself off it.”
• “Ras, we shouldn’t be doing this,” I murmur, sounding breathless.
His lips move against my skin. “Tell me to stop then.”
• “That’s my fucking girl.”
• “Are you going to take it like a good girl?”
I loved how Ras was able to finally bring the true Gemma out! She felt she had this great duty to her family and neglected her own wants and needs (I related to her a bit too much I fear). I’m glad she finally chose herself and didn’t put the wants of others above her own happiness.
The list of people I need to fight def increased with this book. Need her parents to die more than anything.
Giorgio was my fave made man but Ras took his crown with this one. I love him BAD😩 The way he understood the assignment and PRAISED HER?? Homie had me sweatin for real. Lord it’s me again 🧎🏽♀️
And I truly loved the Cleo and Rafaele bits 🤭 Very excited for their story.
⤷ Fave quotes/lines:
• A dry chuckle leaves Papà’s mouth. “Damiano De Rossi. You’re a handsome guy, huh? I can see now why my daughter is so partial to you. You know women, they’re drawn to pretty things.”
Damiano’s smile is a sharp, crooked line. “I wonder what drew your wife to you then, Garzolo.”
• I stop by her side. “This is a nice spot.”
She sniffs. “It is. Great cliff.”
A seagull soars over our heads.
“I’m thinking of throwing myself off it.”
• “Ras, we shouldn’t be doing this,” I murmur, sounding breathless.
His lips move against my skin. “Tell me to stop then.”
• “That’s my fucking girl.”
• “Are you going to take it like a good girl?”
July 11, 2023
I did it. I finished reading this beautiful love story of Ras and Gemma. And I can't describe in words how much this book touched my heart. "When She Falls" is one of my top three books. After Valentina and Damiano's book, I thought I wouldn't be able to feel that love, the chemistry, the devotion again. But I was wrong. This book is very beautiful with its gripping love story and tragedy.
You should definitely grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable. After all, you are going to be committed to this book.
I've never been a fan of the hate-to-love trope. But for the first time, I felt this agony that captures every aspect of emotion. It was the one time I couldn't tear myself away from the book. Not to miss even the smallest detail.
Ras is every reading girl's dream come true. He captivated my heart for a long time, his smirks made me smile like crazy. His hair that I wanted to run between my fingers. His dirty tongue that drove me crazy. He literally gave his soul for Peaches. I had never seen so much devotion and tenderness emanating from Ras. I've seen him fight his demons alone. And it hurt me so much. I wanted to wrap him in a cocoon. Where he would always be happy. And that happiness would be Gemma.
I'm a little confused about Gemma. I'm trying to get my head together to tell you about her.
I've never denied and never will deny how strong Gemma is. She is the epitome of courage and bravery. Yesterday was my birthday, but I sat and roared with great pain in my heart. Gemma, my girl, has been through so much but has remained sane. Her story when she was six years old hurt me so much. Her life was a hell of a mess made of her by her wayward parents. I certainly understood how much they had broken her physically and mentally. But sometimes I wished she'd just run away from them. But Gemma was so broken that she couldn't do it alone.
Gemma's parents' initiation burned to hell. They made me so disgusted. I wished all the fingers he'd used to beat her with would break. And God forbid mothers like that. Like Gemma's mother. Though he could have thrown them straight into Basfor.
A moment that broke me, and I couldn't stop💔😭:
"You are the air I breathe. You are the ground I stand on. Without you, I'm nothing, Gemma."
And I want to say a little about Gemma's sister Cleo. Oh my god 🥵🔥 Give me a couple of Cleo and Rafaello. I noticed their chemistry right away. They definitely won't be boring in the near future.
And a big thank you to my dear Gabrielle Sands. Thank you for all your work. You have done a very wonderful job. I can't remember when I've had so much emotion from a book. You gave Ras and Gemma's story a chance at life. They deserve the world.
You should definitely grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable. After all, you are going to be committed to this book.
I've never been a fan of the hate-to-love trope. But for the first time, I felt this agony that captures every aspect of emotion. It was the one time I couldn't tear myself away from the book. Not to miss even the smallest detail.
Ras is every reading girl's dream come true. He captivated my heart for a long time, his smirks made me smile like crazy. His hair that I wanted to run between my fingers. His dirty tongue that drove me crazy. He literally gave his soul for Peaches. I had never seen so much devotion and tenderness emanating from Ras. I've seen him fight his demons alone. And it hurt me so much. I wanted to wrap him in a cocoon. Where he would always be happy. And that happiness would be Gemma.
I'm a little confused about Gemma. I'm trying to get my head together to tell you about her.
I've never denied and never will deny how strong Gemma is. She is the epitome of courage and bravery. Yesterday was my birthday, but I sat and roared with great pain in my heart. Gemma, my girl, has been through so much but has remained sane. Her story when she was six years old hurt me so much. Her life was a hell of a mess made of her by her wayward parents. I certainly understood how much they had broken her physically and mentally. But sometimes I wished she'd just run away from them. But Gemma was so broken that she couldn't do it alone.
Gemma's parents' initiation burned to hell. They made me so disgusted. I wished all the fingers he'd used to beat her with would break. And God forbid mothers like that. Like Gemma's mother. Though he could have thrown them straight into Basfor.
A moment that broke me, and I couldn't stop💔😭:
"You are the air I breathe. You are the ground I stand on. Without you, I'm nothing, Gemma."
And I want to say a little about Gemma's sister Cleo. Oh my god 🥵🔥 Give me a couple of Cleo and Rafaello. I noticed their chemistry right away. They definitely won't be boring in the near future.
And a big thank you to my dear Gabrielle Sands. Thank you for all your work. You have done a very wonderful job. I can't remember when I've had so much emotion from a book. You gave Ras and Gemma's story a chance at life. They deserve the world.
March 26, 2025
5 ⭐️s
I dont care what anyone says I’m actually so obsessed with them UGHHHHHH THEY HAD SO MUCH TENSION I AM GASPING FOR AIR.
I love Ras so much ahhh he’s so loverboy. The way he’s so down for Gemma the moment she fought him ughhh their meet cute was so so cute. I was looking forward to their story since book 1!
Gemma’s personality lowkey shocked me. I thought she would be different but i eventually fell in love with her. Her experience with her abvs!ve family breaks my heart 🥹 Poor baby deserved so much better.
Overall i really really enjoyed this book.
I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK THO GOD DAMN THE I’M GIGGLING ALREADY FROM CLEO AND FARAELE CRUMBS.
I dont care what anyone says I’m actually so obsessed with them UGHHHHHH THEY HAD SO MUCH TENSION I AM GASPING FOR AIR.
I love Ras so much ahhh he’s so loverboy. The way he’s so down for Gemma the moment she fought him ughhh their meet cute was so so cute. I was looking forward to their story since book 1!
Gemma’s personality lowkey shocked me. I thought she would be different but i eventually fell in love with her. Her experience with her abvs!ve family breaks my heart 🥹 Poor baby deserved so much better.
Overall i really really enjoyed this book.
I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK THO GOD DAMN THE I’M GIGGLING ALREADY FROM CLEO AND FARAELE CRUMBS.
September 9, 2025
Bu serinin kolay okunabilir olmasını seviyorum, güzel bir hikayeydi yine.
November 2, 2023
Damn, I'm sad I'm all caught up now.
This series is delightful.
5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
This series is delightful.
5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
December 17, 2024
“I brush her hair out of her face, my chest swelling with a love so strong that I know I’ll do anything for this woman. “Let’s leave the past in the past. We’ve got a whole future to look forward to.”
May 26, 2024
This was fine. Nothing special but kept me entertained
July 31, 2025
I knew Gemma’s book would hurt.. her father is an abusive monster and we’ve seen glimpses of that before. But I didn’t expect her to be this desperate to carry the weight of her entire family’s mess. Like baby girl you can't fix everyone's problems, sit down. 😭
And Ras... my baby. 🥹 He really did everything he could to help her. He followed her all the way back to New York just to keep an eye on her, protect her and ended up falling for her in the process 😭
He was ready to risk it all. He saw the bruises, he knew something was wrong, and instead of standing back, he stepped in like the badass he is. He chose her, again and again. 🥹
Gemma broke my heart. The way she clung to the hope that her parents would love her back… I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. The abuse she went through, the things she suppressed from her childhood.. especially from her mom, who fat shamed her and never protected her was just devastating to read. And the way she still tried to earn their love? Gosh.. like no baby. They don't deserve it. 🥹
In the middle of all that pain the two of them built something real. Their banter? Chef's kiss. Their chemistry? Off the charts. With him she could actually be herself. She didn’t have to dim herself down. She could be her loud, wild, messy, real.
When she finally breaks and sleeps with Ras, it’s like her last thread of control snaps. She's always been told her virginity was her only value, the only thing she could offer in the marriage deal. And when she gives that up.. when she chooses Ras over all the lies, it changes everything.
Y’all. 😭 The whiplash this book gave me. The emotions!! I was in a chokehold the entire time. Gemma went through so much and honestly it was hard to read at times. Her parents were cold, cruel, and manipulative and she still tried to win them over. That broke me. She deserved so much more.
4 stars only because Gemma kept going back to her abusive parents and excusing their behavior. Like no babe 😭 You owe them nothing. They failed you. Let them rot.
And Ras... my baby. 🥹 He really did everything he could to help her. He followed her all the way back to New York just to keep an eye on her, protect her and ended up falling for her in the process 😭
He was ready to risk it all. He saw the bruises, he knew something was wrong, and instead of standing back, he stepped in like the badass he is. He chose her, again and again. 🥹
Gemma broke my heart. The way she clung to the hope that her parents would love her back… I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. The abuse she went through, the things she suppressed from her childhood.. especially from her mom, who fat shamed her and never protected her was just devastating to read. And the way she still tried to earn their love? Gosh.. like no baby. They don't deserve it. 🥹
In the middle of all that pain the two of them built something real. Their banter? Chef's kiss. Their chemistry? Off the charts. With him she could actually be herself. She didn’t have to dim herself down. She could be her loud, wild, messy, real.
When she finally breaks and sleeps with Ras, it’s like her last thread of control snaps. She's always been told her virginity was her only value, the only thing she could offer in the marriage deal. And when she gives that up.. when she chooses Ras over all the lies, it changes everything.
Y’all. 😭 The whiplash this book gave me. The emotions!! I was in a chokehold the entire time. Gemma went through so much and honestly it was hard to read at times. Her parents were cold, cruel, and manipulative and she still tried to win them over. That broke me. She deserved so much more.
4 stars only because Gemma kept going back to her abusive parents and excusing their behavior. Like no babe 😭 You owe them nothing. They failed you. Let them rot.
July 13, 2024
I love a good slow burn and this was one of them. Ras, Dem’s underboss and Gemma, Vale’s sister.
I really liked Ras. He went for what he wanted and didn’t care for the repercussions. He put her first.
I was less thrilled with Gemma, especially her decision near the end, but I liked their interactions and their chemistry.
It can be read as a standalone for sure.
I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to learn about Cleo.
This is my favourite so far and maybe I’ll read it again at some point.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
I really liked Ras. He went for what he wanted and didn’t care for the repercussions. He put her first.
I was less thrilled with Gemma, especially her decision near the end, but I liked their interactions and their chemistry.
It can be read as a standalone for sure.
I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to learn about Cleo.
This is my favourite so far and maybe I’ll read it again at some point.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
February 3, 2024
Bingeable and tense
Did I binge nearly 1,500 pages of this series in a single week? Yeah, I did! Do I regret it? Not one bit. I'm late to the party on this sexy, suspenseful mafia romance series, but I've been making up for lost time by devouring the audiobooks. I was looking forward to this particular book because of the little teases we got about the couple, and their love story did not disappoint. It probably won't be for everyone - our heroine is technically engaged to another man for the vast majority of the book - but it was easy to see that she was in a tough situation, and that added a layer of delicious tension to the story. She's always been the good girl and the responsible one, so everyone assumes she'll go along with an arranged marriage without complaint... but falling for the right man just before her wedding puts a wrench in that plan. It's super angsty but not in a way that felt heavy, and I loved how the roadblocks just made this relationship feel even sweeter. Our (anti)hero is smitten for his girl, and I couldn't wait to see how it would all work out. It held my attention with ease and left me anxious to get to the next love story in the series, so I couldn't rate this anything other than an easy 5 stars.
The story follows Gemma (20), a woman whose father gave her away in a business deal. She's always gone along with the mafia don's wishes, but getting married to a near-stranger is still a big ask. Her fiancé has a reputation for being ruthless and his cold stare is intimidating, so a life sentence as his wife is less than appealing. While overseas at her sister's wedding to another mafia don (it's a long story), Gemma runs into the infuriatingly incorrigible Ras (30) again. The two had one memorable run-in months ago, and the sexy underboss continues to get under her skin. There's something about Gemma that intrigues Ras, and spending time with her at the wedding makes him realize that there's an entirely different side of her lurking beneath the surface. As the two total opposites get to know each other better, they realize that there's a strong romantic connection between them... which is extremely unfortunate, since Gemma has no choice but to marry another man in a few short weeks.
I would not recommend reading this series out of order, as each book builds upon the overarching storyline. Sure, the romances will technically stand on their own, but the story is richer and more complex when you have the context of the other books. In this case, we knew that Gemma and Ras had tension from their first interaction, and we also knew that derailing her engagement would cause nothing but trouble. She's been promised to another man, and going against that could have catastrophic consequences. I kinda loved that Ras - this big, dangerous man - has no choice but to watch as his girl prepares to marry another guy. It certainly adds some tension, to say the least, lol. There's little to no OM drama beyond the obvious, nor anything physical between Gemma and her fiancé. Gemma and Ras' chemistry was undeniable, and I loved seeing the softer side of Ras. He falls first and he falls hard, so I couldn't wait to see how they were going to get themselves out of this one. It's important to note that there are some potential triggers, particularly surrounding the fact that Gemma's father is abusive, and also the whole... you know, cheating scenario. Technically, Gemma's engagement is a business arrangement, she's been forced into it, and neither party has any feelings for the other, so it wasn't difficult for me to empathize with the situation. I had a great time reading this and I can't wait for the next audiobook to release, so it was a very successful read for me. I've been eating up the series, and each installment is as devourable as the last.
Audio note: The audio is great! I don't think I've listened to Alyssa Avery before, but she does a great job. Zero complaints about her performance. Gabriel Spires returns for this installment, and I love the accent he uses for our antihero. The audio absolutely enhances the story, and I am very glad that I was able to experience it in this way. The runtime (12-13 hours) is really too much for a single day, but I flew through it in no time. The story is a bit of a hot slow burn, so mixed feelings about listening at work. There's definitely some spice. I wholeheartedly recommend the format, and I'm going to do my best to wait until book four releases on audio as well - though it's going to be difficult to wait!
Did I binge nearly 1,500 pages of this series in a single week? Yeah, I did! Do I regret it? Not one bit. I'm late to the party on this sexy, suspenseful mafia romance series, but I've been making up for lost time by devouring the audiobooks. I was looking forward to this particular book because of the little teases we got about the couple, and their love story did not disappoint. It probably won't be for everyone - our heroine is technically engaged to another man for the vast majority of the book - but it was easy to see that she was in a tough situation, and that added a layer of delicious tension to the story. She's always been the good girl and the responsible one, so everyone assumes she'll go along with an arranged marriage without complaint... but falling for the right man just before her wedding puts a wrench in that plan. It's super angsty but not in a way that felt heavy, and I loved how the roadblocks just made this relationship feel even sweeter. Our (anti)hero is smitten for his girl, and I couldn't wait to see how it would all work out. It held my attention with ease and left me anxious to get to the next love story in the series, so I couldn't rate this anything other than an easy 5 stars.
The story follows Gemma (20), a woman whose father gave her away in a business deal. She's always gone along with the mafia don's wishes, but getting married to a near-stranger is still a big ask. Her fiancé has a reputation for being ruthless and his cold stare is intimidating, so a life sentence as his wife is less than appealing. While overseas at her sister's wedding to another mafia don (it's a long story), Gemma runs into the infuriatingly incorrigible Ras (30) again. The two had one memorable run-in months ago, and the sexy underboss continues to get under her skin. There's something about Gemma that intrigues Ras, and spending time with her at the wedding makes him realize that there's an entirely different side of her lurking beneath the surface. As the two total opposites get to know each other better, they realize that there's a strong romantic connection between them... which is extremely unfortunate, since Gemma has no choice but to marry another man in a few short weeks.
I would not recommend reading this series out of order, as each book builds upon the overarching storyline. Sure, the romances will technically stand on their own, but the story is richer and more complex when you have the context of the other books. In this case, we knew that Gemma and Ras had tension from their first interaction, and we also knew that derailing her engagement would cause nothing but trouble. She's been promised to another man, and going against that could have catastrophic consequences. I kinda loved that Ras - this big, dangerous man - has no choice but to watch as his girl prepares to marry another guy. It certainly adds some tension, to say the least, lol. There's little to no OM drama beyond the obvious, nor anything physical between Gemma and her fiancé. Gemma and Ras' chemistry was undeniable, and I loved seeing the softer side of Ras. He falls first and he falls hard, so I couldn't wait to see how they were going to get themselves out of this one. It's important to note that there are some potential triggers, particularly surrounding the fact that Gemma's father is abusive, and also the whole... you know, cheating scenario. Technically, Gemma's engagement is a business arrangement, she's been forced into it, and neither party has any feelings for the other, so it wasn't difficult for me to empathize with the situation. I had a great time reading this and I can't wait for the next audiobook to release, so it was a very successful read for me. I've been eating up the series, and each installment is as devourable as the last.
Audio note: The audio is great! I don't think I've listened to Alyssa Avery before, but she does a great job. Zero complaints about her performance. Gabriel Spires returns for this installment, and I love the accent he uses for our antihero. The audio absolutely enhances the story, and I am very glad that I was able to experience it in this way. The runtime (12-13 hours) is really too much for a single day, but I flew through it in no time. The story is a bit of a hot slow burn, so mixed feelings about listening at work. There's definitely some spice. I wholeheartedly recommend the format, and I'm going to do my best to wait until book four releases on audio as well - though it's going to be difficult to wait!
September 20, 2024
My Review:
This book was my least favorite of the series even more than book 2 which I really struggled with for certain things. But this book I just didn't care that much about this couple until the third act lol I didn't vibe with the heroine, the hero was a bit lackluster for me and I didn't like some the ways the heroine abuses the hero. I am not a fan of heroines physically abusing the hero just because they feel guilty or ashamed of their own actions. Its very toxic behavior. While I do get easily drawn into this world from this author, she has some issues with her writing that can be very problematic at times. I also never really understood why these two were so antagonistic with each other. The story doesn't really get good until like the last 70% percent. I really did like the third act for the most part. I think the one element I wish had been done was the plot with Rafael was a bit better written. I did find many aspects to this book intriguing at times, but the pacing was so dull lol I just skimmed through most of this book. I just wasn't that invested and just reading it to finish off the series.
I do want to read Nero's book and all but I am going to wait on it a bit. I need a break from this author.
This book was my least favorite of the series even more than book 2 which I really struggled with for certain things. But this book I just didn't care that much about this couple until the third act lol I didn't vibe with the heroine, the hero was a bit lackluster for me and I didn't like some the ways the heroine abuses the hero. I am not a fan of heroines physically abusing the hero just because they feel guilty or ashamed of their own actions. Its very toxic behavior. While I do get easily drawn into this world from this author, she has some issues with her writing that can be very problematic at times. I also never really understood why these two were so antagonistic with each other. The story doesn't really get good until like the last 70% percent. I really did like the third act for the most part. I think the one element I wish had been done was the plot with Rafael was a bit better written. I did find many aspects to this book intriguing at times, but the pacing was so dull lol I just skimmed through most of this book. I just wasn't that invested and just reading it to finish off the series.
I do want to read Nero's book and all but I am going to wait on it a bit. I need a break from this author.
December 19, 2023
I didn't realize that this book was part of a series but it was really good! Some scenes made me cry and I could really feel Gemma's emotions. Her pov was very well expressed and it made me feel connected to her. Ras was absolutely amazing. He was a bit immature at first but I loved how his character developed once he knew he felt something for Gemma. I enjoyed both of their interactions and they had an amazing chemistry! The premise was also very interesting and the writing kept me engaged. The side characters were strong and I can't wait to read the next book because I want to see how everything plays out between Cleo & Rafaele. Overall, I liked this book much more than I expected but it was noting exception compared to all the other mafia romances out there tbh. So, i would rate it a solid 3.5 stars.
September 20, 2023
2.75? I enjoyed but the fmc bugged me a bit at the beginning. Not my favorite mafia couple. But of course I’ll read the next one in the series lol
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