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House of Ferraro #2
Marry Me Not
She was his unwanted fiancée. Now she’s the wife he craves but can never possess.
I always knew I’d return to New York one day—step back into my family’s world, marry a man my brother chose, and carry out my duty. I just never imagined that man wouldn’t want a wife—least of all me.
Cosimo Ferraro is cold. Controlled. Untouchable. A ruthless mafia prince who doesn’t believe in letting anyone inside his impenetrable walls.
His words are cruel, his dismissals cutting. Yet every time we’re in the same room, his gaze finds me… and refuses to let go.
The pull between us is impossible to ignore. But Cosimo fights it—and me—with everything he’s got.
That’s when his world fractures. His father is murdered. Suddenly the man who wanted nothing to do with me needs me to help him seize the throne he was born to take.
Six months, he promises. Six months of marriage before he’ll set me free.
But six months is long enough for everything to burn—his control, my defenses, and the line between what’s real and what was supposed to be pretend.
~
Marry Me Not is book 2 in House of Ferraro, a series of interconnected standalones following the Ferraro brothers, where dark and sensual romance plays out against a backdrop of family secrets and mafia intrigue.
I always knew I’d return to New York one day—step back into my family’s world, marry a man my brother chose, and carry out my duty. I just never imagined that man wouldn’t want a wife—least of all me.
Cosimo Ferraro is cold. Controlled. Untouchable. A ruthless mafia prince who doesn’t believe in letting anyone inside his impenetrable walls.
His words are cruel, his dismissals cutting. Yet every time we’re in the same room, his gaze finds me… and refuses to let go.
The pull between us is impossible to ignore. But Cosimo fights it—and me—with everything he’s got.
That’s when his world fractures. His father is murdered. Suddenly the man who wanted nothing to do with me needs me to help him seize the throne he was born to take.
Six months, he promises. Six months of marriage before he’ll set me free.
But six months is long enough for everything to burn—his control, my defenses, and the line between what’s real and what was supposed to be pretend.
~
Marry Me Not is book 2 in House of Ferraro, a series of interconnected standalones following the Ferraro brothers, where dark and sensual romance plays out against a backdrop of family secrets and mafia intrigue.
Paperback
Published July 30, 2026
About the author
Gabrielle Sands
13 books3,492 followersGabrielle Sands is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author of dark romance and mafia romance. With seven published titles across three series — and her eighth releasing in 2026 — she writes the kind of dangerous, addictive love stories that keep readers up way past their bedtime.
Her books are known for morally grey heroes, forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and heroines who never back down. Whether it's an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers heat, or a possessive anti-hero who’ll burn the world down for the woman he loves — Gabrielle delivers high-stakes romance with emotional depth and serious steam.
The Fallen Series
Four interconnected standalones following powerful mafia men and the women who bring them to their knees. Features enemies-to-lovers, age gap romance, forced proximity, and arranged marriage tropes.
Fallen God Duet
A spinoff duet that begins as a small-town neighbor romance and shifts into a full-throttle mafia love story.
House of Ferraro Series
Interconnected standalones following the Ferraro brothers, where dark and sensual romance collides with family secrets and mafia intrigue. Featuring forbidden love and arranged marriage.
If you love authors like Cora Reilly, Neva Altaj, Sadie Kincaid, and Danielle Lori, you’ll feel right at home in Gabrielle’s worlds.
Before becoming an author, Gabrielle spent nearly a decade in business. She loves to travel and often writes her favorite destinations into her books. She currently lives in Portugal with her husband and daughter.
Connect with Gabrielle:
gabriellesands.com
Instagram: @authorgabriellesands
Her books are known for morally grey heroes, forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and heroines who never back down. Whether it's an arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers heat, or a possessive anti-hero who’ll burn the world down for the woman he loves — Gabrielle delivers high-stakes romance with emotional depth and serious steam.
The Fallen Series
Four interconnected standalones following powerful mafia men and the women who bring them to their knees. Features enemies-to-lovers, age gap romance, forced proximity, and arranged marriage tropes.
Fallen God Duet
A spinoff duet that begins as a small-town neighbor romance and shifts into a full-throttle mafia love story.
House of Ferraro Series
Interconnected standalones following the Ferraro brothers, where dark and sensual romance collides with family secrets and mafia intrigue. Featuring forbidden love and arranged marriage.
If you love authors like Cora Reilly, Neva Altaj, Sadie Kincaid, and Danielle Lori, you’ll feel right at home in Gabrielle’s worlds.
Before becoming an author, Gabrielle spent nearly a decade in business. She loves to travel and often writes her favorite destinations into her books. She currently lives in Portugal with her husband and daughter.
Connect with Gabrielle:
gabriellesands.com
Instagram: @authorgabriellesands
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 980 reviews
July 1, 2025
Well..., I don't think I'm going to like this book, there seems to be OW drama and H is still hung up on her and refusing to marry h.
and his brother actually called H pathetic for being all over her and also insinuated that ow will become his mistress. Bye👋👋enough said!!!!..... I'm not reading any book where H is not obsessed with h
…………….post-read review
No OW drama apparently, but the book was still boring.
If you think writing naive virgin fmc is worse in this book, you are wrong. The author proceeds to glorify hero’s 3 year celibacy as some sort of achievement, really another level of stupidity.
Few lines from the book:
“Three years. He hadn’t slept with anyone for three years. I didn’t think men like him—young, fit, virile—dealt well with that kind of thing. How did he manage?” Mind these were words from a girl who was virgin her entire life🙄
“I’m a good Italian girl. I’ve been saving myself for marriage.” The misogyny, a woman is supposed to follow traditional values, whereas a man can do whatever he wants because apparently he’s young, fit and virile.
Book was so bland, it was finished in like 2 hrs, that too with slow pace. Nothing interesting tbh
and his brother actually called H pathetic for being all over her and also insinuated that ow will become his mistress. Bye👋👋enough said!!!!..... I'm not reading any book where H is not obsessed with h
…………….post-read review
No OW drama apparently, but the book was still boring.
If you think writing naive virgin fmc is worse in this book, you are wrong. The author proceeds to glorify hero’s 3 year celibacy as some sort of achievement, really another level of stupidity.
Few lines from the book:
“Three years. He hadn’t slept with anyone for three years. I didn’t think men like him—young, fit, virile—dealt well with that kind of thing. How did he manage?” Mind these were words from a girl who was virgin her entire life🙄
“I’m a good Italian girl. I’ve been saving myself for marriage.” The misogyny, a woman is supposed to follow traditional values, whereas a man can do whatever he wants because apparently he’s young, fit and virile.
Book was so bland, it was finished in like 2 hrs, that too with slow pace. Nothing interesting tbh
August 8, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
Marriage of convenience is usually enough to get me seated. Throw in an unwanted fiancée, forced proximity and a cold mafia man who thinks emotional vulnerability is approximately three steps below death and I'm not just seated - I've cancelled my plans.
Then give the marriage an expiration date and dangle the possibility of severe my-wife syndrome in front of me?
Please. I know my weaknesses.
And Marry Me Not DID give me some delicious moments once Cosimo started losing the war against his own feelings. Unfortunately, getting there was a little more stop-start than I would've liked and the mafia plot happening around them was mostly just...there.
What worked for me
(aka: the husbandification of Cosimo Ferraro)
My-wife syndrome: symptoms escalating
This was easily where I had the most fun. Cosimo went from treating Fabiana like an inconvenient business arrangement to being incapable of acting normal where she was concerned, while somehow convincing himself it was all perfectly rational.
The jealousy. The protectiveness. Her pottery slowly invading his sterile cold house. A man who considers art and fashion frivolous dropping an obscene amount of money on a dress because his wife was upset?
There you are, sir. That's the nonsense I came for.
The slow burn DID have its moments
And when these two were actually allowed to simmer? Oh, I was watching.
The forced proximity finally gave their chemistry room to breathe and some of my favourite moments were the smaller ones - the lingering touches, the jealousy neither of them wanted to acknowledge and that growing awareness that this very temporary marriage was becoming suspiciously personal. There was enough tension bubbling underneath their interactions that I kept waiting for the inevitable combustion.
And when it finally combusted? Yeah. I understood the assignment.
Communication? In my mafia romance?
Fabiana was sweet without being a pushover and I appreciated that when Cosimo pissed her off, she generally TOLD HIM. Their best moments came when she challenged his control-freak tendencies and forced him to actually communicate instead of retreating behind another emotional barricade.
I also appreciated that Fabiana rarely let a misunderstanding marinate purely for the sake of drama. When something suspicious landed in her lap, she confronted Cosimo. When someone tried to get into her head, she told him. When he hurt her feelings, eventually those words were coming OUT.
Did Cosimo always respond like a functional adult? Absolutely not. But at least I wasn't trapped inside five chapters of avoidable misery because two grown adults refused to ask one question.
Where it lost me
(aka: the slow burn did not need this many speed bumps)
One step forward, approximately seventeen backwards
I expected Cosimo to fight his feelings. I did NOT expect this man to repeatedly make emotional progress and then immediately panic and undo half of it.
After a while, the hot-and-cold routine became frustrating rather than delicious. His trust issues eventually made more sense once we got additional context around his family but I wish we'd gotten more of that earlier. Without it, I spent too much time thinking "sir, we have already discussed this."
And while the romance was slow-burning, the rest of the book was just...slow in places. I could drift through entire sections without feeling much urgency.
There is a difference between a slow burn and a book simply losing momentum and this occasionally crossed that line for me. Even once the marriage finally put them under the same roof - which was the forced proximity I'd been waiting for - the pacing still felt uneven. We'd get a stretch where the chemistry was chemistrying and I was fully back in, then I'd hit another section where my attention started wandering again.
I never wanted to DNF it but I also wasn't inhaling it. For a setup this aggressively tailored to my interests, I wanted to be fighting for my life a little more.
The mafia was not mafia-ing
The mafia plot wasn't helping either. It was predictable and the big late-game family reveal didn't have enough groundwork to give me the OH SHIT moment it clearly wanted. My reaction was basically "Oh. Okay then."
I don't mind predicting a reveal if the breadcrumbs make getting there satisfying but here I wanted more groundwork woven throughout the story. Instead of the later revelations making me mentally flip back through everything I'd missed, some of them felt like information the book had simply decided to give me now.
And if you're going to interrupt my marriage-of-convenience nonsense with mafia politics, I need the mafia politics to BUSINESS.
Final thoughts
There was a lot here I SHOULD have been feral for and occasionally I was. Cosimo's descent into my-wife syndrome was fun, Fabiana held her own, their chemistry worked and I loved the domestic payoff in the epilogue.
But as a whole? Kinda meh.
This ended up being one of those books where I liked the individual moments more than the overall reading experience. The highs were genuinely fun but there was too much drifting between them for me to round up to 3.5. Even the romantic payoff, while sweet and satisfying, landed pretty much where I'd expected it to.
Ironically, the epilogue might've been my favourite part. Seeing what Cosimo and Fabiana looked like once all the push-pull crap was finally behind them - her creativity taking over his carefully controlled world and him not only allowing it but actively making room for it - gave me the domestic payoff I'd been waiting for.
Final verdict
3.25 ⭐️ - I asked for severe my-wife syndrome and Cosimo eventually delivered.
Unfortunately, I should’ve added “and may the plot gag me” to the request.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Marriage of convenience
• Arranged marriage
• Mafia romance
• Forced proximity
• Six-month expiration date
• Slow burn
• Opposites attract
• Protective/possessive MMC
• Sweet but stubborn FMC
• He falls harder
• Jealousy
• Trust issues
• My-wife syndrome: severe
• Touch her and die
• Expensive acts of service
• Emotionally constipated MMC
• Predictable mafia mystery
• Domestic HEA
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
“She’s the wife he craves but can never possess”
HELLO??? 👀
Unwanted fiancée ➡️ convenient wife ➡️ hopefully his entire fucking personality.
May the my wife syndrome be severe 🤞🏼✨️
Marriage of convenience is usually enough to get me seated. Throw in an unwanted fiancée, forced proximity and a cold mafia man who thinks emotional vulnerability is approximately three steps below death and I'm not just seated - I've cancelled my plans.
Then give the marriage an expiration date and dangle the possibility of severe my-wife syndrome in front of me?
Please. I know my weaknesses.
And Marry Me Not DID give me some delicious moments once Cosimo started losing the war against his own feelings. Unfortunately, getting there was a little more stop-start than I would've liked and the mafia plot happening around them was mostly just...there.
What worked for me
(aka: the husbandification of Cosimo Ferraro)
My-wife syndrome: symptoms escalating
This was easily where I had the most fun. Cosimo went from treating Fabiana like an inconvenient business arrangement to being incapable of acting normal where she was concerned, while somehow convincing himself it was all perfectly rational.
The jealousy. The protectiveness. Her pottery slowly invading his sterile cold house. A man who considers art and fashion frivolous dropping an obscene amount of money on a dress because his wife was upset?
There you are, sir. That's the nonsense I came for.
The slow burn DID have its moments
And when these two were actually allowed to simmer? Oh, I was watching.
The forced proximity finally gave their chemistry room to breathe and some of my favourite moments were the smaller ones - the lingering touches, the jealousy neither of them wanted to acknowledge and that growing awareness that this very temporary marriage was becoming suspiciously personal. There was enough tension bubbling underneath their interactions that I kept waiting for the inevitable combustion.
And when it finally combusted? Yeah. I understood the assignment.
Communication? In my mafia romance?
Fabiana was sweet without being a pushover and I appreciated that when Cosimo pissed her off, she generally TOLD HIM. Their best moments came when she challenged his control-freak tendencies and forced him to actually communicate instead of retreating behind another emotional barricade.
I also appreciated that Fabiana rarely let a misunderstanding marinate purely for the sake of drama. When something suspicious landed in her lap, she confronted Cosimo. When someone tried to get into her head, she told him. When he hurt her feelings, eventually those words were coming OUT.
Did Cosimo always respond like a functional adult? Absolutely not. But at least I wasn't trapped inside five chapters of avoidable misery because two grown adults refused to ask one question.
Where it lost me
(aka: the slow burn did not need this many speed bumps)
One step forward, approximately seventeen backwards
I expected Cosimo to fight his feelings. I did NOT expect this man to repeatedly make emotional progress and then immediately panic and undo half of it.
After a while, the hot-and-cold routine became frustrating rather than delicious. His trust issues eventually made more sense once we got additional context around his family but I wish we'd gotten more of that earlier. Without it, I spent too much time thinking "sir, we have already discussed this."
And while the romance was slow-burning, the rest of the book was just...slow in places. I could drift through entire sections without feeling much urgency.
There is a difference between a slow burn and a book simply losing momentum and this occasionally crossed that line for me. Even once the marriage finally put them under the same roof - which was the forced proximity I'd been waiting for - the pacing still felt uneven. We'd get a stretch where the chemistry was chemistrying and I was fully back in, then I'd hit another section where my attention started wandering again.
I never wanted to DNF it but I also wasn't inhaling it. For a setup this aggressively tailored to my interests, I wanted to be fighting for my life a little more.
The mafia was not mafia-ing
The mafia plot wasn't helping either. It was predictable and the big late-game family reveal didn't have enough groundwork to give me the OH SHIT moment it clearly wanted. My reaction was basically "Oh. Okay then."
I don't mind predicting a reveal if the breadcrumbs make getting there satisfying but here I wanted more groundwork woven throughout the story. Instead of the later revelations making me mentally flip back through everything I'd missed, some of them felt like information the book had simply decided to give me now.
And if you're going to interrupt my marriage-of-convenience nonsense with mafia politics, I need the mafia politics to BUSINESS.
Final thoughts
There was a lot here I SHOULD have been feral for and occasionally I was. Cosimo's descent into my-wife syndrome was fun, Fabiana held her own, their chemistry worked and I loved the domestic payoff in the epilogue.
But as a whole? Kinda meh.
This ended up being one of those books where I liked the individual moments more than the overall reading experience. The highs were genuinely fun but there was too much drifting between them for me to round up to 3.5. Even the romantic payoff, while sweet and satisfying, landed pretty much where I'd expected it to.
Ironically, the epilogue might've been my favourite part. Seeing what Cosimo and Fabiana looked like once all the push-pull crap was finally behind them - her creativity taking over his carefully controlled world and him not only allowing it but actively making room for it - gave me the domestic payoff I'd been waiting for.
Final verdict
3.25 ⭐️ - I asked for severe my-wife syndrome and Cosimo eventually delivered.
Unfortunately, I should’ve added “and may the plot gag me” to the request.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Marriage of convenience
• Arranged marriage
• Mafia romance
• Forced proximity
• Six-month expiration date
• Slow burn
• Opposites attract
• Protective/possessive MMC
• Sweet but stubborn FMC
• He falls harder
• Jealousy
• Trust issues
• My-wife syndrome: severe
• Touch her and die
• Expensive acts of service
• Emotionally constipated MMC
• Predictable mafia mystery
• Domestic HEA
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
“She’s the wife he craves but can never possess”
HELLO??? 👀
Unwanted fiancée ➡️ convenient wife ➡️ hopefully his entire fucking personality.
May the my wife syndrome be severe 🤞🏼✨️
July 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (ARC review)
''Give her what she wants. Then suffer the consequences.''
Safety warnings::
- H 28 / h 25
- No OW/OM drama
- No cheating
- Violence/D*ath
- Arranged marriage/forced proximity
- Mention of s*xual assault
- Emotional manipulation
- Physical abuse
- Loss of a loved one
- HEA
⭐️For everyone worrying about OW drama or cheating please know that there is none. Everything will be explained and it's not a misunderstanding by all means either so just have faith in Gabrielle! I promise you will be satisfied with the whole situation.⭐️
Now for the review:
I loved this. I am already a sucker for arranged marriages, especially when it's not wanted or there is tension/animosity between them. Cosimo has always been against this arrangement made by his mother and you find out quickly why (if you read book 1 then you know what kind of mother she really is, so it is not shocking when you find out the way she has been with Cosimo in his past).
Fabiana is trying to do what is right by her brother and marrying Cos will grant her brother the alliance he needs. Sadly, Cos tries everything he can to make her miserable in the beginning when they finally meet and it works until he realizes he does needs her and he does desperately need to get married. He does come off as a complete utter asshole and treats her like shit. It was hard to read sometimes. Fabiana did not deserve the treatment he was giving her. You could tell he knew what he was doing was wrong and always tried hard to justify his actions, but it was half-hearted.
He has the hardest time trusting anyone and is weary of everyone’s motives and intentions and you obviously will find out why. Fabiana is on the other hand a little too trusting and naive at times, but she sees the good in people. They are opposites attract come to life, but it works for them, he needs someone like that in his life while she needs someone who is willing to protect her and have the ''touch her and you die'' vibes.
There is a mystery throughout the book but because I have read hundreds and I mean hundreds of books my math skills deduced what was going to be revealed and honestly, I was not annoyed that I was right but mostly excited because it was such a fun little surprise addition and the way the scenes played out were shockingly sweet and entertaining.
Overall, I loved it and finished this book in 7 hours. It was fun seeing some old couples from previous books make tiny appearances and I always enjoy Gabrielle’s storytelling and writing and once again this was thoroughly entertaining and a wonderful read.
I do not know whose book is next, but I cannot wait for the next installment!
''Give her what she wants. Then suffer the consequences.''
Safety warnings::
- H 28 / h 25
- No OW/OM drama
- No cheating
- Violence/D*ath
- Arranged marriage/forced proximity
- Mention of s*xual assault
- Emotional manipulation
- Physical abuse
- Loss of a loved one
- HEA
⭐️For everyone worrying about OW drama or cheating please know that there is none. Everything will be explained and it's not a misunderstanding by all means either so just have faith in Gabrielle! I promise you will be satisfied with the whole situation.⭐️
Now for the review:
I loved this. I am already a sucker for arranged marriages, especially when it's not wanted or there is tension/animosity between them. Cosimo has always been against this arrangement made by his mother and you find out quickly why (if you read book 1 then you know what kind of mother she really is, so it is not shocking when you find out the way she has been with Cosimo in his past).
Fabiana is trying to do what is right by her brother and marrying Cos will grant her brother the alliance he needs. Sadly, Cos tries everything he can to make her miserable in the beginning when they finally meet and it works until he realizes he does needs her and he does desperately need to get married. He does come off as a complete utter asshole and treats her like shit. It was hard to read sometimes. Fabiana did not deserve the treatment he was giving her. You could tell he knew what he was doing was wrong and always tried hard to justify his actions, but it was half-hearted.
He has the hardest time trusting anyone and is weary of everyone’s motives and intentions and you obviously will find out why. Fabiana is on the other hand a little too trusting and naive at times, but she sees the good in people. They are opposites attract come to life, but it works for them, he needs someone like that in his life while she needs someone who is willing to protect her and have the ''touch her and you die'' vibes.
There is a mystery throughout the book but because I have read hundreds and I mean hundreds of books my math skills deduced what was going to be revealed and honestly, I was not annoyed that I was right but mostly excited because it was such a fun little surprise addition and the way the scenes played out were shockingly sweet and entertaining.
Overall, I loved it and finished this book in 7 hours. It was fun seeing some old couples from previous books make tiny appearances and I always enjoy Gabrielle’s storytelling and writing and once again this was thoroughly entertaining and a wonderful read.
I do not know whose book is next, but I cannot wait for the next installment!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"You’re fucking everywhere. Inescapable. Even in my dreams, I can’t escape you. If only you knew how fucking pretty you look inside them"
Gabrielle has done it AGAIN because WTH was that plot twist?????
I’m not kidding when I tell you my jaw actually dropped
I can’t wait for everyone to read this book and scream the way I did because I’m still not over it!!!
This book was definitely on the slower-burn side, Both characters took their time learning to trust each other
Fabiana was such a sweet soul who sees the good in every person she meets, and all she wanted was to be treated with the same gentleness she gave everyone else. Instead, her marriage gets arranged to one of the grumpiest, most asshole-ish made men she’s ever met, and she’s convinced he hates her 👀
Cosimo never really wanted a wife, but when his family's circumstances push him to make things work with the woman he never wanted, he gets down on his knees and begs for her forgiveness... and that’s just the beginning of his walls crumbling ;)
The plot twist was absolutely insane, and I still can’t get over it!!
I can’t wait to see what else Gabrielle has in store for us! 🤍
What to expect (for real):
A “fuck it” moment (it was so hot) 🤭
Denies his feelings, but he’s completely whipped
NO OW (I was so freaking relieved)!!
_________
pre read
ARC SECURED
guess whos gonna pull an all nighter to read this 🤭🤭
______
Gosh I'm so freaking excited for their story I'm gonna be so insufferable when this comes out 🧎🏻♀️
Gabrielle has done it AGAIN because WTH was that plot twist?????
I’m not kidding when I tell you my jaw actually dropped
I can’t wait for everyone to read this book and scream the way I did because I’m still not over it!!!
This book was definitely on the slower-burn side, Both characters took their time learning to trust each other
Fabiana was such a sweet soul who sees the good in every person she meets, and all she wanted was to be treated with the same gentleness she gave everyone else. Instead, her marriage gets arranged to one of the grumpiest, most asshole-ish made men she’s ever met, and she’s convinced he hates her 👀
Cosimo never really wanted a wife, but when his family's circumstances push him to make things work with the woman he never wanted, he gets down on his knees and begs for her forgiveness... and that’s just the beginning of his walls crumbling ;)
The plot twist was absolutely insane, and I still can’t get over it!!
I can’t wait to see what else Gabrielle has in store for us! 🤍
What to expect (for real):
A “fuck it” moment (it was so hot) 🤭
Denies his feelings, but he’s completely whipped
NO OW (I was so freaking relieved)!!
_________
pre read
ARC SECURED
guess whos gonna pull an all nighter to read this 🤭🤭
______
Gosh I'm so freaking excited for their story I'm gonna be so insufferable when this comes out 🧎🏻♀️
Want to Read
May 29, 2025I HAVE TO WAIT AN YEAR????
Read
July 14, 2025edit, including ''virgin heroine'' to your trope list is such a tell about what kind of person you are and i am done with misogynistic books.
*insert clown music*
He is in an arranged marriage with fmc that he keeps putting it of due to OW, but please correct me if not, and he has the audacity to still keeps tabs on fmc
If any of my friends who has read her books can confirm her heroes?
Here’s an exempt from book one in series
“Since when do you get into fights at my fucking club?”
He frowned. “You know?”
I cocked my head. “You didn't think Alexis would message me the second my own fucking brother decked some finance bro on the dance floor?” I leaned forward. “What’s going on with you, Cos? Have you forgotten you’re the eldest? The don-in-waiting? You’ve spent a decade building a reputation as someone reasonable. Steady. Someone the family could count on. And now you’re losing your mind over a piece of ass?”
“His nostrils flared. “Watch how you speak about my future wife.”
I laughed. He really thought I was clueless. Had he forgotten who I was? What I did for this family?
“You son of a bitch, I’m not talking about that poor girl. I saw Fabi last night. She was in the Hamptons with her friends, medicating the depression you’re inducing in her by getting sloshed.” I sank back into the sofa. “I’m talking about Rosa.”
Irritation flashed across his face. “How about you stay out of my business?”
“Trust me, I’ve been staying out of it, but this has gone on for too long. She’s got you wrapped around her little finger. It’s fucking ridiculous, Cos.”
His voice dropped. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know she likes power and money. You happen to have both. If you think there’s another reason why she’s sleeping with you, you’re deluding yourself.”
He flicked his eyes to the window. “You have no idea what she wants or what she’s like.”
Oh, but I fucking did. Like recognizes like, and Rosa? She was just like me. A natural at destruction.
There weren’t many people I gave a damn about[…]”
“But Cos was stubborn. He had to come to that conclusion himself.
“What did the finance bro do?” I asked, rubbing my hand over my jaw.
“Overstepped.” His vague response probably meant the guy had asked Rosa for a dance in front of Cosimo, not knowing any better.”
This is what author says about this book
“A: Yes! I swear, by the time I’m done with him, Cosimo will be eating the crumbs that Fabi drops. It’s gonna be delicious.”
*insert clown music*
He is in an arranged marriage with fmc that he keeps putting it of due to OW, but please correct me if not, and he has the audacity to still keeps tabs on fmc
If any of my friends who has read her books can confirm her heroes?
Here’s an exempt from book one in series
“Since when do you get into fights at my fucking club?”
He frowned. “You know?”
I cocked my head. “You didn't think Alexis would message me the second my own fucking brother decked some finance bro on the dance floor?” I leaned forward. “What’s going on with you, Cos? Have you forgotten you’re the eldest? The don-in-waiting? You’ve spent a decade building a reputation as someone reasonable. Steady. Someone the family could count on. And now you’re losing your mind over a piece of ass?”
“His nostrils flared. “Watch how you speak about my future wife.”
I laughed. He really thought I was clueless. Had he forgotten who I was? What I did for this family?
“You son of a bitch, I’m not talking about that poor girl. I saw Fabi last night. She was in the Hamptons with her friends, medicating the depression you’re inducing in her by getting sloshed.” I sank back into the sofa. “I’m talking about Rosa.”
Irritation flashed across his face. “How about you stay out of my business?”
“Trust me, I’ve been staying out of it, but this has gone on for too long. She’s got you wrapped around her little finger. It’s fucking ridiculous, Cos.”
His voice dropped. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know she likes power and money. You happen to have both. If you think there’s another reason why she’s sleeping with you, you’re deluding yourself.”
He flicked his eyes to the window. “You have no idea what she wants or what she’s like.”
Oh, but I fucking did. Like recognizes like, and Rosa? She was just like me. A natural at destruction.
There weren’t many people I gave a damn about[…]”
“But Cos was stubborn. He had to come to that conclusion himself.
“What did the finance bro do?” I asked, rubbing my hand over my jaw.
“Overstepped.” His vague response probably meant the guy had asked Rosa for a dance in front of Cosimo, not knowing any better.”
This is what author says about this book
“A: Yes! I swear, by the time I’m done with him, Cosimo will be eating the crumbs that Fabi drops. It’s gonna be delicious.”
August 31, 2026
5⭐️
Такі вони хорошики, Козімо і Фабіана 🥰
Мені подобається як пише авторка, легко читається, гарно прописані герої 🤗
Козімо наш бу бу бу, дбає про свій гаманець, правильно, треба економити 🤣 але це до жінки в його житті, закоханий чоловік вже не слідкує на балансом своєї карти амекс 😈
Фабіана ж мила, добра, і так, наївна. Вона намагається знайти хороші риси в людях, та наперед не засуджує 🤗 вона підходить Козу, згладжує його кути та розоряє його Скруджа🤣
Тут багато кумедних ситуацій, те як Козімо не вміє розслаблятися, завжди в напрузі, окрім сауни 🥵 а його забіг на відпочинку, ну не може просто лягти і кайфувати, але Фабі його виправить) мафії тут мало, але це не головне.
Мені було катастрофічно мало мого Алессіо, безжального людожера бубочки, в светрику з сніговичками-кентіками 🥹🤗
Ну і Домінік, шрам, це мені треба 😈
Такі вони хорошики, Козімо і Фабіана 🥰
Мені подобається як пише авторка, легко читається, гарно прописані герої 🤗
Козімо наш бу бу бу, дбає про свій гаманець, правильно, треба економити 🤣 але це до жінки в його житті, закоханий чоловік вже не слідкує на балансом своєї карти амекс 😈
Фабіана ж мила, добра, і так, наївна. Вона намагається знайти хороші риси в людях, та наперед не засуджує 🤗 вона підходить Козу, згладжує його кути та розоряє його Скруджа🤣
Тут багато кумедних ситуацій, те як Козімо не вміє розслаблятися, завжди в напрузі, окрім сауни 🥵 а його забіг на відпочинку, ну не може просто лягти і кайфувати, але Фабі його виправить) мафії тут мало, але це не головне.
Мені було катастрофічно мало мого Алессіо, безжального людожера бубочки, в светрику з сніговичками-кентіками 🥹🤗
Ну і Домінік, шрам, це мені треба 😈
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was unfortunately only an okay read for me 🥲
Let me preface by saying I highly enjoyed book 1 of this series, found that couple to be very good, having chemistry and an interesting romance story. So this author can write amazing mafia romance books!
Sadly, I didn't connect to the couple of this book at all. The development of their romantic relationship felt sporadic, forced, and didn't have a strong foundation to be built upon. I felt like they spent little time together, and during those times, nothing indicated at them forming any connection. But then afterwards they'd remember each other and think along the lines of "she got under my skin like no other", "I couldn't shake her", "He was having an effect on me". I'd like to live through the characters experiencing this, not being told afterwards what they felt.
The hero's actions at the start weren't commendable. Instead of dealing with a problem himself, he forced the heroine to take care of it. I disliked him for that and couldn't understand what the heroine saw in him later on to make her want a life with him.
I did like certain scenes: the dress scene, the family-and-friends-together scenes, the bachelorette party, and the Italy visit.
Plus, I've read the book in one sitting, so it was entertaining and easy to get through.
I would still recommend this book to people who want to have fun with a romance in a light mafia setting.
Let me preface by saying I highly enjoyed book 1 of this series, found that couple to be very good, having chemistry and an interesting romance story. So this author can write amazing mafia romance books!
Sadly, I didn't connect to the couple of this book at all. The development of their romantic relationship felt sporadic, forced, and didn't have a strong foundation to be built upon. I felt like they spent little time together, and during those times, nothing indicated at them forming any connection. But then afterwards they'd remember each other and think along the lines of "she got under my skin like no other", "I couldn't shake her", "He was having an effect on me". I'd like to live through the characters experiencing this, not being told afterwards what they felt.
The hero's actions at the start weren't commendable. Instead of dealing with a problem himself, he forced the heroine to take care of it. I disliked him for that and couldn't understand what the heroine saw in him later on to make her want a life with him.
I did like certain scenes: the dress scene, the family-and-friends-together scenes, the bachelorette party, and the Italy visit.
Plus, I've read the book in one sitting, so it was entertaining and easy to get through.
I would still recommend this book to people who want to have fun with a romance in a light mafia setting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you haven't read the first book in the House of Ferraro series - 'Be With Me', I recommend that you do so before starting this book, as you may have a better understanding of the backstory for our protagonists in 'Marry Me Not'.
When I met them in the first story, I thought I knew what to expect from this book...I was wrong.
Fabiana Messero always knew that the day would come when she would have to marry for duty, no matter how much she hoped it would also be for love.
She didn't expect that she would have to marry a man who despises her at first sight... who is cold towards her, harsh and makes it clear to her that there is no future for them.
She's determined to convince her brother to let her break off the engagement when tragedy strikes... and the man she is supposed to marry suddenly needs her.
Cosimo Ferraro found himself in an unexpected position. After his father's sudden death, instead of taking his place, he has to fight for it. And for that, he needs the help of his unwanted fiancée.
These two are the true definition of 'opposites attract'. Fabi is innocent, genuine, friendly, and always tends to see only the good in people...while Cosimo is reserved and distrustful.
Although he wants to keep her at a distance, Cosimo is aware that he is irresistibly attracted to his soon-to-be wife, but his past betrayals have taught him not to trust anyone.
As enemies lurk, can Fabi & Cosimo find the courage to open their hearts to love and endless possibilities?
What you can expect:
♡ mafia romance
♡ arranged marriage
♡ forced proximity
♡ morally gray hero
♡ touch her and die vibes
♡ virgin heroine
♡ trust issues
I'm obsessed with the unexpected revelation at the end of the story...I was speechless. Gabrielle did an awesome job with that, I have to admit. Now I'm quite unsure who the next book is about, and I already can't wait for it!!
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own and given freely.
____________________
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When I met them in the first story, I thought I knew what to expect from this book...I was wrong.
Fabiana Messero always knew that the day would come when she would have to marry for duty, no matter how much she hoped it would also be for love.
She didn't expect that she would have to marry a man who despises her at first sight... who is cold towards her, harsh and makes it clear to her that there is no future for them.
She's determined to convince her brother to let her break off the engagement when tragedy strikes... and the man she is supposed to marry suddenly needs her.
Cosimo Ferraro found himself in an unexpected position. After his father's sudden death, instead of taking his place, he has to fight for it. And for that, he needs the help of his unwanted fiancée.
These two are the true definition of 'opposites attract'. Fabi is innocent, genuine, friendly, and always tends to see only the good in people...while Cosimo is reserved and distrustful.
Although he wants to keep her at a distance, Cosimo is aware that he is irresistibly attracted to his soon-to-be wife, but his past betrayals have taught him not to trust anyone.
As enemies lurk, can Fabi & Cosimo find the courage to open their hearts to love and endless possibilities?
What you can expect:
♡ mafia romance
♡ arranged marriage
♡ forced proximity
♡ morally gray hero
♡ touch her and die vibes
♡ virgin heroine
♡ trust issues
I'm obsessed with the unexpected revelation at the end of the story...I was speechless. Gabrielle did an awesome job with that, I have to admit. Now I'm quite unsure who the next book is about, and I already can't wait for it!!
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own and given freely.
____________________
Follow me ♡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
4.25 stars!
Even though Marry Me Not is the second book in an interconnected series, I went into it without having read book one. I'd seen the first book around for quite a while but never got around to picking it up. While this one can definitely be enjoyed on its own, reading it made me want to go back, start with book one, and then come back to reread this with all the extra context.
One thing that immediately caught my attention was that it features two of my all-time favorite tropes: marriage of convenience and forced proximity. You can never really go wrong with those—especially when they're wrapped up in a mafia romance. They always create so much tension and chemistry, and this book delivered plenty of both.
Overall, I had a really enjoyable time with this one. It kept me turning the pages, and I'm definitely interested in reading more from this series in the future. If you're a fan of mafia romance and love a good marriage of convenience, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!
_________________________
Marriage of convenience and forced proximity you say? 😏
4.25 stars!
Even though Marry Me Not is the second book in an interconnected series, I went into it without having read book one. I'd seen the first book around for quite a while but never got around to picking it up. While this one can definitely be enjoyed on its own, reading it made me want to go back, start with book one, and then come back to reread this with all the extra context.
One thing that immediately caught my attention was that it features two of my all-time favorite tropes: marriage of convenience and forced proximity. You can never really go wrong with those—especially when they're wrapped up in a mafia romance. They always create so much tension and chemistry, and this book delivered plenty of both.
Overall, I had a really enjoyable time with this one. It kept me turning the pages, and I'm definitely interested in reading more from this series in the future. If you're a fan of mafia romance and love a good marriage of convenience, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!
_________________________
Marriage of convenience and forced proximity you say? 😏
August 3, 2026
Mafia man ON HIS KNEES & BEGGING her to marry him 💍🖤 I’ sat. I’m seated. I’m SATTED. Mafia PURfrection that made me giddy with excitement!
Duty. Desire. Danger.
Softhearted Fabiana is ready to dutifully enter an arranged marriage & take on her wifely duties. Her soon to be mafia-hubby Cosimo though…determined to destroy the engagement 💍 After his (contrived) bad behaviour Fabi says ’thank you, NEXT’ but in the PERFECT TWIST OF EVENTS he now desperately needs her to marry him *chef’s kiss* Forced relationship gives way to DESIRE!
“I was a sinner, but with her, I’d catch a glimpse of the divine.”
There’s something about arranged mafia romances that fill me with GIDDY excitement! Fabi and Cosimo’s were a perfect example of ✨OPPOSITES ATTRACT✨ trapped in a forced relationship but sprinkled with restraint desire…I’m fed! My favorite moments:
🖤 she creates pottery & he only uses her ceramic creations
💍 when he writes his name on her body
🖤 girl’s night out ends in a racy selfie text exchange!
💍 he doesn’t spend money on frivolous things…until he drops an easy 1 million on her dress *slow clap*
Devoured this writing! Simple (if a little predictable) plot but it worked because it was centred on a great romance 🫦 The story (nor the character) is not too dark so it’s a light & easy read. Will definitely be reading more from this author!
mafia romance
protective mmc
slow burn
morally grey mmc
artist fmc
fake dating/marriage
touch her & die
opposites attract
dirty talk
HEA
Duty. Desire. Danger.
Softhearted Fabiana is ready to dutifully enter an arranged marriage & take on her wifely duties. Her soon to be mafia-hubby Cosimo though…determined to destroy the engagement 💍 After his (contrived) bad behaviour Fabi says ’thank you, NEXT’ but in the PERFECT TWIST OF EVENTS he now desperately needs her to marry him *chef’s kiss* Forced relationship gives way to DESIRE!
“I was a sinner, but with her, I’d catch a glimpse of the divine.”
There’s something about arranged mafia romances that fill me with GIDDY excitement! Fabi and Cosimo’s were a perfect example of ✨OPPOSITES ATTRACT✨ trapped in a forced relationship but sprinkled with restraint desire…I’m fed! My favorite moments:
🖤 she creates pottery & he only uses her ceramic creations
💍 when he writes his name on her body
🖤 girl’s night out ends in a racy selfie text exchange!
💍 he doesn’t spend money on frivolous things…until he drops an easy 1 million on her dress *slow clap*
Devoured this writing! Simple (if a little predictable) plot but it worked because it was centred on a great romance 🫦 The story (nor the character) is not too dark so it’s a light & easy read. Will definitely be reading more from this author!
mafia romance
protective mmc
slow burn
morally grey mmc
artist fmc
fake dating/marriage
touch her & die
opposites attract
dirty talk
HEA
August 26, 2026
Ох, ну які вони смакотульки 🥰
Авторка майстерно завчасно нас налаштувала на трикутник (з попередньої частини), і я думала що тут буде багато драми і взбучок між дівчатами. Але....але)))) хто ж знав що воно таке бідолашне і недолюблене 😂
Фабі. Вона дуже схожа на Мію. Така ж добра, наївна. Зробить так, щоб всім було добре, а сама буде в прольоті 🫤
Козімо. Нууууу він здався мені більш цікавим. По-перше, він як буркотливий дідо Скрудж. В хаті нічого лишнього нема, ліміти на кредитках. Але.....це йому не дуже допомогло.
Мені подобається як він вирішує будь які проблеми. Блискавично. Не думаючи. В основному))))
Сюжетна лінія продовжується після подій першої книги, але не чекайте тут екшена. Все поступово розплутується, але це не заважає насолодитися історією. Ще один з плюсів, тут нема перенасичення сценами 18+. Так, це slow burn. Але авторка майстерно підтримує між героями напругу 😊
Ми отримали ще одного старшого брата Домініка. І він видався мені дуже цікавим хлопцем. Наступна книжечка скоріш за все буде саме про нього. Авторка відмовляється знайти дівчину для Алессіо, щоб він перестав сумувати 😔
Авторка майстерно завчасно нас налаштувала на трикутник (з попередньої частини), і я думала що тут буде багато драми і взбучок між дівчатами. Але....але)))) хто ж знав що воно таке бідолашне і недолюблене 😂
Фабі. Вона дуже схожа на Мію. Така ж добра, наївна. Зробить так, щоб всім було добре, а сама буде в прольоті 🫤
Козімо. Нууууу він здався мені більш цікавим. По-перше, він як буркотливий дідо Скрудж. В хаті нічого лишнього нема, ліміти на кредитках. Але.....це йому не дуже допомогло.
Мені подобається як він вирішує будь які проблеми. Блискавично. Не думаючи. В основному))))
Сюжетна лінія продовжується після подій першої книги, але не чекайте тут екшена. Все поступово розплутується, але це не заважає насолодитися історією. Ще один з плюсів, тут нема перенасичення сценами 18+. Так, це slow burn. Але авторка майстерно підтримує між героями напругу 😊
Ми отримали ще одного старшого брата Домініка. І він видався мені дуже цікавим хлопцем. Наступна книжечка скоріш за все буде саме про нього. Авторка відмовляється знайти дівчину для Алессіо, щоб він перестав сумувати 😔
August 12, 2026
(3.5) Viva la comunicación en las relaciones de mafia y los hombres que hacen todo por ella.
August 28, 2026
⭐️ 4.5/5.
Ох, які ж вони булки. Це було гарно, весело і цікаво. Ця частина мені сподобалась більше за першу.
Було дуже цікаво спостерігати за Козімо. Перший раз бачу мафіозі-скнару з лімітом на кредитній картці 😁.
Фабіана надто добра і порядна для їхнього світу. І я зняла тих пів бала за її намагання з усім і кожним домовитись мирним шляхом (сто відсотків це наслідки роботи в ООН). Таке враження, що дівчинка не відстрелює хто її брат і чоловік.
Ну, і трохи залегко все вирішилось з тим заповітом. Закрутили ще в першій книзі, а тут все якось туди-сюди, ручки потиснули і всьо добре, всі довольні. Я чекала, щоб в кінці когось прикінчили чи підстрелили трошки, але нє, всі живі 🙌, навіть ті, хто не треба.
Що ж, чекаємо на наступного брата 😈.
Ох, які ж вони булки. Це було гарно, весело і цікаво. Ця частина мені сподобалась більше за першу.
Було дуже цікаво спостерігати за Козімо. Перший раз бачу мафіозі-скнару з лімітом на кредитній картці 😁.
Фабіана надто добра і порядна для їхнього світу. І я зняла тих пів бала за її намагання з усім і кожним домовитись мирним шляхом (сто відсотків це наслідки роботи в ООН). Таке враження, що дівчинка не відстрелює хто її брат і чоловік.
Ну, і трохи залегко все вирішилось з тим заповітом. Закрутили ще в першій книзі, а тут все якось туди-сюди, ручки потиснули і всьо добре, всі довольні. Я чекала, щоб в кінці когось прикінчили чи підстрелили трошки, але нє, всі живі 🙌, навіть ті, хто не треба.
Що ж, чекаємо на наступного брата 😈.
September 4, 2026
Настільки в настрій попала мені ця книжка, що я б поставила 10/5⭐️
От буває, читаєш і просто не хочеться, щоб історія закінчувалась, от просто подобається бути всередині цієї історії і всесвіту, подобаються усі персонажі, навіть лиходіі. Тепер цікаво, що буде далі 🥰
От буває, читаєш і просто не хочеться, щоб історія закінчувалась, от просто подобається бути всередині цієї історії і всесвіту, подобаються усі персонажі, навіть лиходіі. Тепер цікаво, що буде далі 🥰
Want to Read
December 3, 202527/07/26
The reviews are saying there is no OW drama y’all, we rejoice! 💃🏻
———————
Just got an email about the cover of this book and it was beautiful but then I saw the comments about ow and HECK NO there’s no way I’m going to read a book where the mmc delayed his marriage with the fmc over another woman????? This author used to safe for me until her last couple of releases. Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s all a misunderstanding with the ow drama but if it’s true then it’s really sad seeing another safe author fell into using ow drama to create dramas in their books 😭😭
The reviews are saying there is no OW drama y’all, we rejoice! 💃🏻
———————
Just got an email about the cover of this book and it was beautiful but then I saw the comments about ow and HECK NO there’s no way I’m going to read a book where the mmc delayed his marriage with the fmc over another woman????? This author used to safe for me until her last couple of releases. Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s all a misunderstanding with the ow drama but if it’s true then it’s really sad seeing another safe author fell into using ow drama to create dramas in their books 😭😭
August 29, 2026
А потім на жінок кажуть «сама придумала, сама обідилась».
Козімо щє той маніпулятор і зовсім не зрілий у відносинах, а Фабі овечка, як і Мія. Або вони дійсно так довго дружили, що повпливали на характери одна одної, або… ну не знаю, або не хочу це озвучувати.
Говорити один з одним ми не вміємо, але зважаючи на досвід від батьків обох головних персонажів - це не зовсім дивно.
Мене повеселив той факт, як жінка завжди права, в решті решт, а дружина завжди робить все в інтересах сім’ї та чоловіка, хоч яке воно (чоловік) твердолобе це побачити відразу. Мені подобалось, як Фабі брала щось в свої руки і що з цього виходило. Подобалось, що не було фантастичного екшину і розривів, подобалось, як вона протистояла тій мерзенній матері Козімо. Яка ж вона сука, але це і так зрозуміло з попередньї книги.
Чесно, про Дома мені було зрозуміло щє з першої появи на кладовищі, лише не могла зрозуміти як він зʼявиться 😅.
Знімаю трошки зірочок за твердолобість і грубість Козімо, 4,5⭐️
Козімо щє той маніпулятор і зовсім не зрілий у відносинах, а Фабі овечка, як і Мія. Або вони дійсно так довго дружили, що повпливали на характери одна одної, або… ну не знаю, або не хочу це озвучувати.
Говорити один з одним ми не вміємо, але зважаючи на досвід від батьків обох головних персонажів - це не зовсім дивно.
Мене повеселив той факт, як жінка завжди права, в решті решт, а дружина завжди робить все в інтересах сім’ї та чоловіка, хоч яке воно (чоловік) твердолобе це побачити відразу. Мені подобалось, як Фабі брала щось в свої руки і що з цього виходило. Подобалось, що не було фантастичного екшину і розривів, подобалось, як вона протистояла тій мерзенній матері Козімо. Яка ж вона сука, але це і так зрозуміло з попередньї книги.
Чесно, про Дома мені було зрозуміло щє з першої появи на кладовищі, лише не могла зрозуміти як він зʼявиться 😅.
Знімаю трошки зірочок за твердолобість і грубість Козімо, 4,5⭐️
Want to Read
July 21, 2026₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
literally the quickest approval in the history of quickest approval! and i'm so excited to read this cuz i've been seeing book 1 all over insta so i kinda have high hopes that it's gonna eat so hard!!1!
literally the quickest approval in the history of quickest approval! and i'm so excited to read this cuz i've been seeing book 1 all over insta so i kinda have high hopes that it's gonna eat so hard!!1!
Want to Read
February 14, 2026I don’t do that often: but wtf is wrong with you people?
You didn’t like the first book? FINE. Don’t read the second.
You are struggling with potential cheating? FINE. Don’t read the second. Or wait for the TW.
You can’t copy past a whole page of the first book in the series to affirm that the next one will be lame (and I stay polite). It won’t be available until July 2026.
Respect the author and her work, for f*ck sake.
AND
for the sake of the humanity, keep your thoughts to yourself. Especially when 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 know 👏🏻 nothing 👏🏻
Damnit.
It’s not because you have internet, that you have to share everything that is on your mind.
You didn’t like the first book? FINE. Don’t read the second.
You are struggling with potential cheating? FINE. Don’t read the second. Or wait for the TW.
You can’t copy past a whole page of the first book in the series to affirm that the next one will be lame (and I stay polite). It won’t be available until July 2026.
Respect the author and her work, for f*ck sake.
AND
for the sake of the humanity, keep your thoughts to yourself. Especially when 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 know 👏🏻 nothing 👏🏻
Damnit.
It’s not because you have internet, that you have to share everything that is on your mind.
August 18, 2026
4.5⭐ Es que lo he terminado en menos de un día!
Empecé un poco perdida porque ya hace tiempo que leí el anterior y me costó entender que se solapan en el tiempo. Lo hace de una forma magnífica porque no se repite nada innecesario, sólo eres consciente de que estás en el mismo momento desde otro punto de vista en algún fragmento.
Cosimo es el mayor de los hermanos Ferrero, el que debe ser el futuro Don, así que tiene que asegurar un matrimonio con otra familia que traiga beneficios.
Fabiana sabe que algún día su libertad se terminaría y tendría que casarse con un mafioso que eligiera su hermano.
Es lo que se espera de ellos. Aunque no quieran. Por eso, llegar a un acuerdo temporal puede ser una solución para ambos.
Qué voy a decir de la trama, si los libros de Gabrielle son siempre magníficos. Pues que tiene una gran dosis de traición, familia, romance y te tiene atrapada hasta el mismo final.
Tiene la combinación justa para convencer a cualquier lectora de mafia.
Si ya has leído sus libros, seguro que estabas esperando éste. No te va a defraudar, sólo te va a dejar esperando el siguiente y haciendo tus apuestas.
Si no la has leído, empieza por el primero, están interconectados y van apareciendo personajes de diferentes series.
Empecé un poco perdida porque ya hace tiempo que leí el anterior y me costó entender que se solapan en el tiempo. Lo hace de una forma magnífica porque no se repite nada innecesario, sólo eres consciente de que estás en el mismo momento desde otro punto de vista en algún fragmento.
Cosimo es el mayor de los hermanos Ferrero, el que debe ser el futuro Don, así que tiene que asegurar un matrimonio con otra familia que traiga beneficios.
Fabiana sabe que algún día su libertad se terminaría y tendría que casarse con un mafioso que eligiera su hermano.
Es lo que se espera de ellos. Aunque no quieran. Por eso, llegar a un acuerdo temporal puede ser una solución para ambos.
Qué voy a decir de la trama, si los libros de Gabrielle son siempre magníficos. Pues que tiene una gran dosis de traición, familia, romance y te tiene atrapada hasta el mismo final.
Tiene la combinación justa para convencer a cualquier lectora de mafia.
Si ya has leído sus libros, seguro que estabas esperando éste. No te va a defraudar, sólo te va a dejar esperando el siguiente y haciendo tus apuestas.
Si no la has leído, empieza por el primero, están interconectados y van apareciendo personajes de diferentes series.
August 6, 2026
Well, this one was quite a ride. I didn't have time to reread book 1 before diving in, so I had to have my memory jogged about what had previously happened. Though I felt like I slipped back into the world of the Ferraro's messy lives quite quickly.
Cosimo & Fabiana are engaged at the beginning of this book. Relectantly on his part, dutifully on her part. He is suspicious of her connection to his mother and the pattern of Vita's manipulation will tell you he has a good reason to be. He has plans to torpedo his impending nuptuals and does so by deeply hurting Fabiana's feelings.
Then his father is killed and the line of succession isn't as clear as it was thought to be. Vita is meddling again. Making a marriage alliance with Fabiana's family more important than ever. And, boy is going to need to eat his words and do some GROVELLING to convince her to go through with a wedding.
Overall, I liked how they eventually got on the same team. Even if I found Cosimo kind of high-handed and insufferable at times. Fabiana was too naive by half for being raised in this world, but I guess that was the point. She is the exact opposite of Vita and that fact is what endears her to Cosimo when it is most important.
I really enjoyed the 3rd act of this romance and it had a very satisfying ending. That overcame some of the bumps and stalls along the way.
4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: Violence/Death, Parental Manipulation, Implied OW (but all will be revealed)
*Thank you to the author for an ALC of this title.*
Cosimo & Fabiana are engaged at the beginning of this book. Relectantly on his part, dutifully on her part. He is suspicious of her connection to his mother and the pattern of Vita's manipulation will tell you he has a good reason to be. He has plans to torpedo his impending nuptuals and does so by deeply hurting Fabiana's feelings.
Then his father is killed and the line of succession isn't as clear as it was thought to be. Vita is meddling again. Making a marriage alliance with Fabiana's family more important than ever. And, boy is going to need to eat his words and do some GROVELLING to convince her to go through with a wedding.
Overall, I liked how they eventually got on the same team. Even if I found Cosimo kind of high-handed and insufferable at times. Fabiana was too naive by half for being raised in this world, but I guess that was the point. She is the exact opposite of Vita and that fact is what endears her to Cosimo when it is most important.
I really enjoyed the 3rd act of this romance and it had a very satisfying ending. That overcame some of the bumps and stalls along the way.
4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: Violence/Death, Parental Manipulation, Implied OW (but all will be revealed)
*Thank you to the author for an ALC of this title.*
July 23, 2026
I really enjoyed their story!! The series is chefs kiss! It has the perfect amount of everything and the characters are easily relatable. This man bought her a 1m dollar dress because she had a dress malfunction and she was embarrassed! And he doesn’t like spending unnecessary money but for her he did everything!
September 3, 2026
5⭐️
Дуже класна історія з тропом «шлюб за розрахунком». Взагалі це ідеальний варіант мафії, бо вона тут просто на тлі. Без бісячих розбірок та мафіозного знецінення жінки.
✔️Ще однозначно, хочу відзначити легкість мови, читати дуже комфортно, діалоги та роздуми гг, як ніби з друзями спілкуєшся.
✔️Класний гумор, особливо між братами. Алессіо та різдвяний светр 🎄🤭 А серед жінок, мій кумир Зо, просто неймовірний пранк на дівич-вечорі😂
Усі улюблені сцени авторки, це і мої теж. Розмова Козімо з братами в клубі, коли дівчата гуляли та його розмова з бухгалтером - ну як тут можна було не сміятись. Це було щиро, душевно та по-справжньому.
👩❤️👨 Гг мені дуже сподобались. Справді. Навіть нема до чого докопатись. Козімо, ну так, тупив хлоп, але це було так життєво, так реально. Він же насправді дуже класний, просто не знав, як це все робиться. Як, наприклад, з відпочинком😁. Хотів як краще, а вийшло як завжди.
І так він швидко перевзувся, і гроші вже витрачає, і дім робить, і крамницю їй подарував, ну молодець, все для дружини!
Щодо Фабі, моментами дуже наївна, але все одно вміє за себе постояти. У обох складне минуле, проте вони змогли знайти свій ХЕ 💕
А ще мене заінтригував Домінік👀 Гадаю, це може бути цікавий персонаж. Алессіо, це взагалі поза конкуренцію😘 Пані Sands, сподіваюсь ви для нього Зо приготували, у них був би гарний дует🤫
Дуже класна історія з тропом «шлюб за розрахунком». Взагалі це ідеальний варіант мафії, бо вона тут просто на тлі. Без бісячих розбірок та мафіозного знецінення жінки.
✔️Ще однозначно, хочу відзначити легкість мови, читати дуже комфортно, діалоги та роздуми гг, як ніби з друзями спілкуєшся.
✔️Класний гумор, особливо між братами. Алессіо та різдвяний светр 🎄🤭 А серед жінок, мій кумир Зо, просто неймовірний пранк на дівич-вечорі😂
Усі улюблені сцени авторки, це і мої теж. Розмова Козімо з братами в клубі, коли дівчата гуляли та його розмова з бухгалтером - ну як тут можна було не сміятись. Це було щиро, душевно та по-справжньому.
👩❤️👨 Гг мені дуже сподобались. Справді. Навіть нема до чого докопатись. Козімо, ну так, тупив хлоп, але це було так життєво, так реально. Він же насправді дуже класний, просто не знав, як це все робиться. Як, наприклад, з відпочинком😁. Хотів як краще, а вийшло як завжди.
І так він швидко перевзувся, і гроші вже витрачає, і дім робить, і крамницю їй подарував, ну молодець, все для дружини!
Щодо Фабі, моментами дуже наївна, але все одно вміє за себе постояти. У обох складне минуле, проте вони змогли знайти свій ХЕ 💕
А ще мене заінтригував Домінік👀 Гадаю, це може бути цікавий персонаж. Алессіо, це взагалі поза конкуренцію😘 Пані Sands, сподіваюсь ви для нього Зо приготували, у них був би гарний дует🤫
July 30, 2026
marry me not? more like read me not.
May 19, 2025
Is it that bad that I really want to read their story
1 year.......
1 year.......
August 1, 2026
140 pages in and I am done with this book because I found myself skimming and power reading. This plot is just another form of read and repeat in the arranged marriage scenario. Very early to DNF a G. Sands book, but the predictability in this book wasn't even subtle, it was just plain boring. I like this author, but not this book or it's characters. Fabi is a doormat from day one and seems to see herself as the savior to her family, while letting a man who has the personality of a street thug in a $5,000 suit walk all over her. I detest spineless MFC who willingly offer themselves up to horrible men because she believes that is her duty to her family, even with a brother who would have pulled out of the arranged marriage had she spilled her guts. She is everything I dislike in a MFC that see themselves as a Florence Nightingale character, or good girls and women who think that because they got a taste of freedom through an education and work they enjoy must sacrifice the rest of their entire lives with being married to man as cold as ice.
Cosimo could have easily withdrew from the arranged marriage, when his father was killed (have a pretty good idea who was behind that) but instead continued to humiliate Fabi with his condescending and hurtful comments, which was meant to break what little self esteem she still had, which wasn't much. Her attempts to get back at him almost seemed like something I would expect from someone in high school or the first year of college, not a grown woman.
I am really tired of the virgin trope in these books which really feels antiquated and dated in 2026. Instead of making me feel like this was a "real time" criminal underworld book, it felt too old school for me. I've been reading this genre for along time and therefore expect more from it than most do. These stories need to be relevant to now and not some outdated scenario that I have read one too many times that some authors still grind out as being "original".
I am going to give this book a pass because I know that this author knows how to write an original storyline with good characters that is a entertaining book.
Cosimo could have easily withdrew from the arranged marriage, when his father was killed (have a pretty good idea who was behind that) but instead continued to humiliate Fabi with his condescending and hurtful comments, which was meant to break what little self esteem she still had, which wasn't much. Her attempts to get back at him almost seemed like something I would expect from someone in high school or the first year of college, not a grown woman.
I am really tired of the virgin trope in these books which really feels antiquated and dated in 2026. Instead of making me feel like this was a "real time" criminal underworld book, it felt too old school for me. I've been reading this genre for along time and therefore expect more from it than most do. These stories need to be relevant to now and not some outdated scenario that I have read one too many times that some authors still grind out as being "original".
I am going to give this book a pass because I know that this author knows how to write an original storyline with good characters that is a entertaining book.
September 3, 2026
Козімо та Фабіана — це просто 🔥.
Він — холодний, владний і небезпечно привабливий, а Фабі — сильна, смілива й з характером, який точно не дозволить йому отримати все так просто 😏.
Мені дуже сподобалося, як поступово змінюються їхні стосунки. Від напруги, недовіри та боротьби характерів до справжніх почуттів ❤️🔥 І ця їхня хімія… просто 🫠🔥.
Вони дуже різні, але саме в цьому і є їхній особливий вайб.
Як на мене Фабі врівноважує Козімо, а він, попри всю свою холодність, поступово показує їй іншу сторону себе 🥹❤️.
А те, як він її називає — "Кропивка" 😍 Ну це просто окремий вид ніжності від такого чоловіка 😂❤️🔥.
І так, Козімо — це черговий книжковий чоловік, якого я заберу собі в улюбленці 🫠😂 .
Мій гарем поповнюється, тому без коментарів 😂
4,5/5 ⭐️
Він — холодний, владний і небезпечно привабливий, а Фабі — сильна, смілива й з характером, який точно не дозволить йому отримати все так просто 😏.
Мені дуже сподобалося, як поступово змінюються їхні стосунки. Від напруги, недовіри та боротьби характерів до справжніх почуттів ❤️🔥 І ця їхня хімія… просто 🫠🔥.
Вони дуже різні, але саме в цьому і є їхній особливий вайб.
Як на мене Фабі врівноважує Козімо, а він, попри всю свою холодність, поступово показує їй іншу сторону себе 🥹❤️.
А те, як він її називає — "Кропивка" 😍 Ну це просто окремий вид ніжності від такого чоловіка 😂❤️🔥.
І так, Козімо — це черговий книжковий чоловік, якого я заберу собі в улюбленці 🫠😂 .
Мій гарем поповнюється, тому без коментарів 😂
4,5/5 ⭐️
July 27, 2026
ARC read — 3.5 stars
-
I regret delaying my review because I unfortunately cannot remember much of my thoughts on this book 😭😭 However, I will try my best to write something of substance!
I adored Gabrielle's writing in her Fallen series; however, I feel that the first two books in this series aren't exactly my favourites. I will say, though, that this book was better written than the first book, Be With Me. The arranged marriage/MoC trope was integrated nicely, and I was quite fond of both of their characters. Their romance was cute and written with the development of any normal mafia romance; however, I felt quite impartial to their relationship and thought it lacked quite a bit of depth.
Thank you to Gabrielle and her team for supplying me this ARC :)
I'm pretty sure there was a plot twist in this book, but again, I can't remember it, which...might speak for itself as I only finished this book four days ago HAHA...I honestly just believe this book was a normal dark romance, with good banter and great tension in the beginning; however, it fell a bit flat during the middle-end of the book. I really hope to enjoy the next two books of this series a bit more!
-
I regret delaying my review because I unfortunately cannot remember much of my thoughts on this book 😭😭 However, I will try my best to write something of substance!
I adored Gabrielle's writing in her Fallen series; however, I feel that the first two books in this series aren't exactly my favourites. I will say, though, that this book was better written than the first book, Be With Me. The arranged marriage/MoC trope was integrated nicely, and I was quite fond of both of their characters. Their romance was cute and written with the development of any normal mafia romance; however, I felt quite impartial to their relationship and thought it lacked quite a bit of depth.
Thank you to Gabrielle and her team for supplying me this ARC :)
I'm pretty sure there was a plot twist in this book, but again, I can't remember it, which...might speak for itself as I only finished this book four days ago HAHA...I honestly just believe this book was a normal dark romance, with good banter and great tension in the beginning; however, it fell a bit flat during the middle-end of the book. I really hope to enjoy the next two books of this series a bit more!
September 15, 2026
3⭐️
A fun, arranged marriage mafia story. This was cute but a little underwhelming on the mafia side? Our plot continues from book one in that Cosimo is still trying to find out who planted the bomb that killed his father, the former don.
I didn't get the feeling that Cosimo is very good at being a mafia man? Like he couldn't figure out anything on his own. Fabiana was the brains behind the operation the entire way. He even knew that his mother knew the truth about the family suspected of planting the bomb? And he just lets that go? To try and figure it out on his own... which he failed to do...
I also didn't really feel the love between these two. I think it's just that Cosimo flipped so fast? Like from "I can't have anyone even HER in my life" to being in love with her, with literally no development in between
"I couldn't believe that someone like you could exist in this wretched world. I knew if I let myself get close to you, I'd fall hard."
A fun, arranged marriage mafia story. This was cute but a little underwhelming on the mafia side? Our plot continues from book one in that Cosimo is still trying to find out who planted the bomb that killed his father, the former don.
I didn't get the feeling that Cosimo is very good at being a mafia man? Like he couldn't figure out anything on his own. Fabiana was the brains behind the operation the entire way. He even knew that his mother knew the truth about the family suspected of planting the bomb? And he just lets that go? To try and figure it out on his own... which he failed to do...
I also didn't really feel the love between these two. I think it's just that Cosimo flipped so fast? Like from "I can't have anyone even HER in my life" to being in love with her, with literally no development in between
July 31, 2026
they're so cute
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