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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first book in the House of Ferraro series. In this book we have Mia, whose father is running for mayor in NYC he has working his campaign and giving speeches because her stepmother had a stroke. Mia has a group of friends they call themselves the Valais Vixens. They all went to a private boarding school and became best friends. One of her friends is engaged to the head of a mafia organization that her father is trying to take down and hopefully prosecute. When Mia tries to ses her friend she unfortunately interrupts her engagement party. Mia while in the bathroom hears a discussion between Romolo and an old lover. Romolo at first doesn’t know who she is. But he knows that he wants to have some kind of personal interaction with her. Now Mia is a people pleaser, but she also wants the best for her friend. As she begins to realize this engagement is less than ideal, she thinks that Romolo can help her. However, there are secrets on both sides. I loved Romolo who was possessive and sort of a man whore at first. I love a redeem rake. That once he meets the one, he is hooked and smitten. Mia was the ultimate good girl until Romolo entered her life, but she was happier with him in her life. This was a spicy, mysterious story with a great friend group and suspense. I’m so eager to read the next books in this series.
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
5 STARS
OH MY GOODNESS!!
I think you can guess that I am obsessed with this story! This was my first Gabrielle Sands' books but I can tell you now, it will NOT be my last. I loved this story and I love Mia so much!!
The action that was in there, the suspense that was in there, the SPICE that was in there, it was all so freakin good. It was off to a slower start and I wasn't sure how I was feeling about it but then it hit a certain point and it was getting so good that I couldn't put it down. AND THEN the last 20% I was on the edge of my seat, reading and trying not to look ahead so I would spoil myself LOL.
If you need a mafia book, read this. If you need a Romeo and Juliet inspired story, read this. If you want action and suspense, read this. And if you want none of that, STILL GO READ THIS!
(arc review) - OUT NOW!
OH MY GOODNESS!!
I think you can guess that I am obsessed with this story! This was my first Gabrielle Sands' books but I can tell you now, it will NOT be my last. I loved this story and I love Mia so much!!
The action that was in there, the suspense that was in there, the SPICE that was in there, it was all so freakin good. It was off to a slower start and I wasn't sure how I was feeling about it but then it hit a certain point and it was getting so good that I couldn't put it down. AND THEN the last 20% I was on the edge of my seat, reading and trying not to look ahead so I would spoil myself LOL.
If you need a mafia book, read this. If you need a Romeo and Juliet inspired story, read this. If you want action and suspense, read this. And if you want none of that, STILL GO READ THIS!
(arc review) - OUT NOW!
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not bad but not great. There is a ton of inner monologue. You spend more time in the MCs heads than they speak to each other or to others. It started to get a bit repetitive. I was dying for more interaction. Because it was so heavy with inner monologue it came off very “tell me not show me”. Writing wasn’t terrible but there were some word choices that gave me the ick - “slurp” really? And some of the love declarations came off as trying to be epic and deep but just didn’t make sense.
This book could have used some more humor. Between the emotional issues the MCs have individually, the emotional conflict with each other, and the slight intensity of the non romance plot, there needed more lighter moments. Zo carried the humor and there wasn’t enough of her to help.
This book could have used some more humor. Between the emotional issues the MCs have individually, the emotional conflict with each other, and the slight intensity of the non romance plot, there needed more lighter moments. Zo carried the humor and there wasn’t enough of her to help.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW WOW WOW! OK I loved this. Loved it.
This is the first book in the House of Ferraro series. I could tell that there was probably a series before this one, but I never felt lost or like I was missing info. Gabrielle did a great job introducing new readers to an established world.
Mia and Romolo are such nuanced and complex characters. Mia, the sunshine girl who puts everyone else first and at the sake of her own happiness and wellbeing. And Romolo, the mafia bad boy who is hardened from trauma and being used for others' gains. THESE TWO. When they meet, the chemistry and the delicious slow burn is just so, so good.
It has Romeo and Juliet vibes - her father is running for mayor with a promise to end gangster violence in the city, and Romolo's family is one of the leading crime organizations in the same city. The action, story telling, and bit of mystery to things was so well done - the last 50 pages are just un-put-downable reading.
And these two! The chemistry! Once they get together it's just molten.
We also meet Romolo's brothers - Cosimo - who has an arranged marriage with Mia's best friend, Fabi (and OMGGG I cannot wait to see how their story plays out!), and also Alessio, who I imagine we'll be getting a story for as well. Well, I am here for this Ferraro family, and I cannot wait for the next book!
This book grabbed me right from the start and didn't let up once. Now I'm sad it's over, but I'm excited to check out this author's backlist while we wait for the next book in this series!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the House of Ferraro series. I could tell that there was probably a series before this one, but I never felt lost or like I was missing info. Gabrielle did a great job introducing new readers to an established world.
Mia and Romolo are such nuanced and complex characters. Mia, the sunshine girl who puts everyone else first and at the sake of her own happiness and wellbeing. And Romolo, the mafia bad boy who is hardened from trauma and being used for others' gains. THESE TWO. When they meet, the chemistry and the delicious slow burn is just so, so good.
It has Romeo and Juliet vibes - her father is running for mayor with a promise to end gangster violence in the city, and Romolo's family is one of the leading crime organizations in the same city. The action, story telling, and bit of mystery to things was so well done - the last 50 pages are just un-put-downable reading.
And these two! The chemistry! Once they get together it's just molten.
We also meet Romolo's brothers - Cosimo - who has an arranged marriage with Mia's best friend, Fabi (and OMGGG I cannot wait to see how their story plays out!), and also Alessio, who I imagine we'll be getting a story for as well. Well, I am here for this Ferraro family, and I cannot wait for the next book!
This book grabbed me right from the start and didn't let up once. Now I'm sad it's over, but I'm excited to check out this author's backlist while we wait for the next book in this series!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Steam Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“He was one of the most dangerous men in this city, but somehow, he had become my safest place.”
I don’t think I have enough words or proper thoughts to tell you how much I love this book but I’m gonna try.
This had everything I wanted it to have and more! A Romeo and Juliet style retelling with a mafia baddie and the upcoming mayors daughter! I mean what more could you want!
I loved Mia so much, she’s an absolute sweetheart who has a heart of gold, is willing to help anyone even if it means putting her life hold to make her father happy.
Romolo is the son of the local mafia family that Mia’s father is trying to put away. He’s dark, he’s scary but after a chance encounter with Mia he starts to feel things he long thought he’d buried.
I love these two so much! Complete opposites, rival families but discover they might have more in common than they thought. What started as a job for Rom, turns into him not being able to stay away from her. The man becomes obsessed with her and why wouldn’t he, Mia is perfect and everything he didn’t know he needed. They found the missing pieces of themselves in each other and was once they had that, neither wanted to let the other go.
And the spice in this was fantastic!🥵 Rom has such a dirty mouth and I loved every minute of it! But I loved their sweet moments the best. A man as scary as Rom, seeing him be soft only for Mia, it had me swooning 😍
I won’t give anything else away but this was my first Gabrielle Sands book and it has become a top favourite! I was hooked from the start and didn’t want Mia and Rom’s story to end! I literally had chills and tears at certain moments.
I loved the few twists and surprises that came, Gabrielle knows how suck you right in and have you dying to know how it all ends! Cannot recommend this book enough! I will be immensely reading her backlist!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
I loved this whole heartedly. Romolo and Mia, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and so good! I loved how they both developed as the story went on, I could feel and see their stories and histories. The banter, angst, and spicy were on point! I cant wait for more from these brothers!
Thank you to Gabrielle Sands for allowing me to read this ARC for a honest review. The above review is my opinion and my thoughts alone.
Thank you to Gabrielle Sands for allowing me to read this ARC for a honest review. The above review is my opinion and my thoughts alone.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓿𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮, 𝓑𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓶. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 𝓽𝓸𝓸.”
Okayyy I need to scream about Be With Me by Gabrielle Sands because this book completely consumed me. I started it thinking I’d just read a few chapters and suddenly it was 2AM and I couldn’t stop
💋 TROPES 💋
❤️ Enemies to lovers
✨ Good girl x bad boy
❤️ Forbidden romance
✨ Protective hero
❤️ Slow burn romance
✨ Touch her and die
❤️ He's obsessed with her
✨ Political scandal twisty bits
Rom and Mia’s story had me hooked from the very beginning. The whole forbidden setup, mayor’s golden girl and the mafia don’s son? Yes please. But Gabrielle took it to another level. The way Rom looks at her, the way he wants her... he’s intense, obsessed, protective and I ate up every second of it
Mia seems like the perfect daughter, all polished and proper, but deep down she’s so done with pretending. And when Rom walks in? Sparks. Fire. Chaos. The tension between them was everything. You just know they’re all wrong for each other but that only makes you want them together more. The way he said this 👇 had me screaming 😭
“𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓷𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮’𝓼 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓾𝓷𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓪 𝓰𝓾𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓽.”
Also Rom’s backstory? It wrecked me. I didn’t expect to feel so deeply for him but his pain and the way he loves Mia so fiercely... ugh I love him
𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓭𝓮𝓷𝔂 𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮. 𝓘. 𝓦𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭. 𝓗𝓮𝓻.
The plot had the perfect amount of drama, danger, secrets and that twist near the end? I gasped. And now I’m so invested in Cosimo and Fabi.
Gabrielle Sands just knows how to make you feel everything. I’m in love with this world these characters and I’m not ready to let them go 💋❤️
Okayyy I need to scream about Be With Me by Gabrielle Sands because this book completely consumed me. I started it thinking I’d just read a few chapters and suddenly it was 2AM and I couldn’t stop
💋 TROPES 💋
❤️ Enemies to lovers
✨ Good girl x bad boy
❤️ Forbidden romance
✨ Protective hero
❤️ Slow burn romance
✨ Touch her and die
❤️ He's obsessed with her
✨ Political scandal twisty bits
Rom and Mia’s story had me hooked from the very beginning. The whole forbidden setup, mayor’s golden girl and the mafia don’s son? Yes please. But Gabrielle took it to another level. The way Rom looks at her, the way he wants her... he’s intense, obsessed, protective and I ate up every second of it
Mia seems like the perfect daughter, all polished and proper, but deep down she’s so done with pretending. And when Rom walks in? Sparks. Fire. Chaos. The tension between them was everything. You just know they’re all wrong for each other but that only makes you want them together more. The way he said this 👇 had me screaming 😭
“𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓷𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮’𝓼 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓾𝓷𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓪 𝓰𝓾𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓽.”
Also Rom’s backstory? It wrecked me. I didn’t expect to feel so deeply for him but his pain and the way he loves Mia so fiercely... ugh I love him
𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓭𝓮𝓷𝔂 𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮. 𝓘. 𝓦𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭. 𝓗𝓮𝓻.
The plot had the perfect amount of drama, danger, secrets and that twist near the end? I gasped. And now I’m so invested in Cosimo and Fabi.
Gabrielle Sands just knows how to make you feel everything. I’m in love with this world these characters and I’m not ready to let them go 💋❤️