When She Unravels: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Fallen Book 1)

Wow, Valentina. The twist in the beginning of what she is required to do by her husband was awesome. Somehow, the author has made her strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. When she gets to Ibiza, the emotional roller coaster she goes through is impressive to watch. I truly fell in love with this woman. The twist in the middle... well maybe I should have expected it but I didn't. There is nothing to dislike about this book. The characters are well developed, there is a HEA, no cheating (can I really say that...)... and I do so love an obsessive man.

this series has been on my TBR for a while, but I hadn’t pulled the trigger till now. BIG MISTAKE. also i read them out of order - i read the last one first and then liked it so much i went back to book one. it’s almost a better read this way because you see small snippets of the characters front the first three books in book four…and now some pieces are clicking. Damiano - the perfect man. Valentina (and the women in this series as a whole (I’m finding out) are the perfect mix of ‘don’t ✨mess✨ with me’ and also - ‘i do what i want’ with a small pinch of 🥺🥺🥺. we love to see it. 12/10 no notes. and the writing is flawless. i saw a different review that said there were some cliche moments that they overlooked because the book is so good - i say…there’s a reason some of these tropes/story lines/sayings are so overused - BECAUSE THEYRE GOOD. some writers just can’t execute it well and it falls flat. that’s not the case here. i started this book at like 7:30 pm after work, had to take a nap because my eyes were swimming, and finished this am. reading slump over.

The first book in The Fallen series. This book tells the story of Damiano De Rossi and Valentina Garzolo Conte. Valentina is the eldest daughter of the Don of one of the prominent N.Y. mafia families. He cares nothing for any of his daughters except how he can use them to benefit his power and status or to reward loyal men under him. In that regard Valentina is married off to her father's enforcer, a man even more emotionless than her father; he's a demented psychopath. She was raised to be a good mafia wife, to support and obey her husband, no matter what he demands of her. Neither her mother or father will help or interfere, so she endures his deranged demands for two months, until it almost breaks her, then her husband goes too far. Unable to take anymore, she helps an innocent young girl to escape torture and possible death. Now she herself must run. She knows her father will consider her a disgrace, disloyal and, if caught, will likely kill her or worse, return her to her husband who will lock her up, torture her before killing her. With nothing but her passport and some cash stolen from their safe, she flees to Barcelona; it's the first flight out of the country with available seats, and then to Ibiza, a party town at the height of the season, a perfect place to hide among so many travelers and partiers. Damiano's father was the head of the Casalesi clan, part of the Camora mafia. He would have been the presumed heir; but at the age of 11, his family is attacked by a distant uncle who wanted control of the Casalesi mafia. He and his baby sister, the only survivors, are taken in by another uncle, a capo in the Camora, who protects them. But Damiano grows to have power of his own and vows to get revenge and claim his rightful place. After their paths cross, we begin Damiano's journey to claiming his throne and Valentina's from an obedient, fearful mafia wife and daughter to bold, unafraid mafia queen. Secrets and mistrust have them at odds, even when feelings are involved, and outside enemies create other problems and dangers. Damiano struggles with the decisions he makes, as much as with the reasons he makes them, while Valentina struggles with her own guilt for the things she was made to do and for leaving her sisters behind to face their father's wrath. A few minor errors/typos, but none distracting. A superbly emotional story, great characters... truly vile villains, a tender hearted anti-hero and a strong, but troubled female lead. This is the first Gabriella Sands book I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. Looking forward to Martina and Georgio's story and especially Ras and Gemma (the latter on pre-order). 5 stars for this one.

I love this couple so much! And I loved that they healed each other, helped each other and loved each other. I am running to read the next book of the series!

Desde el momento en que empeze a leer me gusto la trama y bueno lo Lei en un día. Todo lo que me gusta de un libro bien redactado que te hace sentir lo que los protagonists sientes. Excelente libro lo ame.

Primeiro contato com a autora e não me arrependo nem um pouco, não tive como parar de ler, muito bem escrito. Terminei as 6 da manhã, socoroooo!!!

Loved everything about this book, such an easy read too, I finished it in a day 🙈 looking forward to reading the next one and hoping it's just as good 😊

A minha filha adorou o livro. Entrega rapida e antes do tempo.