I loved this so much!! The cover is stunning and the story swept me up. Romolo was such a delicious hero and the mouth on him?? Yes please!!

I devoured this book the moment it landed on my Kindle — Gabrielle Sands has delivered another knockout. I made time in my day to dive in, and it was absolutely worth it. Sands has a gift for weaving together interconnected stories that feel effortless and captivating, blending crime elements with romance in a way that keeps you hooked on every twist and turn. While this novel is a perfect place for newcomers to start, it also beautifully builds on the Fallen God duet and The Fallen series, rewarding longtime fans. At its core, it’s a bad-boy-meets-good-girl romance, centered around an antihero whose charm and depth go far beyond his reputation as a cold-hearted flirt. Watching his character unfold was a real highlight.
The tension between the underworld figure and the woman who knows she should stay far away from him gives the romance an irresistible edge. It’s got danger, steam, and a surprising amount of tenderness — a dynamic combination that kept me engaged throughout.
The plot centers on Mia, whose father is in the middle of a mayoral race. She’s deeply involved in his campaign, though she’s eager to get back to her own life and ambitions. When Mia uncovers the truth about her best friend’s ties to a criminal family, she’s stunned — and crossing paths with Romolo, a member of that family, sets off alarm bells. Romolo, whose job is to collect compromising information on Mia’s father, finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Mia. Despite knowing that getting close is a terrible idea, the two can’t seem to stay away from each other.
While Romolo’s family was introduced in earlier books, he remained an enigmatic figure — which made getting to know him here especially compelling. He’s initially portrayed as a calculating, emotionless womanizer, but Mia shakes his world in ways he doesn’t expect. His past is messy and dark, taking the story in surprising directions. Mia, for her part, is independent and resilient, with a mix of shyness and determination that makes her an ideal counterpart for Romolo. The star-crossed lovers vibe gave the romance an extra spark, and I’m now eagerly looking forward to the upcoming books about Romolo’s brothers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was my first book from the author AND my first mafia romance, ever. The cover and synopsis really intrigued me most.

5 stars!

This is a forbidden, mafia romance. Mia's dad is running for mayor and one of his goals, if he is elected, is to reduce crime committed by the mafia. When Mia crashes her best friend's engagement party she accidentally meets Romolo. Romolo is apart of a mafia family that Mia's dad is trying to put in prison. This meeting sparks an opportunity for Romolo to get information on Mia's dad, through Mia, to give to his family and stop his mayoral campaign. As they keep meeting, both characters start to grow feelings for one another.

I was ADDICTED to this. If I didn't have to attend my little sister's birthday party I would have devoured this in one sitting. This was my first mafia romance and it definitely won't be my last. There is just something about a man with so much power that would literally do anything for the girl he loves.

The pacing in this felt right and it was done well. I was hooked and quite literally could not put it down. I loved the two main characters. They both had depth, were very relatable, and their actions/behaviors made sense once we learned more about them. There was an appropriate amount of spice in this (I think I've been hesitant to read mafia romances because I'm convinced it is just spice and no plot, but this had PLOT).

Per the author's note to the reader at the end of the book, Romolo's family was introduced in a previous book from her???? I'm ignoring my tbr because I need to read her entire backlog.

I'm already anticipating the next book in this series!! I need Alessio's book ASAP!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Velvet Pages LLC for sending me an ARC at this book.

This was my first introduction to the author and it definitely set the bar really high!! This is enemies to lovers, forbidden relationship and it’s a mafia relationship!! A great combination. Our main characters are Mia, who is the mayor’s daughter and Romolo, who is a part of the mafia and the reason why we’re enemies is because Mia‘s dad is running his mayoral campaign on putting those in the crime industry behind bars, obviously that’s bad for the mafia. Very early on in the book Mia finds out that one of her friends is actually part of the mafia, but she never knew that because when she met her, it was a different last name. This is how she gets thrown into the mafia world and she meets Romolo. He doesn’t know who she is at the time but kind of feels a little attraction with her. Obviously, when he discovers her real identity, he is looking for a way of how he can use Mia to help his family and find dirt on her father. Mia is very loyal and feels like she can’t betray her father but Romolo kind of strikes up a deal with her of helping her business. They start to form a little bond from this business and then it gets a little messy. A secret relationship starts and it can be bad for both sides, but they have this great attraction to each other and they start to understand each other on a deeper level and want to keep exploring that. I absolutely enjoyed the story and by the end of it I wanted more. I also loved the bit of suspense and mystery aspects as well.

I ATE this up like the catnip that it is, yet another 5-star read from the talented Gabrielle Sands. I cleared my schedule when it hit my kindle, and I’ve got no regrets. She is so skilled at tying her series together in a way that’s natural and compelling, infusing organized crime plot into the romance and making me feel genuinely invested in all the drama. This series starter is a great point for new readers to jump in, but it also builds on the Fallen God duet and The Fallen series before it. Ultimately, it’s a bad boy/good girl romance featuring an antihero who is so much more than the ruthless playboy he appears to be on the surface, and I loved peeling back the layers of his character. I also loved the exploration of a relationship between a made man and a woman who knows better than to get involved with him, which took the forbidden tension up another level. It’s suspenseful, sexy, and a little bit sweet; a multifaceted read that pulled me in more and more as the story progressed. I loved it!

The story follows Mia, the daughter of a man who is running for mayor. She’s been helping him campaign, and is genuinely proud of his work - though she’ll be happy once she can go back to her own business. When Mia discovers that her best friend is actually part of a family that makes a living from organized crime, she is shocked. And when she meets Romolo, she writes him off as trouble she needs to avoid at all costs. As the person in his family who gathers intel, Romolo has been tasked with finding dirt on Mia’s father through her. But something about the woman keeps drawing him closer, and Romolo isn’t sure what to think. They’re doomed from the start, but Mia and Romolo just keep getting closer.

We got to know Romolo’s family in the Fallen God duet, but he was a little bit of a mystery, so I loved finding out more about him as the story progressed. He comes off as this unfeeling playboy who will do whatever he needs to do to gather information, but Mia is a shock to his system. I love a smitten man, and Romolo’s world is turned upside down by her. His backstory is a complicated and dark one, which took the story in a direction I didn’t anticipate. It was great that Mia was strong and solid on her own, shy in some ways yet bold in others. She makes a perfect match for Romolo, and the Romeo & Juliet vibes were an absolute win. I’m even more intrigued by the rest of the family now, and very excited for the brothers’ books.

Disclaimer I do not usually read mafia romances but the description of this and the gorgeous cover made me take a chance. So glad that I did because I really enjoyed this book. Mia was good, kind and starved of the love someone like her deserves. She also had backbone which I really liked, and even more so once the push and pull with Rom began. Also really liked Rom. His pov chapters were a wonderful delve into his character, that struggle between his family and growing feelings for Mia and the messed up past that had shaped him. The chemistry between Mia and Rom was so good, heat, yearning, curiosity and two people finding what was missing with each other. A good start to the series and I look forward to the next one. 4 🌟

My first Gabrielle Sands book and it did not disappoint!! A good mafia romance will always get me out of a slump and this one was perfect!! Rom and Mia had great chemistry from the start. Forbidden mafia romance, he falls first, and found family are just a few of the tropes that made this book great! Also love the set up for the next book to hopefully be Cos and Fabi coming to terms with their arranged marriage and actually enjoying it?? 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Six stars. Six fiery, heart-thumping, can't-catch-your-breath stars.

Be With Me by Gabrielle Sands is the kind of book that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. The tension between light and dark, duty and desire, is masterfully woven through every page. Gabrielle gives us a heroine, Mia, who’s spent her life being “the good girl,” and throws her headfirst into a dangerously magnetic world where good and bad blur deliciously.

Romolo Ferraro is the kind of villain you should run from—but absolutely can’t. He’s dark, possessive, and unforgettable. Every scene between him and Mia crackles with forbidden intensity, and I found myself torn right alongside her—between fear and fascination, love and loyalty.

This isn’t just a romance. It’s a high-stakes game of power, seduction, and self-discovery. It’s the kind of story that makes you question everything. What’s right, what’s wrong, and what you’re willing to risk when the bad boy looks at you like that.

I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it was 3am and I was emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. Gabrielle Sands writes with so much raw emotion, tension, and heat that I literally could not put the book down. I didn’t just read Be With Me—I devoured it.

If you love morally gray heroes, high-stakes romance, and characters who dare to cross every line—they don’t get better than this.

Gabrielle Sands, I don’t know what kind of magic you’ve put in these pages—but I need more. Immediately. This book isn’t just a spicy, dark romance, it’s a full-body experience.

Read it. Fall for the villain. Lose your mind like I did.

Thank you, NetGalley, Gabrielle Sands, for the opportunity to be part of this ARC team.

I love me a good mafia romance, and Gabrielle Sands is going to deliver a good mafia romance every time.

Be With Me tells a Romeo and Juliet story about Mia, the daughter of a mayoral candidate campaigning on cracking down on organized crime, and Romolo, son of don of the Ferraro family. This book was really well-paced, with just enough mystery to make it hard to put down. I really enjoyed Mia growing to stand up for herself, and not having to lose who she is to be with Romolo. As for Romolo, I wanted to reach through the pages and give a hug because my guy was the king of self loathing. Really, the biggest obstacle to Mia and Romolo’s relationship was their own internal struggle, and I eat that up every time. I can’t wait to read Cosimo’s and Alessio’s books.

This was a 4.5 star read for me. The ending was a little anticlimactic, and I would have liked to spend a little more time with Rom and Mia together, but those were small complaints from me in an otherwise very enjoyable read.

I’d recommend this to fans of mafia romance, man obsessed, and star-crossed lovers. A word of caution: there is a scene with on-page grooming/sexual abuse of a minor. It is told in a flashback and is important to his character, not glamorized, and is treated as seriously as it should be by the main characters.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

First let me just thank netgalley, Gabrielle Sands, and the publisher for the amazing opportunity to read this amazing story early!

I was absolutely blown away by Be With Me! Mia is the good girl who wants to do whatever she can to take care of and please those around her whether it be her father, his staff, her stepmother, her clients or her friends but it seems like no matter how hard she tries it’s never quite good enough. Rom is a bad boy, whose family may or may not be involved in the mob, a man who makes his living with his ability to find, trade, and sometimes even create secrets that have people scrambling to do his bidding. And when their paths cross at an engagement party gone wrong… well maybe the good girl needs a little bad in her life to help her gain the confidence she needs to sometime be selfish and take what she wants and maybe just maybe the bad boy needs a little light shined in his darkness to see that while there might be bad in the world there’s peace and kindness too. That is if outside forces don’t rip them from each other. I literally loved everything about this book, and could continue reading about this couple! But I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in book two! So, if you’re looking for a book that’s bursting at the scenes with a Romeo and Juliet-esque enemies to lovers romance between a good girl who is willing to give all of herself to take care of those she loved and the bad boy who has kept his family at the top by trading in secrets, lies, and blackmail, amazingly complex characters, so many moments that will have you yelling, crying, gasping and swooning, plenty of spice, as well as a plot that will keep you flipping pages than be sure to grab a copy of Be With Me!

Gabrielle’s world just keeps expanding—and I am here for it. We’ve had teasing glimpses of the Ferraro family in the Messero-centered Fallen series, but now we’re diving deep into their world and the fragile hierarchy that holds them together. While you don’t need to read the other series first, doing so seriously adds to the world-building and character dynamics. Trust me—go indulge.

After all the build-up, the Ferraros are finally stepping into the spotlight, and I couldn’t put down the story of the youngest sibling, Romolo.

"Be With Me" is a steamy, angsty forbidden romance featuring a charming manipulative mobster and a good, dutiful daughter from a rising and rivaling political figure. Romolo and Mia are polar opposites on paper, but somewhere between their secret rendezvous and stolen moments, they’re not so different after all.

Despite coming from worlds that should keep them apart, Romolo and Mia find solace and something dangerously close to love in each other. With everything stacked against them, I kept asking: How can they possibly make it work?

Buckle up, because this is a wild ride—and the start of a new era for the Ferraro family. I can’t wait to see what Gabrielle has in store next, and yes, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more glimpses of the Messeros too!

Easily her best book, and my favorite of hers.

❤️‍🔥forbidden romance
❤️‍🔥good girl x bad boy
❤️‍🔥he falls first
❤️‍🔥yearning

The depth of emotion in this book is SO good. Rom backstory of his playboy cutthroat manner had my heart squeezing, I adored him. He truly fell so fast for Mia, and just continuously thought he would ruin her. He could be so rude, but Mia understood him so fast that he was just pushing away when he was worried/hurt. He cared for her so deeply, and just wanted to be in her orbit even if it was at a distance.

Mia. My heart ached for the poor girl that just wanted people to love her like she loved them. She truly was a good girl to Rom's bad boy. I appreciate that Gabrielle kept them as "opposites" but showed exactly how similar they could be.


This was an ARC, which all opinions are my own. This is an instant buy for me.

Oh my goodness

I loved the fallen series, adored the fallen god duet and was very intrigued by the Ferraro family so this is a more than welcome adjacent series

I adored the journey of this story, how it went from a one sided task for Romolo to him falling so hard for Mia, putting her above his family so quickly. Classic he fell first and boy did he fall hard.
Mia was so steady in this book, Romolo helped her so much, without even knowing, in discovering he true strength. She is such a sunshine character and her innocence shows Romolo what true love looks like.

Both characters healed each other, forging such a strong relationship from the pieces of their shattered lives.

Dark dark elements in this book, yet so romantic in others.

Cosimo has some redeeming to do for me in this left book but I don’t doubt the author can pull it out of the bag!

Be with Me is the explosive start to a new series of interconnected standalones following the powerful and dangerous Ferraro brothers—and I was obsessed from the very first chapter. This story is packed with forbidden love, family secrets, political scandal, and just the right amount of danger to keep you on edge.

Mia Morales is a strong, grounded FMC who’s trying to do the right thing for her family, even if it means sacrificing her own dreams. Romolo Ferraro is the kind of morally gray MMC who will destroy the world or fall to his knees for the woman he loves. Their chemistry is everything, and the spice? Absolutely delicious.

I loved how Mia embraced her ambition and didn’t shy away from wanting more—from life, love, or power. The stakes are high, the tension is sharp, and the romance is addictive. Gabrielle Sands delivered the perfect balance of heat and heart, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for the Ferraro family.

If you’re into forbidden romance, rich mob drama, and heroines who don’t play small—this is your next must-read.

OH MY GOD!! This is single-handedly THE best mafia romance book I have ever read!! This is also coincidentally my first Gabrielle Sands book, but I'm immediately adding all her other books to my TBR.

This book has everything a dark romance lover could ask for. It's an enemies to lovers trope between the daughter of a mayoral candidate (Mia) and the youngest son of the Ferraro mafia family (Romolo). It does read like a Romeo and Juliet retelling - which I love!! The relationship between Mia and Romolo truly felt like an enemies to lovers story, there was so much angst, pining and heartache until the very end. The underlying storyline of Mia's father and what he's up to kept me intrigued the whole way through and I like how this book sets up the following stories.

I honestly cannot say enough praise for this book, I have no notes except for WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK COMING OUT??

Be With Me by Gabrielle Sands was addictive steamy perfection!

This is my first book by this author and now I want to read her entire back catalog. She's the mayor's perfect daughter and he's part of the Italian mafia. Her father is set to destroy organized crime in the city but when Mia finds herself in the sights of Romolo, the chemistry and tension between them was perfection. I loved the enemies to lovers trope, secret meetings, complete opposite worlds but Romolo is sweet to Mia and finds himself wanting to be better for her and to deserve her as much as he tries to not want to but their dynamic is steamy, impactful and undeniable. I loved the way Gabrielle sets up the scene for future books in the series and the way the story was quick paced, action packed but you also see their relationship develop. I also loved seeing the twists and turns and lies and secrets that are uncovered and how people who seem a certain way but turn out different. I also love how Romolo truly saw Mia for her and he's so protective and caring of her. They see each other and find something they didn't think was possible in their worlds. It's a must read! I love mafia romance and when it mixes with politics, organized crime, etc. I also loved the Latinx rep with our main character Mia. It's perfection! I loved this book!

I’ve read several books by this author and loved them, so when this was announced I was very excited and it did not disappoint. Mia and Romolo are in a forbidden romance where her father is running for mayor and his father is their rival. The mmc tries to get closer to the fmc to find out anything about her father but there is so much tension between them and they fall in love the more time they spend together. I really loved this book and the development of characters! Thank you Netgalley for this arc, I really appreciate it.

"She was just a target."
Just a target.
A target.
She was, in fact, not just a target.

Would you feel these kinds of things for your target? When he knows she’s off-limits, she’s the enemy. He needs to get all kinds of leverage to bring her father down to finally understand why he wants revenge now, after all these years. Why now, specifically?

This book had me in a chokehold. The tension between these two is so damn thick I screamed when they finally kissed. I loved the mystery aspect of the story beside everything else. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read about enemies to lovers, where they both have vulnerabilities they don’t want to show, but that come out anyway?

“I swallowed. Good girls didn’t sleep with gangsters. But maybe I was tired of being good.”

Mia she’s strong and so selfless. She’s ready to lose everything just to make sure the people she loves will be okay. But that costs her. When she starts to care about Romolo, knowing he’s after her father will she follow her heart or the guilt that eats at her when she doesn’t put everyone else first?

“More time to be with you.”
“To be with me?…”

Romolo he’s ruthless. Focused. Calculated. Goddamn, I understand why Mia would actually risk everything for just a taste. He doesn’t deal well with emotions. He tries to push them to the back of his heart so they won’t surface, but they do. And they clash with his mind, especially when he sees Mia his target.
Every time he looked at her, something in him shifted. The mission blurred. His rules changed.

This was my first book by the author, and it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing is addictive and full of tension. I liked how she balanced the plot and the characters development, I can’t wait to read about the rest of the brothers especially Alessio.

Tropes:
Good girl/playboy
Romeo/Juliet vibes
Forbidden romance
Mafia
Spicy


I will admit, my first Gabrielle Stands book was not the best experience but Be with Me was absolutely amazing and I enjoyed every second of the book. It is a Romeo/Juliet retelling with good girl/playboy vibes. Romolo’s backstory absolutely destroyed me and I loved how by the end of the book Mia found her backbone and stood up for herself.

I cannot wait for Fabi and Cosimo’s book

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!

Wow wow wow.

This was my first Gabrielle Sands book and definitely won't be my last. So glad I stumbled across this in the catalogue because it is SO GOOD! Found myself another auto-read/buy author. I even sacrificed a night of sleep to finish this because I literally could not put it down. Relentless pacing and heart-gripping romance literally had me in a choke hold. Also would recommend to check content warnings before reading.

Firstly, that cover is gorgeous! Obviously will be getting a shelf trophy when this releases. The premise of a Romeo and Juliet inspired story immediately caught my attention but the way how the plot unfolded kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It was absolutely delicious and had me crying for more when it ended. Be With Me already made it in my top 10 reads of 2025 for sure.

Gabrielle Sands was masterful in how it was written and how the tropes were handled. The forbidden romance, the possessive mafia made man who's really a simp for his woman, good girl x bad boy, the suspense and political intrigue - it was all perfection! I could easily follow the plot and my heart bled for our main characters and their doomed romance (thank you Gabrielle for the HEA though haha idk how to survive if there wasn't). The character work itself was amazing, so well fleshed out and multifaceted which made it easy to understand the characters and their motivations and actions (including the side characters). This really enriched the story and added so much depth.

Also the chemistry between our main characters was just on another level. The tension and yearning was just dripping of the pages. This man had me swooning over the things he did for our FMC and was just so, so precious. The FMC was so strong and her commitment to stay true to herself til the end was admirable. My heart ached for them because both went through so much. This book had me crying over fictional people because it was so well written. The spice itself was also *chefs kiss* ugh I need more of this book and have it injected in my veins fr.

I am obsessed.

Literally nothing I didn't love.

Would definitely read this again and am so keen for the next book!

Overall rating: 5/5