Maffia romance

I received the Dutch version of When he Desires by Gabrielle Sands in a romance bookbox. I had never read a maffia romance before so I don’t think I would have ever picked up this book if I would have seen it in a store. But I absolutely loved it! So thanks to Words of Love for sending me this box and helping me discover new books!

In this book we follow Nero who was part of a notorious New York mob family. Because of a mistake he has to flee NYC and takes on the identity of Rowan Miller. Together with a friend they drive across country until they reach Darkwater Hollow a small town in the middle of nowhere. They were just supposed to stop to eat something but the small town grows on them and they decide this will be their new place to settle.

The whole town falls in love with Rowan and his looks except his new neighbor Blake. Blake works in a bar/restaurant owned by her ex. All she ever wanted is to leave this forsaken place and past behind. She even puts her house on the market. But Nero/Rowan has other ideas.

Because Blake is pretty much the only woman in town not giving him attention he only desires her even more. She becomes his obsession and he’ll do literally anything to keep her close and in town.

Will his past catch up to him? Will Blake find out about his real identity and be able to trust him?

Please read the triggers! It starts out as this standard small-town, fake dating romance, but it turns a lot darker pretty quickly! I enjoyed this book so much that I picked up the next one right after!