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Unlearning
This is a story about an unwanted mate and a werewolf who'd rather be something else.
Samantha has patiently waited for her mate ever since her first shift. After finding him, she discovers that he has a pregnant human fiancée he's been with for the last four years. Now Samantha needs to make some difficult decisions about the rest of her life. She must also unlearn all that she's been taught about mates, life, and herself, in order to survive and move on.
An
"Brandon, the Alpha and your parents will probably fill you in on how they all came to know about your relationship with Hailey. I am glad that I trusted my gut and in doing so, discovered that my so-called mate has been cheating on me with his girlfriend for the last four years (and probably with randos in the years before that). And yes, it was cheating. You learned I was your mate when you were 18, so everything you did with others after that was a desecration of our bond."
Samantha has patiently waited for her mate ever since her first shift. After finding him, she discovers that he has a pregnant human fiancée he's been with for the last four years. Now Samantha needs to make some difficult decisions about the rest of her life. She must also unlearn all that she's been taught about mates, life, and herself, in order to survive and move on.
An
"Brandon, the Alpha and your parents will probably fill you in on how they all came to know about your relationship with Hailey. I am glad that I trusted my gut and in doing so, discovered that my so-called mate has been cheating on me with his girlfriend for the last four years (and probably with randos in the years before that). And yes, it was cheating. You learned I was your mate when you were 18, so everything you did with others after that was a desecration of our bond."
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2024
199 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
August 26, 2024
Spoilers
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this more, but couldn't. It's not exactly a rejected mates story, but close as the first H didn't tell his mate what he was up to during the time he was supposed to be waiting for her. They're 5 yrs apart. The h had to find out for herself. First H impregnated a human he was in love with. Here in lies my first problem. It's a me thing. I do not like humans and shifters together and the human woman here proved how whiny, immature, and not understanding she was. True no one explained it well enough to her because their union was looked down upon. The first H Brandon was a pathetic loser is all I can say, and had zero respect or love for his wolf that ended up tragically dying in the end because he couldn't be with his true mate. Freaking depressing. So essentially Brandon just becomes human, so he can be with his bratty wife. I liked the h Sam. She hated Brandon for what he did and stuck to it until the end. She got her HEA with a kickass Alpha who had something similar happen to him with his mate when he was young. Now the biggest gripe I have and I won't spoil it is who their daughter's mate ends up being in the end. I'm sure you can guess, but I was pissed. Kudos to the author for giving everyone a HEA, but I hold grudges like nobody's business and would have preferred a different outcome. That's just me. 4 different POVS. Could have definitely done without Hailey the human's POV. I couldn't give two shit's about what she was thinking. Brandon's just pissed me off because he basically threw away his soulmate, but I was interested in what he was thinking.
Safety: in your face cheating. I find it so much more horrible in fated mates books than in the human world 🙈
TW: suicide attempt with the loss of Brandon's wolf. The most tragic thing that happened in this story. Brandon didn't deserve a HEA for what he put his wolf through. I actually felt that in my soul 😭Sorry 😐
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this more, but couldn't. It's not exactly a rejected mates story, but close as the first H didn't tell his mate what he was up to during the time he was supposed to be waiting for her. They're 5 yrs apart. The h had to find out for herself. First H impregnated a human he was in love with. Here in lies my first problem. It's a me thing. I do not like humans and shifters together and the human woman here proved how whiny, immature, and not understanding she was. True no one explained it well enough to her because their union was looked down upon. The first H Brandon was a pathetic loser is all I can say, and had zero respect or love for his wolf that ended up tragically dying in the end because he couldn't be with his true mate. Freaking depressing. So essentially Brandon just becomes human, so he can be with his bratty wife. I liked the h Sam. She hated Brandon for what he did and stuck to it until the end. She got her HEA with a kickass Alpha who had something similar happen to him with his mate when he was young. Now the biggest gripe I have and I won't spoil it is who their daughter's mate ends up being in the end. I'm sure you can guess, but I was pissed. Kudos to the author for giving everyone a HEA, but I hold grudges like nobody's business and would have preferred a different outcome. That's just me. 4 different POVS. Could have definitely done without Hailey the human's POV. I couldn't give two shit's about what she was thinking. Brandon's just pissed me off because he basically threw away his soulmate, but I was interested in what he was thinking.
Safety: in your face cheating. I find it so much more horrible in fated mates books than in the human world 🙈
TW: suicide attempt with the loss of Brandon's wolf. The most tragic thing that happened in this story. Brandon didn't deserve a HEA for what he put his wolf through. I actually felt that in my soul 😭Sorry 😐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
The blurb sets it up, Samantha has excitedly waited for her mate for years when she finds out it’s her older packmate Brandon. She’s suspicious because he’s acting dodgy and would’ve known he was her mate for years but avoided her. She decides to follow him and discovers that he has a pregnant fiancée.
August 28, 2024
I've been mulling this one around for a couple of days since finishing it. I loved the storytelling. I actually enjoyed the entire tale quite a bit, and I definitely got the angsty feels that I was craving from rejected mate stories. Unlearning was original compared to most others in this genre. But holy heck, that ending was so sad. That blindsided me and kind of numbed me a bit. I definitely didn't get the HEA kind of ending that I enjoy in these stories, and I was bummed when I finished reading this. After kicking it around for a couple of days, I just could not quit thinking about this story, the characters and how it all played out. Looking back, I really did enjoy Brandon FINALLY getting a bit of comeuppance for his stupidity. I think I'm going to bump this up to 4 Stars after all. I am looking forward to diving into The Barren Luna next!
May 12, 2025
This was a companion book in a way to one of Her Second-Hand Mate.
The heroine finds out that her mate is with a human and a pregnant one at that. The heroine refuses to accept the situation and makes a life of her own. Second chance romance and a smart heroine. This one did not hit as hard as Her Second-Hand Mate and The Barren Luna which were both 4 star reads for me.
For readers that love the genre of shifter, there is a shocking end to her initial mate. Very sad.
The heroine finds out that her mate is with a human and a pregnant one at that. The heroine refuses to accept the situation and makes a life of her own. Second chance romance and a smart heroine. This one did not hit as hard as Her Second-Hand Mate and The Barren Luna which were both 4 star reads for me.
For readers that love the genre of shifter, there is a shocking end to her initial mate. Very sad.
August 26, 2024
Emotional once it started going
This book would have been so much better without chapters upon chapters of inner monologue.
I was kind of angry that Brandon was able to get his happily ever after he killed his wolf.
The ending blew me away when we are told Sage found her mate and his name is Benjamin just like Brandon's sons name.
I did love Samantha and James together though they were perfect for each other!!!!
This book would have been so much better without chapters upon chapters of inner monologue.
I was kind of angry that Brandon was able to get his happily ever after he killed his wolf.
The ending blew me away when we are told Sage found her mate and his name is Benjamin just like Brandon's sons name.
I did love Samantha and James together though they were perfect for each other!!!!
May 26, 2025
I am an Angst Ho. Out and proud ;)
But…..
I don’t like fated mates ending up with others.
Cuz what’s the fucking point.
But…..
I don’t like fated mates ending up with others.
Cuz what’s the fucking point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
3.5 stars (rounded up) - because I really want the next book about their children being fated mates and all the drama that unfolds there.
I loved that they found happy ever afters with people who truly loved them. Even if the road was rocky af.
She was a far better person than I could ever be.
I loved that they found happy ever afters with people who truly loved them. Even if the road was rocky af.
She was a far better person than I could ever be.
April 21, 2025
This had the bones to be a good book. I loved for once that the h was vengeful and rightfully so and never once let her terrible "mates" behavior slide. I love her letter to him when she said "You don't have to tell me it's not my fault, I *know* it's not my fault, you're a cowardly, weak person!" Yes girl! yes! But then it took a nose dive. For one thing, we had to see WAAAAY too much of Brandon (her mate/ex-mate) and Hailey(the bitchy human) being happy and successful. They were together and happy for almost a decade before any real problems set in. He also didn't get NEARLY the payback he deserved. So what if his wolf died? He didn't even care about his wolf and in the end, he was still claiming to love only Hailey and act like he did the right thing up until the end. The fact that they were talking about getting back together? what a huge disappointment. . Then you're going to keep cursing Sam by not only making her have a horrible cowardly mate, but then you're going to keep screwing her over by making her IN-LAWS with her ex-mate??? That's hardly a HEA. I wanted Brandon to truly regret what he did, for the pack to shun him, for Samantha to be a greedy b*tch who cheated on him and left him, for him to beg Samantha to come back to him and for her to shut the door in his face. I didn't want a realistic scenario where the bad guy "grows and becomes better" and gets his HEA. screw that! I wanted my pound of flesh for all the pain he caused and all the lies he told. Also, while there was some chemistry between James and Sam and I liked that more time was put into their courtship, the story is as giving very mixed signals. usually in a werewolf book either it is pro-fated mate or anti-fated mate. This one said one thing, but showed another. It seemed to be very pro-mate with the way it villainized Brandon for cheating on his fated mate before they were together, yet it rewarded him at the same time with giving him someone who he loved and who loved him and a whole family and bunch of happy years together and basically getting off scott-free for what he did. Also, with the way things worked out for James and Samantha it also seemed to push an anti-mate narrative. Overall, I was excited to read, enjoyed the set up and then was ultimately disappointed in the conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
I’m not sure wear to start with this book. Did I hate it no, did I enjoy it oddly yes. The writing style put me off the most. Through out the chapters the years would change and we would get a brief summary of what had happen until then. It was kind of like going through pictures in chronological order to tell a story, but with words. I loved the FMC, and how she stayed true to herself and her wolf. It ends on a HEA for everyone and a little twist at the end. So my question is to the author is there going be book on Sage?
February 5, 2025
There are very few books that I truly hate. Normally, I just DNF them and forget about them. But this one—I couldn’t get past it. (Maybe for that reason alone, I should consider giving it a higher star rating.)
My greatest, humongus pet peeve in books, apart from "Revers Harem" romances, is when an author or a publishing house is giving a false or missleading description of story. This is one of the cases, here.
There is no point to this book. Nothing. The whole concept of shifter romances revolves around the "mate" theme. Even I, a beginner in this genre, understand that. No matter what happens, mates are supposed to be together.
That’s not the case here. The hero and heroine (or the so-called mates) spend roughly 25 pages together, sharing nothing more than a single kiss. The remaining 250 pages focus on his relationship with the other woman, while the heroine is left to accept that her mate is with someone else and ultimately finds another partner.
Secondly, everyone says there is cheating in this book. But how is it cheating? They were never even together to begin with. Just because they were mates and he chose another woman?
The hero is the ultimate asshole—not because he cheated, but because he never took a clear stand on his choices. In my opinion, he isn’t a cheater since he stayed with the woman he actually loved rather than the one who was "chosen" for him.
There is a half-hearted excuse in the setup of the story: wolves supposedly recognize their mates when they turn 18. In this case, the heroine was only 14 when the hero realized she was his mate. He freaked out, left because she was still a child, and took off. Later, while studying, he met the other woman (a human) and relentlessly pursued her. It was love at first sight. They hit all the usual relationship milestones—dating, moving in together, and eventually getting engaged. She even got pregnant on purpose to speed things along.
Meanwhile, the heroine was left waiting. She went through all seven stages of grief and loss before finally moving on, finding another partner, and claiming him as her mate.In the end, everyone gets a somewhat decent ending.
The heroine has children with her second hero, while the original hero—after a failed attempt—ends up killing his wolf in the process and becomes human. This allows him to reconnect with his original heroine (the other woman) and start fresh with her, since they had either divorced or separated after someone explained the true meaning of "mates" to her. The original hero had told her that "mate" was simply another word for "wife" in his kind.
But for me, this just leaves behind a book I absolutely hated—one I initially had high hopes for. I usually enjoy these types of stories because I’m eager to see how the guilty party is made to grovel and earn their happy ending.
My greatest, humongus pet peeve in books, apart from "Revers Harem" romances, is when an author or a publishing house is giving a false or missleading description of story. This is one of the cases, here.
There is no point to this book. Nothing. The whole concept of shifter romances revolves around the "mate" theme. Even I, a beginner in this genre, understand that. No matter what happens, mates are supposed to be together.
That’s not the case here. The hero and heroine (or the so-called mates) spend roughly 25 pages together, sharing nothing more than a single kiss. The remaining 250 pages focus on his relationship with the other woman, while the heroine is left to accept that her mate is with someone else and ultimately finds another partner.
Secondly, everyone says there is cheating in this book. But how is it cheating? They were never even together to begin with. Just because they were mates and he chose another woman?
The hero is the ultimate asshole—not because he cheated, but because he never took a clear stand on his choices. In my opinion, he isn’t a cheater since he stayed with the woman he actually loved rather than the one who was "chosen" for him.
There is a half-hearted excuse in the setup of the story: wolves supposedly recognize their mates when they turn 18. In this case, the heroine was only 14 when the hero realized she was his mate. He freaked out, left because she was still a child, and took off. Later, while studying, he met the other woman (a human) and relentlessly pursued her. It was love at first sight. They hit all the usual relationship milestones—dating, moving in together, and eventually getting engaged. She even got pregnant on purpose to speed things along.
Meanwhile, the heroine was left waiting. She went through all seven stages of grief and loss before finally moving on, finding another partner, and claiming him as her mate.In the end, everyone gets a somewhat decent ending.
The heroine has children with her second hero, while the original hero—after a failed attempt—ends up killing his wolf in the process and becomes human. This allows him to reconnect with his original heroine (the other woman) and start fresh with her, since they had either divorced or separated after someone explained the true meaning of "mates" to her. The original hero had told her that "mate" was simply another word for "wife" in his kind.
But for me, this just leaves behind a book I absolutely hated—one I initially had high hopes for. I usually enjoy these types of stories because I’m eager to see how the guilty party is made to grovel and earn their happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
Cheating = h's fated mate (OM) has known that h is his mate since he was 18 yoa. OM made the conscious decision to pursue and engage in a relationship with OW. OM and OW are engaged and OW is pregnant. Even after the "first" encounter between h and OM (remember, he knew who h was to him but pretended surprise when seeing h again) where OM acknowledges h as his fated mate, OM goes back to OW and continues on with that relationship. In their world, that is cheating/betrayal/desecration/etc. of the mate bond.
h sees OM with OW = h witnessed the OM interact with OW with affection (hugs, kisses, intimate touches, looks of affection/love)and overhears them engaging in sex
OW/OM drama = the OM causes issues by still being possessive of the h despite not wanting to be with the h. It is almost like he wants to put the h on s shelf for him to look at and smell when he wants and to keep the h away from other males. h is no more than a possession, but not a prized one to the OM. OW stirs up drama in that she knowingly got pregnant on purpose (lied to OM to get pregnant) to keep OM. OW did not know about OM/h but learned of their world and of the matebond which was a shocker and made the OW doubt the OM's love. OW caused drama further by intentionally setting up the OM to see/smell the h which caused a fight between OM and the H.
Rejected mate = OM never formally rejects the h, but he very clearly prefers the OW and gives zero consideration to the wolf side of himself...in fact, the OM caused so much damage to his wolf that he eventually killed off his wolf which resulted in the OM and OW having a happily ever after.
A lot of the above dealt with the OM and not really the h, which in reality is not the focus of the book, but hits on the tags I have attached to this review.
The h in this book is incredibly strong and showed so much maturity and ability to overcome the hardships of her life. It was not immediate, but over time growth of her character and determination to continue on that was admirable. h does meet her H and ends up with her HEA.
I believe the books ends on a somewhat of a cliffhanger in that it seems as if the h/H's daughter who is away at college has met her mate...and the mate is possibly the son of the OM/OW!! That would be quite the plot twist for the next book!
h sees OM with OW = h witnessed the OM interact with OW with affection (hugs, kisses, intimate touches, looks of affection/love)and overhears them engaging in sex
OW/OM drama = the OM causes issues by still being possessive of the h despite not wanting to be with the h. It is almost like he wants to put the h on s shelf for him to look at and smell when he wants and to keep the h away from other males. h is no more than a possession, but not a prized one to the OM. OW stirs up drama in that she knowingly got pregnant on purpose (lied to OM to get pregnant) to keep OM. OW did not know about OM/h but learned of their world and of the matebond which was a shocker and made the OW doubt the OM's love. OW caused drama further by intentionally setting up the OM to see/smell the h which caused a fight between OM and the H.
Rejected mate = OM never formally rejects the h, but he very clearly prefers the OW and gives zero consideration to the wolf side of himself...in fact, the OM caused so much damage to his wolf that he eventually killed off his wolf which resulted in the OM and OW having a happily ever after.
A lot of the above dealt with the OM and not really the h, which in reality is not the focus of the book, but hits on the tags I have attached to this review.
The h in this book is incredibly strong and showed so much maturity and ability to overcome the hardships of her life. It was not immediate, but over time growth of her character and determination to continue on that was admirable. h does meet her H and ends up with her HEA.
I believe the books ends on a somewhat of a cliffhanger in that it seems as if the h/H's daughter who is away at college has met her mate...and the mate is possibly the son of the OM/OW!! That would be quite the plot twist for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
This story was interesting and very different in the way it was put together. It spanned over a lifetime practically, and yet it was simply beautiful. My one and only problem with it, the part that kept me from giving it the final star was that even though she made us see the protagonist in a different more humane light, I still despised him. I understood his pain and his love but NEEDED him to learn more of a lesson. I needed him to be explained to 'on page' the true gravity of what he did to the FMC. I'm sure he knew because of how often it was spoken of throughout the book on how well shifters new what a mate bond was and what it did. However I needed it thrown in his face. I needed him to face her suffering and understand how bad she suffered during her heats and that first year after she found out about him. I'm not mad he got his happy ending, it's okay he did. It's okay if he truly regretted his actions at least to the point of hating the pain he caused someone else even though he didn't love her. Even though that pain wasn't truly his fault but the fault of the fates who created the mate bond. I needed more accountability on his end.
The writing was amazing and this author is someone I will for sure read more of in the future. But I hope she gives us more. A longer story, a more in depth story line and a more fitting punishment/suffering for the protagonist. He suffered none of the physical or emotional pain and just got to have babies and love while the FMC suffered. I also will say I didn't like that the mate bond can never be broken unless of a death. Even yet a more harsh punishment on the females and none on the males.
Needless to say this is just my opinion and what matters most is what you think. The beauty of art is that it is subjective. But this was for me a very comfortable, simple quick story. And the author has an incredibly gifted talent that will have me immediately willing to read anything else she writes.
Thank you Daria for sharing this story with us. Can't wait to read more of your work.
The writing was amazing and this author is someone I will for sure read more of in the future. But I hope she gives us more. A longer story, a more in depth story line and a more fitting punishment/suffering for the protagonist. He suffered none of the physical or emotional pain and just got to have babies and love while the FMC suffered. I also will say I didn't like that the mate bond can never be broken unless of a death. Even yet a more harsh punishment on the females and none on the males.
Needless to say this is just my opinion and what matters most is what you think. The beauty of art is that it is subjective. But this was for me a very comfortable, simple quick story. And the author has an incredibly gifted talent that will have me immediately willing to read anything else she writes.
Thank you Daria for sharing this story with us. Can't wait to read more of your work.
February 13, 2025
4 stars
You know what? Yes, this is a 4 star read, even with all the flaws. I have no regrets.
I decided to take a chance on this book just because I have a weakness for this rejected mate trope. I've read a lot of them so far and most are garbage. Plain and simple.
But this? This has so much potential. The dialogue was not stilted, the FMC was rational and respected herself. NO body betrayal syndrome! Wooohooo! The book got a full star only for that. Even more, they had instincts that attracted them to each other but she was stronger and didn't give in after what he did.
The MMC was so sweet and supportive, I loved how their romance grew and developed. There was no insta-love.
I also liked how the asshole mate wasn't evil. He wasn't hateful or aggressive or a bully. Just a selfish idiot that didn't think about the consequences of his actions. At the end I even felt a little bad for him.
The one thing I didn't like was the pacing. Too many time jumps, the story didn't flow smoothly. We are told what happened in those years, we don't really experience it with the characters.
It's rare that I say this these days, but the book should have been longer! More detailed.
It's emotional and the author does a very good job of expressing the grief and trauma that Samantha went through. But most importantly her healing journey.
Was this book perfect? Hell no. Could it have been better? Yes.
But compared to all the crap books in this genre, it's damn good. And I enjoyed it a lot.
I might try the author's other books.
7/10 would recommend
You know what? Yes, this is a 4 star read, even with all the flaws. I have no regrets.
I decided to take a chance on this book just because I have a weakness for this rejected mate trope. I've read a lot of them so far and most are garbage. Plain and simple.
But this? This has so much potential. The dialogue was not stilted, the FMC was rational and respected herself. NO body betrayal syndrome! Wooohooo! The book got a full star only for that. Even more, they had instincts that attracted them to each other but she was stronger and didn't give in after what he did.
The MMC was so sweet and supportive, I loved how their romance grew and developed. There was no insta-love.
I also liked how the asshole mate wasn't evil. He wasn't hateful or aggressive or a bully. Just a selfish idiot that didn't think about the consequences of his actions. At the end I even felt a little bad for him.
The one thing I didn't like was the pacing. Too many time jumps, the story didn't flow smoothly. We are told what happened in those years, we don't really experience it with the characters.
It's rare that I say this these days, but the book should have been longer! More detailed.
It's emotional and the author does a very good job of expressing the grief and trauma that Samantha went through. But most importantly her healing journey.
Was this book perfect? Hell no. Could it have been better? Yes.
But compared to all the crap books in this genre, it's damn good. And I enjoyed it a lot.
I might try the author's other books.
7/10 would recommend
November 13, 2024
Rejected shifter with a twist.
January 13, 2025
Wow! This was a well written read. In the rejected mate trope storyline, this was a quick, entertaining discovery. Definitely recommend.
December 15, 2024
A really good and well written rejected mate story
This is the 2nd book I have read written by Daria T. Rowan and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
I personally wasn’t a big fan of paranormal themed book until I read rejected mate theme book because of the roller coaster of emotions you go through reading them.
I really enjoy Daria’s writing, the way she describes her heroines’ feelings is poignant and you feel the pain while reading.
I was very happy of the outcome for our heroine in this book, my favourite part was when the 2 wolves fought (if you read the book, you will see why).
Overall I will be following Daria’s future project and I do recommend, if you don’t mind the shifter book, to give this one a try.
This is the 2nd book I have read written by Daria T. Rowan and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
I personally wasn’t a big fan of paranormal themed book until I read rejected mate theme book because of the roller coaster of emotions you go through reading them.
I really enjoy Daria’s writing, the way she describes her heroines’ feelings is poignant and you feel the pain while reading.
I was very happy of the outcome for our heroine in this book, my favourite part was when the 2 wolves fought (if you read the book, you will see why).
Overall I will be following Daria’s future project and I do recommend, if you don’t mind the shifter book, to give this one a try.
November 10, 2025
Read kt on Wattpad and also on KU. Loved it even though I found the ending sad. The H1's wolf suffered while he had his HEA. The wolf was innocent.
November 14, 2025
Summary: This is a paranormal romance.
Detailed spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below.
The FMC is Samantha. She has spent her life preparing to be the best she wolf for her mate, who is slightly older than her and has been away at college so she actually hasn’t even had the chance to talk to him and introduce herself properly. . When he comes home, their meeting isn’t at all what she thought it would be, and she senses something is off.
He is clearly her mate as she feels the bond pulling her toward him, but he is more reserved than expected. Also, he announces immediately that he needs to leave the next day, claiming he needs to go and handle some business, but her gut is telling her it’s something else. She decides to follow him and finds not only is he is with a human who happens to be pregnant, but he is engaged to this person. The FMC is devastated and realizes she must leave her pack as she can not be with him or around him and his new family.
Over the years, the FMC learns what it is like to build a life without her mate. In the beginning, it was very difficult, but as the years have passed, she has made the choice to actively seek out happiness and joy. After going to college and receiving a degree in a field that she loves, she finds a job within a pack. This is what brings James into her life.
They work closely together, trying to deny the feelings that are building until James decides to act on them, hoping to prove to the FMC that some things are worth fighting for.
⚠️SPOILERS/SPICE/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*Suicide attempt, not one of the main characters.
🌶️: 1.5/5
Final thoughts: I love this author so much. The Barren Luna is in my top ten favorite books of all time so I was excited to read this. She has such a way to write a story that pulls you in. I loved the character development that happened even though the book wasn’t long.
The FMC was such a great character. I loved that she was able to channel her hurt into personal growth and that gave her the ability to open her heart to the possibility of love. James was so patient with her as he had also had to let go of his own hurt to learn to love again. He did all the little things that matter the most, which was exactly what the FMC needed. And the ending with their daughter’s revelation was perfect.
I enjoyed this book so much and definitely recommend.
Detailed spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below.
The FMC is Samantha. She has spent her life preparing to be the best she wolf for her mate, who is slightly older than her and has been away at college so she actually hasn’t even had the chance to talk to him and introduce herself properly. . When he comes home, their meeting isn’t at all what she thought it would be, and she senses something is off.
He is clearly her mate as she feels the bond pulling her toward him, but he is more reserved than expected. Also, he announces immediately that he needs to leave the next day, claiming he needs to go and handle some business, but her gut is telling her it’s something else. She decides to follow him and finds not only is he is with a human who happens to be pregnant, but he is engaged to this person. The FMC is devastated and realizes she must leave her pack as she can not be with him or around him and his new family.
Over the years, the FMC learns what it is like to build a life without her mate. In the beginning, it was very difficult, but as the years have passed, she has made the choice to actively seek out happiness and joy. After going to college and receiving a degree in a field that she loves, she finds a job within a pack. This is what brings James into her life.
They work closely together, trying to deny the feelings that are building until James decides to act on them, hoping to prove to the FMC that some things are worth fighting for.
⚠️SPOILERS/SPICE/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*Suicide attempt, not one of the main characters.
🌶️: 1.5/5
Final thoughts: I love this author so much. The Barren Luna is in my top ten favorite books of all time so I was excited to read this. She has such a way to write a story that pulls you in. I loved the character development that happened even though the book wasn’t long.
The FMC was such a great character. I loved that she was able to channel her hurt into personal growth and that gave her the ability to open her heart to the possibility of love. James was so patient with her as he had also had to let go of his own hurt to learn to love again. He did all the little things that matter the most, which was exactly what the FMC needed. And the ending with their daughter’s revelation was perfect.
I enjoyed this book so much and definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2025
I’ll be honest—I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I picked it up after reading The Barren Luna, which was brutal in terms of what the FMC went through, so I wasn’t sure if this one would be as emotionally charged.
**Spoilers**
This book turned out to be much more mellow, but it still had moments where your gut drops. When the FMC discovers that her “perfect” mate—a supposed ideal match—was actually a complete POS who had fallen in love with a human, fathered a child, and even gotten engaged, you can’t help but feel for her. But what stood out to me was how she handled it: like an absolute boss. Instead of fighting for someone who didn’t deserve her, she walked away. And not just that—she ensured that his pup would have a safe place to grow up, even at the cost of her seeing her family regularly. That level of grace and self-respect? Pure Boss Bitch energy.
I also appreciated how the FMC’s journey felt authentic. Her progression through the stages of grief—depression, anger, and profound loss—was written with honesty and emotional depth. Her determination to forge her own path and find joy again felt real and refreshing in a genre where characters often bounce back or roll over too easily.
That’s not to say there weren’t heartbreaking moments. Her POS ex-mate’s attempt to OD after his wife leaves him, learning the truth about mates, and the eventual death of his wolf? That absolutely gutted me. I honestly thought I might cry. While his actions were despicable, that moment revealed how broken he truly was. And as for the human wife—she gets a bad rap, but honestly, she didn’t bother me. She was innocent in all of this and had no idea what was going on. Even after learning the truth, he still lied to her about mates, so her reaction felt justified.
That said, there were moments where the pacing dragged. I found myself wanting to skip ahead to the parts where the FMC gets to enjoy her second-chance partner. If I could change one thing, it would be giving readers more time with her happiness. After everything she endured, we didn’t get enough of her joy or the blossoming connection with her new love.
Final Thoughts
This book was an emotional journey with a lot of heart. While it wasn’t as brutal or intense as The Barren Luna, it brought its own brand of gut-punch moments. If you’re looking for a story about resilience, self-discovery, and second chances, this one is absolutely worth the read.
**Spoilers**
This book turned out to be much more mellow, but it still had moments where your gut drops. When the FMC discovers that her “perfect” mate—a supposed ideal match—was actually a complete POS who had fallen in love with a human, fathered a child, and even gotten engaged, you can’t help but feel for her. But what stood out to me was how she handled it: like an absolute boss. Instead of fighting for someone who didn’t deserve her, she walked away. And not just that—she ensured that his pup would have a safe place to grow up, even at the cost of her seeing her family regularly. That level of grace and self-respect? Pure Boss Bitch energy.
I also appreciated how the FMC’s journey felt authentic. Her progression through the stages of grief—depression, anger, and profound loss—was written with honesty and emotional depth. Her determination to forge her own path and find joy again felt real and refreshing in a genre where characters often bounce back or roll over too easily.
That’s not to say there weren’t heartbreaking moments. Her POS ex-mate’s attempt to OD after his wife leaves him, learning the truth about mates, and the eventual death of his wolf? That absolutely gutted me. I honestly thought I might cry. While his actions were despicable, that moment revealed how broken he truly was. And as for the human wife—she gets a bad rap, but honestly, she didn’t bother me. She was innocent in all of this and had no idea what was going on. Even after learning the truth, he still lied to her about mates, so her reaction felt justified.
That said, there were moments where the pacing dragged. I found myself wanting to skip ahead to the parts where the FMC gets to enjoy her second-chance partner. If I could change one thing, it would be giving readers more time with her happiness. After everything she endured, we didn’t get enough of her joy or the blossoming connection with her new love.
Final Thoughts
This book was an emotional journey with a lot of heart. While it wasn’t as brutal or intense as The Barren Luna, it brought its own brand of gut-punch moments. If you’re looking for a story about resilience, self-discovery, and second chances, this one is absolutely worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2025
huh, interesting. It had all the elements of a shifter rejected book and then some. This was an interesting one, well written and some new things I hadn't read before in shifter books. Not the usual rejected mate and 4 povs. A bit of a different take on mates, most mates wait for their true bond but some will have sex with humans to bide their time, avoiding relationships within the packs so as not cause problems but still the fmc waited for her mmc and he didn't, blech.
First off, FMC, likeable, it starts off with her finding out her mate and him kind of not interested. Not how that should go so she is confused, finds out that he when he went off to college, he embraced college life, slept around and fell in love with a human woman, got her pregnant and got engaged. Needless to say she is devastated. He didn't cheat on her per say, but was unfaithful to the bond. She moves on and moves away, goes to college, eventually meets someone new. Those chapters are full of angst and you really feel for her. She gets her hea and a really good life.
MMC 1 he stays with this human, they get married, have kids, moves to his pack territory, he never told her about being a shifter. He's unhappy, he rejects shifter life, he's only there because his kids will be shifters. Straight up this guy, he sucked, big time coward. It was interesting to see the ripple effect his decision to be with someone outside the bond had, within his family, the community, everything. He suffers but has a bit of a redemption arc in which his wolf is sacrificed and he essentially becomes human. Poor wolf. I hated that part. I hated this guy. He did suffer but I'm petty and wanted more suffering more drama for my pettiness.
MMC 2 great guy, he deserved his happy ending and he got it. I liked him.
OW didn't care about her pov but they were interesting to read, none of this was her fault so you don't hate her, it was all the mmc and she ends up suffering too because of his actions and lack of inaction but somehow they make it work.
Ending, hated it. Oh well. I just felt like it ending up coming back full circle but I hated what happened to the wolf. It was a tentative 2.5 stars because I really disliked the epilogue.
First off, FMC, likeable, it starts off with her finding out her mate and him kind of not interested. Not how that should go so she is confused, finds out that he when he went off to college, he embraced college life, slept around and fell in love with a human woman, got her pregnant and got engaged. Needless to say she is devastated. He didn't cheat on her per say, but was unfaithful to the bond. She moves on and moves away, goes to college, eventually meets someone new. Those chapters are full of angst and you really feel for her. She gets her hea and a really good life.
MMC 1 he stays with this human, they get married, have kids, moves to his pack territory, he never told her about being a shifter. He's unhappy, he rejects shifter life, he's only there because his kids will be shifters. Straight up this guy, he sucked, big time coward. It was interesting to see the ripple effect his decision to be with someone outside the bond had, within his family, the community, everything. He suffers but has a bit of a redemption arc in which his wolf is sacrificed and he essentially becomes human. Poor wolf. I hated that part. I hated this guy. He did suffer but I'm petty and wanted more suffering more drama for my pettiness.
MMC 2 great guy, he deserved his happy ending and he got it. I liked him.
OW didn't care about her pov but they were interesting to read, none of this was her fault so you don't hate her, it was all the mmc and she ends up suffering too because of his actions and lack of inaction but somehow they make it work.
Ending, hated it. Oh well. I just felt like it ending up coming back full circle but I hated what happened to the wolf. It was a tentative 2.5 stars because I really disliked the epilogue.
December 14, 2025
This book is downright amazing. I've read many books dealing with paranormal fated-mates romance, and this book told a story so unique and so moving that it's among the fastest books I've read.
In the paranormal world, fated mates have bonds so sacred and nearly inescapable that the couple involved cannot resist falling in love. In most books, stories about fated mates tell us of the trials they face before finally acknowledging and consummating the bond, and they live happily ever after. In this book though, the story is the total opposite. It's about two fated mates who end up choosing to ignore their bond to be with someone else. It's the MMC, actually, who chooses to be with another female, forcing the FMC to escape their bond so she can continue to live her life with her mate bond unfulfilled. And so she proceeds to move on with her life, desperately trying to unlearn all she was taught about mates and their importance in once life and identity.
I'm gonna say right here that all characters involved in this story eventually achieve their own happily ever after, but in different ways. And that was precisely what made the story addictive: it was finding out how each of them would deal with the choices they've made, and how they would forge a path for themselves that would lead ultimately to their happiness and fulfilment.
But perhaps the message that this story most strongly conveyed to me was the idea that loving someone is always and should be a wholly conscious choice, and so is remaining in love with them every day.
In the paranormal world, fated mates have bonds so sacred and nearly inescapable that the couple involved cannot resist falling in love. In most books, stories about fated mates tell us of the trials they face before finally acknowledging and consummating the bond, and they live happily ever after. In this book though, the story is the total opposite. It's about two fated mates who end up choosing to ignore their bond to be with someone else. It's the MMC, actually, who chooses to be with another female, forcing the FMC to escape their bond so she can continue to live her life with her mate bond unfulfilled. And so she proceeds to move on with her life, desperately trying to unlearn all she was taught about mates and their importance in once life and identity.
I'm gonna say right here that all characters involved in this story eventually achieve their own happily ever after, but in different ways. And that was precisely what made the story addictive: it was finding out how each of them would deal with the choices they've made, and how they would forge a path for themselves that would lead ultimately to their happiness and fulfilment.
But perhaps the message that this story most strongly conveyed to me was the idea that loving someone is always and should be a wholly conscious choice, and so is remaining in love with them every day.
April 20, 2025
While I'm glad there is a HEA for the H and the h, there really shouldn't be a HEA for her first mate and his pregnant affair partner/mistress.
He really shouldn't be rewarded with a wife and baby when the world building you set up says unequivocally, that the desecration of the bond is one of the most heinous things you can do in their world.
Brandon knew for YEARS that Sam was his mate but continued to have sex with the OW and impregnate her because he couldn't deal with the shame of what he was. He even got off on hurting Sam every time he was with the OW so while the premise of the story is good, the internalized misogyny that is the cruelty porn of having her first mate intentionally cheat on her because of some internal shame wound a need for female validation/ attention is goofy AF.
This story just needed consistency and it was really people pleaser-y to have everyone benefit from a happy ending because the resolution came at the cost of the h's emotional wellbeing. Brandon should have been killed by his pack and the OW should have bared the consequences for flouting their relationship so publicly and hurting Sam over and over again.
To give them a HEA with their little happy family and evil crotch fruit was in essence just being an accomplice to malicious and evil behavior. This story needed consequences for the cheaters.
He really shouldn't be rewarded with a wife and baby when the world building you set up says unequivocally, that the desecration of the bond is one of the most heinous things you can do in their world.
Brandon knew for YEARS that Sam was his mate but continued to have sex with the OW and impregnate her because he couldn't deal with the shame of what he was. He even got off on hurting Sam every time he was with the OW so while the premise of the story is good, the internalized misogyny that is the cruelty porn of having her first mate intentionally cheat on her because of some internal shame wound a need for female validation/ attention is goofy AF.
This story just needed consistency and it was really people pleaser-y to have everyone benefit from a happy ending because the resolution came at the cost of the h's emotional wellbeing. Brandon should have been killed by his pack and the OW should have bared the consequences for flouting their relationship so publicly and hurting Sam over and over again.
To give them a HEA with their little happy family and evil crotch fruit was in essence just being an accomplice to malicious and evil behavior. This story needed consequences for the cheaters.
January 4, 2025
A different kind of werewolf universe…
I really liked this one! And that ending… please let it not be that Benjamin. Sorry, but that would be awful.
Anyway, this was really well written. I adored Samantha and completely despise Brandon. He’s gotta be the single biggest piece of work I’ve ever read about. His only saving grace was that he did it all to himself. Except for a couple of things that his ignorant wife caused, it was all on him. The wife was so ignorant and selfish that she apparently never bothered to actually find out what being a werewolf meant. So she caused some dumb behavior too.
The main leads were not entirely blameless but they weren’t the instigator of anything as far as I can tell. As her fated mate, Brandon decided to ignore that Samantha was only a few years younger. He certainly didn’t get good training or advice from his parents or his Alpha. That’s probably the only real plot hole.
This was really good and I really liked it. I like this author but she only has a couple of books. Very minor spelling mistakes but otherwise this is really good.
I really liked this one! And that ending… please let it not be that Benjamin. Sorry, but that would be awful.
Anyway, this was really well written. I adored Samantha and completely despise Brandon. He’s gotta be the single biggest piece of work I’ve ever read about. His only saving grace was that he did it all to himself. Except for a couple of things that his ignorant wife caused, it was all on him. The wife was so ignorant and selfish that she apparently never bothered to actually find out what being a werewolf meant. So she caused some dumb behavior too.
The main leads were not entirely blameless but they weren’t the instigator of anything as far as I can tell. As her fated mate, Brandon decided to ignore that Samantha was only a few years younger. He certainly didn’t get good training or advice from his parents or his Alpha. That’s probably the only real plot hole.
This was really good and I really liked it. I like this author but she only has a couple of books. Very minor spelling mistakes but otherwise this is really good.
October 22, 2025
First of all I think the ending is great! I would have loved to read about Sage's mate and his parents and our hero James and the heroine Sam meeting as would be in laws of the kids 😂
This was a very different story from all the other werewolf books I have read. I liked the strong heroine and the fact that she moved on from her 1st mate after sometime and found love with James her true mate.
I don't know what to think about Brandon, who was weak and was not in sync with his wolf. He never accepted his were life and always wanted to be a human. Such a pity for his poor wolf! And for once Hailey the OW but not? Was not an evil OW. She had her insecurities and jealousy which I think is normal.
In the epilogue, I had a hunch about Sage meeting her mate and who that would be! And I laughed out when I read it because I was right! I would love to read about Sage's love story, which would also include her and her mates parents meeting 😂 And I think Brandon's wolf transferred ? Changed bodies? 😂 and went to Benjamin so he could have at least a part of his mate. I'm glad for the poor wolf!
This was a very different story from all the other werewolf books I have read. I liked the strong heroine and the fact that she moved on from her 1st mate after sometime and found love with James her true mate.
I don't know what to think about Brandon, who was weak and was not in sync with his wolf. He never accepted his were life and always wanted to be a human. Such a pity for his poor wolf! And for once Hailey the OW but not? Was not an evil OW. She had her insecurities and jealousy which I think is normal.
In the epilogue, I had a hunch about Sage meeting her mate and who that would be! And I laughed out when I read it because I was right! I would love to read about Sage's love story, which would also include her and her mates parents meeting 😂 And I think Brandon's wolf transferred ? Changed bodies? 😂 and went to Benjamin so he could have at least a part of his mate. I'm glad for the poor wolf!
January 14, 2025
I love this author and all her stories and I definitely loved this one too. Brandon the h’s first mate knows he has a mate out there and still goes out pursues a serious relationship with a human. Gets engaged to her and gets her pregnant. In this universe there is no second chance mates unless both original wolves die. Even then it’s not a true second mate. It’s more just allowing each other to get marked but there’s no spark or scent pulling. Sam the h took it very very hard when everything came to light Not necessarily because of Brandon as a person but because her mate chose another. I hate that it took her years to get over the idea of not having a mate while Brandon got to live his happy life with his wife. Brandon is a such a coward. In my opinion, he didn’t suffer enough, but I’m petty. Also the epilogue that includes sage (the daughter of Sam and her second mate since Brandon’s wolf died) finds her mate and his name is Ben?!?!?? Brandon’s son?!?!? it better not be, Sam deserves not to ever be around him again.
September 24, 2024
This is a rejected mate story and the rejected mate gets a second chance mate. It has POV chapters from the first mate Brandon, his human girlfriend Hailey, the rejected mate/heroine Samantha, and her second chance mate James.
I liked that this wasn't some fantastical story about a rejected Luna who was supposed to fulfill an ancient magical prophecy. They're all regular people, or regular werewolves, I guess.
Brandon gets a character arc and works out his marriage problems with Hailey. He doesn't fall in love with Samantha so there's no grovel or anything. This was unusual for this genre. If you want suffering and death as revenge for rejecting Samantha, you won't get it. He suffers due to his own faults and weaknesses, not from the mate bond or anything supernatural.
It's all very mature.
James was great. Older than Samantha, mature, reliable, but also with a playful side. Very sweet and romantic. 😊
I liked that this wasn't some fantastical story about a rejected Luna who was supposed to fulfill an ancient magical prophecy. They're all regular people, or regular werewolves, I guess.
Brandon gets a character arc and works out his marriage problems with Hailey. He doesn't fall in love with Samantha so there's no grovel or anything. This was unusual for this genre. If you want suffering and death as revenge for rejecting Samantha, you won't get it. He suffers due to his own faults and weaknesses, not from the mate bond or anything supernatural.
It's all very mature.
James was great. Older than Samantha, mature, reliable, but also with a playful side. Very sweet and romantic. 😊
March 4, 2025
Rejected mate trope
The FMC meets her mate on his last visit back to the pack from college. He refuses to mark her since he has to go back for a month to finish up college and she gets suspicious when she sees a picture of another woman on his phone.
She goes to, well, have her suspicions confirmed and sees that he has a pregnant fiancee, so she leaves her pack so that she's not tempted to attack said fiancee when her crappy mate returns.
This was a second chance mate romance and it was written well. We see the FMC healing, see the MMC obsessing over her but like a gentleman.
I loved this aspect. The only thing was that her actual mate didn't suffer enough. He loses his wolf sure, but it doesn't seem like that much of a loss to him since at the start of the book he was so enamored by playing human.
There's also that little plot twist at the end with the FMC's daughter's mate. Not particularly happy with that either.
The FMC meets her mate on his last visit back to the pack from college. He refuses to mark her since he has to go back for a month to finish up college and she gets suspicious when she sees a picture of another woman on his phone.
She goes to, well, have her suspicions confirmed and sees that he has a pregnant fiancee, so she leaves her pack so that she's not tempted to attack said fiancee when her crappy mate returns.
This was a second chance mate romance and it was written well. We see the FMC healing, see the MMC obsessing over her but like a gentleman.
I loved this aspect. The only thing was that her actual mate didn't suffer enough. He loses his wolf sure, but it doesn't seem like that much of a loss to him since at the start of the book he was so enamored by playing human.
There's also that little plot twist at the end with the FMC's daughter's mate. Not particularly happy with that either.
August 26, 2024
I originally read Unlearning by Daria T. Rowan earlier in the year on Watpad and loved it. The author has now released it on Kindle Unlimited and I wanted to take time and review it. This is a shifter romance with an unwanted mate because the MMC has found love elsewhere. This is not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb. Samantha has waited for her mate and is excited to meet him and build a life together. Imagine her heartbreak when she realized he is in a long-term committed relationship with a human. She knows she deserves better.
I do not want to give to much away but will say I truly enjoyed reading this in Watpad and am so excited the author published this and many more have the opportunity to read this now. Now she has to decide what this means for her future. She goes on a journey to unlearn everything she knows about mates. My heart broke for her, because she never expected this, however, she learned how strong and determined she was. I loved her journey and story so much and recommend it.
Happy reading!
I do not want to give to much away but will say I truly enjoyed reading this in Watpad and am so excited the author published this and many more have the opportunity to read this now. Now she has to decide what this means for her future. She goes on a journey to unlearn everything she knows about mates. My heart broke for her, because she never expected this, however, she learned how strong and determined she was. I loved her journey and story so much and recommend it.
Happy reading!
October 31, 2024
Very Good Book
SPOILERS BELOW
At first, I wasn't too sure this wasn't going to be one of those cheesy Shifter books because I was having some trouble meshing with the two MCs, but it pretty quickly sucked me in.
I loved the many POV's in this one. I sometimes find that distracting, but this story needed that.
Sam was a strong MFC who struggled
to overcome the rejection by her mate. But she's made a conscious decision to save herself and her mate's pregnant girlfriend by leaving her birth pack.
I seriously loved her Second Chance mate, James. He was everything she deserved.
Brandon, her fated mate, was a d0uche bag, imo, from start to finish. Never did warm up to him, and, frankly, he deserved what happened to him, even if he did end up getting his own HEA.
The ending was quite a surprise!
SPOILERS BELOW
At first, I wasn't too sure this wasn't going to be one of those cheesy Shifter books because I was having some trouble meshing with the two MCs, but it pretty quickly sucked me in.
I loved the many POV's in this one. I sometimes find that distracting, but this story needed that.
Sam was a strong MFC who struggled
to overcome the rejection by her mate. But she's made a conscious decision to save herself and her mate's pregnant girlfriend by leaving her birth pack.
I seriously loved her Second Chance mate, James. He was everything she deserved.
Brandon, her fated mate, was a d0uche bag, imo, from start to finish. Never did warm up to him, and, frankly, he deserved what happened to him, even if he did end up getting his own HEA.
The ending was quite a surprise!
April 9, 2025
Okay
I read this because of the reviews and some times a like a reading about love that grows from heartache. This was an okay story. The ending was a bit meh. The bad guy in the story got a happy ending, and he did it in a terrible way. If you adore the book the giving tree, then you will not mind the ending, but if you are like me and think it was totally the wrong message to send to children to keep taking until there is nothing left, then you are going to think it is ridiculous that the bad guy got his happy ending with the women he cheated with buy unaliving his wolf. Then they play the sick joke of making his kids the mate to the MFC who was done wrong by the bad guy. This ending just does not sit right with me. I am glad the MFC moved on and found better, but the bad guy just did not get his comeuppance. The writer needs to do better.
I read this because of the reviews and some times a like a reading about love that grows from heartache. This was an okay story. The ending was a bit meh. The bad guy in the story got a happy ending, and he did it in a terrible way. If you adore the book the giving tree, then you will not mind the ending, but if you are like me and think it was totally the wrong message to send to children to keep taking until there is nothing left, then you are going to think it is ridiculous that the bad guy got his happy ending with the women he cheated with buy unaliving his wolf. Then they play the sick joke of making his kids the mate to the MFC who was done wrong by the bad guy. This ending just does not sit right with me. I am glad the MFC moved on and found better, but the bad guy just did not get his comeuppance. The writer needs to do better.
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