Unwanted Fate: A hate to love, brother's best friend, spicy paranormal romance

by Fiona Rowan

Sofia
I’m going to reject my mate-bond with my brother’s best friend, Luca Taylor. Just as soon as we dismantle a trafficking ring, rescue a bunch of missing omegas, and take down everyone responsible. Then I’ll reject him.
He is arrogant, bossy, and infuriating. Luca treats me like a kid and refuses to see that I’ve grown up. So why is he acting like he wants me now? And how the hell did I end up agreeing to pretend that we are dating and move in with him?
It’s fake. Temporary. Strictly for show until we can find my brother’s mate. Only Luca and I know the truth.
What could go wrong?


Luca
Sofia Rivera is the last she-wolf I should want, even if she is my fated mate. She’s also my best friend and Alpha’s little sister, way too young for me, a brat who drives me crazy. Oh, and she absolutely hates me.
But then she turns twenty-one and everything changes. The second I catch her scent, it’s over. My wolf knows. She’s mine. And my wolf loves to hunt.
She might think this thing between us is temporary, that it’s fake, but it’s real for me, and I’m not letting her go easily, even if I have to pretend it’s just for show at first. I'm not afraid to fight dirty to get my girl.

Unwanted Fate is a spicy shifter romance set in a dark world intended for an adult audience. Unwanted Fate, Book Two of The Lunar Eclipse Series picks up the unresolved threads of Fleeing Fate—and weaves in additional issues that will ripple through the rest of the series. While it can be read as a standalone, you'll get the most enjoyment by starting from the beginning. Rest assured, this couple will get their HEA.


Tropes: Wolf shifters, fated mates, fake dating, hate to love, forced proximity, one bed, brothers best friend, age gap, possessive protective MMC, bratty FMC who bites back

Genres: Fantasy, Forced Proximity, He Falls First, Shapeshifters, Fake Dating

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

Fiona is a therapist and author who combines her love of all things mental health and smut to create stories filled with recovery, tension, spice, darkness and light. Guaranteed HEA with every book.

Reviews

[natty · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was lucky enough to beta read for fiona and boy does this sequel not disappoint! it picks up right where we left off in book 1 and explores the incredibly passionate, intense, and a little crazy relationship between sofia and luca.

it's fiery, it's obsessive, it's perfect. their relationship isn't easy - it's earned and fought for in each page. there's so much history and emotions between this two characters. the idea of them being fated mates in the beginning is so preposterous but by the end of the book, you know there's not a single soul better for them.

the spice? SPICY. seriously yawl luca is...phew. something else. gawdAYUM GIMME SOME. fiona you have made me blush and kick my feet so many times. fia and luca...do u need a third. do u need a unicorn. lemme know.

the emotional growth? outstanding. luca has one of the best love confession evah imo. the way he consistently shows up for fia, the way he knows exactly what she needs and works to be better for her...ugh. YES. sofia bby ur perfect, no notes.

i loved every single second of this book and can't wait from more from this world and from fiona.

[kate (austenattachment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely love fiona’s works. they’re just what i want from my wolf shifter romances, with all the fated mates and spice and wolfiness that i adore.

if you saw my review of fleeing fate, you’ll know that i was SALIVATING for this book and luca and sofia’s story. sofia was my absolute favorite character from the first book and she did not disappoint in her story!! the baddest of alpha female wolves that ever existed. she was literally such an icon. there was one scene (no spoilers, go read it yourself when it comes out 🫶) that literally had me sitting up and cheering for her, out loud. i could see her so clearly in that moment, it was like a scene from a movie about badass women, and it was beautiful

i also really, really enjoyed how sofia and luca’s relationship developed. i am a sucker for friends to lovers, but make it friends to strangers/enemies to lovers and i will GOBBLE IT UP WITH A FORK AND KNIFE. hot take, but the way they both just so completely misunderstood each other and what they meant when they tried to see the good in the other is honestly one of my favorite tropes of all time. COME AT ME, I KNOW, THERE’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT, I NEED MORE THERAPY, PROBABLY

this was a true, wolfy gem 🖤

in kate’s keys,
— baddest of all badasses fmc
— dom x dom? but she’s also a brattiest brat to ever brat and we love that for her
— he ✨begs✨ for her
— down bad, pathetically obsessed mmc (king shit)
8.5/10✨

thank you to fiona rowan for providing me with an e-arc for review 🫶

[Morgan | bookish_morgano · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start in book 2 right where we left Emily’s story (Fleeing Fate, a must read before book 2 for best enjoyment) where we jump into Sofia’s head as a bunch of the plot from book 1 unfolds. (Dismantling a trafficking ring, save missing omegas, kick ass… just casual plot things 🤭)

Sofia finds her mate and is DETERMINED to reject him. Luca and Sofia are like oil and water, once a best friends little sister who crushed on him, now a sassy (brat) who can handle business herself and HATES him for treating her like she’s still that kid.

Their banter is DELISH (check the quotes on the other slides for some of my favs 👀) The writing, dual POV, the character growth. This book had me yelling at Luca for being such an idiot then laughing and hoping Fia would give him another chance. I really identified with Fia and how she chooses to overcome her trauma to be the baddie she is. Thank you so much @authorfionarowan for the #gifted copy.

Can Luca win her over and prove to Sofia it’s worth a try?

Add to your TBR if you like:
🖤 wolf shifters
🤍 fated mates
🖤 fake dating
🤍 hate to love
🖤 forced proximity (one bed)
🤍 brothers best friend
🖤 age gap
🤍 possessive protective (OTT) MMC
🖤 dom/ brat
🤍 HEA
🖤 4 🌶️

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwanted Fate gripped me when I first read it as a beta and now since reading it as an arc I am even more in love.


The story flows perfectly, providing the reader with an instant connection to our sassy FMC Sofia. The dynamic between our MCs was an instant yes for me. Even as mystery is building through the story, Jackson and Emily from Fleeing Fate still make me melt, the pair are just the sweetest and I'd forgotten just how much I missed them.


Sofia's strong personality and sense of self had me cheering for her throughout. She is a force to be reckoned with and remains unafraid to stand up for what she believes in. Her interactions with Luca, Ryan and Emily are unique, which rounds out her character perfectly and continuously shows different aspects of her personality which I believe are pivotal to the overall feel of the story, bringing it to life.


The friendship between Sofia and Emily is just everything I want from my own friendships. The pair are both girls girls and so wholesome.


The glimpses we get of the wolves never fails to make me smile, it's those very glimpses that make me eager for the next glimpse. Fiona's take on the wolves is one I've never read before and it has quickly become a firm favourite of mine. It is details like that which really flesh out a story and make it not just an enjoyable read but a memorable one too.


Our MMC, Luca, had me screaming at the beginning and desperate to slap him upside the head, yet the more I read, the more I found myself standing in his corner.


Interactions between Sofia and Luca, all sass and fiery. It's like cat and mouse in the most delicious way since Sofia isn't the type to simply roll over and be the mouse. The battle of wills is a thrilling read.


I found myself constantly cheering Sofia along and gripping feminism hard only to toss it to the wind in the next breath due to Luca. Capable of understanding where each was coming from, yet also not always agreeing with the decisions made left me in a talespin and unable to make a choice.


In short, Unwanted Fate is written to perfection. It intrigued me, held me in a chokehold and had me cheering and kicking my feet in happiness, while also seeing me clutching at my chest and muttering a chorus of no, no, no, no, no all to myself. I truly did feel every emotion reading this.

[Diane Mckelvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** ARC READ ****

Ahh Fiona, you’ve done it again….absolutely loved Unwanted Fate (cannot wait to get my physical trophy for my bookshelf)

Sophia & Luca are possibly my favourite mates so far (Jackson is still on the book bf list though) their story is just awesome. To think they start out “hating” each other.

Really hope to find out more about the Omegas too. I love how you can picture everything and everyone as you read along with the story. Luca & Fia are 100% clearly meant to be…they compliment each other well (not verbally of course 🤭)

The scenes are written beautifully, the way Fia’s emotional walls finally start to break apart is so heart warming for her. Cannot wait to read Ryan & Mayas book….the thought of them being Mates clicked in my head when I was on the school run 😂.

Well done again lovely. Absolutely smashed it out the park again. I loved every bit of it

[mel. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleeing Fate by Fiona Rowan was my first wolf shifter romance and, my god, i fell in love with the world and characters she created. so when book two hit my inbox, i knew i needed to read it asap.

overlapping with the events from Fleeing Fate, we’re following the “love to hate”, sassy af banter, age gap love story of Sofia and Luca. Sofia immediately proved herself to be the ultimate girls girl in fleeing fate, so it was no shock that i continued to fall in love with her throughout the story. and Luca? that man is so head over heels for Sofia, but he is so protective he literal cock blocks himself. i absolutely love Sofia and Luca’s story! there was so much banter, dipping in sass, and so so deliciously spicy 😏

similar to book one, Fiona continues to infuse an immense amount of honesty and care when incorporating dark storylines and trauma into Unwanted Fate. also similarly to book one, Sofia and Luca’s story healed a part of me. Fiona is quickly becoming one of my auto read authors. i cannot wait to read the next story of the Lunar Eclipse series!

releasing November 14, add Unwanted Fate to your TBR now! 🫶🏻

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

A strong-willed alpha, a stubborn Beta, and an Unwanted Fate.

Everyone important always leaves Sofia. That’s the lesson she learned as a teen, and nothing that has happened since will convince her otherwise. Her parents abandoned her, too wrapped up in their own issues. Her teen crush and best friend of her brother, Luca, left for two years and has pushed her away constantly since he returned.

So when she discovers Luca is actually her fated mate, she immediately goes to reject him. He clearly hates her and she will not be the one who is left this time. But their personal lives will have to wait while the pack goes to rescue a group of captured omegas.

Following immediately on from the first book, we are fortunately enough to get a brief catch up at the start of the book which was *so* helpful. This book has hate to love, forced proximity/only one bed, brother’s best friend and fated mates. It is a super spicy open door book.

There’s some deeper issues addressed in the story too. Trafficking and kidnapping, parental abandonment, misogyny, and internalized bi-phobia are all part of the story.

All up, I loved this book and I’m really excited for what happens next in the series. I definitely recommend it for fans of PNR.

[Emma Bombemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked by Fiona to be a Beta and ARC reader of Unwanted Fate as someone who hadn’t read the first book Fleeing Fate.

Even having not read the first book, I was able to pick up book 2 and get right into the storyline. There was only a couple of instances through the whole book where I realised that part must link to book 1. But it was to no detriment to the storyline at all.

Sophia is a fiesty & strong Alpha FMC, whose brother is the Alpha of their pack. Luca the MMC is his best friend and Beta of the pack.
There has always been a connection with Sophia and Luca, but the friendship was damaged by a misunderstanding and miscommunication between them. When the fated mate bonds snaps in, Sophia is sure it’s a mistake & wants out immediately.
Thankfully she’s asked to wait, and try to work things out.

Sophia is so convinced she wants nothing to do with Luca, but Luca has finally realised his feelings were real the whole time & decided to fight for Sophia.

Lots of fun banter, shows of strength, possessive moments (from both of them), and some times where is just wanted to shake Sophia to accept her gorgeous mate. 🤣

Plenty of action thrown in for good measure, which will keep me reading the series.

I really enjoyed Unwanted Fate, would recommend it. Looking forward to book 3.

[Elixabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luca and Sophia's story was so much more then I expected. Their dynamic is VERY intense, wither its love, or hate. The story of their relationship and how and why Luca changed when he came back from training cleared things up so much on why she hates him! Thank you Fiona for this ARC opportunity, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Plot/Spice/Tears/Blood(violence&gore)
📚5/5
🌶3/5
💧3/5
🩸2/5

I love Sophia's sassy fierce self, and the way she makes her newly found fated mate earn back her trust and love how Luca is SO obsessed with her, and needed to learn she can take care of herself, but also show her she can count on him for anything.

The traum with Sophia and Ryan about their Mom(and Dad in a way) leaving them had affecte their mental health was so sad, but definitely appreciated as part of the story.
I love how Fiona adds in mental health rep into her books, the emotions of everything and seeing they can heal from even the hardest things is heartwarming.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Firstly, I would like to thank Fiona for giving me the opportunity to be a ARC reader for this book, it is been a pleasure.

When I saw this was the second book in the series, I went ahead and read the first one. While the first one was a 4.5 stars rating from me, this book was 5 stars.

Luca and Sofia were hands down my favourite couple. I love how Sofia finally put aside her bad feelings and accepted Luca for everything he is.

I also loved the over all story that continues from the first book. I am trying my best not to give any spoilers away for either book while I try to write this. I say if you're interested in romance books with Wolf Shifters, this series is for you 😊

I am SO EXICITED for the next book. It's going to be so interesting to see how Ryan and Maya work out since Maya is a human. I will look forward to when their book comes out 😊

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC review**

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author Fiona Rowan for sending me a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book from the start! I devoured every second of this book! The tropes alone got me inclined to be a part of this ARC. My absolute favorite trope is enemies lovers.

Sofia and Luca were so funny. I loved the banter in the beginning and I immediately thought to myself they are going to end up falling for each other. The story line was like nothing I’ve read before. I’ve read fantasy books, but not like this one. This is probably favorite fantasy ARC I’ve done do far. This was book 2 of the Lunar Eclipse Series. I can’t wait to read book 3.

This book will come out November 14th

A huge thanks to Fiona Rowan for giving me the privilege to read the book before the book is official.

[Michelle Nordby · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very start this book had me in it's grip, and I loved it. I almost couldn't put it down and it consumed me. This has by far become one of my absolute favorite series and @authorfionarowan has become one of my favorite authors 🫶
I have been kicking my feet, giggling, squealing, crying, laughing and loving this book. The banter between these two is top tier and the chemistry is on 🔥

I already loved Sofia from the first book, Fleeing fate, so to get to know her and Luca more now was so good. And oh my did we get to know them 🥵 These two are both badass and a bit morally grey. It's a constant puch and pull between them and I'm here for every bit of it!

So if you want to read a series full of emotions, werewolf shifters, banter, found family, trauma recovery, touch her and die, obsessed MMC's, badass FMC's, fated mates, she saves herself kind of books. Then you should absolutely read Lunar eclipse series.
I can't wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fiery, emotional, and impossible to put down. Unwanted Fate brings us a spicier, deeply emotional romance that still ties beautifully into the overarching world.

Sofia Rivera and Luca Taylor’s story had me hooked. I loved that Sofia made Luca work for her trust. She’s fierce, stubborn, and so easy to root for. Luca’s devotion and willingness to own up to his past mistakes made their romance feel real and earned.

This one leans more into the emotional and spice-forward side of things, with the action ramping up toward the end. I personally would’ve loved to see the overarching plot woven a bit more evenly throughout (since I really love the storyline!), but the finale brought it all together nicely.

I really enjoy how Fiona Rowan structures this series, where each book spotlights a different couple while continuing the main storyline that connects them all. It makes the world feel richer and more alive.

If you love fated mates, fake dating, protective MMCs paired with powerful heroines, and some seriously good spice, you’ll have a great time with this one. And I can’t wait to see what’s next for Rafe!

[Armando Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. The story pulled me in from the start, and the connection between Sofia and Luca was fantastic: emotional, intense, and so easy to get lost in. Their relationship development had so much potential, and I would’ve loved to see it go even deeper.My biggest gripe? There was just too much sex. I don’t mind steamy scenes when they add to the story, but here it felt a little overdone. I caught myself skimming to get back to the plot because I was genuinely invested in that. It feels like this is becoming a trend, packing the pages with spice at the cost of storytelling, and that’s a bit disappointing.And Luca... I really wanted him to be that dark, brooding, complicated guy, but he came off more whiny and immature at times, more teenage angst than tortured thirty-year-old vibes. Sofia’s youth and immaturity made sense, but I expected a bit more depth from him.Still, I loved the story overall. The emotional connection between the characters and the world Fiona Rowan built kept me turning the pages. It’s definitely worth reading if you enjoy romance with heart (and a lot of heat).

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed Emily and Jackson’s story, Sofia and Luca are my new favorites. The push and pull between these two was insane and I loved watching them both grow and learn to trust each other. The story continues right where book one leaves off and even though it can be read as a standalone I recommend you read Fleeing Fate first just to get more juicy details of what’s happening. I’m assuming the next book will be Ryan’s and I can’t wait!

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a divine ARC read moment.

*clears throat* WITH THE CROWN TATTOO I CANNOT 👑

Okay, so this is how you do age gap 👏 This is how you do enemies to lovers 👏 This is how you do bully romance 👏

I am shooketh. I loved it. Ticked all my wolfish boxes and I can't say I have a single complaint. This sequel might even break into my top ten reads this year (and I read over three hundo books). 💅 Pop all the way off Fiona. Ate it up.

[Jessica Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you Fiona for the opportunity to early read!

I did have to read Fleeing Fate first so I could be fully present. I’m so glad I found this series!

This book picks up and flows well from book one. I was really excited to follow Sofia. Luca needed to grow on me but it makes it all the better. Top tier banter, passion, intensity, sass, love and loathing. Definitely a book where I felt all the feels. Beautiful written, and can’t wait for book two!

[Carrie Mckown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Fiona Rowan for the ARC! This book absolutely delivered. It’s got everything: a gripping plot, sizzling tension, and characters you’ll fall hard for. Sofia is a standout—strong, smart, and deeply relatable in her vulnerable moments. Luca is the kind of obsessive, possessive love interest that keeps you turning pages. The story picks up seamlessly from book one and pulls you right back into its addictive world. If you're craving a binge-worthy read with heart and heat, add this to your TBR immediately.

[AJ Six · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure diving deeper into Fia & Luca's story, while also learning more about the missing Omega's. This book was an enjoyable read set in a fantasy world of shifters, witches, and more.

[Brenda Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat I had to read this as an ARC reader. Disclaimer, I did not read book 1, it’s on the TBR and now will be further up the list.

I’ve been fascinated with shifter books for years and I enjoyed the dynamic of Sophia and Luca’s relationship. Sophia having to put aside her hate to see Luca for who he is and recognize his feelings are real goes against her personality completely and was interesting to read.

Their banter kept me coming back for me, I read this in 2 days so it wasn’t hard to keep reading. This was spicy in the most delicious way. Book 3 can’t come soon enough.

[Your_bookish_fantasy Kerri-louise Whitham · Rating 4 out of 5]

**🅽︎🅾︎ 🆂︎🅿︎🅾︎🅸︎🅻︎🅴︎🆁︎🆂︎**
𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- Unwanted Fate by Fiona Rowan

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
🗣(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶🌶🌶/ 5
♟️𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹- 🎃🌑⚔️💀☠️
🎃: 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 🌑: 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑦 ⚔️: ᵒᵒᵒʰʰʰ ˢᵗᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ••• 💀: 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 M̶E̶N̶U̶ 😳 -𝑖 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠!!
☠️: P͟I͟T͟C͟H͟ F͟C͟u͟K͟I͟N͟G͟ B͟L͟A͟C͟K͟!


𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
•📖# 390𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
•𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁? 3 sittings in 24 hours
•# DUAL 𝗣𝗢𝗩
•𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 14 November 2025
•𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? CHARACTER
•𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- LUNAR ECLIPSE book 2
•𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅
•𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- steady
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?🚫 sadly it won’t stick with me
•𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...)✅ mental health!
•𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀; 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚, 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝑖𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆

🚨🅲︎🅷︎🅴︎🅲︎🅺︎ 🆃︎🅷︎🅴︎ 🆃︎🆆︎!🚨

●𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
💘ᖴᗩKᗴ ᗪᗩTIᑎᘜ
👩‍❤️‍👨𝙵𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜
🙅 𝕽𝖊𝖏𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘
😇𝗦𝘂𝗯 ᵃⁿᵈ/ᵒʳ 𝗗𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
🧐Aɢᴇ Gᴀᴘ
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🌡𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥, 𝕋𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟
💘𝐻𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡
🛏𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐝
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
💈 ᗷᗩᑎTᗴᖇ
🏹𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐌𝐂
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
🌕𝑊𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑜𝑙𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠


🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
Yet again this author captures absolutely brilliantly the essence of Mental Health representation. she challenges taboo themes and structures within relationships. She also touches on bisexuality shame/phobia and all of these themes is an extremely dark current of trauma and action filled sub plots of finding and dismantling a female trafficking ring.

This book continues where the last one left off, with fiery characters It offers an obsessive, and tense emotional read to those who love our rejected mates, got to prove yourself / make him work for it type of read.

I feel the writing style this author abuse into her box makes every reader comfortable with any topics she writes about. I personally think this is a huge achievement and not accomplished by many, particularly on such big topics like Mental Health, females in power, or taboo bedroom activities.

I’m not an emotional reader. I don’t usually cry and although I find things funny, I don’t laugh out loud however this book made me feel strong emotions-as did the previous one. And in my opinion, to elicit strong emotions in a reader -that aren’t just anger or sadness, takes some doing. I like to imagine that I’m in the place of the FMC and wonder how I would react to the same situations in the story. I like to feel what they’re feeling and work my way through their struggles and hurdles so I was very worried when Sophia finally explained to Luca that he hurt her, And he apologised-because I had an awful feeling she was gonna let it go, and they were just going to live happily ever after. The relationship felt so much more real and genuine with that not happening, it is also a show of support to other women in similar situations that they can do this too and they deserve more than just rolling over and letting their partners off the hook when they’ve been hurt.

Book 2 has an extra Chili pepper on the spice scale because it incorporates layers of BDSM, Dom and subs, feral wants and needs, and lots lots more.

I love the pacing in this book and the way the banter between the characters really ties it all together. I enjoyed that females had a place of power in this story (unlike lots of shifter books) and I also enjoyed the angle of men can’t do it all. Sometimes they genuinely do need a partner to be the other half of their whole.

The action in this book was well executed with enough tension and fear to have you worrying but not full of gore, for those who prefer less detailed violence. I did however think it would’ve lasted longer than it did. I expected certain plot twists, and for certain characters to do things which didn’t arise. I also hoped for someone to be captured and interrogated or for something untoward to appear and keep that forboding feel going.

🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
The FMC Sophia has a bratty personality, and it’s not one that she needs to grow up from as such-It’s just 1 she needs to stop throwing around. She’s not petulant, She’s just very strong willed and opinionated.
I love how Sophia has her own personality other than just trying to find a mate she starts out as a very independent and strong world character she has a high ranking place in the park. She is an extremely good best friend and she has her own level of trauma that she got as a teenager where she learned that everyone she cares about abundance her a part of this trauma is also learned behaviours of not feeling good enough and having to prove herself over and over again.

I really enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters in this one. I truly appreciated how Sophia let her man know that he hurt her. She hid her feelings from him for quite some time and finally came out with it, owning her emotions, and you could see her character change because she’s managed to speak these words out loud. Her fated mate-who she rejected immediately, has to learn how to grovel his way back to her good graces after spending years unwittingly hurting her. And the emotional growth he shows is outstanding. The MMC Luca goes from hiding away from his feelings, shoving them deep down and denying them, to finally owning up and owning them out loud which changes his entire personality and the way he treats the female he loves. I also appreciated how she didn’t just take him back once he said he was sorry or once he tried to understand from her point of view what happened but instead she made him work for it and genuinely took her time to heal within herself and as a part of a couple.

We don’t get too many side characters in this book and we already met them in the previous story through the sub plot of the trafficking ring. I understand that each book will follow a different couple however I would’ve liked more about the kidnapped girls in this one, along with more about the council and/or the elders. I feel a detailed lore and strong history can make all the difference in turning a smut book into a spicy masterpiece.

I absolutely love the way this author writes her characters, her education and experience on understanding the human mind is portrayed through every character we read about.
I genuinely love how she gave us strong dominant characters, and without spoilers, she gave us an unexpected love Life for these characters. I also love how she created this couple from two dominant characters and yet neither of them had to change to be in a couple they created wonderful compromises and exceptional understanding bringing the best out in each other.
When it comes to spicy topics-I feel many taboo themes and kinks can be exaggerated or just shoved into the story for the sake of it- or just done poorly or incorrectly, whereas this was done with kindness, understanding, accuracy and truly brought to life themes that are often over exaggerated or not given the right context.

😥 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤?
I feel some important elements were glossed over or not given enough detail for example when someone gets locked in jail I felt that was a very forgetful moment.like it wasn’t really a big issue let alone important to the story. whereas that should’ve had a massive impact to the pack and to the characters directly involved in that particular storyline, it read like it just wasn’t difficult at all to do/manage or very heartbreaking to witness.
I also feel like we didn’t get much from Caleb in this book (consider he is a huge part of the main story) and between the start of the book and going for the trafficking ring we only got general details and quick meetings on plans where the author told us rather than showed us the story.

⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
Yes, this series is able to be read as standalones however, I highly recommend it’s not done this way, and instead you start a book one and make your way through in order because you will be so much deeper into the story and therefore It will become a much more enjoyable read.

🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Read this as a series not a standalone, it will be far more enjoyable and offer you a much more detailed and expansive experience. With strong female characters, excellent mental health rep and lots of spice this is one he11 of a series!


𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...

IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...

 

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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but  it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

 SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.

[Lauren Kiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured Sofia and Luca's story—always love a badass FMC who takes no shit and the MMC who is obsessed with her!

* Beta read

[A Little Book Therapy 🩵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goddess this book is everything! Possessive and protective MMC Luca is the epitome of a dominant wolf the way he talks to and about Sofia FMC is romantic,supportive and hot!
Sofia is such a bad*ss and the confidence she has I would love to have confidence like her, but I did like to see her vulnerable side coming out and her walls breaking down. The spice in this book fate me its 🔥 🌶️ 🥵 and I couldn’t stop reading!
(Check Trigger Warnings)

This book is beautifully written and touches on some tough issues but the way this author writes is pure magic and I highly recommend you read this book!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author, and I’m officially hooked! Unwanted Fate is a wolf shifter romance and book two in a standalone series, and now I can’t wait to dive into more.

Luca and Sofia’s story completely drew me in—the perfect balance of plot, spice, and emotion. I absolutely loved their journey together and couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for a romance that delivers both heart and heat, this one belongs on your shelf. Highly recommend!

[Jemimah Phizacklea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to receive an ARC of this book—and wow, it absolutely delivered!

I loved Luca’s perfect mix of dominance and golden retriever energy, and Sofia was such a strong-willed, badass alpha wolf.
I did feel like it took Sofia a little too long to realize that Luca was pushing her away out of love and protection, but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall.

Fiona’s writing style is just so addictive—I can never put her books down. I’m already counting down the days for book 3… I’m guessing it’s Ryan’s story?! Eeeek, can’t wait! 💕

[Sierra Bracewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful sequel!

First, I want to thank the author, Fiona Rowan, for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. It was such a fun and emotional read, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to experience it early.

TL;DR: Great book. Fun spice. Wolves.

This story opens with a recap of book one, which I hadn’t read before receiving this ARC. After reading the summary, I decided to pause and read the first book to get the full context. So, if the deeper lore matters to you, I highly recommend starting there!

For those who did read book one, you’ll remember the complicated dynamic between Sofia and Luca, though the “why” behind it was never fully clear. Book two picks up with Sofia turning 21 and hosting a party to discover who her fated mate is. Things take a turn when she learns it’s Luca. Although they grew up together, Luca began treating her differently after returning from his beta training, leaving Sofia hurt and guarded. She doesn’t want him as her mate, despite their shared history, because the pain he caused her isn’t something she can easily move past.

Beyond the romance, this sequel continues to explore the mystery surrounding the missing omegas and the possible trafficking network controlled by questionable packs. The stakes feel higher than ever as some of the missing omegas are revealed to be relatives of wolves desperate to bring them home safely.

That’s as much as I’ll share about the plot to avoid spoilers, but these threads from book one form the foundation of this sequel.

The story, told from Sofia’s POV, feels incredibly real and emotionally vulnerable. She presents herself as a strong, confident warrior, yet internally wrestles with trauma and fear of vulnerability. Her chapters explore themes of self-determination, emotional recovery, the duality of gender roles in patriarchal societies, and the courage it takes to heal without hardening. Watching Sofia’s personal metamorphosis was powerful and deeply moving.

Luca’s POV adds another layer of depth. He initially comes across as a total jerk, but his perspective allows us to see his flaws and growth firsthand. Luca owns up to his mistakes and learns the difference between explaining his actions and excusing them. His accountability and emotional evolution are incredibly satisfying to witness.

The relationship between Sofia and Luca could have easily fallen into the “forgive and forget” trope, but instead, Rowan gives us something richer: a story about accountability, growth, and genuine healing.

Overall, this was a fantastic sequel. I loved watching both Sofia and Luca grow, individually and together. The spice was fun (BDSM themes done well!), and the emotional depth balanced it perfectly. The ending was heartfelt and satisfying.

I absolutely loved this book.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwanted Fate By Fiona Rowan is the second book of the Lunar Eclipse Series and it follows the paths of Sofia and Luca’s story. So this is a paranormal romance that has intense fighting and an intense love story.  It sort of has an age gap love story, but I don't think that matters.  This novel is about a strong woman coming into her power and realizing who her true love really is and the ups and downs that entails. There's also a sort of enemies to lovers type of deal going on as well; all while trying to save the pack and rescue omegas.


My overall first impression of this novel was oh it's long, but after reading that first and second chapter I really got intuned with Sofia's side of the story and wanted to see how she was going to show her worth and her power to others within the pack. I also wanted to see what was going on with her and Luca. So I must say I was really intrigued to see how the story would unfold.


Fiona really developed the characters well.  The main characters, Sofia, in my eyes, I can see the relationship between her and Emily and the struggle that was had in the previous book although I didn't read the previous novel. I saw the likeness between Sofia and Ryan, the brother and sister, but I also saw what made them two different Alphas and it was not just because of gender.


Unwanted Fate really was a page turner. I read this book in the span of 2 days and that was after working a full 8-hour shift. I just couldn't put it down. I wanted to know more and more; like each each chapter is short enough that you can take little small breaks but you still want to come back and flip the page and be like okay what is Sofia up to and what is Luca going to do in response.


Fiona's writing style, the pacing is just on point. She doesn't go too fast that you miss something but it's not too slow explaining pretty little trees that you're like okay we could have skipped this whole chapter. It's just right for me.  Now I need to go back and read the the first book so I can see what I missed into the second because I know y'all know me I read stuff all the way out of order.


If you love Paranormal romance with spicy scenes and strong characters I would highly suggest reading Fiona Rowan's novel Unwanted Fate.  Now I'm going to suggest that you read book one first and then come to the second one or you can be like me and just read it out of order because it is a good standalone as well. I am giving this book 5 stars out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend this author


I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Franki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Fiona for the ARC of this book!

Another blinder! We start off almost immediately after the events of the previous book, with Sofia about to reject the fated mate bond with Luca. Fortunately, she is stopped before she can, and the rest of the book follows Luca and her brother Ryan trying to convince her to change her mind.

First things first: there is a nice summary at the beginning of the book, which means that you don't have to read Fleeing Fate first (although I'd definitely recommend it). The MCs from that book are still significant side characters in this one, and the relationships between them and the MCs of this book are still wonderfully written.

The dynamic between Luca and Sofia is delightfully tense, and I like that you're given a proper insight into why that is the case, with the background of the two nicely explored so that you fully understand their individual thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

There is definitely a JUST KISS ALREADY vibe going on - they very obviously want each other even outside of the wolf mating bond, and you find yourself wanting to yell at Sofia a bit for being so stubborn. But when they finally do become intimate, it's so, so worth it. The spicy scenes are delicious, although they do come with a trigger warning if you aren't a fan of a BDSM dynamic. The BDSM stuff is nicely explored, and obviously well-researched, and I particularly liked that Luca, at one point, refuses to do anything with Sofia until she gives him a safe word. We love an enthusiastic consent-seeking king!

The non-romance plot is also great; it builds on the information from the previous book and comes with a nice action sequence featuring genuine high-stakes tension. We also see more from Ryan, the pack Alpha, and there is a nice sub-plot featuring him, which leads nicely into the next book (which I'm super excited to read!).

The ending wraps this particular story up nicely, while setting us up nicely for the next one, and you can definitely tell that Fiona has a background in trauma recovery because all of the internal thoughts and feelings are so brilliantly thought out and described that you can easily sympathise and understand all of the characters perfectly.

Overall: bloody loved it. Has probably spoiled shifter romance for me for good. Can't wait for the next one!

[Lotte LNR · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU Fiona for providing me with this ARC. I did not read book one in this series, so I really didn’t know what to expect, but I loved it!

This book went right in to it. Some parts of the storyline weren’t immediately clear to me as I haven’t read book one, but it all explained itself later on and even though I feel like I understand the story, I do really want to read book one now.. I can’t imagine it not being at least as good as this one.

Sofia and Luca are adorable! The way they interact and their thoughts are so relatable even when it’s a fantasy world. The way she stands up for herself and has him prove his loyalty is something we need to remember.

This story starts by actually giving us a plot, we know some things are going to happen and while we wait to see where the story takes us, we get a few (quite a lot actually) of chapters where it’s all tension and build up and I dare say sexual frustration and just spice.. but it just fits in there. The spice also gets quite spicy without getting too much or too fantasy/unrealistic. It’s a realistic display of spicing things up in a relationship (I tend to skip scenes where it goes from 0-100 in 3 sentences or when I can’t form a mental image anymore, there’s no fun in that).
These chapters and their evolving relationship all builds up to the way the story line continues and actually explains some of the things that are said and done. There’s some great jokes in there too, made me laugh out loud and I had to explain to my boyfriend. You know it’s a good story when that happens.

If you’re looking for friends to enemies to lovers, fated mates, born ánd found families, heroic MMC’s and strong FMC’s then this is for you. Please note that if trafficking women is a no for you, you should really check out the trigger warnings. It’s not written out and explained, but there’s mention of what might have happened behind closed doors.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I fell in love with Ryan too and I hope he gets his happy ending. And.. when do we get our Caleb story? And poor Simon? Again, thank you so much for my ARC!❤️

[Paige Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review — Unwanted Fate (Lunar Eclipse Book Two)

If I could rate higher, I would!

From the moment I opened this book, I was instantly drawn back into the world of the Lunar Eclipse series. This sequel lives up to every promise of chaos, intensity, and emotional devastation in the best way possible. Rowan’s writing is tight, edgy, and completely immersive; she has a rare talent for making the stakes feel deeply personal and painfully real.

Unwanted Fate takes everything I loved from the first book and turns it up a notch—darker, bolder, and even more emotionally charged. The world expands, the tension builds, and every chapter keeps you hooked.

Sofia and Luca’s story was my absolute favourite by far! Their connection is raw, passionate, and unforgettable. Sofia is a fierce, strong Alpha female who bows to no one—especially not Luca—and watching their fake-dating setup unravel into something dangerously real was perfection. The chemistry between them is electric, but what makes it stand out is how Rowan doesn’t shy away from their friction, vulnerability, or emotional scars.

The plot dives deep into heavier themes like trafficking, trauma, and power struggles, all handled with care and authenticity. It’s dark at times, but every tough moment feels purposeful, showing real growth and strength in the characters.

If you’re a fan of spicy, paranormal shifter romance with real emotional weight, danger, and heart, Unwanted Fate is an absolute win. Fiona Rowan has created a world that’s both beautiful and brutal, filled with characters I genuinely care about. I can’t wait to see where she takes this series next (if she does!).

Highly recommend both this book and the Lunar Eclipse series to anyone who loves romance that burns hot, hits hard, and lingers long after the final page.