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Moonbound #1
Cursed Alpha's Stand-In Bride
He rejected our fated bond to claim my sister.
But on the wedding day… it was me beneath the veil.
My first love shattered me twice—
refusing the wolf-claw pendant I made for him,
denying the night we stole on the yacht.
The final blow?
Publicly humiliating me as my sister’s replacement—
while I lived in her shadow all my life.
That was the day I left, vowing to erase every trace of him,
except the secret growing inside me.
Now I’m a jewelry designer, raising my twins in peace.
Until a desperate letter from my father pulls me back home—
and to him.
Worse, he’s the Alpha funding my pack’s rebirth.
His gaze burns with the hunger I swore to forget.
One look, and my walls begin to crumble.
But how long before he discovers the truth,
that the children I’m protecting… are his?
But on the wedding day… it was me beneath the veil.
My first love shattered me twice—
refusing the wolf-claw pendant I made for him,
denying the night we stole on the yacht.
The final blow?
Publicly humiliating me as my sister’s replacement—
while I lived in her shadow all my life.
That was the day I left, vowing to erase every trace of him,
except the secret growing inside me.
Now I’m a jewelry designer, raising my twins in peace.
Until a desperate letter from my father pulls me back home—
and to him.
Worse, he’s the Alpha funding my pack’s rebirth.
His gaze burns with the hunger I swore to forget.
One look, and my walls begin to crumble.
But how long before he discovers the truth,
that the children I’m protecting… are his?
- GenresShapeshifters
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
About the author
Flora R. Leigh
200 books47 followersFlora R. Leigh writes love stories for readers who like their romance with a twist—where fake dates turn real and enemies turn to bedmates.
Her books are all about:
• Mates who shouldn’t work—but do anyway
• Alpha bosses, fake dates, and oops-there’s-a-baby moments
• Heroines who don’t back down (even when the wolf is hot)
• And second chances that hurt a little before they heal
If you like your paranormal romance steamy, messy, and impossible to put down, welcome to the pack.
Her books are all about:
• Mates who shouldn’t work—but do anyway
• Alpha bosses, fake dates, and oops-there’s-a-baby moments
• Heroines who don’t back down (even when the wolf is hot)
• And second chances that hurt a little before they heal
If you like your paranormal romance steamy, messy, and impossible to put down, welcome to the pack.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 1, 2025
This Prince Charming H rejected h not once, not twice, but 3 times 🙃 Girrrrrl, your desperation is showing.
(Possible spoilers ahead)
Thankfully, she took the hint the third time and left.
Ohhhhhhh yeah! Before he rejected her the second time, he decided to have smex with her .
H was not very alpha. He knew from the beginning that his uncle was shady. Why not ☠️ him and be done with everything?
So 8 years later, she returns from Milan (where she made a life for herself and her 7-year-old twins) to help her terrible adopted dad out (why?)
😂😂 H is already engaged to another woman. 8 years previously, he was engaged to h’s adopted sister but that sister skipped out on the wedding. She’s like NOPE!
So dad made h take her sister’s spot. They were married and H was big mad about the deception 🤪. It doesn’t matter because later the packs end the “marriage”
There’s a bunch of nonsense about a curse if he picks his actual fated mate. I could smell that BS right away and knew the uncle was playing him.
H is at least smart enough to realize the kids are his.
He ends his engagement with OW quickly. 🙄
It takes him a bit to get back in h’s good graces. They will have to work on it along with discovering the uncle’s true motive (which is he has been playing the LONG GAME. He wants to be alpha) The curse was not even real. The uncle got ahold of some magical necklace and basically has been brainwashing everybody for 20+ years.
HEA. Marriage With h having a new daughter.
So many plot holes.’
Meh
(Possible spoilers ahead)
Thankfully, she took the hint the third time and left.
Ohhhhhhh yeah! Before he rejected her the second time, he decided to have smex with her .
H was not very alpha. He knew from the beginning that his uncle was shady. Why not ☠️ him and be done with everything?
So 8 years later, she returns from Milan (where she made a life for herself and her 7-year-old twins) to help her terrible adopted dad out (why?)
😂😂 H is already engaged to another woman. 8 years previously, he was engaged to h’s adopted sister but that sister skipped out on the wedding. She’s like NOPE!
So dad made h take her sister’s spot. They were married and H was big mad about the deception 🤪. It doesn’t matter because later the packs end the “marriage”
There’s a bunch of nonsense about a curse if he picks his actual fated mate. I could smell that BS right away and knew the uncle was playing him.
H is at least smart enough to realize the kids are his.
He ends his engagement with OW quickly. 🙄
It takes him a bit to get back in h’s good graces. They will have to work on it along with discovering the uncle’s true motive (which is he has been playing the LONG GAME. He wants to be alpha) The curse was not even real. The uncle got ahold of some magical necklace and basically has been brainwashing everybody for 20+ years.
HEA. Marriage With h having a new daughter.
So many plot holes.’
Meh
January 28, 2026
Sweet
A first time love and a second chance love rolled into one. An epic love story, with deception, angst, secrets, lies, steam and betrayal.
The journey to their HEA is not easy but in the end their love prevailed.
A first time love and a second chance love rolled into one. An epic love story, with deception, angst, secrets, lies, steam and betrayal.
The journey to their HEA is not easy but in the end their love prevailed.
April 19, 2026
Atlas is an alpha who can’t have a fated mate because of his family’s ancient blood curse. Emilia is the much-maligned adopted daughter of a neighboring alpha.
Atlas rejects Emilia because of his blood curse and also because he’s supposed to marry her sister. He has one job: don’t bond with his mate. He fails miserably by getting horny on a yacht and knocking Emilia up.
Emilia runs off to become a jeweler designer in Europe after being rejected by Atlas a few times, only to be dragged back into pack business when her father gets sick.
There are some holes… Like why doesn’t Emilia know how to manage young shifter when she is one? Why didn’t Atlas do anything about his shifty uncle and his henchmen despite being suspicious for years?
The story is long winded and boring at times. The characters aren’t very likable.
In my opinion, the ending is extremely unsatisfying.
Atlas rejects Emilia because of his blood curse and also because he’s supposed to marry her sister. He has one job: don’t bond with his mate. He fails miserably by getting horny on a yacht and knocking Emilia up.
Emilia runs off to become a jeweler designer in Europe after being rejected by Atlas a few times, only to be dragged back into pack business when her father gets sick.
There are some holes… Like why doesn’t Emilia know how to manage young shifter when she is one? Why didn’t Atlas do anything about his shifty uncle and his henchmen despite being suspicious for years?
The story is long winded and boring at times. The characters aren’t very likable.
In my opinion, the ending is extremely unsatisfying.
November 15, 2025
What happens when fate hands you a cursed alpha and a marriage you never asked for? Chaos, sparks, and a whole lot of drama.
Emilia Stone born Emilia Thornfield, born more powerful than most shifters due to who and what her father was and her mother's. Part of the reason why she works with a certain metal from her regional pack territory and surrounding packs most scared metal stone. Adopted by Gregory Stone, Alpha of the Stone pack and his daughter Taylor... these two subjected Emilia to torment, hurt, abuse, a pawn and their hate. Found her mate before she was 18 and fell in love with him and gave him gifts while they were in school but he never said anything ever to Emilia until the day after her 18th birthday, him coming to her pack for a ceremony, little did she know that will be the first heartbreak when she finds out he's engaged to her sister Taylor, who is the same age as her. 2nd time is a few weeks later on his family's yacht, sister is there mostly but hidden away and one night Emilia's first heat happens, her crush 'helps' and afterwards rejects her again. 3rd, yes she wasn't just rejected once but 3 times from the man she loves. Her sister fled and her adopted father forced her to stand in her sisters 'shoes' to marry the man shes hates but still loves and even knowing it was her, he still went along with the wedding only to say some pretty hurtful words enough to make her flee her home for 8 long years. Her twins Hazel and Ethan are her world in a world half a world away from their father.
Atlas Blackwood, Alpha heir of the Blood Wood Pack, lives with knowing his family's curse will extend to him and his future fated mate like the curse that killed his mother and subjected his father to weaken everyday for years. The same curse that killed his grandmother and weakened his grandfather, killed his and but his uncle never weakened and became addicted to the 'curse' and its origins and the cure, or is he? Wo when Atlas knew his mate was Emilia he started to push her away, force him hand to hurt her as much as he could to keep her away from him and their connection and when he agreed to marry Emilia's sister he all but forced her to acknowledge the future of being his fated mate but his sister in law. The weeding where he killed his heart away from love and to her's as well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emilia Stone born Emilia Thornfield, born more powerful than most shifters due to who and what her father was and her mother's. Part of the reason why she works with a certain metal from her regional pack territory and surrounding packs most scared metal stone. Adopted by Gregory Stone, Alpha of the Stone pack and his daughter Taylor... these two subjected Emilia to torment, hurt, abuse, a pawn and their hate. Found her mate before she was 18 and fell in love with him and gave him gifts while they were in school but he never said anything ever to Emilia until the day after her 18th birthday, him coming to her pack for a ceremony, little did she know that will be the first heartbreak when she finds out he's engaged to her sister Taylor, who is the same age as her. 2nd time is a few weeks later on his family's yacht, sister is there mostly but hidden away and one night Emilia's first heat happens, her crush 'helps' and afterwards rejects her again. 3rd, yes she wasn't just rejected once but 3 times from the man she loves. Her sister fled and her adopted father forced her to stand in her sisters 'shoes' to marry the man shes hates but still loves and even knowing it was her, he still went along with the wedding only to say some pretty hurtful words enough to make her flee her home for 8 long years. Her twins Hazel and Ethan are her world in a world half a world away from their father.
Atlas Blackwood, Alpha heir of the Blood Wood Pack, lives with knowing his family's curse will extend to him and his future fated mate like the curse that killed his mother and subjected his father to weaken everyday for years. The same curse that killed his grandmother and weakened his grandfather, killed his and but his uncle never weakened and became addicted to the 'curse' and its origins and the cure, or is he? Wo when Atlas knew his mate was Emilia he started to push her away, force him hand to hurt her as much as he could to keep her away from him and their connection and when he agreed to marry Emilia's sister he all but forced her to acknowledge the future of being his fated mate but his sister in law. The weeding where he killed his heart away from love and to her's as well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 24, 2025
Reviewed at Shifter Haven
Cursed Alpha’s Stand-In Bride is the second title in the Moonbound series. Emilia and Atlas are fated mated… fated also to be separated by the threat of a curse. Their story is full of lies, betrayal, and an intense connection that neither time nor distance can fully sever. Emilia has always loved Atlas, even when he rejects her time and time again. The final rejection will send her fleeing far from his influence but never far from his (or her) mind. She has the twins to look after every single day and remember their father, and how she must protect them from his “curse”. When circumstances command that she return to the pack she fled from years ago, events will finally come to a head… and their family’s happiness depends on Atlas finally doing the right thing.
I enjoyed Cursed Alpha’s Stand-In Bride by Flora R. Leigh; it’s well-written, passionate, intense, and full of all the emotions you could ask for. If you enjoy your Shifter Romances complicated, then Emilia and Atlas are the perfect couple for you.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Cursed Alpha’s Stand-In Bride is the second title in the Moonbound series. Emilia and Atlas are fated mated… fated also to be separated by the threat of a curse. Their story is full of lies, betrayal, and an intense connection that neither time nor distance can fully sever. Emilia has always loved Atlas, even when he rejects her time and time again. The final rejection will send her fleeing far from his influence but never far from his (or her) mind. She has the twins to look after every single day and remember their father, and how she must protect them from his “curse”. When circumstances command that she return to the pack she fled from years ago, events will finally come to a head… and their family’s happiness depends on Atlas finally doing the right thing.
I enjoyed Cursed Alpha’s Stand-In Bride by Flora R. Leigh; it’s well-written, passionate, intense, and full of all the emotions you could ask for. If you enjoy your Shifter Romances complicated, then Emilia and Atlas are the perfect couple for you.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*
November 26, 2025
Cursed fated mate
An interesting story full of fated mates, rejection, lies & betrayal, second chances, with an artistic and strong willed FMC, a protective cursed Alpha MMC, great twists, romance and a HEA.
Emilia was adopted by Alpha Stone as a child and brought up alongside his daughter, but always living in her shadow. She'd been in love with Atlas, the Alpha of another pack, for a few years, leaving him little gifts she'd made while at college, so when he visited for a ceremony a few days after her 18th birthday she took the courage to tell him and give a pendant she'd carved, only to be rejected and then learn he was engaged to her sister.
Atlas has a family curse he's trying to protect her from, knowing she might be his fated mate. So rejects her again after realising she's covering for her sister at the wedding, so she runs.
But years later she's living her life designing jewellery when she's called back home only to find the attraction to Atlas is still strong. But will he be happy to learn her twins are also his?
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An interesting story full of fated mates, rejection, lies & betrayal, second chances, with an artistic and strong willed FMC, a protective cursed Alpha MMC, great twists, romance and a HEA.
Emilia was adopted by Alpha Stone as a child and brought up alongside his daughter, but always living in her shadow. She'd been in love with Atlas, the Alpha of another pack, for a few years, leaving him little gifts she'd made while at college, so when he visited for a ceremony a few days after her 18th birthday she took the courage to tell him and give a pendant she'd carved, only to be rejected and then learn he was engaged to her sister.
Atlas has a family curse he's trying to protect her from, knowing she might be his fated mate. So rejects her again after realising she's covering for her sister at the wedding, so she runs.
But years later she's living her life designing jewellery when she's called back home only to find the attraction to Atlas is still strong. But will he be happy to learn her twins are also his?
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2026
Emilia and Atlas for the win!
This is Moonbound series book one that is about an adopted wolf shifter Emilia, who is mistreated by her sister Taylor and her dad the Alpha. It was heartbreaking how they treated her and made her feel like less than a family member. Emilia had been in love with Atlas Blackwood since high school; she was confident that Atlas must feel this connection between them like she did. There was something special, even supernatural that pulled Emilia to Atlas. However, one day when Atlas and his high level pack members were invited to visit Emilia’s pack to build alliances, she snuck away to give Atlas a gift that she hand made. Atlas became tense, and then shockingly he declined the gift. . . . That is where their journey begins. There are a lot of twists, histories, and prophecies that complicate their paths. Read On!
This is Moonbound series book one that is about an adopted wolf shifter Emilia, who is mistreated by her sister Taylor and her dad the Alpha. It was heartbreaking how they treated her and made her feel like less than a family member. Emilia had been in love with Atlas Blackwood since high school; she was confident that Atlas must feel this connection between them like she did. There was something special, even supernatural that pulled Emilia to Atlas. However, one day when Atlas and his high level pack members were invited to visit Emilia’s pack to build alliances, she snuck away to give Atlas a gift that she hand made. Atlas became tense, and then shockingly he declined the gift. . . . That is where their journey begins. There are a lot of twists, histories, and prophecies that complicate their paths. Read On!
November 8, 2025
Cursed Alpha's Stand-In Bride started off good but over time the pace of the story seems to slow making the story drag. Emilia has always been in love with Atlas but his obligation and duty to his pack makes him do what's best for everyone but him. He breaks her heart but loses more than he ever thought could have when it comes to her. I thought some things in this story was polished too nicely when it came to some people, but that's my opinion. This story has reunions, forgiveness, lies, betrayal, threats, challenges, steamy scenes, fights and romance. It has a sweet and HEA ending for the couple. I think it's a story worth reading if you enjoy paranormal romance, even though it's a one-time type of read for me. However, I do love that it's a standalone story.
April 27, 2026
Such a great read!
This book was amazing, the story line, the description, everything about it. I laughed, I cried, yearned…I craved. The only reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five is because there were two parts of the story that didn’t feel complete to me:
****SPOILER AHEAD****
Why were Taylor and Uncle Joseph talking right before she ran away?! She was pale and scared so he said something to her. I hoped when Taylor came back she would mention it, but nothing.
Also, how did Cristian fit into their lives now?! He was family to them and now just disappeared! I feel like the author should have given him some kind of recognition. He was there for the three for 7 years…
This book was amazing, the story line, the description, everything about it. I laughed, I cried, yearned…I craved. The only reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five is because there were two parts of the story that didn’t feel complete to me:
****SPOILER AHEAD****
Why were Taylor and Uncle Joseph talking right before she ran away?! She was pale and scared so he said something to her. I hoped when Taylor came back she would mention it, but nothing.
Also, how did Cristian fit into their lives now?! He was family to them and now just disappeared! I feel like the author should have given him some kind of recognition. He was there for the three for 7 years…
January 13, 2026
Get an Editor
I'm a sucker for the rejected mates trope and I've been tearing through books lately. But man.
First, the storyline is predictable but fun. I like that there's actually a background for Emilia's eventual success with her career. I like that the children don't have ridiculous names. And I like that there are magical/supernatural elements to the story.
I don't like the typos. The misspellings. The missing words. But the worst errors were the continuity errors. The wolf claw pendant. How is Emilia going to receive it as a gift TWICE? And treat each time as the first? Such an important element and it was just so grievously misused.
2 stars.
I'm a sucker for the rejected mates trope and I've been tearing through books lately. But man.
First, the storyline is predictable but fun. I like that there's actually a background for Emilia's eventual success with her career. I like that the children don't have ridiculous names. And I like that there are magical/supernatural elements to the story.
I don't like the typos. The misspellings. The missing words. But the worst errors were the continuity errors. The wolf claw pendant. How is Emilia going to receive it as a gift TWICE? And treat each time as the first? Such an important element and it was just so grievously misused.
2 stars.
March 9, 2026
Second chance fated mate redemption...
I enjoyed reading the story of Atlas and Emilia. My heart hurt for Emilia as she wanted so much to be loved by her adoptive family and was rejected.
Then to feel the awakening of a mate bond with Atlas, to have him also reject her but not know the intrigue and betrayals behind it.
The book held my interest wanting to find out what would happen for them both and their children. It was gratifying to read how Atlas had to redeem himself to earn his second chance and his family.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading the story of Atlas and Emilia. My heart hurt for Emilia as she wanted so much to be loved by her adoptive family and was rejected.
Then to feel the awakening of a mate bond with Atlas, to have him also reject her but not know the intrigue and betrayals behind it.
The book held my interest wanting to find out what would happen for them both and their children. It was gratifying to read how Atlas had to redeem himself to earn his second chance and his family.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 23, 2025
Three Time Rejection
Atlas rejected his mate Emilia three times believing his bloodline to be cursed. Fleeing to another place with a little piece of him left her full of anger and the need to survive. Their reunion years later was intense and filled with mixed emotions that had me on the edge of my seat. It was heartbreaking and heart pounding, which kept me interested in how it all ended. It was a fantastic read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Atlas rejected his mate Emilia three times believing his bloodline to be cursed. Fleeing to another place with a little piece of him left her full of anger and the need to survive. Their reunion years later was intense and filled with mixed emotions that had me on the edge of my seat. It was heartbreaking and heart pounding, which kept me interested in how it all ended. It was a fantastic read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 21, 2025
Good story telling while also adding elements of romance and drama. The balance in this book of drama and everything else is great. I was sat and locked in. 4.5/5 and definitely recommend if you like shifter romance with the perfect amount of drama to allow you to just enjoy the story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2026
A decent read
It was a decent read. Didn't blow me away but I never thought about not finishing it.
It was well paced. The characters development was good. We got a happy ending.
Maybe would have benefit from a bit more in depth about the threat to them all, but overall it was okay.
It was a decent read. Didn't blow me away but I never thought about not finishing it.
It was well paced. The characters development was good. We got a happy ending.
Maybe would have benefit from a bit more in depth about the threat to them all, but overall it was okay.
November 25, 2025
must read
Really enjoyed the different take on mate stories it had me on the edge of my seat with a rollercoaster of emotions. Really liked Emilia and her strength. Definitely read you won’t regret it. 😊
Really enjoyed the different take on mate stories it had me on the edge of my seat with a rollercoaster of emotions. Really liked Emilia and her strength. Definitely read you won’t regret it. 😊
February 4, 2026
cursed
A good read. I was a little annoyed at Atlas for waiting seven years to try to figure out what Joseph was doing, seems like a lot of wasted time. Emilia was a strong character.
A good read. I was a little annoyed at Atlas for waiting seven years to try to figure out what Joseph was doing, seems like a lot of wasted time. Emilia was a strong character.
February 26, 2026
2.5⭐️rounded up for this rejected mate story. Very low angst. HEA. Fairly standard shifter world. The writing is decent and so is the editing. I read until the very end, even though I found myself bored at times.
March 7, 2026
gripping
The story is old as time but the parts that keep you gripped is the twists and turns of a good honest writer the imagination that it takes to write a book is easy but to be good you have to a good grip on the fantasy reality border this writer has that
The story is old as time but the parts that keep you gripped is the twists and turns of a good honest writer the imagination that it takes to write a book is easy but to be good you have to a good grip on the fantasy reality border this writer has that
April 19, 2026
confusing
The way it would change the name of the pack from Blood Wood pack to Black Wood pack I could never tell which it should be. Black Wood sounded much better. Good story though
The way it would change the name of the pack from Blood Wood pack to Black Wood pack I could never tell which it should be. Black Wood sounded much better. Good story though
April 20, 2026
3.5 stars. This was a fun time for what you get with these types of books. A vibes read. This was one of the better books I’ve read in this genre and I liked the the FMC didn’t give in too quickly to the MMC.
March 9, 2026
This was a filler book for me. I enjoyed it.
April 4, 2026
Great read.
Flew through this book in a day and half. It was a little different in how it was presented as an atypical rejected mate story which was refreshing.
Flew through this book in a day and half. It was a little different in how it was presented as an atypical rejected mate story which was refreshing.
April 9, 2026
It was good. There are a few grammatical errors here and there. Easy read.
April 19, 2026
DNF 70%
May 1, 2026
Perfect Story
Very well written and wrapped up all story lines in a perfect manner! I couldn’t put it down because the story was so interesting.
Very well written and wrapped up all story lines in a perfect manner! I couldn’t put it down because the story was so interesting.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews