When a good friend writes a thriller, you read it and say you loved it. And I'm not just saying that... I really did enjoy this one! It was a little long for my tastes, but I found it compelling and intriguing.

Fate of the Unwilling by Amy Lee
Fate, Fortune, and Fury #1

Woman
Nearly naked,
Memory gone,
Battered and bruise.

Men
More than one,
Good and bad,
What do they and will they mean to her?

I must admit that I wasn’t sure going into this book that I would find anything new in a story with a main character who lost her memory BUT I stayed up till 3am this morning reading because once started I could not stop till I found out what happened. So, thumbs up on this one…and I believe we have a lot to look forward to as this is a stellar book whether or not it is the debut work of a new author!

What I liked:
* The “unknown” factor that threaded through the story.
* The way the “unknown” was made known slowly as the story was told through flashbacks, thoughts of various characters, and other devices.
* The quality of the writing
* That I wasn’t really sure what was going on until it was revealed…I surmised but was not always correct.
* That none of the characters were “perfect” – they had flaws and foibles and some serious problems.
* The way the characters grew, developed, and became real over the reading of the story.
* Sitting here pondering the story and wondering what will happen in book two.
* That the story has a conclusion of sorts for at least one couple but in a way, it is a HFN with a real lean toward a HEA.
* Being able to like characters that were not perfectly likable.
* Feeling I understood the characters and their backstories…or at least as much as was revealed and though not everything...enough.
* That it made me think, care, wonder, and want to know more

What I want to know:
* What will happen with Simon, his daughter and ex-wife
* What else the woman referred to as Daphne will find out/reveal through past memories as book two unfolds.
* How the legal case that crops up in the story will be handled and what the outcome will be.
* What will happen in the lives of Silas, Silas’s brother Max, “Daphne”, the reprehensible characters that were behind a lot of the trouble created in this story…hmm…
* More…

What I didn’t like:
* The bad people I was meant to dislike.
* Not sure this is a dislike or a discomfort or something else BUT as “Daphne” remembers she unearths some rather difficult memories…and that was uncomfortable for her and for me.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes!
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

"Fragments of her past shaking loose in public was a terrifying thought."

A woman wakes up naked and beaten in the woods with no memory. You may think you have read this story before but trust me it has never been written quite as poignantly descriptive or romantic as in Fate of the Unwilling by Amy Lee (A.L.Goulding).

Our mysterious woman is rescued by Silas, a deaf man, who gives her his guest room and a place to hide. He calls her Daphne and at first they are cautious around each other. As she heals she starts to have bits of disturbing memories. There are flashes of an affair and blackmail. Was she this horrible person?

To add to her confusion and fear Silas has a visit from his brother the cop who is not so sure Daphne is an innocent victim. While Silas tries to get to the truth his own secrets are threatened to be revealed and that could be deadly for all of them.

This book was so much fun to read as a twisty thriller but also as a sexy romance. As Daphne and Silas develop feelings the scenes between them range from a cute flirtation to a steamy bedroom. I was not expecting to enjoy their relationship but it was a highlight for me. As truths were revealed I was surprised and a little confused by the many connecting pieces but that is partly my muddled mind trying to figure things out. I highly recommend this exciting thriller and hope there is a Silas series in the future.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A disoriented woman stumbles out of the woods, to the marina of Gig Harbour and into the arms of Silas Wayland, the deaf brother of police officer Max Wayland. She does not know who she is or what happened to her, and Silas offers to take her in for the time of the investigation. Soon it becomes clear that this is not a simple case of either abduction or assault, and that the female victim, for now named Daphne, may not be as innocent as assumed. While her memory slowly returns, things become seriously hot between Daphne and Silas, who seems to have some secrets of his own.

This was a fast-paced read with a very complex and tangled story-line, but it was intriguing to follow Daphne on her journey into her own past, each step raising questions and even more self-doubt. Whom can she trust, and even more important, can she trust herself? The author constructed a clever web of intrigue and deceit, and only at the end all threads became untangled to reveal a dangerous, even deadly conspiracy. A decent debut novel which at the end hints at a possible and welcome sequel.

Sucked me right in. It reminds me of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels in a way, with the narrative that jumps from the bland ordinariness of everyday life to the violent tragedy that stalks police work. Cool thriller, convincing characters, just a few moments where I thought the plot jumped too quickly. But overall, this is very good and many people will enjoy it. I see it selling out paperback displays in airports (if we ever use them again) and grocery stores.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This book had a lot of potential, unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to it. The story and the characters fell flat for me and nothing good or bad really sticks out in my memory about this one at all.

Amy Lee's Fate of the Unwilling opens with a naked woman, battered and left outside near the water and woods. She finds help but cannot remember her name or how she got where she is. She does trust the deaf man that helps her just as she is wary of the local police.

As Daphne's memory returns in bits and pieces, what is revealed is scarier than anything that I would have imagined. Skilled white shoe lawyer who learns incriminating information about one of her firm's most important clients. Whether to continue to act in her client's defense or to step out and speak up? How far are her colleagues willing to go to preserve the status quo? Is there anyone from her old life that she can trust?

I thoroughly enjoyed Fate of the Unwilling - could not put it down! If you're looking for an unusual thriller with a heroine you can root for, Fate of the Unwilling is a terrific choice!

#FateoftheUnwilling #NetGalley
Fate of the Unwilling by Amy Lee

The novel hooked me immediately. A woman awakens in a forest, clad only in a dirty t-shirt. She has no memory of how she arrived there. She has no memory at all. She does not even remember her own name.
She wanders out of the forest and limps her way to a harbor where she finds a man--a deaf man--who knows something about her. He helps her and cares for her. "He had never known a woman like her, unbreakable yet built of glass, and he was certain she'd disappear if she knew everything." (Chapter 15) Will she disappear, or will she prevail?

The plot line is riveting, the unfolding of the mystery enthralling, and the sexual tension between the main characters scintillating. I hesitate to share any more information because I want you to accompany the woman on her journey without spoilers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this exciting book.