by April Asher
Book: Stand Alone
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Witches
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Book Links: Goodreads Bookshop Amazon
A witch and a shifter get a second chance at love in this new paranormal
romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling author April Asher.
At the bright-eyed age of eighteen, witch Harlow “Harry” Pierce attended her
first Fates Haven Finding Ceremony certain the Blue Willow Wisp would lead her
to her Fated match, her cougar shifter boyfriend, Jaxon Atwood. But Fate had
other plans, guiding her best friend to him instead. With a broken heart, all
her belongings, and a vow to never return, Harry did the only thing a
broken-hearted witch could do. Run.
Thirteen years later, she returns to her magical hometown—with her half-human,
half-shifter goddaughter in tow—hoping that not only would the town work its
magic on the troubled teenager, but that the local Alpha of the Rocky Mountain
Pack could help Grace identify—and control—her fiery abilities.
Jaxon Atwood was a shifter of few words and even less patience… until his
mother retired as Alpha of the Rocky Mountain Pack and left the running of
things to him. It’s a headache he didn’t need, and one that brought the witch
who’d ripped his heart from his chest knocking on his door.
Ever since the disappearance of the town’s Fate Witch over a decade ago, Fates
Haven’s magic has been slowly going haywire. There hasn’t been a Fated Match
made in thirteen years, putting the town in serious jeopardy of losing its
title of Most Fated Mates Per Population. But now, something is stirring in
Fates Haven, Colorado, and it smells like the past, tastes like change, and
looks like A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE.
My Review: This book was just okay.
Harry left her home one
day and has never been back since. Now, she has to return with her goddaughter
in tow in hopes the alpha there will be able to help Grace understand what she
is and how to control it.
She wasn't expecting her ex Jax to be the alpha. Apparently she didnt think his mom would retore at some point and he'd take over but here we are.
It's certainly one of those books you read in between something else to just change it up. Its got cozy, supernatural, second chance and small town tropes. The main characters have a nice chemistry and the entire book moves at a good pace.
If that sounds like you're cup of tea, than this may be just the book for you.
However...
I did manage to finish the book, but overall it wasn't for me. There were many times it was just boring and parts where it could have done with some backstory. I'm not saying its a bad book at all.
