I had no expectations going into this one, but it was truly a lot of fun. A quick, magic-filled read, with just the right amount of spice. Looking forward to more! Thanks to SMP for the ARC.

Witch Harlow “Harry” Pierce attended her first Fates Festival Finding Ceremony at the age of 18, and learned that her high school sweetheart was fated mates with her best friend. She moved out of their small town, weaving a spell so that no one could find her, and restarted her dreams in the big city. Thirteen years later, she's returning with a teenager in tow. Her goddaughter is half-shifter and needs serious help.

Why I started this book: Asher is really great at premises. Her stories have a great hook.

Why I finished it: This is my second Asher novel and I have found that her build up is better than the follow through but your mileage may vary. It's a decent story, with fun supporting characters.

A Simple Twist of Fate had all the tropes, plus an adorable cover! Harlow “Harry” Pierce thought her first Fates Haven Finding Ceremony would lead her to her cougar shifter boyfriend Jaxon Atwood, except it pairs him with her best friend, so heartbroken, she runs. Thirteen yers later, she returns home with her half-shifter goddaughter looking for answers from the Alpha of the Rocky Mountain Pack, but when that turns out to be her ex, there seems to be a simple twist of fate. I really enjoyed Harry and Jax. I wanted more moments of them getting to know each other on a more vulnerable level as the adults they are now; I felt the story leaned a touch heavy on their past. But I also am always in for fated mates, so I was mostly able to look past it. I felt like Harry was really well developed and interesting, and I enjoyed seeing her find her place back in her home. This is a great magical small town, and I loved the community and the friendships. Harry really finds her roots again and I loved the connections and the community festival. It has big Gilmore Girls vibes, and it’s a great second chance, paranormal rom com. It’s cute and an easy, feel-good read!

I’m so excited to be reading a new April Asher book I really enjoyed her Supernatural Singles series and I was excited to see her continue with a new Paranormal romance series. April did not disappoint with “A Simple Twist of Fate” honestly I enjoyed it more than her original series!

Y’all this was such a cute read! I had such a fun time reading it and I easily devoured this book in less than 24 hours. “A Simple Twist of Fate” follows our main characters Harlow & Jax childhood best friends and lovers. When the fated ceremony shows them to be not compatible it destroys Harlow. Forcing her to run away from everything she knows. 13 years later Harlow is forced back to her hometown with the hopes of finding someone who could help Grace. The child she had guardianship over with controlling her powers. Immediately she runs into Jax and he offers to help but with some rules. Being forced to work together to help Grace couldn’t possibly stir up an old flame, or could it ;)

Don’t come for me I know my description was cheesy, but I loved it. “A Simple Twist of Fate” is an adorable second-chance romance filled with magic and love. My heart broke reading about Jax & Harlows journey but then April put me back together by creating such a heartfelt story of watching these two make their way back to each other. Our main characters weren’t the only ones that I feel in love with. I also loved our side characters. Especially Elide and Silas and I can’t freaking wait for their book.

Overall, I highly recommend this paranormal romance. Especially for fans of Aprils previous books as well of fans of Juliette Cross “Stay a Spell” series. Lastly big Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

super quick and fun little romantasy read. i enjoyed the humor and thought the characters were adorable together.

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet from the very beginning. I loved that this book wasn't just about Harry and Jax's relationship, but also explored found family and Harry's relationship with her niece Grace as they navigate some difficulties. I adore Grace and just want more of her desperately.

The pacing never felt rushed, but rather was medium to fast paced and was always propelling forward. I honestly didn't think that all of the challenges would be wrapped up before the end of the book, but they were. It didn't feel forced at all though. April also wrapped up all the mysteries while also leaving the opening for future novels set in Fates Haven.

If you're looking for deep explanation about magic, this is not for you. Rather it is a fun, cozy, paranormal romantic comedy that will having you devour it as quickly as possible. I can't wait to see what is in store for Fates Haven!

Review coming April 14

This book was such a quick fun read. The main characters are adorable with their witty dynamic and narration. The setting and plot were a fun rom-com fantasy. It had just enough cheesiness in the end that it was predictable but very enjoyable. Loved it!

A Simple Twist of Fate was such a cute rom-com! I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the banter between the characters and the world the author created. The romance between Harry and Jax was so sweet. I do think the ending was a little predictable, but I loved it anyway. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a part of a series, but I would totally read Elodie and Lenny's stories. This was my first read from April Asher but it won't it'll be my last!

April Asher has been a favorite of mine for a little while. And I can’t say enough good things about this book. It was so fun and magical. I’m a sucker for a quick fantasy read and this was just what I needed.

3.75/5

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC.

Like April Asher’s other books, A Simple Twist of Fate is a cute and cozy paranormal romance. This was an easy, quick read with a magical small town setting. I can’t wait to see Asher will bring us next in Fates Haven with the other fate matches!

3.5 Stars!
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an arc of this one!
I really enjoyed getting to know Harry and Grace and the residents of Fates Haven! I loved that Harry was willing to do whatever it took to help Grace, even if that meant returning to her hometown and the heartbreak that was waiting for her there. The town is wild, every supernatural that you could hope for lives there, and since Harry swore her aunt to never speak of the town or of town gossip, there's a lot that Harry missed out on in the last 13 years. As friendships are mended, the mystery of Grace's shifter dad and Harry + Jax's second chance romance become the main storylines. I liked the reconnecting, but I felt like a lot was glossed over in the Fated Mates/Fated Witch side of the story! A little bit of miscommunication that we pretended to never happen and maybe some missing conversations to clear the air? 
But A Simple Twist of Fate is a fun and cozy paranormal romance that was a quick, easy read - I can hope that Asher will bring us back to Fates Haven for a few more stories with a few more of these fate matches!

I love a chance to find myself back in a world April Asher dreamt up. Her banter and character building is just so endearing and quick that falling in love with a new cast of characters felt so easy in A Simple Twist of Fate. I assume this is the start of a new cozy paranormal series with a plethora of cutie couples to watch develop in a magical mountain town and, let me tell you, I'm in.
It's a little cheesy. And *sigh* the steamy scenes were slight repetitive in description, but still enjoyable. I was so enjoying just reading all the dialogue that I didn't mind that the steam was slightly lacking... though I know Asher can step it up.
I'll definitely continue if this is a series and now I feel the need to go back and re-read some of her backlist. A quick, cute, cozy paranormal romance with some mystery twists and an adorable Gilmore Girls town.

This book was a perfect mix of small town magic, fated mates, and an interfering granny who steals the show!

When Harry fled Fates Haven thirteen years ago, she left behind heartbreak and the shifter she thought was her destiny. Now she’s back with her goddaughter in tow, hoping the town’s magic can help. But with a reluctant Alpha, a town losing its fated mate magic, and plenty of old wounds, Harry’s return is anything but simple.

This book is pure fun and an easy, charming read that hits all the right notes for fans of fated mates and small town magic.

Fate’s Haven is the kind of place you wish you could visit, and I absolutely adored Nora, the meddling older relative who brings humor and heart to the story. If you love light, feel good paranormal romance, this one’s for you!

Thank you St Martin and NetGalley for the ARC!

5/5 Stars

Welcome to Fates Haven, a little town where magical things can happen…

Harry left town 13 years ago when a mating ceremony led her bestie and her boyfriend to each other. Heartbroken and vowing never to return, she set off to live life in the Big City… until life, and a teenage fire shifter, send her (mostly against her will) back to her hometown.

Follow Harry as she and Jax, pack Alpha and her ex, have to work together to help Grace. Throw in some wonky magic and a bragging rights contest and you’re in for the ride of your life!

The only thing better than the relationship between Harry and Jax is Nora. I love the interfering granny/older relative character and Nora is a hoot!

Cannot recommend this more highly for romance fans or anyone who enjoys a good read.

“I don’t need some fucking blue Willow Wisp to tell me what I already know straight to my soul. You’re mine. You’re my mate. My world. My heart. My…Everything.”

I definitely had a hard time connecting with this book. I don’t really know what I was expecting but it was not what I read. The parts that were redeeming were Jax and Harlow finding their way back to each other. Other than that, I was not into this story. It was quirky and I’m sure there are people that would really like this but unfortunately it’s not something that I would pick up again.

Tropes:
✨Fated Mates
✨Second Chance
✨Fantasy

3.5 stars

Thank you St. Martins press and Netgalley for the E-ARC.

This book was very cute and cozy. While reading it I did enjoy it a lot. But now sitting here thinking about what to say in my review, I give it 3.5 stars.

I love the Fated Mated trope so much pairs with a second chance at love? Paranormal Gilmore Girls?! Who wouldn't want to read it?!

I feel this book has some holes that need explaining. But. Maybe she will do more books set in this town that will help explain those issues. Overall, I would recommend to a few of my friends.

—Gilmore Girls but make it paranormal

—high school sweethearts

—fated mates gone wrong

—on the page teenage ward

Heat Index: 6.5/10

The Basics:

Witch Harlow (AKA Harry) and shifter Jax were each other's first love, and she thought it would be forever. Until, that is, a sacred ceremony identified Harry's best friend as Jax's fated mate, sending her fleeing from town. Over a decade later, she's back in Fates Haven, seeking help for her best friend's daughter as she deals with unidentified shifter woes. Too bad the new alpha shifter in town is, in fact... Jax.

The Review:

Okay, when they pitch this as "supernatural Gilmore Girls vibes", they aren't kidding. And that's not a callout, it's honestly really cute. But you get it all—a quirky erotic bakery that I would literally pay to have in my town, funky little town residents, a random stable of horses, the various relationship tensions that have stakes but not like, super high stakes?

Obviously, our central relationship is Harry and Jax, and I do think Asher dialed into the second chance romance longing really well. I totally believed that these were two people who truly wanted each other and had never really resolved their feelings. The chemistry was sparking, there was an easiness to their interactions...

And honestly? Once I realized how hard this book was going to lean into small town romance, I was a little worried, because that vibe can be challenging for me. But there's a real charisma to April Asher's writing that kept me going. I wasn't like, OBSESSED, but I had a good time—and a better one than I usually have with small town romances and cozy magic.

I didn't even mind Grace, Harry's teenage pseudo-daughter (though I am both intrigued by her semi-absent mother and confused). She was a pretty real teenager, and she existed to push Jax and Harry together in a way that didn't feel contrived. Hard to pull off!

I will say, the fact that Harry just assumed that she and Jax were done after his supposed fated mate was identified... I mean, I get the drama because they were teenagers. But it did feel like a stretch for her to have no idea that she was completely wrong over the course of a 10+ year timespan. That's where she didn't feel like a real adult to me, and it's why I would say that... I liked her, but she definitely bugged me at points.

The Sex:

There isn't a *ton*, but what you get is good. Jax is a mountain lion shifter; I could've used a bit more of that in the sex scenes. I mean, in general, the magic in this novel is a light touch. But why not dial it up a bit during the sex scenes? I see nothing but win with that approach.

Conclusion:

While I can't say this is going to be one I remember forever, it was a fun, cute time. And I'd say that for Gilmore Girls fans in particular, this could be a good "baby's first paranormal romance" before you decide to run with the big dogs. Nicely done!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you were a fan of Asher's Supernatural Singles series then this is one you won't want to pass up. Seemingly set in the same universe as the previous series, don't quote me on that because it's just a feeling, this story follows Harry Pierce as she makes her way back to her hometown of Fate's Haven, Colorado, to seek help from the Alpha of the town. She has been left in charge of her best friend's daughter who is struggling to control her shifter powers. The BFF went off to find her one-night stand from 16 years before on a wild goose chase. Any way Harry and Grace make their way back to Fate's Haven and the Alpha is now none other than Harry's Ex, Jaxon. Jaxon is our other POV, a cougar shifter who was fated to Harry's Best friend and that was why Harry left town and made sure no one could follow.

Fate's Haven is a charming small town that seems to have it all. Everyone knows each other, creating a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of "Gilmore Girls," where community gatherings occur for nearly every occasion. At the heart of Fate's Haven is the town gazebo, a central meeting point for everyone.

The story incorporates beloved romantic fantasy tropes, including fated mates and second-chance romance. I appreciate the witty banter, especially from Harry, who speaks her mind and ensures that others listen. The friendships in the story are just as enjoyable as the romance, featuring an unlikely trio of high school friends who, mostly, pick up right where they left off: an angel warrior, a seer who tattoos your future (even if that future may involve a rabid raccoon).

Overall, I would categorize this book as fun and easy to read. The characters have great chemistry, and the narrative sets the stage for a series, which I hope will continue. If you've enjoyed Asher's Supernatural Single Series, you'll likely love this one as well.

There is something to be said for getting exactly what you want from a book. This book promised cozy paranormal romance and more than delivered on that.
Harry and Jax delivered the the right amount of angst and baggage for a second-chance romance without going too far (which is not an easy ask), and their re-connection felt the right amounts of inevitable and natural progression. And while they shine as the central story, the side plots of Harry reconnecting with the whole town (people and place) and magic and helping her best friend's daughter was equally wonderful to read. There was the perfect balance of all three and they are delivered with the warm fun that I have come to expect from Asher (shenangians and heartful moments equally abound).
Full of charm and heart, this is a book I recommend whole heartedly and I hope to see continue into a series so I can see what the rest of the town gets up to and their stumbles on the way to Happily Ever Afters.

✅ Jax Atwood, alpha mountain lion shifter & Harlow (Harry) Pierce, witch
✅ Fated Mates, except Jax & Harry were not the fated mates. They haven’t seen each other in 13 years.
✅ Second chance romance set in a magical small town in Colorado
✅ strong cast of secondary characters
✅ trying to solve a mystery
🌶️: yes! Slowish burn


This is such a fun, lovely, magical romance to whisk you away from reality