By
Tessa Hale

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A completely blank slate in a place where no one knew about the tragedy that ripped her family apart six months ago. A tragedy Rowan can’t help but blame herself for.

Now the only thing she wants is to blend in. To escape the house that has become more like a prison. Her new school is her only hope. Somewhere she can pretend she’s just like everyone else.

Only Rowan doesn’t realize how unique she is. Holden is the first to recognize it, but he’s not the last.

Rowan can’t explain the draw she feels to the guys who have found their way into her life. The way something seems to spark the first moment she touches each of them. How it almost hurts to walk away from them at the end of each day.

Things are changing, from the ripple of power humming just below her skin to this new family she’s finding herself a part of. But not all of the changes are good.

Someone doesn’t like the power Rowan is stepping into or the bonds she’s forming with the guys who have gifts as rare and strong as her own. And when the truth is revealed, it has the power to burn everything in its wake…

Rowan’s life changed the minute she survived a car crash, but her sister Lacey didn’t. Rowan was adopted but always felt part of the family now she’s not so sure. They moved to Cloverdale, a small town in Washington. Her father has a job in Seattle and a daily commute isn’t possible, so he stays in the city during the week.

Rowan does her best to take care of her mother, it’s hard when she tells Rowan she can’t look at her. Rowan is still fighting nightmares, but she’s also looking forward to fresh start where no one knows her. While her father is home, he buys groceries and he’s there when Mason and his son Holden bring a welcome basket.

When Holden shakes her hand, a spark happens, same as when she met the man in the woods. It just seems weird to her, and she puts it off to some strange static electricity in the area.

When she starts school, all pretense of a new start vanishes when she overhears girls talking about the accident that took her sister’s life and she almost died. A panic attack hits and runs into Lucas who helps calm her and that spark occurs once more. Holden as promised brings her to the cafeteria at lunch and brings her to a table where she meets more of his friends. Cassidy aka Cass, Ridge and Jack. Also, Jasmine who seems to have a thing for Holden joins them.

When she brushes hands with Keene in Holden’s truck that sensation of spark hits again. She just doesn’t know why, and that they were discussing someone powerful that doesn’t know intrigues her as well. Even though the explanation is reasonable.

Anson has been playing it up with Sadie and Rowan just wants him to leave her out of the drama. Now in Gym class she’s put on the same team with Anson and Jasmine. Fun times, not!

Up until now the spark thing has been mild yet unusual. That is until Anson touches her.

This is just one of my favorite scenes.

Coach snorted and proceeded to break us into the groups. I fought a groan when he put me on a team with Anson and Jasmine. They were the only people I knew in the whole class, and I would’ve chosen any other team but this one.

Anson crossed to me, a wicked smile on his face. He bumped my shoulder with his. “Hey, teammate.”

I took a step away. “Hey.”

His smile faltered a bit. “What’s wrong?”

I met his gaze, not looking away. “I don’t appreciate getting dragged into whatever dysfunctional thing you have going on with Sadie. You want to screw every girl you can at this school, fine. I’m not going to be on that list. And I don’t need another reason for Sadie to set her sights on me. I just want to get through my senior year with as little drama as possible. Honestly, you two are perfect for each other.”

Anson’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t mean—” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Rowan. I didn’t mean to put you in a bad spot. I’ll talk to Sadie.”

I squeezed my eyes closed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Please don’t tell her to lay off me. That’ll just make things worse.”

He rubbed a hand over his buzzed head. “I really don’t understand girls.”

“Try treating them like human beings. You might have better luck.”

“Hey.” He moved in closer. “I treat you like a human being.”

I blew out a breath. “There are moments where I think I see the real Anson, just flashes, but I like him a hell of a lot better than whatever macho Casanova you play at the rest of the time.”

His mouth pressed into a thin line. “Noted.”

“Be whoever you want, just be real in the process.”

Anson stared across the gym, his focus seemingly nowhere in particular. “If you don’t show people the real you, it hurts a hell of a lot less when they leave.”

His words had a careless tone, but they sent little fissures cracking through my heart. “Anson,” I whispered.

Those green eyes glinted, not with mischief this time, but with anger. “I don’t need your fucking pity.” He turned and joined another boy at the front of the court.

“Making all sorts of friends,” Jasmine said with a smirk. “I knew it was only a matter of time before the wool got pulled back.”

I ignored her and took a place in the middle line. A whistle blew and the game began. I knocked into the people next to me at least half a dozen times. I managed to hit a few balls, but I missed a lot more.

Jasmine scoffed as I blew past another, catching only air. “You could at least try, new girl.”

I gritted my teeth and stayed focused on the game. The other team served again. Unfortunately, they’d realized I was the weak link. The ball came sailing towards me.

I focused on not closing my eyes, but it was instinct when a ball was flying at your face. I clasped my hands together and aimed. The frustration of the day, the conversation with Anson, and Jasmine’s steady stream of jabs bubbled below my skin.

The volleyball hit my forearms with a crack, the skin there stinging like a dozen wasps had just attacked. The ball flew into the air, hitting the massively high ceiling and then landing with a smack in the opposite court.

“Holy hell,” Coach said as he approached, rubbing the side of his face. “That’s out of bounds, but you’ve got an arm on you, Caldwell. You should think about trying out for the team this winter.”

I stared at the ball as it bounced off the court, then at the ceiling. How had I done that? The whole game, I’d struggled to get the ball over the net, let alone who-knew-how-many feet in the air.

The other team served again, still aiming straight for me. I braced again. This time, I didn’t have a chance to go for the ball. Someone crashed into me from behind, sending me sprawling to the floor.

I landed on my side, my elbow and shoulder taking the brunt of the fall. The force knocked the wind out of me, as if I’d been taken down by a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound linebacker.

“What the hell, Jaz?” Anson barked.

“She screws up every time. I was just trying to get us a point.”

Coach blew his whistle. “Get off the court and cool off, Jasmine.”

She scowled at me but moved to the bleachers.

Anson’s face filled my line of sight, but I was too consumed with trying to get my breath back to truly notice.

“Are you okay? Can you move?”

I blinked a few times, my vision clearing. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

“Let’s sit you up, nice and easy.” Anson reached out a hand, taking mine.

The moment our hands met, a spark lit, but this one was even stronger than the ones I’d experienced before. It coursed through me like an electrical current. Bright spots danced in front of my vision and then there was nothing at all.
Hale, Tessa. Spark of Fate: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (The Shifting Fate Series Book 1) Kindle Locations (948-991). Kindle Edition.

There’s a lot of things happening in this book, first of course is Rowan’s parents and the weirdness there. Then there’s Sadie, with gossip and sniping. Jasmine and her obsession with Holden and most of all this secret that has me turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. Oh, and that thing with Vaughn, Keene’s brother, is very interesting too.

I love the slow build up in this book, each secret revealed is more intriguing than the last. The ending? Well let’s just say I’m glad this series is complete so I can start the next book right away.

5 Contented Purrs for Tessa!

Author of love stories with magic, usually with more than one love interest. Constant daydreamer.