The Book: Hybrid: The Evolution Trilogy

The Author: Vanessa Wester

The Story:  University. Land of opportunity? For Steven Thorn, it’s the start of a new life. Just not the one he anticipated. As his resolve is put to the test, he ends up losing everything. For who could live a normal life as a HYBRID?

Steven Thorn has no trouble settling in at university, until Caitlin Chance catches him off guard. She’s the first girl he has ever felt an instant attraction towards and the more he gets to know, the more he likes.

When Caitlin leaves university after a suspicious suicide the romance grinds to a halt. Now Steven is alone, Ingrid gets her chance and it doesn’t take long for her to discover that Steven is a HYBRID. However, when his estranged mother Emily, convinces Ingrid to lie about Steven he obtains a short reprieve.

Unfortunately, Ingrid does not intend to let Steven remain in the dark for long. She has other plans. The wheels are set in motion for his radical upheaval.

Steven will become a stranger to everyone. He will be forced to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. He will come face to face with his past and future.

Now they know he exists, they will come to get him.

Everything will change…

Review by MrsMud: As an 8th grade English teacher, reading is my passion. In order to entice my middle school kids to read, I must make sure that what I present to them is something that will not only catch their attention, but keep it through to the end. Popular series such as Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, and the Divergent Trilogy are series that I’ve read and presented to my students, and received an overwhelming response with kids fighting for books to read them. In saying that, I am constantly looking for books that are up to my standards to “infect” my students with that bug to read. I can say, after reading Hybrid, that this is my next book craze that will be taking over my class. Since I live in the USA, the terms and spellings of Great Britain threw me at first, but was great to be exposed to a different way of reading. Will be great discussions in class!

Hybrid begins in the setting of England, with student Caitlin joining the University, and meeting new people. It threw me, at first, because the story does change to the different characters points of view, but you catch on quick after that. At school, Caitlin meets Steven and all that comes with him; many things that even HE didn’t realize came with him. You get caught up in young blossoming love, that soon become overshadowed by darknesses hidden by the past. When dark family secrets make themselves known, the story twists into one of survival and the costs of living. Will the overwhelming love endure all costs? Is survival worth losing yourself? Is there anyway out?

The Hybrid series is sure to keep the reader on edge throughout the chapters, and leaves you wanting more at the end. This, to me, is the mark of a true bestseller. It leaves me wanting more, and will leave any reader wanting her to hurry up and release the other books! Any fans of The Hunger Games and/or Twilight will instantly be captivated. I will state, I am NOT a Twilight/vampire fan AT ALL, but I was captivated by this book. You must read to know more! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to “get lost” in a new book, and for any English teacher looking to get their kids hooked on reading. I’m confident in recommending this, and look forward to many more works in this series and by this author.

The Book: Galileo’s Holiday

The Author: Sasha Summers

The Story: Ice miner Riley works alone in the depths of space, and that’s the way she likes it. She’s proud of her independence, and when her ship gets destroyed by raiders on the icy surface of Galileo, she’s not sure she wants to rely on rakish trader Leo and the kindness of a band of settlers to survive.

Despite her attempts to keep her distance, it’s not long before Riley warms to the family atmosphere of the settlers’ station. As Galileo’s Holiday approaches and she develops feelings for the handsome, charming Leo, she questions whether she really wants to remain alone.

But Leo is hiding cargo the raiders want, and when they come back for it, everyone on the small station is in danger. Riley will risk anything to protect her new friends—because if the raiders succeed, the choice between Leo and a life alone won’t be Riley’s to make.

Review by Allison C.: Sasha Summers has once again written a great story. This one is a total departure from her Hollywood “Red Carpet Series” and “Loves of Olympus” series. Her first foray into the Romantic Sci-Fi realm is fun; a very sweet (and hot) love story. Sasha Summers has used her true gift for storytelling to take readers to another world where Christmas has a whole new meaning.

Galileo’s Holiday takes us to a future world where Riley, the heroine, lives a solitary life as an ice-tugger. She is stranded on a planet when her ship is destroyed by raiders, and rescued from certain death by tall, handsome Leo. They take refuge with a group of people who are in the midst of preparing for “Holiday”.

Not used to being around so many people, Riley is inundated with new sights, sounds, the delights of real food, and this man she is attracted to. As she soaks in these new experiences, Leo is fascinated by her, and is as drawn to her as she is to him.

As they explore each other and their new relationship, they are forced to battle deadly creatures and the return of a band of nasty raiders.

I’m a big fan of this author, and she has once again delighted me with this new story. Sasha Summers has proven that no matter the genre, she has a true gift for storytelling.

Review by Sarah Gibson: Riley has spent her whole life working as an ice miner, she has her own ship and spends the majority of her time alone but she is happy to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother who were both miners before her. Everything changes when Riley is trapped on the planet Galileo after raiders destroy her ship. Rescued by trader Leo happy routine. Considering she has just lost everything she has ever known she is in need of a little TLC and that is exactly what she is and welcomed into the nearest space station Riley starts to realise just what she has been missing out on by spending so much time alone. When the raiders come back, searching for Leo and his cargo Riley must risk everything if she wants to keep her new friends safe.

Riley is strong, intelligent and fiercely independent but at the same time she is also quite vulnerable and naive when it comes to interacting with other people. She is so used to being alone that she doesn’t quite know what to make of the banter that goes on amongst the settlers at the station but it doesn’t take her long to fall into a offered by the settlers as they welcome her into their group. Leo hasn’t always lived his life on the right side of the law but he is trying to make up for it now and I liked the way he fell so hard for Riley. Neither of them ever expected to find love but when they do they fall hard and fast. Galileo’s Holiday was a really sweet story and I enjoyed the futuristic take on the holiday celebrations, I’ll be looking out for more by Sasha Summers in the future.

I read this novella as part of the A Galactic Holiday anthology