Book Review: Evolution: SAGE

Evolution: SAGE

By:  Starla Huchton

Publish Date:  May 6, 2014

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Science Fiction Romance - Superheroes!

Series:  2nd in Evolution series; 1st book ~ Evolution: ANGEL

Recommendation:  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? Maybe the third book to come out. You love romance? Suprheroes? YOU NEED THESE!

Synopsis:
Devastated by her choices, Candace Bristol is on the brink of losing it all: her mind, her hope, everything she thought she was.

But from the ruins rises new purpose. An enemy has emerged and it will take everything to combat this new threat. Broken as she is, picking up the pieces and carrying on might be the hardest battle to win, but it's either fight, or lose what little she has left.

Amongst the wreckage, hope still burns. The flicker of a flame kindles something within her she thought was dead.

Love can break you.

So, too, can it bring you back to life.

Purchase At:
Amazon   /   Barnes & Nobles

**I beta read this book for the author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Candace is empty, of tears and more. She feels hollow inside after what happened in Evolution: ANGEL, what she had to do. Her friends and colleagues have been staying with her, trying to break through her sadness. Then Jackson s finally roped into staying with her. His harsh words hit home. Coming around Candace is assigned the wayward member of her team, to train and hone his skills. What Candace fins in him is not what she expected but maybe is what she needs.

The beginning tugged at my heart strings, seeing Candace this way. Remembering with her what we've lost. She did right and she is right. But there was more there with him too. I know Candace is strong and determined, she will pull through although changed and a bit wiser to the ways of the supers' world. With Candace in this state, I start to wonder what the higher ups do with super "heroes" in the condition, or worse, that don't pull out of it.

Everything at the compound goes on as usual. Training continues and grows with each superheroes powers. Candace learns new ways to use her power and control of water. She becomes more powerful as water is everywhere, even the human body. Some of her team are now scared of her. Candace must prove she's worthy, to herself and others.

We get to go on a ride-along out on a field call. Candace sees the seriousness and danger of field missions first hand. We get a view of an 'unstable' super. Now we start to wonder where they come from.

Candace is struggling to find her equilibrium. She is trying to see the way of the supers in the world. How do can they perform their jobs, which comes to killing, while saving innocents. She struggles with morel questions in her mind. And with doing so, we see a whole other side, an opposite to the ANGEL project, out there.

*fan girl time*
Jackson? Jackson! There is more to this firey man than we could have imagined. Oh is there more... *sigh* I was falling for him and his antics in ANGEL, now. I LOVE him! LOL. I love his fire and snark with Candace. These two banter back and forth with the best of them. Yet there this a growing relationship. Jackson is strong and one to need a strong counterpart. Candace fits that to the T.

I'm impressed with Starla's ability to take me from enjoying and falling for Jackson as a hot snarky man and his quick clips to absolutely loving him and feeling he's perfect for the role he slips into. Wow.

I am in love. This series is something new and refreshing with superheroes in action. It is a romance read, but one that is different than any other and at the top of my must have list. We get all elements with Starla at the pen; romance, action, and a depth to a story that we didn't see coming. The end will have you starving for the third and final Evolution book.

It's Available!!

Many of you know my love for this series. If not, where have you been!?! LOL!

Superheroes and sexy. LOOOOVE!

I'm thrilled to share that TODAY the second of the trilogy is available for you to purchase.

Title: Evolution: Sage
Author: S.A. Huchton
Series: The Evolution Series (#2)
Genre: Adult Superhero Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 6
Edition/Formats: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis:
"Devastated by her choices, Candace Bristol is on the brink of losing it all: her mind, her hope, everything she thought she was.

But from the ruins rises new purpose. An enemy has emerged and it will take everything to combat this new threat. Broken as she is, picking up the pieces and carrying on might be the hardest battle to win, but it's either fight, or lose what little she has left.

Amongst the wreckage, hope still burns. The flicker of a flame kindles something within her she thought was dead.

Love can break you.

So, too, can it bring you back to life."

About Starla:

A geek of all trades, Starla Huchton has been crafting stories in various genres since 2007. Her first novel, The Dreamer’s Thread was released as a full cast audiobook podcast, becoming a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. After releasing short fiction of steampunk, noir fantasy, and other varieties, she released the first three books of the Sci-Fi Romance Endure series in 2013. All three books of the Evolution series will be released in 2014, as well as a Steampunk Fantasy novel, Master of Myth (the Antigone’s Wrath series, book 1), which was the first place winner of the Crested Butte Writers’ contest, The Sandy, in 2012.

When not writing, Starla trains three Minions, a black lab, and a military husband whilst designing book covers for independent authors and publishers at Designed by Starla.

Places to find Starla:

Blog

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Website

Places to find Evolution: Sage:

Amazon

Goodreads

Also pick up the first story in Evolution series:
Amazon:  Evolution: ANGEL

Cover Reveal! Evolution: SAGE

If you've been around, you've heard me gushing over this series for a time now. Probably read my love filled review. Seen the teasers of the first book. Read the Prologue. And on and on I've gone.

Well, I'm going to do more gushing. ;) It's time to share the second books cover with you!

Evolution: SAGE

Evolution #2

By:  S.A. Huchton

Due Out:  May 6, 2014

Genre:  New Adult Superhero Romance

Description:

Devastated by her choices, Candace Bristol is on the brink of losing it all: her mind, her hope, everything she thought she was.

But from the ruins rises new purpose. An enemy has emerged and it will take everything to combat this new threat. Broken as she is, picking up the pieces and carrying on might be the hardest battle to win, but it's either fight, or lose what little she has left.

Amongst the wreckage, hope still burns. The flicker of a flame kindles something within her she thought was dead.

Love can break you.

So, too, can it bring you back to life.

Seriously!?!! Oh goodness. So love these superheroes. I can't get enough of them! I do hope you take the time to check these out. Sooo worth it. :D

We have a few lovely teasers:

Okay, how about a sneak peek?

Excerpt:
Welcome home.

The emotions overwhelmed her as she slipped into the pool, sinking to the bottom.

Home.

Belonging.

Acceptance.

Comfort.

Candace didn’t know if she deserved to feel any of this, but there was no arguing with her connection to the water. It didn’t care about her mistakes. She had been missed.

She swam, moving back and forth through the water, soaking up more and more of the solitude and unexpected peace. Closing her eyes and floating, she turned inward, pushing past all of the hurt, all of the guilt, all of the loss, and drifted in a sea of calm. In the back of her mind, she knew this relief was only temporary. Eventually she would have to return to her other existence, the one where everyone wanted— expected— things from her.

Where she expected things from herself.

Jackson was right, of course. As much as she hated to admit it, his words were the slap in the face she needed. Once again, Candace was in his debt.

She frowned. There was a strange back and forth between them, an ever-shifting imbalance of helping one another. Funny, considering he was such a jerk otherwise. If he were consistently nice, maybe it wouldn’t sit with her so uncomfortably. As he ran more cold than hot with her, she never knew where she stood or what to expect. It was frustrating. Jackson Lawrence was not easily categorized or pinned down. Honestly, she couldn’t say with any amount of certainty whether or not she detested Jackson or kind of liked him, although the thought of liking someone as unlikable as him disturbed her on multiple levels. Did she have that much self-loathing that she’d attempt to spend more time with him?

She shivered. No. Definitely not. She more or less hated herself, but wasn’t about to hang around people who made her feel worse.

She took a breath and dove backwards, under the surface again. Life was too complicated. This was simpler. Maybe she could hole up here and no one would notice.

Swimming to the far end, she emerged at the side of the pool to catch her breath.

A crowd of people waited for her. She stared back at seven shocked faces.

“What?”

Jackson shook loose from the grasp of two armed soldiers. “Satisfied? She’s fine. Can I go now?”

“You’re still in trouble, Jackson. Shut the hell up.” True stepped to the edge and crouched down. “You scared us, sugar. What are you doing here?”

“Um… swimming?” Candace said. “Sorry. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed.”

True shook her head and grinned. “Didn’t you hear the alarms? We’ve been looking for you for thirty minutes. Why didn’t you tell someone?”

Candace shot Jackson a sidelong look. “There was no one to tell.”

Amir Jones rubbed his face and sighed. “Yeah, we noticed.”

Dina was silent, but shifted nervously. Hector was also quiet, but looked more pissed than nervous.

“You all right, Candy Cane?” True asked. “If you want some company, I can suit up and—“

“No!” Candace interrupted. “God, no. Sorry, True, but all I really want is some peace and quiet without people constantly talking to me. No, I’m not okay. I probably never will be. But, holy hell, if I have to deal with one more day of everyone treating me like a broken doll I might actually consider drowning myself just to avoid it.”

True grimaced. “You know we’re all trying to help you, right?”

She sighed. “I know, I know. But, seriously. I can’t think with everyone hovering like this. I just… I can’t. I appreciate what you guys tried to do. Really.” She pushed back from the side, treading water. “No one else can fix me, True. I’ll figure it out.”

She dove under again, blocking out everything but her connection to the water. The next time she came up for air, they were gone.

~~~~~~~~~~

If you haven't checked out Evolution: ANGEL, get to it. You can find teasers, read the prologue, or even stop by my loving review.

Evolution: ANGEL
Description:

Candace Bristol has always been obsessed with comic books, but in a world where the nightly news often mirrors these inked stories, her dreams of becoming a real superhero could actually come true. After being rescued by members of the government’s AdvaNced Genetic EvoLution (ANGEL) Project four years ago, getting recruited for this elite team is all she's wanted.

Now 18, she's finally reached her goal after years of study and physical training, but little could have prepared her for life as a genetic experiment. As though coming to terms with her new ability to manipulate water isn't tough enough, she never expected to be swept off her feet by one of her fellow recruits. 

With genetic alteration, the threat of physical and mental instability hangs over every superhero like a shadow. When one of their own tumbles over the edge of madness, Candace will have to choose between protecting the world, and saving the one who holds her heart.

Pick Up at Amazon:


Author Bio:
A geek of all trades, Starla Huchton has been crafting stories in various genres since 2007. Her first novel, THE DREAMER'S THREAD was released as a full cast audiobook podcast, becoming a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. After releasing short fiction of steampunk, noir fantasy, and other varieties, she released the first three books of the Sci-Fi Romance ENDURE series in 2013. All three books of the EVOLUTION series will be released in 2014, as well as a Steampunk Fantasy novel, MASTER OF MYTH (the Antigone's Wrath series, book 1), which was the first place winner of the Crested Butte Writers' contest, The Sandy, in 2012.

When not writing, Starla trains three Minions, a black lab, and a military husband whilst designing book covers for independent authors and publishers at designedbystarla.com.

Author Links:
Author blog: http://www.starlahuchton.com
Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Starla-Huchton-Author-Page/255657227797465
Twitter: http://twitter.com/riznphnx