Tag Archives: Starla Huchton

Book Review: The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton

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The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton

A Fantasy/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (08/10/15)

Summary:

The little girl who believed in magic is now in her twenties and about to let go of her childhood friend forever, but when the mysterious Light Man shows up again and in great need, she will set aside her adult prejudices and believe once more. Eran is not just a magical man and he didn’t just show up in Shari’s time and place on accident. He was sent to her not to help Shari, but to be helped by her.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Romance, Evolution, Theory, Bridge, Distance, Love, Reality, Protection, Help, Save, Menace, Fighting, Technology

 

My Review:

One thing I know for certain about S.A. Huchton (aka Starla Huchton) is that she knows how to write a great romance, no matter the genre. Her romances are the most compelling, no matter if they occur within sci-fi or fantasy.

The Night Bridge had that pull that happens in a good romance where there is an inevitability that will make your heart lurch because you love the characters so much and their romance is so sweet that to tear that apart would devastate you as much as the characters.

I felt that this book was a bit rushed and a lot of the events seemed to happen as if they were in a bubble and not within the realm of a normal (our) world. Also, Shari was dead set against getting to know or even let her romantic feelings towards Eran take over and then suddenly (mostly all of a sudden but she does think it through) she changes her mind and is head over heels in a whirlwind fast romance.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on August 10th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: My Bittersweet Summer by Starla Huchton

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My Bittersweet Summer by Starla Huchton

A New Adult/Contemporary Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (05/07/15)

Summary:

Margie was bullied relentlessly as a child. It was only when her family moved that she was able to slowly recover and become a stronger and more put together person. It took her six years to gain back her confidence and decrease her panic attacks, but it takes all of one look at the boys who were her biggest tormentors to tear down all the defenses she’d built up. She needs a letter of recommendation from the new chef at the restaurant her parents work at, so she can’t just leave. One boy in particular, Zack, keeps bothering her. He isn’t the bully she used to know, but can she get over the fear she still has of him and the others and of getting hurt again?

Keywords:

Bullying, Strength, Panic Attacks, Restaurants, Chef, Cooking, Summer, Summer Job, Promise of Paris, New England, Romance, Perseverance, Victim, Second Chances, Becoming a Better Person

My Review:

Starla Huchton has done it again. I couldn’t put down My Bittersweet Summer. The book flowed from beginning to end and held its tension and my attention throughout the entirety of the story.

I always love Huchton’s characters. Margie has so much personality and her past, though only told in bits and pieces throughout her present day life, is so alive for the reader. The events in Margie’s past made her who she is and shaped who she has become. Present Margie is a product of Past Margie, but she has worked hard to become a new Margie. Going back to the place where her bullies tormented her would break anyone. Margie is not a super human, she is susceptible to bouts of panic and emotion when she has to confront the same bullies all grown up. She reacts with words and even her fist at one point, but there are other factors that keep her from losing all control. She can’t beat up the restaurant owner’s son. She can’t kill her chance to get that recommendation. She can’t let her parents down. She’s forced to confront her fears and her tormenters and to rise to the challenge Zack presents.

Zack. I love a person who is trying to be a better person. He has a lot of past to overcome as one of those that stood by and let Margie get bullied. The ones who do nothing are just as guilty as those who are at the front of the assault. Zack has a lot to make up for and the way he tries is super sweet. I loved all his gestures and how hard he tried.

I absolutely love Starla’s style and the story of My Bittersweet Summer.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on May 7th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Author Thursdays: My Favorite Indie Authors 7 – Starla Huchton

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Starla Huchton

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Starla Huchton is amazing. She is multi-talented (like any Indie author must be) and does her own cover designing, editing, marketing, publishing, etc. Her covers are fantastic! Her writing will blow you away.

I found Starla Huchton on Jo Michael’s blog promotion event where authors submitted their books for review. Huchton submitted Shadows on Snow. I loved the stark contrast of the red apples with the grey scale background.

I read the book early in 2015 and was captured completely by Starla’s writing style. Here is my description of the book from my review in February:

“Strength comes in many forms. Beauty is but one.” (Page 28).

Raelynn is both beautiful and strong and when she overhears that the Queen is in trouble, she cannot but try to help. Rae has a magical gift that helps her remain unnoticed as she attempts to help the Queen. In the form of a lowly, simple stable boy she is still able to charm the young Prince Leopold, but when he is in danger himself, she must try to save him as well. Forever late, even in birth, can Rae protect the Prince from his evil stepfather?

Here are some snippets from my reviews that capture how great Starla Huchton is and how wonderful her books are:

Starla’s characters are the noblest and the most evil. They became larger than life for me and I loved all of them, even the evil stepfather, because they were each and every one so well described, unique, and so real you could sink your teeth into them. The character’s never break character and fit so well into the world/environment that Starla has created for them. – Flipped Fairy Tales

I used to read Princess stories and odd fairy tales and have never found another book written like those until finding Starla Huchton’s Flipped Fairy Tales. I’m so delighted by Huchton’s writing style and quaint fairy tale adaptations. She is a wonderfully talented writer with an eye for re-imagining childhood favorites. Her style will grab you and plunk you down into a world that is familiar, yet unique. – Flipped Fairy Tales

The characters and the story were so very alive and imaginable in my mind. – Lex Talonis

Starla has built a powerful, mesmerizing plot full of characters that are emotionally appealing and fascinating to watch. – The Evolution Trilogy

What Huchton does in her superhero series is give us a real kick-butt female with real superpowers. Huchton has diverse characters that look and act different and have unique personalities. – The Evolution Trilogy

With her Endure Series, Huchton has written a great science fiction romance series for adults. Unlike her Evolution Series, which was more geared toward a younger adult audience, the Endure Series follows an older protagonist (albeit a twenty-something emergent adult) who just happens to be a child prodigy and genius with elevated maturity. The romance Huchton builds is powerful and intertwines between and amongst the science fiction aspects of the book as well as the overarching plotline and menace to the world of the protagonists. The way this romance is built and sustained is breathtaking and phenomenal. If you are a fan of romance, this book will give you that and so much more besides. – The Endure Series

Starla writes the books I always wanted to read.

Check her out on my Indie Stars Page here.

 

Book Review: Evolution: HEX (The Evolution Series Book 3) by S.A. Huchton

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Evolution: HEX (The Evolution Series Book 3) by S.A. Huchton

A Sci-Fi/Fantasy/New Adult Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (07/05/14)

 

Summary:

“The line between enemy and ally wasn’t a line at all; it was a fuzzy, ever-shifting radius of complexity and situational dependency. (Page 34).

In this final installment in the Evolution Series, Candace must once again be strong in her convictions and in her abilities and relationships to get through tough times and save the day. She was kidnapped at the end of Book Two and now is imprisoned in enemy territory. Not everything she has been told about Hex and Dr. Ferdinand are true, but is everything she knows and has been told about the ANGEL project and the SAGES true as well? It will take Candace all her strength to fight this one last battle and to figure out who the enemy really is.

 

Keywords:

Genetic Manipulation, Superheroes, Comic Books, Books, Tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter

My Review:

I love it when a third book in a trilogy comes with enough resolution to leave the reader satisfied with the overall story, but also contains its own plot within the grander plot. Huchton delivers on both fronts. There was a grand climax and a thorough resolution with a surprise ending that, when looking back, was all but inevitable due to events in this third book.

Huchton’s plot throughout this series was a bit lumpy in pace in that the first book was like a standalone novel and the second novel continued many subplots, but the overarching series plot was introduced indirectly in the second book and fully revealed in this final book. The big picture was at last revealed in the final book and leaves both Candace and the reader wondering what is the truth and who is the enemy?

Questions of morals and enemy lines blurring make for the most interesting plot complications in the Evolution Series, and especially in this third book.

The relationship between Jackson and Candace takes a deep hit and the emotional suspense is so hard to take. Huchton really knows how to write a heart throbbing romance with deeply emotional characters who really feel for each other and their love is palpable and rich.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on July 5th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Evolution: SAGE (The Evolution Series Book 2) by S.A. Huchton

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Evolution: SAGE (The Evolution Series Book 2) by S.A. Huchton

A Sci-Fi/Fantasy/New Adult Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (05/04/14)

 

Summary:

“If you don’t give people a chance to be better, they never will be.” (Page 375).

Evolution Sage picks up right where Evolution Angel leaves off, with a depressed and devastated Candace for what happened and what she did to Adrian. For weeks she gives up on everything, purposeless and wracked with guilt. It isn’t until Jackson makes a comment to her about moving on or giving up and she is given a new purpose by the facility that she is finally ready to move ahead with her life. A new threat lies on the horizon and this enemy has been around for a long time, just now making their move. It is up to the ANGELS to get ready for this new, stronger enemy and they will turn to a higher level of experimentation to improve their already super hero super powers, but what will the consequences be this time?

 

Keywords:

Genetic Manipulation, Superheroes, Comic Books, Books, Tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter, Hard Decisions

My Review:

The more I read, the more I fall in love with the characters. I absolutely adore and look up to Candace. She’s not afraid to say that she’s wrong or being too anything: too hard, too harsh, or too emotional. She has the ability to self-analyze and adapt. She harnesses her ability and hones her skills, discovers new things about herself and her abilities. When SAGE begins, a new level of herself is opened up and she explores even more new possibilities for her weapon even as she’s haunted by the power she used on Adrian in Evolution Angel.

Jackson. Swoon. He was the bad boy attitude problem, snarky comment, easily angered boy from Evolution Angel. Now that Adrian is no longer in the picture he gets to have his day. All along I’m sure Starla had great plans for Jackson, she was just biding her time and building him up as a person. Jackson is the real romantic fantasy. He is flawed and angry. He has a past that is terrible and hangs over his personality. He cares for Candace, but tries to hide his feelings for her. He is rude at times, but is extremely polite when he needs to be a gentleman. He is also insanely good looking and every time Candace gets too close to him,  she can feel him and knows that she wants him.

The relationship between Jackson and Candace gets its day in book two of the Evolution Series and it’s a wonder to behold. Starla built up this relationship from the first time they saw each other, when they hated one another. “I’ve hated you for a long time. I hated you for making me want someone. I hated you for being with Adrian. I hated you for what you dissolved into after he was gone. I couldn’t stand it, Candace. No one thought I was worth helping, and I believed it. And then you helped me, for no other reason except that you could. You caught me in almost every lie I’ve ever told you. You challenge everything I say. You took everything I thought was true and turned it upside down.” (Pages 249-250).

Jackson and Candace are so emotionally charged when they’re together, so destructive, so powerful, and I could go on and on. The best romances are the ones that happen within a story that already has a powerful plot.

Starla has built a powerful, mesmerizing plot full of characters that are emotionally appealing and fascinating to watch. Candace is tough and rational, but also very prone to feeling sad or weak when everything is against her. She is so real, even as she can control a person through her connection to the water in their veins. I love how she stands by her convictions and sticks to her morals when making decisions and weighing the pros and cons before making a tough decision.
My only critique for this book was that the ending is abrupt and right in the middle of action. Thank goodness book three is already available.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on May 4th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Evolution: Angel (The Evolution) (Volume 1) by S.A. Huchton

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Evolution: Angel (The Evolution) (Volume 1) by S.A. Huchton

A Sci-Fi/Fantasy/New Adult Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (02/25/14)

 

Summary:

“Knowing what came with great power and experiencing that weight was so vastly different you couldn’t even see the other side of the chasm between them. (Page 241).”

From the very first moment that Candace Bristol and her cousin Gabe saw the ANGELs in action, they knew they wanted to join the project and become two of the world’s superheroes. Fast forward four years when Gabe is already in training and Candace has just sent in her application. Not everyone gets accepted and not everyone can make it because it takes special genetics and a special comportment to be able to make it as an ANGEL.

When Candace is accepted, she is elated and she knows that there will be more going on than she has researched about the ANGELs. When she gets to the training grounds she is overwhelmed by some of the aspects of the project, but she steps up as a leader.

 

Keywords:

Genetic Manipulation, Superheroes, Comic Books, Books, Tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter

My Review:

Every girl wants a comic book hero to look up to and wish to have their powers. What we get are an assortment of men with superpowers and women who look pretty in skintight clothes with lame powers. What Huchton does in her superhero series is give us a real kick-butt female with real superpowers. Huchton has diverse characters that look and act different and have unique personalities.

Candace is a strong Alpha personality. She’s very curious, very go getter, very nothing gets in her way. She’s an open, up front person who does what she wants to do, says what she thinks, and doesn’t let anyone get her down. She is already a super hero inside. She sees the good in people and makes sure they don’t get away with their nonsense when they’re up to no good.

Adrian is the unassuming librarian with the sexy baritone voice. There was something in his past that gives him a chip on his shoulder and he has trouble thinking he is worth the love and effort of others.

Gabe is Candace’s older cousin and comic relief in the story. They continuously banter and at first Gabe tries to look out for her, but she is too independent and stubborn to let that fly. She would rather fall on her own, then be helped along.

Jackson is the troubled bad boy with an attitude problem. Does he secretly have a thing for Candace? Not going to tell you! “I think he could possibly be motivated to work with others on a team. While he’s abrasive and not a little trying on my patience, I don’t think he’s unsympathetic to others and he knows not to cross certain boundaries. If he’s here at all, it’s because it was his choice, isn’t it?”) (Page 86).

There’s also Ella, Candace’s friend and fellow trainee, True from the first wave of ANGELS, and Hector, etc. There was such a range of characters to get to know and love.

I thought the raging hormones bit was overplayed, but it did add a sense of hilarity, brusqueness, and urgency to the ANGEL’s actions.

The ending was so emotional and so devastating and left me itching for book two. Starla Huchton is a genius and a beautiful story-crafter and this series is a great one to read.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on Feburary 25th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

 

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Lex Talonis by S.A. Huchton

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Lex Talonis by S.A. Huchton

A Contemporary/Fiction Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (04/27/15)

 

Summary:

“I’m the girl who likes her cars fast and her boys even faster.” (Page 2).

Alexandria Ross once gave a guy a bj at a party to distract him and keep him from giving a date rape drug to her best friend Miranda. That’s just the kind of girl she is. Loyal to her best friend, always trying to keep Mandy safe. But Lexi can’t always look out for Mandy, especially when they are separated by thousands of miles going to different colleges. When the worst happens and Lexi is left with the clues, she is compelled to unravel the story of how Mandy got involved with an abusive boyfriend and a manipulative married therapist, and ultimately, to exact revenge in Mandy’s stead.

 

Keywords:

 Powerful Female, strength, resiliency, victims, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gangs, academics, plots, plans, biding time, feminine wiles, cheating, murder, friendship, loyalty, revenge, love, pursuit

My Review:

This story speaks to me for so many reasons. As someone who has been in a similar situation – in an abusive relationship – it was extremely gratifying to see the cause taken up by someone in a position of power, someone who knew how to use every available resource to her to not only exact revenge, but also to protect any future victims. Lexi is the bad girl we all want to be at times. She doesn’t put up with bull crap, unless it gets her closer to her ulterior goals. She is solid and strong. She is enviable in all different ways. She grew up with means and comforts and a safety net, yet she is still motivated and extremely intelligent and stubborn. She goes for what she wants and nothing can stand in her way.

It’s amazing how endearing and life-like Mandy was in the story. She was no longer present, yet she is always a part of the action. Her story is very much Lexi’s story. Huchton makes Mandi’s story come alive even more by interspersing memories of Lexi and Mandy within the chapters of the book. Some of these memories are beautiful and poignant, showing each of the girls as they were, carefree and young and full of future promise. Then the memories show more and more the darker side of what was going on, hinting at what was to come and what already took place. Huchton was quite clever in including these various flashbacks.

The level of involvement Lexi had in Mandy’s life and Mandy in Lexi’s life was astounding. It was as if Huchton took a crazy over-the-top romantic relationship, shaved off the romance, and left us with this emotionally heartbreaking and awe-inspiring relationship between two best friends. I’m jealous of the relationship those two girls had with one another. Although Lexi’s overly emotional attachment to Mandy is mildly disturbing, it also shows how far she will go for her best friend.

The characters and the story were so very alive and imaginable in my mind.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on April 27th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

 

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: The Stillness of the Sky: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton

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The Stillness of the Sky: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton

A Fairy Tale Adaptation Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (02/02/15)

 

Summary:

“There will always be opportunities to be better people, but it’s up to us to take those chances.” (Page 286).

What can we do to ensure that the world be a better place in 100 years? Starla Huchton, Miss America contestants and Jack from the Stillness in the Sky all think the answer is peace. Jack’s answer comes with magical consequences that bind her to fulfill this wish by using her newfound abilities as a powerful and talented bard. She was nothing more than a farmer’s daughter when she came across the three beans after all.

 

Keywords:

Fairy Tale Adaptation, Contemporary Fairy Tale, Magic, Family, Love, Romance, True Love, Souls, Strong Female

My Review:

I used to read Princess stories and odd fairy tales and have never found another book written like those until finding Starla Huchton’s Flipped Fairy Tales. I’m so delighted by Huchton’s writing style and quaint fairy tale adaptations. She is a wonderfully talented writer with an eye for re-imagining childhood favorites. Her style will grab you and plunk you down into a world that is familiar, yet unique. Huchton must have sat down one day and thought, what if? Not just thinking through the possibilities, Huchton interweaves Aesop’s Fables’s type morals and characters that are struck with such conviction, you have to believe them and believe in them.

It’s entirely obvious the themes and morals Huchton describes through Stillness in the Sky, but they are not overtly preachy. They come from a place of goodness and kindness and wishing to instill the same understanding of peace in all the characters and through them to the reader. Not as obvious is the fact that Jack is humble. That is one of the most unique and distracting traits in a character. How many people do you know that are truly humble? Jack isn’t just humble, though, she is kind and wishes to do good by the world.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on Feburary 2nd, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

Starla Huchton’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton

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Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton

A Fantasy/Fairy Tale Adaptation published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (11/03/14)

 

Summary:

“Strength comes in many forms. Beauty is but one.” (Page 28).

Raelynn is both beautiful and strong and when she overhears that the Queen is in trouble, she cannot but try to help. Rae has a magical gift that helps her remain unnoticed as she attempts to help the Queen. In the form of a lowly, simple stable boy she is still able to charm the young Prince Leopold, but when he is in danger himself, she must try to save him as well. Forever late, even in birth, can Rae protect the Prince from his evil stepfather?

 

Keywords:

 Fairy Tale Adaptation, Contemporary Fairy Tale, Magic, Wards, Glamour, Survival, Family, Love, Romance, True Love, Souls, Strong Female

 

My Review:

The messages in this fairy tale adaptation ring loud and true. Starla describes animals that have intelligence and feelings, life having souls, being strong even after victimization, standing up for beliefs, perseverance and hard work paying off, love being the highest form of magic. Each ‘moral’ is layered into the novel so that none come off as too obvious. There were so many wise words in this tale, so much one could learn, so many beautiful quotes. Starla is wise beyond measure and is able to communicate through her novels these lovely themes.

Starla’s characters are the noblest and the most evil. They became larger than life for me and I loved all of them, even the evil stepfather, because they were each and every one so well described, unique, and so real you could sink your teeth into them.

The main character, Raelynn was very well written and I fell instantly in love with her. She is stubborn but resilient. She is well meaning but can’t always talk about her feelings. She has a resounding character flaw that isn’t so much a ‘flaw’ but an event that is cataclysmic in her need to help others when she can and to do everything to shield herself for protection. She doesn’t hesitate when it comes to duty.

Prince Leo falls in instalove with Rae, but for good reason. She is wonderful, with passion and care for those around her and for what she believes in. She is beautiful and kind, but also timid at times and brave when she needs to be. She is the ultimate strong female character, even though she is constantly plagued and haunted by memories of a tragedy that happened in her past.

This book contains magic, but not in the over the top kind. The use of magic is not a crutch for the author but a wonderful new imaginative tool.

I loved the special bond between the seven sisters.

The author’s clever interweaving of subtle hints of common fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White was awesome and so very, very clever.

The character’s never break character and fit so well into the world/environment that Starla has created for them in this book.

My only critique would be to get rid of the epilogue and do away with the introductory bit in the beginning.

This novel was published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform November 3rd, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Starla Huckton’s Website