A Galactic Holiday

Ice Planet: Perma

by Angela James (Editor), Anna Hackett, Stacy Gail

Do androids dream of electric sugar plums?

A detective who refuses to modify her body teams up with her cyborg rival to track down a burglar who is putting toys into homes. A solitary ice miner finds love and friendship while stranded on the surface of Galileo. And two hardheaded negotiators put their differences aside to evade an assassin and save their planets. Enjoy these visions of Christmases yet to come with three science-fiction novellas from Carina Press.

Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes:

How the Glitch Saved Christmas, by Stacy Gail
Galileo’s Holiday, by Sasha Summers
Winter Fusion, by Anna Hackett

Stories also available for purchase separately.

86,000 words

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Futuristic, Anthologies, Holiday, Science Fiction Romance, Christmas

247 pages, ebook

First published December 3, 2012

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Galactic Holiday is an anthology of stories by many great authors which includes Anna Hackett.
You are going to love it.

[Megan Riverina Romantics · Rating 4 out of 5]

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail
Narrated by Reay Kaplan
Rating: ❤❤❤❤.5
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

I really liked this one. It had a "Who done it" feel to it since the the MCs were cops trying to solve a case. The crime committed was really minor but it was a great holiday crime. Apparently in the 2060's it will become common for people to technologically modify themselves therefore becoming cyborgs 😋 Those changes can come with some issues though.

Both of the main characters were likeable and I found myself engrossed in the story. I even teared up in the end but then I'm a sap. And while the ending came at an acceptable time I wanted a bit more of the story because the "villain" really captured my interest.

This was the first time I've read/listened to Stacy Gail's work and I've already checked out what else she has on Audible. I can't wait to read/listen to more of her books.

Reay Kaplan did an excellent job with the narration. She checks off all the boxes I find necessary for a great narrator.

• Different voices and inflections for the characters? ✔
• Acting? ✔
• Great pacing? ✔

I'd definitely be happy to hear another one of her performances.

Galileo's Holiday by Sasha Summers
Narrated by Jillian Powers
Rating: ❤❤❤
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧

While I liked both Riley and Leo I felt that their romance was rushed and a bit forced. In all honesty I think that this novella is somewhat incomplete. The general story was fun though. I found the setting quaint. Plus the secondary characters were delightful.

It took me a while to get into Powers' narration. In the beginning I thought that she was going too fast. Especially during the first sex scene. I think she was going for an excited feel but that's not how it came off to me. Instead it made hard to get into the story. By the end of the novella I had gotten used to her style of narration but at that point it was too late to change my opinion about her performance.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett
Narrated by Lucky Summer
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧

So far there hasn't been a story of Hackett's that I haven't liked. She always manages to fit a complete story in a little bit of space.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good holiday anthology. Each story featured a holiday but a holiday with changes. I loved all of the stories.

The closest to one we celebrate today is How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail. Christmas is still around and two people who have forgotten how to celebrate find something that changes how they view Christmas.

Winter Fusion by Ann Hackett is set on a very cold planet where time has changed the celebration. Eavan Bardan and Brinn Fjord are the negotiators for their respective planets. They are meeting on Yuletide Eve and Brinn wants to conclude their business so she can be with her family on Yuletide. Someone tries to kill them and they end up on the run. The celebration plays a big role in the story. The history of Yuletide is interesting. I loved how some names came through history but their meaning had changed.

Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers is set on one of Jupiter’s moons. When Riley’s ship is destroyed by raiders Leo helps her get to a nearby settlers’ station. This is the true frontier and they are on their own when the raiders return. The holiday there is from The Big Book of Holidays and is a mix of Christmas and Thanksgiving. Again it is fun to see what is the same and what has changed. I loved the presents. We could all learn from what they give to one another.

If you are a Science Fiction Romance reader A Galactic Holiday is a must read. I hope each of the authors will write additional SFR romance stories. Full-length novels would be great.

[Calisto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just advertised: three romantic stories set in the future during the holidays.

How the Glitch Saved Christmas, by Stacy Gail (3.5)

I really liked this universe and the concept of a heroine who didn't want cybernetic enhancements even when her career demanded it. The characters are likeable and the story works, but what keeps me from really giving a full blown, enthusiastic thumbs up for this is that I thought the hero was too into the heroine too early. I know I'm probably not making much sense but I tend to like my heroes being a bit more hard edged and less metro when it comes to falling in love. The overall story is very likeable and there's room for more stories in this universe. Loved the 'toaster' reference. This is an author I will be looking forward to reading again.

Galileo’s Holiday, by Sasha Summers (4)

I have to say that I didn't start liking this story. The heroine put me off in the beginning for some reason. But as the story progressed, it just made sense. The whole thing just totally worked. A definite rec.

Winter Fusion, by Anna Hackett (2)

Meh. The premise was good, the universe appealing but the heroine just irritated me with her TSTL moments. If it wasn't for the heroine, this might have worked.

These stories are also available separately, but since two of the three stories are totally worth reading, getting the bundle might make more sense then just buying the two good ones. Overall, I recommend this set (especially for elliptical/gym reads).

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like those cheesy made-for-t.v. Christmas movies, enjoy sci-fi and romance, I can guarantee that you will like this collection of holiday novellas. While each story was short, it combined those elements that I love best about holiday books. Yes, holiday books/movies can be a little cheesy, but that’s the best part of Christmastime. Add in the fact that these novellas all featured sci-fi romance plots; it was a no-brainer for me that I enjoyed this collection.

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail

In How the Glitch Saved Christmas we have a Grinch in reverse situation in futuristic Chicago. Reina Vedette, the only detective in her department to opt out of body modifications, is paired with her arch-rival, Edison Wicke, the first detective to undergo the modification process that makes the person modified more of a superhuman and supercomputer.

I think this novella was my favorite of the three, with Winter Fusion coming in a close second. I loved the fact that there was a pining hero in Edison and the romance between him and Reina was pretty adorable.

Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers

In Galileo’s Holiday, ice miner Riley, is stranded on an ice planet when raiders destroy her ship. The dashing Leo rescues Riley, and the two have an instant attraction. However, there is another band of raiders closing in on the small community living on the ice planet and Riley and Leo have to find a way to prevent the raiders from harming the settlers.

I didn’t like this novella as much as the other one because the reader never got a perspective from Leo’s point of view. The novella is told solely through Riley’s eyes. I thought the author did a good job of conveying what Leo’s perspective was through Riley’s observance of his reactions; however, I missed that opposite narration, which I think is important in romance.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett

In Winter Fusion trade negotiators Savan Bardan and Brinn Fjord are negotiating the trade of the valuable crystals native to Brinn’s homeworld. The two have been rivals since Savan denied Brinn’s planet entry into the trade guild, and preventing them from gaining medical technology that could have save Brinn’s sick father. Now the pair has to work together to make a trade as well as battle a mysterious assassin.

I really enjoyed this one, and I thought that chemistry between the two leads was believable and I liked how the author played around with traditional Christmas activities, like a Yule log, on an ice world. It was more of a romantic suspense and it was a lot of fun.

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and I would recommend it to any fans of romantic sci-fi in the mood for the holidays. The collection was pretty light all around, but it was a lot of fun and it was just what I was in the mood for.

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this review and more check out my blog

There are three things I really like, romance, sci-fi and Christmas. So when I heard Carina Press was releasing an anthology encompassing all of these things I knew I had to read it. A Galactic Holiday comprised of: How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail, Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers and Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett.

I really enjoyed How the Glitch Saved Christmas, I loved the futuristic world it was set in and thought the storyline and characters were very good. It was a cute story and I found a part at the end to be quite touching. I enjoyed the romance; I do love a good enemy to lover story line so this was good for me.

The same cannot be said for Galileo’s Holiday which was by far the worse story out of the three for me. I thought it was quite boring in parts, lacked chemistry and flow. I couldn’t really bring myself to care about what happened. I did however like the idea of the story and felt that some of the use of technology was good.

Bringing up the rear is Winter Fusion which is another hate to love romance. Again I thought this story was really good. I really liked the characters in this one and the storyline was my favourite of the bunch. The only thing that bugged me was that sometimes the characters underreacted to things going on around them, for example there is an explosion and nobody seems to care about that or the fact that they almost lost their lives.

This is the third holiday anthology I have read so far this year (there are bound to be more) and it is my favourite so far. I really quite enjoyed it.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Book Lovers Inc.

A Galactic Holiday is one of Carina Press' annual holiday trifecta collections, along with Red Hot Holiday and Romancing the Holiday. Maybe I should have called them holiday confections, because they're usually pretty yummy overall.

But the annual sci-fi collection (last year's was the all-steampunk A Clockwork Christmas always has slightly more heavy lifting to take care of than the contemporary anthologies. Because each story has to build its sci-fi world, justify its winter solstice holiday and tell its romance in the length of a novella. That's a LOT of scaffolding to build and sometimes one element or another doesn't quite hold up.

Let's take a look at what we have for this year's out of this world holiday collection!

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail was my favorite story in the collection. It not only embodied the spirit of Christmas in a hearwarming way, it also made the most sense as a science fiction story that extended the world we know. And the romance was both hot and sweet.

First of all, I dare anyone not to be reminded of Steven Spielberg's movie A.I. by the end of this story. And, I double-dare you not to get a little misty-eyed. But that's at the end. Returning to the beginning.

Chicago, although it is an utterly marvelous city, gets damnably cold in the winter. And it is entirely possible that it was named the Windy City, at least in part, for the windbags in city government, and not just the wind off Lake Michigan. Which, by the way, is brutal in the winter. The weather prediction of "cooler by the Lake" also applies in the winter, and it isn't near as nice as it is is August.

In the background to the story, it's pretty clear that the inventor of body modification should have made them work better in sub-zero temperatures. He also should have figured out that just because it was illegal to force someone to accept body-mods, that didn't mean that someone couldn't be pressured beyond all reason to accept them. And yes, I could easily see it happening.

Reina Vallette was a damn good cop. A fine detective. She just refused to accept body modification. She'd been dependent on machines once, when she was hospitalized under life-threatening conditions, and she couldn't bear it psychologically. Also, her thought processes were too quirky to work any way except from her "gut". (Gibbs on NCIS comes to mind). So the CPD made her the poster girl for insubordination.

Edison Wicke, on the other hand, is the golden boy. He's a walking toaster, in Reina's eyes. But still a damn fine detective. (Also a damn fine looking man!) So when someone breaks into an apartment in the Projects and delivers presents, Edison requests Reina as his partner.

He had his eye on her when his eyes were just human, and now, he wants her even more. She's unique.

Better still, their styles complement each other. He's data driven, and she's pure instinct. New school plus old school.

But it takes a glitch in the system to show them that underneath their differences, they are both the same people they were before he got body mods, and before the system started busting her down the ladder.

They're the best detectives that CPD has. And they're the best for each other. But can they save the little glitch that brought them together?

I give How the Glitch Saved Christmas 5 frozen stars with the sun glinting off them for sparkle.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett comes in a close second for me in this collection. The thing about science fiction short stories, at least for me, is that there is so little time for the world-building, the author needs to have something familiar to use as a short cut.

Ms. Hackett tells a Prime Directive-type story, with a merchant empire Federation instead of the slightly more militaristic one we're used to. And the traders Savan Bardan and Brinn Fjord are part of the very recent dropping of the embargo on high-tech goods between Bardan's Trade Guild and Fjord's more primitive ice planet of Perma. Her father died of a disease that was eradicated on Guild worlds, but membership came one year too late to save his life.

Bardan's decision was the one that kept Perma out of the Guild. Because high-tech too soon leads to very bad decisions. Sort of like lottery winners on spending sprees, only with planetary-wide ecological disaster-type consequences. All Bjorn knows is that her father is dead and that it's Bardan's fault.

Now he's back on Perma, because the ice miners have found an unsynthesizable high-yielding energy resource that his planet needs. And Brinn is the Perman trader he has to negotiate with to get it.

However, someone is willing to kill both of them to make sure that Rendar doesn't get the energy crystals.

While they are running and fighting together for their lives, Savan Bardan and Brinn Fjord are forced to strip off the masks they wear in public. They have to rely on each other to survive.

Bardan learns the personal cost of his decision to keep Perma out of the guild. The reason behind Brinn's bitter rivalry. And Brinn learns the reason behind Savan's judgment--the last time he gave a planet early admission, they ruined their world.

And the reason there's always been such heat in their negotiations? Just another way to conceal how they've really felt about each other all along.

But first they have to survive whoever is stalking them. In the middle of a Perman winter. Without gear or shelter.

Winter Fusion is a very good take on the "enemies into lovers" trope. Very, very good. With a slice of "poor little rich boy" thrown into the mix.


I give Winter Fusion 4 dark stars.

Galileo's Holiday by Sasha Summers was a cute story, but it was also the shortest story in the collection and I kept wishing there were more of it! I just didn't have enough of the world-building to quite get the reasoning behind the hero's actions, but the love story and the settlement definitely worked.

Riley is a tugger. A lone ice miner with a tiny, one-woman ship, like her mother and her grandmother before her. Raiders destroy her ship, lucky for her while she's planetside mining ice. Even luckier for her, a mysterious man leads her to a settlement.

That mysterious man, Leo, introduces her into the life of Galileo, just before their winter Holiday, and what a life it is! Riley has lost both her home and her livelihood in one fell swoop, but the settlers take her in and make her welcome.

Her ability to fix every bit of electronics tech they have doesn't hurt her cause one little bit. Especially since their security grid is about to go down. That grid keeps the cryptids out. (Yes, I did say cryptids.) Big ugly carnivorous bug-eyed monsters.

The settlers can use her skills, but it's Leo who fascinates her. In a jumble of new experiences (eating real food, wearing cloth instead of space gear) Riley's never felt anything like what she feels for Leo. And it seems to be mutual. But she knows it can't be permanent. He'll go back to his ship as soon as the snow clears, and she'll have to find a new place for herself.

Until the Raiders come to take Leo, and steal the cargo of medicines he's been hiding. Leo sacrifices himself to save her. Then the Raiders want to take her. And Riley has to decide what sacrifice she's willing to make.

As I said, the story of Riley's discovery of a life outside her tugger, and the life of the settlement, worked. The parts that drove me a bit nutty were the lack of background about the raiders and the outside galaxy. There were hints of a bigger picture that I wanted, that would have made Leo's reason for being with the settlers make more sense, that I just didn't have. I want the rest of this story!

I give Galileo's Holiday 3 1/2 icy stars.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Galactic Holiday is a fantastic anthology containing some great Christmas themed science fiction romance stories and is great for anyone who wants to get into the holiday mood. I have to admit that the main reason I wanted to read the anthology was for Stacy Gail's story, I loved her contribution to the Carina Press steampunk Christmas anthology (A Clockwork Christmas) last year so was looking forward to reading more of her work. The other authors are both new to me but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for stories from both of them in the future. I really love the science fiction theme to this anthology and it's definitely made me want to read more books in this genre in the future.

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail

Reina is the only fully human detective left in the Chicago police department having refused to undergo body modifications to enhance her performance. Her refusal to accept these upgrades have seen her go from the most celebrated detective in her department to having everyone constantly belittle her and demote her while they try to change her mind. The last thing she wants is to be forced to work with the department bod-mod poster boy Edison and have him throw her failure back in her face. Edison was the first detective to have the bod-mods done and has since stolen her spot at the top of the station hierarchy so she is determined to keep him at a distance but at the same time she has a need to prove that she is still just as good as him. As they start work on the most bizarre burglary case ever they find it hard to keep each other at arms length but can someone as anti bod-mod as Reina really fall for someone who has had as many upgrades as Edison?

I really enjoyed this novella set in a futuristic version of Chicago. It was interesting to see how the use of robotics had spread into upgrading humans too and both the advantages and disadvantages that this gave the modified detectives. It was great to see how well Reina and Edison worked together, their different skills complimented each other perfectly and you could see that they had both made the right decision for them when it came to the bod-mods. They also have fantastic chemistry and were able to quickly warm each other up from the Chicago subzero temperatures! I'm very curious to see if this will end up being the beginning of a series, there would be a lot of scope for Stacy Gail to go into further detail about the way Reina has been ostracised by the other police officers for her refusal to get the bod-mod upgrades. I would have liked to see her be able to prove to everyone that she was still a damn good detective and that is something Edison seemed determined to help her show people. If this does turn into a series I will definitely be picking up any future stories but even it it doesn't it was still a very enjoyable read and one I'm happy to recommend.

Galileo's Holiday by Sasha Summers

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 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 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 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.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett

Savan is a ruthless negotiator who will stop at nothing to get the fusion crystals his planet Rendar needs to survive but this is going to be his toughest negotiation yet. To make a deal he is going to have to convince Brinn, Perma's top negotiator, to talk to him and he knows how much Brinn hates him and Rendar for preventing them from joining the Trade Guild sooner. Savan had his reasons for delaying Perma's membership but all Brinn knows is that it meant they were unable to trade for desperately needed medicines and it cost thousands of lives - including her father's. When Brinn and Savan come under attack on their way to visit the ice mines they must work together to survive in a hostile environment - especially when they have a trained assassin on their tale just waiting for the chance to finish the job he started.

I really enjoyed the Winter Fusion novella, Anna Hackett has created a detailed and interesting future and I'd love to re-visit these worlds and find out more about them. As a planet Rendar was so focused on getting access to more and more technology that they have destroyed their environment, the people there more interested in financial success and becoming the best of the best than they are in the idea of family and home. It sounded like a miserable place to live and it was a nice reminder to be thankful for the smaller things in life. Perma on the other hand couldn't be more different, the planet is a brutal place to live with incredibly low temperatures and a lot of snow and ice but the people there are much more relaxed and take time out to enjoy life with their loved ones. They are also much more careful to protect their environment which I think added an important message to the story. This isn't something that is pushed down your throat though, the author hasn't used the story to stand up on a soapbox, it was just a nice extra layer. I really enjoyed watching the romance that develops between Savan and Brinn, on the surface they are complete opposites but really they are both looking for the same things from life and are very well matched. If you like a good enemies to lovers story then you're sure to enjoy this one!

[Ryan Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stars for the first 2 stories, 3 for Hacketts.

My biggest issue was with our cyborg and cop story. I’m sorry but both our mains were assholes. She gets to be pissed that she keeps being demoted (even tho she is supposedly a good cop) because she doesn’t want to be a cyborg. He gets to get implants or whatever. They both demean each others choices and are just assholes. Then! We’re all supposed to just be cool at the end cuz they’re partnered up on the job as well as off of it. So systemic oppression (1 fictional version of it) is cool as long as you get hot dick.

Tbh i forgot what the second story was even about. An ice miner or something. Pretty ehhh.

Hackett manages to write something compelling (tho incredibly lighthearted/shallow) even when it’s short.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW.....
Winter Fusion, by Anna Hackett -----
Loved it. Fun, romantic story,

How the Glitch Saved Christmas, by Stacy Gail ----
Liked it. The characters could have used a bit more depth ti them but over all I liked it.

Galileo's Holiday, by Sasha Summers ---
This one I'm sorry to say but I just found it boring. The characters felt off and not really believable.

NARRATOR REVIEW.......
The narrators did a good job with their stories.

- - Gifted copy by author - -
L.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you mix the holidays, science fiction, romance, mystery, suspense, and sex into a single volume? You get something that is significantly less than a sum of its parts. It's hard enough to write a good holiday romance, or a good suspenseful romance, or a good romance romance, what possessed these people to try to smoosh everything and the kitchen sink into the same story? Each story in this volume failed for much the same reason - too many ingredients and not enough focus. The first one in the book is the best, but not great. I'd much rather read a great science fiction story one day and a fantastic romance another than this weird mash up.

[Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 short stories in one volume. Stories 1 and 3 are pretty good...couldn’t finish the 2nd one though.

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again another fun holiday anthology from Carina Press edited by the wonderful Angela James. In this case she's also very generous as she was nice enough to send me a copy of this after I tweeted for ideas of what to read next. :-) This is an excellent read for any sci-fi/fantasy fans who also like a bit of heat and romance.

Again Angela - Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

How the Glitch Saved Christmas, by Stacy Gail

Reina is an oddity in the current Chicago police force... She actually wants to stay completely human and not take advantage of all the body mods that are available. Unfortunately for her this results in her being demoted and harassed by other cops. She still wants to do her job but due to items that happened in her past cannot envision ever being turned in to a "walking toaster". She's called in on a case and while there runs in to a man who just drives her a bit insane both from a professional standpoint and a personal one. She's teamed up with him to solve this case and while they work it they finally give in to the feelings that have been simmering below the surface since the day they met.

Edison is the departments poster boy. He has been willing to get every enhancement they have on the market but only because he felt it would help him serve the public better. He's smart but also believes in taking any advantage you can when it comes to hunting down bad guys. He's had his eye on Reina for a while but just can't seem to penetrate the wall she has around herself until now.

The case itself was interesting and I won't give it away but what I liked best was the fact that both main characters acknowledged their weaknesses and were willing to see the others side even if it wasn't what they would have chosen for themselves. There seemed to be a good balance between them and that at times is missing in romances... Also let's just say the ending made me do a bit of an Awwww .... I will definitely keep my eye out for more by Ms. Gail.

Galileo’s Holiday, by Sasha Summers

Riley has almost always been alone and that's what she believes she will always be. She hasn't had a lot of human contact as an ice miner but when a raider ship destroys her spacecraft she ends up finding something that she never realized she was missing... a partner and a home. She's incredibly intelligent and watching this woman soak up human contact and love was sweet to see. She just jumps in and immediately starts to try to help the people who have taken her in and given her more kindness in an hour than she really has had her entire life. Actually I don't want to say her mom didn't love her but the lifestyle of an ice miner doesn't really seem to lend itself to any traditional human interactions...

Leo ends up rescuing Riley when her ship is destroyed but he is also hiding something. You see the raiders are looking for cargo he is moving and will stop at nothing to acquire it. He's on Galileo to not only bring supplies to the people who live there but also to wait for a chance to run the life-saving supplies out to another planet. When he meets Riley he is drawn to her and they start a passionate affair. I don't think either of them ever expected to find the one for them so it was fun to see them dance around it briefly before finally giving in and taking what they wanted.

I think the reason I liked this one so much was you could feel the deep loneliness both of them felt and seeing them both open up and fall was sweet to watch.

Winter Fusion, by Anna Hackett

Savan is one of the best planetary negotiators in the galaxy but when he is forced to negotiate with a rival on Perma that's when all hell breaks loose. He's got his life mapped out for him... I mean he's next in line for the top negotiator slot on his planet... he can have his pick of women to have a child of his if he wants with no pesky commitments... all the wonderful tech gadgets he wants and the ability to travel to whatever strikes his fancy... Are we sensing he is about to have his feet knocked out from under him? Good... cause he does...

Brinn hates Savan... I mean seriously hates the man. I mean his planet kept Perma from getting in to the trade union which could have allowed them to get the technology they desperately needed to save lives including her father's. She doesn't want to have to deal with him but they did win the first right to bid and negotiate for power crystals that her planet has. When he insists on visiting on Yuletide Eve she doesn't realize that she is about to be embroiled in a fight for her life and find the love she never expected.

They both learn a lot as they try to keep alive and their times together were laden with tension and the right amount of heat. When they both learn more about each other and let the walls down the results were hot but also emotional. I enjoyed watching the changes they both ended up making in order to make things work and would love to see more. I'll have to keep an eye out for more by Ms Hackett.

[Tracy]

Read Galileo’s Holiday -- I liked it but wish the relationship had been fleshed out much more, especially transition from dislike to like -- I wanted more reason that they got together.

[Tsana Dolichva · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Galactic Holiday is a three-novella anthology edited by Angela James and with novellas by Stacy Gail, Sasha Summers and Anna Hackett. The stories are all science fiction romances (or romance science fiction, more accurately) with a Christmassy theme. A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher, Carina Press, for review purposes.

The first story was How The Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail. The heroine is a Chicago cop in a future where most of the police force have undergone body modifications, making them somewhat cyborgy and giving them super strength, speed, built in google search, etc. The heroine is the only one on the force resisting the change. Before body mods became standard, she was the top detective. Since refusing to get them, she's been demoted and is treated as a pariah on the force.

The story opens when she's been called to a crime scene where someone broke into an apartment to deliver a Christmas tree and presents to the household's children. The detective in charge of the case is our hero, who has secretly loved the heroine for years, but whom the heroine finds annoying because he's replaced her as top detective since being the first on the force to get body mods.

The resolution of the whodunit aspect was a bit twee, but maybe that's my general dislike of Christmas spirit talking. The romance aspect was OK, but I thought the heroine went from thinking the hero was annoying to realising she was attracted to him a bit too quickly.

The second story was Galileo's Holiday by Sasha Summers. The heroine was a loner "tugger" (owner of a small ship which transports things) whose ship is destroyed by raiders on an icy moon. The hero comes to her rescue quickly, helping her hide from the raiders who blew up her ship. She goes with him to the nearby colony, where she learns all about holidays and celebration. And spends an awful lot of time angsting about how she's going to have to leave him to get on with her life because all she knows is how to be a loner tugger.

Aside from the fact that it's a romance and so we know they're going to live happily ever after, the hints about how she was going to reconcile with that were a bit heavy-handed. She spends a lot of time fixing electronics for the colony, since none of them can do it and she's good at it, thanks to years alone, making sure here own stuff worked. The colony's previous electronics guy died, but before he settled there, he also used to be a tugger. Golly!

That aside, she was pretty kick-arse at being a heroine, what with fixing everything and being brave and saving the day.

The third story was Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett. The heroine and the hero are negotiators for their respective planets, in charge of coming to a trade agreement. Before he goes off, the hero's boss instructs him to seduce the heroine to get a better deal, which he has no intention of doing, but no need to guess how that turns out.

During their negotiation, someone tries to kill them, facilitating them being trapped in a remote cabin for a while. The hero comes from a very utilitarian planet where they don't have families or holidays, so the heroine takes the opportunity to teach him about Yule and presents and, to a lesser extent, family.

My biggest source of annoyance was at how quickly the heroine recovers after finding out he'd been ordered to seduce her. Because she knew him so well after their few days together. It made me wonder, from a story-telling point of view, why bother introducing the plot point at all, when it didn't even add much tension?

~

One thing I liked about this collection generally, was that the heroines were all competent and skilled and didn't play the damsel in distress. If they needed saving, they saved the hero in turn at some point.

Overall this anthology wasn't quite my thing, mostly being a bit light on the science fictional world building. At times, particularly in Galileo's Holiday, it felt like I was reading a romance story that happened to have some sci-fi trappings, which isn't what I want out of my fiction. But if it's what you like, go for it. I recommend this anthology to romance fans with at least a passing interest in science fiction. If you're after hard science fiction, maybe give it a miss. It's definitely romance first, science fiction second.

3 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog.

[Diane Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Galactic Holiday, an anthology of science fiction novellas with a winter holiday theme, most definitely leans towards the romantic side of science fiction. Three feel-good stories of future worlds and the people who inhabit them make for a warm and hopeful read this holiday season.

Recommended for fans of science fiction romance, romance readers in general, and science fiction readers looking for something a little warm and fuzzy this holiday season *grin*

* * *

How The Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail

Reina Vedette is a detective in futuristic Chicago. When the department requires her to accept body modification, she refuses and is demoted to a level 1. That’s a tough break for one of the best detectives in Chicago. Then she’s assigned to investigate a bizarre crime; someone has been breaking into houses and leaving Christmas gifts. Problem is, she’s also expected to work with Edison Wicke, a bodily-modified detective who had previously let her know he was after the top spot in the department – the spot that used to be Reina’s.

This was a fun novella, which employs the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope quite effectively. They have to learn to work together, discovering that their skills compliment each other very well. They also have to deal with a growing physical attraction, which results in some very steamy love scenes. Chicago in winter has never been hotter *grin*

The novella is well-written with likable characters, zingy dialogue, a cyberpunk feel, and a touching ending.

* * *

Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers

Riley is an ice miner, a job she inherited, along with her ship, from her mother and her grandmother before her. It’s a solitary job and she has spent most of her life alone. When an accident leaves her helpless and shipless on an ice moon, she is saved from certain death by a space trader, Leo. He takes her back to the moon’s station, where Riley is introduced to the pleasures and difficulties of close living quarters, home-cooked food and a mish-mash of holiday traditions that the station dwellers are celebrating. Riley receives a warm welcome, but none is warmer than Leo’s.

This novella had a couple of themes that have long fascinated me: the human body’s evolutionary adaptations to living in a space environment, and the ongoing changes in rituals and traditions as humans travel from their home planet out into the stars. Yes, I’m a bit of a geek, and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s take on these themes.

The novella is told entirely from Riley’s point of view, and the reader gets to fully experience the story of a loner coming in from the cold. Being wrapped in the warmth and camaraderie of a community is a brand new experience for Riley. So is falling in love. In short, an interesting character and a charming story.

* * *

Brinn Fjord is a tough trade negotiator on behalf of her planet, the snow and ice world of Perma. The infamous negotiator, Savan Bardan, of the environmentally-degraded planet Rendar, arrives during Perma’s winter festival to negotiate access to an energy source his planet most desperately needs. If only he hadn’t blocked Perma’s entry to the Trade Guild years before, because Brinn remembers only too well the suffering that rejection caused.

This novella also employs the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope. Soon the erstwhile enemies are on the run from mysterious people who want them dead. With Brinn’s knowledge of the planet and Savan’s military background, they work together to survive and solve the mystery of who wants them dead and why.

I very much enjoyed the environmental theme of this novella. The people of Perma wish to gain access to certain technologies, but do so very carefully, always mindful of ensuring a clean and safe environment. This is in contrast to Rendar, whose people have devastated their planet’s environment in a headlong rush for convenience and consumerism.

* * *

Full disclosure: I am published by Carina Press. I requested and received a free copy of the anthology from one of the authors in return for an honest review.

[L.E.Olteano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Dec 2 2012 at Butterfly-o-Meter Books:

I've been having this anthologies craving lately, so we're talking today about another holiday-themed collection, this time a sci-fi one. The three stories have more of a sweet romance sort of note, no real kink to them. Not a drawback, just a specification, since the anthology we talked about a few days earlier - Red Hot Holiday - did have some light kink going on. This one doesn't, it's vanilla romance though still adult.
Rarer for me, I actually didn't have one favorite story from the anthology but loved them all. And since you can get the stories on their own, we'll talk about each of them, no spoilers of course.

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail was a really awesome sci-fi view on the future, a futuristic Chicago where body-mods can improve the human body and give it amazing powers. But as civilization tends to see happen, useful becomes necessary or even mandatory. Reina is a spunky, strong woman, the best detective in her department who stood up for what she believed in even if it ended up costing her. I admired her, loved her voice and the way she interacted with everyone. Edison was the new shiny golden-boy that wanted her from the get go but had a hard time getting the message across. He was a fighter, ambitious and determined though, and I liked him, too.
Their chemistry was really cool, that sort-of-enemies turned lovers dynamic that was filled with tension and all so juicy.
There's a mystery vibe to the story as they investigate a case, and that story sort of had my eyes moist, I found the story all in all romantic, fun, but also touching and sweet.

Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers was a bit different in that it showed Riley's point of view but not her lover's, so what we saw of him was through her eyes. I personally have no problem with that, in fact I roll with that just as well as the mixed POV type of story. This, to me, made it stand out, story and characters aside. I also loved the world building, it was a whole new world and it was fascinating.
Yet again, Riley is more of a loner, independent, strong and really good at what she does. Forced to change her way of life, she adapted to change well but not without batting a lash, it made her realistic. Leo was a cool guy, sort of the hero type, the guy with his own morals. They had more of a romantic vibe then a passionate one to me, their chemistry was more on the sweet side but without becoming too much.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett told the story of yet another whole new world, awesome to me. Savan and Brinn came from completely different worlds, the uber-efficient and emotionally cold versus the loving but physically cold. They had again that sort-of-enemies turned lovers kind of dynamic, and the chemistry between them was really obvious from the get go, strong response and full attention and all that good stuff.
I liked to follow them both as their relationship impacted their lives, and the vibe of the end was sweet and positive, as with the other stories in this anthology.

All in all, this was a great romantic read for the Holidays, I recommend it warmly since it's fun, interesting, positive and sort of sweet, just the kind of state of mind you'd want for this time of year.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley for an honest review. This is a collection of three short stories about the future and some off planet Christmas stories. Each one is charming in it's own way and i enjoyed all three of them.

How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail
Reina Vedette is the only person left in her police department with no modifications. She doesn't want them and they can't make her get them. They can move her down the ranks and that is what they do. When a strange break in case happens she gets paired with Edison Wicke. He has had the improvements making him stronger and in a way part computer. He is everything she is against but she has always been attractive to him. They must work together to solve the mystery of a Santa Claus in a time when there is no Santa anymore. Working together just may bring them close together maybe closer than Reina wants to be.

This is a great story. I love the concept of it and the two main characters are fantastic together. Each in their own way fighting for what they believe is right. The story is wonderful and fast paced. The ending at first I thought was going to make me sad but the author did a great job finishing the story.

Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers
Riley is an ice miner and seems to be stuck on an ice planet after raiders destroy her ship. She gets saved by Leo. He takes her back to the community that lives on the planet and she finds herself surrounded by some very nice people who have a strange custom for the holidays she doesn't know much about. As things heat up between Riley and Leo they find themselves in danger as raiders are headed towards the community. They must work together to save the people Riley has come to like and who Leo loves. It may just cost them more than they think to save the community maybe even there lives.

I liked this story but it wasn't my favorite. I think I wanted more and even being a short story it felt lacking in something. It was still good just not great. I liked the tradition the community had and I liked Leo and Riley together.

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett
Brinn Fjord is in negotiations with the man she has known to hate for years. He set her planet back years ago and she knows he can do it again. Savan Bardan knows he has his hands full trying to work out an agreement with Brinn. He in a way cost her father his life. He does want the crystals her planet has to offer and wants to work out some ind of deal with her. The two must try and get along and work out a deal but someone doesn't want them to and tries to kill them. Trying to save themselves they find they are attracted to each other even knowing they shouldn't be together. It is an impossible attraction but they do have to find a way to safety before they worry about any future they may have.

This was a good story. I did get drawn into this world and really liked the characters. The action was always going and I liked the chemistry between the two main characters. Very nice quick read.

If you are looking for a different holiday read you may try this one. You can enjoy it even if it isn't the holiday time. I did like Winter Fusion and How the Glitch Saved Christmas more than Galileo’s Holiday but they are all still good quick reads. You get to see different worlds and some fantastic characters. Be sure to give this a try.

[Rhianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy to the Worlds!

I love the scifi genre in general, but if there isn't at the very least a romantic element it often doesn't hold my interest. That's where Carina Press continues to deliver. They find great stories that blend aliens and space-travel and new worlds that center on a the romance between two characters within these realms. This was my third year reading and loving a holiday anthology they've put out and I would highly recommend it to my fellow scifi romance lovers.

I wasn't sure whether they could pull off the holiday feel considering last year's steampunk holiday anthology fell short in that department but Gail, Summers and Hackett all made it work beautifully. In fact, I think they proved that the spirit and idealogy of the Christmas season is a pretty universal sentiment.

HOW THE GLITCH SAVED CHRISTMAS was an unexpected story that blended the romance with futuristic elements and a somewhat procedural feel. Two Chicago detectives trying to solve a really strange burglary and a subtle message of holiday spirit. Not my favorite of the anthology but very fresh and clever. I'd give it 4 stars individually.

GALILEO'S HOLIDAY kind of reminded me of something you'd see on television. I just adore scifi stories where there's an adaptation of a holiday that suits that world building and how time changes certain things about traditions. I loved the hero and heroine, and this was such a heart warming one. Themes of loneliness and being different fit with real life issues some folks face at the holidays making it a great one, I'd give a 5 star rating to.

WINTER FUSION was my favorite of the anthology. The hero and heroine were butting heads from the start. That always makes for some fun tension. It wasn't quite as Christmasy as the others but as a story, I loved it. I would love to read more in this world and will definitely be on the lookout for future reads from the author. Another 5 star winner.

Overall, a great read for the scifi fan at the holidays. I would highly recommend it to fans of Zoe Archer or Katee Robert.

Note: ARC received via NetGalley.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should come as no surprise that I'm a sucker for sexy sci-fi -- whether it's set on a lonely planet somewhere in the far corners of space or with a cyborg hottie looking for love. Basically, I'm trying to say that this anthology pushed all my buttons. In a good way.

How the Glitch saved Christmas by Stacy Gail - Holy... crumb. For a short story this *really* packs a wallop. There might have been some tears, a discreet wiping of damp cheeks, and a sniffle or two. I was honestly blown away by the characters (who were incredibly well drawn) and their overall story (which was a punch in the emotional gut). I'm ridiculously flaily over this one. Ridiculously.

Galileo's Holiday by Sasha Summers - One of my favorite plot devices is when main characters get snowed in or are otherwise forced into tight quarters in the snow/rain/cold. This story took an entire icy PLANET and plunked down two people are are incredibly drawn to one another. No lie, I was all fluttery over this. Lots of snow, dangerous critters with big teeth, raiders who have no redeeming qualities, and the two people who have to cuddle up to stay warm. *swoon*

Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett - Another story set on an unforgiving, icy planet. I'm in snowed-out bliss over here. I love when danger throws two people together and this was a perfect example of it. Preconceptions are shattered and our two MCs get nekkid to share body heat. Win/win!

Final Thoughts: Sexy sci-fi tends to always be a winner in my book, but these three stories honestly made me smile. Fun, fast-paced, and nicely sexy.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had started this anthology a while back, and read the first story. Then I got distracted and forgot. I picked it up today as I was in the mood for short stories/novellas and had Anna Hackett's on my to-read list. So, I read the second story first--Galileo Holiday. It was my first by this author and I really enjoyed it. Riley is an electronic whiz who has spent her entire life on her space ship and is used to being alone. When she finds herself stranded on a wintry world and welcomed by the local station community, she is pleased and very uncomfortable. She is also uncomfortable with the handsome and capable man who saved her life. I really enjoyed Riley's learning to appreciate community, the revised Holiday gifts, and the action scenes. I hope that author writes more SFR.

Winter Fusion was actually the weakest of the three, but still enjoyable. The relationship progression was predictable, but there were some fun scenes and some neat (random) technology. I'm a fan of Hackett's SFR, so enjoyed the story for fun rather worrying about depth.

I also reread the first story, How the Glitch Saved Christmas. This one had a fully fleshed heroine who is down on her luck after being a star detective for a post-apocalyptic Chicago Police Department. She doesn't want to have technological upgrades to her body or brain, and so has been demoted while watching her biggest rival become the top detective. The mystery that brings the two together is interesting and was unexpected. Their relationship was a bit infatuated, but they've been attracted to each other for 2 years without doing anything at all about it. I also really hope this author writes some more SFR.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Galactic Holiday is a collection of three sci-fi romance reads: How the Glitch Saved Christmas by Stacy Gail, Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers and Winter Fusion by Anna Hackett. In the interest of keeping it short and sweet I am just going to say…
Bookswagger Marcia: Four Crowns, good read, on the way to swagger. I loved, A Galactic Holiday, I even got a little misty eyed (I did not cry, you cannot prove it). All three ladies gave us a different take on the sci-fi romance. With Anna Hackett you have the wasteful futuristic society dependent upon energy sources, living in high rises with flying cars and a Heroine/Hero at odds from day one due to world alliance issues. In How the Glitch Saved Christmas you have the now Chicago, still the windy city but decimated by a deadly virus and police officers modified with android upgrades. The heroine in How the Glitch Saved Christmas was the only 100% human officer on the force while the hero is Robocop (that is just my description). In Galileo’s Holiday the heroine does not know what a holiday is, she has grown up in space. Although she has grown up in space she is now stranded on Galileo a small settlement, so you get the best of both worlds, the futuristic set in a rugged outpost society. If you like sci-fi romance and if you are also like me and like to sneak those 20,000-38,000 word stories in for a quick read, this is a good one.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

How the Glitch Saved Christmas - Stacy Gail
I am certain I’ve read this one before. And it’s really, really good. Timely too, since it is set in a world where Chicago has been decimated by viruses. I checked, and while I haven’t read this anthology, I did read this short story, back in 2016. It’s really good enemies-to-lovers story set in an eerily accurate urban fantasy version of Chicago.

Galilee’s Holiday - Sasha Summers
The colony the hero and heroine take shelter with is just too good to be true. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy. I did enjoy the hero and heroine, and their interactions. She is tough, and I loved it.

Winter Fusion - Anna Hackett
Takes place on a planet similar to Earth, if the entire planet was like Norway or Sweden (pre-global warming). I enjoyed the culture and humor this gave to planet Perm. The chemistry between the two negotiators was potent, and I enjoyed watching them learn each and overcome pre-conceived notions they have.

One of my last borrows from the late, great Audible Escape package. *sob*

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

These three stories are very different, yet they have one thing in common: they are all science fiction romances. The collection takes us from a wintry Chicago to an ice station on Galileo and from there to the ice world of Perma. What is excellent about each of the books is how they conjure up the spirit of Christmas without sacrificing the science fiction elements, drawing the reader in to that magical holiday.

Each of the stories is very well written, and easy to read.

It should be taken into account that each of these stories has adult content.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sci-fi holiday themed book includes three novellas:

How the Glitch Saved Christmas - Unique plot, excellent world building, steamy romance, but it took awhile for the story to actually go. 4 stars.

Galileo's Holiday - Good world building, but I didn't feel much chemistry between the main characters. 3 stars.

Winter Fusion - Great world building, lots of adventure, and a love story that played with my heart strings. 4 stars.

[❤ AudiobookRomance ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this anthology.

These may be novellas but by no means felt short. There is romance, adventure, and a lot of feels, especially the first story. I snotted all over the place.

They all had their own appeal, but that glitch is one that will stay with me for some time. Definitely worth a credit.

I listened to this through Audible Escape.

[Rachel Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid set of 3 sci-fi romance novellas. Nothing too outstanding, but nothing awful either. I liked the third one the best because I felt the characters were developed more in a short amount of time, but like I said, the other 2 stories were good too.

[Emmeline Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome futuristic Christmas antho. Loved it, especially WINTER FUSION, and GALILEO'S HOLIDAY.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.




This has three nice little near/alternate future mini reads. Not much else to it.

[Meg]

fun short fluffy