Before I get on with the Soul Promise Blog Tour, I thought I would fill you all in one something that you should probably know. Soul Promise is a second book in a series, True Connection being the first. So I would like to share a little bit about True Connection first.
True Connection, the first book in The Soul Mate series, a YA novel written by the talented Rachel Walter.And while True Connection may not have been the first novel that Rachel started working on, it was the first novel that she completed and release. Making it her debut novel! This is the novel that Rachel broke out onto the indie scene with, and a wonderful first novel it was.
Synopsis:
'It's going to take a fight, I know that. But it's more than just a fight for my life. It's a fight for my soul and my soul mate.'Jazzy Williams is not your average coffee-loving teen. She's struggling with her grief, her famous uncle’s fans, an overprotective big brother, and a depressed mother, all while trying to make friends at her new school. In the first week, she meets a gorgeous green-eyed hottie who turns out to be more than just some high school crush - he's more than human. And she unknowingly enrages a very dangerous breed of immortal who wants her soul or life as payment. With the help of supernatural friends and protectors, Jazzy thinks she's safe until what remains of her family is put in danger. Does Jazzy have what it takes to save her family, life, soul and soul mate, or will all be lost?
My review for True Connection.
True Connection. Even before I had the chance to read it, I was in love with the novel. I talk to the author regularly, and over the time of getting to know her, she let things leak from the novel for me. When this blog tour came around I knew that I had to do as much as I personally could to help promote this novel, this author.
True Connection. That is what I had with this novel! There was that connection when I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. With the exception when I had a manuscript of it outside on a windy day, and it blew all over my lawn. Be warned, once you pick this novel up, you will not be getting ay sleep. You'll want to stay awake and finish it because Rachel has written it beautifully and leaves the reader wanting more after each chapter.
When I started to read True Connections I had high expectations for it, and I for sure was not disappointed. Right off the bat I was hooked. The first chapter got me, it made me curious as to what really happened to Jaz and Henry. The story seems to tell itself. I was just there for the ride. If I do recall, I was crying every other chapter. Rachel has made this book an emotional one, but don't get me wrong, I'm a sap. I've laughed out loud, and screamed at a few characters. It is a summers must read novel!
When the True Connection blog tour was going on last year, I did up a quick interview with Rachel. Here is that interview!
C:Well hello there Mrs. Rachel Walter. I have a few questions that I would like to ask you if you don't mind.
R:Hi Chris! *waves* go ahead, ask away
R:Hi Chris! *waves* go ahead, ask away
C:How long have you been writing?
R:Well, when I was in high school I had some issues... And writing was suggested. I started with poetry but sort of failed, at least, I thought I did. So it's been roughly 13-14 years. Didn't start my first novel (True Connection) until 2012.
C:At least you thought you failed at poetry? Was there someone who told you otherwise?
R:A good friend of mine said they were good (I never believed him), but my writing worried him. When I write I get really into what I'm writing. And he thought I was pulling away from everyone around me and putting everything into the poems. So I eventually have up poetry.
C: And by have you mean gave, yes?
R:Yes lol.
C:So, you started writing True Connection in 2012, do you remember which month?
R:February (I think), but I didn't tell anyone I was writing a story until April or May.
C:What was the hardest thing for you, when you first started writing True Connection?
R:At the beginning, when the idea first came to me I had no idea how to start it. I started it seven different ways before something clicked. After that, the absolute hardest thing for me was the title. True Connection was referred to as "Book One" well after the first draft was written.
C:And how long did it take to write the first draft?
R:Five or six months.
C:With kids running around the house, how often did you get the chance to get any writing done?
R:Funny you should ask that, I was just literally talking to a friend about this earlier today. When I started writing TC I mostly wrote at night. Until my 14yo stepdaughter read what I had. Then she would say "can I take 3yo upstairs/outside to play so you can write?" She pushed me to finish the story. Her excitement for it blew me away.
C: It's amazing how the opinion of the rough age group has on your story actually pushes you to get more writing done, more often.
You've done most of your writing at night, how much sleep do you think you lost because of this?
R:I'd say none. Before I started writing as much as I do now, I was reading. I'd read nearly all night an grab a handful of hours of sleep and get up and do it again the next day. I don't read near as often as I did before but I still read a lot .
C:And what was the hardest part, for you, in the editing process?
*I'm grinning wildly* because of the next question I'm about to ask.
R:Show, not tell. Still troubles me. I've read some books (I won't name) that I'd pick spots out and say "that's telling." But I can't do it for myself. Well, I can, but I think in my rewrites I only picked out a handful. I was lucky enough to have help with that.
C:Going back to the previous question, were they proper uses for commas?
LOL!
R:Don't get me started on commas! That's a love/hate relationship. Evil little buggers! Lol!
C:I'm sure everyone would like to know the story on the commas, care to share?
R:Hah. Okay, I'll tell.
These itty bitty things ------> , <----- the comma. We don't get along all the time. I've been known to overuse them, underuse them, and even "why is there a comma there?" use of commas. My other Critique Partner, Emma Hart, wrote me up a cheat sheet to help with most of them. After that I spent three or four days in "Comma Hell." I went through, line by line, checking every sentence. Even if there wast a comma to begin with, just to make sure the commas were placed as properly as I could get them. (No, I haven't checked all comma placements in any of these answers! LOL)
These itty bitty things ------> , <----- the comma. We don't get along all the time. I've been known to overuse them, underuse them, and even "why is there a comma there?" use of commas. My other Critique Partner, Emma Hart, wrote me up a cheat sheet to help with most of them. After that I spent three or four days in "Comma Hell." I went through, line by line, checking every sentence. Even if there wast a comma to begin with, just to make sure the commas were placed as properly as I could get them. (No, I haven't checked all comma placements in any of these answers! LOL)
C:LOL!
Just two more questions.
R:Should I be worried?
C:Not at all, or at least I don't think so.
R:*takes a deep breath* awesome.
C:I've read recently that the title of book two has finally come to you, would you mind sharing the title with everyone?
R:I suppose I can do that.
Book Two of The Soul Mate series is titled: Soup Promise
Book Two of The Soul Mate series is titled: Soup Promise
**** Soul
(Autocorrect got me!!)
C:Soup Promise, sounds like it should be an interesting book.
R:Nooooo! Soul! Soul!!! Lol
C: LOL!
Okay, last question.
When are we going to see Soul Promise hit the shelves?
R:I'm in the rewriting process now. (I had well over half written when I started rewriting True Connection, so a LOT needs to change) I'm hoping for early 2014
C: I look forward to that.
Thank you for this Rachel Walter. It's been a pleasure.
R:Thanks for having me Chris!
And now let's get this blog tour started!
I am one of the few people who are kicking off the Soul Promise Blog Tour. I'm sure there were more people who wanted to kick it off, but I was chosen by the wonderful Dani Morales to be the only review for today. Let's hope that I do not disappoint.
As you should know by now, Soul Promise is the second book in The Soul Mate Series, written by the beautifully talented, Rachel Walter. Over the past year I've gotten to know Rachel on a personal level. I not only know her as a beta reader, or a critique partner. I know her as the crazy author that she is, and I feel honored to call her a friend. If you ever get the chance to sit down and talk to Rachel, you should take it, you never know what will come up in conversation.
About the Author:
Rachel is a wife and mother from Central Pennsylvania. Her favorite season is fall, for hockey, changing leaves, pumpkin everything, and bonfires often. She’s also a coffeenista with an insomnia problem. When Rachel isn’t playing with the people inside her head, making her family believe she belongs in the loony bin, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, species confused cat (he believes he’s part dog, love him), and finding new books and music.Regarding writing, her first love is Young Adult Paranormal, but she’s venturing outside of her comfort zone and opening up to writing more genres. Be on the look out!
When Rachel is not found at her laptop doing the work that she should be doing, so that I amazing books on my shelf, she can be found slaving over a sink full of dishes, or herding the many children that she cares for. She can also be found searching ridiculous things that she seems to throw into her novels every so often. She's quick witted, and she'll almost have a comeback to anything that you can say. Like many authors, she doesn't like when things don't go her way, or the wrong main character is talking the loudest. But most of all, she hates spiders, almost as much as she hates the comma.
A few places that Rachel likes to be stalked at are; Facebook
Be sure to go stalk her, and tell her that The Cowboy sent you, she'll know who you mean.
“Broken is finding the light and the healing you crave,
and knowing you can never have it.”
After the attack on his sister and his newfound abilities forming, Henry Williams is struggling to keep it all together. His wolf does not allow him to sleep, and he is beginning to hear voices, torturing him mercilessly.
Henry feels as though there is a war brewing inside of him and he is unable to control it. As a protector, he must find a way to fight his inner demons before he is left vulnerable to the real ones.
But an unexpected love finds Henry and he tries hard to resist it. Will Henry be able to overcome his inner demons? Will he be able to protect his mate?
Reminder!!!
*** This is book number 2 in this series. Please note that it is suggested to read the series in sequential order. ***
*Warning* This novel is intended for mature YA readers. 15 + for language and mild violence.
Because I talk to Rachel regularly, I decided that I would ask her a few questions for this blog tour as well.
- Rachel Walter: Without spoiling anything for anyone.... I'd have to say the beginning. In the beginning Henry chooses a path that grates against his nature, and mine. Maintaining that was difficult.
- Christopher Chapman: And the easiest?
- Rachel Walter: The banter. The game. The prank. Some of the fights between characters.
- Christopher Chapman: When was the exact moment you knew you wanted to write SP?
- Rachel Walter: I was about half finished TC.
- Christopher Chapman: And what triggered the story for SP?
- Rachel Walter: To be honest, I knew from the start that Henry was special. When Henry found out about his biological parents, what they were... I knew then that he had a story. His parentage came with a heavy pill to swallow, that negatively affected those he cares about. I knew I had to write him a story that would do him justice, and I hope I did that in Soul Promise.
Now before we get on to the review part of this blog, I believe I will share a little bit more about Soul Promise. Yes, I'm going to make you wait for the review, and don't even think about scrolling down to the bottom to read it.
Excerpts:
Finding Dad and Sophie’s graves, I shift back to my human form and slip the elastic belt loose to release my shorts. I put them on and walk between the stones to sit right in front of Dad’s headstone. Seeing his name, Curtis James Williams, I nearly lose myself. I break my stillness by wiping away some dirt from the face of the stone.
“Hey, Dad,” I whisper. Taking a seat in the grass, I begin pulling weeds, my usual routine. “Things have been…well, pretty insane.”
I think back over the last few weeks since the last time I visited. Between finals in school, working out, pack duties, learning things of this world that I never knew possible, fighting and not fighting with Skeeter, things have been intense and nonstop crazy.
“Football will start in August. I don’t think I’m doing the playbook boot camp again this year. I know it’s important, but I’ve got a lot on my plate now. I won’t give up football,” I promise my dad.
With a hard swallow, I decide to move into updating him on the family. “Mom is trying to be Mom,” I say, yanking a weed from in front of his headstone. “She’s okay, I think. I know it’s harder on her than she lets on, but she’s trying to live for us, which is more than she did a few months ago. She has days where the tears just won’t stop, but they’re not as constant now. She seems angrier than usual.” I wince as memories zoom around me. Mom got angry at me for throwing my wet towel in the hamper, ripped into Leland over a brand of peanut butter he bought, and has been suspicious of Jaz and Seth for no reason. I’d rather not rehash all that again, so I continue on with the family updates.
“Alex is talking more. Sometimes we can understand him. He just started calling me Heywe the other day,” I say proudly. Alex is Leland’s son and is a little over a year old. He only says “dada” and “Heywe.” Mom and Jaz were a bit upset about that and are still trying to teach him new words.
“He’s getting a lot better with walking, too. He’s not tottering as much and doesn’t need help all the time. Mom fusses when he falls down, but I know she’s enjoying watching him walk and try to reach different milestones. Leland had to baby proof the living room and kitchen, too, because Alex thought his gold fish crackers belonged in the VCR and DVD player. That was a mess. Leland just tossed it after attempting to shake out all the crackers.” I snort.
I don’t tell him about the time Alex put his teddy in the cabinet next to the oven. None of us could find it and he had no way of letting us know where it was, even if he could remember. I can laugh now, but that was a rough two days. He screamed almost non-stop for that thing. Jazzy finally found it when she went to make waffles, and he conked out as soon as he got his little hands on it. Dad had picked out that teddy bear just for Alex the day Psycho Sammy, Leland’s ex, dropped him off, calling him freak spawn. That teddy is Alex’s best friend now.
I grab a few more weeds and pile them off to the side. It’s not many, and the landscapers usually get them all, but they don’t come out often.
If you're anything like I am, you want to know everything that the author does while they are writing certain novels. And because of this, we (the bloggers) have been given the playlist that Rachel Walter would listen to while she wrote Soul Promise. How awesome is that!!!
I don't know about you, but I'm glad that we were given the playlist. It gives us a slight glance into Rachels head while she was doing her writing.
Now I know that when I find a book that I enjoy, I try to look more of their work. We are going to make that easy for you.
More from this Author
True Connection (The Soul Mate Series) #1
Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks
Add on Goodreads
A Message of Flowers (A Pocono Valley Romance) #1
Adult Contemporary Romance
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks
Add on Goodreads
Coming Soon
Pucked
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: To be announced 2014
Catching Breeze (A Pocono Valley Romance) #2
Adult Contemporary Romance
To Be Announced
Twisted Destiny (The Soul Mate Series) #3
Young Adult Paranormal Romance
To Be Announced
Now, for the review!
Soul Promise, the second novel in The Soul Mate Series, and a novel that was worth the wait. When I first started reading this novel, I was thrilled. I had loved True Connections, so I was curious as to what Rachel had planned for this one.
I do have to say that Rachel knows what she's doing with the YA novels. The way she writes is amazing. The way the words just flow together, effortlessly on the pages before our eyes. The way she paints the pictures of the scenes that we read, even down to the smallest of details. While reading Soul Promise, I was not disappointed.
I had a problem putting down this book, literally. There was a point where I sat in a tub full of cold water, which was hot at one point, because I didn't want to stop reading for the short five minutes it takes to dry off and move to the sofa. And it's not that I didn't want to stop reading it, I couldn't stop reading it. Rachel leaves not only each chapter with a cliffhanger, she leaves the cliffhangers at the end of each page.
The characters are a riot. We all know those people who are completely ridiculous, and that's what Rachel did with her characters. It's as if she plucked people out of real life and just threw them into a book, writing her own story around them. Kind of a scary thought, eh?
I laughed out loud.
I sobbed quietly into a pillow.
I bawled my eyes out.
And I thought about life.
Soul Promise. The title says it all, doesn't it? This novel, this story, somehow sort of complete me. If you haven't had the chance to read True Connections, do it. True Connection is a wonderful novel, but Rachel outdid herself when she wrote Soul Promise. It is a must read this summer, this autumn, winter, spring. It's just a must read!
And we cannot have an awesome blog tour for Soul Promise without a giveaway for you folks!!!
U.S. and Canada giveaway only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you've made it this far down my tour page for Rachel, I applaud you!
You should go check out these blogs today as well. They are all hosting things for the Soul Promise blog tour!
SBM Book Obsession -Promo
Katie's Stories-Cast of Characters
Books Direct –Excerpt
If you've made it this far down my tour page for Rachel, I applaud you!
You should go check out these blogs today as well. They are all hosting things for the Soul Promise blog tour!
SBM Book Obsession -Promo
Katie's Stories-Cast of Characters
Books Direct –Excerpt
