Throughout her entire life, Ella has heard voices. Voices inside her head. She’s never given much thought as to why she has this gift… or this curse, depending on which way you look at it. It’s not until she meets the mysterious Jonah that she begins to question her inherited abilities as a Soul Seer.
Learning to deal with loss and love, Ella manages to live a seemingly normal life... or so she thought.
(Voices of the Soul is the first in a series of short stories and was originally published in the Paranormal Anthology with a Twist, coordinated by Cynthia Shepp.)
Rene Folsom, author of contemporary and paranormal, lives in Florida with her husband and three kids. She has officially diagnosed herself with creative ADD and often has a million and one writing projects going at once. In addition to writing, she is also a graphic artist who enjoys creating custom book covers for indie authors. She is definitely an artist at heart and would love nothing more than to be elbow deep in clay during her waking hours.
Rene believes that all fiction is based on some form of reality—otherwise we would never have the inspiration or knowledge to dream up the realistic situations we portray with our words. She is proud to say that her personal experiences have been inspirational, though perhaps not always identical to that of her fictional characters. Where reality and fantasy diverge, however, must remain her little secret…
Short story. Book 1 of the Soul Seers series. New Adult. Fantasy. Cliffhanger major twist at the end.
Ella has heard voices in her head her whole life. A new college (although it read younger for me) student has the ability to talk to her mind-to-mind. Ella wants to explore this interaction she never experienced before.
The relationship was instantaneous because of Ella and Jonah’s ability to communicate with each other. I can understand her fascination but to love? Her reactions and thoughts seemed more young adult to me than college aged. The twist - way out there.
This is a novella by a fellow TWIST Anthology author, Rene Folsom. So, of course, I can’t go too far into explaining the plot of this story without chancing a spoiler. So I’ll keep this review simple.
The story begins with Orella “Ella” Hugh basically explaining her life thus far and how she can hear voices inside her head. When an accident takes her mother, she must learn to survive mostly on her own. Six years later, she meets a man named Jonah who shares her abilities. The two have an instant connection; a rapport that bonds them from the moment they locked eyes. Ella finds that Jonah might be her salvation…or is he?
This story is very steamy, delving into the mind of a rather repressed girl who’s been hiding her true gift her whole life. When she meets someone who she can share her true thoughts with, things start to look up finally. But, of course, there’s a major twist that sends Orella’s perspective of her world into the ground.
Descriptive, witty, and definitely intriguing: Voices Of The Soul by Rene Folsom is a definite read! The first in a long line of novella’s that are worth to attention!
“Remember, the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard. They must be felt with the heart.”
Sorry Ms. Rene Folsom :( Okay *GRRR!* What is up with authors thinking it’s okay for girls to keep playing the victim in these books? This is the 21st century, in case you haven’t noticed. Women are just as powerful as men, if not more so. (*cough* childbirth) Can I get an Amen girls! Yup, so yet another book I disliked because of a weak female protagonist. Ella is in college and seems to act like she’s still in middle school. This chick has some serious growing up to do. The “love” story between the two protagonists, Ella and Jonah, seemed to move way too fast for my taste. It’s like they meet one day and are in love the next. This does not happen in real life ladies. I understand that this is a novella, but come on! At least two books should be used to explore this “relationship.” Also another thing that really irks me about these characters; they trail behind the guys like little ducklings. Ella has a total melt-down because Jonah won’t kiss her. No I am not over reacting. This girl has a real mental breakdown. Ella’s behavior makes me concerned not only for her sanity, but the safety of those around her as well. The ending, was what I’m sure was supposed to be an interesting twist in the story, but it only made me confused and a bit weirded out. Just overall not a book I would continue to explore or recommend. :(
Ok, wow! What can I say other than I wanted more, in a good way! I seldom read book descriptions or look at word count: more times than not I jump into a recommended book and I was not disappointed. Ella is a gem and Jonah is astounding. I want to know more. I want to encase myself in their lives and learn how it plays out. My only wish is that the novella would have been a short story or longer. Ms. Folsom has a writing style which kept me enchanted and was easy to read. I loved the theme and want more! Did I say that I wanted more? Yes…I said it! Good read and then ending rocked!
Well written, the story flows smoothly and I was soon fully engrossed in Ella’s life. Her heartache is completely believable and when Jonah walks into her class, you can’t help but feel like her life is about to change. With a twist I didn’t see coming towards the end, this book will definitely be added to my read again folder. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will leave you wanting to know what is next for Ella and Jonah.
Wow I am totally sucked into this story. I was not expecting the end, and I am left with a feeling of whoa. I was immediately drawn in. Rene Folsom captured this tale beautifully.
I want to talk to about why I rated this book a 4 instead of 5. I am completely aggravated by how short it was. The book was great. I really enjoyed it. I am all for books that have a series which is why I read this one. After I finished it and it left off the way it did, I was just completely puzzled. Voices of the soul will be a great series if they are all this good, but this book was short I can only imagine the next ones will be equally as short. If you are going to have a series I think you should put more than 83 pages in the books. Its pointless to extend a series of 6 books and only have 80 pages in each book. Why not make it a 3 part series and make the books longer?? Drives me nuts.
Ok now for my review of the book. I loved it. I was captivated from the beginning. It has so much potential in this series.
Remember, the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard. They must be felt with the heart.
Ella's mom is extremely insightful. The books begins with Ella and her mother getting in a car accident and she was hurt but her mother was killed. When Ella was finally allowed to visit her mother she was on life support. Her mother told Ella:
You are a soul seer, Orella Hugh. Your clairvoyance makes you exceptional. There are not many like us, who can read thoughts, read the souls of others....
She is 14 when she realizes she can hear the thoughts of people. Fast forward 6 years and Ella is in school. Her classmates think she is strange and she doesn't really have any friends. In walks Jonah in the middle of class in the middle of a semester. He hears her thoughts and she responds to his. This is how they know each other souls.
I've never reacted to man like I did at this moment. It was all I could do to keep my ass planted on the stool and not streak toward him and pounce on him like an excited house cat high on catnip.
Jonah is gorgeous and all of the girls want to know him. He wants to know Ella. Ok and the ending killed me. Ella and Jonah get to know one another some and then the ending is left hanging. Not going to spoil the ending but OH my goodness. Really ya could gave us a little more Rene Folsom!!!! Great read will probably be a great series but just hated how extremely short it was. I truly hope the others are not so short!
Throughout her entire life, Ella has heard voices. Voices inside her head. She's never given much thought as to why she has this gift... or this curse, depending on which way you look at it. It's not until she meets the mysterious Jonah that she begins to question her inherited abilities as a Soul Seer.
Learning to deal with loss and love, Ella manages to live a seemingly normal life... or so she thought.
~MY REVIEW~
Ella has a very special gift. Her mother is on her death bed and needs to tell Ella of this special gift before it is too late. Ella has heard voices through out her life, but never really knew what was taking place in her mind.
Six years after her mothers death, Ella sits in her art class distratced.......until he walks in.......Jonah Chantrey that is.
Suddenly Ella's thoughts are running rapid for this sexy hunk. He responds without saying a word aloud.
Can it be that Ella and Jonah have the same gift?
Yes they discover they are both Soul Seers.
They spend the next couple of hours walking, talking and grabbing a bite to eat. Comparing their soul seeing abilities with one another.
An instant connection is formed and Ella and Jonah make fast plans for a date.
Jonah takes Ella to a stable for a beautiful night ride on two gorgeous horses. They end up at a lake with the moons reflection bouncing off of the rippling water.
Here Ella and Jonah experiment with their soul seeing capabilites and this is where it goes beyond what we expect.........I am not a reviewer to whom of which gives the best parts away.
What happens next will leave you in shock and awe of Rene's writing talents.
Rene's imagination takes us on a captivating~mind blowing~soul shattering journey.
The love and elements of surprise will leave you breathless.
Ella has been hearing voices in her head for a long time. She never did pay them any attention until now, now that she has met the super sexy Jonah. After the loss of her mother, she is learning to deal with her new circumstances. Ella has a hard time trusting a man to stay. Her idea is that men will just leave. Then Jonah begins to rock her world before they even touch.
This short story will surely make your mouth water, your heart pick up pace. Jonah and Ella are super sexy. A great way to get your mind off of whatever….It is just enough story to get you riled up and just enough to make you want more!
“Looking at him, I could see the reflection of stars in his eyes, like diamonds dripping from the universe and winking at me through this beautiful man.”
“His taste exploded onto my tongue and sent flurries of pleasure cascading through my body.”
This short story will rock your world. I am just like WOW right now. Alright lil lady, you get 5 stars from me.
So I knew I was diggin’ on Rene after catching a bit of her book. Not only is she way cool, this chick can write a book that makes you tingle. I can’t even stand it right now! I just finished Voices of the Soul (Soul Seers #1). When “the end” came…it through me off and dropped me on my butt. Now I have to get my hands on her Eyes of the Soul (Soul Seers #2) like NOW. I suggest you do the same!
This short story series is made up of 6 parts. You don’t want to miss this! Make sure you keep up with Rene because sooner than later #3 will be out and you DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT want to be left out in the cold not knowing when it is to be released.
Orella (Ella) heard voices in her head, actually the thoughts of others, as long as she could remember. She and her mother were in a terrible car accident shortly before her 14th birthday. After Ella awoke in the hospital following the accident, she was brought to see her mother who was being kept alive on life support. Her mother talked to her in her head, explaining the gift that she had and that she was a soul seer. Her mother had this gift too. She passed away shortly after telling Ella this. Six years later, Ella was in college and a new student entered her class. She and Jonah had an instant connection, and she learned that he was also a soul seer. He helped her to understand her gift a bit more, and they explored the boundaries of what their gift could do.
The twist at the end of this story left me absolutely stunned and desperate to find out what happened next! This story was gut-wrenching and sweet, exciting and really left an impact on me. I can’t wait for the next one!
I didn't realize this was nothing more then a short story... I literally finished this in under an hour & that was disappointing. The ending (if you can call it that) was a little surprising... & made things a little interesting but not enough to make up for the rest of the novella.
There is a serious case of insta-love going in here... it's crazy - but even girls sitting in comas are susceptible to the dreaded emotion....
The writing of this book was crappy, choppy and a little juvenile... I mean - I felt like I was reading one of my little sister's short stories... & she's 12.
I don't think I'll be reading the rest of this series.
Holy WOW! This is an exceptional book. The ending blew my mind away. Knowing that this is a series makes me want to go get the rest of them and just sit and read them to find out what all happens next. I can not believe this, my mind is still reeling after having finished it.
Ella is a college girl who lost her mother six years ago but is also a girl with a gift. She is able to hear the thoughts of others. While in an art class, a new student comes in. Not only is he like her, but he has an interest in her! After class they spend time together and Ella is unable to stop thinking about him. Later that night Jonah and Ella go on a date. Everything ends well when they go back to her house.
Just as things start to heat up, the unexpected happens.....
Go read Voices of the Soul to find out what happens between Ella and Jonah.
Ella has a special gift, although she doesn't think of it as much of one. She goes through life mourning the loss of her mother, who also had the gift of hearing the thoughts of everyone around her. Constantly hearing things not meant to be heard has taught Ella just how different she is from everyone else. Until the day she meets Jonah, that is. Jonah was born with the same gift as Ella and her mother but is more advanced in his control of it.
Will he teach that control to Ella? Will they fall in love and live happily ever after? Or will she wake up and realize it was all a dream?
I won't give away the ending, I'll just tell you to pop over to Amazon and buy it for yourself just like I did after discovering the wonderful writing style of the author, Rene Folsom.
A short short novella about a girl that can hear others' thoughts. She discovers her powers after a car accident. While on life support her mother communicates with her via her powers and briefly explains her abilities. Fast forward six years and a new guy walks into her art class with the same powers.
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. The guy, Jonah, was very sweet. The romance between them blossomed within the day. A bit unrealistic, hence the feeling that it was building up to something that never really came. The ending was kind of predictable. Or sub ending. It's a six part novella.
Not a re-read. Not reading the rest of the series. Not going to recommend. Sorry guys, everyone else seemed to like it. Feel like the odd man out. Yeesh.
'Voices of the Soul' is a well written novella by Rene Folsom- sensuous and touching. The story draws the reader in right from the start with Ella a young soul seer that meets Jonah and falls in love. Jonah is also a mind reader and the familiar magnetism pulls them together, creating an instant attraction between their souls.
A great read that will certainly hit the Y/A teenage girls and get the gossip flowing- they will be chasing the next part in the series. It is a super story with strong characters, easy to read and flows well. A nail-biting ending with leave you wanting for more!
What a clever ending! This was totally charming and romantic but also very cleverly created, it's nice to read a natural, sweet love story with heat and charm but also a lot of respect and good old fashioned chivalry going on. The characters appealed to me a lot and there were plenty of interesting paranormal elements going on, some of the concepts are fascinating and really well explained. Voices of the Soul was easily read and enjoyed, next time I want a short sweet reading moment I will definitely be looking to Rene Folsom to provide it. Kudos!
Once again Rene has left me speechless! The ending was not like I expected it to be, which makes it an even better read! I don't like when you can predict the ending of a book and this one was definitely not predictable! Rene has a great way of writing in that you can picture everything you are reading, and even makes you think you know what will happen, and then leaves you completely surprised! I am going to start the next book now!
First let me just say that I LOVE Ms. Folsom's writing style! Even though this was a short story it felt like a complete full length novel b/c of all the detail and background building. The characters were well developed and the story just flowed perfectly. After that crazy ending I cannot wait to get my hands on Eyes of the Soul (Soul Seers #2)!
WOW!!! This is an exceptional book. The ending blew my mind away. What can I say other than I wanted more. Well written, the story flows smoothly and I was soon fully engrossed in Ella’s life. With a twist I didn’t see coming towards the end. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will leave you wanting to know what is next for Ella and Jonah.
This was a pretty good read, it has the most craziest twist and cliffhanger. The romance was quite fast but very sweet, not much characters except the main two but that's okay because of the major twist at the end is worth it. It will suck you in towards the end making you think, wait what just happened
I absolutely loved this story! Very well written and I found myself drawn into the story. Will definitely be looking into reading the other novellas which continue this story.(Review written after reviewing paranormal anathology http://wp.me/p2A644-hs
At first I thought this was gonna be more for young people. Didnt think it was going to hold my interest however the more i read the more I started to like it. The end was unexpected and I cant wait to find out what happens next.
I really enjoyed this story. I don’t normally like things written in first-person. However, this story is very well written, and the choice of first-person added to the enjoyment of the story. It was a daring choice, but a brilliant one, and well done.
This was a great first book to this series. I loved the connection between the two characters of being able to hear each others thoughts which brought them together. The ending left me shocked and feeling empty. I felt so bad for poor Orella. I'm excited to see where this series will go from here.
What a great idea & story! I noticed that there are 6 books, I really wish it had just been 1 books so that I didn't have to wait for the next short story to come out. Why do authors do that? UGH!!!
Really liked this novella. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book which I am glad I own. Very dramatic ending which came out of left field for me but I liked it. Awesome writing.