Rewrite Redemption

by J.H. Walker

She’s sixteen. He’s seventeen. They don’t know each other…at least not yet.

She has a secret and her whole life revolves around keeping it. Every few months and with little warning, she simply disappears, pulled into the past for hours or even days. She’s terrified it will happen in front of someone, changing her life forever. So far, the only witnesses have been her parents, and that didn’t end well. She has no control over it and no idea why it happens to her.

She wants answers.

He has answers—at least he understands what’s going on. He has a secret, too. He’s part of an organization that goes back in time to rewrite reality. But he also has a problem. He broke the organization’s number-one rule by altering his own timeline. As punishment, he’s been blocked from time travel, which is most unfortunate. Because the changes he made to his timeline, accidentally resulted in disaster for his family. A disaster he’s now prevented from repairing. No one can travel beneath the organization’s radar except a Shadow. But they’re rare, so rare he’s never even met one.

Then he moves to her town.


WINNER 2014 IPPY GOLD MEDAL FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION E-BOOK

WINNER 2014 READER'S FAVORITE GOLD MEDAL FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT SCI-FI

Young adult sci-fi & fantasy

Genres: Time Travel, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2013

About the author

My life has been rather unconventional. Born insanely curious into an authoritarian, religious family, I know what it’s like to not fit in. My teen years were a struggle, and I remember them in all their intensity. That’s why I like writing for young adults.

I grew up in Central America, surrounded by jungle, and was never too far from the ocean. I observed other cultures, including an indigenous tribe that, at the time, had seen little of the modern world. While there, I slept in a hammock in a bamboo hut, dressed in tribal clothing, and helped bring three babies into the world in at the tender age of fourteen. I survived a hurricane aboard an ocean liner, canoeing through alligator infested waters, P.E., my brother’s pet tarantulas, sky diving, parasailing over the Pacific shoreline, rock climbing, a ropes course blindfolded, and walking barefoot across hot coals. I’m not done having experiences.

I attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, but was so obsessed in my quest to understand human behavior; I left midstream to travel the country and study with people doing groundbreaking work in the field. I’m certified in Ericksonian Hypnosis, am a Master of Neuro-linguistic Programming, and have worked with world-class athletes, including members of the U.S. Ski Team. I’ve completed advanced studies with some of the most brilliant minds of my time in the field of NLP and am a perpetual student of sociology and human behavior.

I live with my photographer husband in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies. I’m surrounded by trees. And I will always remain insanely curious.

Reviews

[Desert Rose Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea of time traveling is exciting, right? Only if you're controlling it...being unexpectedly yanked into the past against your will, that's just terrifying. That's what A.J. deals with, every few months. Except, the trips are happening more frequently...and she's staying in the past longer.

Hiding behind her walls of rules, shielding herself from people, she quietly deals with the guilt of her mother's death, and her father's depression. Living in her tree-house with her two best friends is her only source of happiness- without Lex and Ipod, she may not be able to handle her curse...

Constantine, on the other hand, loves traveling back in time. He does it on purpose, though, and is part of a guild who taught him to use his abilities. They also punished him when he abused his ability, leaving his brother paralyzed. When his parents move to a different state to start fresh, he desperately tries to cope with the guilt of his little brother's new hardship in life, while not losing his sanity being away from his tree.

His world flips upside down (again) when he meets this shy, quiet, remarkable girl, who has an effect on him he wasn't expecting- like someone from the guild...only, she's not registered. She's a shadow, and possibly the only hope for his family's happiness.

While A.J. usually tries to stay away from everyone at school, she can't get the new boy out of her mind. Or the weird effect he had on her- including her passing out, and she's sure it was because of something he did to her. Who is this new guy, and why is he so interested in her?

This book is full of secrets and exciting twists. Just when you think you know what'll happen next, everything shifts, leaving you on a new set of surprises. Each chapter switches between the points of view of A.J. and Constantine, giving the story a well rounded depth, not found in many series. With brilliant, natural writing, this book captures you from the first page, and doesn't let you go until the last word. Even then, it leaves you desperate for more!

The warm, deep characters quickly draw you in, and make you part of their world. The incredible message in this story, that family isn't always blood, is shown in one of the best stories ever created. With deep influences of music, nature and science, this is by far one of the best books you'll ever read, and should be on the shelf of every YA fan.

I LOVED this book!! Totally perfect, I couldn't have imagined anything better happening than what was written. I love the depth and the links to music and science, to nature and the strength of friendship, and the idea that family isn't always blood...I adore that theme...

For sure one of my favorite books now, and one I plan on reading many more times in the future. :)

[GW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! A definite favorite.
Thank you, J.H. Walker for writing this.
By the end of this story, I was seriously mindblown . This book gets so crazy by the end of it, but it's sooo good!!

I can't even begin to describe how incredible this book is. Time traveling is crazy - and the end of the book gives you this. The characters are all amazing as well, and this story is so well written. The story is told in alternating POV's with A.J. and Constantine. There's also Lex, Ipod, Hosa, Sam, and so many other people - but their characters and personalities are what make this story so fantastic. This book is also so creative, and I loved the nature/tree aspect.

The ending contained so many twists that I didn't see coming at all, and I usually am able to predict ending. My thoughts on what was going to happen and the ending in general (spoilers!!):So you know how A.J.'s able to heal people? I totally thought that she would actually heal Constantine's brother so that he wouldn't have to forget all of this. I never thought she would actually go back in time, even though it sorta was inevitable. But I was still mindblown with that ending. Sigh, it was a perfect ending that tied up the loose ends.

And A.J.'s real name is Autumn. And then with the new sister named Summer. Did anyone else think of 500 Days of Summer? Haha, it's like the flip flop ending. "Oh hi - I'm Summer."

Loved the ending, and I totally didn't see it coming.
Let's just say - expect the unexpected!

This book is definitely worth your while, and I recommend it to everyone! It's a superb YA story with time traveling and adventure.
Can't wait to read more from J.H. Walker!

Oh, and even though Lex was the most hilarious, Hosa was by far my favorite character (even though he's somewhat a minor character--or is he?). Peace!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting take on time travel. Well written and another great YA book to add to my collection. Definitely recommend and will look for more books by this author.

[Tiny Reverse Vampire · Rating 5 out of 5]

* Book received from the author for review

Rooting for Redemption

5 out of 5 tiara wearing bats

This is one of my favorite books that I have read in a while. I loved the characters, at first sight both of the main characters catch your interest. A.J.’s back story is so sad and yet awe inspiring. To have to live with losing her mother at such a young age and feeling responsible. And god having to live with never knowing what will happen next. At any moment to having to be ready to pretty much disappear, not knowing completely when or where she is going to end up.

Constantine’s story pulls you in right away to the world of the editors. Letting you see even before you know the extent of their abilities that even the littlest mistakes can have the gravest effects.

The science of how everything works with the time travel is amazing. I love that it is all interlinked with the trees and the different rings. The guild is set up nicely, I enjoyed the forethought that went into how the editor genes are spread. Hard for the government to takeover when the traits literally are just who wins the genetic lottery.

Ever the non main characters are alive enough that they jump off the page. Lex is fantastic. One of my favorite scenes is when Lex takes on her mom.

This is one of my top five recommended to be read books. Short chapters and a good paced plot keep you reading as the story layers and loops upon itself with twists and turns that you may or may not see coming. Even if time travel normally isn't the type of thing that would get your attention I say give this book a try. It might surprise you.

I look forward to seeing what is next in the world of these books. And J.H. Walker I do hope you are serious about the next being on the way cause I am waiting.

[Shambhawi P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was confused as to whether to give this book 3 stars or 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this but I realized I had a few issues with this book that I just couldn't get past.

Mainly, the insta-love.
One may argue that the love is not really insta and it takes almost 50% of the book for feelings deeper than attraction (which, I concede CAN be insta) to be mentioned. Yes - but exactly how many meaningful conversations did the two MCs have with each other before falling in love?
For the guy - ZERO
For the gal - ONE.
Point = made


And Constantine's stupidity and jumping into wrong conclusions. And being an idiot.

Me whipping out Harry Potter gifs is self-explanatory to how big of an idiot.

And the ending - it was such a cacophony of confusions that I had to read the entire last chapter twice to understand how every tiny side-plot came around together. I don't have anything against happy endings but too happy? LIKE IMPOSSIBLY SUDDENLY EVERYTHING IS RIGHT IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD HAPPY? Yup, those I have something against. It's called Logic.

And - thazzit.

Now that the rants are out let me say what I exactly liked about the book.

That little key or clock-hands above each chapter number that showed whose PoV the chapter is gonna be in. Cute, really. Though it did take me a while to figure out what Con's little figure actually meant.

Ipod's nickname.
AJ-Lex-Ipod's super gang. They r-u-l-e-d.
Lex's I-iz-God attitude. And snark. That girl was supercool. I almost had a little girl-crush on her. Almost.
Con's first 'sight' of AJ. Super corny, maybe, and super cheesy too but you hafta give it to the guy for making it seem so romantic.
And also - the teenagers? Yep, they actually talk like teenagers. Not conversing by using plethora of SAT worthy words in their scintillating dialogues. No whippin' out wild lingos to make them cool either. They talked like normal, REAL teenagers. Super Yay for that.

But most of all I L-O-V-E-D the concept of the story.

Time-travelling by mapping time matrices through trees? Super tiny alien genes working hidden within us? Super Duper secret organization twisting the past to smooth the working of the world for the future?

Whoda thunk, right?

I loved the way everything was chalked up to science rather than magick and even though string theory does not really work that way, it did make for a cool explanation. I felt like Ipod in Geekland. Oh, the possibilities...

I liked the conversations between Con and AJ... as few and far between that they were. There was a definite chemistry there and obvious interest on both sides and how both of them missed it I HAZ no clue. Though, as I've already mentioned I would have liked this a hell lot better if the author had given a chance for the love to grow slowly with real not-best-friend-as-a-messenger interactions between the love-birds.

And also there was no BEST FRIEND/PARENTS DISAPPEARING SYNDROME in this book like in so many YA books. Kudos to that. And thank God too. I would've missed Liz terribly.

And the time manipulation - it rocked. Usually in some books (*ahem*Old Magic *ahem* Hourglass *ahem*) all the consequences the change of past would have in the future are not considered. The result: HELLO LOOPHOLES. But not here. The time travel was mostly loophole free except for that exceedingly happy ending. The consequences and results of tampering with one's timeline as well as others' was shown nicely and I could almost always believe it.

But I do wish the Guild would have had more to contribute in the story. A super-secret organization with alien technology that can change past events deserves a heckuva lot more featuring than as a sidenote to the plot. And a convenience for the super happy ending - which I still disapprove of.

This was a nice, cool read. It was a fresh take on the Time-travelling theme and I must say aliens and trees were a nice touch. An overall good read - and if not for the minor issues I mentioned earlier would've been a great one.

3.5 Stars

This ebook was provided to me for free by the author for review purposes.

[Kassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't get all the glowing reviews
But more on that later, basically a short rant
This book has been executed very poorly, the premise was awesome---- bullshit ploy to get you to read the book. All glitter and mirrors no real substance. I had to force myself to get through it as I couldn't care enough about the characters and the ridiculous caricatures that kept popping up... Bratz doll? Really? The geeks and they wat they spend their time pathetically pining after BFF because ages really hot and nice to them? The mousy shy girl who gets a makeover? The insta love coupled with modern teen reader speak "if I was I vampire" it makes sense because vampire but this isn't a vampire book it's a alien pod plant time traveller book" wink wink... Urgh
And when are we going to be no longer bombarded by these unbelievable parental situations
A tree house? Really? Really? And no social services? I don't know about your country but in my adopted one these kids would be in foster care.
Oh their insta meld powers are creepy am automatically against anything that forces me into a connection with someone because DNA or fate or mystic plant powers fts seriously f**k it.
2.5 stars because despite my rant am in a good mood and also she wrote a rather unique twist on time travel that one merits one star

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first downloaded this book I wasn't sure what to think. I had only downloaded it, because I had just finished a truly horrendous book and needed to read something good. I was so glad I took the chance with this book and downloaded it. Absolutely amazing book! It was exactly the kind of book I like, mysterious and suspenseful! J.H. Walker did an amazing job writing this and I can't wait for the sequel!

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book--definitely worth the read. Great characters, and yes, it's about time travel--but such a fascinating, unique twist on it! Hope there's a sequel.

[Aria Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book about time travel with kick ass characters and a fascinating story. I can't wait to read more from J.H. Would love a sequel!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewrite Redemption is the kind of story that stays with you. J.H. Walker has created a complex story about love and self-discovery, told with realistically earnest and self-conscious teenage voices, and filled with moments of poignancy and beauty. It is sad, and joyful, and tense, and soothing. It is a story about the importance of family, whatever form that family may take. It is a story about when to regret your mistakes, and when to forgive them. And it is a story of first love, and the emotional highs and lows, the hopes and the fears, of that tumultuous experience.

And there's also time travel. And mysterious technology. And some things that might be magic. Or maybe not.

So, no, this isn't your typical highschool romance. And yet, it kind of is. Many scenes in this book have elements of the paranormal or fantastic. And yet, they all feel like the kind of things you go through when you are navigating love, and when you are trying to become a responsible adult, and make sense of your choices. A lot of it is overwhelming, and scary, and achingly beautiful. Like life.

The people and relationships made this a human story, and a memorable one for me. I was honored to witness the strength of the characters, whose stories made me cry almost from the moment I learned about them. I was moved by their integrity and perseverance in the face of painful experiences, and in the face of self-doubts and growing pains. I was delighted and awed by the loyalty and trust displayed in many of the relationships, and how the histories were not just back-story, they were the foundations of the current relationships and how members interacted with one another.

Yes, this story is also about time travel, but the time travel is mostly a placeholder for conveying ideas about regret and redemption. Ultimately, it invites the reader to see human lives and relationships as an infinite palette of possibilities. Would I recommend it to people who like time travel? That's always a tricky question, because many fans of time travel have specific ideas of what time travel can and can't be. I will tell you that this book makes assumptions about time travel that were not intuitive to me, and that the science was vague enough that you could probably poke holes in it if you were persistent. I will admit that I was vaguely bothered by some internal inconsistencies in how time travel was utilized by the characters. However, if you are reading a book about time travel then I think you are probably prepared to accept a few inconsistencies. And perhaps to be confused more than once. Most of the assumptions were laid out during the story in such a way that you usually, though not always, knew what to expect of certain actions.

Additionally, this story has paranormal elements. They inspire awe, and yet they also represent aspects of character's personalities and identities. They are part of the context of the character's experiences, and we witness their reactions: sometimes fear, sometimes acceptance, sometimes a surge of glorious integration. The paranormal elements enhance how characters relate to the world, and we see them explore and struggle with this throughout the book.

I was really overwhelmed by the feelings evoked in this story, and at the ethical questions that were raised. I was very engaged in the outcome, and if I were allowed one complaint about this book, it would be that I felt that the main characters were let off too easy at the end. The core themes to me were about taking responsibility for your actions, surviving adversity, and learning when to trust others. I felt these struggles were handled realistically and believably for most of the book, but then the ending countermanded much of this, and the lessons seemed to get lost in the shuffle. It was a disappointment, but the story remains meaningful to me nonetheless.

So if you are interested in stories about discovery, and coming of age, and the possibility of love; if you like your books to have rich characters and a deep emotional storyline; if you are drawn to elements of science fiction and paranormal and the possibilities they evoke, then I would highly recommend this wonderful first book by J.H. Walker.

[Penelope Bartotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to say the least with the raw talent that J.H. Walker brought to her story Rewrite Redemption. From the title alone you get a tiny sliver of an idea as to where the story could go, but that sliver is nothing compared to what is inside the cover.
I look for core parts of a story to stand out and make a point and paint a picture. Walker goes to the roots of story telling with her tale of mysterious time travel and the way it changes the lives of 5 teenagers and their families. Yes, that was a tiny spoiler, and I apologize for it.
At the heart of it all is a story that is grounded in a level of lore that I am not even sure the author intentionally knows she did. I hope she explores that conceptually in future books, and I hope that there are more in the series. This story is so solid, that it needs a good cast of characters to draw the reader past things that can sometimes turn people away. Enter science. This is a topic that can and does derail some stories, thankfully it is so well woven into the fabric of Walker's tale that the few times it seems out there, you can move past it. The characters are the centerpiece of this cosmic adventure, with crisp details that bring them to life. There is no blur between who is who, and why a person even has a place in the story. It all clicks, into a perfect harmonic tune.
All in all, I was thrilled with this book and am anticipating more from this rising star of an author.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy great characters that you can relate to and I loved everyone in this book. Lex is the best friend that anyone would be lucky to have and Ipod is the normality that grounds both AJ and Lex to reality. And despite the fact that it might be magical, the relationship between AJ and Constantine seem right out of the most romantic story and I was rooting for them from the beginning. This is a great read and I am looking forward to the sequel. Thank you J.H. Walker for a great book!

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, got to say I am stuck in this world, meaning the worst book hangover ever. I do not want to immerse myself in any other book, though I need to, but loved this book so much I just keep absorbing what I just read. Its longer than a lot of books I read, but I didn’t care, I loved is all, and just wanted to devour it all. I could easily read this again, now, but won’t, but know I will in the future. It’s that good!!

Also, it’s written so well, I mean, really, really well. I usually get a headache almost thinking of all the time travel stuff, but this is all explained and laid out for you so well, you just get it.

I loved these characters too. I was sucked into this world and fell in love with them all, I cared about them, and felt what they felt. I also really love the alternating points of view, it was consistently back and forth from the 2 main characters, A.J (Autumn) and Constantine, it was great being in both of their heads.

I found one part of the time traveling very interesting, intense, scary and funny too. Its when A.J. Accidently gets sucked back to the olden days, as she called it, yeah, cowboys and Indians, those days, and one part when she sprayed one of them with her modern pepper spray to ward off his offensive attack was hilarious. Lol.

See A.J. doesn’t know why she is like she is, she randomly gets pulled into the past, and has no control. She does not realize there are others like Constantine out there that are called Editors, who go into the past and rewrite small pieces on history to help the future.
Anyway she is a little different than they are, more powerful for starters, and she learns a lot about it when Constantine comes to her town. He helps her learn how to control it, and is also amazed at what she can do, like the healing others, that is special to her.

I found the part where Constantine first sees A.J. funny, he felt her energy and she feels his too but is not sure what it is. Here is a part of that, it’s from Constantine’s point of view:

The first girl was blonde, hot, and dressed to kill. I focused on the waves of energy radiating from her direction thinking this could be interesting. Then a smaller girl appeared from behind her and stopped short as if she’d hit a wall. Her book bag crashed to the floor. She clutched her chest and let out a gasp with her mouth in an O.
And the power practically lifted me out of my seat.
Every cell in my body electrified and stood at attention. It waved over me, sending synaptic brushfire through my nervous system. I was so startled; my own energy slipped a little—my bad—and probably slammed right into her.
She turned and tore out of the room.
Abruptly, the connection snapped like a rubber band. I slumped in my seat, gasping for air. Luckily, no one noticed, since everyone was focused on the fleeing girl. This all took place in the span of, say, five seconds. But it was one of those gonna-crash-my-car-slow-motion scenarios, where it seems like ten times as long. And to make things worse, I was almost certain I gave the kid a power-slam.
My bad, my frickin bad.
The blonde tossed her stuff on a desk and glanced at the teacher, who nodded. The blonde grabbed the fallen book bag and took off after the other girl.
I just sat there, stunned. I couldn’t believe it! It was the little chick.

Here is the scene that I mentioned earlier, where she is in the past, the old west days, and the Indian who is with the cowboys (he is a guide) is protecting A.J. So when he falls asleep, they decide to have a little “fun” with her, if you catch my drift, so here is that scene, and it had the Indian laughing too, lol.

Joe toppled towards me, losing his hold. The next second, he was inches from my face, hands on either side of me against the tree. His breath was hot and disgusting. Those beady eyes looked straight into mine. He smirked. And then he whispered in my ear, “We’re gonna have ourselves a little fun, Sweetheart.”
I don’t think so, I thought—not if I can help it.
I closed my eyes. I felt the tree behind me. Quickly, I sank into its vibration until I reached its core. I soaked up the power, pulling everything I could hold. I brought my legs in even tighter against my chest. Then, as hard as I could, I slammed my feet straight into Joe’s stomach.
I heard a loud grunt and then a thump.
I opened my eyes to see Joe twenty feet across the campsite, crash landing on the log by the Indian.
The Indian was up in a flash, knife in hand, looking stunned to see Joe on the ground. The shock made Edgar loosen his grip enough for me to reach my pepper spray. I whipped it out and squirted it behind my head. The hand on my face dropped, as Edgar howled, clutching his eyes. I screamed and spit out the filthy taste.
And then somehow, I was up the tree in two seconds flat, watching the scene from above.
Joe lay moaning in the dirt. The Indian just stood there looking up at me with his mouth open. Edgar was screaming bloody murder and rolling on the ground.
High in the tree, my heart pounded like a hummingbird on speed. I looked down and realized that the lowest limb had to be…ten, maybe fifteen feet from the ground. The cottonwood had drawn me up like a Slurpee straw. One moment I was on land and the next I…and how had I kicked Joe clear across the campsite? I’d hoped for a little extra strength from using the tree power, but that had been cartoon kickboxing. I couldn’t make sense of it.

Yes, this book is captivating for sure. Those scenes are just a very few of the awesomeness of this book. I do not want to say too much more. I want to keep this as spoiler free as I can. I really recommend you pick this book up. It made a huge impact on me, and I hope others get a chance to enjoy it as much as I did.

I give this 5 out of 5 huge mega sized stars. Its one of my favorite books now, and can’t wait for the sequel. (no cliffhanger, so that’s cool) I just love Constantine and need more of him!

I received this book from the author for my honest review.

I have an excerpt at my blog, of the first chapter, as well as this review.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from the author (via the Shut Up & Read / Read It & Reap group) in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

What if you had the ability to go back in time and change history? Would your life be better, or would your revision somehow make things even worse?

This is the choice that Constantine (an Editor) made, with devastating consequences to his family. Now, wracked with guilt and stripped of his ability to travel time from the Guild ("you violated the Prime Dictate" -- the rule which basically says you can't edit your own timeline), he needs to find some way to make amends for his foolish mistake.

Constantine's family relocates from Seattle to Boulder, in order to distance themselves from the events that paralyzed his younger brother, Devon, and left him angry, bitter, and abusive to both himself and the family that's desperately trying to help and heal him. On Constantine's first day at school, he senses that there is someone like him nearby, and realizes that this may be his chance at redemption. If only he can find that person and enlist their help.

A.J. comes with her own tragic family history, as well as a secret known only to a few. For some reason, she just disappears. Sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for much longer. Unbeknownst to her, she is a Shadow (someone born with the abilities that Editors have, but untrained and off the Guild's radar).

Her best friends, Lex and Ipod are truly her family. They have her back, and do their best to help one another make it through each day. They live together in an awesome treehouse built in the trees next to her father's house. (Her dad still lives at home, but checked out emotionally after her mother's tragic death. The kids take care of him, from a distance.) The treehouse always makes her feel safe -- there's just something about it.

Of course, being unaware and untrained means she can't control her abilities, which frightens her, and causes her to make herself as invisible as possible. The last thing she needs is to disappear in front of strangers. Or even worse, at school. This all changes the day the New Guy shows up in her Spanish class.

My thoughts about the book:

I LOVED this book. I really did. I started reading it and had to force myself to put it down, due to my own personal reality timeline. (Sleep. Work. Responsibility. Ugh.) Otherwise, I would have read it in one sitting, it was that good.

There was considerable character development, especially of the main four (A.J., Constantine, Lex, and Ipod). Throughout the book, there was an undeniable attraction between A.J. and Constantine, and some interesting time travel events, including minor events and characters that we meet early on that reap huge benefits later on. (Plus it gives a whole new meaning to the term "tree hugger"! And don't forget, "mighty oaks from little acorns grow".)

There were times where the pacing was a little slow, and others that happened very quickly. There were a few typos that the (other kind of) editors missed, but they really didn't detract from the total enjoyment of reading this book.

I'm a sucker for a happy ending, and was glad to see several storylines tied up quite nicely. I also like to see the bad guys get their come-uppance, and that happened several times to some characters that REALLY deserved it. (Heh heh.) In addition, doors were left open for a sequel. (I believe one is being written right now, as we speak. Yay! I can't wait!)

Just an afterthought:

It was a little weird reading a book set in Boulder, Colorado, considering the massive flooding they've been experiencing recently. My heart goes out to those good folks out there.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received a copy of this book but that did not influence the review**

LOVED!! I have so many feelings after just finishing this book, and they are all good. Such a fantastic concept and world that I was transported to. I was drawn in from chapter 1…then I got to chapter 2 and found it was from Constantine’s POV. WIN!

AJ, or Autumn, has randomly disappeared since she was a baby. The disappearing has never been predictable or explainable, and weighs heavily on her. Because of this AJ has 2 friends: Lex and Ipod. Other than them she keeps to herself, terrified that someone might see her disappear. She has lived all these years without answers until Constantine DeMille comes to town. While Constantine may have many of the answers for AJ, he also has his own set of problems. This is the story of AJ and Constantine and how their lives are never the same after they cross paths.

When a story has a good romance it catapults it straight up the ratings for me. This was no exception. Rewrite Redemption had a great romance…the way the chemistry was written was so beautiful. AJ and Constantine could actually feel and sense each other, and I swear I felt it too. The pure happiness that washed over them as well as the extremely strong pull they had to each other was so palpable. Even a slight touch was full of emotion. With the dual POVs the reader gets it from both sides, which is total win. Ms. Walker, it was so well done. Bravo!

I want to mention the best friends next….they were great and not annoying. Lex was confident, but smart. She was totally clued in, not like so many bffs you read about. She was not the babbling airhead that has no value in the story. She absolutely had a concrete role and was great. Ipod wasn’t as prominent, but his role was also worthy as well. The story wouldn’t have been the same without them.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the treehouse – I loved it. It sounded amazing and I could picture the entire thing. You will just have to read the book to find out!!

A subtle factor but crucial to making the book so good was the science. So many times a sci-fi novel glosses over the details and it becomes a little unbelievable. This was really logical and made the story so much better. A lot of times I just accept the bad science and enjoy the story but this time I didn’t have to settle.

The ending threw a lot of stuff at me at once. The heartache at the end was tough! I was biting my nails and I just wanted to push them into each others arms. However, it was not a cliff hanger and tidied up nicely. Almost too nicely. I don’t know if that part was as believable, but I think I just need to let all the info settle. With my head spinning though, there is a good set up for the next novel. I can’t wait to see where life as an Editor takes AJ (and Constantine together).

This was a fantastic read full of mystery, romance and coming into one’s own… and it’s unbelievable this is indie. Pick up a copy today, you won’t regret it!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a book starts out with the statement intriguing as, “I killed my mother,” you know it’s the sort of book you want to keep reading. I’ve read a handful of time travel books before. The romance-heavy sort with characters from different time periods who fall in love and... blah blah boring. Rewrite Redemption was something else entirely! It had a compelling story, fun characters, interesting mythology, and was an overall enjoyable book to read.

A.J. has a problem. Every once in a while, she gets sucked back in time. She has no warning. She has no control. She has no idea where she’ll go or how long she’ll be there or when she’ll get home. Aside from her two best friends, A.J. keeps to herself and follows her Rules of Invisibility in order to get by. Until someone comes along who just might have the answers she’s been looking for.

Constantine also has a problem. He’s a time traveler who messed up in a major way, but he’s been time-locked by the Guild and is left to deal with the consequences of his mistake. The biggest problem? It’s not only him, but also his family paying the price. It isn’t until he runs across a Shadow, an unknown time traveler, that he begins to hope he can fix his family. But timelines aren’t easy things to mess with and he’ll be lucky just to survive the next few days.

The story is told from first person narration that switches back and forth in alternating chapters. It was easy to tell if A.J. or Constantine was narrating because they both had unique voices that were established early on. I was enamored with A.J. from the start. She’s spunky and smart and definitely a survivor. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends, Lex and Ipod, and takes care of her dad, Sam. I found Constantine a bit egotistical at first. He’s sweet and funny, and though he didn’t necessarily act in the best interests of everyone around him early on, his character developed and outgrew his more irresponsible tendencies and I was a big Constantine fan by the end.

Walker’s take on time travel was definitely unique. In her world, time travelers depend on nature, especially trees, for their powers and use trees to travel through time. Each time traveler is bonded to a tree and draws energy from it. I thought it was a fascinating and creative twist on time travel mythology. Walker also brought in actual things from theoretical physics to explain certain elements time traveling, which I thought was cool. It was definitely an element of the story that Walker put a lot of thought into, and it showed.

The whole story was fantastic. A.J. and Constantine had a great chemistry, as did A.J. and her friends, especially Lex. Who wouldn’t want a friend as awesome as Lex? You’ll know what I’m talking about if you do what you should and read this book! I absolutely adored it. The book would have worked fine as a standalone, but I was excited to learn that Walker has plans to put a sequel out next year. I can’t wait to see where Walker takes the story and the characters next!

I received a copy of this book, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review.

Read more of my reviews at www.wrenreads.com!

[Lori Palle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If a tree falls in the forest and there’s nobody to hear, does it make a sound? If a memory happens on a different timeline and you don’t remember, did it really happen?”–Constantine

Ever want to just disappear? Well, Autumn would really prefer she didn’t. She has rules to live by–rules so that no one notices her or the fact that she disappears and jumps back in time randomly. Then Constantine shows up in school, as much as surprised as she is to find another person in their town that can jump back in time. The only difference is that Constantine knows why it’s happening and that there are strict rules to being an Editor. And, he broke the most important one…

“The smallest event can set off mind-boggling chain reactions.”–a Regent

I loved this book, and this is easily going on my virtual favorites shelf. What’s weird is that I usually don’t like time traveling books, because they’re usually so filled with time paradoxes that authors will gloss over and hand-wave away. I love the fact that the author takes the time to think of the science behind it and explain away so many of the time paradoxes, which makes this book such an entertaining read. There were still some holes and time paradoxes, but they’re forgivable given the effort the author put forth to deal with the important ones.

The storytelling is fantastic in this book. We get the first person point-of-views for both Autumn and Constantine in mostly alternating chapters. What I love about this style is that you have Autumn, who has no clue about time travel and Constantine who is a member of the Guild of Editors and who was trained to time travel at a young age. With Autumn, you get that lost sense of feeling with not knowing what’s going on, and then those unanswered questions are almost immediately answered when we read Constantine’s view and compare what he knows to what’s happening to Autumn. I loved that we could infer what was happening with Autumn without being directly told and that those questions weren’t left dangling for most of the book. It made staying in the story very easy!

I loved Autumn and Constantine, especially their connection with each other. Their attraction to each other was one of the sweetest and heart-warming romances and all done without even a kiss! I was really impressed that the author was able to put in so much emotion in their connection without having to resort to kissing/groping/sex scenes. I wouldn’t worry about younger teens reading this. Character-wise, I loved reading them mature–Autumn getting over her fears and discovering what she could do and Constantine getting over his selfishness and thinking of others. Autumn’s friends are such an awesome support system while the parental units were less stellar and provided great drama and understandable angst.

I was hooked with the first couple of sentences until the very end—with an ending that was so awesome. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult or science fiction. This is a 5 out of 5 for me!

(Originally posted on my blog; I received a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)

[Mallory Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My latest fetish with reading has been the multiple points of view storytelling concept. I love seeing the storyline from different perspectives, especially when they're such different characters. Another thing that helps to earn brownie points in my court is when the main characters grown up throughout the story, which makes them stronger and the story just a bit more epic. Walker did an outstanding job creating her cast of characters and their interactions and relationships that were so heart felt and real. Some moments I did feel like I was witnessing them myself, not reading the pages of a book. Constantine was the cause of quite a few eye rolls in the beginning of Rewrite Redemption but boy...he earned redemption from me throughout the book. Ipod and Lex are A.J's best (and only) friends and do a great job of supporting her throughout her harrowing journey. It was nice to see backup friendships have that much care and consideration put into them and everyone blended into the story perfectly.

A.J. or Autumn has dealt with some issues with disappearing since she was a baby. Now she's left almost an adult with two friends, major issues, some secrets and this new kid that may or may not be able to help her. And you may or may not want to slap him in the beginning for his sometimes immaturish ways (but then you remember he's a boy and you remember I said this book earns him redemption<--not a spoiler)! A.J. was a fierce leading character and did girls proud all over the world! I loved her story and was sucked in from the beginning until the very end. The emotions that Walker dragged out of A.J throughout her journey and try at romance, were wrenched from my heart as well. I'm telling you, the chemistry in this book is stunning. The actions (from small gestures to big ones) bring each and every character to life.

The plot line will keep you intrigued until the last page. I swear I read the last half of the book with my heart stuck in my throat, breathing carefully to ensure I didn't miss one word. There's not enough science thrown in that it feels like your reading a lesson or that you need a reference guide in the back of the book so you can understand. Walker does an excellent job of blending her concepts into the story, and also tying in some old school stories of lore (A FAVORITE for me<--wrote a paper in college *woot woot*), which lead me to hope and pray there will be more books to this series. Pick it up, give it a shot, read Rewrite Redemption! It's amazing.

4.5 Stars

[Melissa Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!!!

I loved the relationships. Ipod and Lex were amazing characters. It was awesome how they supported A.J. It reminded me a lot of Sally and Jen in the Grey Wolves series by Quinn A. Loftis.

I just have to say that I really enjoy books that alternate point of views between the love interest and the heroine. There's just something about not getting to only hear what she thinks of him but of what he thinks of her. It's also why I like reading books that re-tell the story completely through the guys point of view.

At first I was seriously hating on Constantine. I thought he was shallow and immature. Man did he grow throughout the book. He became an amazing guy.

One more thing that really makes a book one of my favs is a happy ending. If a book doesn't have a happy ending I usually want to throw my Nook across the room. This one was perfect. It was perfect but it didn't seem predictable or that it was a stretch for things to turn out the way they did.

I finished this book with a huge grin on my face. I stayed up all night to finish it, unable to put it down to even use the bathroom.

If I could give this book a million stars I certainly would. Needless to say I would definitely re-read this, and that is something that I can only say about a handful of books.

[Super Fan Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of time travel books and this was totally unique. I love that the author used nature as her energy source rather than space or chemicals or machines. Some of the points that the other reviewers made are fair but it's still a well written, clever, interesting book that I'd happily suggest to my teenage friends and adult friends alike.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one. It was a pretty big book but I flew through it. I never wanted to put it down. It was such a different twist on time travel and I never knew what was going to happen next. Now I just have to cross my fingers for a sequel and fast.

[SoBeA · Rating 2 out of 5]

So okay... Self pub' indie YA title with loads of potential but ultimately a disappointment of a read.
It's not the most original idea, time jumping, but it hasn't been overdone, at least not yet, so the premise of Rewrite Redemption was pretty freaking cool...And Walker’s take on it is pretty interesting...

Now, it started pretty good... Right up til I realized that I was at about the halfway mark of this somewhat long book, and the Hero( H) and the heroine (h) hadn't even met yet! There were a few close calls, but for one contrived reason or another they just didn't get a face to face till a good ways into the story...

Which leads me to 2 things:
1- the h? She's a wuss. Granted she's used to staying off the radar, but that doesn't have to mean she's a mouse! She's got this amazing ability that's had a freakin ginormous impact on her life, you'd think she'd do nearly anything or meet anyone who could possibly help her figure things out and that she'd do so, as soon as friggin possible! But no... This chick wusses out, puts it off, and lets her BFF ( more on her later) do the work for her.

& 2) it also makes it hard to believe the H is even all that into the h. I mean, come on, when you're reading a romance, no matter who the intended audience is, don't you expect the H to go after the h, with everything he's got( unless he has a reasonable/ believable reason not to)? and don't you expect him to get to it, right quick? Or at the very least, meet the girl! Even if its just a hello, or passing each other in the hallway, something!

They're aware of each other fairly early on in the story ( they can feel each others energy) so that it takes ages and ages for them to have a freaking convo is a big ass negativo in my book.

Another bone of contention, and I really should have led with this one, is that while we get both mc's first person perspectives on alternating chapters, there's no clear delineation between said pov's... At least not if you're like me and ignore those little designs above the chapter headings -it took me a couple chaps and quite a few moments of confusion to figure it out: there's an image of a key to denote a chapter from the heroines point of view, and the hands on a analog clock for the hero.

My biggest issue (though not my last one, i've got a couple more after this one) was a secondary character...remember, I told you there'd be more on the bff? Well, here's she is! And she rubbed me the wrong freaking way. Altogether, I think the hero spends more time with her, than the heroine...she was like an unromantic and unintentional other woman. The H acknowledges how hot she is ( and i’m quoting him here, she was a stone, cold fox), but they don't flirt...oh no, what they do is talk, and get to know each other a lot, share quite a bit of personal info about themselves. Seems strange behavior between two characters who have no interest in each other, and who don't actually know each other. Maybe it's just me, but it felt like the bff stole some of the heroine's thunder...ESP if they're connected, the H and h, or are “melding”, I think was the word used...it just felt like the BFF stole some of that ‘getting to know you’ part of the relationship, and it's hard to take. To be fair, I think the convo's between the H and the bff were more about info dumping, then building a relationship, but it still irked me...to some degree, it even felt like the BFF wasn't happy as a secondary character ( she is in no way a minor character, so I can't call her that) so she was vying for the heroines role instead. Seriously, seriously pissed me off. esp because the H and the bff are doing their getting to know you’s as the h is getting almost raped. Yeah, she saves herself, and learned to trust herself, and rely on her self, but all the while, they, (her friend and potential love interest) are sharing their histories with each other...during what I think was their second meeting....can you say grrr? Oh and it didn't help, that the BFF treats the h as someone she has to mommy. She stands up for her, she takes care of her, she gets to know potential boyfriends for her, instead of letting her do anything herself!

Oh and the world building...it's decent, but there's so much we never get to know! ESP, about the secret organization, the Hero, is a part of. Having him go on admission, or at least describe one, would go along way into showing their purpose, rather than just telling us about it. And there are aliens! Not as a part of the main story, but they exist! And we get next to nothing about them, seriously!? Oh and what the heroine is, a shadow? We get told what that is, but I'd have liked more, info, and maybe even a history lesson. Would've been nice, and would’ve given us a better idea of, well everything.

We do see the heroine go back in time, but she doesn't have a mission, her only goal is to go home...the whole scene...was seemingly endless, and only served to irritate me, (you’d have ot read the spoiler i mention above, to figure out why).

oh and another thing that bothered me...there's virtually no secrecy in this book. I mean, for all intents and purposes, the Hero works for a super secret organization, (IIRC, it's called, the Guild) Even if he's pissed off at said agency, some hesitancy to share all their secrets would have been nice! It's one thing with the h, who is like them and may have a place within said organization, but her friends...(yes I'm harping on the female bff, but there's a guy too) ...The hero barely knows them! he's had like two conversations with them, and suddenly they warrant full disclosure? seriously?

Oh and there’s no cursing, so sex, it's totally 100% squeaky clean...however, One of my pet peeves pops up, via the thunder stealing, attention whore of a bff, Shut the Front Door! Man, i hate that phrase, It's pisses me off, royally. To be fair, i wasn't a fan of hers, anyway, so it's just one more thing to hate her for...

oh and this last one...okay it didn't hit me right away...but there is no bad guy! no evil villain's to overthrow, no corrupt government to wage war against, no mad scientist, no terrorist plots, no evil demons, shifters, witches, vamps or what have you...The H wants to fix a mistake he made, and the h, she doesn't actually have a purpose beyond learning about who and what she is...it goes like that til like the last...4th of the book, where she suddenly gains a purpose! she has to help the H, fix his mistakes, then save her friend...which happens super quickly!...honestly, this didn't bother me as much, mostly because it didn't occur to me, till i started writing this review...in case you can't tell, i was a little blinded by irritation with the semi starring role the bff got.

oh, wait another one! back to the relationship b/w the H and h...the whole thing that keeps them apart? Miscommunication. The heroes assumes (and you know what they say about ppl who assume things ) about the h, but never bothers to ask anyone about it...not even the bff he spends way too much time with!

okay...*deep breath*

okay. I’m done ranting. Really these are just my issues with it. Walker is a good writer, but I feel like a beta reader (if there isn’t one already) would be a big help. And this has gotten a few 5 star reviews, so again, it could all just be me. 2 stars.

[Cherese A. Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Jones (AJ) time travels, but she doesn't know how or why or when it will happen. She has lost her mother physically and her father emotionally because of it. The only reason she has made it to age sixteen still sane is because of her best friends Alexandra (Lex) and Ivan (Ipod) who have both taken up residence with AJ in the elaborately built treehouse in her backyard. Then Constantine moves to town and he may have the answers she needs. He might even be a time traveller like her.

Rewrite Redemption has an intriguing premise of time travel and romance. The world building is thoughtful and interesting. The setting of Boulder, CO is intertwined and expressed well in the story. The author creatively uses 1) our interconnectedness with nature and 2) technological possibilities acknowledging and using that connection. The dialog is believable for teens although some phrases were questionable for characters of their age such as "stone cold fox." The story is in first person and works well. However, it irritated me a little when they used text speak like ROFL while speaking. But I guess there are people that go around using those phrases in regular speech and not just for texting and writing.

The foreshadowing is a bit obvious in places but still worth the journey because of last minute decisions that change the outcome. There is a lot left unsaid and not elaborated upon early on especially regarding AJ and Constantine's families. My first instinct upon facing problems I can't solve is to seek my family's help. Here, the plot conveniently cuts off any help for any of the teens by creating the most depressing backstories I have ever read. AJ thinks, and some teens feel, like there's no hope and that they're not supposed to be happy. That was a sad but true statement for many people, not just teens. But the characters don't really relay these scars. Even AJ, who thinks her mother's death is her fault is incredibly well adjusted. Her ultimate goal is just not to become a lab rat because of her "strangeness." Her thinking doesn't seem to go beyond that. Some of the story seemed far fetched but I put myself in suspension of belief mode and was able to really enjoy the story.

AJ and Constantine are the main characters and the chapters alternate between their accounts of events. Thankfully we only get a brief recap in the alternate chapter. I thought the author used the appropriate character to explain the extended version of events. AJ has a likeable voice and although she could beat up on herself sometimes, she is not depressing about it. She is more matter of fact. "That's the way it is. It sucks, but that's just how it is" attitude. She does pat herself on the back when needed and she is far from helpless. AJ cares about her friends and they care for her. I was impressed with the level of loyalty in AJ, Lex and Ipod's friendship. It is not superficial and it is deeper than family ties at times. It was nice to see real friendship. Lex's personality may have been over the top and really fictionalized, but it had some depth. But having that level of maturity and self assurance seemingly without evident flaws was a little unbelievable. Although I totally like her character! She is a "kick butt and take names" kind of girl. Ipod is a one-dimensional plot device as is AJ's father even though they are important to the plot.

Constantine is a really together young man when it comes to his Editor (time traveller) skills even in the mist of his guilt at causing his family's decline into despair. He knows how to use his resources and restore himself to balance. However, he's naive and kind of runs hot and cold to both extremes about love and relationships with AJ and his family. But he works as a pretty good love interest and hero, being both entertaining and alternately intense when needed.

Things that bothered me:

1) The total lack of parental involvement on any level. Parents are either evil or completely weak. I understand that as a YA book, the young character needs to be the hero and do the rescuing, but their independence goes on for a little too long. Fortunately, the ending finally does introduce positive parental involvement.

2) Another thing is that the book is long and takes a long time to get to other information that would be nice to have early on. Like where does AJ go when she's sucked out of the present? That is my first question. I was halfway through the book before I discovered what usually happens when she jumps through time.

3) Another thing is that as amazing as their Editor skills and abilities are, Constantine walked around for the better part of the book sounding like a functioning addict which is unsettling. There is also a strong sexual undertone pertaining to AJ and Constantine's "melding" connection which made me a little uncomfortable. I'm not saying that there aren't YA books with sex in them out there, it was just questionable if their feelings are really of love or just lust. It kind of takes away from the romance.

Things I liked:

1) I enjoyed AJ's extended time travel and the mini adventure there. It is a pleasantly unexpected turn in the story. I was waiting for something like it because it is after all a time traveling story.

2) Constantine's inner critic makes for some good humor.

3) I liked the descriptions of Colorado and the different settings. It really gives each place a distinctive vibe.

4) The storyline is pretty cool and veers away from typical paranormal romances.
Finally, I did get a bit frustrated and confused there at the end with 1) some things being solved without the heroine. I look forward to seeing the hero solve their own problem; and 2) not knowing exactly what happened on the timeline. But like another reviewer said, I did get the gist of it.
Overall a good read, entertaining, great use of setting and world building. This book is exploring some good ideas with time travel. Great cover.

3.8/5

Read more reviews from Cherese Vines at www.cheresevinescharmingwords.wordpre...

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I give up with this at 3% - god.
I tried to carry on with this but its really me forcing it and that isn't fair to me.

Wanted to like this and I wanted to enjoy it especially as I've paid for it but this is pants. Some books are really YA and some books arn't so bad this was very YA and I wasn't enjoying it.

[BookHookup · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received a copy of this book but that did not influence the review**

LOVED!! I have so many feelings after just finishing this book, and they are all good. Such a fantastic concept and world that I was transported to. I was drawn in from chapter 1…then I got to chapter 2 and found it was from Constantine’s POV. WIN!

AJ, or Autumn, has randomly disappeared since she was a baby. The disappearing has never been predictable or explainable, and weighs heavily on her. Because of this AJ has 2 friends: Lex and Ipod. Other than them she keeps to herself, terrified that someone might see her disappear. She has lived all these years without answers until Constantine DeMille comes to town. While Constantine may have many of the answers for AJ, he also has his own set of problems. This is the story of AJ and Constantine and how their lives are never the same after they cross paths.

When a story has a good romance it catapults it straight up the ratings for me. This was no exception. Rewrite Redemption had a great romance…the way the chemistry was written was so beautiful. AJ and Constantine could actually feel and sense each other, and I swear I felt it too. The pure happiness that washed over them as well as the extremely strong pull they had to each other was so palpable. Even a slight touch was full of emotion. With the dual POVs the reader gets it from both sides, which is total win. Ms. Walker, it was so well done. Bravo!

I want to mention the best friends next….they were great and not annoying. Lex was confident, but smart. She was totally clued in, not like so many bffs you read about. She was not the babbling airhead that has no value in the story. She absolutely had a concrete role and was great. Ipod wasn’t as prominent, but his role was also worthy as well. The story wouldn’t have been the same without them.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the treehouse – I loved it. It sounded amazing and I could picture the entire thing. You will just have to read the book to find out!!

A subtle factor but crucial to making the book so good was the science. So many times a sci-fi novel glosses over the details and it becomes a little unbelievable. This was really logical and made the story so much better. A lot of times I just accept the bad science and enjoy the story but this time I didn’t have to settle.

The ending threw a lot of stuff at me at once. The heartache at the end was tough! I was biting my nails and I just wanted to push them into each others arms. However, it was not a cliff hanger and tidied up nicely. Almost too nicely. I don’t know if that part was as believable, but I think I just need to let all the info settle. With my head spinning though, there is a good set up for the next novel. I can’t wait to see where life as an Editor takes AJ (and Constantine together).

This was a fantastic read full of mystery, romance and coming into one’s own… and it’s unbelievable this is indie. Pick up a copy today, you won’t regret it!

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confession time—I haven’t finished reading this book. It’s not because I’ve been bored or found it “meh” or anything like that. Sad to say, I expected to finish it yesterday and then I came down with a major backache, the kind that just won’t let you get comfortable and, well, if I’m not comfortable, I just can’t get into my reading. I’m about three fourths of the way through so let me tell you what I’m thinking and feeling so far.

First, I’ve never been a real fan of time travel but Rewrite Redemption is proving to be an exception. The alien aspect is part of the attraction for me but, even more, it’s the tree connection (and that’s a bit of a pun). Trees have always had a sort of mystical aura about them; if you ever read stories involving faeries or druids or other woodland denizens, you know what I mean, and I think it’s brilliant of Ms. Walker to combine that element with a more extraterrestrial flavor. Besides, who doesn’t understand loving trees and enjoying the sense of protection and comfort they offer?

Then, there are the characters. I love that AJ, Lex and Ipod, all damaged in one way or another, have found a way to not just survive but live quite happily by finding their own solution to their family issues. These kids are a pleasure to be around and all three pluck at my heartstrings, to make use of an old cliche, each in his or her own way. Lex, in particular, is a lot of fun with her attitude of “I’m terrific and I know it”. Constantine, on the other hand, suffers from knowing too much in an odd sort of way and carries enormous guilt for his own heedless use of his “talent”, rightfully so. When he moves to town, the lives of all four teens are changed forever.

The one thing I don’t especially care for is the romance which borders on insta-love. It’s rare to find a Young Adult story these days that allows the characters to just be friends but it sure is refreshing and I wish more authors would realize that teens are about more than hormones.

Finally, I’m really appreciating the author’s writing style and construction. The narration is comfortable and the dialogue is natural, sounding the way you would expect teens to talk and think. I also am grateful for the care the author has taken with editing and making the book as readable as she could. I must say I’m sorry Ms. Walker has chosen to publish only on the Kindle platform thereby losing potential readers who choose to purchase ebooks from other retailers. It’s simply not good enough to say the reader can download the Kindle for PC app since many prefer not to do so. (Note: to my knowledge, this author has never said such a thing but many authors do.)

So, I’m off to finish this now and I fully expect to enjoy it all the way to the final page. Then I’ll be anxiously awaiting the sequel, hoping I’ll be able to purchase it for my Nook ;-)

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2013.
Update December 2013---finished, liked it all the way to the end.

[Kathy LaMee · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.H. Walker nailed it! Rewrite Redemption is an exceptionally well done and fresh YA novel and I simply loved it! There is so much I would like to comment on- it will be tough but I'll narrow it down to what I enjoyed most.

Constantine had it all, a great family, friends, his music and the ability to time travel- until he makes a selfish decision that costs him everything he loves. Relocated to Colorado, he heads into the first day of school miserable about the path his life has taken, and how he has ruined any chance at fixing all of the problems he's created. Enter A.J. who shares a similar time-travel ability, but hides from it, and from everyone else in school. Dressing in dark baggy sweats, she tries her best to remain anonymous and wakes up everyday with the hope that it will not include an 'episode' and draw attention to her strange ability. Their worlds both change drastically the moment they realize the other exists. Will A.J. get answers? Will Constantine find a way to have a second chance and right a wrong?

While many elements of this story- time-travel, nature-related abilities, young love, difficult home life, just to name a few- are very familiar; Walker does an exceptional job of constructing a story that has never been told. I love the premise of the power and ability that A.J. and Constantine share and the subtle differences; his being managed while hers is untamed and slightly dangerous. Walker builds a great cast of characters and really develops depth to their stories. There is a symbiotic `Three Mustketeer' quality to the relationship of the three best friends- A.J. with her tragic past and the struggle she and her father face on a daily basis, Ipod with his ruthless father, and Lex with a mother who could care less. I love that Walker gives face time to each of their stories- all very identifiable situations to readers. Finally, my favorite, the story line of Constantine. Every one of us has made a decision for purely selfish reasons, and Constantine is no exception. With his ability to rewrite time, he is very careless with choice and consequences, until it is too late. Constantine learns, as most of us do, that sometimes the choices we make have a profound and permanent outcomes.

Overall, I was very excited each time the story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Walker does a great job tying up all the `loose ends' we get with many time-travel stories. This was a fantastic YA read- no this was a fantastic read- period. I look forward to reading more from J.H. Walker!

A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review for Tracy Riva Books and Reviews - TracyRiva.com

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIVEAWAY FOR THIS NOVEL CURRENTLY ON MY BLOG! http://paperhotairballoon.blogspot.co... NOW OVER

Rewrite Redemption is such a fresh, well done, novel, which is original, but still has all the parts we love to read about! I must admit, I'm a little iffy over time travel books, as I feel there are too many bits which aren't explained, contradict each other or just don't work. Walker, however, has done it extremely well! I loved the explanations, the string theory, the memories, and the linkages; finally, it makes sense! I'm trying not to give away too much of the plot here (other than the book itself, har har), but it really is a spectacular read!

Alternating viewpoints between A.J and Constantine allowed us into their minds and thoughts... making their relationship that much more frustrating! I thought the characters themselves had sufficient depth, so that their actions were justified, but their back story didn't dominate too much. I sympathised with A.J as she struggled to remain a nobody, to keep off the radar, for something she had no control over. Constantine, by contrast, had known the origins of his abilities very early on, but one awful decision had ruined his life. It really made me think of my own actions and their long trails of 'what if's which surround them.

I found the secondary characters really great, as well. I'm glad J.H decided to keep them in this novel! Ipod and Lex, along with A.J, create such an eclectic mix, yet one which moulds together seamlessly. After everything they've been through, they have a bond like no other. One which each of them are willing to sacrifice anything for. They offer subplots that all intertwine to give the novel more depth.

And I loved their little venture into the past, with Hosa! Loved the connection between those two trips, and the Velcro, haha! Nice to see A.J kick butt too!

My, oh my, what I wouldn't give to have a tree house like they did! Gah, I can just imagine its splendour! As a passionate one for being around nature and surrounded by its brilliance, building a mega house has long since been my life-time goal ;)

All in all, I highly recommend this read! As a self published author, I think it's important we don't miss out on what Walker has to offer to the world of literature!!!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wished you could go back in time? Maybe see what life was like before you were born? Well, in J.H. Walker’s Rewrite Redemption, A.J. gets to do just that. However, this ability is not as glamorous as you might think. She has no control over it, and she’ll just randomly disappear and end up in the past, sometimes for a few hours and sometimes for a few days. It has happened all her life and she has no idea why; she’s also afraid of someone witnessing it, which could drastically and terribly change her life for good. Then along comes Constantine. She can sense that he may be like her. Little does she know that he time travels too. In fact, he rewrote his own timeline, which resulted in tragedy for his family. His time travel privileges have been revoked. He needs her help. She has no idea what she really is and how to control it. She needs his help. They need each other…for more than even they realize.

If I didn’t have responsibilities, such as raising a child and earning an income, I would have devoured this book in one sitting. It was absolutely incredible. I loved every second of it. The closer and closer I got to the end, the more and more I repeated to myself, “Please don’t end; please don’t end.” And it wasn’t even short. It was over 380 pages, but I was just so hooked that I never wanted the story to end. There are so many wonderful elements to this book. The plot had different science fiction, fantasy, and romance aspects to it, which made it unique and exciting. The characters were completely unforgettable. Not only do you have the lovely A.J. and Constantine, but you also have A.J.’s family and friends, my favorite being Lex, her overprotective, hilarious, well-intentioned best friend. There’s also the point of view it is written from. It alternates between A.J.’s and Constantine’s points of view. In my opinion, this can either make or break a book for me, but it definitely worked in this case. I really enjoyed seeing things from both of their perspectives. And the ending! All I can say is “wow!” So, I will leave you with this: Rewrite Redemption is a must-read, and I must get down on my knees and thank the very talented J.H. Walker for writing it. I am impatiently waiting for a sequel, which I will purchase immediately.

Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite

[Abby Vandiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading I found myself smiling, tingling, crying (well almost), and just thoroughly enjoying Rewrite Redemption.

I love time travel books. And I loved this book. A.J., Lex, Ipod and Constantine were delightful company to keep. Reading as the story unfolded sent me back to my childhood when books were really good, were well-written and allowed you to escape to another place and another time. And then they stayed with you long after you put them down. That is Rewrite Redemption. The writing here was exact, the characters complete and the plot exciting, fun and an unforgettable adventure ride.

Walker certainly is talented and she shines in Rewrite Redemption. I could smell the food she described, and it made my mouth water. I could see all the blood on Constantine's shirt and the look on Hosa face when they were hurt, and it made me cringe. I could feel Lex's tears and the immediate connection between A.J. and her Editor, and they made my emotions bubble over.

Walker writes beautifully.

With that said, some of the book was long and drawn out. I understand how hard it is to put your heart a soul into carefully choosing each word, sentence and paragraph of your story just to have it redlined for deletion by some editor, but that is what needs to be done here. The beginning of the story is drawn out, becoming almost tedious, taking more than half the book for the matter at hand to even be presented. Thoughts and circumstances were repeated too many times. Those pages, however, could be replaced at the end, writing about Charlie and Constantine's week together, or the excitement at the house for A.J. and Lex's final return home. Also, the implicit suggestion by Lex for A.J. to engage in sexual conduct. And even though time travel isn't real, I expect that every other aspect in the book should be (i.e., parental supervision).

But none of those things would stop me from reading the book again (yes, I said AGAIN)or, from anxiously awaiting the the next book by Ms. Walker. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone. I wish I could give it ten stars.