Sarit Yahalomi: Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton Tour

Aug 17, 2014

Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton Tour

Tortured Souls

The Orion Circle #1

By Amazon Bestselling Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Paranormal Romance

Amazon * Goodreads

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Excerpt #1

“I’m a member of an exclusive club at school, the Orion Circle. Perhaps you’ve heard of us?” he asks, cocking his head to the side.

My eyebrows shoot up at his admission, and I stumble a bit on a crack in the sidewalk. He grabs my elbow to steady me. Not trusting my voice to work, I nod in response. Of course I’ve heard of the secretive Orion Circle—everyone has. Speculation as to the nature of the club runs the gamut from academic to secret society.

The moment we enter the park, Kodiak prances in excitement, eager for the wild trails up ahead. This time of morning wildlife sightings are plentiful. Kodiak lunges at a squirrel crossing our path. I make a clicking noise with my tongue, and the dog reverts to his obedient behavior. Pavement gives way to a dirt trail, forcing me to slow my pace due to the uneven footing.

“I think you should come to our meeting this afternoon. I’ll find you later today and give you an invitation.”

His offer blindsides me, and I nod like an idiot, my head bobbing a few too many times. Somehow I manage to smile at him before returning my gaze to the trail. Wow, the Orion Circle and Logan in one day. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud until a rock brings me back to Earth. After stumbling a few steps, Logan’s hand on my arm is the only thing that keeps me from falling.

If I continue to run down this dirt trail, I’m afraid I might fall to my death. It seems I’m having a hard time seeing anything other than an image of Logan’s handsome face. I glance up at him, surprised by the concern etched across his face.

“Are you okay? You didn’t twist your ankle, did you?”

“No, I’m fine, really,” I reply as a hot flush creeps from my neck to my face. “But my mind is a million miles away, and I’m afraid I’ll break a leg on this trail if we keep going.”

“We’ll head back, then,” he says before turning to walk back to the park entrance.

“Thanks for understanding,” I say, relieved we are walking rather than running.

“I only got a glimpse of your vision,” he says in a soft voice. “It was bad. Real bad. Don’t worry, I’ll help you, I promise. I think you’ll feel a lot better after the Orion Circle meeting.”

His words fill me with warmth along with a feeling of contentment. Perhaps this vision isn’t so bad. I mean, it brought me closer to Logan, after all.

Excerpt #2

Closing my locker, I nod and smile at him, trying to hide my anxiety. Why did I agree to go to this club meeting? What if they sacrifice goats to some pagan god or something? Laughter wells up within at the absurd image of an animal sacrifice occurring on the third floor of the Sciences building. Besides, it couldn’t be a goat—it would have to be a cat or a fetal pig since that’s what the AP biology class is dissecting this year. I guess it could be a crawfish or an earthworm since the regular biology classes dissect those.

My laughter finally bubbles out when I picture figures in black robes sacrificing an earthworm to their pagan god. I feel Logan’s eyes on me. When I glance at him, he has a strange, indecipherable look on his face.

Excerpt #3

Horrifying broken pictures shatter the tranquility of my once pleasant dream. Though I scream in my mind to wake up, I know I won’t be able to. I’m captive in my own head while the gritty scenes play out in stark black and white, flickering like an old silent movie. I run from the phantom chasing me. When I slip in a dark gray puddle, my body collides with the ground, my hands slapping into the viscous liquid. Blood. The sharp, pungent odor assaults my nose, telling me this is no ordinary dream.

I stare into the sightless eyes of a teenage girl sprawled across the grass like a broken, discarded doll. Her legs bend beneath her at impossible angles, the bone poking through the shin of one leg. Blood seeps from her shattered skull, flowing to the grass in rivulets to pool around her lifeless body. As I try to crawl away from the broken girl, I sense the approach of a monster, the man responsible for this gruesome display. With a tiny whimper I surge to my feet. He’s on me in a flash, and I scream a wordless keening cry before my airway is forced closed. My sanity begins to shatter then everything goes mercifully black…

Somehow I manage to tear myself from the gut-wrenching dream. I bite my lip to keep from screaming. Blood pours into my mouth, and I gag on the metallic taste. As my heartbeat begins to return to a normal rhythm, I untangle my body from the sheets holding me captive on the floor of my room. Lurching to my feet, I try to comfort my mind, ease my quaking nerves. This is the fifth night in a row I’ve had this dream. It’s always the same, always in black and white, gritty, the images jerky.

I haven’t seen the attacker, the monster responsible for the grisly murder. The faceless phantom hides in the darkest recesses of my mind. He chases me for several minutes in the dream, but I never turn to face him. Deep down I know if I face this dream monster, something awful will happen.

Leaving the sheets on the floor, I move back to sit on my bed, staring into the room, but only seeing the dream. Vision, my mind insists—it was a vision not a dream.

Excerpt #4

As we walk hand in hand, I notice the sparse crowds are gone and we’re alone. We pass under another bridge, and Logan pulls me into the shadows. My back rests against the cold stone of the bridge, the damp chill seeping through my thin jacket. His arms surround me chasing away the iciness as I’m enveloped in his warmth. My arms wind around his back beneath his jacket. I press up against his chest and gaze up at him.

Even in the darkness I can see the smile light his face. He leans down to capture my lips with his. I gasp as his fingers entwine in my hair holding me captive against him. This kiss is fiery and passionate—quite different from his tender kiss earlier. My head reels from the riot of sensations coursing through my body.

With a guttural chuckle he nips at my lower lip, pulling it gently with his teeth. He kisses up my jawline, and I clutch at his back, desperately trying to keep my feet beneath me. When he reaches my ear he runs his tongue up the outer shell in a light caress before nibbling on my earlobe.

“That’s for the constant teasing at dinner, little nymph,” he purrs in my ear.

He pulls back to look down at me, his eyes darkened with passion. My head falls to his shoulder, my breath coming in shallow pants as I wait for my equilibrium to return. His arms tighten around me holding me against his body, his head resting on top of mine. When I finally feel like the world has stopped spinning, I pull away from him.

“Do nymphs exist?”

“I’m looking at one,” he says chuckling softly.

“You know what I mean,” I say, slapping at his chest.

“I have no idea.” He takes my hand and leads me over to the retaining wall. “I’ll boost you up. Ready?”

Lacing his fingers together, he holds his hands down for me to step on. When I do, he lifts me up the wall like I weigh nothing. I scramble onto the wall thankful for the hiking boots and jeans. He climbs up the wall with ease, displaying some impressive upper body strength. As he pulls me from the ground, I giggle a bit under my breath.

“What’s so funny?”

“What would you have done if I’d worn a miniskirt?” I ask, plastering an innocent look on my face.

“Had one hell of a view!” he answers, snickering as I chase him through the perilous tree-root-ridden grass.

When I jump at his back, he pulls me up giving me a piggyback ride. Throwing my head back, I let out a sound somewhere between a shriek and a laugh. I haven’t had this much fun in ages.

Excerpt #5

Everything hurts. My arms are wrenched behind my back, and I’m curled up in the fetal position on my side. When I try to move, to ease my screaming muscles, I realize my arms are tied together. Panic surges through me as I squirm against my bonds. Shivers race along my body from the frigid cold. A sharp pain bites into my cheek. As I shift my head, I realize a small rock is embedded in my cheek. My eyes open to inky darkness. Though I can hear shuffling and scraping, I can’t see anything. My heart races and I choke back a sob.

Where am I?

Light flares to life, burning my eyes and leaving me blind for several moments. When I can see again, I cringe at the ghastly vision. Several spirits surround me in vivid corporeal form. They appear as they did in death—bloody, mutilated, bright images of a horrible tragedy. I recognize the raven-haired girl. I’ve seen her broken body numerous times in my nightmares. She teeters on legs shattered beyond any hope of repair were she still alive.

Two spirits flank her, both boys around ten years old. Their forms are so solid, they appear alive, but the grievous injuries make it clear these boys couldn’t possibly be among the living. No one could survive such extensive injury. One boy’s head hangs to his shoulder, only attached by a band of sinew. His blond hair is soaked in blood where it brushes his chest. Bile rises in my throat. I wonder if I can vomit during a vision.

My eyes move to observe the other boy. It’s hard to tell anything about him because his face has been destroyed. The right side is concave and his nose is missing. Gulping down a breath of air, I hold it in, willing the overwhelming nausea away.

It’s just a vision. I repeat this over and over in my head until I can breathe again.

“Help us,” the girl rasps in a voice that sounds like she’s gargling gravel. “He won’t stop hurting us. You can save us. Please!”

“I’m so scared,” the boy with the dangling head whispers. “He’s getting worse. What will happen if he destroys our souls?”

“I-I don’t—” Before I can continue, an angry voice cuts me off.

“You left!” The accusation comes from the boy with the smashed face. His voice echoes all around me, loud, furious. “You were here and you left! You left us alone with the monster. How could you?”

“Where?” I ask in a hoarse whisper, flinching at the raw pain that sears through my throat. “Where are you?”

“Be quiet!” the girl orders in a whisper. “He’ll hear us.”

“Who will hear you?” I ask becoming desperate. “Where are you?”

“The manor,” the girl replies, her head darting around in frantic movements. “He’s coming!”

“What manor? Who’s coming?” I ask in an urgent whisper.

“Foxbl—” The girl disappears in a flash before she can finish.

“Kassandra Ramsey,” a deep male voice says from the shadows. “How nice to see you here. You can’t help them, you know. Soon you will belong to me and my reign of terror on the mortal plane will begin.”

“Who are you?” I shout to be heard above the sinister cackling. Someone has been watching too many melodramatic old movie villains. “What do you want?”

“You, my dear,” the voice says in my ear.

I jump, trying to scramble away from the phantom’s breath against my face. With my arms tied behind my back I don’t get far. A hoarse scream leaves my throat, but it seems to make my tormentor laugh harder. Pain sears through my ankle, such horrible pressure. I can feel the outline of fingers ending in what feels like sharp claws.

“Soon, Kassandra, soon.” The dark voice is hollow in my ears as I slip into blessed unconsciousness.

Tortured Souls Playlist:

Tortured Souls Tweets:

What's scarier than a serial killer? His ghost! Tortured Souls by @Cymberle #YA #paranormal http://bit.ly/TorturedSouls

Will Kacie lose her eternal soul to the Foxblood Demon! Tortured Souls by @Cymberle #YA #paranormal http://bit.ly/TorturedSouls

Get this new YA urban fantasy free with Kindle Unlimited! Tortured Souls by @Cymberle #YA #paranormal http://bit.ly/TorturedSouls

Got ghost problems? Call the Orion Circle! Tortured Souls by @Cymberle #YA #paranormal http://bit.ly/TorturedSouls

"Wonderfully spooky" "Unique" "Has everything I love" Tortured Souls by @Cymberle #YA http://bit.ly/TorturedSouls

Praise

“Tortured Souls was a wonderful YA read. It was light and enjoyable all the way through. From the romance, to the thrills, this book was fantastic. YA lovers, this is definitely a book you'll want to check out.” ~ Farrah at Imagine a World

“Tortured Souls by Kimber Wheaton........ omg!! Great book!!!!

This is one you don't want to miss out on.” ~ Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock

“The plot is wonderfully spooky with just the right amount of suspense and mystery to keep the pages turning.” ~ JML Graphics

“A fast-paced Supernatural. Gr8 for fans of Ghost Whisperer and Medium.” ~ Paula Phillips ~ Amazon Reviewer

“Right off the bat the characters and story line grabbed my attention. The story has a smooth flow and the author has the 2 main characters interact in a way that works great. I cannot say anything bad about this book at all. Once I started this book I could not put it down there was way too much action and suspense.” ~ Sheryl ~ Amazon Reviewer

“The Orion Circle is awesome. I enjoyed the variety of characters that are in this book and look forward to more installments of this series. I highly recommend Tortured Souls. This mysterious and paranormal adventure will entertain readers of all ages.” ~ Christy Tanner ~ Goodreads Reviewer

“I was sooo not disappointed! I mean...this has everything I love! Most of all, it was unique! I'm always on the lookout for unique books that breathe some fresh air in to the YA genre and this is one of them!” ~ Alisha Tarran ~ Reality’s A Bore

Favorite Quotes

Even with the ghosts and a creepy innkeeper, I think this is the best night of my life. ~Kacie

“You’re not alone anymore, Kacie. You can talk to me whenever you want, even two in the morning if needed.” ~Logan

“I am Lucas Yardley,” the man yells as he sprays the area with bullets. “I am the son of our God Lucifer—the new Anti-Christ! Your tiny bullets cannot harm me!” Those are the crazed man’s last words before a bullet pierces his forehead, forever silencing him.

“Can bagels really cancel out a ghostly homicidal maniac?” I ask, glancing up at him with a grin.

“You’re right,” Logan says with a groan. “Should’ve got doughnuts.”

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling
YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons.

No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads Author Page

Facebook * Pinterest

Hi Kimber, it is a great pleasure to host you today in my blog. I am so glade to share with you love to animals as hey are, I totally agree - it is really not necessary to live in a farm.

So now we can move to the writing & reading business:

Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?

That depends on the character, but yes I do. In Shadow Fire, Ashlyn is an ace archer. It had been years since I participated in archery, so I needed to do research into archery terms, bow styles, etc. I also went to an archery range to try out different bow styles before choosing one for Ashlyn.

In Tortured Souls, Kacie is a physical medium who can see and talk to ghosts. I love watching ghost documentaries on TV, and I happened across The Dead Files with Amy Allan. Watching her communicate with the dead helped me get an idea of what it might be like for Kacie.

What is your favorite book from childhood?

I have several but three really stand out from elementary school: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien, and Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe.

What is your favorite genre?

I love anything paranormal/urban fantasy—if it has romance, all the better.

Do you have strange writing habits?
I don’t know how strange it is, but my muse is in charge of my writing. If I try to schedule time to write during the day, it seems I’m almost always doomed to failure. My muse can strike at the most inconvenient times (I think she does it on purpose… is it possible to have a sadistic muse?). So, I write on her schedule which is usually early morning and late nights, sometimes during dinner, and sleep is a non-issue with her.

What is your favorite quote?

Lately things have been a bit tough, so I’ve been clinging to the phrase, “This too shall pass”.

What sacrifices have you had to make to be a writer?

Money, sleep, and sanity.

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

No contest. Never trying is infinitely worse than failing. There are things I wish I had the courage to do when I was younger, but the threat of failure kept me from bothering. One of the worst feelings in the world is the ‘woulda, coulda, shouldas’. They creep up on you when you least expect them and can be debilitating. My advice is to try. Sure failing feels terrible, but regret… regret is what really sticks with you.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

I’m a cover gal, have been since I was a kid. So for me the answer is a big YES. The cover is the first thing a buyer sees. Unless it calls to a reader in some way, they’ll probably move onto another that does. It’s really a one-two hit—cover first, then blurb. If either is lacking, then there will be problems.

What do you think of “trailers” for books?

I’m not a huge fan. I’ve seen some great ones, but most I see are mediocre. If an author wants to make a trailer, they need to consider keeping it short. I think I have a decent attention span, but many trailers lose me after about 45 seconds. They also need to be more than just images of the book and blurb. The last thing you want to do is bore a potential buyer with your trailer.

How did you come up with the title? Names?

The title Tortured Souls came to me almost immediately, right along with the plot idea. Usually it’s not so easy. Titles can be hard. I’m rather fond of two word titles. For Shadow Fire I put together two lists of words until I found two that exemplified the novel.

Character names come from all over the place. Kacie was named Amber for half of Tortured Souls, but I never felt like that name fit the character. One day the name Kacie popped into my head, and I knew that was the right name. I’ve been known to use baby name websites and suggestions from friends.

Sometimes, like with Ashlyn from Shadow Fire, the name was there from the start. Other times I use a stand-in name so I can write, with the intention to change it later. I have a complete first draft for a work in progress that is still missing a name for a main character. I just haven’t been able to pin down his name yet.

What was the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I love revising. That may not sound surprising since some people do like the revision process. But I was the first draft queen in high school and college. I don’t think I ever revised anything… ever. I was a Philosophy major in college which required an amazing amount of essays. Every essay I turned in was a first draft. I thought revision was a waste of time.

Now I find revising to be the best part of writing. My first drafts can be pretty bare bones—lots of dialogue, no descriptions. It’s so rewarding to take this and turn it into something more. If I could go back in time and tell college Kimber, she wouldn’t believe it.

If you were a damsel-in-distress, what fictional character would be your Prince Charming?

I’m in a Wolverine mood today… though he isn’t exactly Prince Charming. Since Zane from Shadow Fire basically epitomizes what I look for in a Prince Charming, I’ll go with him. He’s much more charming than Wolverine.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

1 Signed Print Copy - US Only

5 sets of signed bookmarks - US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway