Giveaway – Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton (@Cymberle)

 

Welcome to my stop on the Twisted Sisters blog tour!
Here’s a link to the host list if you’d like to follow the tour Click Me!
Twisted Sisters
The Orion Circle, Book 2
 
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
YA Urban Fantasy/Mystery
Sea Dragon Press
October 27, 2015
 
 
It’s a
child’s toy—what could go wrong?
 
While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.
 
But this isn’t any ordinary haunting.  These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.
Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?

My First Ghost Hunt

by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

The paranormal has fascinated me for most of my life. In fact I can’t remember when it started or if there was a trigger. What I do remember vividly was my first foray into paranormal investigations. That sounds so much better than trespassing, doesn’t it?

It was a hot and muggy Texas evening. I was visiting my grandmother—she was so lenient, it was scary… but that’s an entirely different story. I loved visiting her because every year was an adventure, though the visit when I was twelve years old might have been a bit more exciting than I liked. We were playing in my friend Becky’s backyard, slow and lethargic due to the heat. My first major crush, Mike, was poking a dead snake with a stick—fun stuff.

It started as a suggestion, turned into a dare, and exploded from there. Visit the haunted house at the edge of the neighborhood. I was game. It beat poking a snake, that’s for sure. With the heat as bad as it was and the mosquitos appearing in masses, inside sounded better than outside. Besides, though my father believed otherwise, I was sure that ghosts were nothing but fantasy.

We made the three block trek to the broken-down, abandoned home at the end of a cul de sac. It was a Victorian, built at the turn of the century (yeah, I didn’t know that at the time, but I do remember thinking the house was really pretty, even as decimated as it looked). The porch was askew, rotten boards poking up all over the place. Windows were broken or boarded over. Oddly enough, the front door was solid and locked. After Mike almost fell through the rotting porch, we decided to check out the back.

After only a couple seconds wading through the knee-high grass, I decided I was better off with any ghost lurking in the house than the snakes, spiders, and scorpions hiding in the grass. But at that age I refused to show any weakness, especially in front of two boys. So I trooped on, praying with every step that there wasn’t anything deadly lying in wait.

For better or worse, the dilapidated back door was hanging off its hinges. The moment of truth had arrived: go inside an abandoned house that was probably the lair of every criminal in the area or look foolish in front of a boy—obviously a no-brainer. Inside we went.

The door creaked and groaned when Greg pushed it open, the perfect sound to start our haunted house adventure. We entered a kitchen that was nothing but a skeleton. Even the cabinet doors had been stolen. A strange smell filled the air, musty but something more. At the time I didn’t recognize it, but now it’s a smell I associate with death. As we passed into the dining room, Mike and Greg had to turn on their flashlights due to the setting sun coupled with the boarded-up windows. It’s amazing how much a little darkness can add to the freak factor.

Scared out of my mind, I grabbed onto Mike’s arm, drawn to the light and his potential ability to protect me from the things that go bump in the night. Arm in arm we crept around the downstairs, our footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor. It couldn’t have been creepier if someone staged it: dirty white sheets over furniture, a dusty old bookcase with rotting books, and cobwebs everywhere. As we passed the bookshelf, something grabbed my hair. I whipped around, ready to yell at Greg for trying to scare me, but he and Becky were across the room examining an armoire. When I turned back toward Mike, he was busy pulling cobwebs from my hair. With a soft whimper, I pawed at my hair, searching for the millions of spiders I just knew were there. Did I forget to mention that I used to hate spiders?

Mike wrapped both arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. My heart melted at the sweet gesture until I realized he was trying to silence me. Steady footsteps sounded from upstairs. Thud, thud, creak, thud. We stood in silence at the bottom of the stairs, gazing into the inky darkness of the second floor landing. Who or what was upstairs? Mike and Greg both extinguished the flashlights, leaving us in shadows. My eyes strained as I continued to stare upstairs, listening for more noises in the sudden silence. Click, click, click. Thud.

We stood frozen, too frightened to move. A series of loud thuds broke whatever trance was holding us hostage. To my chagrin, Mike shoved me away in his fervor to flee the house. I watched his back disappear into the kitchen before grabbing Becky’s hand and dragging her toward the door. We burst out into the twilight, my eyes darting around looking for Mike and Greg. Those louses were gone. They seriously left us behind to be eaten, killed, or whatever by the menace lurking in the house.

Four days later there was a report on the news about a child molester found hiding in that same house. It wasn’t a ghost after all, but something much worse: a real-life monster. I consider myself lucky to have escaped, but the experience did not leave me unscathed. I developed a keen fear of real-life monsters, one that plagues me even today. It also sent me on a quest to find a chivalrous guy, one who would fight at my side, rather than leave me behind while he fled. I’m happy to say that those guys do exist, so if you haven’t found yours yet, keep looking.

But most of all, this experience cultivated an interest in paranormal hunting that has grown with me. While it’s true that I’ve never experienced anything that I can definitively label as paranormal, I refuse to give up. Life is full of mysteries, and one of the joys in my life is pursuing them.

Excerpt

I sense movement, and in the next moment Tracy throws herself at the barrier, a screaming, howling banshee. She fights against the magic barring her. Static electricity sparks through the room, zooming around, visible in the darkness. I push Kacie behind me as the manic ghost continues her relentless assault on the barrier. A deafening boom reverberates through the room, followed by a wave of energy. I push Kacie down, falling on top of her to shield her from the ghost’s wrath. Pain lances up my back like thousands of cat claws, making me cry out both in shock and pain. I glance back—Samson and
Delilah hiss their displeasure at Tracy, their claws digging into my back.

The claws retract when I yell at them, and all the other pain surfaces. Ignoring the throbbing in my ribs, I roll to my side to free Kacie, sending the cats leaping away. Tracy lets out one last anguished wail before slumping and falling to the floor. My familiars circle her prone body, mouths open, scenting the air. The heaviness in the air lessens, but I continue to take in shallow breaths to keep from aggravating the pain. I watch Tracy, searching for… well not signs of life, but existence? Her form flickers like an old movie, and I wonder if she’ll just wink out of existence.

“Is she…” Blake trails off, pushing himself up on his elbows. “That was quite a blast. You both okay?”

“Yeah,” Kacie says, rubbing her head.
“Where’s Mr. Kincaid?”

“Out here,” Mr. Kincaid says from the hall. “I got out just before the explosion.”

“Logan…” Kacie pulls on my arm while pointing at Tracy’s prone form. “I’ve never seen, I mean, she can’t…”

“Her spirit would’ve disappeared if she was destroyed.” I try to struggle to my feet but give up, sagging back down.
Kacie leans against me, and I wrap my arms around her.

Blake eyes us. “You two are not okay.”

“When Tracy forced the barrier, she released a lot of psychic energy,” I say, resting my cheek on Kacie’s head.

“It drained all of us, not just her,” Kacie adds.

“I feel fine,” Blake says stretching his arms over his head.

“Yeah, why is that?” I ask, unable to hide the genuine surprise from my voice.

“Rebecca will be thrilled,” Kacie says.

Blake raises his brows. “Why, she like stamina?”

Kacie giggles. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Blake. She likes researching puzzles.”

“Oh, no. I ain’t no one’s guinea pig.”

Tracy’s spirit releases a soft sigh, like a light exhale of breath… if ghosts could breathe. She floats to her feet as though controlled by invisible strings. Still solid, her dark eyes scan the room. A smile crosses her face when she realizes that she made it through the psychic barrier. All I can do is stare at the ghost and wonder what that mysterious smile means. Maybe she’s as drained as we are. Kacie squeezes my hand, her aura flickering from exhaustion. I meet her gaze. Evade and stall for time to recover—I try to send the message to her in my expression.

“Now that you’re in here, love,” Blake says, gesturing at the room. “Care to share why you wanted in so bad?”

Tracy blushes at Blake’s obvious flirting. I had no idea a spirit could blush, even one who appears as human as she does. I mean, it takes blood to blush, right? More manipulation? She glides to one of the beds and reaches out to it. Her hand goes straight through. When she tries again, she lets out a frustrated growl as her hand once again passes
through the mattress.

“I can’t touch anything?” she says, her words sounding more like a question than a statement.

One moment she’s by the bed and the next she appears inches from Blake’s face. He doesn’t flinch, which I have to admit is rather impressive. I’m pretty sure even I’d have reacted to her sudden appearance.

“Are you really a werewolf?” she asks, leaning so close they’d touch were she human.

“Yep.” Blake manages a blank face as the ghost circles him.

“Shift for me.”

“It ain’t a full moon, love,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. I’m well aware that Blake can shift whenever he wants. He’s a born alpha werewolf, not a bite victim. Blake’s features take on a look of complete innocence. Damn but he can rival Kacie and Daniel in the acting department. “Why’re you deflecting attention from that bed? What’s under that
mattress?”

“Nothing,” she says, backing away, shaking her head furiously.

“Now we both know that ain’t the truth.” Blake saunters over to the bed and lifts the mattress.

“No!”

“Now what have we here?” Blake tosses a small book to me.

I open the book and flip through the pages. “It’s a journal.”

“It’s mine!” Tracy howls, making a grab for the book. But her hand passes through. She may have enough power left to look almost human, but not enough to manipulate physical objects.

Kacie takes the book, hugging it to her chest. “This is very private, but it could also be what’s keeping you from moving on.”

Tracy’s form flickers and sinks to the floor. She returns to an ethereal, misty spirit, and I can’t help but notice how much lighter she is now than before. Swirling white and light gray misty energy compose her figure, a sure sign that she’s close to acceptance of her fate.

“I’ll talk, but just to you,” she says, pointing at Kacie.

“No,” I say, unwilling to leave Kacie alone with this dangerous adversary.

“Of course,” Kacie says, directing a glare at me.

 About the Author
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling
YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works
as an editor for two publishers, as well as select indie authors. She is
married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three
dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games,
superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has
to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Winner of the 2014
Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA & a Silver Medal for
YA Mystery/Horror in the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
Author Links:

https://instagram.com/kimberleighwheaton/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/URgwH

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~

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What are you reading?

I just wanted to take a moment to share my latest ghostly reads during the Thanksgiving holiday.

This is next up on my reading list.

 

I hope you have some wonderful plans for the upcoming weekend. TGIF!

Cover Reveal Giveaway for Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

I am so happy to have Kimber Leigh Wheaton her for the cover reveal of her new novel in The Orion Circle series, Twisted Sisters, Book II. I have read Tortured Souls, Book I and am so excited to see Twisted Sisters, Book II is coming to life.

Have you ever challenged the fates?

TwistedSisters_1600x2400

Add me to Goodreads now, please.

Cover: AM Design Studios

__________

ABOUT THE BOOK
Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
(The Orion Circle #2)
Publication date: October 27th 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
SYNOPSIS

It’s a child’s toy—what could go wrong?

While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.

But this isn’t any ordinary haunting.  These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.

Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?

See my Review for Tortured Souls, Book 1———Purchase on Amazon

.
EXCERPT
.

“Huge EMF spike!” Carl shouts, waving the EMF detector in the air.

That’s it. I can’t wait for Raven any longer. Mr. Kincaid’s voice echoes in my ears, calling me stupid for rushing in not knowing what’s in there. I’m in charge of this fiasco… I never should’ve let her run in without more information. Steeling my shoulders, I cross the threshold into the house.

I stop and survey the scene in seconds, taking in the ridiculous amount of damage. The living room is trashed: sofa overturned, lamps broken on the floor, and the front window shattered by the flying armchair. No sign of Raven, but the girls said they were using the board in the kitchen. As I walk down the hall toward the back of the house, a ceramic figurine flies at me. I duck just in time as it grazes the top of my hair. I’m finding it difficult to believe spirits summoned from a spirit board by amateurs could be this powerful.

The family room is in a similar state to the living room. When I spy the sixty-inch TV on the floor in a smashed mess my heart thumps faster. These are powerful spirits or maybe even a rogue gang. That TV had to weigh over one hundred pounds, and it’s a good twelve feet from the entertainment center. No sign of Raven in here either.

A fierce wind blows from the kitchen, slamming me against the wall. So much power. None of this makes any sense!

“Raven.” I try to call out, but my voice comes out a hoarse croak.

My body is freed as the wind dies down, and I race toward the kitchen. Something shoves me from behind, sending me reeling across the tile floor. I manage to rotate myself at the last second so my shoulder impacts the wall instead of my head. The wind stops the moment I hit the wall. As I rub my sore shoulder, a loud scream pierces the silence. My stomach drops at the sheer terror echoing in that scream. Raven.

Leaping to my feet, I search the large kitchen for her. When my eyes land on her, I blink a few too many times. This shouldn’t be possible.

“Hang on, Raven,” I call out to her form suspended in midair near the ceiling.

“Hang on? Really?” Her arms are splayed out to the sides. Though she tries to project confidence with her words, I can tell from her face that she’s terrified.

“Release her at once!” I yell at the invisible spirits. “She has done nothing to you.”

“Don’t you think I already tried that?” Raven bites out in between gasping breaths.

“St. Michael, the archangel, def—” I start the prayer, but something crashes into me, knocking the wind from my lungs as I’m slammed into the floor. It takes a few dazed seconds to realize it’s Raven’s body crushing me. “Can you move?”

“I don’t know.” She rolls off me despite her words, groaning. “Those damned spirits. Madder than cornered rattlesnakes.”

“I can’t feel anything but intense hatred and fury.” I push to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my side. After hauling Raven up by the arm, I drag her toward the back door.

“Wait!” she yells, yanking her arm away. “The board.” Raven disappears beneath the long oak table. A few seconds later, she pops out holding the spirit board.

“Come on,” I shout when I feel the spirits returning for round two. “Crap, too late.” An invisible force plows into me, pushing me back into the unforgiving wall. “Raven, run!”

Something hits me in the ribs, banging my body into the wall once, twice, three times. My head spins from the impact. At least Raven made it out. A white mist fills my vision, and I blink several times. It doesn’t go away, only becomes sharper, more focused. Her form is wispy, ethereal. She would be beautiful were her lips not turned into a vicious sneer. I lay on the ground, waiting for her to make her move while she floats around me.

ABOUT KIMBER LEIGH WHEATON

KimberLeighKimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works as an editor for two publishers as well as select indie authors. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA.
Author Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/URgwH

Blog  /  Twitter  /  Goodreads  /  Facebook Pinterest  / Instagram

GIVEAWAY
.
Kimber Leigh is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the reveal.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

See my Review for Tortured Souls, Book 1———Purchase on Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

.

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