Blog Tour: Stolen Moon by Kimber Leigh Wheaton - Excerpt & Giveaway

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Stolen Moon

Light Chronicles Book 2

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Fantasy Romance

August 19, 2014

Astraea Press

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Blurb

Katarina ~ a Royal Knight bound by honor and duty who steals a powerful relic from a sorcerer in a desperate attempt to save her kingdom from the clutches of a madman.

Ethan ~ a mercenary leader trapped between his growing attraction to Katarina and his responsibility to protect his friends from the evil pursuing her.

Zebulon ~ a malicious sorcerer waging war as though it's a game, caring nothing for the lives he destroys in his quest for power.

Drawn together by a moonstone medallion—an indestructible relic with immense magical power.

Katarina steals the medallion from Zebulon and flees in the dead of night. Together with Ethan and his mercenaries, she struggles to stay one step ahead of the sorcerer and his minions in a race against time to save her homeland. Fierce battles, ravenous monsters, and bloodthirsty brigands—those are no surprise. But Katarina never dreamed her greatest obstacle could be falling in love.

Praise

“Stolen Moon was a lovely read. With the adorable romance and quest to take down a tyrant, this book was wonderful and I really liked it.” ~ Farrah @ Imagine a World

“Having read the first in the Light Chronicles, Shadow Fire set the bar really high, but Stolen Moon was just as thrilling a read as the first in this series.” ~ Sasha Hibbs- Bestselling author of Black Amaranth

“The plot was great and fast paced. I had to keep reading just to see what was going to happen. This is a book worth reading and I glad I did.” ~ Melissa Love – author of Love on Death Row

Excerpt from Chapter Six ~ Escape

Clashing metal. Pained screams. So many bodies, it's hard to tell friend from foe. A sword descends toward me. I catch it in my peripheral vision just in time to block it with my own. My body is at an awkward angle, and the blow jars my arm, sending pain lancing up into my shoulder. When I turn to face my attacker, a startled gasp escapes my throat.

"Roland?" I ask as tears fill my eyes. "Is it really you?"

"En guarde, Katarina," Roland replies, pointing his sword at me. "We are enemies now."

"But…" I trail off, unable to continue as I stare at my best friend. The boy I had once fantasized about marrying is now a man. "I thought you were dead."

"That's what I wanted you to think," he says as the point of his sword lowers a few inches toward the ground. "I had to leave—to fight for something I believe in… or rather against someone I don't believe in."

"Traitor," I bite out in a harsh whisper. "How could you turn your back on your comrades?"

"How can you continue to follow and fight for a madman?" Roland counters, his sword point creeping up again while mine hangs loosely at my side.

"I'm loyal to Tellain," I reply through gritted teeth.

"Until Zebulon is defeated, there is no Tellain to be loyal to," he says with a sad shake of his head. "Look at him, Katarina. Look!"

He points to the hilltop in the distance where Zebulon and Lilith are lighting the captured enemy soldiers on fire one at a time. This isn't a mass conflagration. No, they are burning slowly, their screams echoing above the noise of the battle. My heart falls. I know Zebulon must be defeated. But I also know that it must come from within where he least expects it. I've been biding my time for three years now. One day, I will take him down.

"I am doing what I can from within," I say, somehow managing to keep my emotions firmly under wraps. "One day I will succeed."

"And how many will die while you twiddle your thumbs?" Roland asks, spittle flying from his mouth in his fervor. "I loved you once. Now you're nothing but my enemy. You're pathetic. Too scared to cut ties with Zebulon and do what's right. You don't deserve to live. You're just as bad as he is!"

Roland's anger fuels his attack, and his sword crashes down against mine. My arms shake from the force of the blow. I counter three tremendous strikes. When he raises his sword for the next attack, he leaves his left side wide open. I slash my sword across his hip and down his left leg. It tears through his leather breeches much deeper than I intended. Tears burn my eyes when I meet his startled gaze.

"Finish me, Katarina," he says in a choked murmur. "Don't let Zebulon or Lilith get their hands on me. Please."

My vision blurs, and I blink the tears away so I can see my enemy. Roland, the boy I once loved stares at me with pleading eyes. Pulling my dagger from the scabbard on my thigh, I kneel next to his head and slit his throat in one quick motion. Watching the life drain from his eyes firms my resolve. I don't want to watch more people I love die needless deaths. I will stop Zebulon or die trying.

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