Book Highlight: Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton - Excerpt, Character Interviews & Giveaway

Shadow Fire
Light Chronicles Book 1

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Fantasy Romance
Astraea Press
February 25, 2014

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Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic. 

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire - adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?

Excerpt

The sound of metal clashing echoes through the air on deck. In the center of the ship Zane and Taranis are sparring while the crew watches from a safe distance. Neither man seems to be holding back. Skirting around the fighting men, I reach the stairs up to the helm and scale them. Several pirates are leaning up against the railing overlooking the deck. When I appear they move aside to make a space for me in the middle.

"How long have they been at it?" I ask the group of men.

"Half an hour or so," a red-haired pirate replies. "You want in on the betting pool? It's not too late."

"I'll pass thanks."

Only a moron would bet against Zane. Although I have to admit, it appears Taranis is putting up a good fight. He rushes at Zane with a series of furious swings, which are all parried with ease. When he leaps away, Zane charges him. Taranis manages to parry all but one swing. This one he blocks with the large silver gauntlet on his left forearm. Zane takes a step back and lowers his sword.

"Had enough yet, pirate?" he asks laughing.

Taranis is staring at him in cool silence, but his breathing is a bit labored. When the captain rushes him, Zane drops to the ground and knocks him down with a leg sweep. Taranis sprawls on the deck but doesn't lose his sword. Zane leaps to his feet and moves to place his sword at the rogue's throat. Taranis manages to block the strike with his gauntlet before leaping back to his feet.

"I guess not," Zane observes.

Taranis gazes up at me with a leer and a wicked smirk. I don't even have time to gulp before he vaults over the rail to seize me around the waist. My shriek is somewhere between a cry of surprise and a laugh when Taranis pulls me against his side, pointing his sword at Zane.

"Drop your sword, mercenary," he commands.

"Why would I do that?" Zane asks scowling. He's obviously not happy with the direction of the fight. For my part, I lean against Taranis, trying hard not to laugh.

"I have your woman," Taranis declares. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to see her harmed."

"I know you won't hurt her, pirate," Zane says, exasperation apparent in his eyes and his voice.

With a smirk, I glance up at the pirate's jubilant face. I have to agree with Zane. Taranis is as harmless as a puppy.

"Now either get back down here or surrender," Zane yells.

"What if I do this?" Taranis asks, pulling on my braid and baring my neck to him.

His lips start trailing feather light kisses up my neck. I'm too shocked to do anything but stand in his embrace.

"Oh, that's it!" Zane shouts, running toward us. "You're a dead man!"

"Sorry, my gorgeous beauty," Taranis says laughing, "gotta go!" He leaps off the railing just as Zane reaches my side.

            "Are you all right?" Zane asks, cupping my cheek. I try to keep it in but to no avail. My laughter rings out, and I'm doubled over by the force of it. "I'll take that as a yes," he mumbles before he takes off running after Taranis. "You may as well surrender, pirate! Where are you going to run? This is a ship!"

Character Interviews

Character Interview

Zane Elistaire

How did you end up taking the job to protect the Chosen?

I hadn't planned to. In fact it was the last thing I wanted. You see, I knew who was involved, and frankly I didn't want to deal with him.

Him?

Delistaire, of course. Are you going to let me finish answering your question?

Sorry. Please continue…

I was in Verdane having just dropped off a merchant caravan. My plan was to leave in the morning and head to my next job. While I was relaxing in the town square, a beautiful girl appeared. She was playing tag with the town orphans. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Not only was she the most gorgeous creature I'd ever seen, but she was so vibrant, so full of life. Her smile warmed my heart. When one of the orphans yelled her name, I realized she was the Chosen. At that moment I knew I would protect her—I would give up everything in order to keep her safe. Even if that meant crossing paths with Delistaire.

Wow, that was romantic. How do you know Delistaire?

You know I can't answer that. I have no desire to give away secrets at this point.

What do you find most attractive about Ashlyn?

Everything. *laughs* Fine, if I have to choose, I suppose it would be her spirit. Ashlyn is a fighter through and through. She never gives up, even when the odds are against her. I admire the glimmer of determination she gets in her eyes when she's ready to fight.

What do you like least about her?

Do I look like a fool to you? *Rolls his eyes* Probably the same thing I like the most about her. She's not an easy person to protect…

You became a mercenary when you were twelve. How did you find work?

The mercenaries guild. There's one in every town.

They were willing to hire a child?

Sure things were difficult during the first year, but I had help. I was also quite skilled for a twelve-year-old. My guardian helped hone my fighting skills, and then I fought in the coliseum in Palma. I rose among the ranks, made a name for myself. Afterward no one seemed to care that I was a child.

Who was your guardian?

Again with the questions I can't answer. How about something I can answer for a change?

Fine. What's your favorite color?

Blue. But not just any blue—the deep blue of the sea when the ship is out in deep water.

Any last words or advice?

If you're unhappy with your life don't sit back and hope for change. If there's something you really want, go for it. Never let fear hold you back. Sure you may fail sometimes, we all do. But nothing is worse than wondering what could have been had we only tried. 

Character Interview

Taranis Auberon

You make a late appearance in—

Has anyone ever told you how stunning you are, my fiery vixen?

Let's keep the lecherous comments to a minimum, shall we?

I suppose… though it sounds rather boring.

Anyway, what made you decide to join Ashlyn and Zane on their quest?

Have you seen Ashlyn? Kidding. I had what I suppose was a premonition of sorts. Basically, I had this terrible feeling that something awful would happen to them if I wasn't there. It was bad, you know. I felt it the moment I met them. Gave me a headache…

It didn't bother you—going up against a powerful sorcerer?

Nah. I hate bullies. That sorcerer was nothing but a cowardly bully.

A bully who could kill you with a thought and a flick of his wrist…

Don't get me wrong. I knew I might die. But I'd rather go down fighting than run away with my tail between my legs.

So you're a hero.

You got that right, my angelic beauty.

If I'm doing my math right, you became Captain of your own ship when you were thirteen. How did that come about?

Well, my parents never wanted me around because my magic scared them. They were wealthy so when I asked for a schooner for my twelfth birthday, I actually got it. I think they were hoping I'd sail away and never return. I put together a crew of orphan boys and started sailing the world. I wasn't really alone though. My nanny, Hannah, she's like a mother to me. She joined me on the ship and cared for all of us. She still travels with us, will probably be a nanny to my kids someday.

You want kids?

Geez, you say that like you're shocked. Can't you imagine a bunch of little Taranises running around?

Um, I think one of you is all the world can handle… All right, Taranis, any last words?

Why, are you going to kill me? *laughs* Life isn't a race with a destination, cause then the destination would be death. I mean that's where we all end up, right? So take it easy, live in the now cause tomorrow may never come. Don't merely exist—live life to the fullest.

About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.

She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.

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!)

Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.

Author Links:

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Giveaway!

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Book Blast: Alchemy by Sheena Boekweg, Melanie Crouse, and Sabrina West + Giveaway!!

Alchemy

Sheena Boekweg, Melanie Crouse, and Sabrina West

457 pages
YA Paranormal 

Synopsis:

"Do you want me to be dangerous?" he asked, his voice husky and low.
I gulped, and for a moment I was incapable of speech. But he was quiet, waiting. "No. I don't."
"Then I'm not dangerous at all," he murmured. His gaze moved from my eyes to my mouth. "You've never been safer than you are at this moment." I shivered as his breath tickled my skin. Our lips were mere millimeters apart when the sky shattered in a kaleidoscope of colored light.

We didn’t know how much we had to lose until we were infected with magic. Sam was in love, Juliette was the main caretaker for her siblings, and Ana and her dad planned the best parties in New York. But we lost it all when we were shipped to Chebeague, an exclusive school for newly infected mages.

Everyone knows about the mages, those who survive the infection and end up with magical abilities. We’ve seen the power of magic, the high-paying jobs, and the world fame. But we never saw the cost. We didn’t know we’d be forced to give up everything: sanity, family, even the right to talk on the phone.

We didn’t know mage was just another word for prisoner.

 

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How we came to write Alchemy: 

Once upon a time, there were some aspiring authors who wrote on a blog called The Prosers. (theprosers.blogspot.com) One day, Sabrina wrote a blog post about a book called Sorcery and Cecilia. Sabrina explained that:  

"The authors wrote the book entirely by sending letters to each other from the point of view of their characters. The picked a setting ahead of time… and then were not allowed to discuss plot at all, just let it develop naturally. And yes, it has to be real letters, or else it's not quite so fun to get the story in the mail."

Sheena was delighted with the idea, and asked if anyone wanted to try it with her. Both Sabrina and Melanie volunteered, and there we hit our first snag. How on earth does one write a cohesive story via letters sent between three people? 

So we got together for a facebook chat where we brainstormed solutions. It took a few weeks, and false starts, but eventually Melanie mentioned a real boarding school for rich, troubled teenagers where they were required to write journal entries to their therapists in exchange for privileges, and everything took off from there.

We each picked a character. Sabrina chose Juliette, an angry, scared girl who just wants to go home. Sheena created Sam, a sexy but broken boy who doesn't know how to function without his girlfriend, and Melanie created Ana, a gracious, yet opportunistic beauty who doesn't have anything worth missing back home.

We added some secondary characters and a rich magical world, and began. For most of the book, we truly did send the letters via snail mail (although thank heavens we knew not to start anticipating them until we got a message on facebook saying they were on their way! How did people survive doing it the other way???) As the action started heating up at the end, we started sending our sections via internet, and that’s when we really hit our stride. 

On the one hand, it is pretty frustrating when you think you know where you are going with a story, and someone (cough, cough, Sheena) careens off the path and turns the whole story line on its head. On the other hand, some of best parts of the book came when we were trying desperately to get the story back on track.The explanations we all had to come up with about why the stories turned out the way they did were so much fun! For example, if Sheena hadn't had the characters try to escape, we would never have realized they were prisoners. Sometimes the ripples created waves that were better than what we had originally planned. It was exhilarating and magical, and it didn't take long before we realized that this book wasn't just fun, it was also going to be awesome enough to share with the world! We hope you love it as much as we do. 

What is Alchemy about?

There are three main characters: Sam, a former baseball player who uses girls as a kind of medicine, Juliette, whose past has made her react to the world with clenched fists, and Ana, who is so normal that there is no way she’ll ever be able to fit in at this school for freaks.

Imagine a cross between Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, and Gossip Girl. Sam, Juliette and Ana have just been sent to a magical school, and have been told they will never see their families again. One of the biggest things that makes our book different from the usual paranormal romance, is that magic isn't a secret. Once they have survived infection with a magical virus, and managed to retain their sanity, they will be used by the government as a weapon, similar to nuclear armament.  Mages aren’t allowed back into polite society. They are too unstable, and definitely too dangerous.  But Juliette, Ana, and Sam are still teens, and none of that is half as important as their friendships and crushes.

Shy, awkward Seb is in love with Ana. Can Sam teach him the right moves to pull Ana’s attention away from the sexy janitor, James? Juliette hates Zach, the snarky leader of the Elite. So why can’t she get him out of her head? Even though Sam will never be allowed to see his girlfriend Katie again, his love for her is unfailing. Except, there’s this girl...

Sheena Boekweg (writing as Sam) is the author of the award winning novel Funny Tragic Crazy Magic. Look for her next novel, Waxling in 2014. She is a mom of three living in West Jordan, Utah. You can find Sheena on Facebook, Twitter, and her website. 

Sabrina West (writing as Juliette) is a writer and wildlife biologist living in San Diego, California. There, she wanders the streets searching for rare shorebirds, quality espresso, and elusive snippets of dialogue and imagery. Her short fiction has appeared in markets such as the Santa Clara Review, Cover of Darkness, and Strange, Weird and Wonderful Magazine. She also has a story upcoming in Kayelle Press's Night Terrors Anthology.

Melanie Crouse (writing as Ana) lives in the gorgeous state of Maine with her (usually) delightful family. She wishes with all her heart that her teenage children weren't so embarrassed that their mom writes "kissing scenes". With any luck, her first solo book, Hidden Magic, will be out in early January, 2015. You can find Melanie on Facebook and her website.

Meet all of us at: 

theprosers.blogspot.com

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Book Blast: Coven by K.A. Young

Coven

Elise Michaels Series # 1

By- K.A. Young

Publication Date- October 4th, 2013

Elise Michaels' motto has always been: no guts, no glory. She is a thrill seeker, continually craving excitement and adventure. The idea of being tied down to a place or man never interested her, even though a betrothal spell was cast linking her and the Head of Council’s son when they were mere infants.

Being a distant third in succession to assume the Head Mistress role, she felt confidant that her secret would remain in her past along with Coven life. Unfortunately, nothing in our fun loving heroine’s future is anything she or anyone from the supernatural realm is prepared for.

Now, she’s forced to return to the place and the Sorcerer she so desperately sought to forget.

Elise has no idea the power and gifts that await her. Can she let go of her own desires and embrace her new role? Or will she surrender to the faceless evil coming for them all?

Book one in the tantalizing Elise Michaels Series a spinoff of The Nephilim Warrior Series.