Tortured Souls

The Orion Circle #1

by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Paranormal Romance by Amazon Bestselling Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
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.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Magic, Ghosts

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2014

About the author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is an award-winning, bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works as an editor for several publishers, as well as select indie authors. She shares her home with her teenage son, 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 2015 Silver Medal for YA Mystery/Horror in the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards
Winner 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Book Review Magazine Red Carpet Awards

Want to connect? Sign up for my newsletter! http://eepurl.com/URgwH

Reviews

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5

Tortured Souls is the first instalment in The Orion Circle series and it didn't disappoint. This is the story of Kacie, a girl that can see ghosts, and one night she finds out that she is not the only one when Logan, the boy she has a crush on sees the spirit following her. From there on, Logan introduces Kacie to the Orion Circle, a group at her school (and many others) of kids and adults that have some kid of special power or are just very interested with the paranormal. Kacie finally finds the home she's been looking for but there is still a spirit after her and she has to stop it before it claims her own body.

I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy at times but it was always light and fun to read. I liked that Kacie was fifteen, it made everything more adorable and not so serious, but of course sometimes she was completely immature. I really loved Logan, too. He is so good for Kacie, he is always there for her, supporting her and helping her. He was exactly what she needed especially growing up on a home where her mother decided to abandon her once she found out she had powers.

Another aspect of the story I thoroughly enjoyed are the members of the Orion Circle. They are all so different and unique and always fun to have around in a good ghost hunt. I can't wait to learn more about them. My favorite one by far was Raven, firstly she has such a kick ass name, and she is also really kick ass in her own way.

The story was moving fast and it was interesting. I would have probably liked it to be a little bit more creepy, since it's October and all, but it was executed quite nicely. I am really looking forward to see what trouble the Circle will find themshelves in next.

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

Thanks to Netgalley and Sea Dragon Press for giving me this book to review.

Kacie has always seen ghosts, and it has ruined her life, causing her mother to leave and her father to blame her, and causes nightmares every night of gruesome murders. However, her life changes when, at a party, her crush, Logan, saves her from a ghost and invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of people who investigate the supernatural. As they help Kacie control her powers, they are also looking into a haunted mansion where a demented cult leader, the Foxblood demon, murdered 13 children and is now using their souls to come back to life. With the Foxblood demon’s sights set on Kacie and the murdered children haunting her, will Kacie, along with Logan and the other members of the Orion Circle, be able to banish him before he possesses her.

Tortured Souls is an enjoyable YA paranormal novel with some action, creepy suspense and a sweet romance, which felt like a teen version of Supernatural set in a high school. It was a fast paced book but did slow down during the middle. One thing I did not like about this book was that everyone accepted easily that the paranormal existed and those who did not were portrayed as being closed minded and wrong.

Kacie is a nice normal teen who has had a hard time growing up, but I did find her a bit annoying and I felt she had to rely on others too often. There are lots of really good secondary characters in this book and I liked the sweet romance between Kacie and Logan and I liked that there was not a love triangle.

I did not enjoy this book as much Shadow Fire but it is still an enjoyable novel and I am looking forward to the next book in the Orion Circle. I would recommend Tortured Souls to fans of The Holders by Julianna Scott and Finding Sky by Joss Stirling.

[Vivian Jane ✯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review!**
2 Stars.

I feel terrible for giving this book a mere two stars.. Though, I seriously was not interested. At all. It took me forever to read this because I kept putting it down and picking it up again.
I'm normally a huge fan of sci-fi & ya books especially if a cute romance between the two MC's are present. The book had all that but it was just boring.
It starts out in suspense which is great, but then everything takes a turn for the worse. It drags until some action scenes and then Kacie's father forgives her and everyone lives happily ever after with no secrets.. Woohoo!

Kacie was just awful (in my perspective). How is someone like her who's gone through tough events in life so WEAK? I swear, she needs to put a lid on her crying. It irritated me and I honestly didn't care if she was fifteen or freaking eleven. I like a book where the heroine sticks out from the rest. Not magical-ability-wise, but personality-wise. She was too normal, she acted like some lovestruck teenager who had no courage or guts. AT ALL. She was way too dependent on Logan, "Logan is my guardian angel, he must protect me, after all, I AM HIS TRUE LOVE!!" Everything revolved around Logan.. Like chill. You've known this boy for what... a few months? And you're going to marry him and have his babies... Okay. Good luck with that!!!!!



Another problem with the book was the scene with Kacie and her dad. It mind boggles me how he is going to believe a teenage boy that tells him his daughter has magical powers WHEN HE DIDN'T BELIEVE HIS OWN DAUGHTER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. He never EVEN THOUGHT THAT SHE MIGHT NOT BE HALLUCINATING AS A CHILD??!?!?! Yet when someone else tells him, BAM! HE BELIEVES AND DADDY'S SORRY HE DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY HE HATED YOU, BLAH BLAH BLAH.
Apparently he also knows his daughter isn't a liar, THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE HER??? wtf. ugh.



Honestly, I would have enjoyed the book a whoooolllle lot more with a mentally stronger protagonist. If the sequel is about a different person in the Orion Circle, then I will think about reading it. If it's about Kacie and Logan? Peace out.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. The story was interesting from start to finish, in that it held my attention with all the intrigued it stirred up in the opening chapters. I wanted to understand the main character, her family, and this group of paranormal researchers. Tortured Souls was nicely written and fast-paced. I thought the descriptions were great; I was envision every scene and event as it occurred.

I liked how Kacie already knew she had an ability, and that the story was mostly about her learning to understand it as well as discovering her new talents. It was great that as the reader, I got to find out things the same time as she did, instead of being a step ahead of her. Sometimes that's fine, and at times it can make a story predictable. In this case, leaving both the reader and the protagonist blind was a great thing to do. Kudos to Kimber Leigh.

Kacie is your average teenager, with the exception that she has these capabilities that she's long deemed as a curse that caused problems for her family. She blamed herself for her mother's departure and had a lot of pent up hurt by the way she was treated by her. I would have reacted the same way Kacie did when she received a phone call from the woman after how long, only to confess that she lied and now wanted to help her daughter. I felt the emotions depicted were well-constructed and just fine. Her reaction seemed realistic.

In regards to the other characters, it was interesting reading about this group of people who established somewhat of an acceptable atmosphere for Kacie. Finally she was able to feel like she belonged somewhere because, like her, the Orion Circle was filled with individuals of various abilities. I liked their personalities and how the author was able to deliver different characteristics with so many side characters. While I liked how strong the girls were, as well as the protective nature of the guys, the one issue I had was with this sense of nurture they portrayed for Kacie. It's like she was babied for the most part. Not that I blame them because her character was a tad on the soft side and I would have loved for her to be more willing to fight for herself instead of counting on the others. It wasn't much of a bother because I was already into the story and I found other things about her to be likable.

As for Logan, he was a sweetie. The romance aspect was a cute addition, though at times their affection came at an awkward time when things should be taken more seriously. Aside from that, I liked his character and his mom was a funny one, though she wasn't present for the most part.

Overall, I liked the actual plot and the mystery of trying to find a way to free the souls. It was interesting how it wasn't only about the paranormal elements but there were other things added that could enable the reader to enjoy the story more. There was Kacie finding out about herself, starting a relationship and learning about the idea of romance, as well as the family aspect of the book that involved her father and brother coming to terms with who she really is and working on his beliefs. But one thing that stood out to me was the fact that, Kacie was learning to accept her ability and not turn away from it. Besides the paranormal, that was one of the things I liked most about Tortured Souls. I recommend you pick this one up if you're a fan of YA paranormal with a taste of romance and family issues. Good job, Ms. Wheaton.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I am the author, so of course I love this book.

To my readers: Tortured Souls is quite different from my first novel, Shadow Fire. There is still romance, but it takes a backseat to the main plot line. Though I wouldn't categorize this book as horror in any way, it does contain several graphic scenes, and as you can tell from the blurb, some suffering child spirits.

Were Tortured Souls a movie, I'd rate it PG-13.

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 STARS

Before reading Tortured Souls, I hadn't read many paranormal books, though I'd like to say that one of my debuts into the genre was a pleasant surprise! To start, this book follows a 15 year old girl named Kassandra (although she goes by Kacie and CiCi) who leads a relatively normal life, living with her father, Adam, her brother, Gavin and her super-loving dog, Kodiak. Oh, fairly normal except for the fact that she is clairvoyant meaning she can see and communicate with spirits, both good and, unfortunately, very very evil. Since early childhood, she has recognized her "gift" (as not so much a gift, but a curse really) and shared this information with her parents. That very day, her mother fled the house and never returned - something Adam, her father, will always blame her for. When she starts going on early-morning runs with her longtime crush, the very dreamy and brave Logan, she is introduced into a whole new paranormal world which she had no idea she was living in - The Orion Circle only accepts select and elite individuals. Soon Kacie is thrown headfirst into this world, not really knowing what she's doing....

I loved the idea of this elite group, especially the fact that it was under Kacie's nose the whole time and she had absolutely no idea. Although, I'm glad she ran into the group when she did because I think it was perfect timing. Sure, she may have not needed to go through a lot of the crap she did as a young-adult if she learned how to control her powers earlier but those experiences made her that much stronger and (hope this doesn't sound selfish haha) but also, a more interesting character. Her past made her unique and that something that I definitely admire as a reader. Wheaton achieved that through Kacie. I'm not going to lie though, she annoyed me at times. Up until the near-end of the novel, she was always crying, jumping at the sound tree branch noises , tearing up at this or that, looking to Logan for comfort for everything and it kind of got irritating. Another thing I admire as a reader, is a strong lead character and I wasn't too impressed with her. I am looking forward to the second Orion Circle novel to see how she matures and grows as a young adult which is what I saw towards the end of this one.

Gavin, Kacie's brother, and Raven, another member of The Orion Circle, were probably two of my favourite characters. Gavin mostly because he was the typical older brother who acted "too cool" to care about his little sister, but in times of need, his sweet, caring side really showed. Maybe it's because I've always wanted an older brother exactly like that but either way, despite the small role he had, I fell in love with him! I want to see more of him in the next novel! Raven on the other hand, is a spunky and sassy gal who doesn't stand for anything and. I. loved. it. so. much. Her intelligence makes her seem much older than she is - I wanted Kacie to learn a couple things from her haha

Ok, and let me talk about the fact that this really is a creepy book. At times when some scenes were being described and these characters were in risky situations, I was nervous, scared and worried to turn my *electronic* page. Kimber Leigh Wheaton does such a great job at setting description and plot development that the progression of the story doesn't feel rushed at all - it's just right. There were no plot holes and all the main questions I had were answered, which I'd like to give a big shoutout to KLW for that. *props* There were some underlying plot lines that added depth to the story, which I was very pleased with.

Spirits are evidently a huge part of this book which I loved because it's one of those topics that has me instantly intrigued. KLW does a great job of introducing readers into the paranormal world - take it from someone who has read so much YA fiction, I was not bored. The haunted mansions (literally haunted, and some - er - not so much) the investigation of decades of murders etc etc were just all done effectively. As a reader I didn't feel deprived of any information. The chase for the Foxblood Demon was an intense one.

And finally. Logan and Kacie: this years hottest couple. Literally. He sounds so dreamy and I mean, I'd love to have my own Logan. I loved how he was always there for Kacie and didn't take her away from her friends - he acted as a support system for her which at the time, the poor girl desperately needed. I'm glad he was a part of the whole 'introducing Kacie into the real spirit world' thing.

**Sidenote** This cover is absolutely gorgeous!!

If you like paranormal fantasy with some sweet, sweet romance, this is a perfect book for you, so go out and get it!

As a final note, I'd like to thank Patchwork Press for sending me this great book through Netgalley for review - it's greatly appreciated. This in no way impacted my review and overall rating.

[Anna (Enchanted by YA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received the eBook free as a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***

What I loved most about this book was that nothing about it felt forced. The writing was fluent but not to the point where the descriptions are too long or filled with adjectives so it seems “poetic”. The relationships between the characters were strong, and not to the point where immediately after dating they’re willing to sacrifice everything including their lives for their partner.

I’ll admit the beginning was a little fast; you’re immediately dumped into Kacie’s life at the most crucial moments, so from there on out her life has drastically changed. But this worked well for me, because a good beginning is crucial, and if it’s just filler so you get “a feel for the characters” (an author’s excise for not knowing what to write and how to start it) I’ll put it down. If the author can’t come up with something interesting for a start, where’s the hope for the rest of the novel?

Tortured Souls kept the fast pace, so it was very much a quick and light read; perfect for YA fans. Particularly readers who like books that are light with a sweet romance, but still have that threat of danger and darkness that comes from a plot containing so much death. The plot was easy to follow and transgressed smoothly, but not only that, you felt everything you were meant to. Walking through the dark tunnels you felt as anxious as the characters, and listening to some poor ghost’s story you felt just as sympathetic. To feel emotionally involved so quickly is great.

Which is why I was glad Kacie found the elite group, The Orion Circle, when she did. I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if she had no-one there for her still. The Circle didn’t just provide her with a better understanding of all things supernatural but people who could understand her in a way her family refused to. It’s tragic how much she went through alone, especially so young, but (and forgive me if I sound horrible) it made her a better, and stronger character. She did lose some of this fight once she found Logan, almost passing responsibility onto him for a lot of things, but it leaves room for development which is what I’ve seen a lot of authors do. Doesn’t matter that it can be infuriating at the time, by the end of the novel/series you see how they’ve grown and this does nothing but add to the story.

I know a lot of you will be wondering about Logan, because I’m one to rave about the love interests in books even if comes out as a load of nonsense, but the reason I haven’t mentioned him so much is not because I didn’t like him, he was just too perfect. Everyone has their imperfections which you embrace, but Logan had none. Nada. Zilch. Instead of improving his character it just made him seem surreal and more 2D than good characters should be. He was the perfect boyfriend always there for Kacie, perfect friend, perfect student, perfect member of the circle… I needed the catch.

I’m expecting that a lot of this will be revealed in the next book, so I look forward to when it comes out. It was a great paranormal read that’s for sure, so I’d recommend to any YA fans who love a good ghost/romance story.

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Tortured Souls' is the first book in a thrilling new young adult paranormal romance series. It follows our main character, Kacie, as she tries to make her way through teenage life. Only Kacie isn't like the other teenagers around - she can see ghosts. As if trying to get through high school wasn't enough - her family has been torn apart and her dad blames her, the pesky ghosts won't go away no matter how hard she tries, and now she's having visions of terrible murders and the person committing them each night. During a party, a ghost shows up and makes trouble - until Kacie's crush, Logan, saves her and then tells her about the Orion Circle. It's a network of teens with supernatural powers from all over the country - and for once, Kacie feels like she belongs somewhere and she can learn how to control her powers. A powerful demon who was a serial killer of children when he was alive, is now plotting his return to life using the soul energy of the children he murdered and imprisoned in his mansion's walls. Until he comes across Kacie - a medium who has enough power to become the vessel for his soul to return. Kacie and Logan must fight the Foxblood Demon and defeat him before he can return. But will they be strong enough to beat him or will Kacie ultimately lose herself to become his vessel?

The description of this book had me instantly curious after reading it. It sounded like a truly original story among the sea of other YA paranormal fiction out there. I'm so glad I decided to give it a try because it turned out to be a fantastic novel that had me glued to the pages from the first paragraph. I ended up getting sucked into the story and read it in a matter of hours without stopping. There was a lot going on in the book and a ton of twists that kept me on my toes. I loved Kacie as the main character. She was easy to identify with because she's just a regular teenage girl - who just happens to have supernatural powers. Her insecurities, fears, and hopes made her very accessible to me as a reader. I loved watching her character take on the obstacles in the book - they only made her stronger and more in control of herself and her powers. It was great to watch her mature so much along the way. Of course, I loved reading about Logan and Kacie - and how their relationship blossomed throughout the story. The romance was sweet and fit in well with the rest of the book. The plot was intriguing and definitely unique. I loved all of the supernatural and paranormal aspects the author uses in the story - from the ghosts of the dead children to the Foxblood Demon and who he is (and was), and the different powers the characters possessed. Another thing that really interested me was the story behind the Orion Circle. I loved learning about its history and the roles that it plays in the world. I hope we get to learn more about the circle in the coming books. With fast paced writing and suspense that has you on the edge of your seat - this book is definitely one that I recommend to fans of the genre. I also recommend it to fans of fantasy and paranormal fiction and those readers looking for something fresh and different from the norm. I'll definitely be reading the next book when it releases!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young adult novel about school kids, doing school kid stuff, except for the serial killer ghost. The tag line - Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option – is what caught my eye, but when I read the blurb and saw it was about a ghost serial killer, I knew I had to read it. I love ghosts and serial killers, so the combination sounds like a unique read. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before.

“You’re not welcome here”, Logan says to the presence behind me.

He meets my gaze again.

“You know it’s there.”

Shivers run up and down my neck, just as if the presence is standing behind me. I am only 1% into the book. Now that is scary and creepy good and a very good sign that the book will meet my expectations. Do you every get the feeling that someone or something is paying a little too much attention to you?

Five nights in a row Kacie Ramsey has had the same dream, or is it a vision? She is wallowing in the girl’s blood that has pooled on the ground. Kacie is clairvoyant.

She is not a girly girl. She is on the cross country team, as is Logan. It seems they have a psychic bond. She has felt like an outsider, especially since her mother left. Kacie always thought it was because her mother couldn’t deal with her paranormal powers. She felt it was all her fault, but there is more to the story.

Kacie is a very strong psychic, but has denied it for so long that her powers have been stifled. She has no control over them and that makes her dangerous. Her best friend, Celia, is afraid of ghosts and has no idea she has supernatural powers. She keeps her in the dark.

Kodiak, her dog, looks like a polar bear. It is a goldendoodle – half poodle and half golden retriever. Designer dogs have become very popular. Here are a few mixes that I thought funny – Bassetoodle, Bossi-Poo, Cadoodle, Foodle, Schnoodle, Sheepadoodle and my personal favorite, Doodleman Pinscher. It makes me think of a Rizzoli and Isles episode that I saw recently. The punch line – what do you call a poodle? A poodle.

Logan invited her to a meeting of the Orion Circle. The Orion Circle is a mysterious group that you can only attend if you are invited. There are very few who know that it is a paranormal research group. She never belonged anywhere. Would she now that she is a part of the Orion Circle?

She sees ghosts and talks to them. Imagine waking up and a ghost is groping and pawing you. How freaky is that? She helped a young ghost move on and it brought to mind The Ghost Whisperer.

The Orion Circle made me think of a tiny Harry Potter school inside of a regular school. She has been chosen to train with them to enable her to use her powers and prepare for the upcoming battle.

The writing skims over and doesn’t flesh out all the details that I love to see for a 5 star novel. I love to be able to walk with the characters and visualize their actions. I wavered between a 3 and a 4, but the last quarter of the book confirmed a 4 for me. I was unable to put the book down, as I wondered what would become of them as they took on the Foxblood Demon .

I was given this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received a copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Anyone who has read my reviews in the past knows that I can be somewhat picky and critical of books in the paranormal or fantasy genre. I either love them or I hate them with rarely any falling in the middle. Having read one of Wheaton's books in the past and really liking it, I jumped at the opportunity to read this one and I wasn't disappointed.

Let me start off by saying that this series is marketed as a YA paranormal romance but it is appropriate for readers of all ages. In fact, I think that this series would be a great introduction to the paranormal genre for readers who are reluctant to embrace it. Along with the paranormal aspect there is a sweet and entertaining story about young love that fans of YA will truly enjoy.

I never like to re-tell a story as I don't like giving too much away so I will refrain and instead tell you my thoughts...

I really liked the fact that Kacie is aware of her gift when the story begins. The fact that she was not ignorant of her abilities was a refreshing change from a lot of the stories out there.

" The once loud music is now hollow in my ears. I gasp for breath, choking on the lack of air around me. Tiny hairs on the nape of my neck rise to attention. Something wicked is behind me. I know I'm the only one here who feels a difference in air pressure. An oppressive weight presses against my skin, making me feel as though I'm underwater. I blink a few times, watching the people around me continue their manic dancing- oblivious to the bogeyman that just entered the room."

The above is literally the third paragraph in the book. If that isn't enough to get your attention then I don't know what is!

I think what I enjoyed the most about the book is the cast of characters and the super sweet relationship between Kacie and Logan. The Orion Circle (a global group of school paranormal researchers) introduces a wide range of quirky, unique and interesting characters. Although not all of them are teenagers, the majority of them are and I loved the typical teenage behaviours and interactions between them all. I would venture to guess that future instalments of this series will revolve around these characters and if that is the case, I can't wait to get my hands on them.

The story flows nicely and the book can easily be finished in one day if you are an avid reader like me. The plot and the characters are also well developed. The paranormal aspect of the story is easy to understand without a lot of the gore (without losing the creep factor) that is typical of the genre, making it appropriate for the youngest of fans of the genre.

In the end, Wheaton blends a YA romance and a YA paranormal story flawlessly for a truly entertaining read with a cast of characters that readers will be eager to follow. I truly enjoyed every minute of this story and can't wait to read more about the Orion Circle.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts? "I see ghosts"? Assumed Romance with longtime crush? Secret group of hunters? Creepy murderer? Colour me intrigued! And ya know...in desperate need of a new series seeing as so many are ending!

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!

I was drawn in to the book straight away, from the very first page, and I couldn't stop reading because the book was so intriguing!

The narrative of the book was astounding and engaging. The entire book was written so descriptively, but in a way that didn't affect the flow of the book, the descriptions weren't long winded and was so cinematic you can picture everything vividly!

The pace was fast, and the flowed smoothly so you can easily whizz through the book, which actually is kind of a bad thing, because I didn't want it to end!

The premise of the book I really loved, as well as the plot! It keeps you engaged and entertained the whole way through, there's so much going on, so much action and adventure, and with all the mythological creatures (which I love, and love reading about) I was pretty much frothing at the mouth in joy! Not to mention the little bit of darkness that was present in the story adding an interesting dynamic!

I'm kind of torn with the main character, Kacie, because normally I love the snarky badass leading ladies, they're my favourite and they're a huge factor in what makes me love the book. Kacie was kind of a pansy sometimes, with the crying over scary things, thing. BUT you do see her develop as a character, and become stronger as the book goes on, which was fantastic read, and she's becoming a great character that I really like!

Romance fans you'll love this one! There's tonnes between her and Logan, and I was pleased to see my romance assumption was correct! Logan was a great character, he really was, and his development was fab, I want to know where I can get a Logan from! The romance was pitched perfectly, it wasn't too intense, but it wasn't too lacking either! I loved the interaction between Kacie and Logan!

I'm really intrigued about the next book, and I can't wait to read it to be honest! It was just such a fantastic read!

If you like Ghost Whisperer and the Meg Cabot series The Mediator, you're going to love this!

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tortured Souls is a haunting tale that is perfect for this time of year. A secret paranormal group that hunts ghosts and all manner of supernatural beings, I had to read this one. To top off my delight, a few Supernatural references were thrown in, really making this one of my new favorite books. I will admit a novel about a ghost hunting group was something that is perfect read for me. When I was in 5th grade, my friends and I started our own ghost hunting club, and we tried to track down hauntings in our little town. While nothing ever came of it, especially nothing as terrifying as the Foxblood Demon, it was a lot of fun with my friends. This novel while much more chilling and obviously fictional, it still called to that inner fascination with the unknown.

Kacie is a girl who has always had to hide who she really is from everyone, because being her ability to talk to ghosts destroyed her family. The gorgeous boy from her cross country team helps her realize that she can help others with her ability, and invites her to the exclusive Orion Circle. While they are tracking down a dangerous ghost who is even more demented that he was in his life, Kacie becomes his newest target. Logan helps Kacie fight against the Foxblood Demon, and their romance is a very sweet point during the dark portions of the story.

I have to say that reading this book alone in my room at night was probably not the best idea I have ever had, and needless to say I was a little jumpy. I love a good scary novel and this one delivers without being to over the top. While this novel gives you a glimpse into the supernatural with ghosts, there is a mention of many more creatures such as vampires, werewolves, and even chupacabras. I am hoping that Kacie’s next case explores more of the supernatural world of The Orion Circle series.

This book is the perfect October/Halloween read. It really does set the mood for the holiday, and being centered around Halloween defiantly helped. Kimber Leigh Wheaton has an addicting way of writing a story, and I was hooked after just the first chapter. I cannot wait to see what happens next for Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle gang. These guys could be the new Scoobies, Buffy fans have been waiting for.


**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is pretty hard for me to review. Is it possible to like something but hate it at the first time?


Let’s start with the things I liked about the book. The first is that this author can write. Really write. There were some beautiful descriptions in this novel and I knew that if the plot and characters were a little bit more convincing, I would’ve loved it. Kimber Leigh Wheaton has such a way with words, and I am sure you’ll understand what I mean if you read it. And the romance scenes were especially well written :D


What made this book fall short for me was that it was kind of unbelievable. Some things happened too easily. Like when the father, who believed Kacie was lying about being able to see ghosts for all her teenage years suddenly decides to give her the benefit of doubt when a fellow teenager says it’s true. That wouldn’t happen! And then Kacie is opening up and telling all these secrets to people she has never known and… well, I just found it not very convincing :/


Another major problem – the insta-love. It had me roaring at the book for it to just please STAPH! These two people who have never talked to each other before are together after one meeting. Just no. No, no, NO!


That aside, the main character was someone I really liked at times, and at others didn’t. Kacie could be whiny, and she seemed to be moaning and falling into Logan’s arms far too often for my liking, so she bothered me in those aspects. I didn’t really see her as a strong female character, and I am all for those, because who wants to read things from a weeping girls perspective? But then again, I did have empathy for her. She had been harassed as a child, her mother had left the family presumably because of her and her powers, and it was a struggle for her to get by in her family. So then I could feel for the character at times as well. I felt mixed.


As for the elements of ghosts and whatnot, it was pretty well done, I think. The author did a good job of explaining new elements of powers to the story without info dumping the reader, and that in general was something I liked about the book.


To sum it up: I am not sure whether I want to continue reading this series or not…

http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

[Nay Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received this book from the.author in exchange of an honest review.

This was yet another great read from Kimber Leigh Wheaton. I normally don't compare books, but this definitely reminded me of The Diviners by Libba Bray with more romance in it. Absolutely fabulous!

This is the story of young Kacie who has been seeing spirits all her life. Her mother left her family and her father blamed her. She had to deal with the hurt and pretend spirits were not around. During a dance at school and evil spirit approaches her and she is saved by Logan, her crush. She learns that she is not the only one with a paranormal ability and is instantly introduced to the Orion Circle.

Kacie has been having visions and nightmares about thirteen children and a phantom ghost. Through the Orion Circle she learns that the the thirteen ghost were trapped by Yardley in hopes of him being immortal.

I love how strong Kacie was from start to finish. No matter how frightened she was she never stopped her search for the kids and she constantly fought against Yardley. I hated how she grew up. I cried reading about how her mother left and treated her. She didn't deserve that.

Logan was a great charater. I will say I didn't like the idea of the instalove, but it went well with the story. Logan definitely was a strong asset to this story especially considering the visions her mom had.

Kacie's mom simply annoyed. I'm not going to elaborate because it will spoil the story but I totally hated her. Her dad upsetted me too but thankfully he started to believe her and apologize.

The Orion Circle was amazing help for Kacie. With their help she was able to learn how to control her ability, turn it on or off and even use it to help people cross. The Orion Circle has kudos in my book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for book 2!

[Cassidie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5

Geek Girl Obsess - Young Adult Book Reviews, Movie & TV Show Reviews, Video Games

I expected so much more from Torture Souls! The concept seemed so awesome and dark, I never would have guessed how much of a typical YA paranormal romance it would turn out to be. I hate generalizing, but I discovered the same joy-drainers in at least the last six YA paranormals I read.



I'll sum up my problems in a list:

1. Cheesy-meesy, mushy insta-love.
Did she really need to end up in her loved-to-death boyfriend's arms?

2. Respected and loved by everybody without earning it protagonist
Kacie was a very, very weak character. Why, that's okay, she was quite a bit annoying, but not everybody must be an all-defeating, dauntless hero(ine). However, she should be treated as she is. And even if she deserved respect, it would be very unlikely that all of a sudden everybody would love her and be overly protective of her.

3. Other inconsequentialities
Admittedly, Kacie knew Logan long before the book's beginning. Theoretically, they were friends. But how come they knew nothing of each other and abruptly Logan owns up to his deep, deep love towards her?

4. Uneven pacing
In the first half of the book nearly nothing happened apart from the constant bawling and overdramatizing and I was bored out of my mind. In the second half of the book, always everybody was in danger and/or hurt.

I considered just putting the down several times for the aforementioned reasons, but the story was sufficient and the mystery was kind of interesting. That's why I give it two and a half stars. I doubt I'll continue with the series nevertheless.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Tortured Souls is a great book for lovers of young adult paranormal romances. The plot and the action are fast paced and kept my attention easily the whole time. I loved the concept of the Orion club, a secret society of sorts. I wish my high school had one. It is comprised of a group of individual students and adults that either have some kind of special paranormal talent or have an affinity for some aspect of the paranormal. They do paranormal investigations. It kind of reminded me of the Anime series, Ghost Hunt in that aspect.

Kacie is the main character and she has spent most of her life suppressing her powers because her parents didn't "approve" of them. I liked that she found her home within the Orion Circle. There are lots of paranormal, and faux paranormal investigations going on. I liked the mixture of things that I saw the club investigate. Plus, the overarching storyline of the big baddie from Kacie's nightmares was really well done as well. It was the right amount of creepy and interesting to hold my attention. This is definietly going to be a series that I continue. The romance was sweet and the paranormals were wonderful. If you like YA Paranormal the Orion Circle is a great series for you to check out.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light read, filled with sweet romance, the constant thrill of danger, and a touch of darkness, Tortured Souls was a fantastic YA read. I totally loved this book! It was a lovely read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

Kacie was a wonderful heroine. She was strong and, after learning what she could do with her abilities, determined to help lost souls. She was a great character and I really liked her.

Logan was a total sweetie. He wasn't the deepest character, but he was utterly adorable and I just loved him.

The romance was very sweet. Kacie and Logan were a great couple, the type of couple that made each other stronger. I thought they were lovely together.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. the constant threat of danger from the Foxblood Demon added a touch of darkness and ensured enough thrills to keep me drawn in. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.

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.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Dirty Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

* free copy provded by the author and netgalley for an honest review *

4 possessed stars
I have to be honest off the bat ...me and paranormal dont really fly but I have heard great things about this... wish me luck!

this is an obvious ya novel with insta love and acceptance which is great. kacie spent her child hood talking to spirits and was punished for it by parents that didn't understand.

kacie soon learns of her powers and her history and uses them to uncover a mystery of 13 children that died but are trapped on this plane.

for a ya it kept me entertained and I wanted to see how it played out the author is hauntingly good st keeping you on edge and a little scared.

there are a lot of characters I want to know more about such as the mom that abandoned her why only certain members of families have powers and how witches vampires and werewolves are going to change the story.

I can easily see this as a long series because there are so many characters and paranormal mysteries to check out.i may have to keep up with this onr

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good versus evil stories always put the reader on the edge of their seat because evil is so powerful. This is especially true when a story is written as beautifully as this!

Read full review in the 2014 November issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Zareena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tortured Souls goes straight in without any introduction to the characters and we immediately learn that Kacie (main character) can see ghosts (which we kind of already knew from the blurb). She has seen ghosts and spirits for her whole life but after her mother left due to Kacie's abilities she learned to suppress her gift and block it all out.

In the opening scenes a spirit is bothering Kacie and the guy that she's been crushing on – Logan – shows up and banishes it. The way the author jumps right in sets the pace of the book and skips all of the potentially boring introductions. The characters are introduced seamlessly and the main plot is evident from the first page, so I didn't have to worry about waiting for action to start. While I appreciated that the author wanted to avoid having pages and pages of explanations for the characters and plot, I felt like there were a few inconsistencies. One that I noticed within the first ten pages was that just before Logan banishes the spirit, the spirit says Kacie's full name and Logan and Kacie have a tiny discussion about it, so it's obvious to Logan that Kacie could hear the spirit. But then a few moments later she plays dumb and pretends not to know what the heck Logan was talking about when just pages ago she acknowledged the spirit's presence! Kind of annoying. Not to mention Kacie cries a lot in the book. Some of it is understandable but it got a bit old.

Despite these blips there was a lot I liked about Kacie. She's a strong character and has been through a lot. After her mom left her and refused to call, Kacie was left watching out for herself, especially when she found out that her dad blamed her for the divorce. On top of that she had to deal with malevolent ghosts. Overall Kacie comes off as independent and capable of taking care of herself but this inner strength doesn't make her arrogant or defensive like some characters are. No, Kacie is super friendly and looks out for her friends. While I admire all of these characters the one thing that made Kacie so likeable for me was that I could really see myself being friends with her because she is a very realistic teenager. The author integrates problems and bits of drama that nearly every teenager deals with: crushes on boys (or girls), stress at school, and juggling all the different aspects of life. The bottom line is that Kacie felt real to me and that meant that I could relate to her.

Logan is the other main character and while I don't have lots to say on him I did like him a lot, especially with Kacie. He's a super nice guy and isn't arrogant at all. He also isn't one of those mysterious boys who shows up randomly and starts kind of stalking the main character. He and Kacie actually have a bit of a (platonic) relationship before the story starts so the speed with which their relationship takes off is more believable. Now, just because Logan is nice and all doesn't mean there aren't an swoon-worthy scenes because trust me, there are ;) . Their first kiss is my favourite in the whole book because it was so realistic! There wasn't a huge, dramatic build-up and instead it just happened. Again, a bit more realistic (not that non-realistic swoons aren't epic) and my crush on Logan increased after that :) .

Aannddd I just realised I haven't talked about the plot and what the Orion Circle is. *smacks forehead* The Orion Circle is basically a group of people – in this case teens – who investigate the paranormal. So darn cool! When Logan finds out that Kacie can see ghosts he invites her to the Orion Circle and she begins working with them. Then it becomes clear that a spirit is trying to possess Kacie and she's in a lot of danger. The part about Kacie being in danger didn't really matter to me but I love the whole concept of the Orion Circle (Supernatural fans anyone?). Tortured Souls was also creepier than I thought; I don't want to spoil anything but I have to say that after reading the book I was kind of scared to go into a dark room. But that could just be me.

Overall this book has lots of paranormal aspects that appealed to me and I'm hoping that there will be more than just ghosts in future books. The characters were pretty likable and I really liked the scare-factor towards the end. Tortured Souls isn't a complex or amazing book, and there were a couple times when the characters' reactions didn't seem genuine, but it is an enjoyable read. Looking back at my review it's ended up super long but what I will end with is that if you're looking for a light, YA paranormal read then this one might just be for you!

YA
3.5 (but so nearly 4) stars


**Note: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

[Manon · Rating 2 out of 5]

More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.

"Somehow I resist the urge to squeal. He texted a heart symbol!"
- Kimber Leigh Weathon, Tortured Souls

Thank you Sea Dragon Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

I am seriously disappointed. I thought I was going to love Tortured Souls. The premise of a younger version of Ghost Busters combined with exorcism seemed intriguing enough for me to request a copy. However, after reading I feel like I can suit this book into a specific category of mine and probably many others: books with a great premise, but poor in execution. It lacks on so many levels it's hardly describable. I'm going to do my very best and give it a shot anyway.

The romance is the biggest let-down of the entire book. If Logan and Kacie didn't knew each other before the book opened up, you could say it was an obvious case of insta-love. So when it actually wasn't, it certainly came across as it. Besides the insta-love, the dialogues and actions between the two lovers were far from realistic. It seemed like the author tried too hard to make the romance bittersweet and to swoon for. Comparing Logan to other fifteen-year-old boys, there are a few to none who are as romantic as he is. The biggest example is constantly showering Kacie with the most romantic compliments:

"I must look awful," I say when he takes another tissue and carefully wipes around my eyes.
"No, you don't" he murmurs, his lips curled into a tiny smile. "You're beautiful. A few tears won't change that."

My eyes were already rolling. I quickly came to the conclusion that I'm not a big fan of this eternal romance between two fifteen-year-olds. In my opinion, it looked too much like a typical Disney Channel relationship. The one that develops way too quickly so instead of patiently building it up, it escalates and fills the entire film, or in this case book, with it. In the end, the lovers didn't seem to be two individuals any more, but one piece. Words like independence and self-sufficient definitely do not belong in their vocabulary. They were always reliant on each other and can't seem to do anything alone. The special bond they suddenly have jumped out of nowhere, and I'm quite sure being possessed by an evil spirit isn't prevented by kissing someone. So surprising or not, I will not be picking up future sequels just because of the ridiculous romance.

I did not like Kacie as a protagonist. Even without the laughable romance, she still managed to annoy me with the most simple things. Being naive as hell is without doubt one of them. Another reason had to be the ugly crying. This girl cried more than I can count on my fingers. You would expect her to be a little more though after everything she went through, or at least to be able to stand up for herself. Sadly, that's not the case. With everything happening around her, the only thing she seems to be capable of is faint or curling up into a ball and cry or, expecting her boyfriend to comfort her at all times. If you're looking for a female heroine with a little more courage than that, there are some minor characters in this book that do fulfill those expectations. You can guess that I'm therefore kind of sad that I didn't get to read this book from Rebecca's or Raven's point of view.

By this point of my review, I'm one hundred percent sure that you have read the synopsis. If you have, feel free to skip the first half of the book. I have no idea why someone would sum up the first half of their book and create a synopsis out of it. Because of this, I had almost no intention to continue reading in the beginning. Fortunately a few action scenes started popping up halfway through and that the ending sort of brought a feeling of suspense. I just can't shake off the feeling that I read way more than two hundred pages, but that's maybe because the dragging page did nothing good to it.

To sum it all up, the romance is close to insta-love and hardly believable. The protagonist cried more in this book than I rolled my eyes, and the pace resembles to a snail near death. If it weren't for the few good characters, I wouldn't have bothered to give it a star more.

[Holly Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for allowing me to read and review this book! Overall, I enjoyed the book, though there were a few issues that bothered me - but might not bother other readers. I think younger YA readers might enjoy this a lot more than I did as a not-so-young-adult reader :) The main character is 15 and that seems to be approximately the target age for the reader-audience.

First, I have to say, gorgeous cover! I love how the fuchsia dress is represented, which you'll find out has a place in the story. Great job.

Second, I liked the characters, and I think the author did a great job of differentiating the personalities and traits of each of them. It was easy to tell who was speaking at any given moment because of that. I know it's not always easy to create distinct characters with their own voices, so props to the author on that! I especially enjoyed Rebecca, she reminded me a bit of myself as a young'un :)

Third, overall I thought the story was good, though for some reason the climax seemed a bit of a ... not a let-down, exactly, just wasn't quite what I was expecting, for some reason. I'm not sure I could define what would have been better, but it's just kind of a gut feeling. I like how the end of the book did seem to set up the series - it *seems* like it's going to be a series of mostly stand-alone books, where the Orion Circle and the students in it continue to play a part, but each book focuses on a different character. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I got. That, I think, is a good thing, because it prevents overload on one or two characters. It's a neat idea, assuming that's what's going to happen. The Orion Circle is a neat construct and a great way to allow many characters to play a part and have separate books focusing on a few of the characters.

So, the main reason I gave this 3 stars instead of 4 was because there were just too many times where I was kind of gaping at my Kindle incredulously - where I highlighted and added notes like, "Really?!" and "That's ALL he has to say?!" I'll try to give some examples without giving spoilers. For example, when the main character, Kacie, is told a certain thing about her ancestry, her brother has ZERO to say about it (even though in theory it should also affect him!), and the only thing he says is that his father is not currently at home, noted "with a shrug." REALLY? That's really all he has to contribute to the conversation?! It was things like this that really bothered me. Another issue was toward the beginning of the story, when someone notices Kacie's abilities, and she acts like she has no idea what he's talking about - even though he obviously was there when something BIG happened. I don't know, there were just too many things like this that bothered me that just kept it from being a 4-star read. But remember, 3 stars means I liked it! And I would really consider reading the next book in the series, to find out more about what happens with the Orion Circle and all the characters.

One final thing that kinda bothered me - and, again, may not bother other readers - and that I hope doesn't make me sound like a prudish old lady ;-) is that the making out action between Kacie and Logan was a little... WOW. Like, a little hot and heavy for 15-year-olds! I am normally so NOT the person who makes comments like this (I promise!), but for some reason the action in this book just made me a little uncomfortable... I mean, it was definitely well-written (hot!) and if it was between 17-year-olds it probably wouldn't have bothered me, but I just felt it was a little "much" in this story. Hope that makes sense.

Again, thanks to Kimber Leigh Wheaton and to Nereyda with YA Bound Book Tours for letting me take part in this read and review. I enjoyed learning about the Orion Circle and look forward to reading more about their activities!

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Book #1: The Orion Circle
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:

I have said it before and I have said it again, high school sucks!! Though Kacie Ramsey has a few close friends and she does pretty well in her classes, she is very much isolated from most of her peers and certainly, her family. Kacie has the ability to see ghosts and though she has mostly learned to handle her abilities, her father refuses to believe in her or her abilities and her mother left completely when she discovered what Kacie can do. Kacie works very hard to keep her abilities under wraps but as the old saying goes, it takes one to know one.

Logan is the hottest guy in school and when he recognizes what Kacie is capable of, he immediately makes himself known to her and invites her to the long-rumored about Orion Circle. Logan is self-assured, confident and, like Kacie has a strong connection to the dead. As a long-standing member of the Orion Circle, Logan has helped countless individuals and other Circle members sort out paranormal issues the he and the Circle are uniquely qualified to handle. Bringing Kacie on board not only enhances the Circle’s abilities but it allows Logan to truly connect with someone who has abilities similar to his own.

Within just a few short weeks, Kacie is fully immersed in the Orion Circle and participating in their activities. On the bright side, Kacie has finally found a strange and wonderful group of people who not only understand her abilities but accept and celebrate what she’s capable of. On the brighter side, the adult members of the Orion Circle are able to not only help Kacie develop and control her abilities but also to help her father (and brother) understand just how special she really is. On the brightest side, Logan is the hottest guy in school and he is totally into Kacie. On the not so shiny, bright side, Kacie has been having some super, seriously scary visions and the more she divulges to the Orion Circle, the more alarmed everyone becomes.

The Foxblood Demon has more than earned the moniker, demon. As far as Kacie can tell, he has trapped the souls of a large number of children and has, for decades been feeding off those souls. With her abilities, Kacie has been able to determine that the Foxblood Demon wants to become far more tangible and no amount death and destruction is too great if it achieves his goals. To make matters far, far worse, there is a very distinct deadline on the mayhem and if the Orion Circle can’t stop him before that deadline hits, all Hell will break loose and an unspeakable evil will be unleashed.

The Bottom Line: What a fun and very exciting start to a series!! There’s no slow motion with this read and within the first few chapters we are introduced to Kacie, her totally dysfunctional family, the Orion Circle and, the cases they are involved in. The Circle is full of delightfully weird and uber-talented people that will certainly make appearances in future installments of the series. I very much enjoyed the fast pace of this read, the totally kicking evil’s ass plot and, the interaction between Kacie and Logan. The only “complaint” (if you can even call it that) I have about this read is how very adult-like most of the high schoolers are. Sure, these kids deal with things the average high school kid has no clue about but they are still kids. There’s certainly no real sexual component to this read to cause concern but I did find myself having to remind myself that these are just kids. With that being said and all other aspects of the read taken into consideration, I am totally on board for the next installment of the Orion Circle.

[Mareena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Kassandra 'Kacie' Ramsey has always been able to see ghosts - ever since she was a little girl. Some people might call her ability a gift; but Kacie would definitely say it is a curse. In fact, she has done her absolute best throughout her life to completely ignore her power, since all her so-called 'gift' has brought her is heartache and pain. As a matter of fact, Kacie would go so far as to say that her gift is ruining her life.

Kacie's mother left the family after walking in on Kacie talking with a spirit, and her father and brother still blame her for it. They may not have said anything about the incident specifically, but Kacie has sensed the subtle changes in their attitudes toward her all the same. Since her mother walked away from them, Kacie has done all she can to keep the spirits away. Yet as much as she has tried to ignore them, the ghosts have continued to be remarkably persistent in their attempts to communicate.

And it seems like things are getting steadily worse for Kacie, if that's even possible. A startling new power is beginning to emerge - a terrifying and gruesome new talent that Kacie sincerely wishes would go away. Nightly visions of a crazed psychopath's viciousness - scenes of ritualistic and murderous brutality - have recently begun to plague Kacie's dreams. And now, some malevolent presence is relentlessly pursuing her and driving her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom manifests itself at a party, Kacie's longtime secret crush - Logan - saves her. When he invites her to join 'The Orion Circle', Kacie is genuinely flattered - yet undeniably mortified - by the exclusive society's sudden interest in her. 'The Orion Circle' is a group of supernatural hunters and investigators with chapters in schools all over the country. So, with the help of the Circle, Kacie soon learns to embrace her supernatural abilities; and for the first time in her life Kacie feels more in control of her powers rather than simply being a victim of them.

Yet the being known as the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. In life, he was a demented serial killer who targeted children. During that lifetime, he kidnapped and murdered thirteen children - imprisoning their innocent souls within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he searches for a way to return to the mortal realm and continue his demonic mission.

Drawing his power from the pure souls of the children that he trapped inside his house so long ago, he travels into the realm of dreams to find the perfect vessel. He recognizes something in Kacie that he has 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 by her side, Kacie must fight the Foxblood Demon. Yet can they banish such a powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but also her eternal soul to the monster.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, this was a captivating story with an intriguing and fast-paced plot. I found these characters to be well-developed and extremely likable. This was such a great start to the series; I can't wait to read the next book. I give Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton a definite A+!

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review**

3 ½ stars!

For teenager Kacie Ramsey, life should be full of fun, high school, and friends – but that’s not the case…as she literally SEES the ghosts of the dead. In the morning, they are sitting across the breakfast table from her…in the afternoon, they are following her to math class….and in the evening, they hang out on her couch with her. Not at her request – oh no! Since her mother left her family saying she just couldn't handle the supernatural things that were occurring in Kacie’s presence, it left her and her brother distant, and her relationship with her father strained. Since then, she has tried to push the ghosts away – simply pretending they aren't there – since no one believes her anyway.

But one evening at a party, the boy she has been crushing on forever, Logan, helps her with an evil spirit that is stalking her…and proceeds to invite her to a prestigious and very secret group called the Orion Circle who deal in all things supernatural – a paranormal research group, they call themselves. Since Kacie has been having the same recurring brutal nightmare that feel so real she wakes up in a sweat every morning, she figures the group will be a huge help in figuring out WHAT she is, and HOW her “powers” even work. Well, that and the fact that Logan is part of the group definitely doesn't hurt either!

So when Kacie and the Orion Group figure out that she is a powerful psychic medium, she begins to understand and come into her own with her powers – with the help of Logan of course, who is a psychic medium as well, she begins to trust herself and her powers. But when a powerful and evil spirit that bound himself to thirteen children he sacrificed years prior puts Kacie in his crosshairs and chooses her as his new “vessel” when he returns to the earthly world, will it be too late for Kacie – did she learn how to use her gift too late? Or will Logan and the other Orion Circlers be able to help her send the evil mastermind spirit to the other side, once and for all?

So, first things first…don’t read this before bed – lol! This is not a “sooth you to sleep” kind of read – in a completely good way! It’s more of a creepy scary – there’s not really any gore, blood, or guts, but the things that Kacie and the other Orion Circlers happen upon do tend to be on the creepy side. I think that this is a really good start at a paranormal/ thriller/ romance for Ms. Wheaton – my only complaint is how quickly her and Logan “fall in love” and how quickly her family moves from being completely unsupportive to be in total support of her and all things supernatural. I really liked Kacie and Logan as characters though – though they had these supernatural gifts, they were still regular teenagers that had the “teen” worries about if so and so likes me, does my hair look ok, etc. And Kacie is a really strong character and though she may be frightened at times, she overcomes and comes out even stronger on the other side. Good start to the series – not sure if the ghost stories were for me personally, but I think that this is very appropriate for teens and YAs alike!

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kassandra has had a rough life. She was born a psychic, and her parents were frustrated and angered by all of Kacie's "imaginary friends." Her mother left years ago, claiming she couldn't deal with Kacie's antics any longer. This left her father resentful to the point that Kacie has buried her psychic abilities so he won't be reminded of his broken marriage.

One night at a party, Kacie senses a powerful spiritual presence--and she isn't the only one! Logan, a boy from school that Kacie has admired from afar, actually approaches the spirit and forces it away, not before it scratches Kacie, however. Logan, it seems, is a psychic, too. In fact, he's a member of the Orion Circle, a group of "talented" kids and adults who work against in it's many forms--corporeal, and not.

Working with Logan is as empowering as it is enticing; Kacie is enamored, and the feelings are mutual. But, more than having a boyfriend, Kacie treasures being understood, being accepted for having her psychic powers. In fact, it soon becomes clear that Kacie's nightmares are more than scary images, they are visions that hold the key to destroying the soul torture of thirteen murdered children.

With the help of Logan and the team of Orion Talents, Kacie has new friends she can depend upon when the evil Foxblood Demon spirit attempts to possess her. Even Kacie's mother is in on the help--turns out she has some pretty awful reasons for abandoning Kacie all those years ago, and this Foxblood Demon threat has turned mom into an informant.

So, lots of changes for Kacie in a very short period. She embraces her psychic powers and learns to speak with the dead, releasing them to eternal rest, when possible. Logan is a great stand-by, offering whatever support Kacie needs, even if it's just a soft shoulder to cry on. Kacie's dad also recognizes that Kacie's powers aren't the insane nonsense he'd written them off as all those years ago, and her relationships (on the whole) become stronger and more healthy.

This was an interesting YA read, with well-developed primary and secondary characters and an intriguing plot line. It is the beginning of a series that will undoubtedly feature Kacie and Logan and the rest of the Orion paranormal hunter gang in new and exciting cases. I'd like to take a moment to note that the ebook was beautiful--well-edited and with great internal elements and chapter headings. I know this won't matter to most readers, but when you read as many books as I do, I really appreciate formatting that goes above and beyond. So, bravo for writing a beautiful book as well as an interesting one. If I had one complaint, it would be that I thought the romance between Kacie and Logan blossomed a little two quickly. I had wished there was a bit more time between the meet-cute and the making out. Still, there was little more than kissing between the main love interests, so I'd go ahead and recommend for all YA readers.

[Lauren]

Check out my review on my blog here: http://thebookwormcornerr.blogspot.com

Before I start this review, I'd like to say a few words: Oh. My. Gosh. I can't even, I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW, PLEASE. Ah, now that I have that out of the way, I can finally start my review without fangirling too hard.

Kimberly has created a fantastic story, with amazing characters, a compelling plot, and so much more. The plot was just right, and things didn't feel rushed or too slow. A thing that really annoys me is when the pacing in a story doesn't feel right and is choppy. Kimberly, you're doing it right. Another thing is that there are some parts that feel unnecessary, but fear not! Everything that happened was interesting and important, the circle itself, the investigations, everything. It's a win-win really, so basically, the plot was on point.

The characters were phenomenal; they really made the story come alive. Kacie is a fantastic main character. She's very determined and knows what she wants to do and gets stuff done. Her backstory just made me cry and look up to her as a character. Throughout parts of the novel, she lets herself cry, because God forbid main characters from having emtotions, but she doesn't over do it. Logan is a wonderful character, he's supportive, nice, and let's not forget a complete gentleman. It's a nice break from your usual brooding, dark male lead. Let me get this out: We need more people like him! Guys are just really stupid, that's all I'm saying. I just really appreciated his character. Rebecca, Carl, and all of the other members of the circle helped the story come to life. They're funny, sarcastic, and honestly remind me of people I know in real life. I especially loved Daniel's nickname for Kacie, it's little things like that that really make the book special and entertaining. The relationship between Kacie and her family made my heart melt, which is something I rarely say. The protectiveness they show throughout the course of the novel was very heartwarming. I really liked the development between Kacie and her father. Even though he doesn't believe her at first, but slowly learns to accept her for who she is, along with her abilities. To me, this is something that should be touched upon more. Being in the same situation, but obviously not possessing supernatural abilities, I know how it feels like to be put down for the things I have, while my parents don't believe me, just because it's something they don't have cold, hard facts on. So thank you, Kimberly.

I could say so much more about this book, but we'd be here all day. Plus, I think if consist mostly of fan girdling in all-caps. All in all, this book was very fun to read, making me cry, laugh, and squeal. Thank you, Kimberly for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book. Guys, please check it out, because it's totally worth reading.

DFTBA,
Lauren

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review can be found here.

I love books about paranormal investigators, like Ghostbusters or Dean and Sam from Supernatural. So, when I read the synopsis for this book, I wanted it! It sounded like something I'd thoroughly enjoy, which I did. There was a lot going on in this story, but it never felt like too much. And I so enjoyed this team of characters.


Actual rating: 3.5 Stars!

Tortured Souls was told in the voice of Kassandra Ramsey, and I really liked her character! Kacie has always felt out of place, like she doesn't belong. Her supernatural abilities have caused her nothing but trouble, and it even sent her mom packing a long time ago. Kacie is still smarted by her mom's abandonment and her dad's indifference toward her. She's feeling lost and alone, and to top it off, she's being haunted in her dreams. Nightmares full of a dark shadow and gruesome horrors. They plague her, and she doesn't know what to do about them. So when she learns about the Orion Circle, it's like Kacie finally has a family who understands her and accepts her and her abilities. She grows into her own as a person, and I loved seeing that. It was great that she accepts her gift and decides to do good with it. She became this strong, sassy individual who doesn't back down from her fear. She embraces it head-on, and I loved that. With the help of the other paranormal investigators and Logan, Kacie embraces her power and finds an inner strength she didn't know she possessed.

Hers and Logan's relationship was so sweet! It was so nice that Kacie could find a guy who would not only understand her abilities but who shares them as well. He became her safety net and her comfort; the guy who made Kacie feel special and loved and who filled in the hole that her mom left in her heart.

I also adored the paranormal team of investigators! Their interactions were so much fun, even when bad things were happening. I liked how they became a family, people who formed a bond with their supernatural gifts. And they brought comedic relief in tense situations, which I loved.

The plot was pretty fast-paced and filled with some tense situations amid the paranormal and fun. I wish there'd been a bit more normal thrown in there (can't believe I'm actually saying that), because the supernatural just took over the story-line and left no room for lots of character development. And it became more about Kacie's nightmares and the manor than the characters' lives and the Orion Circle. We find out a bit about what they really are and what they do, but I'd have liked more background information.

I really enjoyed Tortured Souls, and I'm excited about the sequel. I just love ghost stories. :)

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new book I love and I can’t wait to read more!! This one is about a girl, maybe normal maybe not. Yeah, not lol! She can not only see ghosts, she can feel them and hear them. She has a rough start, but good friends that help her along the way. This definitely will grab you from the start. I think by the third sentence I was creeped out lol. It really is an interesting story with secrets, and mystery, and some horror but not bad, and romance, and friendship! Oh and lots of ghosts :) this one has a amazing feel to it and I say just jump on in :)

So Kacie can see ghosts, but her own family made her feel like it was her fault they were falling apart so she’s hid from it her whole life. And it’s tearing her apart. Until that night. She not only gets almost attacked by a bad ghost as a party but she’s saved by her crush. And her crush not only opens up a whole new world for her, he understands, and helps her. I love her innocence. She got so giddy because he was nice and chivalrous. And when he made her nervous she said funny things like,” forget butterflies, it’s a stampede of wildebeests running in there!” I liked that she was courageous. She learning about her abilities and how to use them. And when she gets hurt or terrified, she still doesn’t give up! And finally get the love and understanding from some of her family she deserved in the first place, all thanks to the very swoon worthy Logan!

Logan, sweet Logan! He’s a HAWT piece if I say so, but he’s the total package. Sweet, understanding, and he makes her feel equal! And I’m so glad he was there for Kacie when she needed.

Let’s also talk about side kicks :) Celia is her best friend, who is hilarious to me but still a good friend. And then she meets Rebecca and Michelle and raven and more from the circle. Along with Carl who’s also hilarious and Daniel whom I not quite sure on my take with him yet, though he seems to have taken the brotherly role for Kacie. Her own brother Gavin is quite interesting and made her family life better, until her dad finally gets his head out of his … Yeah that!

I loved the plot. It was so well written that I kept my nose glued to the pages for the whole book. Yep it’ll grab you from the start so maybe don’t start reading late at night as you’ll be awake until you finish :) and such a way to help the tortured souls. As the mysteries unfold you’ll think of every cold spot you’ve ever felt, and every time your hair stand, you’ll have a whole new look into things. I’m so glad I just built my house from scratch, of Daniel comes over, he’ll only see me and my doggies and kitties! :) and with that note, gimme book two really fast pretty please!!! 5 PAWS, as the ghosts can’t share their parts with me :)

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I have Shadow Fire on my kindle I have not picked it up and read it yet, so Tortured Souls is my first Kimber Leigh Wheaton book. I was pretty pleased with what I was reading. I love paranormal stories and I have been on a good ghost story kick lately. This has all of those elements in it. Plus it kinda reminds me of my favorite ghost hunters show lol. So there is a plus there.

Kacie has seen ghosts all of her life. When her parents see her talking to people that are not there they try and get her help. When that doesn’t work they try to shame her into stopping. When that doesn’t work her mother leaves. Her mother completely writes her off. Pretends like she doesn’t excist. Now Kacie is left to try and hide what she can do so that her father stops blaming her for her mother leaving. One night at a party a demon spirit shows up and the craziest thing happens. Kacie’s long-time crush can see the spirit too.

Kacie’s character was a pretty good one. If you are looking for a kickass heroine, she isn’t one. Granted she is strong. I mean she has dealt with a lot in her life and she can talk to ghosts. She is just really jumpy. She scares easily and cries a lot. While she is doing that she is still entering haunted mansions so she has that going for her.

Logan has always known that he could see ghosts. The best part is that his parents have always accepted this because they have gifts of their own. Now he is part of The Orion Circle that follows paranormal claims to see if their real. When he confirms that Kacie has a gift he gives her an invite to join the secret club. But he just might fall in love with her in the process.

Logan was a super sweet hero. He gave Kacie a place where she is understood. There are people with gifts and there are people who have been through the same things that she has with her parents. Logan stands up for her in front of her dad. He is also a safe place and protects her whenever he can.

This book was really interesting. The plot was fun, interesting, and it had elements that were different. The gifts people has were mostly psychic but there were also people in their group that didn’t have any powers at all. The secondary character were really great as well. They each brought something to the story whether it was parental figure, humor, or a best friend. They gave even more depth to the story.

If there are more I will definitely be going on my TBR list.

Read my reviews here..