VBT: Review, Giveaway & Guest Blog by Jean Murray author of Soul Awakened

Jean Murray is guest blogging for me today. Thank you Jean! :D

The power of the written word….

Have you ever wondered why we love to read? Is it the need to feed that creative side or experience conflict and danger without actually living it? The human mind is fairly complex. As a nurse, I’ve had to study those dynamic neural pathways. We have theories on how our brain processes information, but we don’t know for sure.

As an author it is my challenge to take an image in my mind of a character or setting and translate that picture into words. It is often a struggle to determine the right amount of words or the “right” words to paint a picture that readers can grasp onto and immerse themselves in a book. Word selection is very important. Too little or too bland a description leaves a huge black hole in the visual canvas. Too many or too creative words laden the story in descriptions and takes away from the moment. A complementary blending of words should communicate the smells, sounds, visual, taste and tactile stimuli to activate our senses.

As readers, we have an equally challenging task to process those words and redevelop that picture and the multifaceted relationships between objects, events and characters. Whether we are aware of it or not as readers we fill in the gaps with our own interpretations, and infuse the story with an amazing amount of detail that complements the words on the page. This is my favorite part of reading. Two readers can read the same passage but visualize or interpret variations in the visual message. The words ground the scene, but leave enough for us to add our own flare. The wonderful symbiotic relationship between Author – words – Reader.

Have you read a good book lately?

Share the book you are reading today or share a great scene. Your comment will be entered to win a copy of Soul Reborn, Book 1 of the Key to the Cursed series by Jean Murray.

Don’t forget about the Soul Awakened Kindle Fire HD giveaway. Enter below!


Thank you, Crazy 4 Books for having me over today!

About the Author:    

In her pursuit of a nursing degree, Jean Murray aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. At the end of 2011 she said a heart-breaking goodbye to her Navy family and retired after twenty years of military service. Although her dreams of writing full time have yet to come true, she continues her writing journey and draws inspiration from her travels abroad. She enjoys spending time with her family and of course, writing about the “Carrigan sisters and their mates, Gods of the Underworld,” to bring you the next installment of the Key to the Cursed series.


Blog / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Goodreads


Here's a trailer for book one, Soul Reborn.



You can purchase Soul Reborn from Amazon.

Title: Soul Awakened          

Key to the Cursed Series Book Two

Author: Jean Murray

Genre: Dark Paranormal

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Date of Publication: January 15, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-937254-97-1

ASIN: 978-1-937254-98-8

Number of pages: 292

Word Count: 92,000

Cover Artist: Taria A. Reed

Purchase from Amazon


Book Description:


LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR

Kendra, an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo. To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.

HAUNTED BY SINS OF THE PAST

Bakari awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation, but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most-- his Parvana. His butterfly.


My Thoughts:

I read both books and I really liked them. I was engrossed in this series from the first page of book one until the last page of book two. Both books have a decent amount of pages. The stories are well paced and the romance and action found in each book are spread consistently throughout it.

Both books have Greek mythology, romance, more action than you could hope for, and intrigue. The books have the feel of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy. It was a win win for me as I really like both of those genres. Finding that combination in each book was awesome!

Book one, Soul Reborn, has a kick a** heroine named Lilly. I really liked her character. Besides being a wicked good fighter, she was caring and loyal to her family. Her leading man was Asar, God of the Underworld. He is soulless and heartless (at least at first). It amused me greatly that she who hates all supes and he who hates humans are drawn together.

There seemed to be an underlying theme of accepting the consequences of their actions and learning to let go.

In Soul Awakened, the heroine is Kendra, the youngest of the Carrigan sisters. Her leading man is Bakari. This book was more of an emotional ride in my opinion.

The underlying theme for this book seemed to be dealing with deception and then redemption.

I recommend this series to everyone. These are the type of books that have something that will appeal to everyone. I do suggest reading book one first though!

I am looking forward to reading Soul Unbound, (Key to the Cursed #3). I am eager to see what awaits for Kit the third sister. This should be good!

I received a copy of both books from Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion. I honestly thought they were grand slams. In other words, both books were fantastic!


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