Saturday, February 2, 2013

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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Thank you for commenting! Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. The link can be found at the top of the page!

53 comments:

  1. +JMJ+

    The religion of Ancient Egypt is fascinating, isn't it? =)

    Lately, I've been working my way through Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series (which I've never read before), but I finally decided to stop at the fourth book. They're great children's classics, but they've become a case of "too much of a good thing" for me. I'll be happy to start reading some "grown up" books for a palate cleanser this month. =)

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    1. Hi +JMJ+.

      I used to watch the TV series growing up. I might just have to pick up a few of the Little House series, just to walk down memory lane. I haven't read any of the children's classics, but I went through a period of reading Dickens. I go back on occasion and reread them.

      Thanks for sharing.

      Jean

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  2. Sources for inspiration... hmmm. Well, I get inspired by a number of things. Ideas seem to spawn from the most mundane of circumstances, sometimes. I let my dreams fuel me.

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    1. Hi Dorothy.

      I'm with you a 100 percent. I could be in the grocery store and a story idea hits me in the soup aisle. LOL. Sometimes those objects or ideas appear in my writing. In Soul Awakened Kendra has this green flashlight - yes, that idea came to me standing in line at Home Depot.:-)

      Jean

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    2. Lol, exactly! I once created an entire book series from someone saying something like, "My toenails hurt." And I immediately thought about that persons toenails and how they might be hurting because he's a mythical creature and the human spell on him is wearing off, so his toenails are becoming talons, etc., etc., etc. As you said above, the human mind is a complex (and wacky) thing.

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    3. I am intrigued. Please tell me the name of this series started from someone's hurting toe nail. :-)

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    4. Lol, no name yet. Still writing the first draft. And the idea has morphed way past what it what when it started too. I doubt anyone would believe me if they read the book and I told them it was based off someone complaining about their toenail. I would love to be able to tell that story though!

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  3. Hi Everyone.

    First, I want to thank Crazy for Books for having me over today and for the most excellent reviews :-)

    It wasn't until I started doing research for the series did I find how much I didn't know about the Ancient Egyptian Culture. Their belief in the afterlife is amazingly complex. One of the spells Kendra uses in Soul Awakened is an actual translation from the Book of the Dead. It was challenging and fun to mingle this rich mythology into present day.

    Thank you to all who visit today. Hope you will give this series a try.

    Jean

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to connect with the commenters. Many authors don't bother to stop by. :-(

      I thoroughly enjoyed both books :-)

      Your research shows. Your books were wonderfuly descriptive. *face palm* I knew there was something else that I wanted to add to my review. I guess I'll have to wait and add it to the reviews for Amazon & Goodreads!

      If I know my commenters, most of them will find your books to their liking so I am pretty sure at least some of them will be adding it to their TBR lists. :D

      Have a nice weekend!

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    2. Egyptian culture has still a lot of unknow but when i saw how advanced their were in medecine for example, it's a shame it was lost and we had to wait centuries before finding again some remedy

      thank you a lot for answering our comments

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    3. Hi Brenda.

      I wouldn't miss this. I'm so glad you enjoyed Lilly's and Kendra's story. Thank you for being such a good host :-)

      Jean

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    4. Hi Miki.

      They were well advanced for their time. Medicine, horticulture, astrology, astronomy, language. Don't get me started about the Rosetta stone.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Jean

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  4. The last good books I read were the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan and "Sh*t My Dad Says" by Justin Halpern. I am reading "Specials" right now and it is incredibly frustrating.

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    1. Hi Rachel.

      I love the Percy Jackson series.

      Thank you for the suggestions. Off to pad my TBR.

      Jean

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  5. I'm a little intrigued is it egyptian like the cover and blurb said or is it greek mythology.

    I like both and both are really interesting but egyptian i have a little preference for it , i curious to see how the author managed because like she told in the guest post we do all our on interpretation and that's the magical part of a book

    as for the question: in A shade of vampire by Bella forrest i really enjoyed the desciption of the city , i found it really vivid and it made me have some strange dreams after^^

    g+done

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    1. HI Miki.

      Yes, the series is based on Ancient Egyptian mythology.

      Off to check out Bella Forest.

      Jean

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    2. Hey Miki,

      Sorry for confusing you. It feels like Greek mythology to me. It is just the way I perceived it.

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    3. That is the beauty of books. There are hundreds of different interpretations and how people visualize the world and settings authors are trying to get across. Book groups are always interesting to see the different perspectives of people and you wonder how they could possibly interpret something when you thought of it a totally different way.

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  6. Sounds like a great book! I love reading about the egyptian culture. I am currently reading Beautiful Creatures. Thanks!
    -Amber
    goodblinknpark(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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    1. Hi Amber.

      Hope you will give the series a try. Thanks for stopping by today and for your suggestion. I've heard a lot of great things about Beautiful Creatures.

      Jean

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    2. I started to read Beautiful Creatures and I couldn't get into it right away. I had to walk away to try it another day. I have to read the book first though before I see the movie. If I don't I won't ever be able to read the book because then I don't get to imagine things as easily on my own and interpret what the author is trying to convey. Instead I will just have the picture of what the movie was in my head. Definitely not as fun.

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  7. I like the sound of this book! I would love to read it. I just finished the Hunger Games Trilogy and Soul Awakened seems like a good book to read next.

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    1. Hi Anne.

      So nice to see you here. Oh, the Hunger Games Trilogy. That's one I'm not sure if I should read the books before the movies or the other way around.

      Jean

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    2. Definitely the books before the movies. Even though the first movie did do the book justice which sometimes doesn't happen because all those amazing details in the book get lost on the big screen. It is an amazing trilogy.

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  8. I just finished Hearts and Flour by Tara Lain and loved it!

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Emily.

      That's one I haven't heard about. Off to add it to my TBR :-)

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Jean

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  9. Thank you for sharing "The Power of the Written Word." I couldn't agree more with you about everyone having their own interpretation of a story. We've actually had discussions on whether or not it's fair for "literature" teachers to grade students based on what they "think" something means. I want my kids to feel free to have their own thoughts, not to follow along with everyone else because a teacher says so. I've seen too many individuals talk about how much they hated literature classes because they didn't see or understand what the teacher wanted them to. They were frustrated and discouraged from being open to these wonderful reading experiences for the sake of a grade and some other persons opinion. *off soap box* LOL

    I'm going to add your books to my TBR list. I really like the concept behind the stories.

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    1. Feel free to step on your soap box anytime Josette.

      I'm glad we are hear to listen if you feel strongly about something.

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    2. Hi Josette.

      Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you will give the series a try.

      Jean

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    3. Thanks Brenda. It's not something that is likely to change, but I always talk to my kids about school and what they are having trouble with. If I feel the teacher isn't allowing my kids to be open to learning, then we talk about that. However, I want to add, we always respect the teacher and the knowledge they work to share with us.

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  10. Just finished Seduced By Innocence by Kimberly Kinrade (hooked me right in and now I can't wait for the next book. I am now reading Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec. It was recommended as a humorous read and I'm about 3 chapters in and have been laughing every other sentence ;)

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    1. I've never heard of Seduction and Snacks before but I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. :D

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    2. I'm going to need a bigger bookshelf :-) So many great recommendations.

      Jean
      www.jean-murray.com

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    3. You definitely should check it out Brenda. I'm about half way through, and it is a roller coaster of sarcasm and laughter! Lighter on the romance, but well worth the read so far.

      Jean, I just kicked the DVDs and kids games off of a bookshelf so I'd have more room for my books ;) That's with having quite a few on the eReader now too. I'm addicted, that's all there is to it LOL

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    4. Josette,

      Hmm, I like that idea. Move over kids :-)

      My kids and I play a game where I read a passage or scene in a book and they draw a picture. I'm always amazed at how differently their minds work. I have them explain their pictures to each other. They get so excited when they discover something the other picked out of the story. It makes reading fun for them.

      Jean Murray
      www.jean-murray.com

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  11. I'm currently reading "Poison Study" by Mary V Snyder and it's excellent. Can't wait to read book 2!!

    mestith@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Meghan.

      Oh, that book sounds awesome. Might have to move it higher on my TBR.

      Jean

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  12. I am currently reading Wasteland by Lynn Rush. I just started it this morning so I can't really share something good about it. Someone recommended the book Tainted to me so I looked up her books and decided on Wasteland. I'm excited to fit in some reading time this weekend. The last great book I read was by Sara Hubbard and it is called Blood, She Read. It is an amazing book and it is a debut novel so thats always exciting to discover new authors.
    sbereza22(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Shannon.

      You chose wisely. Wasteland is the first book in the series, then Awaited and then Tainted.

      Jean

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  13. I just reread one of the stories in For The Love of Christmas which is an anthology. I needed a quick read this morning while I had my coffee. The story involves a dollhouse and there is a scene in which the characters discuss how to steal a dollhouse from another customer in a store. It is hilarious! A great quick read book.

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    1. I never truly appreciated novellas until recently. I don't get to do a lot of reading when I'm writing, blogging and my virtual travels for my book tour. I just read a novella given to me from a fellow author I hosted on Wicked Romance. It was like the perfect bite size candy to be savored over morning coffee before I got back to the chaos that is my life.

      It was great.

      Jean

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  14. I just got done reading heavenly and now I am reading I'd Choose You!
    makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Megan.

      Wow, my TBR runeth over. Thanks for the great suggestions and for joining my book tour.

      Jean

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  15. I am reading Forged by Greed by Angela Orlowski-Peart and it is about a fantasy real with shifters. So yes, it's a paranormal read and there is a part in it when the female lead in the book is in a fantasy realm with her Goddess and the author is giving amazing detail to how the world is shifting around them because it is their fantasy realm. Anyway, the lead character who is the princess of her race made a comment about how herr parents had to take her to Disney World when she was a girl because she kept talking about a world of magic. Unfortunately she was saying this in front of humans so her parents were forced to take her to Disney so people would think that is what she was talking about.

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    1. Hi Shannon.

      Love it. Have you been to Disney? My husband and I went for our anniversary one year, because I had never been. It truly is a world of magic. They must pump extra oxygen into that park because I was all giddy. LOL. I left with Mickey Ears.

      Jean

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  16. Crazy Four Books,

    I want to thank you again for having me over and for reviewing Soul Reborn and Soul Awakened. I appreciate your time and beautiful blog.

    Sincerely,
    Jean Murray
    www.jean-murray.com

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    1. Awww, Thanks. :-) I enjoyed having you here.

      Let me know when your next book is coming out and stop back!

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  17. This book is so interesting! I would love to read it! :)

    Right now, I'm reading Stephen King's Under the Dome.

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    1. Hi Anne.

      I've watched Steven King movies. It makes it hard to sleep at night. I'm a little afraid to read the books.

      Any suggestions?

      Jean

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  18. Iam reading Soul Reborn right now and I'm loving what I've read so far! To those who haven't read it, what are you waiting for? I wish I could read faster or have more hours in the day!

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    1. Hi Shannon.

      Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the book and will give Kendra's a try.

      Best Wishes.

      Jean

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    2. I'm already onto Soul Awakened. I loved Soul Reborn. The wait for Soul Unbound is going to be unbearable...... sbereza22(at)gmail(dot)com

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    3. I am still reading Soul Awakened but don't want to share anything in case other readers haven't read the first book or started the second one. So I will ask a question instead. I am wondering what Jean is reading right now? sbereza22(at)gmail(dot)com

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