Best of 2013: Review of Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II) by Jean Murray

Title: Review of Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II)
Author: Jean Murray
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 15th 2013
Reviewed by: Ollie

Rating - 5
Sexual - 4

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.

I have to first start off by saying I have been waiting for this book for what seems like ages, every since I was left hanging at the end of book 1 wondering what was going to happen next based on the set up. I don't know where to begin to describe the absolutely marvelous job that the author does in not only creating a wonderful world with so much depth and detail, but a story line the has the mystery and intrigue that will keep you glued to the the pages. I can attest to that as this book had me up into the wee morning hours as I couldn't put it down. Thank goodness it was the holidays otherwise I would have been going into work very exhausted and bleary-eyed.

Book 2 continues on where it left off with Asar's son, Bakari, imprisoned in a sarcophagus for five years tricked by the evil goddess Kepi, tormented and tortured during those years in the dark both physically and mentally. Kendra, the youngest Carrigan sister, is driven to find way to break the spell that has kept him imprisoned and as a result ends up breaking more then the spell.

What happens next is a wonderful story not only dealing with lies, deceptions, and retribution, but also focuses on compassion, love, forgiveness and redemption. As Bakari deals with trying to regain control over himself and come to terms with his past, Kendra discovers that love can hit you like a bolt of lightening. Even though Kendra has been bonded to Bakari by the spell she feels that their link goes beyond the physical. As times passes and her sweet and gently way penetrates into Bakari's soul soon Kendra realizes that she wants more if only Bakari will let her in.

I have to say there were moments where it was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me as it pained me to see Bakari's suffering and his self-depreciating outlook and also seeing honorable Bomani's world turned upside down.

I highly recommend this book not only for the amazing storyline, but because of the depth that the author goes into developing the complicated characters and their relationships with each other. This book will have your heart aching for Bakari, Bomani and Kendra, wondering who is behind the betrayal and deception among the Gods and Goddesses, and loving the tender moments in the book.

Now I can't wait for book 3 to come out which should feature the last Carrigan sister, Kit and based on her no-nonsense attitude there should some very fun and teasing moments between her and her future beau.

ARC Review of Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II) by Jean Murray

Title: Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II)
Author: Jean Murray
Source: ARC Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance - Gods, Goddess, Zombies
Format: ebook - #292 pages
Release Date: January 15th 2013
Author's Website

Review of Soul Reborn (Key to the Cursed Series - Book #1) by Jean Murray

Title: Soul Reborn (Key to the Cursed Series - Book #1)
Author: Jean Murray
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy - Gods, Goddesses and the walking dead
Format: ebook - 282 pages
Release Date: April 6th 2011
Author's Website

THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD

Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls.

DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED.

Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only things standing in the way of the goddess' undead army unleashing hell on earth. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore. But Lilly has a secret-one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

This is the first book in the series by Jean Murray and I want to start off by saying I was blown away by this book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series. This book had elements that would satisfy not only fans of paranormal romance but also urban fantasy fans as it combined Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, the walking dead, betrayal, and the world at peril against the backdrop of a hot and passionate romance.

The premise of the book is that a strange plague has infected the world that has turned humans into the walking dead who crave the hot blood of humans. The only defense the humans have against these walking dead is a league of Nehebkau huntresses who made it their goal to eradicate them from the world especially for Lilly. Until that point in time that was the only thing that was important to her until her encounter with a strange, powerful creature who turned her existence upside down. The moment she meets Asar she finds herself drawn to him and vice versa. Who wouldn't be drawn to the God of the Underworld who not only radiates power, but seduction with his gorgeous, muscular physique, shoulder length black hair and dark piercing eyes.

Asar has his own curse that he has had to endure that has left him with only hate and revenge to fuel him until he meets Lilly. There is something about her that tames and soothes him that he cannot explain since he has no soul to soothe. Yet the more time he spends with Lilly the more he finds himself opening doors within himself that he thought were shut closed for eternity.

The building sexual tension between the two of them grows so intense that when they do get together they sizzle off the pages. All I can say is Asar really knows how to rock a woman's world, literally, and the way he is described and what he does will make you wish you had him for yourself.

The other thing I want to mention is the author not only did an marvelous job of writing passionate scenes that were so hot that you wanted to put the book down to find your significant other at that very moment, but also writing such strong emotional scenes that you felt your heart ache with pain and sorrow.

The secondary characters were also so amazing. They didn't appear as fillers as some do in other books, but were so well fleshed out that you wanted to know more about them. At some points they provided some wonderful light comic relief within the story with the main characters.

This is a must read that will satisfy readers who want not only a hot, passionate romance but also action that will keep you glued to the pages and wanting to know what is going to happen next. I was extremely impressed at how much action did occur in this book and what makes me want to read book 2 is it ends with a cliffhanger.

As soon as Book 2 is out I plan to get my copy and savor getting reacquainted with everyone and continuing where the story left off and finding out what is going to happen next with these wonderful characters.