Review: Maycly by Janet Beasley

I was supposed to have this review up yesterday, and for it's lateness I apologize.  I somehow obtained some nasty malware yesterday and my computer is in the shop - so I had to borrow a computer to post this today.

I received Maycly by Janey Beasley to review as part of her Orangeberry Book Tour.  (You can click that link to find all the rest of the stops on Ms. Beasley's tour).  Maycly consists of the first three Hidden Earth eBooks.  It's volume one of six in this new, fantasy adventure series. 

GOODREADS Synopsis:

"Maycly is a world everyone longs to experience, but for Iona, left alone to fend for herself, Maycly has become a fading dream. After years of endless searching for her missing family, she had all but given up hope. But the Grand Wizard, SUL, had a plan.

This faith based fantasy adventure is suitable for the entire family. Maycly is filled with adventure, trials, love, and epic battles, along with fantastic flora, creative creatures, and characters that come to life through illustrations. There is no profanity, vulgarity, or explicit sex.

Will Iona discover her true destiny? Will she ever find her missing family? Is Maycly bound to an existence of Evil for eternity? What will happen to Earth? Only the tales of HIDDN EARTH hold the answers.

Your fantastic journey begins with Volume 1, Maycly"

My review:
I really enjoyed reading Maycly. I found Janet Beasley's writing easy to read, engrossing, and intellectually stimulating. The fact that there is no profanity or explicit sex makes it a good read for all ages. I also really enjoyed the full color illustrations which bring the story alive. The book would be a great selection for book club - due to the stimulating topics that would be great for discussion – but also because the book contains recipes, which could be fun for book club members to make for the meeting. The author is going to be releasing a companion cookbook.



Maycly is fast paced, features fantastical creatures and epic battles. If you are a fan of the Lord of The Rings, you will love this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series and see where Iona’s path leads her.

Sykosa Whirlind Tour Kick Off

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Sykosa eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Sykosa for just 99 cents
2. Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
3. Visit today’s featured social media event
4. BONUS: Leave a comment on this post*

Leave a comment, win $100:

One random tour commenter will win a $100 Amazon gift card. Just leave a comment on this post, and you'll be entered to win. For a full list of participating blogs, check out the official tour page. You can enter on just my blog or on all of them. Get out there and network!

About the book: YA fiction for the 18+ crowd. Sykosa is a sixteen-year-old girl trying to reclaim her identity after an act of violence shatters her life and the lives of her friends. Set at her best friend’s cottage, for what will be a weekend of unsupervised badness, Sykosa will have to finally confront the major players and issues from this event, as well as decide if she wants to lose her virginity to Tom, her first boyfriend, and the boy who saved her from danger. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Sykosa is Justin Ordoñez's life's work. He hopes to one day settle down with a nerdy, somewhat introverted woman and own 1 to 4 dogs. Visit Justin on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Whispering Hills Book Tour: Review & Giveaway

Alexis Forbes is not your average high school student.  Alexis can hear people’s thoughts – but not in the way you think of when you hear that someone can read minds.  Alexis can only hear people’s thoughts when they have made a decision to do something.   The story starts with Alexis hearing the thought , “I’m going to kill her.”  Right after hearing those words, Alexis meets her new locker neighbor, Chance.  Oddly enough, Alexis can’t hear Chance’s thoughts.   

As Alexis and Chance become closer, she starts to discover that there is something unusual about Chance.  Along the way, she makes friends with social outcast, Summer.  Together Summer and Alexis struggle to uncover what it is that binds the two girls and Chance, while trying to figure out who the murderous thoughts are coming from, and how to stop the killer. 

I really liked this book.  The plot of Whispering Hills is very different than a lot of books that I’ve read.  In fact, of all the paranormal books I’ve read, I’ve never read one that had this books surprising paranormal twist.  And no, I’m not talking about the mind reading aspect – I’m talking about how Chance, Summer and Alexis are all connected and why.  I’m not going to give it way, because I think everyone should read and find out for themselves. 

The plot is unique, and the book thoroughly enjoyable.  The first few chapters start a little bit slow, but after that, it’s a page turner.  I read the whole book in one sitting.  The characters are interesting and dynamic.  I really liked Summer a lot.  There is so much more to her than her hardened, slightly gothic exterior.  I can’t wait to see how Summer’s character develops in the next book.

I am giving away an e-copy of the book, as well as signed bookmarks.  Please check SupaGurl’s Book Tours to follow the rest of the tour.  And be sure to stop back there the last day of the tour (April 12) for the big giveaway.

About the author: 

Taryn Browning writes young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. Her debut novel, DARK SEEKER, is available on Amazon and B&N. The sequel, DARK RETURN, comes out in late, 2012.

Taryn graduated with a BS in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a MS in Reading from Hood College. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two young sons and their dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, music, movies, and the beach. Visit her at www.tarynbrowning.com, on twitter and facebook.