Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate's Portolano by Victoria Williamson - #bookspotlight #blogtour

The Blurb

A daring mission, a sister turned pirate and a sea full of secrets…

In a world of water where land is a legend, 11-year-old Kittiwake Stormhaven dreams of adventure aboard the Amazon Princess. When a vital mission takes the ship into dangerous waters, Kittiwake discovers shocking news - her long-lost sister, Petrel, is now a feared pirate queen.

Kittiwake must outsmart pirates, outmanoeuvre storms and face ghostly captains to save her ship, her mischievous monkey Caboodle and her friends. But in a high-stakes showdown, family loyalty collides with survival, and Kittiwake learns the ocean hides more secrets than she ever imagined.

Kittiwake Stormhaven is a fast-paced, sea-swept adventure filled with daring rescues, thrilling discoveries and the magic of friendship.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 0722355732

Publisher:  Tiny Tree Books

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  174 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author from Glasgow, Scotland, who loved reading 

books and writing adventure stories from an early age. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK.

Her previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, War of the Wind, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, Norah’s Ark, The Whistlers in the Dark, Feast of Ashes, and Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs. Her books have won the RED Book Award 2024, YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023 and the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, and have been short-listed and long-listed for numerous other awards. War of the Wind and Norah’s Ark were also both nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medals.

Victoria writes and edits Key Stage 2 books for the education company Twinkl. She spends the rest of her time writing novels and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops. Her latest novel, Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate’s Portolano, channels her love of pirates and swashbuckling adventure to create a steampunk world set on the seven seas, and is illustrated by the very talented James Brown.

You can also find Victoria at:

Author Website

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Instagram

Bluesky

(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Ciao, Amore, Ciao by Sandro Martini - #bookspotlight #blogtour

Today I am shining the spotlight on this book, Ciao, Amore, Ciao by author, Sandro Martini.

The Blurb

In the winter of 1942, an Italian army of young men vanishes in the icefields of the Eastern Front. In the summer of 1945, a massacre in Schio, northeastern Italy, where families grieve the dead, makes international headlines.

In present-day Veneto, an ordinary man is about to stumble onto a horrifying secret.

Alex Lago is a jaded journalist whose career is fading as fast as his marriage. When he discovers an aged World War II photo in his dying father’s home, and innocently posts it to a Facebook group, he gets an urgent message: Take it down. NOW.

Alex finds himself digging into a past that needs to stay hidden. What he's about to uncover is a secret that can topple a political dynasty buried under seventy years of rubble. Suddenly entangled in a deadly legacy, he encounters the one person who can offer him redemption, for an unimaginable price.

Told from three alternating points of view, Martini’s World War II tale of intrigue, war, and heartbreak pulls the Iron Curtain back to reveal a country nursing its wounds after horrific defeat, an army of boys forever frozen at the gates of Stalingrad, British spies scheming to reshape Italy’s future, and the stinging unsolved murder of a partisan hero.

Ciao, Amore, Ciao is a gripping story of the most heroic, untold battle of the Second World War, and a brilliantly woven novel that brings the deceits of the past and the reckoning of the present together. It's an enthralling dual-timeline WWII family mystery, based on the heartbreaking true story of the massacre in a small town in Italy in July of 1945, from award-winning, bestselling novelist Sandro Martini.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1685135782

Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

Formats:  e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  385 (paperback)

Series:  Alex Lago Book 1

Purchase Links

Black Rose Writing

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Sandro Martini has worked as a word monkey on three continents. He's the author of Tracks: Racing the Sun, an award-winning historical novel.

Sandro grew up in Africa to immigrant parents, studied law in Italy, chased literary dreams in London, hustled American dollars in New York City, and is now hiding out in Switzerland, where he moonlights as a Comms guy and tries hard not to speak German.

You can find him either uber-driving his daughter, chasing faster cars on the autobahn, or swimming in Lake Zurich with a cockapoo named Tintin.

His latest historical suspense novel, Ciao, Amore, Ciao, is now available.

You can also find Sandro at:

Author Website

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(ARC and media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this book today. Trial of the Alchemist by author, Trevor Melanson was the third place finalist in BBYNA Award 2024.

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

The Blurb

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.

Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets.

But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.

He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night.

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8857292624

Publisher:  Independently Published

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  451 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Trevor Melanson is the author of four novels, including Trial of the Alchemist, a semi-finalist of both the SPFBO and BBNYA competitions and previously one of the twenty best-rated completed stories on Royal Road. 

A former journalist, Trevor now spends his workdays running communications at a think tank and advancing the transition to clean energy. He lives on the scenic Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two cats, having gleefully abandoned the big city life that once beckoned him as a younger man.

You can also find Trevor at:

Linked In

Sage and Savant

(ARC and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

The Thief of Farrowfell Hall by Ravena Guron & Illustrated by Alessia Trunfio - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Jude Ripon loved stealing.

Not just magic, or money, or diamonds and gold, though they were all fun things to pinch. She liked the quiet moment when she snuck through mansions of the rich... stolen seconds of living someone else's life...

***

The Blurb

Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or - in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell - those who can steal it!

Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.

Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .

But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.

While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.

Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more . . .

My Review

This book will be a delight to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy.

It is a fast paced fantasy adventure story with lots happening on every page. I'm not certain I have ever come across the concept of magic being edible and I appreciated its uniqueness.

The main character, Jude Ripon lives amongst her family of thieves at Ripon Headquarters. They steal magic and keep it for themselves. Jude is the youngest of the family and when she attempts to prove herself as a true Ripon, she finds herself in a lot of trouble and unleashes a curse. The story is then taken up by how she can lift this curse before anyone in the family finds out.

I really loved Jude's character. Her bravery is admirable and she is a determined young girl. In fact, all of the characters in this book are interesting. The family are lead by Granleader and the dynamics within the family are well portrayed. Jude's sister, Moorley is the most popular in the family and Jude resents this very much. I loved the way the sisters relationship develops through the book.

The author develops both character and plot extremely well and has created a world and society which is well-imagined and also believable. Although there are themes of addiction in the story, it is portrayed in a way that is suitable for middle grade readers.

The book is the first in a series. The second book, The Beast of Farrowfell is  already available, and the third, The Battle of Farrowfell is being published on the 8th of May and can be pre-ordered.

Book Details 

ISBN:  978 0571371174

Publisher:  Faber

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  320 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Blackwell's

About the Author

A born and bred Londoner, Ravena writes MG and YA, usually featuring antiheroines or snarky narrators. She is a lawyer with a degree in biochemistry, and hopes to use the knowledge gained from her experiences to plot her books, whether that's wild MG fantasy adventures, or twisty YA murder mysteries.

Why not check out some of the other fabulous bloggers on this tour.

(book and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Down in the Sea of Angels by Khan Wong - #bookreview

 

March 4, 2106 - Marshall Cove, San Francisco

A dozen drones buzzed right in my face when I got there. Beside the bonfire, a scruffy guy in coveralls fidgeted with a tablet, tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth in concentration, presumably controlling these things...

***

The Blurb

In the year 2106, climate change has altered the world, transforming borders, cities, and socioeconomic structures. Additionally, a cosmic event known as the “Bloom” has awakened psionic abilities in a small percentage of the population. 

One such individual is Maida Sun, who possesses the ability to know the history of objects she touches. In the course of her new job with a cultural recovery project in San Francisco, she comes across an object that plunges her into the lives of Li Nuan, a sex-trafficked girl in a Chinatown brothel in 1906 longing for freedom, and Nathan, a tech-designer and hedonist in 2006 seeking greater purpose. 

When a chance encounter with a political leader’s watch reveals a plan to eliminate psions – people like her – Maida must find a way to stop his agenda before it gains traction. 

Flashes of the past and glimpses of the future provide Maida, Li Nuan and Nathan clues to help their own situations as they, each in their own way, confront exploitation and fight for liberation while living under the specter of environmental collapse. 

My Review

At the beginning of this year, I promised myself I would read some books which were outside my usual reading comfort zone. When I was offered the opportunity to read this one, it sounded like the ideal book to try out a little science fiction. 

This book is set during three time periods. We follow Li Nuan in 1906, Nathan in 2006 and Maida Sun in 2106. I reassured myself that with parts of the book set in the past and the present, then those would provide a gateway into the science fiction element for me. However, it was no time at all before I was absorbed by Maida's part in this story too. Isn't it wonderful to be pleasantly surprised by a reading experience?

I found all three of the characters completely believable. Li Nuan, who has been sex-trafficked, Nathan, who comes to realise that there must be more to life than his hedonism and job with a tech company, and Maida whose psionic abilities drive her towards an object that will link all three of them.

What I particularly enjoyed was Nathan's awakening to the fact that he was a contributor to the future environmental consequences that those in his period of time were causing. Fast forward to Maida's section of the book where those consequences have indeed occurred, and we observe a world in which those consequences have transpired due to the lifestyles of those who have come before her, known in the book as the Precursors. It serves as a warning to us all.

I enjoyed the journeys of all three of the main characters. They were engaging and each of their stories made for compelling reading. I particularly liked the way the author ultimately portrayed the connection between the three characters. He gathered all of the strands together to produce a satisfying ending to the book.

As a newbie to science fiction/fantasy this book has left me wanting more. Do you have any suggestions of what I should read next?

You can find out more about Khan's previous book, The Circus Infinite, here..

I will mention at this point that some of Li Nuan's story was difficult to read as she is a sex-trafficked minor and the sexual scenes are graphically portrayed. It is shocking to realise that not only did this happen during the time period but still happens today. That said, this is still an excellent book but if it is a trigger for you then you may want to give this one a miss.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1915998361

Publisher:  Angry Robot

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  400 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Khan Wong has published poetry, played cello in an earnest folk-rock duo, and been an internationally known hula hoop teacher and performer. He's toured with a circus and produced circus arts shows in San Francisco, where he also worked as a grantmaker with a public sector arts funding agency. His debut novel, The Circus Infinite, was a finalist for the Lambda LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction Award 2023 and long-listed for the BSFA Best Novel Award. 

You can also find Khan at:

Author Website

Linked In

Instagram

Facebook

BlueSky

Why not check out some of the other fabulous bloggers on the tour?

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs by Victoria Williamson - Illustrated by James Brown - #blogtour #bookreview

If anyone can hear me, this is Skipper Malkin Maddox of the Skyfleet reporting from the New World colony base. It's been three years since our pioneer boat washed up on these uncharted shores, and all our attempts to contact the Old World by radio have failed. I'm continuing to broadcast in the hope that someone, somewhere, will pick up our signal and send us the help we need...

The Blurb

When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes...

Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it - the Firehawk - lies in pieces in the hangar.

Determined to honour her parents' legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo's help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.

Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.

My Review

I am a big fan of Victoria Williamson's books and I've read and reviewed several. I'll pop links to them at the end of the review.

This book which is aimed at a middle grade readership is full of action and adventure.

The characters were easy to identify with. The main character, Amberley Jain has been through a lot in her twelve years. She has lost her parents in a crash which also left her with paralysed legs. She was a great character and she showed such courage. Her friend, Ricardo who is visually impaired was an equally interesting character and between them they made a great team in the way they helped one another.

The book is set in a futuristic New World. It is set in a dystopian future and its themes of friendship, grief and courage were well portrayed. I liked the way that characters with disabilities were portrayed with such strength and bravery.   It was a heartwarming and hopeful story that I enjoyed reading.

It is a fast paced, action packed adventure book which will have great appeal to both boys and girls. 

The book has been nicely illustrated by James Brown with occasional illustrations of the different space crafts.

Below are links to my reviews of other books by Victoria Williamson.

Red Runs the Witch's Thread

The Haunting Scent of Poppies

War of the Wind

The Whistlers in the Dark

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams

Norah's Ark

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1837917044

Publisher: Tiny Tree

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  198 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.

As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.

She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.

Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com 

You can also find Victoria at:

Good Reads

Twitter / X

Instagram

Blue Sky

(book and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Pax and the Forgotten Pincher by David Barker - #spotlight #blogtour

 I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this book today as next week, I will be back with a book review. This is the second in the London Falling series. I read the first book, Pax and the Missing Head, last year and you can find my review by clicking here. In the meantime, let me tell you a little about this book...

The Blurb

Pax has made it through the trials of his first year at Scholastic Parliament, but any hopes of a quieter second year are quickly dashed when he makes a shocking discovery in the school’s basement. A new student joins the school, acting suspiciously and muscling in on Pax’s friendship with Samuel. At least being reigning champions in the Parliamentary Polls allows Pax and his friends to explore the city at weekends. But drone raids and cyber-attacks disrupt life in New London while a paranoid mayor cracks down hard on terrorism.

Unwittingly, Pax helps an innocent man get captured. Driven by guilt, he seeks out the Underground resistance movement and is given a mission to steal some codes from the mayor. In the process, Pax uncovers the shocking truth about a new factory that threatens the lives of millions of people. He is torn between stopping this latest sinister plot and focusing on schoolwork to keep alive his dream of becoming an engineer. To achieve both, he’ll need help. But who can he trust in a city full of falsehoods? What sacrifices will he need to make? Find out in the latest instalment in the London Falling series.

ISBN: 978 1837914968

Publisher:  Tiny Tree Books

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  208

About the Author:

David attended the Faber Academy in 2014 and from that had three climate-fiction thrillers published (The Gold Trilogy, Bloodhound Books). He joined SCBWI in 2018 as he shifted his focus to a younger audience. His Middle Grade debut, Pax & The Missing Head publishes with Tiny Tree in late 2023. He lives in Berkshire with his wife and daughter and has a passion for stories, sport and boardgames.

(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

Swift and Hawk : Supernova by Logan Macx - #spotlight

 

Today I am shining the spotlight on Swift and Hawk: Supernova by Logan Macx. This is just the sort of book that my sons would have loved when they were younger.

***

Swift and Hawk are on the run in the third mission in the unputdownable high-tech, high-adventure spy series for fans of Alex Rider and Young Bond.

An epic chase. An unstoppable enemy. On a breakneck mission to rescue their AI from evil organization Razor, teen spies Swift and Hawk uncover a lead that could help them take down Razor for good. But with only a location and the word "Supernova" to follow, Swift and Hawk must use every spy trick they have in a relentless race across America. Only someone else is chasing them – and they'll stop at nothing until Swift is dead...

A page-turning spy thriller for readers 9+ that can be enjoyed as a standalone novel or read as part of the adrenaline-fuelled Swift and Hawk spy series.

ISBN:  978 1529515954

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  288 (paperback)

About the Author:

Logan Macx is rumoured to be an ex-spy formerly with the British Secret Intelligence Service, specialising in cyber communications and unexplained events. His whereabouts are unknown at this time but he is in periodic communication with the ghost writers of this series – Edward Docx and Matthew Plampin. He can sometimes be spotted at @LoganMacx1. Edward Docx is a bestselling novelist and journalist, whose second novel, Self Help, won the Geoffrey Faber Prize and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. His novels are translated and published all over the world. As a journalist, he has been listed for the Orwell Prize several times and he has written for all the major magazines and newspapers – most frequently the Guardian and the New Statesman. He also writes for television and film, and is currently working on a hit TV series about spies and the intelligence service. Find him at @EdwardDocx. 

Matthew Plampin is the author of four acclaimed historical novels. His most recent novel, Mrs Whistler, was shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown and was chosen as a book of the summer by the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday. Matthew studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and now lectures in nineteenth century art and architecture. Say hello at @MatthewPlampin.

(author media courtesy of Walker Books)

The Teacher Who Knew Too Much by Rob Keeley - #bookreview

 

A robber was running.

Dressed from head to foot in black, the shadowy figure came hurtling through the streets. Right across the town centre, shoving early shoppers and dog-walkers out of the way, with only one thought - to escape ...

***

Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The police are baffled, but only Ben knows the truth – his Maths teacher, Miss Judson, is really a safecracker!

With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and Ben go on the run. But Al needs them for one last job...

This new novel from award-winning children’s and YA author Rob Keeley is a quick and breathless read, a comedy crime thriller that will enthral the young reader and keep the pages turning! Perfect for confident readers, reluctant readers or as a holiday gift.

***

When I was a girl at school, many moons ago, I often wondered what my teachers were like outside of school. For Ben, the main character in the book, he discovers that his Maths teacher is a bank robber!

Such a delightful premise for this book, and I enjoyed every word. It is humourous in the style in which it has been written, and middle grade children will love this story. 

It is a fun and fast paced story that even the most reluctant of readers will enjoy. There is so much to grab their attention. Not only discovering that his teacher is a bank robber, but he goes on the run with her, encounters a gangster and joins a circus. I cannot imagine the child that will not revel in such a wonderful plot.

My own sons would have loved this when they were young. It's short chapters and comedic quality, along with it's pithy plot will appeal to most children in the middle grade age range. A super book which I highly recommend for the intended age range.

ISBN: 978 1805141877

Publisher:  Matador

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  80 (paperback)

About the Author:

Rob has been writing stories and plays since he was a kid and used to lie on the hearthrug and write with a smudgy pen. In March 2011 Troubadour published his first book, The Alien in the Garage and Other Stories, a book of short stories for children. He has now published thirteen books for children and they have been honoured with a win at the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Awards and have been longlisted for the inaugural Bath Children's Novel Award and the International Rubery Book Award, Highly Commended for the Independent Author Book Award and nominated for the People's Book Prize. His first novel for adults, a murder mystery called Death At Friar's Inn, was published in 2022.

His first ever published work was an article for a local magazine for the disabled (he's a wheelchair user) when he was fifteen, and his first broadcast work was for Chain Gang and Newsjack on BBC Radio 4 Extra. In 2016 and 2017 he was a judge for the IGGY and Litro Young Writers' Prize.  He is a patron of the Children's Media Foundation. In 2019 his one-act stage comedy, Mr Everyone, was listed for the Alfred Bradley and Kenneth Branagh Awards.  During lockdown he was Children's Writer in Residence at the Stay at Home Literary Festival, and held online school workshops as part of Liverpool Writes.

He studied Law at university and has worked in offices and done voluntary work in schools, including storytelling and helping kids with their reading.  He offers author workshops and has a Certificate and a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University.  He lives in Wirral, Merseyside and his hobbies include reading, quiz nights (as a competitor or hosting), doing magic tricks (quite badly), playing the odd bit of keyboard (worse), theatre, TV and going out with friends.

(book and media courtesy of the author)

Harvest Cruise by Rebecca Benison - #bookreview

 

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Lisa demanded, not even bothering to exchange pleasantries as Geri entered the office. Geri was startled by the outburst, before realizing that Lisa was probably referring to yesterday's date. Word travels fast, she thought to herself.

"Nothings wrong, we just didn't connect," she replied as she put down her bag, took off her jacket, and hung it over the back of her chair. As she got settled she assumed that Lisa would get frustrated and leave. Instead, Lisa got frustated and stayed.

***

What's the true cost of a free vacation?

Geri is an introverted writer who is most comfortable at home. When her boss-turned-best-friend wins two passes for a single’s cruise, she thinks she’s taking steps towards expanding her circle. What begins as an uncomfortable but enticing foray into a world of awkward flirting and adventure, quickly becomes a fight for survival.

With kidnappings, murder, and conspiracy, Geri finds herself in the middle of a story she never could have imagined writing.

***

What a thrilling and exciting story this book turned out to have!

Lisa considers herself lucky to have won tickets for two on a singles cruise, and she invites her friend and colleague, Geri to accompany her. Geri is an introvert and agrees to join her, albeit reluctantly. On board, Geri meets Billy, and they seem equally attracted to one another.

Had I not read the blurb of this book, I may have thought that this was going to turn into a romance novel as everything was in place to indicate that. However, the book then takes an exciting turn and the two friends, along with others are kidnapped whilst on a cruise excursion. From there they are all held captive until they are auctioned off to the highest bidder.

This made for a pageturner of a book as the story takes a series of twists and turns. I do not want to say too much more regarding the plot as I would not want to take the enjoyment of seeing the story unfold for you. Suffice to say, there is plenty to hold a readers interest in this thrilling story.

Geri made for an excellent main character, and watching her develop and face up to her fears made for enjoyable reading. 

Additionally, the reader is also aware of how their absence is being played out at home. Geri's parents and Lisa's sister seek help in locating their missing relatives. This part of the book is every bit as gripping as the main story and it added another dimension to the book.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with an adventure packed storyline that will keep you turning the pages long after bedtime.

Published by Chicken House Press, the print and e-book version is availabe from their website at: https://www.chickenhousepress.ca/bookstore/p/harvest-cruise

E-book also available from Amazon

About the Author:

A professional storyteller, Rebecca Benison’s weekdays are spent connecting with audiences on behalf of brands, while her nights and weekends are devoted to fiction. Her work has been published in the Workers Write! literary journal, Empyrean Literary Magazine, Newsday, the Long Island Herald, and a host of other publications. Harvest Cruise is her debut novel.

(ARC and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The last sound I ever heard wasn't what I expected.

If I'd been on one of those stupid game shows risking a million pounds on the final question, I'd probably have guessed it would be the cry of gulls.

Those monsters haunted the skies above the island like pale ghosts, swooping down to steal fish from the trawlers coming home to the harbour before the teams could unload. Dive-bombing in unison, they tore at the nets bulging with fresh-caught herring, snatching the silver fish and swallowing them whole as they wheeled back into the sky for the next attack...

***

AN ADVENTUROUS ECO-THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S AUTHOR VICTORIA WILLIAMSON

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other — even stranger — changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. They must find a way to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

***

When I was offered the chance to read this book for a blog tour, I jumped at the chance. I have read a few of Victoria Williamson's books before. They have all been excellent (I will provide links to those reviews at the bottom of the page) and I was very excited to read this.

This book was no exception to the high standard I have come to expect from this author. I was hooked by the story from the very first page and I remained enthralled to the very last.

The main character is fourteen year old Max who loses his hearing in an accident on his father's fishing boat. He has much to deal with in adjusting to life as a non-hearing person. His friends seem to shun him, and he is allocated to the group at school who have learning difficulties. He is full of anger by the way people treat him, particularly with his father who seems to refuse to try to communicate with him.

Not only was Max a great character but the secondary characters were also excellent. His 'new' friends Erin, Beanie and David, all with their individual special needs, are well drawn and highly likeable. Although Max kicks back at having to become part of their group, the reader soon ascertains that they will become close friends.

There is also an element of mystery concerning the wind turbines which have recently been installed close to the Scottish Island where the book is set. It was enjoyable to observe how Max and his friends put the pieces together and attempt to foil the plot.

In many ways, I think the main theme of the book is communication. Not only the different ways in which we can convey meaning to one another through speech, lip reading, sign language and so on but this is also about the way in which the villagers were communicated with via the wind turbines.

It is a powerful book aimed at young adults. I think anyone of secondary school age or above would enjoy this very much.

ISBN: 978 1911107507

Publisher: Neem Tree Press

Formats:  e-book, paperback and audio

No. of Pages:  250 (paperback)

Links to Previous Reviews

The Haunting Scent of Poppies

The Whistlers in the Dark

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams

Norah's Ark

About the Author:

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com

(book and all media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Libby and the Parisian Puzzle by Jo Clarke - #GuestReviewer #bookreview

 

The first title in a new series, The Travelling School Mysteries, and popular children's book blogger BookloverJo's debut novel!

Mystery-lover Libby is excited but nervous when she's sent to live with her aunt while her mother is working abroad. Aunt Agatha is the headmistress of an extraordinary travelling school that moves from country to country...

Libby joins the school in Paris, where she is just starting to find her feet when Agatha is arrested, accused of a daring jewel robbery! Can Libby and her new best friend Connie find the real thief and save her aunt?

This is a middle-grade detective series, set in a travelling school - a mix of adventure, friendship, and mystery, perfect for readers of the Adventures on Trains series. Becka Moor's gloriously fun illustrations will feature throughout.

***

Since I began this blog, just over ten years ago, I have written each and every review. However, today I have a guest reviewer, and it is someone rather special to me.

My granddaughter, Abigail, is nine years old and she wrote this review in order to apply for a Blue Peter badge. I'll add a little about this process at the bottom of the page. She is a keen reader and if all of her reviews are as good as this, she will be putting me out of a job soon!😊 

In the meantime, I shall let Abigail tell you about it, along with her review of the book.

***

To apply for the Blue Peter Book Badge I had to send in a review of a book and draw a picture from the book. I chose 'Libby and the Parisian Puzzle' by Jo Clarke and I drew my favourite characters from the book. I really love this badge because I love reading and the badge is designed by Quentin Blake.

The genre of this book is adventure and mystery. The setting is in Paris, France which is where I want to go when I am a grown up.

This book is ideal for 8 year olds because there are some French words in it which younger children wouldn't know how to read.

I would recommend it if you like mystery books with a twist at the end.

I liked the book because my favourite genre is mystery and the pictures were very detailed.

My favourite bit was when the main characters did detective work because you don't know what is going to happen.

The ending has a really big twist. I won't say what it is!

The main characters are Libby and Connie. Libby is adventurous and inquisitive. Connie is cautious. Even though Connie comes from a wealthy family she doesn't act elegant.

Libby and Connie become friends and roommates. In Paris they go to the Louvre, the museum and of course go and get some macarons.

This book is the first book in the Travelling School Mysteries series. I have already read the second and the third is coming out in January 2024. I can't wait to read it!

As you can all imagine, I am a very proud nana today. Thank you Abigail for being my guest reviewer today. You are welcome back on the blog any time.

If anyone would like some more information on how to apply for a Blue Peter Badge please click on the link here.

Jo Clarke's latest book, Libby and the Manhattan Mystery, has just been released and is available in all good bookshops.

Norah's Ark by Victoria Williamson - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

I must be the only girl in the world who doesn't have a mum.

I don't mean like Maya Turner from my old school whose mum lives in another town cos her parents are divorced. And I don't mean like Chelsea Mackay at my new school either who says her mum's got a super-important job in New York, and that's why Chelsea lives in a foster home here in Hull. I mean I never had one to begin with. Dad says I was grown in a test tube in some space-age science lab just like in that film we saw years ago, but I don't know if I believe him or not.

Dad doesn't always tell the truth...

***

Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on foodbanks for dinner, and doesn’t have a mum. But she’s happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn’t perfect-far from it. He’s stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends.

When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they’re not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah’s missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood?

***

This is a wonderfully wholesome book aimed at children from about ten years plus. However, reading this as an adult, I enjoyed every word.

The two main characters, Norah and Adam, are both delightful in their own way. They each have their individual challenges and come from very different socio economic backgrounds but they come together through their shared love of animals and their loneliness. They both live in sad and difficult situations, and I would have liked to given them both a hug.

The book deals with some difficult themes; homelessness, childhood cancer, poverty and climate change to name just a few. The author treats each of these issues with sensitivity and never talks down to her readers in putting her message across. Instead, through empathy she allows the reader to familiarise themselves with these topics whilst encouraging a mindful and caring attitude in considering the difficulties that the two children encounter.

There is so much to admire in this book and it will appeal to boys and girls equally. It is well written, accurately paced and heartfelt. There is also an element of adventure thrown in which will increase it's appeal amongst young readers. It would make a great book for independent reading, but it would work equally well being shared as there are many points for discussion within the narrative.

I highly recommend this book. Also, the author is donating 20% of her royalties for this novel to the Shelter charity. If you would like to know more about this charity please click on the link here.

Also, if you would like to read my review of Ms. Williamson's book, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, you can do so by clicking here.

ISBN: 978 1911107996

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

Formats:  audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

Purchase Link*

About the Author:

Victoria Williamson is an award=winning children's author and primary school teacher from Scotland. She previously volunterred as a reading tutor with The Book Bus charity in Zambia and is now a Patron of Reading with CharChar Literacy to promote early years phonice teaching in Malawi. Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see themselves reflected.

Purchase Link*

(Book and all author info. courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.