Blog Tour – Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery by Coline Monsarrat

Today it is my stop on the Love Books Tour for Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery by Coline Monsarrat. I have reviewed the book for my stop on the tour.

********

Title: Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery

Written by: Coline Monsarrat

Illustrated by: Drafts.com

Published by: Apicem Publishing

Blurb

Meet Aria and Liam, two average 13-year-olds with a not-so-average problem!

Hey, fellow adventurers! I, Aria, opened a portal to the past, which catapulted us into a 3,000-year-old kingdom! Since then, my BFF Liam and I have taken part in numerous adventures in history, facing exciting (and perilous!) missions. But don’t worry; we’re up for the challenge and learning how to become true adventurers! From ancient civilizations to historical events, we’re on a mission to save the day and find our way back home. So come along for the ride as we explore the past and make history… literally!

Get swept away into the foggy streets of London, where a baffling and cryptic adventure awaits Aria & Liam!

As Aria and Liam team up with the daughter of the famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they must race against time to save him from a mysterious and sinister plot. But when Doyle announces the return of Sherlock Holmes, he suddenly vanishes, plunging them into a world of hidden clues and shadowy figures. Could the mastermind behind it all be a rival author, a member of a secret society, or someone from London’s high society? With each chapter bringing a new surprise, Aria and Liam must use their smarts and bravery to crack the case and save Doyle before it’s too late.

Will they prove themselves as sharp as the legendary detective, or will they fall victim to the same fate

Ideal for fearless adventurers aged 9 to 12 who love humour, excitement, and a dash of fantasy.

Aria & Liam is a series of standalone middle-grade books allowing young readers to enjoy each adventure in any order they wish.

A sudden catastrophe changes everything and William and Granny must somehow find a way to put the world back to what it was. Could the blank pages of the mystery red book somehow be the key?

Only time will tell

Review

Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery is the eighth book in this time travelling series published by Apicem Publishing. The series follow Aria and Liam on their adventures through time to different historical eras and geographical locations such as Ancient Egypt and the Incas as well as Rome and the mythical lands of Atlantis and Camelot. This series amalgamates history and mythology into fun and exciting adventures for children.

The Baker Street Mystery opens with introductions from the main characters, Aria and Liam, introducing each other and gives a brief overview of some of their other escapades covered in the previous books. There is also a lovely addition of vignettes of portraits of the main characters. In places there are discrepancies between the text and illustrations such as Mrs Thompson glaring at them through rectangular glasses and in the picture the glasses are circle.

This action adventure stand out for me as it is quite unusual as it is written in third person present tense. Sometimes the speech patterns reminded me of Lady Whistledown’s narration in Bridgerton, with its old-fashioned English and calling each other ‘My dear, Liam’ or ‘My dear, Aria’ and Arthur Conan Doyle starting his letter at the end of the book, ‘My dear reader’. I found all the character’s voices to be very similar to each other which made it difficult to know who was talking in longer passages of dialogue. I also found it a little worrying the children were able to lie so easily without negative consequences to the point several scenes were devoted to how to get their story straight.

It must be noted the premise of this story is entirely fictional as there is no records of Arthur Conan Doyle going missing, which the author acknowledges in a letter written as though it were from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the end of the book. Unlike Agatha Christie who did go missing and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reportedly investigated her disappearance. I felt The Baker Street Mystery was not particularly historically accurate but rather touched on life and the way people lived in Britain during the early 1900’s.

The Baker Street Mystery was an entertaining read, suitable for children aged seven to twelve years old, who enjoy traditional-style mysteries.

********

Author Bio:

Coline Monsarrat is a fervent enthusiast of history, driven by a feverish passion for the captivating and unforgettable stories that unfold within its pages. Whenever she finds herself in the history section, she becomes engrossed in the rich narratives that have shaped our world. With an insatiable curiosity, she often ponders the “what ifs” of history—contemplating the alternative outcomes of pivotal events and the possibility of a different course for humanity.

Fuelled by her desire to share this passion with children, Coline crafted the enchanting historical and adventure fiction series Aria & Liam, where history and its legends seamlessly blend with adventure, humour, and the enduring power of friendship. Each book in the series captures the spirit of thrilling adventures packed with action, humour, and fascinating journeys through history.

You can find our more information about Coline on her author’s website: www.ariaandliam.com or follow her on X (Twitter) @ColineMonsarrat and Instagram @ariaandliam @ColineMonsarrat

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Kelly from Love Book tours for inviting me to take part in this book tour.

Blog Tour – Time Marked Warlock by Shami Stowall

It is my honour to be spotlighting Time Marked Warlock by Shami Stowall.

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. I have previously spotlighted her book Academy Arcanist. You can read my interview with Shami about this book here: Blog Tour – Academy Arcanist by Shami Stovall.

Before writing full-time, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second.

When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

Time Marked Warlock is am urban fantasy of 402 pages and is released in June 2024. Here is the blurb:

Blurb

Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best private investigators for hire. He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.

So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.

Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well.

Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.

My stop on the blog tour will take the form of another author interview, this time about Time Marked Warlock.

********

Tell us a little about Time Marked Warlock and your inspiration to write this book.

First off, I’d like to gush. Time-Marked Warlock is getting a full-cast audiobook production! Soundbooth Theatre is putting together an amazing team to bring life to the whole book, and it’s one of the greatest things ever.

But to more accurately answer your question, Time-Marked Warlock started because I love the trope “grumpy one, sunshine one” which is basically when a grumpy character is forced to work with someone who is blazingly optimistic and happy.

Adair Finch, the warlock, is jaded and sarcastic, but Bree, the young witch, loves life. They’re also joined by Kull, the mischief spirit, which is a more comical character.

So, this might be one of the first instances of “grumpy one, and TWO sunshine ones,” which is a lot of fun.

Why are book awards important to you?

It’s always so humbling and amazing whenever someone enjoys my work. I’m so very lucky to have this opportunity, and it really makes everything seem bright and wonderful to know there are readers out there enjoying my stories.

I think I was born to be a storyteller. Ever since my time as a DM in Dungeon and Dragons, I’ve derived a lot of pleasure from crafting stories and building engaging characters. The fact that other people think I’m good at it just fills me with joy.

How do you manage to be so prolific with your writing?

I love writing. It isn’t a chore. It isn’t something I “just have to get through.” I do it every day because it’s a delight and fills my soul with nourishment, just the same as a hamburger chases away gnawing hunger.

What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?

I quit my job to write full time. I also started a business (Capital Station Books) and both have paid off for me in spades. I knew they were risks, but if you don’t bet on yourself, who will?

What is your favourite childhood book and why?

My favourite childhood book is Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. It’s about a young woman who is deserted on an island. She had her brother, but after he’s killed by wolves, she’s all alone.

It was the first book that really blew my mind. I had never thought about living on an island alone, and I devoured the book multiple times just thinking about all the crazy things that could happen.

My favourite part is when the main character kills the wolf that killed her brother, but then later goes on to adopt its pups.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about Time Marked Warlock and the Adair Finch series?

The book involves people healing from trauma. Adair Finch lost his brother, and he basically gave up on life, but when Bree enters the picture, he learns to get back on the horse, so to speak.

I love stories about healing. And not only does Finch heal, but Bree does, too. Her mother was killed, and Finch helps he move past that terrible moment in her life.

Also, please look out for the crazy release of the full-cast audiobook, and the brand-new cover done by Chris McGarth (the man who does the Dresden Files covers).

I’m so excited for it all!

********

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations: Website: https://sastovallauthor.com, Twitter: @gameoverstation, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall, Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

The best place to buy Time Marked Warlock is on Amazon, when it releases August 2024.

You can read reviews on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210597012-time-marked-warlock

Book Review – Rabbit and Bear: This Lake is Fake

Title: Rabbit and Bear: The Lake is Fake

Written by: Julian Gough

Illustrated by: Jim Field

Published by: Hodder Children’s Books

This hysterically funny story for early readers is the sixth book in the Rabbit and Bear series. The format of Rabbit and Bear: The Lake is Fake with its hard back cover and its unusual size gave the book an old-fashioned classic feel. I had not come across the Rabbit and Bear series before and plan to search pout the other books.

Rabbit and Bear wake up after a long winter and are surprised to find their cave full of poo. It is early spring and the snow is beginning to melt so they venture outside only to find more frozen poo around the edge of the lake. Rabbit does not want to clean up the mess as claims the poo does not all belong to them, the other animals were responsible for the mess too. So Rabbit decides that they will look for the perfect place to live somewhere else.

Rabbit and Bear search for their perfect vision with hilarious consequences.

The limited palette of red, black and white for the illustrations is put to good use. I liked the way that when things were at their worse the pages were black and rabbit was feeling more positive, having dreams of a better world, the pages were different shades of red depending on how positive rabbit was feeling.

Eventually they decide to go back home to find all the poo has been cleared up and an abundance of flowers around the lake. Then Rabbit has another vision that is more realistic than the first. The animals work together to make their vision a reality.

I like the way the story went full circle before rabbit discovers his nearly perfect world. It is great Julian Gough does not say everything is completely perfect as we are all aware everyone has their problems but it is as close to perfect as possible. This provides young readers with a realistic view of the world, which is an excellent point for discussion.

Rabbit and Bear: The Lake is Fake, is ideal for children making the transition from picture books to early readers. It is a great book for stimulating discussion on caring for our environment and what would make their world a better place to live.

Spotlight: Stories That Built Our World by Caroline Rowlands and Alette Straathof

Check out this extraordinary compilation released next month, the 23rd May 2024, written by Caroline Rowland, illustrated by Alette Straathof and published by Noodle Juice.

A tale for every week of the year.

A year full of stories from around the world.

Once upon a time… a long, long, time ago, a story was told. Then, over time, that story was shared with many, becoming a mythical, legendary tale. The building blocks of our cultural heritage, tales of adventure and wonder exist in every society around the globe.

For as long as humans have existed, we have entertained and educated each other with such tales. Ancient stories that are sometimes based on fact, but other times are pure fiction, have been shared from generation to generation by word of mouth, written text, through songs and dances and even in sculptures and paintings. Tales of adventure and wonder exist in every culture.

Celebrate these tales in this amazing hardback compilation of a year full of stories from around the world. From cautionary fairy tales such as Perrault’s, Hans Christian Anderson and the Bothers Grimm, Norse sagas, myths and legends, Scheherazade’s 1001 Arabian Nights, as well as Shakespeare’s comedies to North American, Inuit, Indian and African folk tales. The stories in this new collection from across the ages come together in a glorious collection of 52 retellings of the stories that build our world.

Illustrated in sumptuous watercolour by Alette Straathof, these are tales that deserve to be brought into the light and shared as they would have been around fires centuries ago.

Blog Tour – Alex Neptune Zombie Fighter by David Owen

I am happy to announce today is my stop on the Alex Neptune Zombie Fighter by David Owen blog tour.

This is the second book in the Alex Neptune series published by Usborne.

Blurb:

When a creepy fog rolls into Haven Bay, Alex, Zoey and Anil are ambushed by terrifying crab-riding zombies, controlled by the evil spirit of Brineblood the pirate.

The only weapon that can stop Brineblood’s zombie army is a powerful trident – but it’s been broken into three pieces. Alex, Zoey and Anil must enter three deadly worlds that have been magically trapped in bottles to retrieve the hidden pieces, all before the zombies can catch them. But with some penguins, an octopus and a frozen dragon on their side, how can they go wrong?

My stop on the tour takes the form of an extract:

********

Tour Extract

The ocean no longer wanted Alex Neptune to die, but he was beginning to wonder if his friends did instead.

A mammoth wave cast a dark shadow over their rowing boat, frothing and spitting as it rose, ready to swamp the tiny wooden craft. Zoey Wu swiped her fringe clear of her eyes and faced it defiantly. She crouched at the front of the boat, one hand trailing in the churning ocean, the other raised to tame the rebellious water. The wave strained against her control like a great white shark on a dog lead.

“Remember what I said about summoning waves to face away from you?” Alex said.

Zoey gritted her teeth as she fought to restrain the water. “It’s not my fault I’m too good at stupid sea magic!”

The towering strength of her summoned wave was no real surprise. Alex had quickly learned that if he asked Zoey to conjure a puddle, she was more likely to deliver a flood.

His friend was right – it was his fault she was struggling to control her magic. Alex was supposed to be teaching her to do exactly that. The problem was, no matter how hard he tried, he didn’t really know how.

“Use your power to direct the wave away from us,” Alex instructed gently, trying again. “Remember, your magic is a natural connection to the sea. Don’t try and force it – guide the water.”

“Should I start rowing away?” asked Anil Chatterjee, gripping the oars tightly from his seat in the middle of the boat. “Maybe very fast?”

“No, I can do this!” Zoey nodded confirmation to herself and stuck her tongue between her teeth. Then she lashed her raised hand sideways as if trying to swat a fly. Alex felt her sea magic surge, a flare of power that made him stagger.

The wave responded by twisting around on the spot to face away from the boat.

“Yes!” Zoey cheered.

Reeling dizzily, the wave kept turning, coiling around itself like a rope. Each twist stretched it taller and narrower until it had braided itself into a tottering waterspout.

“Push it the other way!” Alex shouted.

“I’m definitely going to start rowing away now.” Anil pulled hard on the oars.

But it was too late. The waterspout seethed and lurched forwards to snatch up the rowing boat in its furious grasp.

Zoey tumbled backwards. “I’ve lost control!”

Alex lunged to touch the tossing surface of the sea before the waterspout could devour them. Sea magic flowed through his body like salt water streaming along his veins, fizzing cold and strong. But he couldn’t make contact in time to release his power into the ocean and unravel the danger.

Because Anil had moved faster. Yelping in panic, he had dropped the oars so that they slid out of their locks and beneath the raging waves. When Anil plunged a hand in after them, magic gushed recklessly from his fingertips, surging along the tangled threads of the ocean. It picked apart the whirling waterspout, collapsing it into a wave that washed roughly over the boat, almost capsizing them.

Cold water sloshed over Alex’s skin as he picked himself up from the bottom of the swaying boat. He nodded his thanks to Anil, who still clung tightly to the side, gasping with the effort of pouring out his magic. Zoey sat up from where she’d fallen under the central bench.

“That was close.” She wrung out her sleeves before glaring down at her hands. “The power is right there. Loads of it! I just can’t make it do what I want.”

“And I can only actually use my magic when we’re about to die.” Anil flexed his fingers as if they were somehow faulty.

“You’re both still learning,” Alex said. The wave had soaked him to the skin, and he shivered. “It’ll be a while before either of you can fully control your power.”

If they all survived long enough.

Alex had a lot more experience with sea magic. Last summer, he had discovered that Haven Bay, his sleepy seaside home, was actually an ancient place of the sea’s power – the last one left in the world. That meant it came complete with the last remaining Water Dragon, a powerful

protector of the ocean. They had bonded and Alex’s own magic had been unlocked.

Since then, he had had the chance to practise his newfound powers on nefarious pirates trying to steal magic for themselves and an army of overgrown ocean parasites that had tried to turn the Water Dragon against him.

His friends’ sea magic had only awakened a few months ago, when the original dragon had surrendered its physical form to fully pour its power into the ocean and save the world from the parasite infestation. That left its baby – the new Water Dragon – still learning its magic too.

Which meant Alex was somehow left as the most experienced magic user of the group and had inherited the unwanted role of teacher.

He was happy that Zoey and Anil now had magic too. It would make them a stronger team in their mission to protect Haven Bay. As the last place of power, keeping it safe from anybody who would exploit its strength was crucial to defending the entire ocean.

Alex had hoped that sharing his magic would take some of the pressure off him. But teaching was just a different kind of pressure. He knew his friends were disappointed not to be learning more quickly. Despite him having many more months of experience, he didn’t feel qualified to be coaching anybody. Before, there had been an ancient Water Dragon with centuries of experience to guide them. There was no way he could live up to that.

The young new Water Dragon bobbed up to the surface beside their rowing boat, lifting its scaly, lion-like head to check on them. It had doubled in size over the winter, maybe more, and the grey and green scales on its long, serpentine back had hardened into fitted plates of armour. The whiskery spines under its chin had thickened to the size of icicles.

********

Author Information

Having worked as a freelance games journalist and taught on a BA Creative Writing course for three years, David Owen’s debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and was followed by three further highly acclaimed YA novels. Alex Neptune is his first series for younger readers, born of his love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/davidowenauthor

To follow the rest of the tour please take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me on this tour.

Book Review: Where do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night

Title: Where do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night?

Written by: Steven J. Simmons and Clifford R. Simmons

Illustrated by: Ruth E. Harper

Published by: Charlesbridge Publishing

To celebrate the release of Where do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night by Steven J. Simmons, Clifford R. Simmons and Ruth E. Harper in the UK yesterday 16^th April 2024, I will be posting a book review of this gorgeous picture book.

Written in rhyming couplets, Where do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night, talks to us about the different characteristics of ocean creatures, such as what they eat and any predators that influences where they will sleep at night from the sting ray hidden on the seabed floor to the parrotfish and its mucus cocoon and the great white shark that need to swim whilst it sleeps.

The illustrations are striking they make the book a joy to turn each page. I particularly liked the incredible detail and blended colours which gave it a mystical feel. I really loved the otters.

This fun and informative book covers subjects of camouflage and safety and is full of fascinating facts. Other books in the Where do Creatures Sleep at Night series include Where do Big Creatures Sleep at Night.

Would be a useful classroom resource for a topic on Habitats and Humans and Other Animals.

This series highlights the importance of sleep and are great for reading to youngsters who are reluctant to go to bed, as they show all animals have to get some sleep… even an octopus.

Blog Tour – We are the Wibbly by Sarah Tagholm and Jane McGuiness

It is with great pleasure I join the blog tour for author Sarah Tagholm and illustrator Jane McGuiness and their latest book We are the Wibbly. My stop on the tour will be a book review.

********

Title: We are the Wibbly

Written by: Sarah Tagholm

Illustrated by: Jane McGuiness

Published by: Bloomsbury

Blurb

OH MY CRIKEYS!

Doesn’t life move fast? One moment you’re in the Wibbly, relaxing with your Wibbly friends. The next, they’ve all grown tails and turned into tadpoles! And what’s more, they are bursting OUT of the Wibbly … AND you’ve got to keep up!

Some tadpoles don’t feel ready to become frogs.

And some never wanted to become tadpoles in the first place.
Blurb for We are the Wibbly by Sarah Tagholm and Jane McGuiness

Review

We are the Wibbly is the ideal book to stimulate discussion on lifecycles and growing up. This book outlines the lifecycle of the frog with the unique voice of one of the tadpoles who is not as advanced as its brothers and sisters. I liked the way we are totally in first person in the point of view of the tadpole throughout the story. There is no omniscient, third person narrator as there is in many picture books. This made this book stand out for me.

The illustrations and tadpole expressions are adorable. The pastel shades are perfect for the lake environment and I liked the use of orange to symbolise danger.

There is also scope provided by reading this book to young infants for discussing sibling rivalry and wanting to be the same as everyone else. Although, it was lovely that at the end of the book the tadpole / frog was able to teach his brothers and sisters something, showing everything has its strengths.

This is a great picture book highlighting the difficulties of growing up and the problems we face that shape our lives in a way young children can relate to. After all, we all had to face our own ‘spiked hunger monster’ and ‘furry danger monster’ throughout our lives.

The perfect book for pre-school and nurseries and if you are doing a topic on minibeasts and lifecycles.

********

Author Information

Sarah Tagholm is a children’s author who loves writing about confused animals, mischievous children and all things funny and strange. Her first book, Wolves in Helicopters, was published by Andersen Press and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarah.tagholm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrstwit

Illustrator Information

Jane McGuinness is a Scottish illustrator and author who specialises in picture books. She loves animals, trees and the natural world, and completed the prestigious MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She was awarded the Sebastian Walker Prize and her debut picture book, Say Hi to Hedgehogs! (Walker Books, 2018) was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Award.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bookshelfjane

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janelikesyou

To follow the rest of the tour check out the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me on this tour.

Blog Tour – Little White Hands by Mark Cushen

I am pleased to be a part of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award to celebrate the 10th place finalist Little White Hands by Mark Cushen.

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 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 @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

Almost five hundred years have passed since the Seasons were at war.

Half a millennium since Winter defied Spring, and lost.

Generations have come and gone, not knowing the bitter freeze and howling snows of Winter ever existed.

But now, after centuries of silence, the participants in this ancient struggle have resurfaced and reignited their feud on the doorstep of an unassuming little kitchen boy.

Garlan’s dreams of being just like the knights he idolizes may not be as impossible as he has always been led to believe, when he is chased from his home and thrust headlong into the kind of adventure he had only ever read about in books.

Setting out on a journey that spans the entire kingdom of Faeland, Garlan will traverse impossible mountains and stormy seas and battle terrible monsters, all to keep the world he knows safe from an enemy who will stop at nothing to bring about a never-ending winter.

With a cast of fantastical characters to aid him in his quest, can Garlan overcome his self-doubt and find the courage he needs to rise above his humble station and become the hero he always dreamed of being?

The fate of the world rests in his hands.

My stop on the book tour takes the form of a book review.

********

Title: Little White Hands

Author: Mark Cushen

Book Cover by: Jeremy Adams

Little White Hands is a story of bravery, sacrifice and determination. It is set in a the sword-weilding fantasy world of King Arthur where the climate is determined by whuch of the High Seasons walks the Earth.

I liked the concept of Lord Winter fighting for dominance over the other High Seasons to keep the world frozen. His manipulative and fierce ice-warrior henchman, Hoarime, was a strong antagonist for our main character, 11-year-old Garlan.

Garland is a kitchen boy with his own goal of becoming one of King Arthur’s Knight’s despite his small hands. He is a fascinating, well-rounded character who draws you in from the start.

He meets the other seasons: Spring, Lady Summer and Baron Fall who set him on a quest to stop Lord Winter escaping from his firey prison. Together with his animal friends they must save the world by defeating Hoarime.

Little White Hands is a well-pitched middle grade novel ideal for young readers who love fantasy adventure.

********

Author Bio

Mark Cushen has loved the fantasy genre since he accidentally stumbled onto Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion masterpiece, “Jason and the Argonauts”, while channel-hopping one Christmas-time Saturday afternoon, somewhere between the ages of 5 and 8.

Ever since then he has been obsessed with sword-wielding heroes battling monsters in fantastical lands, and now, after spending a few years writing his own Goosebumps fan-fiction as a child, he is attempting to create such stories of his own.

When he is not working his day job or sitting at his desk (ok, on the couch) writing, he can usually be found walking through the woods, either listening to a podcast about an obscure subject or the OST of The Last Samurai on repeat.

Links to buy the book

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/csiLcio (Canada)

https://a.co/d/holmZ6q (USA)

https://amzn.eu/d/8g2WOpE (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55880021-little-white-hands

The StoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7d12d164-ec45-4980-8810-58dbeae1fc8a

********

I would like to thank Dave from The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour.

Watch out for more BBNYA finalists due to appear on my blog soon.

Blog Tour – Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot

Today is an exciting post as I am on the blog tour for the second book of the Mysteries at Sea series by A. M. Howell, The Royal Jewel Plot. As part of the tour I am involved in a giveaway stop of a fantastic copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell, which is book one of this series.

To take part in the prize giveaway to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell, published by Usborne, all you have to do is follow my blog and post a comment completing this sentence: I would like to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell because… on this blog post below.

I will choose a winner at random from the entries and I will get in touch with the winner for posting details. The giveaway is being provided by Usborne and they will post the winner their copy of the book directly. Entry to the competition will mean you agree to providing me your address and forwarding it to the publisher.

Closing date for entries is Friday 19th April 2024 @12pm.

Here is a summary of The Royal Jewel Plot:

Summary:

Alice and Sonny investigate a stolen jewel, in this instalment of the bestselling Mysteries at Sea series, from award-winning author A.M. Howell.

Alice and Sonny are excited for their summer trip, sailing on the luxurious yacht the Lady Rose. They’re even more excited when they find out the King of England is going to be onboard too!

There’s also a precious jewel on the boat – a rare opal, kept in a tank protected by a poisonous octopus.

Until one morning, Alice discovers that the opal and octopus are both missing. The search is on to retrieve the priceless gem, before the ship reaches its destination, and everyone on board finds themselves in serious trouble.

As Alice and Sonny’s investigations take them closer to the truth, they realise that everyone on the Lady Rose seems to have a secret, maybe even the king himself…

As well as this exciting giveaway of the first book in the series I am also posting an extract from book two.

********

Blog Tour Extract of Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot by A. M. Howell

Chapter One

Alice glanced at her watch in dismay. They were going to be late for the king’s arrival! Tightening her grip on her suitcase as she hurried along the hot, dusty street, her head was full of the summer storms, landslides and train delays that had hindered their journey from England to the small port of Šibenik on the Yugoslavian coast. A journey that should have taken two days had instead taken four.

On any occasion that would have been irritating, but they had been expected on the Lady Rose (the steam yacht she and her brother, Sonny, had recently inherited from their grandfather) two days ago. Now they were late and the king of England, who had paid handsomely to holiday on the yacht, was due to arrive at any minute. She, twelve-year-old Alice Townsend from Suffolk, England, was going on the king’s voyage! Even thinking these words seemed fantastical, like a story in a thrilling paperback novel. Though the king certainly wouldn’t be impressed at having

to wait for them.

Swallowing her excitement, Alice took in the throngs of locals dressed in bright cotton skirts and Sunday-best suits emerging from the town’s narrow side streets, as they too headed towards the port. Many of them stared at their party of four and she wasn’t at all surprised.

There was Father at the front, his beige suit jacket as crumpled as his brow as he strode alongside a station porter pushing their luggage trolley.

He was closely followed by Dorothy, her brother’s governess and former guardian, with her frilled sun parasol and satchel of school books bumping against her side.

Then there was Sonny, her brother, just a few steps ahead as he carefully carried his pet mouse Rocket’s cage. The brim of his sun hat shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare and a canvas bag of mouse bedding slung across his shoulder gusted in the breeze, wood shavings scattering from it like breadcrumbs. A gaggle of local children laughed and scurried after him, picking them up.

Alice giggled at the unfolding scene as she walked behind, and a woman wearing an embroidered shawl smiled at her, her gaze curious and lingering. Perhaps she was wondering at Alice’s brown hair, which had kinked into rebellious waves in the heat, her dusty sandals, her ink-spotted fingers and her straw hat that now resembled a squashed mushroom after Alice had accidently sat on it during one of their long train journeys.

Returning the woman’s smile, Alice hurried after her brother, perspiration trickling down her back. She breathed in the sweet-smelling air and looked up at the clamour of red rooftops climbing a steepish hill. The excitement at finally arriving at the port was making the troubles they’d faced on their journey quickly fade.

Pressing on through the gathering crowds, they finally emerged onto the quayside. “Look. There she is. The Lady Rose,” Alice said to Sonny breathlessly. Her heart skipped as she gazed at the yacht named after their mother, who had died when they were both small.

The boat’s long white hull sat low in the sparkling emerald water, her clipper bow curving elegantly upwards. Two raked masts reached high into the sky and a squat funnel sat above the wooden deckhouse, puffing lazy breaths of smoke into the air. It was quite the most beautiful vessel Alice had ever seen. To think that her mother had travelled on it as a girl!

Alice thought of her most precious possessions nestling in her suitcase, the two silk gloves made by their mother, which had helped reunite her and Sonny little more than a month ago. They had been told that a few items belonging to their mother were still on board the Lady Rose and she felt a burst of anticipation at what they might find. Jewellery perhaps? Or, even better, a diary about a voyage her mother had taken on the yacht, like the adventures book Alice kept? Whatever these things were, she was excited to be among them.

********

A.M. Howell has always been inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her thrilling historical mysteries have garnered great critical acclaim, winning both the Mal Peet Children’s Book Award, and the East Anglian Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for lots of other prizes. A.M. Howell lives in Suffolk with her husband and two sons.

You can follow Ann-Marie Howell on Twitter: @amhowellwrites and Instagram: @amhowellwrites and find out more about her books on her website www.amhowell.co.uk.

To read my review of Peril on the Atlantic by A. M. Howell see: Book Review: Peril on the Atlantic.

I have also previously showcased an extract from Peril on the Atlantic on my blog here: Blog Tour – Peril on the Atlantic by A. M. Howell

Remember to take part in the prize giveaway to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell all you have to do is follow and post a comment completing this sentence: I would like to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell because… on this blog post below.

Closing date for entries is Friday 19th April 2024 @12pm.

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

Spotlight: The Pirates of Darksea Book Launch

Last month I was lucky enough to be invited to the book launch of The Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle. I had previously been to the amazing proof launch in January and you can see my write up of this here: Spotlight – Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle.

At the ‘proof launch’ we were presented with a bottle of stardust and a proof copy of The Pirates of Darksea. The official launch of the completed book with its brilliant cover, much needed map and additional chapter illustrations took place two months later on the 20^th March 2024 below deck at Mr Fogg’s City Tavern, which was decorated with a nautical theme ideally suited to a pirate adventure. Having already read the book made this launch seem all the more special to me.

Again I dressed up as a pirate and although my chosen outfit was not as elaborate as previously I was pleased I had dressed appropriately for the heat as it was a very warm evening. Here I am with my complimentary rum punch cocktail, which by the way was delicious.

There was also canopy nibbles being handed round whilst networking with other authors and publishing professionals. This is a photo of me with the author Catherine Doyle after getting my new copy of The Pirates of Darksea signed.

It was a fantastic event and I would like to thank Grace and the crew (Arrghhh!) from Bloomsbury for inviting me to take part. Thank you.