Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category
#TuesdayBookBlog #Bookreview for Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral by Darlene Foster @supermegawoman #kidlit #adventure #travel #travelfiction #France – Georgia Rose Books
Posted February 28, 2023
on:- In: Books | reviews
- 62 Comments
A great review of Amanda in France over at Georgia Rose Books brightened my day!
This is the second of this series of Amanda adventures that I have read, the first was set in Malta and you can read my review HERE. Paris is a city I love so after enjoying Amanda’s adventures in Malta so much I was keen to read the latest in Foster’s super adventure series […]
Cookbook Confidential, Cookbook Club: Darlene Foster reviews Greek Spinach Rice with Shrimp and Dill
Posted February 24, 2023
on:- In: Books | Food | reviews
- 58 Comments
Check out my contribution to a cookbook club I’m part of. The article includes the recipe and my review of the cookbook we chose for this month.

The recipe I chose for this challenge was Greek Style Spinach Rice with Shrimp and Dill which was delicious and not at all difficult to prepare. I love Greek food but seldom have it, and since I had some shrimp in the freezer I wanted to use up, it was perfect. For the recipe read more here
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Growing Bookworms – Meet children’s book author, Darlene Foster, and learn about her Amanda travel series and a review #childrensfiction #bookreview #growingbookworms
Posted February 8, 2023
on:- In: Books | guest posts | reviews | Writing
- 36 Comments
I am honoured to be featured on Growing Bookworms today where I’m interviewed by Robbie Cheadle. Her fabulous review of Amanda in France is also included. A great day for me!

Today, I am delighted to introduce Darlene Foster, author of the Amanda travel series of books for children aged 9 to 12 years old. I have read several of the Amanda books and enjoyed them all.
Your Amanda stories appeal to me as they take me back to my own childhood readings days of The Famous Five and Adventure series. Was there any particular children’s author who influenced the style of your Amanda series?
That makes me very happy to hear this since the Enid Blyton books were very popular. I didn’t read the Famous Five series growing up in Canada, but I enjoyed The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope as they travelled to interesting places, encountered danger and solved mysteries. I also enjoyed Trixie Belden, Donna Parker, and Nancy Drew because the main character in each series is a young girl who overcomes obstacles and solves mysteries. The…
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- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | guest posts | reviews
- 138 Comments
I am delighted to have as my guest today, John Howell, a renowned author and long-time blogging friend. He is here to tell you about his latest book, The Last Drive. I, like many readers, have been patiently waiting for the release of this book as I enjoyed the first one very much. Check out all of John’s books as well as his entertaining blog where he allows his two adorable dogs to post once a week.

I am so pleased to be with you today, Darlene. I want to thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. I have been impressed by the number of countries your Amanda stories have taken us. On each trip, your reader learns about the country and can get a feeling for the adventure. Hopefully, the readers of this book will have a similar experience since Lucifer seems to enjoy sending our heroes on trips.
Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.
The Blurb
In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.
The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey take the pair to horrifying testing grounds.
The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.
This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

An Excerpt
Sam and James jump at the sound of a locker slamming. They turn around. Lucifer stands with one hand on his hip and the other pressed flat against the locker he just slammed. Casually, he leans against the cabinets with one foot crossed over the other. “My, my, my. Look who the cat dragged in. My old friends Sam and James.”
James and Sam stand with their mouths open. The devil can see them, which leaves them amazed and trying to make sense of what’s happening.
“What is the matter? That old cat got your tongue?” Lucifer laughs at his joke.
“W-we were just looking around.” James’s voice sounds as if he’s ten years old all over again.
“Oh, yeah. A couple of God’s weenies just happen to be wandering around a locker room at the flipping Green Bay Packers.”
Sam takes a step toward Satan. “Whatever we’re doing is none of your business.”
Lucifer uncrosses his feet. “Want to bet, sweet cheeks.”
James moves alongside Sam. “You be careful with that language.”
The devil smiles. “Or what? You going to beat me up, little man?”
James takes a step toward Lucifer. “I just might. Have you ever been socked in the nose?”
“I have not had the pleasure, and nor will I.”
“Keep insulting Sam, and you will.”
“Shiver, shiver. You are talking to the Lord of the Underworld, not some kid on the corner. I advise you to take it down a notch, or maybe you might like to come and visit my place for a while.”
Sam grins. “You don’t have that power over us, Lucifer. Why not end this game?”
Satan scoffs. “Oh, and tell you where old Ryan and Eddie are, I suppose?”
Sam slaps her thigh. “I knew you were behind their disappearance. I told the Archangel that same thing.”
“The Archangel? How is old droopy drawers?”
“I could summon him if you wish.”
“No, that will be fine. Do you two want some information on the whereabouts of Eddie and Ryan or not?”
Sam steps back and takes James’s arm, causing him to move away as well. “Yes, we do.”
The devil scratches his head. “Right this minute? That is hard to say.”
“What do you mean, ‘Hard to say?’”
Lucifer looks at his nails. “You know how this travel thing is these days. Your boy Ryan wanted to visit France during World War One. It seems he has some kind of hero worship of Eddie and wanted to fly with him. Since he refused to join my team, I sent him to France. By the way, that war was delicious in the amount of useless carnage waged on those battlefields.”
A Link to the Trailer
You Tube https://youtu.be/HEUninXiibI
Buy Links
The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.
Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr
Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Author Bio
John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full-time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
Author links
Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241
Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave
Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell
Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell
Eternal Road Buy links
Kindle Universal link mybook.to/EternalRoad
Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper
My review of Eternal Road: The Final Stop
There is a lot packed into this gripping novel. A combination of time travel, mystery, paranormal and romance. There are laughter and tears as James looks for his eternal home with the help of his deceased childhood love, Sam. I love time travel and enjoyed following James and Sam as they travel back to the days of the Wild West and WWII as well as into the future controlled by robots. The main characters are very real, even though they are spirits. The book is well-written and flows well, with a satisfying ending. It left me wanting more.
My review of The Last Drive
I loved the first book, Eternal Road, and was happy to see that James and Sam are back battling the nasty old devil. This time they are joined by Ryan (a recently deceased pilot) and Eddie (as in Eddie Rickenbacker, decorated WW1 fighter pilot). The devil wants Ryan’s soul and James and Sam will do anything to prevent him from getting his hands on it and seeing Ryan find his eternal home. Along the way, they encounter some terrible times and places in history like Hiroshima, the Titanic, the Roman Collesium and Auschwitz. Will the devil win this time? This is a battle between good and evil that seems impossible to win. The author has created an incredibly strong female character in Sam, one of the toughest angels I’ve encountered. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, I would suggest reading Eternal Road first, you’ll be glad you did.
Goodreads 2022 Challenge
Posted January 9, 2023
on:- In: Books | reviews
- 102 Comments

I had set my goal for the Goodreads challenge for 2022 at 48 books. I read 46 so almost made it. But I did read two books not listed on Goodreads and since one of the books I completed was War and Peace (which should count as two or maybe three books) I feel I actually met the challenge. https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2022
MY 2022 BOOKS
They were all great books and it would be difficult to say which were my favourites. I read a variety of books which I’m pleased about. All of my reviews are on Goodreads. I would suggest you check them out.
For 2023 I have set my challenge at 48 books once again as I am determined to meet the goal this year.
Happy reading in 2023!!
- In: Books | reviews
- 20 Comments
Another awesome review of Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral by Patricia Tilton, a long-time Amanda fan. This review means a lot to me as Patricia reviews meaningful books, many topical, depicting diversity as well as modern issues that confront children today. Check out her blog for gift ideas for the young readers on your list.
Foster knows her audience and doesn’t talk down to her young readers. The dialogue is as realistic as are the characters. Patricia Tilton

Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral
Darlene Foster, Author
Central Avenue Publishing, Sep. 13, 2022
Suitable for ages: 9-12
Themes: France, Travel, Adventure, Mystery, Fire, Cathedral, Friendship
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Amanda explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.
Amanda is in love! With Paris – the city of love. She’s in awe of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. While there, she gets to work as a volunteer and stay in a famous book store, along with her bestie, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. A dream come true for a book lover like Amanda.
Except, while she’s at the Paris Opera House there is a bomb threat. Then the lights go out during…
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Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral by Darlene Foster #bookreview #childrensbooks #travel #mystery
Posted October 7, 2022
on:- In: Books | reviews | Writing
- 26 Comments
Sorry for my absence but I have been travelling lately and will share all about my travels soon. I wanted to share this amazing review by Teri Polen, who is an excellent writer. This review had me dancing on the ceiling.

Amanda explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.
Amanda is in love! With Paris – the city of love. She’s in awe of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. While there, she gets to work as a volunteer and stay in a famous book store, along with her bestie, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. A dream come true for a book lover like Amanda.
Except, while she’s at the Paris Opera House there is a bomb threat. Then the lights go out during their visit to the Louvre. Worst of all, a devastating fire blazes in Notre Dame. Why does a mysterious man, who claims to be a busker, writer and artist, show up every time…
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