Darlene Foster is an award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places.

The tenth book in the Amanda Travels series is Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones.

The colours really stand out on this book cover. It’s cheerful, charming and mysterious. The title gives us an immediate sense of adventure.

I remember being a preteen. A time when I wasn’t ready for real-life mysteries and adventures but I could safely and happily immerse myself in a book and live the experiences with the characters. I remember when I could start a book and finish it in a day. I had fewer distractions. Oh, to be a child again!

I’m no stranger to Darlene’s books. Amanda in Spain, number two in the series, is on my daughter’s bookshelf. She was eleven when she read it and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

She then went through a year of not reading at all. She has since discovered a love for young celebrity memoirs and autobiographies; Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus for example.

Here’s the blurb for Amanda in Scotland

What could possibly go wrong on the magical Scottish Isle of Arran? It’s such a peaceful, charming place with castles, mountains, old graves and ancient standing stones.

Amanda Ross and Leah Anderson are visiting Aunt Jenny who owns an old house on the island. But something is not right. A mysterious woman, who seems to have stepped out of the past, keeps appearing, Leah’s father hasn’t contacted the family for some time, and Aunt Jenny’s house may have an uninvited guest.

Amanda is intrigued by this picturesque island, often called Little Scotland. She watches exciting sheepdog trials, attends a lively ceilidh, makes friends with the locals, and visits the mystical Holy Island. Join Amanda as she tries to solve the mystery of the strange woman and the disappearance of Leah’s father. Will the past catch up with the present?

---

Old houses on Islands and strange mysterious people never fail to intrigue me. I feel my 10-year-old self stirring, but Judging by some reviews, this story is enjoyable for children and adults of all ages.

Georgia Rose 5.0 out of 5 stars 

Another fab mystery

In this latest adventure Amanda, age twelve, has travelled to the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland with her friend Leah to stay with Aunt Jenny.

As always Amanda is inquisitive about everything around her and excited by being on an island. She soon gets to know some of the locals.

There is a mystery in this book with hidden rooms, secret passages and mysterious glimpses of figures from the past. But it is also the wonderful descriptions of the country and of those that Amanda meets that for me are at the heart of this story as they capture the reader and keeps the pages turning. As with others in this series there is plenty to learn about this part of the world too as the author skillfully blends facts in with the fiction.

This is another terrific story packed with adventure, history and a young role-model of a heroine who, I hope, never tires of travelling.

***

D.L. Finn 5.0 out of 5 stars 

Beautiful setting and fun mystery!

Amanda is with her friend Leah, visiting Leah’s aunt in Scotland on a small island called Arran. While visiting a castle, they run into a woman dressed in clothes from the past that they helped. Yet, after there was no trace of her. Amanda jumps into the mystery while visiting some interesting places along the way. Although written for middle-grade readers, I enjoy these stories too. They provide not only a fun mystery but also in-depth history and traditions of the places visited. Scotland has captured my interest, so the history and vivid settings were my favorite parts. I would love to visit this island. There are hidden rooms, disappearing boats, and what seems like a ghost that makes this story a page-turner. Perfect for younger readers and those like me who are young at heart!

***

Jan Sikes on Goodreads

What a delightful story. I love the setting for this adventure. What’s not to love about Arran Island in Scotland? Makes me want to visit. The standing stones are iconic and Amanda’s adventures range from fun to terrifying. The old castles have their stories and their ghosts, and I loved reading about some myths and legends of the area.
I won’t leave any spoilers as to what awaits Amanda there, but I loved the story, setting and characters. This is the perfect story for children and adults of all ages! I highly recommend it!

Have a look at the other nine books in the Amanda Travels Series.

What a fabulous collection of vibrant book covers from Darlene. Find out more about this wonderful author HERE

Thank you for visiting today. What do you think of the covers of Darlene’s books? I think they are all fabulous!

MORE ABOUT ME, MY BOOKS AND MY CHARACTERS IN THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO!