Favorite Adventure Books + Giveaway Winners! (Two Year Anniversay #3)

Hello, blog readers! Guess what today is? Yup. It's my official blogiversary. *cheers* Two years of craziness talking and rambling about life, books, and other such things. Here's to more years of adventuring.

And, I know, I didn't post yesterday, but to make up for it, today I've got my top five adventure books, and the WINNERS OF THE GIVEAWAY! 

Ready for the winners!?

Julia Ryan wins Hundred More Years and Allie D. wins When Calls the Heart!!! Congratulations, guys!!! I'll email you shortly! 

And, as promised, I've got my top five adventure books. (I'm sure my fellow readers can sympathize with how tough it was to make this list.) Now, adventure books are some of my favorites - Historical Adventure Fiction if one of my favorite genres, but I was surprised to see that, on reflection, quite a few of the books I've read haven't been adventure, necessarily. And, actually, four of the five books I've chosen for this list I read this year. I mean, Brothers at Arms was a reread, but rereads count. ;) Adventure may be my favorite type of book to read, but I also enjoy a wide range of other types of books, which is fun. Diversity is good, don't you think?

Without further ado, here they are (and in no particular order, 'cause, ya know, I have a hard time picking favorites anymore...):

#1 Facing Up by Bear Grylls

You guys, it's BEAR GRYLLS. He is basically adventure in a person. ;) I was a bit of a fan of Bear before I read this book, so I enjoyed getting to watch (or read...) his journey before, on, and briefly after Everest. It was fun, it was informative, and it kept my interest. I was also happy to read the glimpses he gives of his faith and his family.

#2 Brothers at Arms: Treasure and Treachery in the Amazon by John J. Horn

Guns, treasure, British twins, evil, undercover villains, Peru, the Victorian era, crazy natives. Yep. This book combines all that, and in a fun, edge-of-your-seat kind of way. Chester and Lawrence are such opposites, so they work through situations incredibly well together - Law comes up with the plans, but he couldn't very well execute them without Chester's brawn and knowledge of weaponry. Plus, their bantering and slight arguments are funny.

#3 Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker

Blink of an Eye captured me almost immediately. With an unconventional heroine and an unlikely hero, this thriller shines with on-the-edge-of-your-seat chases, near captures, and the hero's sudden bout of clairvoyance. Seth, the hero, was the best character, just because of his backstory and who he was on the inside - really sweet and caring and protective because of what had happened to him. I didn't want to put this down. Yup. Not recommended for the faint of heart. ;)

 #4 The Young Fur Traders by R.M. Ballantyne

Any of Ballantyne's books are adventurous - it's just how and what he wrote. There are always bad guys versus good guys, a little bit of a message, dangerous situations, some type of wilderness (be it forest or city or jungle), some action scenes... But this one, on top of being filled with the adventures and maybe impetuousness of two boys setting out on their first trip as voyagers in the dense forests of Canada, also included cute, humorous moments and fun characters. (I mean, Fighting the Flames, too! That and The Young Fur Traders are my two favorite Ballantyne books.) And that ending? So funny. I laughed, I smiled, and I enjoyed myself.

#5 God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew

Yes, another adventurous autobiography. Because this book gripped me and touched me and made me tear up. I loved it. And it's on my to-read-again-sometime list. ;) Andrew goes through crazy situations, always pulling through and showing up on the other side. God intervenes in his life in amazing ways, and it was really cool to see.

I did really have a hard time picking the last one! Because there were other candidates up for the job. I mean, Secret of the Lost Settlement by John J. Horn was full of action and intense adventure; the Arcrean Conquest series was riddled with fun characters, interesting plot arcs, faith, mystery, and it's fantasy - which is fun; Take This Cup was an interesting, unique story of a young boy destined by God to be the bearer of Jesus' cup at His last Passover, and it brought to my attention connections and things in the Bible that I'd never noticed before...and that is always fun. But I decided, and I *whisper* hope I made the right decision. ;)

What is your favorite genre (or genres!) to read? Do you like adventure novels? Have you read any of the above books (even the ones I mentioned but didn't include)? Let me know in the comments! 

And to the winners of my giveaway: another huge congrats! I hope you enjoy. <3

 

An Update + Bookish Doings + Anne of Green Gables

The flowers blooming on trees nearby. So pretty!

Well, adventurers, I've been gone quite a while. There's no excuse, so I'll just get to the actual post. (Apologies can be somewhat bothersome anyway, can't they?) ;)

Life's been busy, but in a pretty good way. School, everyday errands, fun movies, games, books (BOOKS, people.), and other odds and ends. I'm kinda excited because spring is finally here, so it's getting warmer. And warmer means the pool opens. And the pool opening means I can swim! I used to take swimming lessons, and I really enjoy(ed) it, so I'm thinking of going to the pool and interweaving swimming (treading, free-style, butterfly, breaststroke, etc.) into my workout schedule. It's a really fun, great way to stay fit! Agreed? Agreed. I miss swimming, so this seems like it'll be fantastic. I'm gonna be looking for a new swimsuit... ;)

Aside from that, we've been trying to go hiking more often. We'll be acquiring some rock-climbing gear, and going rock climbing as well! Since Jesse (my older bro and the official rock climber in the family) moved a month or so ago to Colorado, we'll be climbing on our own. Ashley is actually really good at climbing herself (I plan on improving too, guys! ;) But I did do MY FIRST LEAD CLIMB the last time we went hiking with Jesse and his family. It was INCREDIBLE. I was so excited! Jesse thought I did really good for my first lead...), besides the fact that we're also planning on top-roping most of the routes we do, so climbing will also be coming along pretty soon! I'm excited to try harder climbs.

Moving onto BOOKS. The reading challenge I created for 2016 has been going pretty well. I am fifteen books into it. The last book I read was The Young Fur Traders by R.M. Ballantyne for the category A book written at least 100 years ago, which I just finished today. Gosh, some of Ballantyne's novels are so fun! The Young Fur Traders included. He really has a knack for descriptions - scenery and people. Somehow he manages to let you have a glimpse of someone's character without being overwhelming. And his descriptions of the beautiful North American mountain ranges and lakes really are well done... He writes about some things in such a way you can kind of tell he's done it or seen it. (Because he worked for the Hudson Bay Company, and Fur Traders is actually based off of his own experiences! That is SO cool!)

The rest of the books I've been reading? Here's the list.

The books I've read for the challenge so far:

A book set in a place you want to visit: Made to Last by Melissa Tagg
A book that is under 150 pages: Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg
A book set in your favorite time period: Prairie River by Kristiana Gregory
A book that has a main character that is your opposite gender: Renegade by Ted Dekker (This book annoyed me so bad. And then, of course, there was this part in the that brought me to tears. Or I was teary-eyed, at least. It was a fantastic part about God's love...for a character that had abandoned his friends and his mission and God even, in a way, to pursue power. It showed God's love for a renegade, someone who ran. And it's beautiful.)
A true story: End of the Spear by Steve Saint
A fictional book about a historical event: Iron Scouts of the Confederacy by Lee McGiffin
A book by a New York Times best-selling author: Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker (This was so cool. I'm already thinking about a re-read. And I read it last month. That's how exciting it was!)
A book your friend recommends (and loved): The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson
A book that you read with/to a sibling or friend: Fighting the Flames: A Tale of the London Fire Brigade by R.M. Ballantyne, which I read to two of my siblings.
The first book in a series: The Sparrow Found a House by Jason McIntire
A mystery: Wild Rescue by Jerry B. Jenkins
A book you own but have never read: A Chance to Die by Elizabeth Elliot
A book you've already read once: Millie's Courageous Days by Martha Finley (updated by Kersten Hamilton. I love the Millie Keith series! I very highly recommend it!)
A book set in a country outside America: Take This Cup by Bodie and Brock Theone (Enjoyed this one! Lots of deep spiritual insight that I really liked picking up on.) 
A book written at least 100 years ago: The Young Fur Traders by R.M. Ballantyne 

To-read:

Some books I'm reading and/or considering for the challenge. (That's my Nook by The Columbus Code, which has Emma on it! :))

A book over 400 pages: Black by Ted Dekker (His books are exciting - which makes them a little dangerous. You have to take breaks while reading so you don't...well, keep reading? All day? 'Cause you probably would. ;))
A book with royalty in it, real or fantasy: Captives and Kings by Craig Parshall
A book that intimidates you: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (I am going to finish this one - finally!)
A nonfictional book: Facing Up by Bear Grylls
A book (going to be) published this year, 2016: This is going to be either (probably) Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg or A Boy and Wild Horses by Joanne Bischof. Probably the latter. (The first book in the Wild Air series, To Get to You, was so cute! <3)
A book you started and never finished: *inward groan* Probably going to be The Gorilla Hunters by R.M. Ballantyne. Maybe I'll switch it up... ;) (Which would be The Columbus Code or A Home for My Heart.)
A book with a beautiful cover: I don't know! I haven't seen any covers lately that I love, but maybe A Boy and Wild Horses will have a fantastic cover - I really liked To Get to You's! In that case, it would be Like Never Before or Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke for A book (going to be) published this year!
A book made into a movie: Emma by Jane Austen
A book set in/about the outdoors: Facing the Frozen Ocean by Bear Grylls

And there's that! I keep wondering if one of Bear Grylls' books is going to pop up when my sister draws for me... So far, it hasn't! Maybe next time. (Because, yes! my sister and I draw for each other. We put all the book category numbers on pieces of paper, drop them in a hat, and pick. It's actually been really fun...)

One of my favorite scenes! <3

And Anne of Green Gables? I watched it recently! Yeah, I'd seen it before, when I was pretty young, so I didn't remember a lot of it, and what I did remember was people being mean to Anne - hence the fact that I didn't like it! But, I decided to re-watch it recently, and I found, happily, that it's actually pretty cute! I enjoyed it, and have even been contemplating watching it again... Seriously. And the first two are six hours long. ;) Gilbert is adorable, and Anne is fun (though a bit dramatic sometimes... ;)). Do I recommend it? Yep - if you like period pieces! Speaking of which, anyone up for Pride and Prejudice? I've been thinking of re-reading the novel, actually, because I don't remember much of it. I think that might be due to the fact that much of the time I was reading I was thinking of the scenes in the movie that corresponded with the part in the book that I was at... I AM going to re-read it sometime! Just so I remember... ;) And a friend of mine (Mikayla, I'm looking at you! ;)) just re-read it, so that kinda...encouraged, egged me on?... to re-read it too.

I put my hair up with one o' those snap-bun hair thingies yesterday! Yes, that's random. ;) But I really liked it! It's cute, and it keeps my hair and my bangs, specifically, out of my face ALL DAY. I would totally recommend getting one and using it. Pronto. ;) 

Besides all this randomness, I am planning on another post soon, so stay tuned! Oh, and I just bought two more books today... Chaos by Ted Dekker, which is the fourth book in his Lost Books series that my sister and I are currently making our way through. Also, From the Start by Melissa Tagg. I recently read Melissa's first novel, Made to Last, and have a feeling I'll be reading more of her books in the not-too-distant future... For now, however, my mom is going to read them. And then I might... ya know.

(I had two 20% off coupons for Barnes and Noble to use, so yeah... I guess you shouldn't give me a coupon that involves books if you don't want me to use it. ;))

Is it spring where you are? Swimming (or not swimming, I guess)? Are you doing the reading challenge (or any reading challenge) this year? What books do you have planned for that?

New Year + Reading Challenge

Hey, all! Can you believe we've just entered 2016? It flew by. But it was a great year, suffice to say.

And in this last year, I read a total of 55 books. (That's over one a week, so I'm kinda proud o' that number.) ;) I completed my GoodReads challenge to read 50, and I completed another reading challenge that I did with one of my friends. It feels so great to accomplish those challenges! Really, it does. (And GoodReads sends you an email to sum up your year in books... Totally fun for someone like me.)

Today, I just challenged myself to read 52 books this year. That's one a week. And, yes, I'll probably get more than that number in, but it's a good goal to aim for! But I was looking online for another reading challenge to do with my friend again this year, and I wasn't liking a lot of the ones I found. SO, I decided to create my own, using parts of the other challenges that I found. And I'm lettin' you all in on this one...

The only rule that applies to this reading challenge is this: you cannot count one book for two categories. Meaning: If you read a book set in, say, Paris, which you badly want to visit, and it's over 400 pages long, it can only go for either "A book set in a place you want to visit" or "A book over 400 pages long", not both. 

1. A book over 400 pages long.

2. A book set in a place you want to visit.

3. A book with royalty in it, real or fantasy.

4. A book that is under 150 pages long.

5. A book that intimidates you. (I think this one is War and Peace for me. I NEED TO FINISH IT.)

6. A nonfictional book. (This could be a biography, a Bear Grylls book on survival...which, yes, is probably going to make it on the list for me. :) I got two Bear Grylls books for Christmas! Already started one, too...)

7. A book set in your favorite time period.

8. A book that has a main character that is your opposite gender.

9. A true story. (Again, this can be a biography, a memoir of sorts, a book on WWII...anything, as long as it's a true story written as a true story.)

10. A fictional book about a historical event. (This is where you get to read a fictional book about a true story. ;))

11. A book by a New York Times bestselling author. (Ted Dekker, anyone?)

12. A book your friend recommends (and loved).

13. A book that you read with/to a sibling or friend. (This can also mean that you and your friend/sibling read one chapter a day, alone, and then discuss it together. It doesn’t have to be a read-aloud!)

14. A book set in a country outside of America.

15. The first book in a series.

16. A mystery.

17. A book (going to be) published this year, 2016.

18. A book you own but have never read.

19. A book you started and never finished.

20. A book you’ve already read once.

21. A book with a beautiful cover.

22. A book that was made into a movie.

23. A book written at least 100 years ago. (A Jane Austen or R.M. Ballantyne novel would work for this one.)

24. A book about/set in the outdoors. (Okay, so this one is totally fun. It can be a book about something in the outdoors – snowflakes, thunderstorms, survival techniques, etc. – or it can be a fictional novel set in the outdoors…such as: the protagonist surviving, lost, in the dense jungle of Peru… I’ve never actually seen a book about that, but I know Bear Grylls wrote a few novels about survivalists!)

And that’s the challenge. Are you up for it? If 24 seems like a lot, feel free to mix and match your favorites! Because…reading is about enjoying yourself.

Let’s get creative with this. Let’s expand our mental bookshelves by inching out of our normal reading habits to grab a book you wouldn’t automatically read. Perhaps. Because maybe that book is the start of a new adventure. And what is life without adventure?

To another year of adventuring…in books and in faith and in life.

Happy reading! And happy New Year...

~Micaiah K.~

P.S. That ‘Top Ten of 2015’ post I mentioned? It’s late, yes, but it’s still on the way. It just takes time…that I haven’t set aside yet. (Lots of links and pictures and things to find online…)

My Top Ten Books of 2015

Christmas is right around the corner. So is New Years. Because of that, I thought maybe I should drop by and give you the best books I read in the year of 2015...

10. Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

One of the best I've read from Mrs. Oke. This book had little pieces of wisdom I enjoyed stumbling upon. And that Christmas scene with Edward and the scarf? Yeah, that was fun.



9. Secret of the Lost Settlement by John J. Horn

I reread this in August, I think. I was again brought to tears and impressed by the amazing message. It was gritty, adventurous, heart-pounding, and even humorous in rare moments.

 




















8. The Island Queen by R.M. Ballantyne

When three ship-wrecked siblings end up on an island that's deserted, more castaways show up, and a 'government' forms, you're in for a fun ride! I liked this book a lot - it's one of the best of Ballantyne's! It was very humorous and lots of fun! I smiled through almost a whole chapter. Yup. That happened. ;)



7. Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliot

This book was really cool! The main characters were, interestingly enough, brother and sister. They're broken relationship needs mending - little do they think that a horrible accident will become the starting point. I really enjoyed the story and some of the characters. It was funny, touching, and sweet.



6. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Man, this book. I cried multiple times. I saw World War II in a whole new light - it changed my perspective on the time. The Hiding Place was highly interesting, engaging, touching, and had such a great message.



5. The Heart of Arcrea by Nicole Sager

Surprisingly, this one made it on the list. I say surprisingly because as I read each book in the Arcrean Conquest series, the one I had just finished became my favorite Arcrean book. However, after months of not really thinking about the books, I thought about them again and ended up realizing that the first novel in the series, The Heart of Arcrea, was, honestly, the best. We're introduced to fun characters and taken along a sometimes agonizing but interesting and life-changing journey. I loved the way that Druet, the hero of the tale, followed God's leading. Not many books have that in it, and I thought it was really cool. Plus, it's fantasy - a really fun, non-magical fantasy in a land that is seriously unique. You won't forget it.



4. Fighting the Flames: A Tale of the London Fire Brigade by R.M. Ballantyne

A book about the London Fire Brigade in the mid-1800s? How cool is that!? I really enjoyed reading this. I loved the story and Willie Willders, one of the main characters. It was interesting and fun and one of the best by Ballantyne I've read.

 


 
















3. Millie's Steadfast Love by Martha Finley

Granted, I did re-read this one, (okay, okay! And the one below...), but I loved it all over again. The characters and the story are so fun. I adore this book. The Millie Keith series holds a special place on my ever burgeoning bookshelves.



2. Brothers at Arms: Treasure and Treachery in the Amazon by John J. Horn

This book has been one of my favorite novels for a few years now. It still holds a very special place in my heart and is one of the best books I have read to date. Fun, heart-pounding adventure, charming characters, exotic locations... It's incredibly fun, and I'm so looking forward to rereading it AGAIN with my younger brother.



















1. To Get to You by Joanne Bischoff

This book is all about redemption, grace, and second chances. Though the message isn't forced, it seeps into the crevasses of the story (and your heart). I enjoyed it a lot! The characters were fun, and the whole road-trip/broken-son-and-father-relationship story was fantastic and really well done. Intertwined was an adorable romance between the unlikely hero and the homeschooled heroine. (Yes, she's homeschooled.) Super cute.



And theeeeeeeere you have it! The top ten books that I read this year. Totally check 'em all out, and totally let me know if you do. (Or if you've already read any of the above books, and if you liked them as much as I did!) ;)

They all come recommended (and I've reviewed most of them too. Either here, on my blog, or on Goodreads.)

That's all for now, but be on the lookout for another 'Top Ten' post!

Merry Christmas!

~Micaiah K.~

The Island Queen (Book Review)

My hardback edition!

The Island Queen
By: R.M. Ballantyne
My Rating: 4 stars
Ages:
(Family read-aloud) 11 and up
(Personal Reading) 13/14 and up (for sometimes difficult-to-understand words and phrasing. Also, there is a scene with drunk men, and in the beginning chapter there are some deaths that can be skimmed over when reading to young kids. And there is a skeleton.)

I had The Island Queen by R.M. Ballantyne sitting on my shelf, left untouched, for some months before I picked it up one Saturday morning a while back and started reading it (randomly. I do this sometimes - haha!). The beginning line has such a poetic, scene-setting touch that I decided to read on, completely interested.

And it was a fun read.

It felt a bit different from the other Ballantyne books I've read. It was shorter, or felt shorter, for one thing, and everything moved rather quickly (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing).

I really enjoyed two of the main characters' playful banter - they made for moments of laughter! I also smiled through almost a whole chapter, which never happens to me! The three main characters - Pauline, Otto, and Dominick - are a good bunch, if a bit too perfect.

Plus, one of my favorite authors used a quote from this novel in one of his blog posts, and when I came across it, I thought 'That's familiar!' and then realized where I had read it before. I was slightly excited... (Okay, so, yes, I was excited...)

I do want to note that I would've preferred a different ending. Not that the ending was bad (it wasn't), but, I suppose, I just wish things would've happened with more of an actual end. Something from the book leaves us hanging, and there weren't really many hints as to what happened afterwards.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was a quick, light, and charming read, with funny moments and some enjoyable characters. Recommended!

View all my reviews