Adventure Books! {Five Fall Favorites 2021 Day 1}

Welcome to the 2021 edition of Five Fall Favorites, a week-long book party hosted by Read Another Page with party “rooms” at various literary blogs. I’ve participated in FFF in the past, and this year I’m privileged to be co-host.

Each blog has a different theme/“room” for the day to make it fun, and each blog will be sharing five favorite books in a specific genre. There are also giveaways and free books (Look for the “Books” room!), so don’t forget to check out the rest of the rooms!

Today’s genre is adventure books.

You’ve found it! This is the Books room! Stay tuned for your free short story at the end of this post.

Meanwhile {adjusts imaginary reading glasses}, welcome to the books room! {sniffs appreciatively} We have baskets of books, bushels of books, crates of books, shelves of books… Pick your favorite adventure book. Would you like to relax on a hay bale, hammock, fallen log, or tree stump? Or perhaps you’d like to read an adventure book while on a hike or even on a bike! Do be careful, but have fun!

This post contains affiliate links.

Ransomed by Elizabeth Ender

This book is both an adventure and an allegory of the Greatest Adventure. It’s short – almost a booklet – but it’s so so good. If you haven’t read it, get yourself a copy now. It’s a tale of you and of me.

“Powerful…beautiful… so true.” These are the first words that came to mind the first time I read Ransomed. 

Ransomed sets the mood in the very first sentence. It seems impossible to set a scene so quickly, but the author does so. Although an entire background story could be behind the opening scene, further description is not needed, for we are right there, drawn into the story. The love and care are deep and real. The contrast between the quietness and the danger is astounding – and yet it is there. The deceit of the enemy is portrayed realistically and very fittingly. Persuasiveness comes across through the dialogue. The first person point of view puts the reader into the shoes of the main character – and main character is not named, for it is me. It is you.

Love – true, deep, strong love, not mushy love as modern culture has defined it – is portrayed powerfully. At the end of each section, short gripping sentences clinch the transition. The story flows smoothly and naturally with power in the way the sentences are fashioned. Danger, deep emotion, fright, hopelessness, deliverance, trust, lies, doubts, and truth are dealt with in this story. The whole thing is very well put together and very effective.

It is thought-provoking allegory that leaves the reader with a challenge for life. I really enjoyed reading it and it was well worth my time! Even now, after I have read it several times, it still grips me and challenges me, refocusing my perspective on life and what truly matters. Read Ransomed. You will be blessed.

Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good

Thought-provoking, outstanding, realistic, clean, refreshing, thrilling… I don’t usually read or enjoy dystopian, but Counted Worthy threw the genre into a refreshing, clean, uplifting setting. Nothing questionable was present. What’s more, Counted Worthy is a well-written adventure story centered around Biblical values. Heather’s feelings, thoughts, fears, and plans were realistic and relatable.

England Adventure by Kelsey Bryant

An excellent sequel to an excellent first book! England Adventure was deeper than Family Reunion and also more varied. The plot moved slowly, but there was enough adventure that I didn’t mind. The characters were just as excellent as book one. Reanna did seem to disappear during the first half, as she was rarely mentioned, but as Marielle’s interaction with her increased, it balanced out. This book does deal with a tough issue, so it may not be for everyone, but the issue was covered discretely and wisely. The conflict between the girls’ varying interests was brought out well. Very realistic, interesting, and memorable.

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing 

This book has been a favorite of mine since the first time I read it. The gripping true adventure of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men is amazing, and this is a well-written account of it. Shackleton’s dedication and determination to bring his entire crew home alive in the midst of so many impossible dangers is stunning and inspiring.

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

This one is a missionary story of adventure. Bruce Olson’s faith and mission work are dramatically related in this account – his struggles and victories as he seeks God in reaching the Motilone tribe for Jesus Christ. 

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Ah, adventures between pages! The best kind! And that’s why we have a big fall giveaway for you! Win five books by five of our author-bloggers – plus an “I just want to FALL into a good book” tote bag and an Amazon gift card!

Win:

• Jayne’s Endeavour paperback by Lauren Compton
• Promise’s Prayer (First edition) signed paperback by Erika Mathews
• Oh, The Fallen signed paperback by Abigail Harris
• Dancing With Fireflies signed mini paperback by Rebekah Morris
• Bingeworthy: A Flash Fiction Anthology by Havok authors
• Fall tote bag
• Amazon gift card

Giveaway open to both US and international winners; if an international winner is drawn, that winner will receive ebooks and the Amazon gift card while a second winner from the US will be drawn to receive the paperbacks. Enter here.

If we get enough entries, we’ll draw an additional winner to receive ebooks . . . so tell your friends!

And you’ve made it to your free book! Get my new short story by clicking here and scrolling to the “download” button.

Check out the other “rooms” at the blogs linked in the below button:

Have you read any of these books? Which were your favorites? What did you think of them? Which one would you most like to read?