Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Five Fall Favorites {Series + Boats}


Good morning, friends! :D Welcome to day three! 

Today's post will be a little bit different. Instead of five favorite books, I'll be sharing five favorite series of books. So the linking will be a bit different (unless otherwise indicated, the title-links will lead to the Goodreads book page), but I hope y'all enjoy. :D We've got a good variety, with a fantasy, three historicals (Civil War, WWII, and 1830s) and a contemporary. 


Stories by Firefly is the boat room today! Grab a stack of books, hop in one of the readied boats, and drift off to a nice, quiet spot for some reading. ^_^ 


WEDNESDAY: SERIES



The Blades of Acktar by Tricia Mingerink // 4 books + 1 novella 

He’s an assassin. She’s his victim. Saving her could cost him everything.


(Mmm...not exactly a series synopsis, but it's the best I can find. I suppose I'll just have to ramble a little extra about these....which won't be hard! :P) 
Two years ago, if you had told me that I would be putting an independently-published fantasy series among my favorite series of books I would have laughed. "Me? Love fantasy? Nah."  But this series...it's SO GOOD. I think I probably like these so much because they're what I call 'realistic fantasy'. It's set in a medieval-ish fantasy world, but everything that happens is things that technically could happen. (No talking animals or magic or anything like that.) It's a beautiful story of redemption and grace. There's heartache and pain and brokenness (so much hurt – I love it). Sweet romance (mostly toward the end, y'all, don't start gagging yet), epic brother-brother, brother-sister, and sister-sister relationships, and real, relatable truths. I'd better move on now, because if I even get started on Leith, Shad, Renna, and Lord Alistair, we'll be here all day... ;)


Dare // Goodreads // My Review
Deny // Goodreads // My Review
Defy // Goodreads // My Review
Destroy (3.5) // Goodreads // My Review
Deliver // Goodreads // My Review





A Life of Faith: Millie Keith by Martha Finley // 8 books 

The A Life of Faith: Millie Keith novels follow the exciting life and times of Millie Keith, a girl of strong Christian faith growing up on the Indiana frontier in the mid-1800s. Adapted from Martha Finley's 1876 sequel to the popular Elsie Dinsmore novels, these revised and updated, modern-language books introduce readers to yet another delightful Christian heroine.


Oh goodness, y'all, these books are just so amazing!! I'd received many recommendations for these books, and then when a friend gave me the first two books last summer, I knew I had to read them. And I'm so glad I did! These books bring to life an amazing, Christian family and their frontier life. With all the humorous incidents and amazing string of characters, I know I'll be re-reading these for years to come. :D 

**I'm currently reading book-6 and have not yet read book-7 or book-8, so I cannot 100% recommend those. But I can't imagine they're terrible... ;D 







Wings of the Nightingale by Sarah Sundin // 3 books 

Three World War II flight nurses discover friendship, love, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean.


I read this series with a book-loving friend last year and I loved it!! WWII fiction is a favorite of mine and, ahh, these are so good! My favorite of this series would have to be With Every Letter. Mellie and Tom were amazing apart and adorable together. <3 Historically rich with amazing writing, lovable characters, and beautifully drawn-out faith strands. These were not the first books I'd read by Sarah Sundin, and they will not be the last. :D 







Avery's Battlefield + Avery's Crossroad by Deanne K. Klingel 

Avery and his dog, Gunner, have a good life in Kanawha Valley a loving family, a prosperous farm, and a warm community of friends. But when the long unrest between the North and the South ignites into war, Avery's peaceful world is shattered. His father, brother, and uncle leave home, each drawn away by the war. Soon Avery and Gunner must begin a dangerous journey that will take them across the paths of people on both sides of the struggle. 

Avery's skills as a doctor and his dog Gunner's friendly personality make the pair a welcome sight to the soldiers in the Civil War hospitals. But mending wounds is not the only challenge Avery faces. Dwindling supplies, insufficient medical facilities, and local troublemakers add to the stress of the war. Avery realizes that the real wounds of the war the wounds of the soul will take years to heal. But he finds hope for the future in his deepening friendship with Claire, a girl from back home who shares his passion for helping the wounded. Together they pray for the long war to end. 


I suppose these are technically boy books, but I have read them two (or three?) times. And I'm due a re-read! I really enjoyed reading about the Civil War through teenage-Avery's eyes. The first book is more of an adventure story as he set out on a journey – originally to locate his uncle – and ends up in medical school! As I remember it, the second book shows more of the harshness and cruelties of war. Love these! <3





Summerhill Secrets by Beverly Lewis // 10 books 

Set in rural Pennsylvania's Amish country, SummerHill Secrets follows the true-to-life struggles and heartfelt triumphs of fifteen-year-old Merry Hanson. Teen girls will come to love, laugh, and cry with the impulsive Merry as she encounters intriguing mysteries while also struggling to be the best she can be in God's eyes. 


I just love these books!! Summerhill Secrets were some of the first Amish-related books I read and are still among my favorites. I loved reading about Merry's friends, life, and struggles. I've read these books multiverse times and they've been carried around quite a bit, as you can tell by the beat-up covers in the above picture. I mean, how cool would it be to have a distantly-related Amish family living next door? 








Last time I checked, we were getting super close to the needed number of giveaway entrants (75) to add a second place prize. Be sure to enter (by clicking here) and have your friends and family enter too! :D 

How are y'all enjoying the party so far? Any feedback on the pictures? I wanted something special for the series. :)

~Faith 

49 comments:

  1. Ahhh, you did a thing with Blades of Acktaaaaaaaar! *fangirls*

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    1. I diiiiddd. *is not terribly pleased with how that picture turned out but oh well*

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  2. I read the original Mildred Keith books by Martha Finley, but haven't read the "Life of Faith" versions.
    And I've read "With Every Letter", but not the rest of that series by Sarah Sundin.
    Those are some pretty pictures. :)
    Thanks for sharing your favorite series! Was it hard to decide what ones to share?

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    1. And I have read/am reading these, and haven't read the originals. ;)
      With Every Letter was soo good!
      Thank you!
      Yes and no? I originally came up with a list of books I wanted to share for FFF, so picking series from that and knowing the other books would still be included somewhere, wasn't too hard. ;)

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  3. Lots to add to my to-read list. I head the Sarah Sundin series, but none of the others.

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  4. The Millie Keith series is great, I agree. Have you read the Violet, Elsie, Kathleen, and Laylie books? I have the Violet books, (my sisters have Elsie and Millie) because I have the Violet doll, so I'm biased. ;)
    As I've told everyone who added Sarah Sundin books, I want to read them all! As of now, I have only read one book of hers.
    Those Avery books look interesting! I don't care if books are 'supposed' to be boys' books. ;)

    CutePolarBear

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    1. Aren't they?! :D I have read the Kathleen books, and I have the Laylie book, the first Elsie, and the seventh Violet. So I definitely plan to read those as soon as I finish Millie. ;)
      They're so good!
      Haha, those are awesome too! Same. ;D

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    2. That's great! Quick, finish them all! :D

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  5. AH I need to read the Blades of Acktar!! It sounds so good!

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  6. I love it that you have pictures of the physical books! Makes me want to read them even more. ;)

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    1. Thank you, Kate! I thought it would be cool to break up the posts a bit. :D

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  7. These all look so good! I have read the Millie Kieth series, except for the seventh one.......... ;)

    Liberty

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    1. They are! Haha, I'll be reading that one soon. ;)

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  8. Oh, and the first series looks good! Me and my morbid sense of humor......

    Liberty

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  9. Wings of a Nightingale were soooo good! And so were the Millie Keith books. I need to reads the Blades of Actar ... I have the first book; I've just been procrastinating! :D

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  10. Haven't read your last three series, but as you know I really enjoyed Millie Keith. And I know what you are expecting from me. . . THE BLADES OF ACKTAR!!!! Can't even say how much I love it. (P.S. my best friend gave me Destroy yesterday. :D) So happy to see this series included in the linkup. :)

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    1. Those are great. :D Haha, YES! Their amazingness cannot be exhausted. <3 (Awesomeness! Isn't it a gorgeous paperback? :D)

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    2. I'll never stop raving about them! (Yes! It is so beautiful! I think it's my favorite cover.)

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    3. Haha, same! :D (Sooo pretty. <3)

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  11. Omw you have good tastes, girl. XD
    TBoA like YUSSSSS. And the Millie books are pretty great! And so are Avery's Crossroads & Battlefield. ;)

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  12. Millie Keith <3
    I still need to read Blades of Acktar (I have the first book, I just haven't read it yet)

    ~ Abby {novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com}

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    1. YESS. <3
      I totally suggest reading it ASAP. ;D

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  13. I read Dare by Tricia Mingerink...I liked some parts about it a lot, and didn't like other parts. I thought it was very well written, though! I don't like magical fantasy either :) Never read the Avery's Battlefield books, but I have enjoyed the Bonnets and Bugles series by Gilbert Morris--a civil war series. You might like them, too. So nice to hear what people's favorites are in these different genres!

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    1. I've read from others who didn't exactly love it either, and I get that. :) Yes, the writing is great! Oh, I've heard of those! Definitely on my TBR. :D

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  14. Olivia Bell (aka Livy)October 4, 2017 at 5:52 PM

    Oh, I'm loving this party! And I thought your series pictures were very nice! A series I love is the "South Seas Adventures" sometimes called "The Abby Series" by Pamela Walls. It's an 8 book Christian adventure series that I adore! :D

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    1. Me too! :) Thank you! I'll have to look into those sometime. ;)

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  15. Oh, that boat picture looks so pretty and definitely like fall! :)
    The Blades of Acktar. Those are some intriguing books. :) I still really want to read “Destroy” and “Deliver”. I know, I keep saying that, but I really do! ;)
    Millie! I love your picture, Faith!! It is amazing!! I love all the other pictures too, but especially this one! :D You imagined right, my friend, books 6-8 aren’t terrible. *wink*
    The Wings of the Nightingale series were great!
    “Avery’s Battlefield” and “Avery’s Crossroads” sound good.
    SummerHill Secrets are super good!! I need to finish that series…soon! ;)
    This party has been a blast so far!

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    1. Doesn't it?! The party has some gorgeous graphics. :D
      Hehe, yep. ;) I hope you enjoy them!
      *smiles* Thank you so much!! <3 I was thinking of you when I took it. :) *winks back*
      They were! :D
      *nods*
      Hehe, and I need to re-read it. :D
      For me too! I'll hate to see it end!

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  16. Favorite series. . . one is definitely the Long Lake Legacy series of Ivy Rose (OK, I know book #2 isn't out yet, but it will be someday, so it still counts, right? ;) )

    -Katja L.

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    1. Haha, I believe it still counts. ;D I'm looking forward to it too!

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  17. Summer Hill Secrets! I read those when I was in...12th grade I think? I don't generally read or care much about Amish fiction, but those were really good. (I wanted her to end up with the other guy, though. :p)

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    1. They're so good!! :) (Haha, relatable. I did for a time, but I'm not sure it would have worked out in the end. ;D)

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  18. Millie + Acktar + SS = Alllll the heart eyes!! <3

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  19. Oh, Avery's Battlefield and it's sequel look very interesting! Onto my list they go! Another Millie reader! That was a good series. Completely different from the originals, but in this case I think that was a good thing. ;) 7&8 are a little different from the first six though (of the Life of Faith series).

    Thanks for the recommendations!

    Liberty Bluebelle

    "And I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts."

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    1. Those are quite good! :) Hehe, really? I imagine the originals had a much older writing style, which I'm thinking may interfere with my enjoyment if I tried them. ;) Yes, I've heard that from others.

      Thanks for commenting!

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  20. I loved the Summerhill Secret series. So good!

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  21. Ahhh... I need to try Tricia Mingerink's series!!!

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