Posted on July 1, 2011 - by Kav
ACFW Book Club
I don’t have any conference stories to share as I’ve yet to attend one (but y’all make me want to go more than ever
now!) so I am going to blog about the ACFW book club instead.
First off, there’s something you need to know about me.
Drum roll please.
I love books.
Yes, really! I know, I know, I hide that fact so well, don’t I? But it’s true and the only thing I love more is talking about the books I’ve read. Hence my fascination with book clubs.
I’ve belonged to a few over the years but invariably found myself confronted with a to-read list that just didn’t appeal to me. Mainstream fiction can push the limits of my standards in both language and graphic sexual content and I began to find that even trusted authors were venturing places I just didn’t want to go. And when my last ‘real-live’ book club decided to dabble in erotic fiction I was out of there. Fast!
Not long after that Lorna introduced me to Christian fiction – my new all-consuming passion. But alas, no one in my ‘real life’ reads it so where could I go for a good book chat?
Online of course.
I joined the ACFW book club about a year ago and have enjoyed sharing my views with other ardent readers…and – bonus – the authors of the books we discuss stop by to chat as well! Now that never happened in any ‘real life’ book club I ever attended.
It was a bit daunting at first…expressing my views in such a public forum. Yeah, I know, I blog for goodness sake, but it seemed scarier to ‘speak out’ on ACFW’s official book club site. And did I mention that authors read what you say? (I’m not a groupie or anything – honest – but actual authors that you’ve read are on there commenting on what you commented on!)
The only thing missing is more members so beware I’m on a recruiting hunt. You can sign up here. http://www.acfw.com/book_club and you don’t have to be an ACFW member to join.
Book selections are announced at the beginning of the month and discussions start on the 20th. That gives everyone ample time to read the book before the chattin’ begins. Recently the book club has started selecting two books a month so a reader can participate in both or pick just one.
June was Heartsong/Love Inspired month at the online book club. I participated in a discussion about Second Chance Ranch by Leann Harris. You can read my review of the book here: http://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2011/06/second-chance-ranch.html
Looking forward to July, the book club has selected two romantic suspense titles:
Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze
No Safe Haven by Kimberley Woodhouse and Kayla Woodhouse – I just finished this book written by a mother/daughter duo. A real nail-biting, wilderness survival, cloak and dagger with a touch of romance kind of read. And co-author Kayla was twelve at the time of writing! The book is told in three POV and Kayla wrote the twelve-year old daughter’s point of view. She’s a bit older now and an absolute sweetheart. You can watch a youtube video of Kimberley and Kayla introducing their book here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM2nD5Ec0sY
Have I convinced you to join the ACFW Book Club yet? Hope so…but if you still need more of an incentive, check out their lineup for the next couple of months.
August
Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West
A Cowboy’s Touch by Denise Hunter
September
Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach
Out of Control by Mary Connealy
October – Youth Picks
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
Found in Translation by Roger Bruner
For a detailed description of all of these books check out this link from the ACFW site.
http://www.fictionfinder.com/book_club
Hope to see you at one of the upcoming book discussions!
7 Comments
We'd love to hear yours!
White Pearls by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise. McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser by Shari Barr
McKenzie and Sydney meet in Branson, Missouri, where McKenzie has been recruited to help at the Dixie Stampede. While the girls take in the sights and sounds of Silver Dollar City, they become involved in a search to find a teen girl’s long lost uncle–who is rumored to have settled near the Branson area. With no clue other than a whittled necklace with an “SS” on the back, how will they ever reunite Shara with her uncle? The Camp Club girls are on the case, and they’re not about to give up until they close the gap and reconnect Shara’s family.
The Prodigal Daughter by Linda Fulkerson
Ruled by despair, remorse, and anger, the author’s life had become a classic rendition of the cliché “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” Desperate. Overwhelmed. Isolated. Trapped. She hit bottom.
On the elevator of life, those descending will all exit on different levels–some much lower than others. You don’t have to go all the way to the bottom. Stop now and push the “up” button. This book will show you how!
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July 1, 2011
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JerriLynn said:
Huh…I didn’t even know ACFW had a book club! Now, I need to try to find a way to fit something more into my schedule.
Thanks for sharing this, Kav! I’ve never participated in a book club, but this might be just the kind of club that I need.
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July 1, 2011
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Brenda Anderson said:
There isn’t anything more fun than talking books, is there Kav? Excellent recommendation.
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July 1, 2011
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Kav said:
Jerri — it doesn’t take as long as you might think. Usually one question a day is posted for between 7 – 10 days at the end of the month. Easy enough to check in and answer it and then check back if you want to see if a discussion is perking. And, of course, you don’t have to answer every question or participate every day if you don’t want to. It’s fun!
Brenda — I adore talking books…I need to move closer to people I know who read the same kind of books I do!!!!!
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July 1, 2011
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Shari Barr said:
Uh, I didn’t know ACFW had a book club, either. Sounds neat. I may have to check that out. It’s so fun to talk with people who like the same books I do.
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July 1, 2011
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Kav said:
Wow — I didn’t now the ACFW book club was such a little known secret! Glad I brought the subject up!
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July 1, 2011
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Dawn Ford said:
The secret is out! I agree with you Kav. I joined a book club in the area and with my “broad” mind thought I would be okay reading whatever they did. I can’t say every book has been difficult to get through, but many have. I’m not comfortable with sharing opinions on books, unless I blog my take on them. But I may have to have a look-see.
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July 1, 2011
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Kav said:
Oh do come and have a looksee, Dawn! It’s fun and supportive to the authors as well. And the great thing about the questions is there are no ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers. Everybody is touched differently by a story and it’s fun to see another reader’s take on things.