Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The INSPY Awards – 2016 Shortlist


Congratulations to all these authors whose titles made the 2016 INSPY Awards shortlist!! That in itself is an honor to be cherished. Personally, I keep a list of INSPY and Christy nominees over the years and read from them in categories that I enjoy. What gems can be found there!

The INSPYs are special to me because they were created by bloggers and nominations come from both the Christian booksellers’ domain and the general marketplace. Here is what they’re about, as posted on their website. I encourage you to visit inspys.com, where you can also see awards from previous years.

        Recognizing the need for a new kind of book award, the INSPYs were created by bloggers to discover and highlight the very best in literature that grapples with expressions of the Christian faith ... The INSPYs are not about conforming to expectations, they are about faith and literary excellence. Additionally, this program is organized and judged by book bloggers who have considerable experience and knowledge of books published for both the CBA markets and the general market. It is our sincere hope that the INSPYs will serve readers in their search for the very best of faith inspired literature being published today.

So … what are your thoughts? Have you read many of these books? In the categories that I enjoy, I’ve read eight so far, with several others being in my TBR pile.



CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE


London Tides (David C. Cook) by Carla Laureano
The Dandelion Field (Zondervan) by Kathryn Springer
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Howard) by Beth K. Vogt
A Love Like Ours (Bethany House) by Becky Wade
The Wonder of You (Tyndale House) by Susan May Warren




DEBUT FICTION


The Thorn Bearer (Vinspire Publishing) by Pepper D. Basham
Jaded (David C. Cook) by Varina Denman
A Noble Masquerade (Bethany House) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Love’s Rescue (Revell) by Christine Johnson
Irish Meadows (Bethany House) by Susan Anne Mason




GENERAL FICTION


A Cup of Dust (Kregel) by Susie Finkbeiner
The Art of Losing Yourself (Waterbrook Press) by Katie Ganshert
Secrets She Kept (Tyndale House) by Cathy Gohlke
Water From My Heart (Center Street) by Charles Martin
The Brontë Plot (Thomas Nelson) by Katherine Reay




HISTORICAL ROMANCE


The Wood’s Edge (WaterBrook) by Lori Benton
Not by Sight (Bethany House) by Kate Breslin
The Mistress of Tall Acre (Revell) by Laura Frantz
Luther and Katharina (Waterbrook Press) by Jody Hedlund
Through Waters Deep (Revell) by Sarah Sundin




MYSTERY AND THRILLER


The Last Con (Thomas Nelson) by Zachary Bartels
A.D. 33 (Center Street) by Ted Dekker
Vendetta (Revell) by Lisa Harris
Falcon (Shiloh Run Press) by Ronie Kendig
The Bones Will Speak (Thomas Nelson) by Carrie Stuart Parks




LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS


Season of Fire (Blink) by Lisa T. Bergren
Shades of Doon (Blink) by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
The Choosing (Tyndale House) by Rachelle Dekker
An Uncertain Choice (Zondervan) by Jody Hedlund
Siren’s Fury (Thomas Nelson) by Mary Weber




SPECULATIVE FICTION


The Methuselah Project (Kregel) by Rick Barry
Heir of Hope (Enclave Publishing) by Morgan L. Busse
The Shock of Night (Bethany House) by Patrick W. Carr
The Curse of Crow Hollow (Thomas Nelson) by Billy Coffey
Embers (Enclave Publishing) by Ronie Kendig

6 comments:

  1. This is so exciting to see the great books on the list. Congratulations to everyone!

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    1. I think all of these are winners, Melissa, and everyone can find "gems" in their favorite genres. Thanks for visiting.

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  2. I have read 8 of them and just added quite a few to my want to read list. There are some wonderful books listed there.

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    1. Ann, I think that any book on the shortlist is a winner. I don't read speculative or much suspense, but have read 8 in the other genres just like you. A few more are in my review pile. Lots to look forward to!

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  3. I have a number of these books but have read only about eight or nine of them. All of the ones in the literature for Young Adults I have read and thoroughly enjoyed - but then I am a fantasy fan! Thanks for sharing the list with us, Carole! Kim

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  4. I've read eleven, including all the Contemporary titles. I don't envy the judges their task?

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