In June you may recall that we put out a paper and online survey asking for your feedback regarding our Inspirational Fiction collection; we received over 20 responses. We’ve been busy at work compiling the results of the survey, comparing them to our current collection and beginning to select new titles. Some of our orders have arrived and are ready for you to check out right now!
But first, let’s talk about the results of the survey. The most popular format for reading inspirational fiction is regular print, followed closely by large print and e-books trailing at a distant third. As far as preferred genres, the results were almost evenly divided with historical fiction slightly edging out cozy mysteries and romance, and Amish fiction and thriller/suspense titles making a respectable showing as well.
Now onto the fun part — what new stuff have we been ordering? For you historical fiction lovers, we’ve chosen some goodies. “When Twilight Breaks” by Sarah Sundin (FIC Sun) is a new historical fiction novel set in Germany in the early days of World War II. We’ve also added all three titles of her Sunrise at Normandy series in e-book format on Libby. Speaking of Libby, if you search for the Daughters of the Mayflower series you will find many more e-books to choose from by various authors, including Kimberley Woodhouse, MaryLuTyndall and Kathleen Y’Barbo. If print was your preference, we have “The Seeds of Change” by Lauraine Snelling (FIC Sne), the first of a brand-new series called Leah’s Garden. And in large print we have “Daughter of Rome” by Tessa Afshar (FIC AFS), as well as her newest title, “Jewel of the Nile,” in regular print (FIC Afs).
For cozy mystery fans, be sure to check out the first book in the newest series by Amanda Flower entitled “Farm to Trouble” (FIC Flo). Can’t decide which you love more, cozy mysteries or quilts? Now you can have both with the entire Quilting Cozy series by Carol Dean Jones, available on Libby in e-book format. Don’t like e-books but still love quilts? Don’t worry, we’ve been filling in the Door Country Quilt series by Ann Hazelwood with “Door to Door Quilts” (FIC Haz). And we also have the newest titles of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery and Book Lover’s B&B Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert (FIC Gil) when quilts are not required, but a good mystery is.
If clean romance is your genre of choice, how about several new-to-us titles by Beverly Jenkins (FIC Jen), such as “Heart of Gold,” “A Wish and a Prayer” and “For Your Love?” Or pick up the new series by Kathleen Fuller called Maple Falls Romance and its first book, “Hooked On You” (FIC Ful). Do you like your romance set in Amish country? Try “The Preacher’s Son” and “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Patricia Johns or the Return to Big Valley collection by Wanda Brunstetter (FIC Bru). Tired of summer and ready for Christmas? Try “A Wells Landing Christmas” by Amy Lillard in large print (FIC LIL), as well as the latest books in the Wells Landing series in regular print (FIC Lil).
Did you know that Amish fiction also has its own thriller/suspense subgenre? In Dangerous Amish Inheritance/Hidden in Amish Country, you get two stories in one book (FIC Dan). We also have new Harlequin “Love Inspired” Suspense e-book sets on Libby featuring such authors as Christy Barritt, Debby Giusti, and Karen Kirst that offer three titles in one checkout. And for a good, old-school spy thriller, try the newly-added Marcus Ryker series by Joel C. Rosenberg in large print (FIC ROS).
This is only a small sample of the new titles we have added as a result of our Inspirational Fiction survey, and even more is on the way. Come on in and browse through our new fiction and large print books on the first floor, or sign up for a weekly email from Wowbrary (http://wowbrary.org/signup.aspx) to make sure you never miss a new title that has been added to the library’s collection, no matter what the format or genre.
Amanda Grossman is the assistant manager of Reference and Local History at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
