After debuting at #2 in January, The Name of God’s Love is Mercy (Random House) by Pope Francis led the Religion Nonfiction list for the month of February. The book, which sold nearly 4,000 copies last month, features the Holy Father’s interviews with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli on memories of his youth as well as stories from his papacy.
In its first appearance on the Nonfiction chart, Sarah Young's 2004 Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (Thomas Nelson) took the #3 spot. Over the 12 years since its publication, celebrities such as Reba McEntire, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Max Lucado have endorsed the title, and to date, sales have totaled more than 16 million copies in both hardback and paper worldwide. In October, Thomas Nelson will publish Jesus Always, Young's first new 365-devotional since Jesus Calling.
Also new on the Nonfiction list and coming in at #8 is Jen Hatmaker’s 2015 release For the Love (HarperCollins Christian). The book got a boost from a joint promotion with her publisher and Givington’s, a retail platform that gives 50% of its profit on every purchase to charity. As part of the promotion, Hatmaker encouraged fans to either request a copy of For the Love, nominate someone to receive a copy, or to purchase one for somebody on the list as a way to “reclaim Valentine’s Day.” The call to action saw all 2,250 book requests fulfilled by February 14, plus a significant sales boost in the weeks that followed.
On the Religion Fiction list, Wanda Brunstetter, the author of over 60 books on Amish life, came in at #1 with her latest Amish romance, The Restoration (Shiloh Run Press). The third book in the Prairie State Friends series features a love triangle between two Amish people and an outsider from the modern world.
Also making its debut on the Religion Fiction list is An Amish Market (Thomas Nelson), a collection of novellas from four different authors. Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint claimed the remaining eight spots with its suspense and inspirational romance titles, including new releases Navy SEAL Security by Liz Johnson and His Secret Child by McClain Lee Tobin.