Two music memoirs—by rapper Lecrae and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery— are among some of the big books coming from religion publishers in May. The month will also see the release of Not Forgotten, which tells the story of Kenneth Bae, an American who spent seven months as a prisoner in a North Korean jail.
Fiction
May 1
Heart’s Heritage by Ramona K. Cecil and Lisa Karon Richardson (Barbour, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-634097-12-3). After the death of her husband and father, Annie must take care of the homestead when a stranger trying to clear his name of murder charges claims half ownership.
Cain by Brennan McPherson (Broadstreet, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-4245-5232-0). The story of the world’s first murder and the birth of an unstoppable evil asks if the monster inside Cain is the gateway to godhood or the end of mankind.
Land of Silence by Tessa (Tyndale, $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4964-0646-0) Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family.
May 3
There Will Be Stars by Billy Coffey (Thomas Nelson, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7180-2682-0). After Bobby Barnes dies in a car accident, he discovers a strange new world, and within it the true nature of love.
Traces of Guilt: An Evie Blackwell Cold Case by Dee Henderson (Bethany House, $15.99; ISBN 978-0-7642-1886-6). When Evie arrives in Carin, Ill., it's to help launch a new task force dedicated to unsolved crimes across the state, but she finds more than what she was looking for in Sheriff Gabriel Thane. 65,000 copies.
Lead Me Home by Amy Sorrells (Tyndale, $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4964-0955-3) As a severe storm rolls through, threatening their community and very livelihood, a small-town farmer and pastor fear losing what they care about most, and reconsider where they truly belong.
May 10
Messenger by Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson (Faithwords, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4555-2908-7). Whitson’s latest historical novel features an young heroine who joins the Pony Express. 20,000-copy announced first printing.
May 17
Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry (Abingdon, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-630881-20-7). Dr. Sarah Gordon doesn’t know who to trust once threats on her life are made; her late husband’s best friend or a recovering alcoholic detective.
The Valley of Dry Bones by Jerry Jenkins (Worthy, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-61795-008-7). Jerry B. Jenkins overlays the ancient end-times prophecies of Ezekiel onto the landscape of modern California.
May 24
The Progeny by Tosca Lee (Howard, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4767-9869-1). Bestselling author Tosca Lee brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most prolific female serial killer of all time, Elizabeth Bathory.
Nonfiction
May 2
When a Lie Is Not a Sin by Dennis S. Ross (Jewish Lights, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-58023-858-8). This provocative look at ethical decision making draws on the Hebrew Bible and shows people of all faiths how a smaller lie can sometimes serve a higher moral purpose.
May 3
Unashamed by LeCrae (B&H, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-4336-8912-3). LeCrae, a two-time Grammy Award–winning rapper, talks about his resilient faith, his place in the music industry, and overcoming preconceived notions of Christian art.
Come With Me by Susie Eller (Bethany, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-1812-5). Bestselling author and Proverbs 31 speaker Suzanne Eller invites readers to discover the beauty of following wherever Jesus leads. 30,000-copy announced first printing.
ISIS, Iran, Israel: And the End of Days by Mark Hitchcock (Harvest House, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7369-6871-3). Hitchcock, former lawyer and senior pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Okla., updates Iran and Israel with all-new information on ISIS, Russian involvement in Syria and Iran, and the state of relations between Israel and Iran, bringing a strong biblical perspective to the latest in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering by Makoto Fujimura (IVP, $26, ISBN 978-0-8308-4459-3). Internationally renowned artist Fujimura reflects on Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence (the subject of an upcoming film by Martin Scorsese) and grapples with the nature of art, pain, and culture.
The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin (Faithwords, $25; ISBN 978-1-4555-3696-2). From Christian libertarian farmer Salatin comes a call to readers to honor the animals and the land, and produce food based on spiritual principles.
Not Forgotten by Kenneth Bae (W Publishing Group, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-7180-7963-5) recalls Bae’s months-long imprisonment in North Korea, shedding light on one of the most repressive and abusive governments in the world.
Go Big or Go Home by Scotty McCreery (Zondervan, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-310-34522-0). McCreery, who won season 10 of American Idol, shares his life story in this debut book.
May 7
How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World by Robert Joustra and Alissa Wilkinson (Eerdmans, $16, ISBN 978-0-8028-7271-5). Joustra and Wilkinson examine a number of pop culture phenomenons—including Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead—and address the decidedly dystopian and apocalyptic shift popular culture has made.
May 8
Taking Sacred Back: The Complete Guide to Designing and Sharing Group Ritual by Nels Linde and Judith E. Olson-Linde (Llewellyn, $22.99, ISBN 978-0-738748-91-7). Whether you’re designing a group ritual for 50 people or 500, Linde and Olson-Linde will help you define your intent, create an outline, and bring your ritual to life. Complete with examples of rituals the authors have conducted as well as problem-solving advice.
May 10
The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz (Zondervan, $22.99; ISBN 978-0-310-26290-9). This guide to prayer by Billy Graham's daughter is inspired by the prophet Daniel and encourages readers to go beyond the sleepy bedtime routine while talking to God.
Unashamed by Christine Caine (Zondervan, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-310-34070-6) explores the often-ignored side effects of shame by sharing parts of her own life story while encouraging Christian women to find freedom from shame.
The Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionate Life by Dzigar Kongtrul and Joseph Waxmen (Shambhala, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-611801-78-1). In this lively and accessible presentation of a Tibetan Buddhist method for developing radical compassion known as lojong (mind training), Kongtrül offers a new translation of The Great Path of Awakening as well as commentary on the definitive lojong book.
May 11
The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence between Daniel and Philip Berrigan edited by Daniel Cosacchi and Eric Martin (Orbis, $30, ISBN 978-1-62698-164-5). These excerpts of letters between brothers famed for their social activism, civil disobedience, peacemaking efforts, and sharp critiques of American foreign policy offer insights into their activities and moving glimpses of their intense devotion to each other and their unbending faith.
May 17
The Journey Within: Exploring the Path of Bhakti by Radhanath Swami (Mandala, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-608871-57-5). This book guides readers through the main tenets of Bhakti Yoga and Hinduism. Swami demystifies the ancient devotional path of Bhakti Yoga, capturing its essence and its simple principles for balancing our lives.
How Would Jesus Vote?: Do Your Political Views Really Align With The Bible? by Darrell L Bock (Howard, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-4391-9070-8) examines today’s most contentious political topics through a Scriptural lens.
May 30
World Religions and Cults: Moralistic, Mythical and Mysticism Religions, Vol. 2 by Bodie Hodge and Roger Patterson (New Leaf/Master Books, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-89051-922-6). In this second volume, Hodge and Patterson reveal the origins and basic tenets of many Eastern religions—Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Buddhism, as well as other pagan-based systems such as witchcraft, voodoo, and Greek mythology.
