In the Religion category, the finalists included Accompany Them With Singing by Thomas G. Long (Westminster John Knox Press); Desiring the Kingdom by James K. A. Smith and The Politics of Discipleship by Graham Ward (both Baker Academic/Baker Publishing Group); God Hides in Plain Sight by Dean Nelson (Brazos Press/Baker Publishing Group); and The Spirituality of Jesus by Leslie T. Hardin (Kregel Publications).

The finalists in the Fiction: Religious category included City of the Dead by T.L. Higley; Loves First Light by Jamie Carie, Powers by John B. Olson and Seeing Things by Patti Hill (all B&H Fiction/B&H Publishing Group); The Sacred Cipher by Terry Brennan and What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy (both Kregel Publications); and Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin and Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish (both Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group).

Kregel Publications' A Christian Guide to the Qur'an by Raouf Ghattas and Carol B. Ghattas and No Sex in the City by Lindsey N. Isham were finalists in the Reference and Women's Issues categories, respectively.

Approximately 1,400 books were entered in 60 categories, with the titles narrowed down from 360 publishers. A panel of judges composed of librarians and booksellers will determine the winners, to be announced at a ceremony during Book Expo America in New York City, May 26. ForeWord characterizes itself as a publication that "reviews good books independently published."

Click here for a complete list of ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Awards finalists.