Amish inspirational fiction has been spotlighted as "one of the fastest-growing genres in romance publishing."

USA Today focuses on the category in a 1,400-word report that notes how "in our sex-soaked society, nothing seems to inflame the imagination quite like the chaste." "It's a huge, huge, huge trend," said romance blogger Sarah Wendell, co-author of a book on romance fiction.

Exploring the popularity of Amish novels, English professor Pamela Regis, author of A Natural History of the Romance Novel, told the newspaper: "Simplicity is a hallmark of that community, and simplicity is powerful."

For many readers, the novels' appeal "is what they don't include-things like graphic violence and profanity," the report says. "A lot of people say, ‘I just want to get away to a place where it's quiet, where people are thoughtful and respect each other, where they go to bed when the sun goes down,' " commented Steve Oates, vice president of marketing at Bethany House, which publishes Beverly Lewis.

She "started the craze for all things Amish" in 1997 when she published The Shunning. The novel was inspired by the true story of Lewis' grandmother, who broke with her family of strict Old Order Mennonites-from whom the Amish are an offshoot-to marry a Bible college student.

Forthcoming titles mentioned in the article include Cindy Woodsmall's The Bridge of Peace (WaterBrook Press), out at the end of the month, and Wanda Brunstetter's Lydia's Charm (Barbour Publishing), released next month.

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