Heavens to Betsy is an interesting blend of Chick Lit and Inspirational Fiction – a combination I haven’t run across before. It made for a quick read and was both fun and touching.

Betsy Blessing was aptly named for her vocation – she’s a woman of the cloth; specifically, the assistant pastor at the Church of the Shepherd. Betsy loves her job. Or at least she would if her head didn’t keep bashing against the stained glass ceiling. Her two best friends from seminary, David and LaRonda, have managed to make it to coveted senior minister positions at largish churches, but Betsy’s had a harder time. Her last church ran her out largely due to disapproval over her sex, and the Church of the Shepherd has only allowed her to do the kinds of side ministries appropriate for females: Christian Education, Ladies Auxiliary, and the like. Betsy longs to preach and to do hands-on ministerial work, but out of stagnation frustration, she decides God might have other plans for her and applies to law school. She just has to make it six more months at the church before she can toss in the towel. And then her senior pastor suddenly retires, and it looks like she might get her dream opportunity. That is, if she can handle a doubtful church board, a possible stalker, and her own uncertainties…

Further muddying the waters is the fact that while going to the movies one night with David, Betsy suddenly feels the kind of zing that’s been known to destroy long-lasting friendships. Suddenly she can’t stop thinking about him in a romantic light. But, unfortunately, those thoughts don’t translate into action, and while Betsy wallows in indecision, another woman enters the picture. Will Betsy ever be able to get all of her calamities to stop being so calamitous?

Beth Pattillo, otherwise known as trad Regency author Bethany Brooks, creates an interesting and authentic new character in Betsy Blessing. Career women are not exactly rare in romance, especially in Chick Lit, but real discussion about the challenges women face in the workforce is rarely discussed nowadays. In this case, since female clergy are still either surrounded by controversy or refused ordination in many Christian denominations, Betsy’s continual internal frustration about the glass ceiling makes unhappy sense. Many of her parishioners do see her as less capable because of her two X chromosomes, and everything in her life is affected by that perception. The book’s largest conflict, in fact, hinges on this prejudice, and its resolution is very, very touching.

Betsy is a good minister. She knows, understands, and forgives people their prejudices and foibles, and she’s very willing to serve if given the opportunity. Watching her go about her duties made for interesting reading. If you’ve ever wondered what it is that ministers actually do besides preach on Sunday mornings, here’s your opportunity to find out. Pattillo well illustrates Betsy’s character – strengths and weaknesses – via these everyday duties.

While this is an inspirational book put out by WaterBrook, it’s not the kind that involves an altar call. Betsy is already a committed religious person, and she lives out her faith daily. However, there are many moments involving her crisis of faith and vocation, and these are phrased in religious terms with the occasional scriptural reference.

The conflict involving Betsy’s changing relationship with her friend David was well done. Their dialogue was fun to read. But there was also much dithering on Betsy’s part and a resulting complication that could have been avoided had she just gotten on with it. Still, it was nice to read a romance that has its basis in mutual respect and affection, and it was easy to see what Betsy loved about David. He was wonderfully supportive of her, if occasionally totally clueless.

Heavens to Betsy has plenty of humor interspersed with spiritual and romantic crises which helps to move the plot along at a nice clip. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes glimpse of a minister’s life, and tears came to my eyes in more than one spot. According to the sneak peek at the end of the book, Betsy’s story is to-be-continued. I’ll be looking forward to her future adventures and passing this one along to my mom. I know she’s going to love meeting Betsy Blessing.