Beth Pattillo
Heavens to Betsy (2005)
Author: Beth Pattillo
Genre: Chick Lit (American)/Gentle (Christian)
Plot Summary:
Betsy Blessing is the interim Senior-Minister at the Church of the Shepard where she is constantly reminded that she is still single and that she will never fill the shoes of the many male ministers who've come before her. After divinity school and 8 years of friendship, Betsy has finally come to the realization that she's hopelessly in love with her best friend and fellow minister, David. Troubled by her inability to confess her feelings to David and even more by her parishioners' growing resentment towards her, Betsy must fight to clear her name when she is fingered by Edna Tompkins, a wealthy church benefactor, for stealing the cash offering. SPOILER: Edna, in fact, stole the money herself from the offering in hopes that her fellow parishioners would turn against Reverend Blessing and insist on her resignation.
Geographical Setting: Nashville, TN
Time Period: 2005
Series: Betsy series, book 1
Appeal Characteristics:
This is a fast-paced novel that features short chapters and paragraphs that consist of plenty of dialogue. The story is told from the first person perspective and gives readers an inside view to the main character's thoughts, hopes, and fears. Characterization is by far the most important element of this book as everything revolves around the main character. Additionally, the secondary characters' storylines are filled with just as much drama, emotion and hardship as Betsy's story. The storyline is split between character centered and issue oriented as Betsy's single status is as much of a focus as the issues her parishioners have with a woman serving as the interim Senior-Minister. Particular attention is paid to the description of Betsy’s job and the challenges and tasks associated with her position in the church. As such, the tone of the novel dances back and forth between light, flirty, and romantic to serious and professional. Special attention is paid to Betsy's makeover throughout the course of the novel. A considerable portion of the novel is devoted to Betsy's evolving hairstyle, wardrobe, and makeup, which adds to the light and, at times, humorous atmosphere. Pattillo's style is conversational and direct and contains current popular culture references which make for a light, fast, enjoyable read.
Read-alikes:
Fans of Pattillo's light, conversational style and character centered storylines may want to read her other series starting with The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society . In the first book of the series, readers are introduced to Eugenie Pierce, a "tough-love" librarian and her "Knit Lit society" of which 13-year-old Hannah becomes a member after Eugenie catches her tearing a page from a library book. Hannah's presence among the group members sets off a chain of secret revelations. Readers interested in learning more about women seminarians might like The Close: A Young Woman's First Year at Seminary by Chloe Breyer. This nonfiction, autobiographical account details Breyer's immersion in daily prayer, her academic adventures, and her work as a chaplain at Bellevue Hospital. Fans of Pattillo's dual light/humorous and serious tone may find much to like about Philip Gulley's Almost Friends. This book is part of Gulley's Harmony series and focuses on Pastor Sam Gardner's substitute Krista Riley and the doubts certain church members have regarding whether she can lead the congregation, especially when rumors begin to fly about Krista's sexual orientation. Remember Me by Deborah Bradford offers a male pastor who has never married and devotes himself to his parish meanwhile never forgetting his childhood sweetheart. Fans of Betsy and David's romance may soon fall for Bradford's Sam and Abby. Their story begins where it left off thirty years earlier, on the beach where Sam proposed to Abby. Fans of Pattillo's richly crafted Betsy Blessing will appreciate Bradford's complex bachelor Sam Tibbits. For readers who enjoyed the witty banter between Betsy and David True Believer by Nicholas Sparks may serve as a suitable follow up. Reporter Jeremy Marsh and librarian Lexie Darnell work together to investigate mysterious lights visible near the graveyard, and, along the way, fall in love. Sparks excels at characterization and readers should enjoy trying to keep up with the couple in this light quick read.
Red Flags: mild threats against a woman minister consisting of obscene phone calls and dead flowers
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