When a religious tradition of blind trust propelled Sandy Robinson into a questionable relationship, she yielded to her grandmother’s haunting voice to obey her priest. But would this act of obedience derail a girl searching for meaning amid the swells of loneliness and rejection? In Teri M. Bethel’s latest novella, The Church Girl And The Priest (Inspire Publishing 2022), readers watch an all-too-common saga unfold where blind trust and misinformation take a young woman on a journey of a lifetime against her better judgment. Can her decision be reversed, and how would it affect her future?
The author of numerous fiction and non-fictional family-related books, Mrs. Bethel has penned yet another book that keeps readers glued to the pages while addressing common misconceptions that affect the misinformed. A mother of three and youth leader, Mrs. Lisa D. Bastian, said once she started reading The Church Girl And The Priest, she didn’t want to put it down. “I was completely drawn into the story,” she said. “This book was honest in capturing relatable characters, events, family, and church dynamics, and it brought clarity and understanding to a few areas I had questions about.” Ms. Colleen Aitken says she has read most books this author has written, and true to form, it is believable, relatable, and redemptive. “Teri Bethel has a way of addressing uncomfortable truths without being distasteful and presenting hope and redemption without sounding religious. I was unprepared for the shocking turn of events in this story. I didn’t see it coming from miles away!” Ms. Aitken said. Shelly-Ann Bain says she is an avid reader, but this was her first fiction book. Ms. Bain sat through the night reading the book with her bag of chips until completing the last page. “This book has made a fiction reader out of me,” she wrote, “I couldn’t put it down…I can’t wait for the sequel. There has to be a payback!”
A former youth, women’s, and marriage ministry leader, Mrs. Bethel believes the book will open eyes and help parents make wise decisions in being candid with both their male and female children about life and navigating through it successfully. Whether in the home, school, church, or workplace, children need to be informed so that they are not duped by people they are expected to trust. “As indicated in the storyline,” Mrs. Bethel states, “not all priests or pastors are morally corrupt, but there are some who slip through. The same applies to parents, teachers, and politicians; you can’t just put them all in one basket, but neither can we ignore the trail of broken lives left behind by those who are taking advantage of easy prey.” Mrs. Bethel believes her novels are another way to equip, inspire and entertain people in a wholesome manner.
The Church Girl And The Priest is available in Nassau at Logos Bookstore, in Eleuthera at Office General, and at The North Eleuthera Craft & Snack Place in paperback and on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats.
