"Bridget Jones goes to church" is how one publishing reporter dubbed it.

While classic chick lit addresses the supposedly crushing issues in single women's lives — thigh circumference, man-trapping and how many glasses of wine one drank the night before — Christian chick lit includes more church singles' groups. And no recreational drinking.

In the upcoming "The Whitney Chronicles," the 30-year-old heroine of Judy Baer's romance struggles with her weight and bad dates. Being active in her church doesn't preclude searching for Mr. Right.

Published by romance publisher Harlequin, "The Whitney Chronicles" will hit stores next October. The new, as yet unnamed, imprint will combine elements from Harlequin's Red Dress Ink, which has snagged younger readers, but it also will draw on its Steeple Hill line of "inspirational" romances.

"Sales of Christian fiction have doubled in the last 10 years," says Harlequin senior editor Joan Marlow Golan. According to the Christian Booksellers Association, sales are up 6.8 percent from 2002.

"Publishers and retailers have a desire to connect with younger readers," says CBA President Bill Anderson, who sees a strong market for titles "that deal with contemporary issues but respect the faith and values of the readers."

Charis Calhoon of Romance Writers of America says 51.1 million readers buy at least one romance novel a year. Inspirational novels make up 10 percent of the market. Calhoon expects the new subgenre to grow.

The new Harlequin imprint will offer "smart, hip editorial that features faith and humor," Golan says. "It presents real-life situations that modern women of faith face without sacrificing strong morals and values: 'How do I live an authentic contemporary Christian life?' "

More titles arriving in 2004:

• In January, Multnomah Publishers is releasing "Sisterchicks Do the Hula" by Robin Jones Gunn.

According to fiction marketing director Sandy Muller, the first "chick lit goes to church" novel was the prequel to "Hula," "Sisterchicks on the Loose," published in June.

"It is the tale of two longtime girlfriends who cut loose in Finland. Now they go to Hawai'i," Muller says.