Category Archives: Barbour Publishing

The End Of Heartsong Presents

It was officially announced yesterday that as of the end of 2011, the Heartsong Presents book club will no longer be in existance. The book club is being cancelled and I was so stunned to hear this. HP has been around since 1992 – that’s almost twenty years of books and they’ve released over 1,000 titles! A lot of big-name Christian fiction authors got their start by writing for Heartsong Presents.

Well, with the world of publishing making drastic changes lately, I can’t say that I’m surprised. I did notice that when I received reader mail about my Heartsongs, the correspondence was always from an elderly person. I’m led to believe that the Heartsong demographic was older people and perhaps many of the members joined in the beginning and as time went on, it was hard to get more people to join the book club in recent years? It’s hard to say.

I was a member of this book club for several years. I’m still wrapping my mind around this stunning news! 🙁

Any comments about this? Why do you think this happened?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Sweets

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I just wanted to mention two sweet Christian romances that I recently read. These books are simple Heartsong Presents stories that are heartwarming and enjoyable reads.

A New Joy by Susan Page Davis

Book #2 in the White Mountain Brides Collection
Jane’s life has been one of trial. Orphaned at a young age, Jane was indentured as a housemaid. During an Indian raid, she was captured, carried off to Canada, and sold. Then her arranged, loveless marriage ended with the death of her abusive husband. So, when Captain Baldwin and Charles Gardner arrive and purchase her ransom, she returns to the village of Cochecho with very little hope left. Charles has no intention of finding a wife-he, too, has endured Indian captivity and is only just beginning to rebuild his life. But he cannot keep himself from thinking of Miss Jane Miller. A stilted courtship, a distant marriage, hostile Indians. Will life repeat itself for Jane, or does God have joy in store for those who remain faithful to Him?

Jane’s life has been rough and now she’s living with a pastor and his family in the village of Cochecho. When Charles begins courting Jane, she wonders about his intentions. Can she learn to love him? Charles is smitten with Jane and when her master returns, wanting her to fulfill her one more year of indentured service, Charles purchases Jane’s indenture, freeing her. She marries Charles, but is unsure about their relationship. Can they love one another amidst Indian raids and a small pox epidemic?

Life in Chochecho is hard and Jane, as well as the rest of the inhabitants, must rely on their faith to get them through the rough winter.

Can you imagine living life in the middle of the wild, in the midst of people dying from an epidemic and surrounded by Indian tribes? Doesn’t that sound frightening?

This book was an enjoyable and interesting read. I learned a lot about the way life was lived back then, being isolated around the Indian tribes, and about being an indentured servant.

White Doves by Shannon Taylor Vannatter – Book #2 in the White Rose Trilogy

Laken Kroft left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her parents, the town drunk and the local gossip maven? Hayden Winters has his hands full raising his paraplegic nephew, Brady, and wrestling his guilt over having caused the child’s injury. When the boy’s father, Laken’s brother, turns up and starts talking custody, Laken’s influence is Hayden’s only hope. But whose side is she really on?
Laken and Hayden work together in the small post office in Romance, Arkansas. They’re attracted to one another, but Hayden harbors lots of guilt – his nephew is a paraplegic and it’s all his fault. Meanwhile, his feelings for Laken continue to grow, but, there’s a problem – Laken is not a Christian and she’s still bitter towards her estranged family. Her father’s an alcoholic and her mother is a huge gossip, wanting to stir up trouble. Can Laken learn to lean on God, hoping He’ll give her the strength she needs to deal with her problems?

This book was a charming, enjoyable read. I understand that there were two other books in this series and I’m assuming it’ll be re-released as part of Barbour’s 3-in-1 collections.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Wonderful Words About Chesapeake Weddings! :-)

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La Verne Ford wrote the following comment in yesterday’s blog post:
The Chesapeake Weddings three-in-one collection is wonderful so far. I am now reading Bittersweet Memeories. They are [an] inspiration to me and very encouraging. They have reached the very core of my heart.

La Verne, thanks for the kind words. I’ve heard many positive things about Chesapeake Weddings and I’m glad so many people have enjoyed the stories.

Just wanted to point out that Chesapeake Weddings is still available at christianbook.com. Also, I’m still working on other projects. One is sitting at a publisher, and I’m waiting to hear from them. I’m also talking to a literary agent about another proposal. Hopefully, and prayerfully, I’ll get a contract for another novel in 2011! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Thing About Beauty By Donna Riemel Robinson

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The Thing About Beauty by Donna Reimel Robinson

Being beautiful has its drawbacks.
Tonya Brandt wants to marry a handsome man, someone who will complement her own beauty. But she’s dated every hot guy in town without finding someone who loves her for her mind and talents.

Murray Twichell knows his chances with Tonya are about as big as a snowball in July, but somehow, he can’t get her out of his mind. He’s not very handsome, so he figures she would never date him. If only he could get to know the real Tonya without her discovering who he is.

When a secret admirer begins sending Tonya gifts and letters, she is excited. But who is this mystery man? She loves his personality, but what does he look like?

When Tonya finally discovers her secret admirer’s identity, will she reject him? Or will she learn that true beauty is more than skin deep?

===
This book was a light, endearing read that wasn’t heavy on conflict. Tonya is beautiful and she’s not getting any younger. She’s involved in her singles group at church, and finds herself smitten with one of the members of the singles group. BUT, Murray Twichell, a nightmare from her childhood, keeps popping up in her life. A cop, Murray makes a habit of giving Tonya speeding tickets, and she’s not very attracted to him, either. Whenever he’s around, Tonya finds herself bristling as she recalls the horrid time that Murray dropped a frog down her shirt when she was a youngster.

Then, Tonya’s life takes a drastic turn when she starts receiving expensive gifts and cards from a secret admirer! The secret admirer also gives his email address and she begins having conversations with this man online. She finds herself falling for her secret admirer and Tonya, and the rest of her small town, wonder who this secret man is? What will happen when she finds the identity of her admirer?

This is a good book to read if you want a story that’s breezy, light, and not too thought-provoking.

Occasionally, when I read a book, and if it reminds me of another title, I’ll mention it. The premise of this book reminded me of a Robin Jones Gunn book that I read ages ago called Echoes. So I wanted to add that if you enjoyed Echoes, you’ll enjoy The Thing About Beauty.

Tonya Brandt also wanted to pen her own cookbook and The Thing About Beauty often mentioned Tonya’s secret cream cheese brownies. Several characters in the book loved these brownies and the recipe was provided in the back of the novel. Here’s the recipe. I haven’t tried them yet, but I do plan on trying them sometime in the future:

Tonya’s Terrific Brownies
Chocolate Layer:
6 ounces semisweet baking chocolate
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspooons vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

Cream Cheese Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease an 8-inch square pan; dust with flour.
Melt baking chocolate in a double boiler over boiling water, stirring while melted. Remove from heat and whisk in oil, sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour and salt until just blended. Fold in chocolate chunks.

In another bowl, beat cream cheese wtih sugar and egg. Spread 2/3 of the chocolate mixture in the baking pan; spoon tte cheese mixture over the chocolate layer; spoon the remaining chocolate on top. Drag knife through to swirl.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick to test. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes for warm brownies that y ou can eat with a fork, or cool completely for terrific finger-held brownies. Enjoy!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Cheap Stocking Stuffer Idea – Only 99 cents

Always Yesterday By Jeri Odell

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Always Yesterday – Book One In The Sierra Weddings Collection

As a female cop, Delanie Cooper is on her most difficult assignment yet. To stop a baby-selling ring, she goes undercover as an unmarried, pregnant teen. Her new partner, Eli Logan, plays the father. With his rugged good looks, Delanie doesn`t have to fake attraction, but Eli`s rough exterior and bitterness toward women make it hard even to be friends. Eli is outraged at having another female partner. His last one nearly got him killed, and she wasn`t the first woman to let him down. He`s sure he`ll never need another woman in his life or anyone else, not even God. His past has shown him he can only count on himself. Amidst danger and deceit can Eli forget the pain of yesterday to see something different in Delanie? And will he come to know God, the only One who will never let him down?

This book was a quick, pleasant read. Eli was abandoned by his mother, his father’s an alcoholic, and his brother died from a drug overdose. Plus, he’s had a negative experience with a female cop. When he meets beautiful Delanie, his new partner, it’s rough for him to ignore their shared attraction. However, Delanie and her family are strong Christians and Eli wants nothing to do with God. As Eli mentors teens, and is urged to hang out at the Christian teen center with his mentees, he finds himself seeking answers to questions he’s had about the Lord for several years.

Delanie also finds herself smitten with her new partner as they try to bust a baby-selling ring. Offended by Eli’s attitude against women cops, Delanie stands up for herself, proving her worth. As she falls for Eli, she knows that they can never be together since it’s a sin to be unequally yoked with a non-believer. I thought the author did a good job of showing how deeply Delanie and Eli were attracted to one another, but could not be together because of their non-shared religious beliefs. There’s also a side story involving one of Delaney’s best friends who’s struggling with marrying a non-believer. This thread proved intriguing, also.

This story moved pretty fast and you get caught up in the characters and their lives while they perform their jobs as cops. It was a light, sweet, enjoyable story with a small dose of suspense thrown into the mix.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Bittersweet Memories – A Review

Reader Mail About Bittersweet Memories

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A reader recently wrote to Heartsong Presents about my novel, Bittersweet Memories, and my editor was kind enough to pass the message to me. Here’s what Candi had to say about Bittersweet Memories – book #3 in the Chesapeake Weddings collection:

I really enjoyed reading Cecelia Dowdy’s book Bittersweet Memories. I picked it up from a Christian Store, In Kansas City, Mo. I must say I have never in my whole life read a book that was so good. Finished it in one day, that’s how much I loved it. I would like to see more of her books.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Candi! Your compliment has really made my day!

~Cecelia Dowdy~