Category Archives: Heartsong Presents

The Sweets



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~

The Thing About Beauty By Donna Riemel Robinson


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?

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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~

Always Yesterday By Jeri Odell



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~

Where Am I?

I stumbled upon this post on the Sunny Island Breezes Blog. I told the blogger that I currently am not under contract for any more books. I do have projects for which I’m searching for a home, but so far, no takers! Plus I told her that Barbour rejected my last proposal.

So, if you’ve read my any of my Heartsongs and enjoyed them, then could you please let the publisher know via this link? Just mention that you liked my books and you’d like to see more!

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

John’s Quest – Some Kind Words

Ms. Sylvia Van, one of my blog readers and one of my Facebook friends, informed me that she left the following anonymous comment about John’s Quest on this post:

I ordered your book John’s Quest from the website and was pleasantly surprised. Each word was like eating your favorite dessert without worrying about the calories. I found myself enjoying it more and more and never wanting it to end. I love it that you continued the book going in doing storylines of each the characters in each of your other books. If there is someone who doesn’t like to read but is willing to start I would highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.

Just reading those words warms my heart! What a great way to start my Saturday! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Cheap Stocking Stuffer Idea









If you want some cheap options to stuff your Christmas stocking, then you should consider purchasing some Heartsong Presents titles. They’re only $2.97 each and you can order them directly from the publisher. I’ve ordered directly from Barbour myself, and I always received the books a few days after I ordered them.

You can find titles here – select the Books tab to get a full selection, and you can also order by calling (800) 847 8270. You can order up to twelve Heartsongs and still pay the same amount in postage. My titles are John’s Quest, Milk Money, and Bittersweet Memories. But, you can find a whole slew of available titles, both contemporary and historical, for a reasonable price. If you order soon, you should receive your novels before Christmas, in plenty of time to stuff your stockings!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Washington – Small Town Romance In Four Novels

Washington – Small Town Romance In Four Novels by Wanda Brunstetter and Lauraine Snelling
From Amazon.com
Product Description
Contemporary Romance: Four unique women have found themselves alone: Sinda wants to leave her past behind. Tabby has been bruised by a life-long speech problem. Robynn determines never to risk her heart again. Lareana must carry on after her husband’s death. Can love, human and divine, make a way to open sealed hearts?

Book Description
Four unique women have found themselves alone–“some closed to love because of haunting secrets, others because of fear and loss. Sinda moves into a rural neighborhood to start a new life and leave her secrets behind. Tabby is a timid woman who steps out to conquer her greatest challenge. A talented jockey, Robynn will risk her life for the race, but she’ll never risk her heart again. Lareana is left with a newborn and a farm to manage after her husband dies tragically. Can these women, bruised by life and love, find the courage to open sealed hearts?

This novel collection, published by Barbour, contains four old Heartsong Presents novels by Wanda Brunstetter and Lauraine Snelling. What’s unique about Wanda’s novels is that these titles are NOT Amish titles. They’re just regular contemporary romances. Wanda’s titles were a bit different because both used child-like objects as part of the plot. Wanda’s first novel, The Neighborly Thing is about a woman who owns a doll hospital and her second novel in this collection, Talking For Two, is about a ventriloquist, so there’s a dummy involved.

I’m going to review this collection a bit differently than my usual method. Three of the stories reminded me of other fiction titles, so I’m going to compare them to other books. I also wanted to point out that I found myself skimming the stories instead of reading them word for word.

This is an old novel collection that has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, and I purchased it myself. A free copy was not provided to me by the publisher, author, or publicist.


From Heartsong Presents website: Sinda Shull has secrets from her past which are the reason she feels she can never marry. When Sinda moves next door to widower Glen Olsen and his daughter, Tara, she struggles to leave the past behind. Sinda’s home business keeps her hands busy, but Glen’s neighborly gestures occupy most of her thoughts. Glen is drawn to Sinda believing it’s his responsibility to do the neighborly thing and befriend her. His daughter, though, has other plans. The would-be detective tries to prove that Sinda is up to no good – and Tara does everything she can to keep her father and Sinda apart.
I thought this story was cute, and it was a unique concept for Sinda to own a doll hospital. People bring their rare, antique dolls to Sinda’s shop for repair. However, the little girl in this story got on my nerves! She was extremely obnoxious and after awhile, I got tired of reading about the bratty kid. The romance was sweet and endearing, though!

Talking For Two by Wanda Brunstetter

From Heartsong Presents website:
Her stuttering and lack of self-confidence have her locked in a trap she can’t escape. She’s faced these problems since childhood, when her pretty, outgoing sister was born. Wanting to serve the Lord–and show her family she can amount to something–Tabby enrolls in a class on ventriloquism. When she visits the shop of accomplished ventriloquist Seth Byers to inquire about buying a dummy, he quickly notices her potential. With the help of Tabby’s best friend, Seth begins a campaign to turn Tabby into what he thinks she should be–the perfect woman to be his wife. But Tabby knows she will never be perfect. Will she ever let go of her shyness and use her talent to serve God? Will Seth be able to love her just as she is? Or will Tabby spend the rest of her life letting her dummy talk for two?

When I read this book, the first thing I thought about was a young adult novel I read several years ago called Alan And Naomi.

In Wanda’s novel, Tabby has a stuttering problem, but when she speaks using her dummy, her stuttering disappears. I read Alan and Naomi a long time ago. I saw that it was re-released and it was originally published by Simon and Schuster back in 1977. I recall getting this novel out of the school library. In Alan and Naomi, Naomi is a traumitized girl, and Alan is expected to spend time with her, against his wishes. When he brings out his dummy and speaks, he is able to get a reaction out of Naomi. The only time Naomi communicates is when Alan uses his dummy. I remember liking this novel as a youngster, but I thought the ending was very sad.

Race For The Roses by Lauraine Snelling
From Heartsong Presents website: As a talented jockey, Robynn O’Dell risks her life every day. But some dangers she avoids at all costs-like putting herself and her young son at risk of being hurt again. Ever since her husband deserted her and then died in a car crash, Robynn has sealed her heart from pain… and love. However, that was before Dane Morgan strode into her life. Stubborn, opinionated, and driven, Dane is determined to win Robynn’s heart. But he hides his own fears and hurts. Will these two wounded people learn to risk being vulnerable, or will fear keep them from discoveing what God has prepared for them?

When I started skimming this book, I thought….hey, wait a minute, I’ve read this book before! I read it when I was member of the Heartsong Presents bookclub years ago! This novel reminds me of my own novel, John’s Quest, because there is a blind little boy who is a secondary character.


Song Of Laughter by Lauraine Snelling
From Heartsong Presents website: Lareana Amundson can almost find something to smile about, even with the tragic death of her husband John, a new baby son to bring up alone, and a large dairy farm to manage. Like majestic Mt. Rainier, the rugged peak that stands sentinel over her property, her faith in God remains unshakable, her sense of humor intact. It is only when she remembers Johnny’s accident at the hands of a drunken driver or the mounting bills that she lapses into a uncharacteristic bout of the blahs. When Trey Bennett, wealthy entrepreneur, offers to buy a parcel of her farmland to help her keep going, she has no way of knowing how their lives will be linked. Though he shares a dream to match her own, his views on drinking challenge everything she has come to value since John’s death. And what about the man who took her husband’s life? Can she ever know real joy again until he is brought to justice?

This novel reminded me of my novel,
Milk Money. The reasons is because both stories are set on a dairy farm, and they deal with the subject of drinking and alcohol.

It’s interesting to read the early works of two of the current bestselling authors of Christian fiction – Lauraine Snelling and Wanda Brunstetter.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Lumberjack’s Lady by Susan Page Davis


The Lumberjack’s Lady by Susan Page Davis

From Heartsong Presents website:
Letitia Hunter works as a clerk at her father’s lumber company, but her place in society is well established. When an intriguing French lumberjack comes to work in the office alongside her, Letitia knows she cannot allow the feelings he stirs within her. Her father would never consider him an eligible suitor. From the moment Etienne rescued the boss’s lovely young daughter from drowning in a frozen lake, he has not been able to put her out of his mind. Working with her only complicates things. Yet his feelings for her are so strong. Can he overcome prejudice and prove his worth both as an employee and as a man? God works in mysterious ways, His children to bless. Will He make this relationship work?

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This was a sweet story that held my interest. It had a different twist from usual Heartsongs, I suppose, because the hero is a French Canadian lumberjack. When my sister saw the cover, she said, “What’s Paul Bunyon doing on the cover of that book you’re reading?”

Letitia has always lived by her father’s rules, quietly working beside him in the office of his lumber company. However, while visiting one of her father’s lumber camps, she falls into a frozen lake while ice skating. She’s rescued by handsome Etienne, a French Canadian lumberjack. Etienne is smitten with the boss’s daughter, but knows she’s way out of his league. He came from an under-priviledged background and has little money. Letitia has a lot of wealth, and he knows her father would never agree to having him as a son-in-law.

Letitia’s father, Mr. Hunter, calls Etienne Steve (Etienne is French for Steven). Although Mr. Hunter admires the office talents of his new employee, he knows the man is not a suitable mate for his daughter. Leticia shuns the advances of one of her father’s wealthy clients, much to her father’s dissatisfaction.

Leticia and Etienne have a lot of obstacles to overcome before their romance can blossom into a beautiful relationship.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Beyond Today by Janelle Jamison


Beyond Today by Janelle Jamison alias Tracie Peterson
ISBN-13: 9781557485618
ISBN-10: 1557485615
Publication Date: 7/1/1994

From the back cover:
Life on the Kansas prairie is hard and unpredictable, and death can be a frequent visitor. As a result, Amy Carmichael has learned never to live beyond today. She works diligently helping their parents on their farm, and she never plans for the future.

All that changes, though, when she meets Tyler Andrews, the new circuit rider. But will Tyler return her love, or is he more attracted to Amy’s twin sister Angie? Amy knows from experience that men seem to prefer Angie, and for the time a wedge of jealousy separates the sisters.

Love on the Kansas prairie is hard and unpredictable, but it is also as inevitable as an early summer cyclone.

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I’m not even sure how this novel popped up in my house! I’m fairly certain I purchased it used at a library book sale or at a book store. I wanted to read to read this old Heartsong because it’s about a set of identical twin sisters – I’m always partial to stories about identical twins.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the cover and discovered the author is really Tracie Peterson! I didn’t realize Tracie had written some Heartsongs under a pen name!

Amy has always lived in her twin sister Angie’s shadow. Amy is tomboyish, and she loves to take care of the kids while the adults have their social time. Angie is flirtatous, always having a number of beaus waiting to court her.

However, when the new preacher, Tyler Andrews, comes to town, Amy finds that she’s finally met a man that makes her heart go pitter-patter. Tyler is a bit older than Amy, plus he’s a traveling preacher who is a widower – he’s lost his wife and child on the tough Kansas prairie.

To make matters worse, Amy is floored to discover that Angie is smitten with Tyler. Which twin does Tyler really like?

The story takes a suspenseful twist when Amy is kidnapped and Tyler, plus the whole town, goes on a quest to save her life.

This book was an enjoyable Heartsong read.

~Cecelia Dowdy~