Wednesday, February 19, 2014

A blast from the past....by Roxanne Rustand

This winter has gone on...and on...and on. I love snow.  I really do!  But it's been a number of years since we've had such a snowy, bitterly cold winter in Iowa.  None of the 12-14" blizzards (yet)  but  lots of significant snowfalls that just keep coming, like the Energizer Bunny.  Reminiscent of the pre-climate change days of growing up in Minnesota, in fact.  Which has been making me a tad nostalgic.

So much so, that my daughter and I went off to a consignment store, found some old fondue sets for a few dollars, and then we had a fondue  supper over the weekend.  Any of you remember those days, when a bride got duplicates of fondue sets?  I remember my mom putting on some fondue dinner parties when I was young, but I'd forgotten how fun it was.  Labor intensive too, though!  On Friday night, we had chicken, steak cubes, and meatballs to cook on those little forks;  a pot of hot cheese sauce for broccoli, cauliflower and bread cubes;  and  chocolate fondue for fresh fruit and angel food cake cubes.  It was fun, sitting around the table,  eating much slower, talking a lot more.

And nostalgia has now had me pulling some favorite old novels off my shelves.  Do you remember the first romance novel you ever read?  The one that first captivated your heart and made you eager to find more, and more of such wonderful books? I'd never read a romance until my friend Judy handed me an old Judith McNaught novel and dared me to put it down.  I laughed...and then started to read.  At 4 am the next morning I hit The End and wanted nothing more than to start it all over again.  I'd never read anything that touched on the core of a woman's emotion like that book.  It was One & Always...and then I rapidly read every historical romance I could find.  And when McNaught wrote Paradise (be still my heart!)  I read that twice and then fell in love with contemporary romance.  It is still on my keeper shelf, and I must have read it five times by now.  What are your all-time keeper novels?  The ones that made you a devoted romance reader?

My avid reading evolved into writing, and now here I am, twenty years later, with thirty published novels under my belt and dreams of writing (and reading!) many more. I evolved from secular into inspirational and sweet romance, and couldn't be happier about writing what I love to read, 

Nostalgia--and a longing for summer--still has me in its grip as I write this post.  With predictions of ice and five more inches of snow, we're having family over for dinner tonight: a summer sort of meal, with fried chicken and all the fixin's,  fresh fruit salad, and homemade ice cream. I'd love to invite you all over...but since that's not possible, I'd love for us to talk about our favorite books--the ones on our keeper shelf, that drew us into the world of romance fiction and really touched our hearts.


Roxanne has sold thirty novels, and  writes inspirational romantic suspense, inspirational romance, and sweet romance.  She lives in the country with her family, and a menagerie of pets that frequently find their way into her books. Her blog, at www.roxannerustand.com, features authors and readers blogging about their pets...and books, of course!  Animal lovers may also enjoy stopping by www.facebook.com/roxanne.rustand  or  www.facebook.com/roxanne.rustand.author 

Her newest releases are available on Amazon:  COMEBACK COWBOY and SUMMER AT BRIAR LAKE

13 comments:

  1. Gosh, haven't thought of fondue for years. I do remember it well, dipping chunks of bread into melted cheese. I remember burning my mouth on more than one occasion. As for romance novels, one that stands out in my mind is Golden Paradise by Susan Johnson. I went on to read all her books, although my tastes have changed since then. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

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    1. Emily found a low fat cheese deep that was wonderful--with an ingredient I couldn't believe (nor could I detect!)--pureed white beans. It was delicious none the less, and no one guessed it!

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  2. I would not like all that snow, but I am really fond of fondue (and chocolate fountains). There's a chain interspersed throughout the US called The Melting Pot that has fondue burners on every table. Such fun!

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    1. How interesting! I've never been to such a place. I'll have to Google that one to see if there are restaurants in the cities I visit!

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  3. Ah, yes fondue.
    And this winter has me asking--where is global warming when I need it???

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    1. Yes! Well...it's in the high thirties today, but tomorrow we are back to blizzard warnings!

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  4. I loved fondue when I was first married. I agree, it's so much work I never do it now. But I think I need to get a pot when my granddaughter is a little older so we can try it at least once.

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  5. Even though I got married during the fondue craze, I didn't receive a set for a wedding present. My wonderful mother-in-law had one, though, so we enjoyed fondue at her house. As far as my favorite romances are concerned, 'The Flame And The Flower' by Kathleen Woodiwiss got me started reading them. I read all of her books, then started in on LaVyrle Spencer's. Such happy memories.

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    1. Oh, yes--LaVyrle Spencer was one of my early favorites, too! I read everything she ever wrote. Happy memories!

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  6. I still have Paradise on my book shelf, too. Loved all the Judith McNaught and LaVyrle Spencer books.

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  7. It's fun to hear that others enjoyed the same books I did! :)

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  8. I too was going to mention The Melting Pot but Mel Curtis already did. I think it brought back fondue in a big way, and has inspired a new generation of fondue followers. One of our daughters is into it, and loves making fondue for family gatherings. We all benefit from that!

    Classic books are so much fun, those greats that first inspired us. For me it was Wuthering Heights. Not a genre romance novel per se, but darkly romantic in a way that captivated me. I knew from that book forward, I was a true romantic at heart and would have to find a way to incorporate my passion for reading -- and eventually writing -- romantic stories in the future.

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  9. Oooh--I loved those old classics, too! Victoria Holt and her books like Nine Coaching Waiting were favorites as well, back in high school.

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