Roxanne Rustand's Blog, page 3
April 11, 2023
Have you ever had a crazy or silly pet? I have!
I’ve written over forty novels and novellas (with twenty-five available on Amazon and four more coming in 2023), and I love incorporating my favorite horses and pets when I can.
Last month, my newsletter was about my crazy, funny childhood horse Cherry, who was the ultimate equine escape artist. He was part of CHRISTMAS DANGER, the Christian romantic suspense novel I released on February 7th.
LETHAL PURSUIT is my new Christian Romantic Suspense novel releasing today, April 11th, 2023. Click either of these book titles in my Southwest Peril series to read more about them on Amazon. Here’s a quick description:
What happens when a woman loses nearly everything–her husband, her home, her reputation, and is suspected of a crime she didn’t commit?
A legacy, her late aunt’s small-town cafe–is Beth’s chance to rebuild a secure life for her little girl far, far from Chicago, though little Lone Wolf, Texas, might not be quite ready for the sort of ruffles and lace café she has in mind. That can all be sorted out.
But when a dangerous stranger from her past follows her there…
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In Lethal Pursuit, our dog from the 1990s, a Schipperke named Cinder, is a part of the story under the pseudonym Viper. Are you familiar with this breed?
Cinder was nine pounds of fierce, dauntless canine independence with a dense black coat and a lion’s mane of bristly hair. With her pointy ears and an impressive array of sharp teeth, we all thought she looked like a fruit bat when snuggling peacefully upside down in my husband’s arms while he watched television. She was totally dedicated to him. The rest of us, she tolerated. And about that independence….
She was a house dog, like all of our dogs before and after, and seemed to have a brain abnormality from birth, given the two-plus years it took for house training and her penchant for marching in tight circles (only to left, never, ever to the right), and her unpredictable snappishness. But the worst: She would lurk behind the unwary (especially visitors) when they opened the front door, and then shoot out of the house and down the road.
It might have been amusing to see this supersonic black bowling ball rocket down the road. But it wasn’t so amusing when she couldn’t be caught. She would linger near our yard (and the neighbors) at night, barking madly, though we could only see the glitter of her eyes because the rest of her was like a black hole in space, her dense black coat absorbing any light and reflecting nothing.
In the wee hours, I would then sit outside in my nightgown trying to lure her inside with bits of steak and pork chops and all manner of leftovers. Nope. She would come close just so far, then take off, barking endlessly.
It always took about forty-eight hours for her to get hungry enough to come home. Back then, we used a long tie-out cable for letting the dogs briefly go outside to do their business and didn’t have an Invisible Fence to keep our dogs at home. But now we sure do!
Once, someone caught Cinder and even tried to keep her despite her license tags. During one of my daily calls to the humane society, we learned she had been turned in. The “new owners” said they had to get rid of her ASAP as she was an impossible dog. LOL. We already knew she was, but our pets are cherished and have forever homes with us until the day they die. Even if they’re a bit naughty!
I would love to read your comments about your own pets! Leave a comment, and you will entered in a drawing for a free Kindle copy of COLD CASE DANGER , the first book in my Wyoming Courage series.
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HERE’S A LINK FOR AN ONLINE BOOK FAIR, where you might find new-to-you-authors and some great bargains on Kindle Unlimited! CLICK HERE
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T
HIS MONTH I’M FEATURING WONDERFUL AUTHOR JOSIE RIVERA AND HER NEW RELEASE!
1-800-Series Volume Two
Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovations.
Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: http://josieriviera.com/
Have you ever tried something you were afraid to try because it mattered so much to you? I did, when I started writing. Take the chance, everyone, and just do something you love.
Join her Facebook VIP team at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/16872...
Like” her Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Josie.Riviera
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/josie...
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Josieriviera
Book info from Josie:
My newest boxed set, The 1-800-Series Volume Two, includes three clean, wholesome, and cozy small-town romance books.
The first book, “1-800-SUMMER,” follows Belle Boots, an equine therapist, as she considers moving on from her current life until a man’s offer changes everything.
The second book, “1-800-NEW YEAR,” is a holiday love and romance story about Shanice Williams, who struggles to sell the old farmhouse she inherited from her grandmother, where she has fond memories with Lincoln Reid, her teenage crush.
The third book, “Christmas in the Air,” is about Penelope Reid, a single mother in her late 40s, who meets an elusive, handsome stranger on a plane trip to Hilton Head Island and later discovers that he is the new pediatrician in town.
Each book in the set offers a chance at new beginnings, hope, and second chances for the characters. Readers can cozy up with their favorite beverage and lose themselves in these stories filled with delightful characters and brimming with joy.
The entire box set is only $2.99 for a limited time and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon link:
Universal link (for all online stores!):
https://mybook.to/1-800-SeriesVolume2
The post Have you ever had a crazy or silly pet? I have! appeared first on Roxanne Rustand.
February 20, 2023
Roxanne asks: What Pets Do You Remember from Childhood?
My brother and I had lots of pets while growing up. I look back now and just marvel over my parents’ willingness to take in anything with fur, wings, hooves, or scales.
I got my first horse at the age of six and rode all over our small town bareback. Now I wonder, what was dad thinking to give a six-year-old such freedom?! It was like giving me my own car keys, but times were much simpler then. I will always be grateful for it—and for all of those adventures.
Over the years, I graduated from one horse to the next, and each one was unique. Oh, the memories! Quirky personalities abounded in our menagerie, and some still make me laugh.
And some have ended up in my various novels!
CHRISTMAS DANGER, my new release this month, for instance.
I had Cherokee during early junior high. He was a seventeen-hand Thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross, and it was love at first sight when I rode my horse to the local horse trader’s farm and saw him.
Someone had bred him to be a jumper, I was told, though he wasn’t athletic and ended up being a “kid horse” for me. I traded my quarter-horse cross gelding for him (plus $12.50 in allowance money) and thought I’d made the best trade ever! My parents, mind you, knew little about horses and gave me considerable free rein. Bless them!
Maybe Cherokee wasn’t a hunter-jumper candidate, but he sure was an escape artist…and in CHRISTMAS DANGER he appears as “Galahad,” complete with some of his adventures when he’d go on the lam.
To this day, I still have horses, cats, and dogs, and can’t imagine being without them.
Did you have any pets? Do you now? Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for a free e-copy of COLD CASE DANGER.
Here’s a quick intro for CHRISTMAS DANGER (available on Amazon.) CLICK HERE to find it.
After facing a terrible loss, Johanna hopes to find healing and a new beginning by moving away. But will this decision be the last one she makes?
An escape artist of a horse and a Great Pyrenees pup the size of Texas are all the family she needs now—or so she thinks. So why is she drawn to a rancher who couldn’t be more wrong for her?
But when a stranger begins threatening both her and the clinic she runs, dangers mount. And that rancher might prove to be exactly the man she needs.
“A heartwarming story of honor, love of family, and ties that bind through generations, even through life’s most difficult challenges.” An online reviewer
Another suspense-filled inspirational romance by USA Today Bestselling author Roxanne Rustand
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February 8, 2023
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Do you do anything special for Valentine’s Day? The restaurants are all so busy that evening that we always stay home. With winter weather usually in full force here in the upper Midwest, is much nicer to enjoy a cozy evening at home.
I’m hoping to have some of our grands here before then, though, so we can make rolled-out Valentine’s themed cookies. They love decorating cookies for every holiday—often with heaps of colored sugars on each one….and then the counters, the oven, and the floor end up quite crunchy. No worries—the point is having fun and making memories.
But I did finally learn my lesson at Christmas. My flat Airbake cookie sheets might have been wonderful for baking cookies, but not so good at actually corralling all of the sprinkles. So now, they’ve gone to Salvation Army and I’ve purchased rimmed cookie sheets. Seriously–why didn’t I think of that before?
I have a new book release today, February 7th tltled CHRISTMAS DANGER
Here is its
AMAZON LINK
and a quick description:
After facing a terrible loss, pediatrician Joanna Miles hopes to find healing and a new beginning by moving away. But will this decision be the last one she makes?
She agrees to cover an infant and maternity pediatric clinic in the mountains of New Mexico for three months while that physician is on leave, before starting her new position in California.
An escape artist of a horse and a Great Pyrenees pup the size of Texas are all the family she needs now—or so she thinks. So why is she drawn to a rancher who couldn’t be more wrong for her? Especially after a little pink bundle left on his doorstep convinces her just how irresponsible he is. He’s definitely not her type.
But when a stranger begins threatening both her and the clinic, dangers mount. Will she be able to keep her patients–and herself–safe? And who can she turn to for help?
A heartwarming story of honor, love of family, and ties that bind through generations, even through life’s most difficult challenges.
I hope you will enjoy it! It’s FREE for those of you on Kindle Unlimited, or at the bargain price of just $3.99 for those who prefer to buy their Kindle books.
I really enjoyed writing this title, because it was a chance to incorporate just a few of the exploits of one of my childhood horses. Cherry was 17 hands tall, gangly, and goofy. He would manage to crawl under the fence and then merrily go through the neighborhood peering into windows. One family looked out, saw what appeared to be a disembodied white figure (his wide, white blaze), and called the sheriff. They were sure they had just seen an alien.
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BOOK FAIR! Click on the following link to find an array of wonderful MYSTERY ROMANCE, COZY MYSTERIES, and WHO-DONE-ITS:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/generalfiction3/4t4kqxq2pq
The post Happy Valentine’s Day! appeared first on Roxanne Rustand.
October 19, 2022
Best friends, favorite seasons, & a free book drawing! …Roxanne Rustand
October is here at last! My favorite month of the year. The wonderful, crisp air, the blazing colors—it’s all glorious. Do you see autumn colors where you live?
The first weekend of October is always very special to me, because that’s when I drive up to way-northern Wisconsin to visit fellow author Lyn Cote. I’ve been making this trip since 1993. Phone calls and zoom calls are great, but there’s nothing like actually visiting in person!
Here are photos of the colors just starting to turn when I was there:
News for October…here’s a new release!
WOLF CREEK DANGER, is the second title in my Wyoming Danger series, published October 20th, 2022.
Here is the Amazon link to order: CLICK HERE
Here’s a quick blurb for WOLF CREEK DANGER:
Leigh McCallister has come home to the Rockies to set up her new veterinary practice, but now someone from her past is threatening her and that danger is growing. Will returning be the worst—and most final—decision of her life?
Her family’s ranch, in the shadows of the Wyoming Rockies, is a part of Leigh McCallister’s blood, but not everyone in Wolf Creek welcomes her with open arms. Her mother made a lot of enemies over the years with her shrewd and manipulative business dealings. Some of the locals are already blackballing Leigh’s fledgling clinic. And now that Cole Daniels is back in town, the rumors are starting to fly.
Single dad Cole has come back to Wolf Creek with one goal–he wants to clear the name of his wrongly-convicted father. Guilty, until proven innocent. That was the McAllister family motto, wasn’t it? Cole will never forget it—no matter how interested he’d once been in pretty, kind Leigh McAllister. Thanks to her father’s lies, Cole’s dad had been sent to prison and then died there. And Leigh had testified against him, too.
Can they set aside the past and work together before someone dies?
And there will be another new release in November.The next book in the Wyoming Danger series is COLLATERAL DANGER. It is now available for pre-order
(CLICK HERE)
and will be released on November 15th, 2022.
CLICK HERE
to see all of the books in this series.
QUESTION: Are you a dog owner, or have you ever been? If you were to look for a new companion right now, would you want a puppy or an older dog? And do you have a favorite breed—or prefer the Heinz 57 variety? Leave a comment, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free e-book!
Finally, THE LAST CHRISTMAS PUPPY will be released November 29, 2022. You can CLICK HERE to read all about it, pre-order, and save $2.00!
It’s on sale now for just 99 cents, but after December 15th it will return to the usual price of $2.99.
But there isn’t just one book about puppies and holiday joy coming out soon. Eight authors from the Sweet Romance Reads group have come together to write our annual Puppies for Christmas series. Below are the authors, titles, and links, so you can see the covers and read the descriptions of each.
This should put us all in the holiday spirit!
If you leave a comment on this blog (page to the bottom of this blog to do so), you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free e-book from 2019 through 2021 of mine–your choice!
Roxanne Rustand
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Here’s the list of the Puppies for Christmas…
Pat Simmons: House Calls for the Holidays
Pre-order now, available 10/13
Jean C. Gordon: Can’t Say No to Puppies
Pre-order now, available 10/18
Josie Rivera: Christmas in the Air
Pre-order now, available 10/25
Laura Scott: Sealed with a Christmas Promise
Pre-order now, available 11/1
Merrillee Whren: Puppy Love and Christmas Cookies
Pre-order now, available 11/8
Susan Aylworth: Mischief and Mistletoe in Christmas Town
Pre-order now, available 11/15
Lyn Cote: Mavis’s Forever Christmas
Pre-order now, available 11/22
Roxanne Rustand: The Last Christmas Puppy
Pre-order now, available 11/29
Kimberly Rose Johnson: Found: An Almost Perfect Christmas
Pre-order now, available 12/6
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April 20, 2022
FINAL ESCAPE is available now! Plus, some wonderful bargains, too.
When you’ve run out of places to hide, what are your chances of survival?
Carrie Randall hoped to escape her past and find a fresh start, after divorcing her abusive husband. But this small, remote mountain town is hiding dangerous secrets, and now someone is harassing her. Has her ex-husband tracked her down? Or are the increasing threats related to the troubling rumors about her handsome new landlord? Can she trust this man with her life?
Her heart says yes, but falling in love led to disaster in the past, and now the clock is ticking. Does she stay, or must she run? To learn more, CLICK HERE.
Read on for a simple, wonderful recipe, and some links for bargain book fairs!
My dear friend Lyn Cote is offering you something very special! From April 19 to 23rd, her book, Journey to Respect, will be free on Kindle! Here’s some information:
East Meets West in a Regency Era Western~ A family ’ s saga, a young nation ’ s story~
An inspirational historical romance from a Carol Award–winning author: Does Rafe belong with his mother’s tribe or on his father’s plantation? As he chooses between two lives, Eve, a daughter of a prominent Washington, DC family, prepares to go west. Both Rafe and Eve embark on a journey, a Journey to Respect. But such journeys are rarely uncomplicated or without pitfalls. And falling in love is the most dangerous of all. PG13
This moving, authentic, uplifting historical novel by a USA Today Bestselling author, is one you won’t want to miss. Though part of a series, this story is complete within itself.
What Readers Say
“I so very seldom write a review but I couldn’t turn the last page without leaving one this time. Characters and emotions in this book seem so stunningly real I felt I was in the midst of them. This is a very beautiful story and I highly recommend it to each and all readers.”
“Another fantastic story in this series. Each one is as good as or better than the previous one. We met Rafe McKuen, the son of an Osage chief’s daughter and a fur trader in book two, but we get to know the man he is now.”
# # #
Also, here are some virtual book fairs for you to check out! Click on the links to take a peek.
Note that several of these feature KU (Kindle Unlimited) titles. But if you don’t subscribe to that program to obtain free books, you can choose to buy them as usual…and some are discounted for a great deal!
https://books.bookfunnel.com/ku4romance-apr22/24bb193l1h
SUMMER OF SUSPENSE
https://books.bookfunnel.com/summerofsuspense/c9gys0k816
SWEET ROMANCE IN KU
https://books.bookfunnel.com/nothingbutsweet/9dqu58bwut
HANG ON FOR ONE HECK OF A RIDE
https://books.bookfunnel.com/hangontight/m5xn9nficw
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April’s recipe is so easy—SIX ingredients, and it’s a yummy addition to breakfast or brunch!
SPEEDY CARAMEL ROLLS
ROLLS
Two tubes of refrigerator biscuits (I like Pillsbury’s Flaky Layer Grands)
1 heaping cup white sugar
1 TBSP + 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Cut biscuits in fourths with a scissors. Roll in the cinnamon/sugar mixture (you can also dip in melted butter first for more adhesion.) Drop loosely into a buttered 9×13” pan.
CARAMEL
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup vanilla ice cream
Melt these four ingredients in a microwave for two minutes. Stir. Microwave another 30-45 seconds.
Pour caramel over the rolls. Top with chopped pecans if you wish.
Bake 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees.
Cool for five minutes, then invert pan onto a tray or into another pan, and cool
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Please take advantage of Lyn’s free book. You will love it! And also click on the book fair links to take a look at all of the bargains offered by wonderful authors this month.
WINNERS: I’ll list last month’s winners (from those who replied to the questions in my March newsletter) in my May newsletter, and also the winners from this April edition as well.
The questions for April:
Have you clicked on any of the online bookfair links in my monthly newsletters yet? Have you found some new-to-you authors that you enjoyed?
How do you generally search for new books to read? Through Amazon, Goodreads, other online sources, or brick-and-mortar stores, or word-of-mouth?
Wishing you all a wonderful spring!
Till May—Roxanne
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March 17, 2022
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! ….and book bargains galore. Roxanne Rustand
Do you celebrate the day in a way special for your family? Parades, a party, or just trying to remember to wear something green? It’s just the two of us at home now, and we aren’t into any festivities, but I do make corned beef with cabbage, red potatoes, onions, and lots of carrots, plus Irish Soda bread. And if grandkids are here, rolled-out cookies with lots of sparkling sugars (mostly green.) Now, need to find shamrock cookie cutters!
New release!
FINAL PURSUIT, the third inspirational romantic suspense in my MONTANA SECRETS series, is now up for sale. Free to those who use Kindle Unlimited, or on sale for just $3.99. CLICK HERE for more info, or to buy!
A quick blurb: A violent criminal has been terrorizing her small Montana mountain town. Deputy Megan Peters is working hard to identify him and bring him to justice…but now he has turned his sights on her. Could he be Scott Anders, the only newcomer in town? Should she believe her instincts…or follow her heart?
And, just in case you’d like a bit of early Christmas spirit (or a story set in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day) here is AN IRISH CHRISTMAS BLESSING. CLICK HERE to learn more, or to buy for only 99 cents!
A quick blurb: Eve goes to Ireland for the Christmas season to help an old friend run her Shamrocks & Shivers Antiquarian Book Shoppe. She figures the two months will be a dream come true. A quaint little village, with centuries-old buildings made of stone. Narrow winding lanes. Picturesque. What’s not to love?
But then her friend has been called away for an extended family emergency before Eve gets off her plane, and now she has to sort out a stranger screaming upstairs, a crazy dog, a mouthy parrot, AND an utterly handsome man with a broken ankle who has taken up residence on the main floor of the shop….
Welcome to Roxanne’s “Coupled by Christmas” six-novella series (each priced at just 99 cents.) Tied together only by a Christmas theme, they can be read in any order.
#1 The Mistletoe Puppy
#2 A Montana Christmas
#3 An Irish Christmas Blessing
#4 A London Christmas
#5 A Scottish Christmas
#6 Christmas in Paris
LAST MONTH’S CONTEST? Ooops!
No, you didn’t miss anything, as I didn’t send out a newsletter in February. But here are the new questions for March!
THE NEW MARCH QUESTIONS:
1. Do you like reading holiday-themed books? Why or why not?
2. Easter is practically around the corner. Do you have Easter dinner menu traditions?
To write a comment or answer, CLICK HERE to reach the blog version of this newsletter at my website, then scroll down that page to the COMMENT SECTION to reply. The winners will receive a free copy of one of FINAL REFUGE, Book #1 in my Montana Secrets, or FINAL CHANCE, book #2 in this series.
**Note: if you send answers to these questions, be sure to check my April newsletter to see if you are a winner!
HERE’S A SUPER EASY, FAMILY FAVORITE RECIPE!
Even the left-overs are good, whether hot or cold. I’ve been making this for over ten years and I don’t remember the source, but do know that I made a number of adjustments to the original. Now that I’m thinking about it, this will be our supper for tonight!
PECAN CHICKEN
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts moderately flattened to uniform thickness (not too thin)
Peanut oil for the electric skillet
Coating:
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan (not the dry kind in a shaker can)
1/2 cup flour
For dipping:
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1. Combine dry ingredients in a shallow dish
2. Combine eggs and milk in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dip chicken thoroughly in the egg mixture.
4. Roll pieces in the dry mixture.
5. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on both sides.
6. Gently lay pieces on a rack for 10 minutes, for the coating to “set.”
7. Heat peanut oil to moderate high temp in an electric frying pan, cook until chicken is golden on both sides, and an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO FIND BARGAIN (AND EVEN SOME FREE!) BOOK PROMOS:
SWEET SUMMER DAYS
https://books.bookfunnel.com/sweetsummerdays/otyn3xo5md
CRAVING CHRISTMAS
https://books.bookfunnel.com/cravingchristmas/kuy4ysdc26
LUCK OF THE IRISH—SUPER MARCH MYSTERY SALE
https://books.bookfunnel.com/luckoftheirishmystery/jkqpq6nv49
All my best to you,
Roxanne Rustand
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January 16, 2022
FINAL CHANCE, book bargains & a chance for prizes
Greetings from the snowy Midwest!
During our hot summer I found myself longing for winter. Now, I’m not sure which is better! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and will have a happy and healthy year ahead.
FINAL CHANCE was out last fall, and is the second of five novels in my new Montana Secrets romantic mystery series. All of them will be released by early spring, and can be read in any order.
CLICK HERE for the Amazon link for FINAL CHANCE.
Here’s a quick blurb:
Arson. Attempted murder. And Kris Donaldson is the prime suspect. Why won’t anyone believe she’s innocent?
After years on the run from an abusive ex, Kris receives an unexpected inheritance, an acreage in the Rockies near a small, quaint mountain town. It’s her dream come true–a chance to establish an animal rescue and finally lead a peaceful life. Perhaps there’s even a chance of forever-after with the intriguing rancher next door.
But her dreams might just prove fatal.
The next title, FINAL PURSUIT, will be released January 27th .
Did you answer any of the questions in the December newsletter or blog post?
The questions were what are your favorite foods at Christmas, and do you have a favorite memory from Christmases past? Here are the contest winners.
Winners, use the Contact Me button here on my website so you can choose one of my Christmas novellas as your prize.
1. Malgorzata
My favorite Christmas food is Poppyseed cake rolade with honey poppy seed filling and raisins, and sugared glaze!
2. Sara T.
My favorite Christmas food is the Glazed Ham and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy! Plus my daughter’s Homemade Peanut Butter Fudge! Congratulations on your New GrandBaby And Merry Christmas!
3. Cindy M.
We always traveled to my paternal grandparents for Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day. We lived three hours away. Because of this my grandparents would come up to our house to stay a weekend before Christmas. This happened the weekend my grandparents were visiting.
When I was young around 4 or 5, my Dad tried to get me to go outside and get a bike that was left out by the road. I would not go. All of the adults tried to get me to go and nope, I would not. It was dark and I was scared to go out by myself. My middle sister said she would go get it and they said okay. When she opened the door Santa had came early. All of our gifts were laid out on the porch.
Santa always brought my cousins’ gifts to my grandparents’ house. But Santa always knew we would not be home, so he made a special trip and delivered our gifts early. This way my parents wouldn’t have to bring all the gifts home.
This is one of many memories I have.
THE NEW QUESTIONS IN THIS JANUARY, 2022 NEWSLETTER:
To write a comment or answer, scroll down to the Comment section to reply. The winners will receive a free copy of one of FINAL REFUGE, Book #1 in my current series.
**Note: if you send answers to my questions of the month, be sure to check the next month’s newsletter to see if you are a winner!
Look below for my gift to you—links to ONLINE BOOK FAIRS!
I love sharing these opportunities with you every month.
Click on each link to find free and bargain books—some by me, and perhaps some by your favorite authors. Who knows? You might also find a new-to-you, all-time favorite author by clicking on these links!
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!
Roxanne Rustand
3. CLEAN & WHOLESOME COWBOY ROMANCE
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December 20, 2021
Christmas novellas, prizes, and maybe a baby! Roxanne Rustand
Happy holidays!
In whatever way you celebrate your faith’s traditions at this time of year, I wish you my very best for peace, good health, and happiness.
A white Christmas seems a bit doubtful this year here in the Midwest, but dusk is already falling at 4:30 pm and a cold wind is blowing today. It’s a perfect time of year to curl up with a quilt, a wonderful cup of hot chocolate (look below for a great recipe), and a good book. At the end of this message you’ll find lots of bargains for those!
Do you enjoy Christmas fiction? I had a great time writing my six-title Coupled by Christmas series, and they are just $.99 each! Here are the titles, with links to check them out. They can be read in any order.
To see all of the covers at once, scroll down my homepage at www.roxannerustand.com.
The Mistletoe Puppy
A London Christmas
A Montana Christmas
A Scottish Christmas
An Irish Christmas Blessing
Christmas in Paris
I’d also like to share a link to the book I released in November.
FINAL CHANCE is the second of five novels in my Montana Secrets series, which will all be released by early spring. They can be read in any order. CLICK HERE for the Amazon link. Here’s a quick blurb:
Arson. Attempted murder. And Kris Donaldson is the prime suspect. Why won’t anyone believe she’s innocent?
After years on the run from an abusive ex, Kris receives an unexpected inheritance, an acreage in the Rockies near a small, quaint mountain town. It’s her dream come true–a chance to establish an animal rescue and finally lead a peaceful life. Perhaps there’s even a chance of forever-after with the intriguing rancher next door.
But her dreams might just prove fatal.
Here are the contest winners from my late November newsletter & blog post:
The questions were about Thanksgiving foods and memories. Here are the winners. To claim your prize, an e-copy of ONE MORE KISS, click Contact Me at my website: www.roxannerustand.com.
1. Sunnymay
My favorite food at Thanksgiving is leftovers. I like to make a turkey sandwich using bread, turkey, a thin layer of mayo and lettuce on one side, on the other side is jellied cranberry sauce. Growing up, Mom always dropped the turkey trying to get it out of the oven and out of the pan, so it pretty started carving itself. The dog and cat were very interested.
2. Madie
While I enjoy several of the foods, Thanksgiving is often the only time of the year we have stuffing, so I pretty much eat as much as I can. My favorite Thanksgiving memory is our first one after we adopted 2 cats. We figured out quickly how to keep our cat who couldn’t jump from getting on the table, but we all spent the entire meal keeping our athletic cat from getting at the dinner.
3. Michelle
My favorite Thanksgiving foods are my Auntie Marg’s Cranberry Relish, Baba’s Kolache and Grandma’s Pink Delight Desert. My favorite memory is when we would gather at Grandpa and Grandma’s house with aunts, uncles and cousins galore. (Mom had 4 brothers and a sister). There would be tables set up in the living room even.
THE NEW QUESTIONS IN THIS DECEMBER, 2021 NEWSLETTER:
What are your favorite foods at Christmas, and do you have a favorite memory from Christmases past?
To write a comment or answer, scroll down to the Comment section.
The winners will receive a free copy of one of my Christmas novellas, winner’s choice. See the titles and links above for more information on them.
**Note: if you send answers to my questions of the month, be sure to check the next month’s newsletter to see if you are a winner!
HERE IS AN EASY HOLIDAY RECIPE – FRENCH HOT CHOCOLATE!
In May of 2018, I took our daughter to Paris for two weeks. She’d been married six years, and though I’ve always taken her with me to author conferences, I thought this could be our last big adventure before she and her husband might want to start having a family. I told her that I would pay for the trip, but she needed to search for bargain flights, a bargain hotel, and come up with a detailed plan for how we could see and savor as much as possible during our stay.
She and I both love, love, love museums and all things related to history, so she came up with a wonderful day planner on an Excel spreadsheet including bargain museum passes that helped us avoid long lines. It was an incredible trip, and I would go back in a flash if I could!
One of our stops for a special treat was at Angelina’s, a completely charming café where we had yummy French pastries and small cups of le chocolat chaud (French hot chocolate.)
Oh, my, goodness. Thick and rich—it was nothing like the thin, milky hot chocolate we’d always had back in the USA. Since then, we’ve searched for a similar recipe and finally found several recipes that, when combined, tested, and tweaked, fit the bill. I think this nails it, and it is so simple! Enjoy!
Oh—and by the way, Emily’s dream of starting a family will be born any day. Gramma is excited!
FRENCH HOT CHOCOLATE
1 cup milk (1%, 2% or whole)
1 cup unwhipped whipping cream (+ 1 cup more for whipped topping)
2 tsp. Splenda, other artificial sweetener, or sugar
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate bar chopped, or choc chips**
** Use the best quality bittersweet chocolate you can find, approximately 70%,for the most authentic flavor
Semi-sweet chocolate can be used (best quality = best result)
Bar chocolate melts smoother and more easily than chips, though both will work.
Directions:
Over medium heat, blend the milk and cream in the tallest stainless steel saucepan until it just starts to simmer (not the short one or it goes over.) Do not let it boil.Take pan off the stove and stir in the chocolate and sweetener until mixture is completely smooth, then return to stove over very low heat until it becomes a very silky, thickened consistency. Serve hot in small cups, as it is very rich, topped with mounds of sweetened whipped cream.
Cold, it firms up to a silky pot du crème that can be eaten with a spoon, but one made without the egg yolks. Yum!
Or, reheat for hot chocolate. Keeps for days covered in the refrigerator.
Optional ingredients for the hot chocolate: ½ tsp of either mint flavoring, vanilla, or even expresso powder—which intensifies chocolate taste.
Optional toppings on the whipped cream: crushed candy canes, chocolate sprinkles
My experiment with almond milk for a lower carb version resulted in a thinner result, like American hot chocolate, that did not thicken and had an off-taste.
Look below for my gift to you—links to SIX ONLINE BOOK FAIRS!I love sharing these opportunities with you every month.
Click on each link to find free and bargain books—some by me, and perhaps some by your favorite authors. Who knows? You might also find a new, all-time favorite author by clicking on these links!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!
Roxanne Rustand
1. SWEET CHRISTMAS ROMANCE BOOKS
2. CLEAN CHRISTMAS SMALL-TOWN ROMANCES
3. DECEMBER CHRISTMAS ROMANCES
4. 99c FIRST IN CHRISTMAS SERIES – SQUEAKY CLEAN
5. CLEAN ROMANCE SALES PROMOTION
6. CUDDLE UP WITH A COWBOY: SWEET, CLEAN COWBOY ROMANCE READS
The post Christmas novellas, prizes, and maybe a baby! Roxanne Rustand appeared first on Roxanne Rustand.
November 17, 2021
Final Chance, a new inspirational romantic suspense! Plus, book bargains & a chance for prizes!
Hi, everyone!
I usually send just one newsletter monthly, but this is an extra because I want to share some links for two “online book sales” offering great bargains from many authors. Some might already be your favorites, but some might be new to you. Who knows—you might find some new favorite authors! Just click the links at the end of this newsletter to take a look. There are also a number of other bargains that follow.
Also, read to the end of the post to find a very special family recipe. Not fancy, but we have it every holiday because it was my mother’s favorite. Such sweet memories.
I’d also like to share news of my newest release, out on November 18th.
FINAL CHANCE is the second of five novels in my Montana Secrets series, which will all be released by early spring.
CLICK HERE for the Amazon link. Here’s a quick blurb:
Arson. Attempted murder. And Kris Donaldson is the prime suspect. Why won’t anyone believe she’s innocent?
After years on the run from an abusive ex, Kris receives an unexpected inheritance, an acreage in the Rockies near a small, quaint mountain town. It’s her dream come true–a chance to establish an animal rescue and finally lead a peaceful life. Perhaps there’s even a chance of forever-after with the intriguing rancher next door.
But her dreams might just prove fatal.
A stalker will stop at nothing to destroy her new life. The threats are mounting. She’s being framed for heinous crimes. Her reputation, happiness, and in the end, her life is on the line. As always, she could cut her losses and run. But this time, there’s too much at stake.
This time, she’s going to stay.
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Here are the winners from my early November newsletter & blog post:
The questions were:
* What are your favorite types of books? Romance, romantic suspense, romance with a mystery—or something else?
* Do you prefer sweet (Clean & Wholesome, or PG-13 within the pages of an adult novel), inspirational, or more graphic, secular fiction?
And here are the winners. To claim your prize, an e-copy of ONE MORE KISS, click Contact Me at my website: www.roxannerustand.com.
Linda S: Good Morning, you are a new author to me so thank you for the newsletter. I enjoy a combo of things in my reading. I do enjoy Sweet Romance at times, the anticipation can be the best part. I also enjoy the Romantic Suspense with PG-13 plus some heat. All in all I love Romance no matter what. Looking forward to getting to know your writing.Lynette A: I prefer inspirational romantic suspense and inspirational romance with a mystery. I also read clean romance and women’s fiction.
Lena B: My favorite types of books are romantic suspense. I prefer PG-13 within the pages of an adult novel or even R, but not X.
THE NEW QUESTIONS IN THIS NEWSLETTER: Winners will be listed in my December 14th newsletter and this blog, so be sure to check back! Whether you are reading this in my newsletter or here on the blog at my website, this is the place to provide your answers, in the Comments section below.
Thanksgiving is nearly here. What are some of your favorite foods at Thanksgiving? Do you have a special memory of this holiday?
* * *Here is a simple holiday recipe that is very special to us, as my dear, late mom made it for every holiday. Our kids and their kids love it as much as I do. The recipe is from the early 1980s…or maybe earlier.
CRIMSON HOLIDAY SALAD
1 pkg (3 oz) raspberry Jell-O (we use sugar-free)
1 pkg (3 oz) lemon Jell-O (we use sugar-free)
2 cups boiling water
10 oz pkg frozen raspberries
14 oz prepared cranberry-orange relish (or 1 1/3 cups if you make your own)
8 oz Sprite (we use sugar-free)
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TWO ONLINE BOOKFAIRS ARE RUNNING NOW. Find lots of bargains!
I love sharing these opportunities with you every month. I have books in each of them, but you’ll find lots of books by other authors—all at discounted prices, and some are free. Who knows? You might find your all-time favorite author by clicking on these links!
Cuddle Up With a Cowboy: sweet, clean cowboy romance reads: https://books.bookfunnel.com/cuddleupwithacowboy/vkbwbjz9u1
Contemporary Romance –Kindle Unlimited Books https://books.bookfunnel.com/contemporarykunov/lj2d0ivsi7
AND HERE ARE SOME HOLIDAY BOOKS FOR JUST $.99, SO CHECK THESE OUT TOO! The following novellas (on sale for just $.99 each—some with limited times—are from the authors in the Sweet Romance Reads group, just in time to help you build your Christmas spirits!
If you’d like to check out The Sweet Romance Reads blog, CLICK HERE
Josie Riviera’s new sweet contemporary holiday release 1-800-NEW YEAR is now on preorder, for only 99¢. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HQ55NWB/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3R3DZGG3TBFXEJ78SJP4
MERRILLEE WHREN PUPPY LOVE AND MISTLETOE
99 cents November through December
Can a little girl and a fluffy black dog bring Amelia and Scott together in a Christmas miracle?
B&N: http://bit.ly/2B7WISs Puppy Love and Mistletoe
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2B9RxRL
Apple: http://apple.co/2A4gQHB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2i1knQr
VICKIE MCDONOUGH THE FRUITCAKE SCANDAL
99 cents November through December
Pastor Clay Parsons waited a year to bring his fiancée, Karen Briggs, to his new church post. They plan a Christmas wedding, but in the meantime, Karen helps the church ladies with various projects, including a bake sale. But revealing her fruitcake recipe could spell disaster for her future with Clay and his congregation.
For Amazon: CLICK HERE
ROXANNE RUSTAND A MONTANA CHRISTMAS
99 cents November through DecembeR
What do you risk if you step back into your past?
Kristen Jones goes to Montana to get her late grandmother’s house ready to sell, but finds much more than she bargained for: an enemy she doesn’t expect, a house she can’t let go, a charming mountain town, and a handsome veterinarian who just might steal her heart.
For Amazon and all other major retailers. CLICK HERE
LYN COTE BENEATH NORTHERN LIGHTS
99 cents Nov 17-30th
Two wounded souls, a puppy, Christmas coming, someone out to destroy a man’s dream~
After a life-altering event, Nick’s one goal–to race his beloved husky, Maddie, in the Apostle Islands Dog Sled Race. Megan adopts Maddie’s pup, the runt, and soon helps “grumpy” Nick care for his dogs. Nasty pranks start–who’s out to rob him of the joy of the race?
https://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/books-by-lyn/beneath-northern-lights-a-holiday-story
DONNA FASANO GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST
99 cents Nov 1 – Dec 31
Running for her life, Dina Griffin wants only one thing this Christmas–to feel safe. Officer Gav Thomas is ready to protect and serve, but he never imagined he’d fall chin over toes in love.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBAFRYB
KIMBERLY ROSE JOHNSON UNTIL I MET YOU: BRIDES OF SEATTLE SERIES
A driven graphic designer has her world rocked when she meets a software engineer who has captured her attention and possibly her heart. She’s promised the Lord she would focus on Him until Christmas, but will Ian wait?
https://www.amazon.com/Until-Met-You-Seattle-Prequel-ebook/dp/B07MB87ZR6/ref=sr_1_43
MAGDALENA SCOTT SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS – SERENDIPITY, INDIANA (BOOK ONE )
Melissa and her son need a new start. Jim wants a second chance. The past can ruin their future…or make it magical.
Melissa is back in Serendipity, Indiana to raise her young son and run her new business. Her best friends still live here, but so does the man who broke her heart years ago. Serendipity is full of surprises, and second chances. And this year, there’s an undeniable touch of Christmas magic.
Apple: http://apple.co/1fXJADS
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2eVVxux
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jbY20Y
Nook: http://bit.ly/1qoHpzo
LAURA SCOTT CAITLYN’S CHRISTMAS
$0.99 November 2nd-December 15th
After witnessing a crime, can Devon keep Caitlyn safe long enough to celebrate Christmas?
Find it here by clicking these links:
Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo
Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Roxanne Rustand
The post Final Chance, a new inspirational romantic suspense! Plus, book bargains & a chance for prizes! appeared first on Roxanne Rustand.
November 2, 2021
An October post…but in November. Whoops!
Happy November!
This was supposed to be my October blog post, but here we are in November already. How did the past month slip by so quickly? I’m so happy to announce the October release of my romantic suspense: FINAL REFUGE!
Here’s a quick preview:
Has the past caught up with her again?
Erin thought she’d found peace at last in this remote mountain town…until an intruder breaks in, but takes nothing. Is this yet another warning?
Her high school friend’s killer taunted her for five long years with anonymous, untraceable threats on that terrible anniversary. DON’T TELL. But then the messages stopped. If he has found her again will he try to finally finish what he started so long ago?
And what’s with the handsome guy who moved into the cabin next door? He seems so kind to the young boy with him, but he’s also clearly edgy. Is he the very threat she fears?
To find out more about FINAL REFUGE or to buy, CLICK HERE.
FINAL REFUGE is the first in a five-novel inspirational romantic suspense series titled Montana Secrets. The second book, FINAL CHANCE, will be released through Amazon on November 18th, 2021
The rest, FINAL PURSUIT, FINAL ESCAPE, and FINAL WITNESS, will all be released by mid-spring of 2022. Each can be read as a stand-alone novel.
To receive brief notices announcing my future releases, follow me at Bookbub by clicking HERE.
* * *
Thank you to everyone who answered the September questions. There were so many wonderful answers!
HERE ARE THE WINNERS of the drawings from those who responded to September’s question. Winners, please click “Contact Me” (upper right corner of this page) to give me the proper email address for sending your prize. Please put “WINNER” in the subject line. Thanks!
Mary P: I can still clearly remember learning to ride a bicycle. It was a woman’s bike and I was about seven. I had to stand so that I could use the pedals. I hugged a fence and held on to the fence to steady myself. Surprisingly it did not take too long before I was in full flight. I did eventually grow into the bike. I love landscapes on covers and portraits. Paintings are a great favorite.Kari B I have lots of great memories from my childhood, but I think one special one was when my sister and I rode in the back of a pickup truck (with a topper on) from Michigan to Texas to visit relatives. There may have been a lot of bickering, but there was also a lot of bonding and memories made during that long ride. My parents vowed never to take that long of a ride with kids ever again.
Jackie W: As a budding artist I won many art awards in school A special one was the Freshman Art award in high school…special because there were so many other students who qualified for the award. I prefer book covers with scenery and animals on them. Especially horses and dogs. My friends know I will read ANY book that has a horse on the cover. It does influence whether I read the back cover blurb.
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THE QUESTIONS FOR THIS MONTH: I’ve been writing sweet romance for quite a while, but with my October release I’m starting a five-book inspirational romantic suspense series. Choose at least one question to answer (to write your answer look below for the “Comments” section.) Winners will receive a free copy of m September sweet romantic suspense “ONE MORE KISS.”
If you want to leave an answer for the questions in my Writerspace newsletter, you can do so here as well. Just preface it with “Newsletter.”
What are your favorite types of books? Romance, romantic suspense, romance with a mystery—or something else?Do you prefer sweet (Clean & Wholesome, or PG-13 within the pages of an adult novel), inspirational, or more graphic, secular fiction?
Drawing winners will receive a free e-copy of ONE MORE KISS, my September release.
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Here’s a family favorite recipe, in celebration of the arrival of the fall colors here in our part of the Midwest. My mom made it often while I was growing up.
ARLINE’S AUTUMN SOUP
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef, browned and drained
1 large onion chopped and lightly browned with the ground beef
1 quart water
4 large carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
1 cup cubed red potatoes
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
½ tsp pepper (or to taste)
1 or 2 tsp browning sauce
1 whole bay leaf
¼ to ½ tsp dried basil
28 oz can stewed tomatoes, broken up
Combine ingredients and bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 – 30 minutes
I hope you are enjoying beautiful weather wherever you are!
All the best,
Roxanne
The post An October post…but in November. Whoops! appeared first on Roxanne Rustand.
