Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with C.C. KOEN!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, C.C. Koen, and her favorite recipe for RUSSIAN TORTE!

UNLIKELY ALLIES
BY C.C. KOEN

Blurb

What happens when a single mom’s four-year-old daughter falls in love with Mr. Right and she doesn’t?

Maggie Tyson’s rule: no bad boys. Her incarcerated ex-husband broke her of that attraction. Needing to escape his threats and the scrutiny of the people in her hometown, Maggie relocates to New York City. Determined to not make the same mistakes, she has a mile-long list of dos and don’ts. Unfortunately, her daughter, Cecily, doesn’t like to follow them. When Cecily wanders away from her and right into Rick Stone’s office, Maggie knows he’s the exact type she’s been trying to avoid. Can she resist him or will she succumb to his willful charm?

Rick Stone’s rule: bed them don’t wed them. Running a multibillion dollar business doesn’t leave him with much time to do anything else, particularly with an overbearing grandfather breathing down his neck. But when a man works hard, he needs to play even harder. Voted America’s most eligible bachelor, Rick doesn’t have any problems getting women into his bed—except one.

Two auburn beauties stumble into his life.

One will break his heart.

The other—heal it.

Will he love or leave them?

UNLIKELY ALLIES
BY C.C. KOEN

EXCERPT

“Cece, Cece, where are you?”

They both turned toward the door.

An adult version of the pint-sized girl appeared in the doorway. This variation, though, had hair on the cherry side of auburn with twists of milk chocolate streaming through the strands. A messy ponytail slung high on top of her head, and thick, curly waves fell over her shoulder, instead of bright, reddish-orange pigtails like Cece’s.

“Cece, come here.” The woman’s stern tone communicated there better not be any arguments. Cece marched across the room. “My daughter shouldn’t have run off. I’m sorry if she disturbed you.”

A company logo and name written in gold script in a circular pattern above her left breast caught his attention: Westlake Security Services. His best friend, Matt, owned the firm adjacent to his office. She’d have to pass his suite to get there, yet he’d never seen her before. He inspected her uniform, a gray polo shirt and black slacks. An outfit he’d seen many times before, but it never looked that good on anyone else. The fabric, tucked in at her waist, had a cut that hugged her handful-sized breasts, and slim pants accentuated her curvy hips.

He lifted his gaze and found the woman ushering Cece out the door. “Wait.”

Cece turned, beaming a huge smile at him. “I would a told ya bye.” And just as fast, her little face morphed from happy to perturbed, aimed at her mother, and with her arms crossed, Cece shook her head.

Without missing a beat, and as smooth as his mother would have, the woman redirected Cece. “Say good night to Mr.…”

“Stone, Rick Stone.”

She set a hand on Cece’s shoulder, nudging her and casting a do-what-your-mother-says stare. “I have to get back to work. Say goodbye to Mr. Stone.”

“What’s your name?” He couldn’t let her get away that fast.

“Maggie.”

“Margareta Cassidy Tyson,” Cece shouted with emphasis, a pause between each distinction. “My mama works here.” She pointed toward the hall. “She plays on a phone and ʼputer. It got lotsa buttons.” She shook her head, pigtails flinging back and forth over one shoulder then the other, followed by an overdrawn sigh. “She don’t let me push ʼem. Don’t ya think I should get to push ʼem? He let me push his.” Cece looked up at her mother and shot her arm toward him, her shrugging shoulders communicating, “See, everybody can do it. No big deal.”

Rick chuckled and then stopped when Maggie spun around, hands set on her hips. He rubbed his palm along the back of his neck and shifted from one foot to the other as an uncomfortable silence engulfed the room. “Let me explain.”

About the author…C.C. Koen.

C.C. Koen writes contemporary romance with a twist. An avid reader who enjoys mystery and suspense, her stories will never be what you expect. Determined to find adventure in her dreams and life, she enjoys skydiving, sailing and any activity that challenges her. Teacher by day, romance writer at night produce an active imagination that comes to life in her writing.

Links to C.C.’s website, blog, books, etc.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WYO47XQ

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unlikely-allies-cc-koen/1122059654?ean=2940151951128

Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/unlikely-allies-3

Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unlikely-allies/id1001697108?mt=11

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24796343-unlikely-allies

Website: cckoen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cckoenbooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/authorcckoen @authorcckoen

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/authorcckoen

Google plus: https://plus.google.com/112648382343758166487

Blog: www.authorcckoen.com

Pinterest: 
https://www.pinterest.com/authorcckoen/

I hope you enjoy the recipe C.C. is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 204 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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RUSSIAN TORTE
[C.C.’s Mother’s Recipe]
[8 Servings]

Nut layer: 1 cup sugar, 4 cups ground nuts (walnuts), 2 tsp cinnamon

Combine nuts, sugar, cinnamon and mix. Measure a half cup and set aside for topping.

Other layers: 3 sticks butter (no substitute), 5 egg yolks, 4 cups sifted flour, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup water, 1 small cake fresh yeast, 2 cans apricot filling, 5 egg whites for topping, 10 tablespoons sugar for topping

Combine yeast with warm water and set aside. Sift flour into a bowl and add butter. Blend until mealy in texture. Add slightly beaten egg yolks, milk, and yeast mixture. Blend and stir batter until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Place on a floured board and knead for a few minutes. Divide and cut dough into three sections. Roll the first sections of dough to measure 15 by 10 inches, which should be the size of the pan. (Hint: It helps if you roll the dough between two sheets of wax paper.) Lightly grease the pan and place this first layer of dough into the pan. When the first layer is in the pan, work the edges of the dough up and along the pan’s edge to form a wall for lining. Spread the nut mixture evenly over the dough. Roll the second section of dough to the same measurements and place over the nuts. Spread the apricots evenly over the dough. Roll the remaining section of dough and place over the apricots.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Ten minutes before the baking time is over, beat egg whites and sugar until stiff. Check the torte. If it is done remove from the oven and spread the egg whites and return torte to oven for 10 more minutes. When done to a toasty color, remove from oven and while still hot, cut into diamond shaped pieces.

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**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**:  C.C. is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, C.C., for sharing your story and recipe with us!