Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with VICTORIA HAMEL!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, instead of one of my recipes, I will introduce you to a new author who will share a favorite recipe. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll also get a chance to check out some fantastic authors. Introducing author VICTORIA HAMEL and her favorite recipe for MAMA’S SOUP!
YOUR MR. BRIGHTSIDE
A Steamy Marley Creek Romance
BY VICTORIA HAMEL
Blurb
Love is the last thing on her mind. A curvy girl is the last thing on his. One fateful night will change everything.
Brandee doesn’t have time to date. Between two jobs and raising her son, life is all about survival. When a rare night off lands her in a handsome man’s arms, everything changes. But he’s too young, too carefree, and so not ready for her messy life.
Luc’s life was perfectly planned. Then he meets a stunning, curvy woman and wants nothing more than to see her again. When they run into each other months after their steamy night together, Luc is determined to show Brandee why she should take a chance on him.
Just when Brandee is ready for a relationship with Luc, surprising developments change everything. How can she drag Luc into her mess? He’s ready for a lifetime with Brandee, but if she won’t take down the walls keeping him out, how long does Luc hang on?
Will Brandee stop assuming the worst and look on the bright side?
If you love steamy small-town romance with a sunshine guy who falls first, a single mom, and an age-gap where she is older, Your Mr. Brightside will tick all your boxes!
About Author Victoria Hamel…
Victoria’s love of writing began in grade school, where she won an award for a Mother’s Day essay. She spent the better part of her childhood with her head in a book. In high school, she wrote love stories for her friends in which they’d meet their favorite bands or the movie star they had a crush on. Suffice it to say, Victoria was writing fan fiction before fan fiction was a thing. After spending many years starting and stopping writing in various genres, Victoria returned to her high school roots and decided to write romance.
Victoria Hamel lives in the Chicago area with her husband, three college-age kids and Bowie the dog. She has run three marathons and based on that experience, she feels qualified to say that reviewing her manuscript for errors was a more arduous task than literally running a marathon. She is a member of the Chicago North Romance Writers Group.
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Links to Victoria’s website, blog, books, #ad, etc.:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/49rf8kg
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/4qwgzEc
Website: https://victoriahamelauthor.com
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Victoria-Hamel/author/B0CSBGDRFQ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-hamel
Facebook: https://facebook.com/victoriahamelauthor
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I hope you enjoy Victoria’s favorite recipe on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s today. Happy Eating!
P.S. We’re at 762 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. You can even look up past recipes by category in the right-hand column menu. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: If an author’s favorite recipe isn’t their own creation and came from an online site without alteration, you will now find the entire recipe through the link to that site as a personal recommendation. Thank you.
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Almost Time to Fall Back
By Victoria Hamel
It is almost time to fall back, which means early nights are here to stay for the rest of 2025. The cold winter nights ahead call for soup, wouldn’t you agree? When my kids were small, I perfected a chicken noodle soup that is both easy and delicious. This recipe was christened “Mama’s Soup” back in October 2007. The only reason I know that is because I made an entry on my blog discussing it and sharing the recipe. (https://victoria7401.blogspot.com/2007/10/less-than-2-months-until-christmas.html) This is a very forgiving recipe so change it as you wish!
Mama’s Soup
8 cups chicken stock
1 cup diced carrots
1 medium onion (diced)
1 large parsnip, diced (this is what makes it extra delicious)
1 1/2 cups celery diced (my oldest loved celery when he was small, so I always added a bunch. You can adjust.)
1 chicken breast, or if you prefer, you can use 2 cups of rotisserie chicken
1 bag of the Reames frozen noodles (you can use dried noodles, but reduce the cooking time to approximately 10 minutes once the noodles are added.)
One tbsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkle the finished soup with smoked or regular paprika. All fresh parsley as well! (optional)
I put everything except the frozen noodles in a big pot and let it boil/simmer until the chicken is cooked, then I take out the chicken cut it up, put it back in the soup, add the frozen noodles cook for another 20 minutes and it’s all done. When my kids were little, I used to put in a diced potato and green beans, but there was too much complaining and boycotting of the soup by the boys, so I stopped. But a diced potato and a ½ a cup of green beans are a lovely addition. If you are cooking it for people who do not like onions in their food, cook it with the onion uncut, and then take the onion out at the end. Top your bowls with the paprika and a little parsley. Yum!
A few weeks ago, my middle kiddo asked me to give him the recipe so he could make Mama’s Soup for his girlfriend. Time flies, my friends! Enjoy the long nights with your family, friends, and a good meal—and a good book, of course!
Happy Reading!
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Special Giveaway: Victoria will gift one print copy (U.S. Only) of YOUR MR. BRIGHTSIDE to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Good luck!
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Thanks, Victoria, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Good morning, Welcome Victoria ! Wow, your book sounds like a great read and I love the book cover! ( I am 2 years older than my husband and we have been married for 48 years) Thank you for sharing the Blurb, I enjoyed reading it. Your recipe sounds delicious, and yes kiddos grow up too fast, I now have a 2nd year college grandaughter and our grandson(her brother ) is a Senior in HS, I also have a grandson who is in 9th grade, it sure seems like they were just little toddlers. How awesome that your son asked you for your soup recipe! Have a Great day and a Great weekend. Happy Halloween.
Welcome back to Karen’s Killer Fixin’s, Victoria. I love the lighthearted feel to your books and this story sounds right up my alley. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing your book with us today. Thanks, too, for the recipe. My hubby is a major soup lover and I make a lot of them over the fall and winter. Can’t wait to try this version.
Teaser excerpt! You did that on purpose, leaves one dying to know what happens!
Recipe sounds delicious and as a bonus, easy!
Thanks, Victoria, and thanks , Karen, for showcasing
I am liking what I see! Enjoy age gap stories!
Your excerpt sounds intriguing. Thanks for also sharing the soup recipe.
tasty recipe