Blog Tour: A Piece of Cake by Trisha Ashley

We are very happy to welcome Trisha Ashley to our blog today as we kick off the blog tour for her new short story, A Piece of Cake which was released today by Avon. 

Trisha will be sharing one of her own recipes shortly but first, we review the book. 

A Piece of Cake is the latest short story from best-selling novelist, Trisha Ashley. 

Kate is an accomplished cake maker and is currently making the cake for her best friend, Laura who is getting married. Also, much to Kate’s annoyance, as if she’s not got enough to do, Laura is trying to play matchmaker and set Kate up with her groom’s best man, Wes. However, Kate has met Wes before and first impressions die hard. The last thing Kate wants is a romantic encounter with Wes. 

This short story was so charming. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. I am a huge fan of Trisha’s books and this one did not disappoint. Despite its length, it still has the humour and warmth that I would usually find in Trisha’s novels. 

I found that the characters were well-rounded and I liked Kate and Laura’s dynamic. 

Wes was an interesting love interest who is charmingly awkward toward Kate and this, to me made their relationship and interactions more realistic and believable. 

I read this book within about twenty minutes. I would love to know what happens next actually. This book is perfect if you are looking for a quick read before bed, or on the bus or looking for something to read for a relaxing session in the bath. 

I loved A Piece of Cake. Bravo, Trisha. 

To celebrate the release of her latest short story, Trisha shares with us her recipe for Caribbean-style Chocolate Rum cake and we have to say, it looks scrummy. 

Caribbean-style Chocolate Rum Cake (Serves 12)

I spent some Christmases in Antigua and Grand Cayman, where I substituted the usual fruit cake for a local speciality, Rum Cake. You can get them in different flavours all over the Caribbean, but it’s taken me a few attempts to recreate anything similar at home. Here’s my recipe for chocolate rum cake, which is as close as I can get to the original and makes a perfect alternative to the traditional Christmas cake.

Ingredients:

7oz/200g self-raising flour

2 rounded tablespoons cocoa powder

5oz/150g castor sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

3 medium eggs, beaten

A quarter of a pint of sunflower or corn oil

4 tablespoons of dark rum

Milk

Method:

Heat the oven to 325 F/170C/gas mark 3 and then grease and line with baking paper an eight inch cake tin. You can use a small bundt tin instead, if you have one, which makes it look more authentic.

In a measuring jug put four tablespoons of dark rum and then make it up to a quarter of a pint with milk.

Sift the flour, sugar and cocoa into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Into this, pour the rum/milk mixture, the beaten eggs, the oil and the golden syrup.

Mix this very well, and then pour into the cake tin.

Put into the oven and bake it for about half an hour, until the cake springs back when lightly pressed.   Then turn it out onto a wire rack, remove the paper, and leave to cool.

In the Caribbean, these cakes are served plain, but for Christmas you could cover it in quick chocolate icing and decorate with a circle of halved walnuts or pecans and glace cherries, if liked.

4oz/110g sifted icing sugar

2oz/50g cocoa powder

A little water

A drop or two of vanilla essence

Halved walnuts, pecans, glace cherries (optional)

Method:

Mix the cocoa powder to a smooth paste with a little water.

Stir over a very low heat for a couple of minutes and then add the sugar.

Blend till smooth and when the mixture will coat the back of a spoon, spread it over the top of the cake.

Press in any nuts or other decorations before it sets.

Follow Trisha on Twitter – @trishaashley

Trisha’s website –http://trishaashley.com

A Piece of Cake is available on e-book from Amazon. It was released by Avon on 28th August 2014. 

The tour continues tomorrow over at Chick Lit Chloe’s blog. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.