Who’s ready for a nice slice of Old Fashioned Fudge Cake and a good thriller book? This is an advertisement for SheSpeaks/St. Martins Press. All opinions are my own.
I just love a delectable slice of something when I sit down to read a book. I get the kids busy doing something, and then I get something wonderful to eat while I settle down into a good book. When I read the synopsis for Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, I knew this was a book to do just that, but I couldn’t think of what I wanted to eat.
I just settled in and start reading. When I finally put the book down a couple hours later, I knew just the thing — Old Fashioned Fudge Cake — chocolate cake with a hardened fudge icing. There were a few mentions of chocolate in the story that just made me want a slice.
Before we get to this delicious Old Fashioned Fudge Cake, let me tell you about this amazing thriller. Behind Closed Doors is the story of Jack and Grace Angel. They appear to be the most PERFECT couple. But, looks can be deceiving. Jack and Grace meet and have a whirlwind romance. He is the most amazing man. He is a lawyer who defends battered women and wins every time. Grace is the perfect hostess for their dinner parties where friends just gush over them. They have a gorgeous house. Who wouldn’t be envious of that?
Right from the beginning it’s apparent that something is not quite right with Jack and Grace. You see bits and pieces of it at the dinner party that give you inklings that something is off in their relationship. Grace is being abused by her husband some way, but it’s not until you’re well into the story that you realize this independent woman has given up her life for her marriage – or so it seems.
Her story unfolds by switching off chapters with the past and the present. If you read a lot of thrillers, you will quickly see where this story is headed. At first this kind of put me off because I never like it when I can guess what’s going to happen. However, it’s the HOW that kept me hooked. I was dying to see was just how Grace was going to get herself out of this nightmare.
Behind Closed Doors arrived in the mail on Monday. I started reading Monday night, and I truly could not put it down until I finished the entire thing on Tuesday morning. Everything stopped because I just couldn’t wait to get to the ending. I was so tempted to skip to the last page. It was killing me, but I held off!
I really enjoyed this book. It was very entertaining and a definitely page turner. But, I had two issues with it.
First, in the end, Grace’s way out felt a bit implausible to me. Grace has a 17-year-old sister with Down’s Syndrome — Millie, who’s dialogue makes her seem like she has the mental capacity of a young toddler. Yet, she came up with the solution to help Grace out of her predicament.
Secondly, it’s mentioned numerous times how Millie was the most important thing in Grace’s life. Her parents wanted to institutionalize Millie, but Grace fought to become her guardian. She even lost relationships because her sister was so important to her. Yet, at a climax in the book when she realizes what a nightmare Jack really is, and she had an easy way of escaping, she ends up choosing him over her sister. This just didn’t make sense to me.
I think this is pretty good story for a first novel. I would love to read future books by this author. I do like her easy writing style, and it definitely kept me interested. Now let’s have some cake!
This is a totally doctored up chocolate cake mix, but the hard fudge icing is what makes this Old Fashioned Fudge Cake absolutely amazing!
Table of Contents
Old Fashioned Fudge Cake
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake box mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- Hard Fudge Icing
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 for glass pans, 350 for regular cake pans.
- Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.
- Combine all the cake ingredients and mix on medium low until moistened.
- Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before making the icing.
Hard Fudge Icing
- In a saucepan combine sugar, milk, and butter over medium high heat.
- Stir occasionally until it reaches a rolling boil.
- Do not stir anymore, unless it looks like it might boil over, then stir just enough to get it back down.
- Let it boil for 6 minutes.
- Use a wet basting and brush the sides of the pan to remove any sugar crystals.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla and chocolate squares.
- Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Transfer the icing to the electric mixer and beat for a minute or two on high.
- Allow it to cool for just a short while. Check for it to thicken just slightly.
- When you feel it thicken, pour it over the entire cake, still in the pan.
- Allow to cool completely so the icing hardens before serving.
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10 comments
The book sounds interesting and what better way to spend an afternoon reading a book that good than with a piece of cake right next to you! Thanks for the fudge cake recipe, it looks so good!
This sounds like my kind of book. I love these types of books, with a hint of psychology. I will have to check this one out.
I’m glad the ‘how’ kept you hooked. The fudge cake looks delicious too. )
This sounds like a great read – I love a good thriller! That cake looks gorgeous too. 🙂
What a perfect combination! Something chocolatly and a good book!
Your cake looks so delicious! I want to try this recipe soon! Haven’t read that book, looks good!
You had me at fudge! Man that looks good!
Great book and delicious fudge cake. Wish I could have a piece right now 🙂
What’s the reading grade on this? I need to start reading books rather than watching tv. lol