Spring into spring!

To celebrate, we’ve compiled as many spring idioms as we could think of, and paired them with a book that embodies their spirit. It’s like wine and food, but with spring and books.

…we’ll do wine and books later 🙂

A spring in (one’s) step

Nothing says a spring-y step like a good dance. Like, say, the one that Dan and Alex dance together in Ainslie Paton’s Grease Monkey Jive.

Spring into action

Neither Merry or Jack can afford any hesitations in their life-or-death pursuit of priceless jewels across the world, in Tory Hayward’s breathtaking adventure romance.

Spring chicken

She’s a spring chicken – until she isn’t. Explore both ends of the hen with the hilarious time-travel novel from Juliet Madison.

Spring to attention

Soldiers – fighting against a corrupt government, sent to destroy those who most need their protection. I’m sure a few of you sprang to attention too…

Spring Fever

“Fever – I’m afire, fever yea I burn forsooth.”…Shakespeare knew it was true, and so do Ben and Trix in this light-hearted, re-envisioned twist on Much Ado About Nothing.

Spring to life

Nothing springs quite like a newly minted vampire – or, maybe, say, twin vampires?

Spring to mind

Unfortunately, what with his temporary retrograde amnesia, not much is springing to Connor’s mind – and his best friend Emma is desperate to keep it that way.

Hope springs eternal

All that Sherise has is hope in the spin-off novel of SE Gilchrist’s Darkon Warrior SF series – hope that they’ll survive, hope they can find a way home, and hope that humanity’s future is secure.

 

Feed Your Reader: Hot June Releases

She’s always been the good girl, but this trip to Italy will show Annabella that love and chocolate can both be sweet, tempting — and dangerously addictive.

---

A suspense-packed chase in pursuit of priceless gems leads from the beaches of New South Wales to the temples of Myanmar in Tory Hayward’s hot new romantic thriller.

December Recipes: A Classic English Sponge

by Tory Hayward

A Classic English Sponge… Tory-Style

Now look. I don’t want to boast or anything.  But I’ve got a bit of a reputation when it comes to baking cakes.

Yep… I have actually won an award for being The Worst Baker of Cakes Ever Seen. I. Am. That. Good.

Naturally I don’t let this utter lack of talent with things-bakery deter me.  Oh no siree.

Recently I decided to tackle The Classic English Sponge.

At first things started out ‘reasonably well.’  ‘Reasonably well’ in my world means I didn’t forget to add any ingredients.  In fact it all began so well I was fairly confident of that rare event… a baking win.

I really should’ve know better.

The trouble started when I took the cake out of the oven and turned out onto the cooling rack.  It became immediately obvious that the inside of the cake was still LIQUID.  I could tell this by the way the liquid part leaked rapidly across the benchtop, down the cupboard door and was helpfully tidied up by Sebby, my spaniel, as it dripped onto the floor.

Thinking quickly, I flipped the cake back into its pan, and shoved it back in the oven.  I ended up with this…

Twice-baked Sponge

 

And when I turned it out again…

Siiiiiigh

 

So I kind of squished it back together

No one will notice

 

 

And covered it in icing sugar

Ta daaaaa….

 

Should you wish to recreate this masterpiece check out my favourite Delia Smith Sponge recipe… http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/classic-sponge-cake.html

---

Tory Hayward also writes as Caitlyn Nicholas. Look out for her new romantic suspense coming out next year.

The world is in peril, and only she can save it…