a wizard's guide to defensive baking

“Why can’t I hit you?” Thomas yells, smacking the belt close to her feet. “Why,” he smacks it on the door above her head. “Why, why” to the right and left sides of her body. Melina trembles against the door with her eyes closed and head tucked between her knees. She jumps, sniffing Thomas’ cologne, and tries to hide more. He’s probably bending down. “I want to hurt you, Melina, but I can’t. Tell me why I can’t. Tell me why,” she bites her lips to muffle her sobs as she fears they will exacerbate her situation. “ look at me when I am talking to you,” Thomas says, grabbing her hair and pulling her head up. “I am- so-r-r-r-y,” she says as she turns to face him with her tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes. ******** Melina Davis was born with the face and body of a goddess. Her heart was as beautiful as her, but it never did her any good. Melina was the most unlucky woman in this world when it came to love. Her first love was an abusive con artist who made sure to exploit Melina's kindness. The second one who Melina felt was genuinely worthy of owing her heart was far more dangerous than her first. His name is Thomas Costanzo. He is the second in command of the Costanzo mafia. He was highly feared in the mafia world. Some even feared him more than the don of the Costanzo mafia. Melina didn't know she shouldn't cross him, and she did. She broke the heart of one of the most feared men on this earth, and now, he is out searching for her. Once he finds her, Melina will wish she never crossed paths with him.

The women in Brianne Montgomery’s family have a curse that compels them to marry before the age of thirty-one, and she wasn't going to be the first one to break it. Her life seemed perfecThe only thing she hated about her life was Travis Cross—her brother’s annoying best friend. Travis made a lifetime promise to take care of Brianne for the rest of his life. He promised to be her safety guy to save her from the family curse. Soon, their once hateful relationship turned into an unbreakable bond of love and friendship. However, their dependent and comfortable relationship would always be complicated because of the yearning inside Travis that craved Brianne like a drug. And Brianne struggled to stay immune to his charms. She had already lost so much, and Travis had become the most important thing she couldn’t afford to gamble with. This romance follows Travis and Brianne's lives from the age of sixteen to adulthood and how they dealt with family, teen peer pressure, marriage and breakups… all of which make up their deep and unbreakable connection: A relationship so beautiful, they’re afraid to risk it for anything… not even for love itself.

Caleb is a bored billionaire playboy. Trina is a beautiful Contessa. They meet by accident in his club and he is struck by lightning. He wants her like he has never wanted a woman before. But Trina is innocent so he takes her and her friend Jess. Jess is a willing partner but Trina escapes his clutches and he must pursue her. Being a Billionaire opens doors for him but will it win him the one thing he truly wants? Trina knows his reputation and refuses to become another notch on his bedpost. Denying her attraction to him she keeps running away but cannot run forever. Can Caleb catch the nymph that haunts his dreams? More importantly, can he convince her it is different for him this time? This time he has fallen irrevocably in love.

Freya was auctioned for sale as a bargain for her father's debt to the Dago social club. A place where big men of the society gather to bet, get high on drugs, enjoy life to the fullest and made away with any available whore. Her life crashed when she was bought by a ruthless man with no emotions and pity for anybody. They call him 'Master Hell' as he is feared by many, controls lots of empires and sends many people who disobey him, to hell. Freya was tortured, brutalized and used as an object to satisfy his urges in the most horrible way. Her world turned in when she found out she was pregnant. Unable to find herself bearing the child of the man who had leveled all sorts of hatred towards her, she plans to escape and fight for her life and that of her unborn child. Will she succeed in escaping from the man who has the world at his command? Author's guide: This is a dark bully romance, very dark that blood will spill, unexpected rape scenes and brutality. Kindly seek for cover if you're going to read it.

Violet is the daughter of a powerful werewolf alpha. After being attacked and left to die, she is reborn as a powerful werewolf with no memories of her former life. When she meets Lucas, a mysterious and handsome werewolf from the rival pack of her attacker, sparks fly between them. As they unravel the mystery of Violet’s attack and try to bring peace between their two packs, they soon discover a deep and powerful connection between them. Can their newfound love survive in this dangerous world, or will the feud between their packs tear them apart?

Despite being forced by her parents to marry in order to save her younger sister fron the same fate, Rose Springs has a very clear plan in mind: she will remain married to the cold and rude billionaire Aaron Vamcap for only one year, to ensure that the contract her parents want so badly to be concluded and, than, she can file for divorce. Which shouldn't be difficult, since her husband and his entire family visibly hate her. However, the more time she spends in that isolated mansion, the more Rose is surprised by the fact that everyone there seemed to think she was the worst person in the world, but also happy to realize that she is getting them to really know her. So much, when the time to leave comes, a part of Rose feels strangely sad to leave the Vamcaps behind, including her grumpy husband. However, inexplicably, what she thought would be a peaceful situation turns into a mess when Aaron refuses to give her a divorce. But, wasn't he the one who said that she would never be a Vamcap, when they met? What was wrong with him?

I lose a kidney after an accident, but my one-year-old son dies on the spot. The months after the accident are when I'm most depressed, but my CEO husband is by my side day and night as he cares for me. However, in the fifth year of our marriage, I overhear Yoel Lawson's conversation with a doctor. "It's bad enough that you deliberately orchestrated that accident to have Felicity's kidney transplanted in Rosa's body, but you even accidentally caused your child's death. Aren't you afraid Felicity will lose her mind when she finds out?" "We've lost our son, but we can always have another child. Rosie would've died without that kidney. I gave up my happiness to make it up to Felicity, didn't I? I'll make her conceive again this year—she'll be happier than anything else." Yoel's indifferent voice makes my head spin. I feel like I've been struck by lightning. It turns out he didn't spend all day at the hospital after my accident because of me—he was there to care for Rosa Shaw, his true love. I don't want to have another child with him. I don't even want him anymore.

Alicia is a naive and simple twenty three year old young woman . Her whole world and life is focused on her boyfriend and helping him build up his empire .It is her dream to become his wife and have a family with him , he dumps her without notice for a rich heiress telling her she is now beneath his standard . Devastated and heartbroken she decides to reinvent herself and get back at her ex by getting a man he can only dream to be .Alicia meets three powerful Billionaires two of which are step brothers and the other her boss . Will Alicia be able to get back at her ex and make him regret dumping her ? Which of the billionaires will Alicia end up with ?  

In a world where longstanding werewolf traditions clash with modern-day romance, the last thing Amelia Jameson wants is to be tied down with a mate. However, fate has other things in store for her, pairing her with a dominant and over protective Alpha. The plot twist it... He's blind! Amidst personal growth and confrontations, they strive to find common ground and overcome the obstacles that threaten their love. This compelling tale delves into the complexities of love, tradition, and personal transformation, weaving a captivating narrative of passion and resilience.

I've loved my husband for five years, but he's never reciprocated my feelings. In fact, on the day after my death, he runs straight into his true love's arms. During my absence, he sneers and says, "She's up to her old tricks again." When he receives a call telling him to identify my body, he's excited. He thinks he can see my reaction to having my scheme exposed. He doesn't know that I'm long dead, though.