The Book of Spells (Marriage to a Billionaire #3.5)

COPYRIGHT

COPYRIGHT © 2013 by Jennifer Probst

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

THE BOOK OF SPELLS

The Official Love Spell from

THE MARRIAGE to a Billionaire Series

JENNIFER PROBST

Dear Reader,

When
The Marriage Bargain
exploded and readers responded so enthusiastically, I was pretty humbled. I also had the best time creating new characters who were related to Alexa and Nick, and forged a family of both books and readers. Maggie and Michael in
The Marriage Trap
, Carina and Max in
The Marriage Mistake
, and Julietta and Sawyer in my upcoming July release,
The Marriage Merger
. I love hearing which couple readers identify with and love the most, or who their current book boyfriend is.

Occasionally, I throw a short story out there for a guest post, such as Max and Carina’s Valentine’s Day over at SubClub, or a character interview at some of my fave book bloggers.

But it wasn’t enough.

I’ve received numerous requests for two items: a short story centering around Alexa and Nick, and the famous Book of Spells that show up in every story in the Marriage to a Billionaire series.

So, my dear readers, you’ve got it.

Here is the mysterious book unveiled in all its glory. The story for Alexa and Nick was harder. I needed to wait until the right idea came to me. Until one night, lying in bed listening to my beloved husband snore away, I stared at the ceiling and it became clear.

Everyone knows I’m a huge dog lover and animal advocate. And the relationship between Nick and Old Yeller from Bargain was...special.

I hope you enjoy this short story as an extra perk to the
Book of Spells
. I adored writing it and delving back into Alexa and Nick’s life.

I am also a huge food advocate! So, I added an extra treat—a recipe straight from the Conte family table.

As always, this is all for you, my amazing readers. Your emails, Facebook messages, Twitter and Goodreads comments mean the world to me. Please keep them coming. I do listen.

If you love my books, please consider joining the Probst Posse. We have a wonderful time and I share all my upcoming books exclusively with them. What else happens? Sneak peeks, cover reveals, giveaways, brainstorming, member input requests, and a ton of laughs.

Just drop an email to my fab assistant, Lisa at [email protected]

Smooches to all and Happy Reading!

Jen

INTRODUCTION

Love spells have been used for centuries. As long as love has existed, both men and women have dreamt of meeting their soul mate. From the ancient traditions of match-making and arranged marriage, to the more modern tales of nightclubs, speed dating, Match.com, E-harmony, church, book clubs, and other pursuits, the human need for finding one’s mate is ingrained. Like the holy grail, the search is taken up time and time again, sometimes to be met with a high cost of divorce, heartbreak and pain.

Yet, we still pursue the dream.

The love spell contained in this book is from ancient times and combines a mix of true methods meant to capture the essence of what one desires in a mate. To look beyond the surface, strip past barriers, and dig deep to the core. Using a mix of the four elements, fire, air, water and earth, this call to our true nature is an honest plea for fulfillment of the most basic need of all.

True love.

PREPARATION

Begin with a basic meditation to clear the mind.

Sit quietly in a safe place, close your eyes, and begin to breathe. Counting each inhale and each exhale, concentrate on the rhythm of the air being taken in and released by your lungs. Continue to do this until you feel relaxed and your mind is clear.

Take the time to let your thoughts drift to your childhood. Continue to breathe and picture yourself as you grow, and the obstacles along the way. Meditate on the qualities that make up the core of your spirit. Each person has different strengths and needs. Whether that be creative, scientific, or spiritual, recognize your unique talent without judgment.

Meditate on your prior relationships. What made them fail, what made them succeed. Use no judgment and release any fear or anxiety – this is an important exercise to go deep into your spiritual core to find what you truly need.

Picture your future self happy. What will feed your soul? What will nourish the need beyond the surface?

Think of your family – their strengths and weaknesses. Think about how you have evolved on this earth and the way you fit into your family’s structure. Again, allow your thoughts to touch on both the positive and negative relationships within your family.

Go over the friendships you have created in your lifetime. What has worked? What hasn’t? Take some time to meditate on each friend who has come into your life and made a difference. Sift through the traits each friendship has brought you.

THE LIST

Prepare your fire. Using a small fireproof bucket, or a campfire outside, ignite a flame. Gather two pieces of clean white paper. Clearing your mind, begin to make a specified list of all the qualities you need in a mate.

Look beyond the surface, beyond previous choices, and into your soul. Write from the heart without censoring – it is best that the list springs from the natural need in your soul rather than your rational mind. Clearly number each quality.

You may write as many or as few as is needed. If you trust your subconscious, you will know when to stop.

When you have finished, copy down the list on a second piece of paper.

Fold both pieces of paper into quadrants.

THE SPELL

Closing your eyes, offer a prayer of peace to Mother Earth. She will call the elements in the universe of fire, air, water and earth to bring what you need.

The suggested phrasing is listed below:

Dear Earth Mother, please bring forth these qualities on my list to complete my soul, to fulfill the need in my spirit, to nourish my emotional fulfillment. I offer my humbleness, my gratitude for all that I have, and my plea to the Universe.

Throw one piece of paper into the fire and watch it burn.

NOTE: There are additional items you may integrate with your list to bring forth specific traits. Use a small stick to symbolize dependability and stability. Find a family member with certain traits you admire, and use a lock of his or her hair. Add a treasured memento that invokes specific memories of love, happiness, or passion.

When it has completely vanished into ashes, meditate briefly on leaving the past behind and going toward the future with a whole heart.

Take the second piece of paper and place it under your mattress. As you sleep, your subconscious is freed, and the qualities you have listed will gain more strength in slumber.

NOTES

Use this page to write down all your thoughts on this process. Have you been afraid to find what you want in a soul-mate? Are you excited about the future or concerned you will be hurt? Do you feel silly or self-conscious taking the time to list all the qualities you need in a spouse?

There are no right or wrong answers –only your own unique individual journey.

SEDUCTION DINNER MENU

My seduction dinner menu is full of obvious as well as hidden aphrodisiac ingredients specifically formulated for a heightened sense of arousal. Start off with an appetizer of oysters and follow with a main course of salmon and asparagus. Look for recipes online, in cookbooks, or from a friend or family member and make this your own. Don’t forget to serve your guest a glass or red wine, which is also an aphrodisiac.

Follow your dinner up with the ultimate in sensual desserts, chocolate truffles with an added kick of fire to increase arousal. I’ve included a recipe from the Conte family that I’m going to share.

Impassioned Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

10 ounces of semisweet chocolate

10 ounces of bittersweet chocolate

¾ cup heavy cream

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon chili powder

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Truffle Coating Options

Cocoa powder

Course sea salt

Directions

Grate or chop chocolate in small pieces while heating heavy cream, cinnamon, chili powder, and cayenne pepper in small saucepan on medium-low heat. Bring mixture to a simmer and take off heat. Add chocolate and vanilla extract to pan and immediately mix well with a whisk until all chocolate has melted. Let mixture cool to room temperature for approximately 1½ hours.