Title: Devil’s Bargain
Series: King of Hearts Book 1
Author: Kathryn Sparrow
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: January 3
Length: 67500 Words
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
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Synopsis
Seth Griffin is forced to live out his wildest dreams at the expense of his best friend, the man he loves.
Seth Griffin’s life was basically on track. Attend Cornell, double major in Mechanical Engineering and Astronomy, play basketball, and room with his best friend, Kevin. So what if he had a hopeless crush on his gorgeous, straight friend.
When Maynard Frederick Winthrop IV buys all of Seth’s family’s debt and threatens to foreclose, everything Seth has worked for is in jeopardy. Winthrop offers Seth a deal: spend a week at his mansion, a place that seems to defy logic and violate the laws of physics, performing challenges of Winthrop’s choosing. If Seth succeeds, all will be forgiven.
But can Seth do as Winthrop asks, especially when Kevin is the one who will pay the price?
Archery
A funny thing happened when I was editing the first draft of Devil’s Bargain. I had already written the archery contest scene in chapter eleven. I knew the scene needed work because I needed to learn more about archery. I got my chance in an unexpected way. My younger daughter asked to learn archery. It took me a while, but I finally managed to arrange for lessons for her.
We had a nice instructor come to our home and set up a target in the back yard. He brought all the equipment and because my daughter wanted me too, I learned to shoot as well. Sure, I’d shot before as a child at some camp once, but I didn’t really know much.
We learned about the rules of a range to ensure it is clear before putting arrow to bow. A lot of the safety had to do with the “ritual” of the range. As long as everyone moved only when told, everyone was safe. He taught us stance and aiming and where to pull the string back to. He let me pick his brain for details that I was able to use for that chapter and some of the details were things he suggested.
Eventually my daughter moved on from Archery to new hobbies, but this particular one was well timed and this book benefited.
“Hello, boys. I’m Ianthe.” Ianthe stood a little over three feet tall. She wore a white, shortsleeve shirt with a picture of a unicorn rearing up and a black skirt. A beaded bracelet wrapped her left wrist. “The boss wants me to work with you. He must think you have a chance.”
Does that mean she’s gonna increase our chances or decrease them?
She grabbed each of their hands and pulled them until they followed to the pile of bows. Her brown ponytail swished as she walked. “Have you ever shot before?”
“Not since I was eight,” Seth answered.
“A few times when I was a kid,” Kevin said.
“Right. We’ll start from the beginning.” She sorted through the bows, muttering to herself. “Both right eye dominant…”
“How do you know we’re both right-handed?” Kevin asked.
“The boss told me you were both right-handed. Although that’s not important. He also said you’re both right eye dominant. That’s much more important.”
“There’s one thing I don’t understand about you. You’re gay. You’re out. You live in a liberal state, but you rarely hook up, no boyfriends, nothing. What gives?”
What? Why did Winthrop know he was gay or care?
“Excuse me. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Winthrop’s brows climbed. “Believe me. It’s my business. Everyone has needs, but you live like a monk.”
“I’m a double major across two colleges and a varsity athlete. I don’t have time for a boyfriend, and I’m done with hookups.”
Winthrop shook his head, a frown marring his face. “That’s crazy. There are even a couple guys on your team who have offered to blow you, bottom, top, whatever, but you keep refusing. Even on those away games, alone, in a hotel.”
“Look. Enough of this.” Seth slammed his hand down on the table. “I came here. I sat through this meal. It’s done. You clearly have my family and me over a barrel. Isn’t it time to tell me what this is all about?”
“As you wish.”
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Kathryn Sparrow has had stories spinning around in her head her whole life and finally decided it was time to write them down. For twenty years, she worked in the Software Industry as a Software Quality Engineer, so she gets a particular thrill including geeks in her stories. Now, she is a stay-home mom although she thinks that’s a terrible name for the job since she spends so much time driving her kids to their various activities. She lives in Massachusetts with her geek husband and adorable, infuriating daughters, who are too smart for their Mommy’s own good. If she had spare time she would spend it knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, and doing any other handicrafts that caught her fancy.
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