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King of Hearts #1
Devil's Bargain
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 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?
- GenresM M Romance
267 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2019
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Sparrow
8 books62 followersKathryn Sparrow has had stories spinning around in her head her whole life and finally decided it was time to write them down. After working twenty years in the Software Industry, she has left the engineering world to be a chauffeur mom (because she doesn't really get to stay-at-home.) She lives with her fantastic, geek husband and her two adorable, sometimes 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 catch her fancy.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 12, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
When I read the blurb for this book, I was under the impression there would be some sort of paranormal or fantasy aspect to it. As we are introduced to Seth and his situation is laid out, however, I started to wonder if the story was just one of blackmail. It took quite a while for the paranormal elements to become truly noticeable, but after a certain point, Sparrow just lets go and throws absolutely everything into the mix. What kept this progression from being too over the top and too campy for me was the slow escalation. For example, when Seth first arrives at Mr. Winthorpe’s compound, the way the building is laid out to accommodate the activities Winthrope has for Seth could be explained as fancy architecture.
When it comes to our characters, I found myself much more interested in Kevin than in Seth. This is perhaps because the story is told from Seth’s perspective, so we get a constant stream of his thoughts. For me, the introductory chapters where we learn just how deep Seth’s family is in debt painted an unsympathetic Seth. The exasperation he seems to express towards his parents and the stilted exchanges he was with them felt flat. Once the action focuses just on Seth and his obligation to Mr. Winthorpe, Seth turns into a different kind of martyr.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
When I read the blurb for this book, I was under the impression there would be some sort of paranormal or fantasy aspect to it. As we are introduced to Seth and his situation is laid out, however, I started to wonder if the story was just one of blackmail. It took quite a while for the paranormal elements to become truly noticeable, but after a certain point, Sparrow just lets go and throws absolutely everything into the mix. What kept this progression from being too over the top and too campy for me was the slow escalation. For example, when Seth first arrives at Mr. Winthorpe’s compound, the way the building is laid out to accommodate the activities Winthrope has for Seth could be explained as fancy architecture.
When it comes to our characters, I found myself much more interested in Kevin than in Seth. This is perhaps because the story is told from Seth’s perspective, so we get a constant stream of his thoughts. For me, the introductory chapters where we learn just how deep Seth’s family is in debt painted an unsympathetic Seth. The exasperation he seems to express towards his parents and the stilted exchanges he was with them felt flat. Once the action focuses just on Seth and his obligation to Mr. Winthorpe, Seth turns into a different kind of martyr.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
February 6, 2019
ARC copy provided by IndiGo for an honest review.
Start to finish, this book is one insane acid trip. I feel like this is going to be hit or miss for most readers. There are some really cool things going on -- exotic foods, Zero G sex, ecclectic parties. There's also quite a bit of dubious consent, the characters are being blackmailed, and copious amounts of random voyerism, kidnapping, and extortion. With my reading tastes, this wasn't too problematic, but some of you may find the information helpful.
The various scenes were interesting enough that it never felt like the book dragged, even with some of the open ended side plots going on around the property that were never quite resolved.
Lots of mythology, a tip of the hat to the Supernatural fandom.
The book could use some tightening, but it's certainly unique and original. I think it's fairly obvious who their host is, and while we get a hea, his methods are pretty odious.
Start to finish, this book is one insane acid trip. I feel like this is going to be hit or miss for most readers. There are some really cool things going on -- exotic foods, Zero G sex, ecclectic parties. There's also quite a bit of dubious consent, the characters are being blackmailed, and copious amounts of random voyerism, kidnapping, and extortion. With my reading tastes, this wasn't too problematic, but some of you may find the information helpful.
The various scenes were interesting enough that it never felt like the book dragged, even with some of the open ended side plots going on around the property that were never quite resolved.
Lots of mythology, a tip of the hat to the Supernatural fandom.
The book could use some tightening, but it's certainly unique and original. I think it's fairly obvious who their host is, and while we get a hea, his methods are pretty odious.
March 10, 2019
The Blogger Girls
This book gets a solid ten stars for originality and keeping me guessing what was really going on. Seriously, you know there is a kind of paranormal twist but it is not really evident until you get to the end and see all the connections that now made more sense. I am unfamiliar with this author, but I guarantee I will be looking for more works from her in the future.
This review will be very stunted because it will absolutely destroy the experience if you know what’s really going on before the climax. Think The Sixth Sense movie and how it would have ruined the movie if you knew in advance that Bruce Willis was already dead. In this case, there aren’t any dead people, but it was the closest I could think to relate.
Kevin and Seth are best friends and college roommates who both find themselves in a sick kind of twisted game where they are forced to interact with each other in ways that makes them both a little (a lot) uncomfortable. Sadly, for Seth, Kevin has also not been super honest with him which causes Seth some unnecessary grief. The majority of the story is the game. A game, that if they win, will have all their problems erased, but if they lose….. hmmm. Basically, they have no choice but to be put on display and do as they are told. Doesn’t mean it’s a true hardship because they truly do like each other, the hardship would have been had they been paired with someone else.
I really am not going to say more because this one is so original, at least to me, that I did not see the ending coming. I knew it was going to be far out there, and with the timing of the release, it should have sunk in sooner, but it didn’t and in a way, that was good. It kept me reading. I definitely recommend this one. Even though it might seem a bit creepy and maybe a little cruel, at first, it really was done for the betterment of both Seth and Kevin.
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
This book gets a solid ten stars for originality and keeping me guessing what was really going on. Seriously, you know there is a kind of paranormal twist but it is not really evident until you get to the end and see all the connections that now made more sense. I am unfamiliar with this author, but I guarantee I will be looking for more works from her in the future.
This review will be very stunted because it will absolutely destroy the experience if you know what’s really going on before the climax. Think The Sixth Sense movie and how it would have ruined the movie if you knew in advance that Bruce Willis was already dead. In this case, there aren’t any dead people, but it was the closest I could think to relate.
Kevin and Seth are best friends and college roommates who both find themselves in a sick kind of twisted game where they are forced to interact with each other in ways that makes them both a little (a lot) uncomfortable. Sadly, for Seth, Kevin has also not been super honest with him which causes Seth some unnecessary grief. The majority of the story is the game. A game, that if they win, will have all their problems erased, but if they lose….. hmmm. Basically, they have no choice but to be put on display and do as they are told. Doesn’t mean it’s a true hardship because they truly do like each other, the hardship would have been had they been paired with someone else.
I really am not going to say more because this one is so original, at least to me, that I did not see the ending coming. I knew it was going to be far out there, and with the timing of the release, it should have sunk in sooner, but it didn’t and in a way, that was good. It kept me reading. I definitely recommend this one. Even though it might seem a bit creepy and maybe a little cruel, at first, it really was done for the betterment of both Seth and Kevin.
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
February 13, 2019
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
I was taken completely by surprise with this book. The surprise was a good one, but it was a surprise. The blurb didn't prepare me for what I was in store for. I didn't peek at any of the reviews before I read this one, and I'm glad I didn't. This book is wild. It's alternate universe, paranormal, magic, with mythological characters. I do see how it could be considered dub-con . I personally like reading dub-con so I think the squick factor that other reviewers I've seen complain about is lost on me.
This is a crazy, trippy, wild story and I liked that about it. I would have liked to have gotten Kevin's POV rather than it being all of Seth's, but I thought it was easy enough to pick up on what Kevin was thinking through is reactions. I would have liked to have learned more about Maynard Winthrop because we only discover who he and his people are at the very end. I would like to read the second book to see where this goes. If you wild, unconventional stories with a bit of a dub-con edge, this one will make you happy.
I was taken completely by surprise with this book. The surprise was a good one, but it was a surprise. The blurb didn't prepare me for what I was in store for. I didn't peek at any of the reviews before I read this one, and I'm glad I didn't. This book is wild. It's alternate universe, paranormal, magic, with mythological characters. I do see how it could be considered dub-con . I personally like reading dub-con so I think the squick factor that other reviewers I've seen complain about is lost on me.
This is a crazy, trippy, wild story and I liked that about it. I would have liked to have gotten Kevin's POV rather than it being all of Seth's, but I thought it was easy enough to pick up on what Kevin was thinking through is reactions. I would have liked to have learned more about Maynard Winthrop because we only discover who he and his people are at the very end. I would like to read the second book to see where this goes. If you wild, unconventional stories with a bit of a dub-con edge, this one will make you happy.
February 3, 2019
I am not one to gravitate towards books that are fantastical or otherworldly, with very few exceptions. And I will be for real and say that if the author had written the blurb with more specificity, I would have passed on this one as well,
Boy am I ever glad that I didn't! I would have missed out on a superbly crafted and beautifully written story that I fell in love with very quickly. The author's world building was based on reality and as such, was very palatable and easy to follow and see in my mind's eye as the story progressed.
I loved both Seth and Kevin, and was able to hate Winthrop IV just as easily.
I kind of picked up on who the IV was early on in the book, but the author made him so much more than that, and I was definitely not disappointed when I was finished reading it.
I do not want to say more, for fear of inadvertently giving away something important. Just note that this is one of the most fun"straight to gay" novels that I have read.
Take a chance. You won't be disappointed! !
This book was provided by the author via Indigo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.
Boy am I ever glad that I didn't! I would have missed out on a superbly crafted and beautifully written story that I fell in love with very quickly. The author's world building was based on reality and as such, was very palatable and easy to follow and see in my mind's eye as the story progressed.
I loved both Seth and Kevin, and was able to hate Winthrop IV just as easily.
I kind of picked up on who the IV was early on in the book, but the author made him so much more than that, and I was definitely not disappointed when I was finished reading it.
I do not want to say more, for fear of inadvertently giving away something important. Just note that this is one of the most fun"straight to gay" novels that I have read.
Take a chance. You won't be disappointed! !
This book was provided by the author via Indigo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2019
Well, that was definitely different and really not at all what I thought I was getting into.
I still am not sure if I really liked it or not.
The setup made me very uncomfortable and because it played out for over 90% of the book I never really got to shake the ick factor.
Same with Maynard Frederick Winthrop IV. I was supposed to find him reprehensible and I did, anything more than that just came way too late.
I guess all and all I never found any of the encounters between the two best friends comfortable, romantic or anything like love. I wish they would have talked about something. They were supposed to be very best friends but they read to me like strangers at times.
So, the weirdest thing to me about this whole book was the end. I liked how it wrapped up. I just wish that could have come way sooner and then we could have had more story after. As it stood I just didn't buy it.
Very clever and interesting storytelling though. Good writing too. It just wasn't exactly my thing.
*This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
I still am not sure if I really liked it or not.
The setup made me very uncomfortable and because it played out for over 90% of the book I never really got to shake the ick factor.
Same with Maynard Frederick Winthrop IV. I was supposed to find him reprehensible and I did, anything more than that just came way too late.
I guess all and all I never found any of the encounters between the two best friends comfortable, romantic or anything like love. I wish they would have talked about something. They were supposed to be very best friends but they read to me like strangers at times.
So, the weirdest thing to me about this whole book was the end. I liked how it wrapped up. I just wish that could have come way sooner and then we could have had more story after. As it stood I just didn't buy it.
Very clever and interesting storytelling though. Good writing too. It just wasn't exactly my thing.
*This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
February 12, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 stars
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4+
It’s not what you think!
I am so intrigued by this story. I read that it was not what you’d expect and that turned out to be so true! This idea of some twist coming kept me interested until the very last page. It’s an interesting adventure and a unique friends to lovers tale. I still have questions about what the heck just happened! I’m hoping these will be answered in the next story and well find out more about this intriguing world Kathryn has cooked up. I must admit I was a little uncomfortable in some parts as the situations could be considered unfair persuasion/blackmail but as the story progressed I felt the give and take and character concent as the situations were presented. The chemistry between Seth and Kevin is great and I liked the ending and the twist that is the epilogue! I’m interested to see where Kathryn will take this world next…
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4+
It’s not what you think!
I am so intrigued by this story. I read that it was not what you’d expect and that turned out to be so true! This idea of some twist coming kept me interested until the very last page. It’s an interesting adventure and a unique friends to lovers tale. I still have questions about what the heck just happened! I’m hoping these will be answered in the next story and well find out more about this intriguing world Kathryn has cooked up. I must admit I was a little uncomfortable in some parts as the situations could be considered unfair persuasion/blackmail but as the story progressed I felt the give and take and character concent as the situations were presented. The chemistry between Seth and Kevin is great and I liked the ending and the twist that is the epilogue! I’m interested to see where Kathryn will take this world next…
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
February 8, 2019
I received a copy of Devil’s Bargain by Katheryn Sparrow via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. From the blurb, I expected this book to be darker. I was thrilled it was instead a fun fantasy romp, filled with creatures of myth and history. I knew I liked Seth Griffin when he and I shared astigmatism that prevented us from becoming pilots in the Air Force. In the story, Seth has some of his fantasies fulfilled as well as enduring an on-going temptation. While the story is told from Seth’s point of view, the reader also gets to know his roommate Kevin. Whether Kevin has any fantasies met might involve a spoiler, so I will refrain. The scenarios the two are put in are varied and clever, letting them see each other in different lights. There are several twists to the story that add to its entertainment value. I would definitely read future books in the series.
Read
February 9, 2019Well. The story was definitely not what I expected at all. There were portions that got me slightly uncomfortable and questioning characters’ consent (an affirmation made under duress negated the meaning, right? At least that’s what I feel). Recognizing what the story was all about didn’t change that. Of course it was intentionally done as part of the storyline that would lead up to the “big reveal” in the end.
I debated whether the single POV affect how I perceived the book or if it being my first Kathryn Sparrow’s read that caught me unaware... and both might be true. This first entry to “King of Hearts” series certainly kept me guessing - and dreading; what fate would befall our oblivious hero - from start to finish. In a tale that twined modern world and supernatural, the story had one Seth Griffin lured into a bizarre arrangement with a wealthy and powerful stranger to save his family. What followed was the most peculiar yet scorching-hot-dreams-come-true week in Seth’s life.
As a newbie to Sparrow’s works, I found “Devil’s Bargain” waving between bizarro and interesting. For a pair of supposedly best friends, Seth and his pal’s initial interactions didn’t strike me as chummy. Moreover, with his background (Seth dreamed of working for NASA, thus the double majors he took) I was surprised he wasn’t more curious over how one strange thing followed another and suspected something. Another thing was the why of things; the reason why Seth was being singled-out by this stranger. Personally, I felt there should’ve been an intro of such for the whole events to roll out.
All things considered, this is not a total fail for me. It’s unusual, somewhat puzzling, but also sweet and steamy. As intrigued as I am with Sparrow’s writing and her backlist title, I’m taking a wait and see outlook whether there’ll be sequel to this book. I think (readers) need to be prepared before start reading story of this universe, that’s all.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I debated whether the single POV affect how I perceived the book or if it being my first Kathryn Sparrow’s read that caught me unaware... and both might be true. This first entry to “King of Hearts” series certainly kept me guessing - and dreading; what fate would befall our oblivious hero - from start to finish. In a tale that twined modern world and supernatural, the story had one Seth Griffin lured into a bizarre arrangement with a wealthy and powerful stranger to save his family. What followed was the most peculiar yet scorching-hot-dreams-come-true week in Seth’s life.
As a newbie to Sparrow’s works, I found “Devil’s Bargain” waving between bizarro and interesting. For a pair of supposedly best friends, Seth and his pal’s initial interactions didn’t strike me as chummy. Moreover, with his background (Seth dreamed of working for NASA, thus the double majors he took) I was surprised he wasn’t more curious over how one strange thing followed another and suspected something. Another thing was the why of things; the reason why Seth was being singled-out by this stranger. Personally, I felt there should’ve been an intro of such for the whole events to roll out.
All things considered, this is not a total fail for me. It’s unusual, somewhat puzzling, but also sweet and steamy. As intrigued as I am with Sparrow’s writing and her backlist title, I’m taking a wait and see outlook whether there’ll be sequel to this book. I think (readers) need to be prepared before start reading story of this universe, that’s all.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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