Synopses & Reviews
Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what's a witch to do when he won't leave her side — and she kind of doesn't want him to?
Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon — one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.
Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry — if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can't leave Mariel's side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).
But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she's dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she'll lose all her emotions — including love — which will only spell disaster for them both.
Review
"Hawley's delightful debut is a welcome addition to the witchy rom-com genre with its ecological flavor, fresh take on the demon realm with a fascinating cosmology, and enticing secondary characters who deserve their own stories." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"Hawley delights in her humorous and romantic paranormal debut...Hawley ably navigates life and love among toxic family members, fantastical chaos, and small-town politics — with some steamy scenes and plenty of dad jokes along the way. This is a treat." Publishers Weekly
Review
"...this romantic comedy is witty and fun, with plenty of humor balanced with the sexual tension between the protagonists." Library Journal
About the Author
Sarah Hawley is an author of romance and fantasy novels. She was a winner of #RevPit 2018, and her short stories and articles have been published by Hooked, Slackjaw, the Belladonna Comedy, and Points in Case. She cohosts the Wicked Wallflowers Club podcast about romance fiction, which was featured on Entertainment Weekly. Sarah has both a BA and an MA in archaeology.