The quick verdict
Look, a pumpkin-headed demon turns up in BDSM leather with candy. I was hardly expecting a sensible Halloween read after that.
Trick or Tempt Me was a fun, quick, spicy little read that made me laugh and delivered more heat than I expected. Ridiculous? Absolutely. I was happily along for it.
I gave it 3.5 stars and four chillies. The chemistry worked, but I wasn’t emotionally invested in the romance. I was mostly there for the laughs and whatever questionable Halloween activity they were going to involve themselves in next. The spice was the best part, and the ending felt a bit rushed.
The rundown
Aurora is sick, has taken cold and flu tablets, and then Shai arrives. He’s an incubus with a pumpkin head, horns, BDSM leather and candy.
That is quite a lot to process when you are already feeling like rubbish.
Before long, they’re in a playground, where Pumpkin Man sprouts demonic wings and flies her up to an enchanted treehouse. There are stairs, but apparently those are for people having a more ordinary evening.
Then he takes on the appearance of her fictional crush. Blonde hair, red eyes, fangs and dimples. Apparently the pumpkin was just the introduction.
And the leather-and-piercings situation doesn’t stop with the outfit. Shai has an extremely long, forked serpent tongue with piercings. Subtle? Absolutely not. A demon who has come prepared? I’ll give him that.
Add pumpkin spice lattes, a decorated pumpkin pie and a very cosy treehouse, and you have the setting for a night that becomes considerably less wholesome.
Real talk
Aurora was relatable and funny, which helped me enjoy just how ridiculous everything became. I liked spending time with her, even when the situation had gone several pumpkins beyond reasonable.
Shai entertained me. Halfway through the Halloween chaos, he was still making me laugh rather than swoon. He could shapeshift, sprout wings and bring an extremely well-equipped tongue to the occasion, but I wasn’t falling in love with him.
The chemistry between them worked. I enjoyed their antics without becoming particularly attached to them as a couple. I was having fun with the scenes and the humour rather than getting swept up in the relationship.
There is a shopping trip for a cat costume, followed by a pumpkin-themed motorbike, collar-and-leash styling and a Halloween festival outing. I appreciate the commitment to the theme. Even the transport is dressed for the occasion.
The spice, though? That absolutely delivered. A festival ride, a club and a maze of mirrors all get involved. Apparently a normal date was never on the itinerary.
It was hotter than I expected, and it kept delivering. Every time their Halloween plans moved somewhere new, there seemed to be another reason this was a four-chilli read.
The ending felt a little rushed. I would have liked a bit more breathing room there, but it didn’t undo the fun I’d had. I finished it thinking, look, that was a good quick spicy Halloween read. I just didn’t come away with a new fictional husband of my own.
The cold and flu disclaimer
Small plot spoiler in this aside.
Aurora takes cold and flu tablets and ends up with a demon husband and a mansion in Hell.
I’m sorry, where was THAT on the packet? Drowsiness, dry mouth, unexpected demonic marriage and property acquisition?
She wanted to feel better. That escalated.
Tropes & vibes
- Human heroine and incubus hero
- Halloween monster romance
- Shapeshifting fictional-crush fantasy
- Enchanted treehouse
- Playful, ridiculous humour
- Fast-moving romance
- High spice in a short read
The tiny details that did the damage
- He knows her coffee order. A useful skill beneath all that pumpkin.
- The pet name ‘kitten’, followed by a shopping trip for a cat costume. Committed to the theme.
- He wants the stockings left on. A man with specific Halloween priorities.
- Candy, BDSM leather and piercings as an arrival aesthetic. Quite the trick-or-treat offering.
- That long, pierced serpent tongue. The man is not relying on conversation alone.
- A blonde, red-eyed, fanged fictional-crush transformation. Why settle for a costume when you can change the whole man?
- Wings for the trip up to the treehouse and a pumpkin motorbike for the festival. Two very different transport options, neither remotely subtle.
Read this if…
You want a quick Halloween novella with a sense of humour, monster-romance silliness and plenty of heat. If a pumpkin-headed incubus arriving with candy sounds like a promising start, this is worth a look.
If you need a deeply developed romance or a fictional man to get properly attached to, you may want more than I got here. I enjoyed the chemistry and the ridiculousness, but I wasn’t invested in the relationship, and the ending moved a little too quickly for my taste. I’d still absolutely recommend it for a funny, spicy little Halloween read.
EmberSas ratings
- Overall: ⭐⭐⭐½ / 5
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
- Romance investment: Enjoyed the chemistry, wasn’t emotionally attached
- Shai assessment: Entertaining, not swoon-worthy
- Best bit: The spice
- Final vibe: Funny, ridiculous Halloween heat
Group chat verdict
Look, she was sick, took some cold and flu tablets, and then a pumpkin-headed demon turned up in leather with candy. I was hardly expecting a sensible evening after that.
It was fun, it was quick, and the spice was hotter than I expected. There was a ride, a club, a maze of mirrors. They really got out and supported the local Halloween attractions.
Was I invested in the romance? No. Was I entertained? Absolutely. Three and a half stars, four chillies, and I’d recommend it for a funny, spicy little Halloween read.
Comfort-level note
This is an adult paranormal novella with explicit sexual content, worship kink, light BDSM, restraints and monster anatomy. Check the author’s complete content warnings in the book before reading and choose what works for your comfort level.
Final vibe
A pumpkin-headed incubus, four-chilli Halloween plans and a cold and flu packet with some explaining to do.
Shop the Spooky Reading Mood
If the spooky reading mood is coming home with you, here are a few things from my EmberSas shop to keep it company. My Kindle case and bookshelf might as well join in.
For a reading list with supernatural visitors: My Summoned Something Questionable Kindle Insert brings spellbooks, roses, crystals and curling green smoke to your clear Kindle case. A little paranormal atmosphere for a reading night with questionable fictional company.
For pumpkins beside the next chapter: My Spooky Season Spicy Chapters Kindle Insert pairs reading ghosts, pumpkins, books and candles with orange and pink lettering. Apparently the Kindle case also needs a Halloween outfit.
For a little spice on the shelf: My Spicy Heart Sign is a physical 3D-printed bookish decoration with customisable colours. The Kindle can keep the chapters; the bookshelf can make the confession.
The Kindle inserts are printable digital downloads with PDF and PNG files. No physical insert, case or device is included. Shelf signs are physical items. Check the individual product pages for sizing, options and care instructions.
