One Night Only: A Shifter Romance Novella

by Elle Kayson

Zuri Price has no intention of responding to the strange invitation she’d received to some unknown place called the Red Key Club. She doesn’t even like Valentine’s Day, after all. But a charming neighbor and a cheating boyfriend change her mind and, skeleton key in hand, Zuri steps into a new world and into a painful but unforgettable memory of her old one. It’s one night of possibilities, one night of her dreams, but what will Zuri do when the star of her fantasies insists that one night could turn into so much more?

Genres: Paranormal, Novella, Audiobook, Fantasy, Shapeshifters

88 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2025

About the author

Published Author.

Exasperated Mother.

Southern Cook.

Angsty, Beautiful, Clueless Mess.

That's me, in short. I've been writing since elementary school and won my first prize in seventh grade. I am a romantic at heart and love a happy ending! Join me on this writing (and reading) journey--you won't be disappointed!

Reviews

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

A short and spicy shifter romance! Elle Kayson got this one all the way right. I could have easily read 300 more pages 😂

[Sher✩･*˚⁺‧͙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lowkey want like 300 more pages,

[↬ Ⓛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I needed more…

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this shifter romance novella! The romance mixed with the supernatural touch added to this already spicy story! I love Zuri & Chi’s story and hope to see them again. Great quick read! Madame Cupid me please! lol

[Tina Sharane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟 Elle Kayson is a phenomenal writer so this paranormal, second chance romance did NOT disappoint imo! Ofc, my only complaint is that it wasn't long enough for meeeee... 😩😭 I wanted sooooo much more of Zuri and Malachi, mostly Malachi, but more nonetheless.

And there is still so much more potential to explore Chi's heritage and bloodline plus the originality of him being a jaguar shifter just did it for me! This could've easily been a 300+ novel and I would have devoured every page with great pleasure. Miss Kayson, please pen more paranormal romances in the future because I will read every single one you write, believe that (in my Martin Lawrence “Blue Streak” voice). Well freaking done ma'am!

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now yall know I love me a good paranormal romance! This one was pretty decent. I expected more it was missing something but I do understand that this was her first paranormal story. 3.5⭐️s

[Brooke ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5

This book was so jumbled in not even sure what to say 😭. I'm left with one word and it's "what?" LMAOOO. The getting spicy while having flashbacks and trying to explain important information ruined this for me personally. Zuri had every right to be mad, but she decided to be weak and just say "it's fine!" After one time??? Pain of ten years??? Yeahhhhh this wasn't it I'm sorry. The random back and forth time jumps also- idk this should've been longer I feel like it would've made more sense 😭. Also the beginning? Was that their first time meeting? What happened between then and the time he told her off? Like idk this was really all over the place unfortunately. I'm personally left with too many questions for this to be an 80 page novella lol.

Also respectfully, I need her to get to work on demons dream part 2 LMAOOOO

[Fatimah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This type of book is definitely out of the norm for me. When I first started this book, I didn’t know WTH I was reading but then it started to come together about half way through.

Favorite Quote- “I’d always wondered about the existence of things unknown and been fascinated by the possibilities. But I was content to leave some shit “unexplained.”

[Goddess’ Smut Library 🩷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this book was very dry. I don’t know if the reviews are from people that have not read other shifter paranormal books, but it didn’t meet the bar. If I could read half-point rating system, I would give it a 2.5. And because it’s a novella, it was way too short. She wasted too much time with nonsense, if you asked me.

[Rhina M. Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy Shifter Romance!

Elle Kayson knows she is a gifted writer and this spicy shifter romance is another masterpiece added to her collection! I reunited love stories with paranormal!

[Iris Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need just a lil but more

I love Elle, & loved that she tapped into some “Shifter Romance”, however, I def needed more fillers and/or maybe 1 more chapter to fill in the gaps…. But overall it was a good short read, with of course some much needed spice to it!!!

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Potential but the sequence is awkward

I understand this is a novella; that means it should introduce the characters and get to the point. But this was dull and confusing in parts. The opening was so weird. Random house party with characters who are never mentioned again, the two mains meet, he saves her from a bully, says “mine” then the story skips 12 years!? No conflict introduced just a time gap and she’s dating a random man. The plot had potential, it’s just too jumbled. The flashbacks took away from the story flow. It took 71% to find out what caused them to separate and it fell flat

[KB · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad, for a quick paranormal romance read. Even for novella standards, I think it could’ve been just a tad bit longer. Maybe 30 more pages, to flesh out the story better. The time jump in the beginning, to the random flashback about the brother - I get why it was told, but given the length of the story, that time & words should’ve been focused on the couple & their history.

This is only the second thing I’ve read by this author & I don’t really care for how she writes her female characters. I need them to stand up for themselves more, especially with their men. And actually…I don’t like the men either, the way they talk to the FMC rubs me wrong. Under 100 pages, it’s a novella I get it - things move quick! But if this man hurt you as deeply as you say…HE should be the one getting punished, not the other way around.

[eBookHill · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Night Only was my official introduction to paranormal romance in a Black space and I’m not mad at it at all.

Of course I read Twilight back in the day, but this felt different. Seeing shifters, heat, and that possessive “mine” energy through a Black lens? Yeah…that did something for me.

I want more of this world.
I want more of these characters especially the twins. 👀I want to see how deep this paranormal universe goes.

[ReaderGirly❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sexy!

Seriously, shifter, second chance romance and this book HIT. I loved it. And despite the reviews saying they needed more, it was exactly enough for me. Short, quick, and to the point. The spice was there, I was intrigued by this magical paranormal pandora's box type situation, and I hope we have not seen the last of Malachi and Zuri. 4.5 glorious stars!!!

[Taja Asé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Myles Washington.. imma need you to narrate books a little better. It felt like he was reading the book instead of acting the characters out. I couldn’t fully enjoy the book because of it.

I also thought the cheating boyfriend plot was gonna be explored… buuutt nope. That would’ve been interesting!

[Sunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was out of my norm, but I liked it. Never read a paranormal romance before, and now I think I want more of Zuri & Malachi. There was just enough spice to make me want my own shifter 😅😏 And Madame Cupid? I need to meet her. Where’s my red envelope?! 👀

[Juli_xox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nice spicy short read. I loved Malachi & Zuri but I wish it was a little longer to really dive deeper into the characters. I also would of liked to see Malachi meet her parents. Overall it was a quick romantic valentine day shifter romance.

[Shan J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok Elle Kayson! I need more of this from you. Second read from you and it gets better I can see.

Lover lost, time stolen, feelings swallowed, truths never spoken and then twelve years later, you finally run back into your first love like the universe said “yeah, it’s time.” These novella story grabs you by the throat, pull you in deep, and then poof gone before you can even breathe. But honestly, most of these paranormal come in novella form, so you already know the story and that’s what you get.

[thebookcritic_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

Good. Cute and short. I felt like some things could’ve been explained in depth more but I get why they weren’t as this was novella. Why couldn’t his uncle be with his aunt? That kind of threw me off a little.

[Jaleesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need more

I knew going in this was a quick and short but man I needed it to be a little longer. Ready for more as soon as more is available.

[ShaTorey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely different from other books I’ve read by Elle. It was a quick read but I do think that there was some things that could have been explained better.

[Ravyn 🐣 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me back to my Wattpad days and I’m not even mad at it

[ERICA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more!

Wow. I can only hope we get a full book on Sha & Chi after this. Definitely a good quick read.

[Danielle Salter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Her pen did not fail. I wish the book was longer but the sex scenes were magnificent.
Loved the book

[Alachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle Kayson did not disappoint with the shifter romance. Prefect for beginners into paranormal like myself.

[Tash. Tash. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised

Elle did her big one branching into the paranormal world.

I can’t wait to see what more comes from this.

[Taees_Cozy_Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was perfect . I loooooove a fated mates situation and this was a hit for me. I hate that he ran from her and left her but for her protection. But I loooooove how he said I’m done running and so r u!!! I’m chasing and u not going nowhere !!😝😝😝!!! Get ur woman !!!

[Torrie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

[Readitandwhisk (Tay) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy 🥵🌶️

I instantly want more! Malachi and Zuri are so sensual together. I love a fated mate story. I’m interested to see where Elle takes this series!