Masked Strings of Fate: Spicy Treats

by T L Russ

Forget the ghouls and goblins, this Halloween is all about the tricks, treats, and a whole lot of heat. It sucks being the guy who fixes everything on campus. The nerdy guy, the computer guy, the invisible guy. I’m not even Whitman to most people. They all call me Whitty. Not sexy at all. But tonight is my fraternity’s annual Halloween party. The theme is masks, and I plan to use it to finally shoot my shot with Finley Greene, the girl I’ve been fantasizing about since our first class together. With graduation looming and adult life approaching, this could be my last chance. Tonight, I’m not Whitty, I’m someone else, and for the first time I want her to see me.

All I’m hoping for is time alone with her as we search the campus for clues that will lead us to the party. What I didn’t expect was to have a chance to hold her hand or for us to have things in common. It’s like there is something different. Something electric in the air. Almost as if the night itself wants to push us together. Magic, if you believe in that sort of thing, but for one perfect moment I’m the man she can’t stop touching. The only question is, will what we feel survive once the night is done and we both go back to who we’ve always been?

Spicy Treats and all the heat...
Slip into small towns, hidden shadows in moonlit mansions, forbidden glances, and second chances that burn hotter than ever. In this sizzling collection of Halloween romances, get ready to experience masquerades, forbidden flings, fall festivals, and haunted night where one wicked deed could chance everything. These stories aren’t just magnetic. They are dripping with tension, temptation, and toe-curling passion. If you love off-the-chart chemistry and all the spooky vibes your romance heart can take, this collection was made for you.
Come for the treats. Stay for the heat.

Join us this October for six steamy romances from some of your favorite Romance short authors! This series is packed with surprise reveals, age gaps, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and all the love to melt your heart and heat up your night.

77 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2025

Reviews

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

MASKED STRINGS OF FATE is part of the multi-authored Spicy Treats series. It's a short and steamy, he falls first, opposites-attract, girl gets her hunk Halloween college romance. Finley and Whit are college students. He is a year old. He is a smart and hunky tech geek. He has liked Finley for two years but she has never really seen him as more than a nice and helpful acquaintance. When she gets invited to his fraternity's Halloween party, which is always an exclusive, secret event, that requires completing a scavenger hunt of sorts to determine the location. She asks Whit about the location. He doesn't know, but uses the opportunity to spend time with her. Suddenly she is falling too. This was such a sweet story with great chemistry and a happy ending. I loved Whit as am a sucker for sexy nerds.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast paced hidden identity story. Whit and Fin were interesting characters, and there was a delicious slow-burn aspect about her slow realization of her feelings. Whitman had a plan from the start, but could he follow through. At times the presence of her friend group seemed like it was hindering, but perhaps it was just what was needed - at the right moment. There were a few times I laughed out loud at some of the situations, and one of the secondary characters. It was a relaxing, easy romance and definateky a spicy treat!.

I received a gift copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Praline 99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween romance.
Whitman is a geek in a fraternity on campus. For some time now, he's had a crush on Finley, a beautiful woman who hasn't even noticed him on campus. So, at the Halloween masquerade party, he decides to tell her how he feels.
Finley is a young woman who has had a string of failed relationships. She intends to take advantage of Halloween night to meet a good man.
Will Finley and Whitman have a beautiful romance, or will Whitman be able to make Finley fall for him….

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween masked party

Masked Strings of Fate by T L Russ is part of the multi-author Spicy Treats series. This Halloween romance is a quick and naughty treat wrapped around a friends to more / young adult romance. It all starts with a special and secretive invitation to a Halloween masquerade party at a fraternity that Whitty belongs to. He is ready to finally go after the girl that has held his heart since they first met on their first day of class, Finley. With masks on anything it seems is possible. But what will happen when the masks fall away?

[Terra Oenning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fast read and insta love story that will definitely have you hooked from the beginning until the end. Friends to lovers and college romance. Finley gets invited to biggest college party on campus but will she find the man of her dreams? Whit put her on thr list for party now hd just needs to win her over but will he step up or lose her? Great Book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read fast read that brings together Finley and Whitman. Finley is stoked to get an invite to an exclusive Halloween party but she needs her friend Whitman's help to figure out the secret location. Whitman has been crushing on her for a long time and intends to use the masked party as a way to get Finley to see him in a new way. Thankfully, this works and I loved seeing them get their fab HEA. I found this romance entertaining and steamy with fun geeky charm :D

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked this story and I'm glad Whitman gets the girl he loves in Finley. I liked how Aimee helped them although I'm curious about her.

[Narelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finley and Whitman Lange, or Whitty, connect when they're searching campus for the big secret Halloween party. A quick steamy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked Strings of Fate is part of the Spicy Treats series. The story was a great, short, steamy romance. The characters were interesting and likable, I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Smart Cookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked Strings of Fate by T. L. Russ is the perfect Halloween treat!

The story follows Finley, who’s thrilled to receive an invitation to a fraternity's exclusive masked Halloween party. The only problem? The location is a secret. So she turns to her friend Whitman—better known around campus as “Whitty” (a nickname he hates). What Finley doesn’t know is that Whitman has a huge crush on her and plans to help her unravel the clues while in disguise, hoping she’ll finally notice him. And notice him she does. As the night unfolds, Finley begins to see him in a whole new light.

This is a fun, flirty college Halloween romance with just the right amount of geeky charm. As a geek myself, I loved the nerdy references sprinkled throughout and found myself wholeheartedly rooting for both main characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.