Pumpkin: A Halloween Novella

by Sasha Penned It

She left him in June.
Packed a bag, told him she couldn't breathe, and walked out on one of the most dangerous men in Monarch.
Four months later, it's Halloween. Phoenix "Nix" Reigns dressed as Batwoman, with three best friends, and one rule for the don't look for him.
Lucian "Lu" Graves doesn't need her to look. He's six-five, inked to the fingertips, and the kind of crazy that sends Nix running but has her looking for him at the same time. But, he doesn't chase. He waits. And he has never once called her anything but Pumpkin.
PUMPKIN is a short, nasty Halloween novella. Get in, get out, then finish. 18+ only. Please read the content warning.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2026

Reviews

[Jahda · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

HA Nix better than me cause I would have taken Lu back.

[Rosetta Delancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious, and a great read. Lu definitely unhinged and unbothered by Nix’s shenanigans. He knew what she wanted and needed. He gave her ample opportunities for an out but she chose not to take it. They both love to be in delulu land.

[Quiantra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick Halloween treat

Baby, Nix and Lu are TOXIC toxic! This was the kind of story where you know these two probably need to stay far away from each other, but you can’t help wanting to see what happens next. Lu sounds like a whole walking red flag, and Nix knows it, but that doesn’t make their situation any less messy. I love a good romance with a little crazy thrown in, especially around Halloween. The premise alone had me intrigued! Definitely not your sweet, innocent love story, and that’s the point. 🎃🔥

[*Ebony I* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the Perfect way to end my Halloween Reads!!

Nix has been separated from her clingy boyfriend for 5 months. Quiet as kept she missed him....even though she pretended not to. Lucian was HERS period. Sure he was clingy, extra attentive, slightly unhinged, and toxic but he made the perfect Mmc 🤷🏾‍♀️
Everytime she denied their pull or that deep nasty connection they had all I could say was...."Okay Pumpkin 🎃"

[Jada Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freak Nasty Halloween 🥵

I didn’t know a stalker ex would turn me on this much. Lu was playing Nix’s game for the long run. He said 5 months was only for Nix to pretend she was done with him. The punishment Lu gave Nix in that haunted house 🥵🥵. It’s something about the mysterious essence of Lu only made him more sexy and brought the intensity during his time with Nix in that basement. Their chemistry was like muscle memory. Nix was over there playing games saying that man was stalking her but honestly I think she just didn’t want to admit she liked him and his third leg.

[KNicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lu is the most thoughtful stalker I've ever read 😆 You sure ya'll still broken up Nix?

Hmmm...okay Pumpkin lol

[Shades · Rating 1 out of 5]

What exactly was the purpose of this story? Because I’m genuinely trying to figure it out. Okay, so they broke up. He couldn’t accept it, so he spent the next five months watching her—AKA stalking her—before finally deciding to make his presence known. If this was supposed to be a stalker romance, ehhhhh. I’m not convinced the concept was executed well. Outside of creating opportunities for some stalker sex, what exactly was the plot? Where was the development? The tension? The actual STORY? And can we talk about that ending? Did they actually get back together, or was he about to return to his regularly scheduled stalking? No conversation about their relationship? No resolution? Nothing?! I’m not opposed to a stalker romance, but I need more than a man lurking in the shadows and some sex scenes. There needed to be an actual story connecting everything, and unfortunately, I didn’t get that here.

[Alisa (HerBookishVibe) · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Whewwww chileeeeeee😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨🪭🪭🪭🪭. Lu & Nix MY GAWD!!!! 5 months of Nix playing games KNOWING who she really belong to. But when Lu caught up to her BOY OH BOY….he FOR SURE handled business! Nix lying to herself 😂😂, and I’m not 100% sure why she’s lying to herself but she need to go ahead and just follow through with the program Lu got them on. Because the way that man ain’t letting up off of her tells me everything I need to know!

[Rosetta Edwards-Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, mysterious and spicy

Phoenix had a stalker on her hands. Lucien did not play about her. It’s been 5 months and he still can’t let go. I loved how he took control in that haunted house though. She still wants that man. I guess he’s just too caring for her lol. He loves his little Pumpkin!

[AsiaLyn89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes

I live for an unhinged man. That possessive spirit that don’t play no games about what he deems to be his. That filthy sex that is only for you. No matter how much you lie and who you lie to, he knows the truth n he knows your his. This was such a thrill to read. Good for you Pumpkin. But seriously that rock ain’t fooling a soul lmao

[Candyce Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Halloween theme

Nix and Lu were NASTY, to say the least. Their one encounter is enough to make a nun blush. My only critique is the repetitiveness of ideas and phrases in this novella.

[L · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: 1st, dual
Tropes: Halloween, stalker ex

[Alicarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect example of how Sasha Penned it again 🎃