Are You Gonna Run?

by Octavia Jensen

All I wanted to do was go to a haunted house and celebrate my favorite time of year. With my best friend living across the country from me, Tinder seemed like my best bet to find a date --- but I got more than I bargained for when I matched with Eris Shaw.
He's devilishly hot with an appetite for the hunt. He likes the chase, he loves the catch, but he needs what happens after.
There's only one problem: he doesn't do one-night stands and I don't do relationships, so where does that leave us? With me running and him on my heels, that's where.
I just might let him catch me.

Genres: Novella, Halloween, Romance, M F Romance, Erotica, Contemporary, Holiday

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2024

About the author

Octavia Jensen is a coffee addict, a tale-spinner and a hopeless romantic, usually in that order. She spends her free time chasing adrenaline rushes or writing steamy, romance novels, and sometimes, those feel like the same thing.

Reviews

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delicious Halloween novella with little plot. Rowym just wants to go to a haunted house that's all and these tinder dates are well lame. Until she matches with Eris there convo started off funny and flirty and she gave him her number because she was deleting tinder lol.
Eris is what we call a walking green flag!! He was everything he listened, he flirted, he was pretty pushy lol. Which I loved and I believe Row loved to since she let him get away with alot of things at her place lol.

For someone who didn't want a relationship Row fell pretty hard for Eris. They were so cute I wanted to smack both of them and tell them to get married lol.
I kinda hope the other 2 brothers get there own books or something.




No ow/om drama, no cheating, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶

Instalove
public sex
little primal
Somnophilia
breeding
edging
exhibitionism
wax play
brief mention of childhood abandonment, mentions of ghost encounters
Including potentially unsafe kink play mommy issues
fear play
There is no sharing here, but the MMC lets 2 guys tease her with little to no skin contact while at a party.
Hea
Epilogue

[Catheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising sweet novella!

I was expecting it to be pretty dark but it wasn't. Eris and Rowyn had a really cute relationship that developed so naturally. Their banter was pretty funny and their conversations seemed genuine. The spicy was very spicy with a bit of kink. But it wasn't anything over the top. There was one scene towards the end that had me raising my eyebrow because I wasn't too on board with it. But otherwise it was such a fun story for Spooky Season.

[Peppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR SPOOKY SEASON! 🎃👻❤️

Seriously, this novella had everything I wanted: creepy vibes, sweet moments and a hero who’s basically a walking green flag. And can we talk about the fact that Rowyn found him on TINDER?! I was like, “Girl, no…that’s where red flags go to party,” but Eris completely proved me wrong. Maybe there’s hope for dating apps after all?

Rowyn is all of us, a total girl’s girl with that voice in her head saying, “This would be so romantic… and also wildly dangerous.” uff and Eris?? He was respectful, hot, thoughtful and the spice spice between them was amazing!!It was steamy, consensual and full of tension that actually paid off.

If you’re looking for a short, spooky, surprisingly sweet romance then this will definitely be for you!!

Trops/kinks/safety
🎃Halloween vibe setting
🎃tinder date
🎃insta love
🎃immediate connection
🎃cinnamon roll MMC
🎃brief mentioning of childhood abandonment
🎃obsession
🎃mommy issues (FMC)
🎃fear play
🎃sharing but only teasing without touching
🎃public sex
🎃primal play
🎃somnophilia
🎃biting
🎃breeding kink
🎃cum play
🎃edging
🎃rough sex
🎃exhibitionism
🎃wax play
🎃mask kink
🎃fear play

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, spicy and fun Halloween novella

Tinder does produce good guys. I mean my husband is proof, and so is Eris in this novella. If I wasn't happily married I'd demand my own Eris. Instantly. I loved this little novella. Eris and Rowyn are couple goals, and I loved how Eris snuck into Rowyn's commitmentphobic heart and house. The spicy scenes are just perfection. Hot hot hot. Read this story way too quickly and loved every word and page.

If you read only one Halloween novella this year it should be this one!

[Annabelle (annabelles.shelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝓘’𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓘 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓻𝓾𝓷?”

An emo hottie, who has never really had a one-night stand with kinks and loves Halloween… sign me the heck up!! I loved this novella so much! It was everything I was looking for: spooky, spicy, and a whole lot of fun.

I was also really a fan of the writing style and the storyline. Seriously, Eris is everything. It’s a perfect quick, spooky romance and Octavia Jensen knocked this one out of the park. I am so excited to dive into more by her!

🆃🆁🅾🅿🅴🆂:
🎃 Black cat x golden retriever
👻 Spicy kinks
🖤 Happily ever after

[Samara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of insta-love at all, but I understand this is a novella, it has to move fast. It was ok, nothing to call home about. While it is dual POV, you don't get to hear much from Eris' POV. There are so many errors in the book. From missing letters to sentences just not making sense. It also seemed like similar scenes kept happening. I'd think I accidentally went backwards, but nope. I didn't have any kind of connection to any of these characters. They're very 2D. Again, I know it's a novella, but instead of repeating scenes, give us more of the characters.

[Isis · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 ⭐️

Just the perfect amount of romance, spice, cuteness and halloween vibes!!

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect spooky romance read

When did I become a fan of cute Fluffy romance? I think it's this author. I'm hooked. Her books are my new favorite drug. Call me an addict because I crave them all, and there truly isn't enough of them.

I'm normally not a fan of straight to smut stories, but this one works so well in all the best way. Sweet, consensual, and HOT! The perfect blend of smut and romance that left me in a chickhold.

Where are the men like Eris in real life? He swoops in out of nowhere and never leaves. Proving comfort, companionship, and all the steam. He cooks, he cleans, and he has a job. Call me a smitten kitten. I swooned over him.

"Cupcaking is when you’re so into each other you ignore the outside world completely and just spend time together."

OH MY GOODNESS.......The party scene!!!

[Princessfal123 bookendedreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Octavia Jensen brings her readers another great book with “Are You Gonna Run?” It all begins with Rowyn wanting to go to a haunted house during her favorite season. However, her best friend has moved across the country and her other friends are either too scared to go or think they’re too old now. Rowyn turns to Tinder in search of a man and she’s expecting the worst but hoping for the best. She’s matched with a few potential candidates but it’s Eris, lucky number four, on which she takes a chance. Once they meet they hit it off right away. She’s just looking for a fun time for the night but he doesn’t do one-night stands. He wants more. Can he convince her that she does too? The story takes off immediately from there and it’s full steam ahead. (Pun intended) This book has great characters, lots of spice, a 12-foot skeleton and takes witty banter to a new level.
It does contain content that may be sensitive for some.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is short and cute. I was smiling/giggling the whole time. Rowyn only wants a one night stand and Eris wants a relationship. Eris such a perfect book boyfriend. He will do literally anything for her and is determined to make her his girlfriend. Rowyn just wants someone to take her to a haunted house so she turns to tinder to find someone.

This book is perfect for a quick fall read. I'll definitely read it again.

Vibes:
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Haunted Houses (not the paranormal kind)
Masks/Primal
Spice:4/5

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD! This is like the perfect spooky season novella. Like truly I loved the characters so much, Eris was such a green flag MMC, especially for being found on Tinder? I thought that was where the worst people ever decided to hang out but maybe if I can find my own Eris on there I might get back on for a second. Rowyn is literally a girls girl. Everything she was thinking about going out with basically a stranger was everything I’m thinking while reading romance books, like I would love to do this but I love living just a little more. The spice in this was everything, Eris really is just the perfect man because he did everything right and then the inclusion of the brothers?? I need a bonus scene from their point of view because I want to know, and spin offs. It can even be a Christmas version or a Halloween one, honestly it doesn’t even matter I want more of this little world created

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I loved everything about Eris and Rowyn’s story is just so much fun. They are two people in their 20’s who want some fun with no commitment. But find themselves falling hard and fast while having the time of their lives!

🧡Halloween themed novella
🧡Public s3x
🧡Breeding kink
🧡Wax play
🧡Exhibitionism
🧡Primal play

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast, fun reading with characters that are easy to like! Great book to get into autumn mode!!!
I undoubtedly loved the book and the fact that it is a smaller book did not diminish the fun. Not to say that the characters had a great chemistry🤭

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up! Octavia Jensen truly never misses. This was the perfect Halloween novella with the perfect balance between plot and spice. I liked how intense the characters were. I just wish it were a little scarier if that makes sense? I didn’t expect it to be so wholesome and sweet!

[ya girl tina here 🙋🏻‍♀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and steamy. 4 stars for Eris!

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars Sweet and spicy. Loved the Halloween vibes.

[Kristal Galey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 this was a cute little read.

[Marissa Sharkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Loved it. Wish I could read it all over again.

The perfect balance of plot and spice, Eris was obsessed and was not letting Rowyn slip away. He slowly moved himself in and it was hilarious once she realised.

I have never loved two characters as much as I love Eris and Rowyn. It was fun, flirty and down right delicious ❤️‍🔥

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beta Read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - childhood abandonment (mentioned), ghost encounters (mentioned), potentially unsafe kink play,

CW - somnophilia, primal, biting, breeding, edging, exhibitionism, wax play, masks, public play, fear play, light spanking, no sharing but the MMC lets 2 guys tease her with little to no skin contact, v v light feet play (jokingly)

Tropes - halloween, erotica, obsessed, insta love, pumpkin patch

Looking for a Halloween read for the ber months 🍂? Add this to the list

Rowyn (FMC) and Eris (MMC) meet on Tinder with bios that suggest they're a match made in heaven. This novella has the usual Octavia Jensen banter and I really enjoyed the witty back and forth between the characters.

The story was really cute and fun. I liked the characters; it’s fast paced and insta lovey but they get on like a house on fire. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and Eris is determined to keep Rowyn; he's obsessed but in sweet way 😅 - defo one to add to your halloween reading lists 🎃

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List

[Angela Ferebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I need something pumpkin spiced and to be chased through a maze!

[INeedABookBreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Are You Gonna Run! It’s September, and I am already ready for Halloween. This novella was a great read! Typically tropes like primal and masked men are found in dark romance, but this author found an amazing balance of a sweet and light story with some darker k1nky spice.

Rowyn was looking for a date to take her to a haunted house. She connects with Eris on Tinder. Neither of them are looking for a relationship, but they instantly connect. Eris decides Rowyn is it for him, but she needs some convincing.

This novella was full of spice, romance, and so many spooky activities. I loved that Rowyn was a self made business woman. She has her own candle company, which led to some fantastic wax play scenes and some sweeter moments later in the story. In addition to wax play, there were some fantastic primal scenes (even one involving a graveyard) and some exhibitionism. I can always count on this author for great k1nky spice!

I can’t wait to see what she releases next!
4.5/5

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowyn + Eris

Tinder… match… burn…

The two leads match on Tinder with the her bio requesting: “I’m looking for someone to bully me and take me to a haunted house”, and she gets exactly what she asks for. Rowyn is a confident independent heroine with her own business and Eris is the rugged working class hero. A quick ~200 page read that quickly ignites the flame for you as well as Rowyn and Eris. Very steamy but sweet scenes throughout, like melted chocolate candy. And the little game they play is a great method of learning more about the characters, fleshing them into real characters with backstories and motivations behind their actions. It also really does a good job of realism to the ‘ship, it’s not just the physical connection but the mental one as well, very hot. :) The ending is surprisingly sweet for digital hookup story and turns you into a puddle of goo of black cat magic. Perfect warm read for the cool spooky season.

Author Shoutout
The way she twirls realism and fantasy with the little details and the internal dialogue of the characters is amazing! Snarky and SMH commentary adds a level of [non sexual] intimacy to the character.

[Megan Todaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun Halloween read! The banter is everything, and the spice is even better! This was a quick read and was exactly what I was looking for! It’s very insta love (which isn’t my favorite) but it worked for this storyline. It’s wasn’t as dark as I expected, it was more a light darkish rom-com vibe, but it was perfect for Halloween with just enough intense moments to fit a Halloween novella without being too much for a scared cat like me lol! There is a good amount of plot for its being a short and spicy novella and I really enjoyed the overall story and would love to read more in this universe.

I really enjoyed this and cannot wait to read other books by this author

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a wild ride. Did I hate that her name was Rowyn? Of course I did, I have eyes. Did I think the somnophilia could have been made alright with just one single sentence of consent before they went to sleep instead of icky? Of course I did, I’m alive. Did I think it was cringy as fuck that Eris used his other two triplet brothers to make Rowyn confused and think she’d had sex with someone besides Eris? Of course I did, I’m not an absolute creep. And yet… they were both weirdly aggressively into all of that ick in away that made it…less icky? And in between the ick, there was a lot of really genuine sweetness that was unexpected and somehow worked. It was bold, I’ll give it that.

[C.L. Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Hot for Halloween

I love a good spicy romance with a happily-ever-after. I love Halloween and all the spooky vibes that come with it. Put them together, and I'm IN LOVE with this story.

Eris and Rowyn are the perfection. He's a cinnamon roll hero until it's time to chase her and she's a skittish runner until she realizes he's the perfect match for her.

I can see this being a favorite reread every time I miss the fall season.

[Delaine (NovelReadingNanny) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say this book is the PERFECT Halloween novella with equal parts smut/plot, I'm not lying. I mean, it's Insta-lust but it's a NOVELLA. I want instant gratification.

The banter in this book is TOP NOTCH. I thrive off dialogue and what the author wrote between these two characters is just, ugh. PERFECT. I refuse to think of a different word.

Did I mention he falls first? Like HARD. And he listens and corrects behavior and fulfills fantasies and just PERFECT.

[Moonchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that I have absolutely LOVED this book, and I resemble so much of Rowyn, thoughts, decisions, insecurities and fear, makes me realise that I am not that alone as I think I am.
Thank you Ms. Jensen, for creating her, she is more than a character to me.
And Eris, oh my man, you have my heart, body and soul. Like I'd give everything up just to have him my life for how much ever time he want me to be.
Eris&Rowyn my MOST FAVOURITE ♥

[Cheryl G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was so much better than I expected. Eris was amazing. I love that he kept showing up, sliding into Rowyn's life one shower at a time. He knew not to push, just be there. I love that Rowyn didn't notice until he'd wiggled his way into her heart. I'm so glad we didn't have to go through her having 2nd thoughts or cold feet or whatever. The spice was spicy. This was just good. So good.