Hollows Grove

by Lee Jacquot

My best friend’s brother is the most infuriating person to walk this planet.

Since the day I met him, he’s made it his mission in life to make mine hell. If he’s not hiding behind the nearest dark corner, he's plotting his next trick.

That’s Dorian Davis, and nothing about him has changed in the two decades that I’ve known him.

I should be used to it by now. Immune to his antics. I even considered myself prepared when his sister coerced us into helping her host a Halloween party for her company.

I wasn’t.

Turns out, Dorian didn’t want to scare me. He wanted to hear me scream.

To hear me beg.

He wanted to show me that everything I thought I knew was wrong, and that everything I thought I wanted wasn’t enough.

Maybe if I weren’t wearing a maid outfit, playing a real-life murder mystery game, and running through a hedge maze for my life, I’d appreciate the sentiment. But I’m currently doing all of those things, and if he catches me, I don’t think I’ll survive.

Because as he said... this isn’t a game anymore.

Genres: Novella, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Halloween, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2022

About the author

Hey there! My name is Lee. I like to think of myself as a bibliophile who belongs to the Ravenclaw house.
I write romances that can sometimes be sweet and spicy or deadly and kinky. I'm a firm believer in happily ever afters and men who always make sure their woman is satisfied first.
When I'm not writing, I'm drowning myself in a good book, losing track of time on the Nintendo Switch with my kids, and laughing or yelling at one of my husbands practical jokes. (He likes to leave fake spiders and roaches around.)
Also, something important to note. I live off Chai and Dean Winchester.
Visit me on Instagram or TikTok to find out about upcoming releases and other fun things! @authorleejacquot

Reviews

[Celia {Hiatus until August} · Rating 4 out of 5]

•| ⊱✿⊰ |• 4,3 Stars •| ⊱✿⊰ |•

Hollows Grove is fourth in the Holinights series.
It is a complete standalone and doesn't need to be read with the others in the series.
The characters and the places are different.



Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Best Friend's Brother
Forced Proximity
Pleasure Dom



Evelyn knows Dorian since she was ten years old, and move to town after her mother's divorce.
He's Ciara's older brother.
Being best friends, Ciara always wanted Evelyn to be her true sister, so she tried to make them be together.
There's only a tiny problem, Dorian, who's a sweetheart for everybody, is an asshole to Eve.



This is a really hot story.
Ciara is doing a Halloween event for her company, and need help from them.
This includes a creepy house, and Eve is afraid of everything, murder, spiders, a lot of orgasms.
Well, Dorian is a pleasure Dom, so it comes with the territory.



Dorian will be playing the butler and Eve the maid.
To solve the mystery, they'll have to pair up, obviously these two are a couple to play the game.
Ciara will not lose this opportunity for them to be together in the dark, by themselves.
This is the best, until now, of the series.
I've loved it.

[mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

his literal biological actual sister said that he's a pleasure dom. PLEASURE DOM ! this is after she stayed in the bathroom hearing her BROTHER have sex. for twenty minutes.

24 orgasms in a row? stop the madness

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as hot as it promised it was gonna be. Damn…
You can never go wrong with the boy obsessed trope.

I have to say, no one beats Aria and Kameron, I’m sorry. 💅

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You’re going to be a good fucking girl and take everything I give you.”

Best friend’s brother who is also a pleasure dom that’s been simping for 10 years? Yes pls

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

3.5 ⭐️

Eve hates Halloween or more hates creepy things and things that jump at her lol anything horror it’s hard since her best friend brother loves to torment her, they sass and banter back and forth thinking Dorian hates her but really he’s been pinning after her for awhile he just never had the right time to go after her.

Now this mystery party is the perfect time. Now that Eve knows alittle about Dorian she’s curious when she finds out he’s a pleasure Dom. Stakes are high between the two the games are starting and Dorian and Eve are enjoying there time together. Now they gotta make a choice one time? Or start something between them.

No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary chars, sexy times, no virgins (both talked about others they been with)


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


Slowinsta
Pinning
Tiny push away from both (more h)
30H/28h
Primal play
Praise kink
Pleasure dom
Spanking
Multiple orgasms
No condoms
Hea
Epilogue

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

I NEED A DORIAN RIGHT NOW

I beta read this baby and i don’t think I have ever simped as much on a man

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, light read with lots of smut. This was a short 118 page novella. I would have actually liked more development of the mystery storyline, it was very underdone and lacklustre. The book cover looks seriously spooky and the setting is in a potentially haunted mansion, but nothing really is made of any of this set up. The character descriptions were also lacking. I have no idea what the FMC looked like other than she was hot. Was she tall? Curvy? Black? Dark eyed? Long hair? No idea! I don’t think a descriptive word was used for her the entire book. Dorian, the hero, was better described and I liked him. I mean, he was a pleasure Dom, so what’s not to like, right? The writing was good and I would recommend if you need something steamy to fill an hour. But this is not a spooky read, despite what the cover and blurb tell you.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where in God’s name do I find a pleasure Dom?!

Evelyn and her best friend’s brother Dorian don’t have a love/hate relationship. They have a hate/hate one where he’s constantly pranking and trying to scare her since they were kids. In retribution she makes every passive aggressive move that comes to mind. If she’s not screaming at him or they aren’t arguing then they’re not talking period.

So why in the hell did Ciara (best friend/sister) team them up at a work party, murder mystery they’re helping her run?!

The thing is that much passion proves that where there’s hate, love isn’t far behind. And now that Evelyn is finally single Dorian is gonna prove to her with how many orgasms he can force upon her body that she’s his once and for all.

This was good y’all. From the animosity between these two that morphed into heart palpitating chemistry … yum!

Dorian’s build up by how he gave Evelyn pleasure was perfection. From hand to mouth to dick. Good God, this was hot as sin!!

I look forward to seeing what else this new to keep author has to offer.

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

another pleasure dom for the books, finally. this was a short and spicy halloweenie novella. there's a bit of scare/primal play and it's set during a murder mystery dinner party. i enjoyed the whole "you're my best friend's older brother who i can't stand until i realize how much it's actually desire" thing going on. it's fun, light spooky, so nothing really scary just aesthetics and good vibes.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasure Dom? 😳👀 *discreetly buys physical copy*

[lisa. · Rating 3 out of 5]

haha some parts of this were kinda ridiculous but it was a good & smutty read.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

this shit was spicy as hell. no thoughts, pure spice. Also, I’m sad this was just a novella cause damn this has potential to be a stellar full length.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ OK NO BUT THIS WAS HOTTTTT 🥵

Devoured it. Loved it. Doriannnnn 🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

This is fun and the perfect fall read. I also highly recommend the audio because the male narrator's voice is TOO good.

"If she gave me the time of day, I'd be a goner."

"I've never wanted to disrespect someone more."

"Say it, tell me you hate me." 🤭🥵

-Halloween novella
-best friend's older brother
-it's always been her
-he aims to please

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take what you need. It’s yours.

A fun Halloween/spooky best friends older brother that she’s sort of been enemies with romance novella. It’s quick. It takes a minute, but it eventually gets hot and then super hot. I enjoyed that there’s a little Clue like theme to their Halloween night. Quick, hot, and fun.

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect, sexy, steamy holiday short novella by new to me author Lee Jacquot.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

This was such an enjoyable quick read, just enough spice, this man knew exactly which buttons of hers to push and boy did he push, making these two perfect for each other. I loved their background making me wish it was that much longer.

Anything that gives Eve the creepy crawlies and squeamish is a no go zone, to a say she was dreading the Halloween party her best friend was hosting was an understatement. Throw in that friends obnoxious brother was a double whammy!! These two are pro's at antagonizing each other.

He's always been at the core of playing pranks on her, scaring her and making her her heart beat an extra beat turns him on.

Now that she's finally single he's going to make his move and claim her as his, even if he has to give her as many o's as humanly possible, either way by the end of the night she'll be his.

                  

[AvidReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

“I want to have so many of her firsts that nothing after me will be enough”

Yeah, what about your firsts buddy?

This is where my problem with book starts. They have known each other since she was 10 and he 13. And he ALWAYS knew she was it for him or their endgame was each other yada yada. But that didn’t stop him from having countless hookups and what not. He is a pleasure Dom, it would’ve been marvellous if he found that fact with heroine instead of practising and perfecting with other girls. As the plot moved along and in all the hot scenes my mind keep on going what’s new in there? He did all these things with the other girls, learned all about it from others when he yearned and somewhat loved the heroine.
Now see, I respect him so much for not going after her when she was younger but that doesn’t mean I like how he had hookups and what not.
(Minor spoiler) Also they had a close call 5 years back and after that also he continued to sleep with girls till valentines day (the book happens at halloween) so may be minor victory?

Don’t know, and sadly I don’t care.

[yara ∘°∘♡∘°∘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
was very fun to read!!:) dorian is so hot🫢

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐
2 stars.


➕ What I liked :


Some of the parts in the beginning of the story.
(Interesting idea.)

Main characters that are tiny bit “older” (FMC 25+, MMC 30+.)






➖ What I disliked :


Annoying main characters.
(Especially the MMC.)


How often and in very childish ways the MMC scared the FMC… it was very over the top/ridiculous and so much of it was not sexy but just immature. (They are in their late 20’s to early 30’s and act more or less like teenagers etc. especially the MMC.... even if some of it is part of the kink it is still annoying.)


Repetitive and cringey.

The chemistry was lacking.

Dragged in some parts.

Very thin plot and the part about the “murder mystery party” was underdeveloped.

Formulaic‎.
(The main characters seem rather formulaic…. Stereotypical in both appearance/looks and also to a certain degree personalities etc. The main characters kind of all blend together because there is so little depth to them and what is told/shown is rather formulaic… Even for a erotic novella/erotica )

Underdeveloped.

The spicy scenes were both over the top and at the same time underwhelming,

[Lorena ♡ (semi-ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh this was delicious 😋

↪ ★★★★½ stars

[•Mrs Pizza• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi. I just learned what a pleasure-dom is and I will never be the same.

This was a fun and steamy best-friend’s brother romance. Both the MCs are helping the sister/best friend throw a Clue inspired Halloween party.
Was this spooky? No. Was it spicy. Holy Hell YES.

Now on to the Christmas novella in this series bc tis the season

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a novella, I found it really boring and characters really annoying.

[james ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

kicking off spooky season reading with this kindle unlimited novella!

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good. It was completely different then my thoughts. I thought I was going to be reading a mystery. Instead it was more of erotica tastefully done. The characters did have feelings for each other that would be considered love versus just lust. Overall it was a good romance of two people who knew each other most of their lives destined for each other. It was a good read.

Quotes:

Thankfully, the comment gives me enough spark to find my voice. "Ex. And I'm not a dog on a leash."

I want the type of love that makes my heart feel like it's gong to leave bruises on my ribcage from beating so hard.

Walking around the obvious ends today.

[nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look y'all...I don't usually give a novella anything more than 4⭐️ because to me, it's not a complete story and can't be rated the way I would rate a full length novel. But this...this one is an exception. Miss Lee Jacquot put her entire Jacquotussy in this novella. Like seriously y'all, the smut was just 🥵🥵🥵 If you're looking for a quick, sweet, smutty read with a dash of "it's always been you"/best friend's brother, then this book is for you!

[vio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was.... meh. I mean I guess the trope was cute and intriguing. The plot was okay but that was just it, okay and flat. Meanwhile the spice. Whoooooooooosh it was very much spicy and hot. I enjoyed it, the spice I mean. Hence 3 stars.

[Veronica Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated review:
October 31,2025:

I stand by what I said two years ago. This book is incredibly hot and I loved every second of it.




Original review:
September 8,2023

These novellas are so addicting!! This was insane.

Evelyn hates her best friend’s brother so much because all he does is scare and annoy her. So of course, she has to work beside him to set up a murder mystery party. But things escalate quickly when he starts teasing her throughout the night.













*spoilers ahead*














I’m sorry, but he made her you-know-what 23 times?! Good lord. Pleasure doms are no joke. I really enjoyed seeing how annoying Dorian is to Evelyn and the amount of times he scared her or messed with her in their past. The playfulness is just too cute. I also love seeing the men fall for the girls. It feels so empowering. What a great story.

[nika · Rating 3 out of 5]

24 TIMES???? gagged me a bit…now that’s a REAL man.

[Neelakshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d wanted to pluck the heart right out of my chest and give it to her, telling her it was hers whenever she wanted it.

Audibly moaning and getting very horny
Pussy throbbed🥰

[tane'a · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ lee is putting crack in these novellas, THIS WAS TOO GOOD

[Kylieisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun STEAAMMYY halloween murder mystery 🍂🍁🎃👻🐈‍⬛