Scream for Us
Melt for Us
by Molly Doyle
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After wandering into an alluring Halloween party that is said to go down in history, Quinn finds herself captivated by three masked men. As she immerses herself in a night of both pleasure and pain, she finally has the perfect opportunity to bring her darkest fantasies to life. Or death. | After going to a cabin in the woods, Quinn finds herself stuck in the midst of a blizzard with her three masked men. As they spend the holidays with one another, Quinn is left captivated. Christmas and New Year’s Eve will never be the same. Tis the season for giving, and receiving. Holy, not so silent, night... |
Spice Level: 4/6 | Story Score: 4/10 | Rating: 3.5/5 |
I saw a BookTok video for Melt for Us (something about them Christmas lights) and within like one page realized that I had to read the first one to get it. I don’t usually read things Halloween-related because I get nightmares easily (my imagination is too good), but whatever - I wanted to read the Christmas one. Since both were ‘Holiday Romance’, that’s the trope I left it at. Romance may be stretching it though, lol.
Both of these books are novellas (124 & 95 pages) and so we’re back to the leniency that they get. You can only do so much in a short amount of time. But even more than that, this author clearly states:
Disclaimer: My intent for this novella is to take you on a wild ride. If you’re looking for a story with a solid plot, this is not the book for you. If you’re looking for a quick, hot, intense read, then this is meant for you.
Trigger warnings include: graphic sexually explicit scenes, physical assault, attempted sexual assault, mentions of self harm/bullying, blood/gore, mask kink, breath play/choking, knife play, fire play, praise/degradation kink, and murder.
Ok, now I’ve been warned, so…what they hell can I complain about?
Book 1 is exactly what she says. Was this book my style? Nope. Was the plot full of holes? Yep. Were the characters engaging? Nah. Will it leave you a bit breathless and sticky? Yup. Did she need those trigger warnings? Abso-fucking-lutely. Read them. She means them.
Beyond that, the characters are referenced by their masks and by their names intermittently and I had trouble following.
Book 2 is…confusing. Same characters, but you get to learn more about the guys, in a good way. They’re snowed in together so you get more quality time, and presumably they’ve been together since Halloween, so the connections are stronger. This book deals with trauma in a way that I didn’t completely agree with, but everyone has their methods, I suppose.
-SPOILERS-
Alright, so the plot is just like swiss cheese. Guy #1 has been watching the female lead and decided she was his. There’s no time to elaborate, but I wish there had been. He’s possessive, protective, and vengeful. She was bullied, he and his boys murders the shit out of them in a haunted out. Then he fucks her in blood while the place is burning and he has to cover her face with a mask - hoping she doesn’t die from smoke inhalation. Then they evade the cops.
Are you on this ride yet?
They hold up in a cabin and there’s sex. MM, MF…I don’t remember much else.
Now we’re having Christmas at a cabin and this woman is their princess. I don’t remember a lot. What I do remember is our girl getting choked with Christmas lights during sex and the other guys being nervous. Not nearly as nervous as when he carves their initials into her skin though. Yeah, that happens.
Apart from the wild ride above, we learn that the female lead was sexually assaulted previously. They help her deal with her trauma with some con-non-con. I DON’T GET IT. What about role playing a rape helps you deal with having been raped unless you change the outcome. I don’t understand how she felt in charge of this. I feel like this was complained about a lot by other reviewers too, so maybe I’m not alone in this criticism.
2 Book Series | 219 Pages (124 Pages) (95 Pages) | Trope Challenge: Holiday Romance |
“I didn’t come to your rescue because I’m your knight in shining armor.” He places me onto my feet, before taking my face between his gloved hands. “I’m the villain, and I want you all to myself.”
- One of the Masked Men, Scream for Us by Molly Doyle
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