Just One Jack O Lantern

By Sophie Stern

Jacqueline Ophelia Lantern hates Halloween.

When her best friend, Emma, drags her to a party, she just wants to survive the stupid costumes until she can go home and pass out, free from the insanity until next year rolls around.

But fate has other plans for Jacqueline.

When a mysterious man wearing a jack-o'-lantern mask shows up at the party, he gives Jacqueline the best night of her life. He also shares his secret with her: he's been cursed by an evil witch, doomed to live life as a pumpkin except on Halloween. It's the one night of the year that he's allowed to have his body back, but he can't remove the pumpkin mask until he finds someone who will truly love him.

Could their passion be enough to break the curse?

Just One Jack O Lantern is a spicy paranormal standalone by author Sophie Stern, creator of Honeypot Darlings, The Fablestone Clan, and Dragon Isle. One-click if you like spicy scenes, the just one bed trope, and creative uses for Halloween candy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophie Stern
• Release date: Oct 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798230287087

Book preview

Just One Jack O Lantern

Sophie Stern

Published by Sophie Stern, 2024.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

JUST ONE JACK O LANTERN

First edition. October 15, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 Sophie Stern.

ISBN: 979-8230287087

Written by Sophie Stern.

Also by Sophie Stern

Alien Chaos

Destroyed

Guarded

Saved

Christmas on Chaos

Alien Chaos: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance Bundle

Aliens of Malum

Deceived: An Alien Brides Romance

Betrayed: An Alien Brides Romance

Fallen: An Alien Brides Romance

Captured: An Alien Brides Romance

Regret

Crazed

For Keeps

Rotten: An Alien Brides Romance

Anchored

Starboard

Battleship

All Aboard

Abandon Ship

Below Deck

Crossing the Line

Anchored: Books 1-3

Anchored: Books 4-6

Ashton Sweets

Christmas Sugar Rush

Valentine's Sugar Rush

St. Patty's Sugar Rush

Halloween Sugar Rush

Bullies of Crescent Academy

You Suck

Troublemaker

Jaded

Club Kitten Dancers

Move

Pose

Climb

Dragon Enchanted

Hidden Mage

Hidden Captive

Hidden Curse

Fate High School

You Wish: A High School Reverse Harem Romance

Freak: A Reverse Harem High School Romance

Get Lost: A Reverse Harem Romance

Good Boys and Millionaires

Good Boys and Millionaires 1

Good Boys and Millionaires 2

Grimalkin Beasts

Alien Indulgence

Grimalkin Needs Brides

Ekpen (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Torao (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Leo (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Honeypot Babies

The Polar Bear's Baby

The Jaguar's Baby

The Tiger's Baby

Honeypot Darlings

The Bear's Virgin Darling

The Bear's Virgin Mate

The Bear's Virgin Bride

Office Gentlemen

Ben From Accounting

Owls of Rawr County

Bound to the Owl

Polar Bears of the Air Force

Staff Sergeant Polar Bear

Master Sergeant Polar Bear

Airman Polar Bear

Senior Airman Polar Bear

Return to Dragon Isle

Dragons Are Forever

Dragon Crushed: An Enemies-to-Lovers Paranormal Romance

Dragon's Hex

Dragon's Gain

Dragon's Rush

Rose Valley Vampires

Vampire Librarian

Vampire Doctor

Shifters at Law

Wolf Case

Bearly Legal

Tiger Clause

Sergeant Bear

Dragon Law

Shifters of Rawr County

The Polar Bear's Fake Mate

The Lion's Fake Wife

The Tiger's Fake Date

The Wolf's Pretend Mate

The Tiger's Pretend Husband

The Dragon's Fake Fiancée

The Red Panda's Fake Mate

Stormy Mountain Bears

The Lumberjack's Baby Bear

The Writer's Baby Bear

The Mountain Man's Baby Bears

Sweet Nightmares

Sweet Nightmares: The Vampire's Melody

Sweet Nightmares 2: The Sound of Roses

Sweet Nightmares 3: Bittersweet Vampires

Sweet Nightmares 4: The Vampire King

Team Shifter

Bears VS Wolves

No Fox Given

The Fablestone Clan

Dragon's Oath

Dragon's Breath

Dragon's Darling

Dragon's Whisper

Dragon's Magic

Dragon's Charm

The Feisty Dragons

Untamed Dragon

Naughty Dragon

Monster Dragon

The Hidden Planet

Vanquished

Outlaw

Conquered

The Thunderstorm Clan

Dragon Double Crossed

The Wolfe City Pack

The Wolf's Darling

The Wolf's Mate

The Wolf's Bride

Vampire Decadence

The Invitation

The Offering

Standalone

Saucy Devil

Billionaire on Top

Jurassic Submissive

The Editor

Alien Beast

Snow White and the Wolves

Kissing the Billionaire

Wild

Alien Dragon

The Royal Her

Be My Tiger

Alien Monster

The Luck of the Wolves

Honeypot Babies Omnibus Edition

Honeypot Darlings: Omnibus Edition

The Swan's Mate

The Feisty Librarian

Polar Bears of the Air Force

Wild Goose Chase

Star Princess

The Virgin and the Lumberjacks

Resting Bear Face

By Hook or by Wolf

I Dare You, King

Shifters at Law

Pretty Little Fairies

Seized by the Dragon

The Fablestone Clan: A Paranormal Dragon-Shifter Romance Collection

Star Kissed

Big Bad Academy

Club Kitten Omnibus

Stormy Mountain Bears: The Complete Collection

Bitten by the Vampires

Beautiful Villain

Dark Favors

Savored

Vampire Kiss

Chaotic Wild: A Vampire Romance

Bitten

Heartless

The Dragon's Christmas Treasure

Out of the Woods

Bullies of Crescent Academy

Craving You: A Contemporary Romance Collection

Chasing Whiskey

The Hidden Planet Trilogy

The Bratty Dom

Tokyo Wolf

The Single Dad Who Stole My Heart

Free For Him

The Feline Gaze

Fate High School

Dragon Beast: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

Boulder Bear

Megan Slays Vampires

Vampire Professor

Once Upon a Shift

The Feisty Dragons

The Vampire Who Saved Christmas

Dragon Enchanted (Books 1-3)

Grimalkin Needs Brides (Intergalactic Dating Agency): Books 1-3

Nerd Alert

Red: Into the Dark

Alien Darlings

Shifters of Rawr County: Books 1-3

Shifters of Rawr County: Books 4-7

Sugar Rush

Return to Dragon Isle: Omnibus Edition

Never Kiss an Alien

Scallywag

Just One Jack O Lantern

Dragon's Dream

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Sophie Stern

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

Epilogue

AUTHOR

Further Reading: Dragons Are Forever

Also By Sophie Stern

1.

Jacqueline Ophelia Lantern had never been a scaredy cat, except on Halloween.

It was the one night a year she felt justified in her fear of monsters, and more specifically, in people pretending to be monsters. She’d go on any roller coaster, jump off any high dive, and explore any spooky cave. Halloween had her in a cold sweat, though, and each year was worse than last.

You need to get over it, said Emma. Jacqueline’s best friend was even braver than she was. I still can’t believe you don’t like Halloween. Your name is Jack-o-lantern, after all. It’s like you were born for this.

I didn’t ask for my name, Jacqueline protested.

You didn’t ask for your hot rack, either, but that doesn’t stop you from using it. Jacquline blushed. Emma could be so crass sometimes.

I dress for comfort, she said, but Emma just laughed.

You dress for the boys, Jack, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I dress... She couldn’t think of a good comeback. Emma smirked at her, obviously delighted at getting to be right. Whatever, she said. That still doesn’t mean I want to do anything for Halloween.

I’ve never really understood your aversion, Emma said.

People pretend to be something they aren’t,