Oh Holy Night

The Syndicates #9.5

by Cala Riley

All is quiet in Chicago as the members of the Yakuza and Westie’s join together to celebrate the holiday. As the Sleigh bells ring, the slaying begins until the dream of a white Christmas turns red.

All the favorites are here including Cleo and Haruaki, Miya and Kenji, and Autumn and Callum. Special appearances from Kado and Declan as well. They say it’s the happiest time of the year, but will these naughty couples survive the night?

Oh Holy Night is a novella set in the Syndicates series, but can be read on it’s own. It is meant to compliment the series and is set after Tristano’s book and before Declan's.

Genres: Novella, Christmas, Mafia Romance, Holiday, Dark Romance

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2023

About the author

Cala Riley, better known as Cala and Riley, are a pair of friends with a deep seated love of books and writing. Both Cala and Riley are happily married and each have children, Cala with the four-legged kind while Riley has a mixture of both two-legged and four. While they live apart, that does not affect their connection. They are the true definition of family. What started as an idea that quickly turned into a full-length book and a bond that will never end.

Check out our linktree for more information:
https://linktr.ee/authorcalariley

Reviews

[♡︎ Kesa Subban ♡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cala Riley, this Christmas Syndicate Novella was freaking amazing

Kenji and Miya - favourite couple honestly 😍

All the freaking stars

ꍏꋪꏳ ꋪꏂ꒦ꀤꏂꅐ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇs ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 2, 6 & 7

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - Kai / Cal / Kenji
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - Cleo / Autumn / Miya
5 ℋℴ𝓁𝓎 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝒟𝒶𝓂𝓃 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝑂ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑦 𝑁𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐵𝑦 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑅𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑦

𝑲𝒂𝒊 & 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒐 ★★★★★

Okay, I'll be honest Cleo wasn't my favourite h in this series but when I read this book, i felt like she changed / matured. I loved catching up with her and Kai, and hell Cala and Riley the steamy moments in this one 🥵

𝑪𝒂𝒍 & 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏 ✩✩✩✩.5

Autumn kinda irritated me in this book sadly, but hey I still loved catching up with her and Callum, the little moments with baby Emily was amazing ♥️ .....and the spicy scenes 🥵🌶️

𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒊 & 𝑴𝒊𝒚𝒂 ♥️ ✰✰✰✰✰ ♾️

These two....my favourite couple, absolutely loved catching up with them, Kenji is 🔥...yea I'm going to go do a re-read of their book because this hero 😍 love him...and Miya, she is just perfect for him....and man!!! Those spicy scenes 🥵🔥🌶️

Let's just say, this book is just catching up with these amazing characters and 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓...𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈??? It's more spicy scenes and less plot which I was totally okay with, because that ending was 😱 and I can't wait to read Declan's book, because Tristano's book ended with a jaw dropping moment and this little novella did the same thing.

....Kado, Cala Riley....need his book...it's going to be perfection...I just know it!!!

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚'𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲???? 💋🔥

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Holiday novella
Angst: 😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Absolutely loved catching up with my favorite Syndicates characters for this Christmas novella! Jammed packed with lots of smexy times between the hot mafia men who are complete cinnamon rolls for their girls. Definitely hit the spot and had a couple of breadcrumbs for the next book - can't wait!

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Holiday novella where I get to catch up with my favorite syndicate men and their women! This had a little action and a whole lot of yummy spice to it and made me want to go back and read all their stories again. I love this world and these characters. Alpha males who have soft centers for their feisty women. Can we have more novellas Cala Riley?!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this one hit the spot! It was so fun getting to see a little glimpse into the couples that we have fallen head over heels for throughout this amazing series.

This festive treat is packed full of a Chicago mix of Westies and Yakuza. All coming together to please their women. What could happen at one solo Christmas dinner. Well... LOTS! The spice wasn't just in the kitchen that's for sure lol. Loved it all!

Each couple had some extreme hot and heartfelt moments. Making us all swoon and squirm. I want more of the gang all together. It truly was magic!

Can't want for the next man to fall for his lady...

[Echo's Journey Through Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆

Oh my gosh being back with my babiesss was everything I could've asked for and more; these couples are deep in my heart and I adore them obsessively! This was the perfect camio between my favs and every moment made me just fall for them that much harder. Loved seeing a bit different sides to them and being reminded how beautiful and epic each of their love is!

And gaah, my silent mystery and my love, Kado will forever be the closest in my heart, this man is so easy to love and this just increased my need for his book asap, like we see him in all these books but only glimpses and I'm head over heels for him anyway like when this man finds love I CAN'T EVEN, its gonna be EPIC!

Anyway haha obsessive moment over, this Christmas novella was the perfect surprise and it's not a Cala Riley book if there's no intensity also, so that was just an icing on the cake!

[Kylie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect holiday novella from one of my favorite mafia writing duos!
They took a few of my favorite mafia couples , and brought them together for a Christmas dinner party. This was fun, spicy and perfect for cozying up in front of the fire and tree!
One of my three favs all in one! Spice, mafia and Christmas!
I could never get enough of these men! Big scary dangerous guys turn teddy bear cinnamon rolls for their queens.
Cleo wants to invite some of the other syndicate families over for a Christmas Party, despite her husband Kai absolutely against it. Not being able to deny her anything, he obliges.
This book is a delicious holiday treat that brings all the spice , laughs and danger we all love from this duo!
Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[mafiagirl_writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg these amazing woman did it again with this novella and I couldn’t put it down .

This festive treat is packed full of a Chicago mix of Westies and Yakuza. All coming together to please their women. What could happen at one solo Christmas dinner. Well... There was alot of spice it wasn't just in the kitchen that's for sure lol.

Each couple had some extreme hot and heartfelt moments. Making us all swoon and squirm. I want more of the gang all together. It truly was magic!

[Another librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

✍️ 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾 ✍️
“OH HOLY NIGHT” CALA RILEY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Cala Riley, mafia romance, novella di Natale, alcuni dei personaggi della serie The Syndicates. Quando ho visto che tutte queste cose sarebbero state insieme in “Oh holy night” mi ci sono fiondata!

“Oh holy night” è una novella di Natale che si posiziona dopo Tristano (anche se lui e Serena non erano presenti) ma ha come protagonisti alcune delle coppie più amate della serie: Callum e Autumn, Kai e Cleo, e Kenji e Miya, in più viene introdotto il personaggio dell’undicesimo libro della serie, Kado.
Nel libro di Tristano veniva introdotto invece Declan, protagonista del decimo libro della serie in uscita il 25 aprile 2024

Cleo decide di organizzare una cena di Natale a casa sua con alcuni dei “colleghi” del marito, tra cui suo fratello e tutte le loro mogli con le quali ha cominciato ad instaurare un rapporto di vera e propria familiarità.
Ma si sa che qualcosa può andare sempre storto, soprattutto se metti insieme alcuni dei leader delle famiglie più potenti della città nella stessa stanza.

La novella da quello che so non era prevista ma OMMIODDIO (sì lo so che non esiste come parola ma la Crusca non me ne vorrà spero) CALA AND RILEY DID IT AGAIN

Devo affrontare la recensione coppia per coppia, perché i capitoli sono dal POV d tutti e bisogna andare con ordine:
Cal e Autumn: non avendo letto ancora il loro libro non ho un quadro completo, ma è da recuperare assolutamente, i momenti con la piccola Emily sono stati incredibili e voglio assolutamente leggere la loro storia dall’inizio. Autumn è il collante di cui tutti abbiamo bisogno

Kai e Cleo: ho amato le loro scene insieme, sono così affiatati che leggendo le loro scene mi sentivo quasi di troppo

Kenji e Miya: OMG non me lo sarei aspettato da Kenji ma ha qualche kink che non è per niente male… okay il suo libro è diventata priorità

E’ stata una lettura veloce e cozy mi verrebbe da dire, vista l’ambientazione familiare e natalizia, con un bel colpo di scena che ci ha lasciato con molte domande per affrontare i prossimi libri e io non vedo l’ora!

Vi ricordo che tutti i libri della serie sono standalone, possono essere letti in qualsiasi ordine.

Cala, Riley, io aspetto Kado come se il mio intero anno dipendesse da quest’uscita: è muto gente… non vedo l’ora di scoprire chi sarà la donna che lo farà parlare per la prima volta.

[No Book Behind · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★/5
*Arc Review*

Short Xmas novella featuring Chicago mix of Westies and Yakuza. It was so good to get them all together again, for such a special time of the year: Autumn&Callum, Cleo&Kai, Miya&Kenji, plus Declan and Kado. I missed that gang, and after reading this short story all I want to do is just sit&reread their stories again. And I really can't wait for upcoming books for Declan and Kado... Ladies, you just gave another reminder why I want their books... like now....

[Danielle Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Holy Night by Cala Riley

This is a Christmas Novella it goes along with the syndicate series. It can be read alone but it would make more sense to read it after the rest of the book Matteo is the start of the series. But this book is Kenji, Kai, Callum, and their women and a couple of side characters.

•This should be read after Tristano and before Declan•
(It leads into Declan’s story)

•6 povs - 3 couples•

Kai and Cleo are hosting Christmas this year, as much as Kai loathes people in his personal space he’d do anything for his princess, he may be the leader of the Yakuza but he’s putty in the hands of his wife. Cleo is the sister Of Callum who is the leader of the Irish Syndicate (the Westies), never really having “family time” Cleo LOVES Christmas so her one wish is to host Christmas dinner to her family and friends. The Irish and the Yakuza aren’t enemies but they also aren’t allies, but siblings kind of trump rivalries (the wives always win).

As the party commences, an unexpected guest has arrived as the 2nd in command to the Westies date. The men are on high alert as their wives welcome her with open arms. Like I said the wives always win, but once dinner has finished and the men go to the rooftop for drinks and cigars they are met with Russians dropping in and trying to wreck the holidays (or so they think).

Their unexpected guest downstairs has a little bit of explaining to do after the Russians are taken care of.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (remember it’s a novella)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (you get 3 yes 3 spicy men •Kenji• enough said)

As always my favs Cala Riley have knocked this novella out of the park. But only because “they bought a cover and had to write a story for it” iykyk. Again if you haven’t drove into the syndicate series please go because these men are 😮‍💨, you will not be disappointed.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Holy Night by Cala Riley is a fun and sexy novella set in their Syndicates world. Catch up with all the characters you love as they celebrate Christmas and enjoy spending this holiday season with the Yakuza and Westies of Chicago. Be entertained by the banter and drama but most of all, appreciate the love these couples have for each other.

Cleo is still happily married to Haruaki ‘Kai’, the dark prince of the Yakuza. She loves this time of the year and is determined to hold a dinner party for their family and friends. She has a really interesting way of persuading Kai to agree to the party. Her brother Callum is head of the Westies, the Irish syndicate. His wife Autumn, is great friends with Cleo and they have baby Emily. Add in Kenji and Miya, Kado and Declan, can the Yakuza and Westies celebrate as a family? Can they come together for an evening and forget work and rivalries?

There are some very steamy scenes for each couple and I found it amusing how the wives all have their husbands wrapped round their little fingers even though not one of the men would admit it. I laughed at Kai’s grumpiness at having people in his apartment especially when being altogether doesn’t stop some of the men from celebrating xmas their way!!

Great seeing the men as loving husbands as well as lethal mafia heads. There is a surprise and some suspense at the end and the authors leave us with teasers about Declan ready for his book. There is also so much going on with Kado, that we need his story soon. If you haven’t read any of this series, then this will definitely make you want to read about how these couples got together.

[MNHockeymomreads (Heather) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been asking for a Christmas letter from some of my favorite romance book couples for a while, and my friend Cala Riley delivered!!! If you have been around a while you know I simply adore Chicago and the mafia, but I have a very soft place in my heart for the Syndicate series. And we get to go back and visit some of our favorite couples! EEEEKKKKK- I was thinking it was going to be a super duper short novella but we lucked out and we got to spend so much time with Cleo & Kia, Autumn & Callum, Miya & Kenji, and of course Nikita and Declan. Did it make me even more excited for Declan’s book….yes, yes it did. Also, Cala and Riley brought the spice to this book and holy buckets it was melt all the snow in Chicago steamy! These couples are still as in love and handsy as they were when we left them to live their HEA!
If you are a fan of the syndicate series and want a little sneak peek into some of your favorite characters' futures this book should definitely be on your holiday reading list! If nothing else there are a lot of little teases for Declan and Nikita’s book which is coming in 2024!

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Holy Night by Cala Riley is a delightful Christmas novella set in the Syndicates world. This festive tale brings together some of the most beloved characters from the series, including Cleo & Kia, Autumn & Callum, Miya & Kenji, and Nikita & Declan. As the snow falls and the holiday season approaches, the couples' love and passion continue to burn brightly.

The story begins with a Christmas letter from some of the favorite romance book couples, providing a glimpse into their futures and the excitement for Declan and Nikita's book, which is set to release in 2024. The novella is not too short, allowing readers to spend a good amount of time with the characters, rekindling their love and passion for one another.

Oh Holy Night is a great addition to the Syndicates series, offering a festive and steamy read for fans of the series. The book brings the spice and heat to Chicago, melting the snow and making it a perfect holiday read. If you're a fan of the Syndicates series or enjoy a good Christmas story, this novella is definitely worth checking out.

[Laci · Rating 4 out of 5]

the perfect little holiday treat for all of the Syndicate fans. 🎄

Getting to see everyone come together: the Westies, the Yakuza, and all the chaos that follows was such a blast. It felt like catching up with family…if your family just happened to be a bunch of dangerous, possessive, gorgeous mafia men and their equally fierce women. 😅

It’s short, spicy, and full of the banter and heat we’ve come to expect from this world. I loved seeing those softer moments between the couples mixed in with all the power plays and tension. It gave off such a “found family Christmas dinner… but make it mafia” vibe, and I was so here for it.

If you’ve been following the series, this novella is the perfect in-between fix. A little warmth, a lot of heat, and just enough danger to remind you who these people really are.

Now I need to go and read the series again 🤣

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave it to the duo of Cala Riley to deliver a holiday novella that sees the men of the Syndicate series and their feisty and amazing women getting together for Christmas. Oh Holy Night has you wanting more and more. Leave it to Cloe to persuade her husband Kia, Haruaki, the head of the Japanese mafia, to have the Westies and Yakuza celebrate Christmas as one big happy family. Great times and wonderful stories are changed with a few steamy scenes between the couples that are hot as hell. A syndicate book would not be one without a little bit of danger thrown in.
This novella had fun times, banter, terrific friendships and love that will last the test of time. Reading this novella has me wanting to read the Syndicate series all over again.

[World Of Books 65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether writing full-length romances or short novellas, these authors consistently deliver, and "Oh Holy Night" from the Syndicates series is no exception. This scintillating short story offers a delightful glimpse into the lives of the resilient mafia men and the captivating women who leave them powerless. Cala Riley skillfully fills this short story with sizzling chemistry, engaging banter, and the intriguing question of what these formidable women can buy their men for Christmas. The story is generously sprinkled with hints about the next couple with an added dash of drama, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next instalment once again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you get a chance to read a little fun novella, you take the time to sit back and enjoy it. If you have read their Syndicate series lately you will have already met Kenji, Kia, Kado, Callum and Declan as well as Cleo, Miya and Autumn. Cleo decides that she wants to host a Christmas party with her brother Callum and his family as well as his second Declan. Of course, she wants Kenji and Kado that as well. What kind of trouble can these couples get into and what about poor Declan and Kado who haven’t met their women quite yet? I loved this novella and all the glimpses into each of these individuals.

[Daniela Tavares · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/6.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.

This was a delight. This is a happy little novella with a little twist that you don't wanna miss out on especially if you read all the books in the series. Personally I still have 2 or 3 left before Declan releases so I didn't really know Kenji and his woman but this only made me wanna read them even more.
I loved seeing the Yakuza and Irish mafia trying to celebrate Christmas like a normal family. Spoiler alert: Haruaki is unleashed and it was delightful. 😌
The spice was on point. Yum!

I can't wait to read the ones I have left and Declan cuz that one is gonna be a meal. 👀

* I read an arc of this book. *

[Lakshmi Praveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know sometimes you need a filler between each book where you dont miss out on your fav characters, well Oh holy night delivered just that. This novella was a quick spicy read with a few of our fav couples from the syndicate universe and I was not disappointed.
We have Kai and Cleo , Kenji and Miya and my favs Callum and Autumn. With Declan and Nikita and ofcourse Kado. This novella will hold me over till Declan's book comes out later next year.
For a quick steamy spicy dark romance read , pick this up!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is #9.5 in this awesome series, and it is the festive season, and a Chicago mix with the Westies and the Yakuza coming together. These are my favorite couples coming together for a Christmas dinner party, and things do not always go smoothly.
This is a well written story which has family, friendships, humor, witty banter, danger, intrigue, romance, and love, which leads to an entertaining, heartfelt, and steamy addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from these talented authors’ whose work I highly recommend.

[WhiskeyandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me fall for this group of men all over again. Three mafia families were brought together for Christmas. What is not to love? The way these men cherish their ladies is heart-melting. I mean they literally worship the ladies at their feet. Even though two of them are Yakuza and one is a Westie they still came together for their wives. Even though it's a cute novella it still packs a punch that will lead into another character and I am here for it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic Christmas novella in one of my favorite worlds! I love these couples and getting to see more in their lives was fabulous! Getting to see how each character has evolved further as individuals but also within their relationships made me adore them even more. Each couples spice is as different as they are, and hotter than the Christmas fire. I love every second I get to spend with these characters and cannot wait to see what happens with Declan and Nikita!

[Amy Reierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red is a great Christmas color right? I mean in less it's being brought to you by say the men and woman of the syndicate series!
But seriously with all the stress of the holidays don't we all deserve a good distraction? Well this is it!
Whether you've read the series so far or not their is plenty of nice coming from these alpha men for their women. Yet there is so much naughty Santa is probably only coming to watch. But nobodies going to blame him.
I have voluntarily left this review.

[caffe.and.books (Aimee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a quick and spicy way to revisit some of my favorite characters!

This is a fun holiday read with just enough action and spice to keep you flipping the pages. These characters are some of my favorites and this book is the perfect way to start the holidays and get ready for the next book in the series!

Another home run for my favorite duo!

[Keza Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas reads are not usually my thing but a Cala Riley christmas read who visits all my favourite couples who spend it together. Now that I absolutely loved.

Oh Holy Night was a fun and quick read, but it was also a little naughty as well. I always found it hard to pick a fave couple, and this little Syndicates Novella proves why. I love them all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this Christmas novella. It was a fast read that can be read in one sitting. The families from the mafia series come together to try and enjoy the Christmas holiday. It’s mainly a nice sexy read with a dash of mafia business that sets the reader up for the next book in the series. Highly recommend! I received an ARC copy.

[Books N Dark Hearts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great mafia syndicate novella! Spicy. Funny. And a quick read.

Catching up with all the syndicates MCs for this little Christmas novella read was fabulous! Absolutely loved getting to see the characters come together and their growth! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
And the spice is still here Xoxox

Happy holidays folks!

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickie Review: I was not expecting all the heat and everything that happened in this one. I mean, I should have. This is Cala Riley after all. And I definitely ain’t complaining. It was a fantastic book and I got those sexy little glimpses into the lives of many of all my favorite mafia power couples. And even a sneaky peaky at what’s to come with Declan. Such a fantastic, quick read. Romance, action, and more action (wink,wink)!! 5 Stars.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

❤️ Nice little catch up into the lives of some of my favorite couples in the Syndicate series. So when I get to the end, I see that the book that I’ve been waiting for is available. I click on the link only to find it isn’t going to be out until next April. Boy, did that just burst my bubble 🥹. That’s ok….this cute little Christmas story will just have to tide me over.

[Kymmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

I’m gonna have to circle back to this novella bc it was jam packed! I had no idea it was book 9.5 in a series 🤣 there’s 3 different couples and 2-3 other ppl/names sprinkled in. I’m very invested in Kai and Cleo story. I can sense a feisty MFC and a very unhinged MMC. A perfect combo IMO 😂