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Silver Falls University #0.5
Love & Lies Under the Mistletoe
Only one person can save Christmas this year, and it's not Santa.
It's my ex.
Christmas is never fun in my house. My family might be billionaires, but we’re living proof that money doesn’t buy happiness.
This year, though…this year really takes the cake.
I didn’t expect my father to ruin Christmas altogether. I didn’t think I was going to leave dinner early with the dire need to run back to college…and I surely didn’t expect the only person who would make it all better would be my ex.
He calls drunk, but I don’t want to talk to him.
So he shows up at my house in the middle of the night. And he reminds me exactly why I never moved on from him.
Santa doesn't save Christmas.
But Daddy surely does.
This book is a dark romance for readers aged 18+ only.
This book is the introduction to a series coming out in 2024. It ends in a cliffhanger.
It's my ex.
Christmas is never fun in my house. My family might be billionaires, but we’re living proof that money doesn’t buy happiness.
This year, though…this year really takes the cake.
I didn’t expect my father to ruin Christmas altogether. I didn’t think I was going to leave dinner early with the dire need to run back to college…and I surely didn’t expect the only person who would make it all better would be my ex.
He calls drunk, but I don’t want to talk to him.
So he shows up at my house in the middle of the night. And he reminds me exactly why I never moved on from him.
Santa doesn't save Christmas.
But Daddy surely does.
This book is a dark romance for readers aged 18+ only.
This book is the introduction to a series coming out in 2024. It ends in a cliffhanger.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2023
About the author
Lola King
21 books3,662 followersLola King is a dark, steamy romance author who loves giving happy ever after’s to antiheroes. She writes about flawed and deeply broken characters and the women who bring them down to their knees. Her books are sometimes cute, sometimes angsty, but always sexy!
Lola lives in London and if she isn’t writing, she is most likely keeping her mind busy putting together a play or making music.
Let’s keep in touch on IG @lolaking_author or on FB readers’ group Lola’s Kings !
Lola lives in London and if she isn’t writing, she is most likely keeping her mind busy putting together a play or making music.
Let’s keep in touch on IG @lolaking_author or on FB readers’ group Lola’s Kings !
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
January 2, 2026
you know what? hell yeah 🙂↕️ listen i already loved chris from the stoneview series and he’s just so fine in this novella. i always felt bad for ella because i realized she was the secret girlfriend and getting her pov made me so sad :( i’ve been rooting for them and i cannot wait to start loving the liar!!! i will say that candy cane scene was ?? 😵💫
July 8, 2026
3⭐️
It was okay. I’m excited to start Ella & Chris’s book, but I guess I could’ve done without this Christmas novella.
It was okay. I’m excited to start Ella & Chris’s book, but I guess I could’ve done without this Christmas novella.
January 16, 2025
Так, можливо було гаряче, але супер токсично. Почнімо з того, що Кріс, не хотів казати її брату, що вони зустрічаються, контролював що їй одягати, заборонив йти з кимось на бал, хоча вони не зустрічаються, потім він її кинув, але надзвонював постійно, в результаті вони переспали і він пішов, але залиш записку... Колись я прочитаю основну книжку про них, але точно не зараз.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
ho ho heaux & ‘tis the season and all that
how fitting that i chose to pick up the book this novella is connected to on a whim yesterday, not knowing there was a holiday novella attached to it - anyways, it did eventually come to my attention that there issss this christmas-time smutty prequel setting up the main book and i quickly wanted to get it in before i got further into loving the liar. right time of the year for this, i suppose 😅
i mean - it was kinda hot 🤭. i’m generally not a fan of one of the primary kinks in here (dd/lg) so i couldn’t really get allll the way into that (no kink shaming, just not my fave). i actually found it funny more than anything, because this mf really wanted to be called “daddy” when he was the ripe old age of probably 18 initially 😂 it didn’t irk me as much as it normally would though, likely because this isn’t an age gap romance.
i liked this enough - it probably helps i was already into the main book, since on its own it doesn’t do all that much, but knowing there’s more story and being some ways into said story aided the ride.
and that christopher murray…he’s definitely a problem! (complimentary)
how fitting that i chose to pick up the book this novella is connected to on a whim yesterday, not knowing there was a holiday novella attached to it - anyways, it did eventually come to my attention that there issss this christmas-time smutty prequel setting up the main book and i quickly wanted to get it in before i got further into loving the liar. right time of the year for this, i suppose 😅
i mean - it was kinda hot 🤭. i’m generally not a fan of one of the primary kinks in here (dd/lg) so i couldn’t really get allll the way into that (no kink shaming, just not my fave). i actually found it funny more than anything, because this mf really wanted to be called “daddy” when he was the ripe old age of probably 18 initially 😂 it didn’t irk me as much as it normally would though, likely because this isn’t an age gap romance.
i liked this enough - it probably helps i was already into the main book, since on its own it doesn’t do all that much, but knowing there’s more story and being some ways into said story aided the ride.
and that christopher murray…he’s definitely a problem! (complimentary)
January 9, 2026
4.5 Candy Cane Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Oh My God!!!
Why did I not know this book existed before I picked up Loving the Liar? Because fuck… it would have made that book even better. And that book was already FUCKING excellent!
This is the perfect little prequel novella into the lives of Ella and Christopher before we meet them in Loving the Liar. It gives us the backstory that was always hinted at, always alluded to, and honestly? I do think this could have been slotted straight into Loving the Liar as opening foundation chapters. BUT I get why it wasn’t, because it would have made that book even heavier and LONGER, but wow… the context this adds is chef’s kiss!!!
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
We start when Ella is still in high school, and this novella shows us exactly how Christopher breaks her heart. We see how their secret relationship forms, how sweet it is at first, how addictive he becomes to her, and then how completely shattered she is when he chooses her brother, Luke, over her. Seeing that choice play out on the page hurts. You also get a glimpse of how much he torments her afterwards and how toxic their dynamic already is while they’re still growing up and becoming adults.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Now listen... this is not pretending to be a healthy relationship. It’s toxic. It’s spicy. It’s feral. It is a hot, problematic, delicious mess, and I ate it up. I was literally reading this thinking: inject this into my veins, into every pore, let me breathe this in. I loved Loving the Liar with my whole soul, and this novella was the perfect companion to it!
As I have alluded to before... I genuinely want to kick myself for not knowing this existed before I read Loving the Liar, because it would have taken that five-star read and turned it into an infinity-star experience!!!!!
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dark Romance
▶ Secret Society
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Brother's Best Friend Romance
▶ Age Gap
▶ Posessive, Obsessive MMC
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ "Mine"
▷ "Look At Me"
▷ "Not God...Me"
▷ "Tell Me to Stop"
▷ Spicy Locker Room Time
▷ "Good Girl"
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨:
➢ Fun with Candy Canes
➢ Dubious Consent
➢ BDSM Elements (DDlg)
➢ Spanking
➢ Degradation and Praise
➢ Rides His Leg
BASICALLY If you like dark romance and you haven’t read anything by Lola King yet, start here. Read this first AND then go straight into Loving the Liar, and then come back and thank me. BECAUSE you will have just read one of the most addictive, toxic, unforgettable dark romances of your life!
You’re welcome!!!!!!!
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Oh My God!!!
Why did I not know this book existed before I picked up Loving the Liar? Because fuck… it would have made that book even better. And that book was already FUCKING excellent!
This is the perfect little prequel novella into the lives of Ella and Christopher before we meet them in Loving the Liar. It gives us the backstory that was always hinted at, always alluded to, and honestly? I do think this could have been slotted straight into Loving the Liar as opening foundation chapters. BUT I get why it wasn’t, because it would have made that book even heavier and LONGER, but wow… the context this adds is chef’s kiss!!!
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
We start when Ella is still in high school, and this novella shows us exactly how Christopher breaks her heart. We see how their secret relationship forms, how sweet it is at first, how addictive he becomes to her, and then how completely shattered she is when he chooses her brother, Luke, over her. Seeing that choice play out on the page hurts. You also get a glimpse of how much he torments her afterwards and how toxic their dynamic already is while they’re still growing up and becoming adults.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Now listen... this is not pretending to be a healthy relationship. It’s toxic. It’s spicy. It’s feral. It is a hot, problematic, delicious mess, and I ate it up. I was literally reading this thinking: inject this into my veins, into every pore, let me breathe this in. I loved Loving the Liar with my whole soul, and this novella was the perfect companion to it!
As I have alluded to before... I genuinely want to kick myself for not knowing this existed before I read Loving the Liar, because it would have taken that five-star read and turned it into an infinity-star experience!!!!!
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dark Romance
▶ Secret Society
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Brother's Best Friend Romance
▶ Age Gap
▶ Posessive, Obsessive MMC
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ "Mine"
▷ "Look At Me"
▷ "Not God...Me"
▷ "Tell Me to Stop"
▷ Spicy Locker Room Time
▷ "Good Girl"
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨:
➢ Fun with Candy Canes
➢ Dubious Consent
➢ BDSM Elements (DDlg)
➢ Spanking
➢ Degradation and Praise
➢ Rides His Leg
BASICALLY If you like dark romance and you haven’t read anything by Lola King yet, start here. Read this first AND then go straight into Loving the Liar, and then come back and thank me. BECAUSE you will have just read one of the most addictive, toxic, unforgettable dark romances of your life!
You’re welcome!!!!!!!
January 2, 2026
That was hot
December 24, 2024
I am not a fan of novellas in general. I am most definitely not a fan of themed books, movies, sitcom episodes or the likes. And yet... For some reason, I got curious and clicked on this one when it popped on my feed.
Going over the reviews, I was (pleasantly) surprised to see how many spoke of the toxicity in what I would've expected to be a "cutesy" read. As someone who is always drawn to stories that explore (all types of) dysfunctional relationships, I was sold.
And here are my two cents:
A novella with "Merry Christmas" in its title had no business pulling such emotions out of me.
Reader, be warned, this is the type of story that will leave you with that empty feeling when you turn the last page... Not cool. And yet... brilliant.
I, too, have irrevocably fallen in the clutches of Chris Murray... And I anxiously await his return.
Well done, Ms. King, well done.
Going over the reviews, I was (pleasantly) surprised to see how many spoke of the toxicity in what I would've expected to be a "cutesy" read. As someone who is always drawn to stories that explore (all types of) dysfunctional relationships, I was sold.
And here are my two cents:
A novella with "Merry Christmas" in its title had no business pulling such emotions out of me.
Reader, be warned, this is the type of story that will leave you with that empty feeling when you turn the last page... Not cool. And yet... brilliant.
I, too, have irrevocably fallen in the clutches of Chris Murray... And I anxiously await his return.
Well done, Ms. King, well done.
May 26, 2025
lola king, you are a true gem to this earth, thank you😭
January 3, 2026
only lola king would have the balls to write about a ninth grader getting spanked by a twelfth grader who she calls daddy and label the book under romance
August 29, 2025
Мені сподобалося
я хочу знати, що там далі
🍭
я хочу знати, що там далі
🍭
December 7, 2025
це було гаряче, але так токсично і маніпулятивно, аж бісило 😡
хоча я походу ще та мазохістка, бо збираюсь прочитати повну історію елли та кріса 😅
не вірю, що у них може вийти щось нормальне у фіналі. хоч і очікую на купу виправдань і серйозних "причин" чому кріс так вчинив 😏
хоча я походу ще та мазохістка, бо збираюсь прочитати повну історію елли та кріса 😅
не вірю, що у них може вийти щось нормальне у фіналі. хоч і очікую на купу виправдань і серйозних "причин" чому кріс так вчинив 😏
December 20, 2025
I wish I read this before loving the liar but it’s making me want to re read their book so bad.
Book 3 of the 24 readathon done in 1h 10m
Book 3 of the 24 readathon done in 1h 10m
January 24, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Omw to pick up loving the liar 👋
Omw to pick up loving the liar 👋
August 31, 2024
I was already excited for loving the liar & this just amplified that x100
GIVE IT TO ME NOW *little grabby hands*
I gobbled up this little Novella & I think it was the perfect introduction to Chris and Ella‘s story, & it has me so eager to get into all the dirty details.
Lola doesn’t just write unhinged men , they go so much deeper than that. I can already tell that Chris is a master manipulator & he has molded Ella into his perfect little doll. I’m sure I’m gonna completely despise him before I completely fall in love with him. He’s got two completely different sides to him & I’m ready to unpack that 😂
“the moment he decided he wanted me. There was nothing I could do to stop it”
September 3rd can’t come fast enough
GIVE IT TO ME NOW *little grabby hands*
I gobbled up this little Novella & I think it was the perfect introduction to Chris and Ella‘s story, & it has me so eager to get into all the dirty details.
Lola doesn’t just write unhinged men , they go so much deeper than that. I can already tell that Chris is a master manipulator & he has molded Ella into his perfect little doll. I’m sure I’m gonna completely despise him before I completely fall in love with him. He’s got two completely different sides to him & I’m ready to unpack that 😂
“the moment he decided he wanted me. There was nothing I could do to stop it”
September 3rd can’t come fast enough
January 25, 2026
i wish i would’ve read this before i read ‘Loving The Liar’. i love chris and ella! they will forever be my favourite couple out of the silver falls series! 🖤
“You’re mine for however long I decide, Ella. When I want something, nothing can get in my way. Not your brother. Not the age difference. Not even you.”
“You’re mine for however long I decide, Ella. When I want something, nothing can get in my way. Not your brother. Not the age difference. Not even you.”
August 25, 2025
Авторка попередила, а я погодилась. Для свого жанру добре та інтригуюче. Хочеться дізнатися що відбулося далі.
December 20, 2025
the candy cane should've stayed in the kitchen 😩
December 18, 2025
Am I crazy or was this titled “Merry Christmas From Daddy To Little One” when I added it to my TBR?
Anywho, this was a festive and fun and very spicy lil novella that left me on a cliffhanger. Kinda hate MMC (in a good way). Something’s wrong with me, yes I know.
🎄 Christmas setting
🔥 Brother’s best friend
⛓️ BDSM
💸 Billionaire family
Anywho, this was a festive and fun and very spicy lil novella that left me on a cliffhanger. Kinda hate MMC (in a good way). Something’s wrong with me, yes I know.
🎄 Christmas setting
🔥 Brother’s best friend
⛓️ BDSM
💸 Billionaire family
June 14, 2025
read it in like an hour this morning so it was okay nothing out of this world, tbh it's too short so just a little introduction to ella and chris's journey so to prepare us for their actual book and im ready and scared their kink is not for me but haha let's go i do like them as characters so chris grow on me during jake and rose's stories let's see if he still grows or just meh haha ella is funny i really liked her in alex's book soo im excited and this little Christmas novella was insane and hot and short and im intrigued by them but also scared not gonna lie but let's go im ready!!
August 28, 2025
Уф, сподобалось😈
Точно буду читати продовження
Точно буду читати продовження
December 15, 2025
I’m a little embarrassed to say I loved this book more than I thought. A lil dark romance monster may be the result of this little novella.
March 15, 2026
Коли я почала цю вступну новелу, думала тут щось буде типу інцеста, а тут така жахлива сім'я в героїні. Батько справжній мудак, мати не зовсім мати, лиш брат піклується про неї, як старший брат. А потім цей колишній, такий владний мазохіст 😁
Як на колишнього Кріс багато собі дозволяє, але і Елла не краща. Хоть книга не погана і мені сподобалася. Але думаю що у них щось вийде нормальне, но йду читати першу книгу про цих двох 😅🤗
Як на колишнього Кріс багато собі дозволяє, але і Елла не краща. Хоть книга не погана і мені сподобалася. Але думаю що у них щось вийде нормальне, но йду читати першу книгу про цих двох 😅🤗
January 13, 2025
Ну шо сказати це було дуже гаряче і дуже дуже токсично
Хмм вже так цікаво прочитати цілу книгу про них😍
Хмм вже так цікаво прочитати цілу книгу про них😍
December 13, 2025
Chris is so toxic but I am no better than Ella it seems
I’m already obsessed with both of them already and need more 😭
I am wasting NO time to read their book lmao
I’m already obsessed with both of them already and need more 😭
I am wasting NO time to read their book lmao
December 19, 2023
This is a me thing. I'm disappointed in how our hero or daddy is. I felt so bad for Ella that her father is a dick who is making her change mangers to fit his secret society. Her ex is her brothers best friend who didn't choose her.
And didn't wanna tell her brother. So he's moved on and has a girlfriend (blah). Only good thing we didn't have to see it.
She's only having vanilla relationships with others.. cuz she can't do daddy/dom stuff with others.
He calls, and she's puddle for him. And when their time ends, he leaves to go back to his ex. He says he'll explain but honest. I'm not going to read it. ELLA DESEVERS BETTER!!
I'm not rooting for Chris he's someone I just don't vibe or like.
And it ends on a cliffhanger.. yeah, it's not a standalone.
So if you want to read this story, wait until it's a full one.
Recommend-no
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Pinning
Ex's
Praise kink
Dom/sub undertones
Daddy kink
Cliffhanger
And didn't wanna tell her brother. So he's moved on and has a girlfriend (blah). Only good thing we didn't have to see it.
She's only having vanilla relationships with others.. cuz she can't do daddy/dom stuff with others.
He calls, and she's puddle for him. And when their time ends, he leaves to go back to his ex. He says he'll explain but honest. I'm not going to read it. ELLA DESEVERS BETTER!!
I'm not rooting for Chris he's someone I just don't vibe or like.
And it ends on a cliffhanger.. yeah, it's not a standalone.
So if you want to read this story, wait until it's a full one.
Recommend-no
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Pinning
Ex's
Praise kink
Dom/sub undertones
Daddy kink
Cliffhanger
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
Star Rating: 5 🌟
Spice Rating: 4.5 🥵🔥
When I came across this on KU after finishing Lawless God, I quite literally passed out from excitement. I will eat up ANY extra stories and scenes of my loves Ella and Chris. I have a like such an attachment to these characters and their love story that I don't really understand it fully, but i am obsessed with them and they live in my heart. There actually hasn’t been a day since I read Loving the Liar I haven’t thought about them. I loved getting to go back to them and read a little bit about their past, prior to the story that goes down in Loving the Liar. Absolutely obsessed.
Spice Rating: 4.5 🥵🔥
When I came across this on KU after finishing Lawless God, I quite literally passed out from excitement. I will eat up ANY extra stories and scenes of my loves Ella and Chris. I have a like such an attachment to these characters and their love story that I don't really understand it fully, but i am obsessed with them and they live in my heart. There actually hasn’t been a day since I read Loving the Liar I haven’t thought about them. I loved getting to go back to them and read a little bit about their past, prior to the story that goes down in Loving the Liar. Absolutely obsessed.
December 25, 2025
5⭐️/5⭐️
CHRISTOPER MURRAY I CLAIMED HIM FROM THE START
The silent ones are always the freakiest and oh lord Chris is so freaking hot and got a damn dirty mouth
This was such a short novella I can’t wait to read their story
There was already so much angst tension and drama
Chris he’s also so manipulative but he’s mine yall
Daddy Chris ftw him in spicy scenes I was a puddle reading it
Ella I like her character and I want to know more about their story!
REREAD
5⭐️/5⭐️
Had to reread because I was missing my babies so much and it was Christmas so I did a reread!
Still hits the same and I love them even more
Chris Murray the man that he is! He is daddy for a reason
It was so funny seeing my earlier notes while reading safe to say I am a simp for this manipulative cunning toxic but also the sweetest to Ella so obsessed and in love her! I love this man!
CHRISTOPER MURRAY I CLAIMED HIM FROM THE START
The silent ones are always the freakiest and oh lord Chris is so freaking hot and got a damn dirty mouth
This was such a short novella I can’t wait to read their story
There was already so much angst tension and drama
Chris he’s also so manipulative but he’s mine yall
Daddy Chris ftw him in spicy scenes I was a puddle reading it
Ella I like her character and I want to know more about their story!
REREAD
5⭐️/5⭐️
Had to reread because I was missing my babies so much and it was Christmas so I did a reread!
Still hits the same and I love them even more
Chris Murray the man that he is! He is daddy for a reason
It was so funny seeing my earlier notes while reading safe to say I am a simp for this manipulative cunning toxic but also the sweetest to Ella so obsessed and in love her! I love this man!
July 25, 2026
you know the book is bad when it ends with “from daddy to little one”. i’m going to bleach my eyes thanks
January 5, 2024
Totally disappointed in this one…didn’t know it was gonna be like a grooming situation.
When H is 18 and h is a freshman in high school he decides to start messing around with her and having sex and forcing her into what he likes sexually which is like bdsm and daddy kink. She’s not even particularly into it but she “wants to please” and again she’s very under age. This is the past but in present day the two aren’t together unless he drunk booty calls her. Then he fucks her and loves to remind her that no one can compare because he made her into how she is.
EW
This gave me the icks!!!
Totally into bdsm, daddy kink, degradation, etc. but not when it’s because this dude groomed her and she basically hates him and herself for it????
Nope. No thank you.
I don’t care that H was only 18, the girl was a freshman so probably like 14/15. And he forced her into it.
Nah. Makes me not want to read any of this author’s books. 😔
When H is 18 and h is a freshman in high school he decides to start messing around with her and having sex and forcing her into what he likes sexually which is like bdsm and daddy kink. She’s not even particularly into it but she “wants to please” and again she’s very under age. This is the past but in present day the two aren’t together unless he drunk booty calls her. Then he fucks her and loves to remind her that no one can compare because he made her into how she is.
EW
This gave me the icks!!!
Totally into bdsm, daddy kink, degradation, etc. but not when it’s because this dude groomed her and she basically hates him and herself for it????
Nope. No thank you.
I don’t care that H was only 18, the girl was a freshman so probably like 14/15. And he forced her into it.
Nah. Makes me not want to read any of this author’s books. 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2024
i can't believe that i fell in love with lola king's universe, bought all her books, read all her posts on instagram because of a book named "Merry Christmas From Daddy to Little One".. i started loving the liar few days ago after this one but now i have a whole universe to read? i'm the happiest girl in the world. i know i shouldn't love him but christopher is everything, i love my men manipulative i guess and i can't wait to read more about ella, luke and the whole thing about their circle.
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