A Very Unhinged Christmas: An Age Gap Hockey Romance

Kings of Castlebrook #3.5

by London Snow

She’s his only obsession. His greatest temptation. And now, they’re snowed in together.

Cillian Kavanagh is a man of unwavering discipline.

Cold. Controlled. Celibate.

As the revered hockey coach at Castlebrook University, he commands the ice with precision, never slipping, never losing focus. Except when it comes to the sassy, untouchable pianist living in his spare bedroom.

Taking in his best friend’s daughter after her parents vanished was meant to be an act of loyalty.

A duty. A promise.

But from the moment Cillian met Eleanor Montrose, she became his weakness.

His fixation. His ruin.

For eight agonizing months, he’s fought the pull toward the girl with the sweetest laugh he’s ever heard. Instead, he’s poured every ounce of discipline into watching over her. Destroying any man who dares to look at her. Protecting her in ways she was never meant to know.

But when a Christmas blizzard traps them alone in his remote, one-bedroom cabin, Ellie stumbles upon his darkest secret.

Coach Kavanagh has been watching her. Tracking her. Infiltrating every moment she thought was private.

She should be afraid. She should run.

Instead, she looks up at the only man who has ever made her feel safe with quiet curiosity and unwavering trust.

And that’s all it takes to shatter the last thread of Cillian’s restraint.

This Christmas… the broody coach will worship her, praise her, claim her in every way he’s imagined. Because the truth is, Ellie Montrose has always belonged to him.

Genres: Novella, Forced Proximity, Hockey, Sports Romance, Sports, Holiday, Christmas

170 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2025

Reviews

[Jen ♥]

3.5 ⭐

coach kav and ellie are so sweet and hawt together 🤭


Why you’ll love this book:
- Dad's former friend
- Age gap (19 and 39...they meet when she's an adult)
- Touch-starved MMC
- Celibate MMC and Virgin FMC
- Somnophilia (with her consent)
- Former Sniper MMC
- Coach x student Spanking

[Aleksandra [semi hiatus]]

4.25/5
Ahhhhh, it’s so good to be reading London Snow’s book again 🥰 I’m just so obsessed with that author and everything she writes!!!

And I did enjoy A Very Unhinged Christmas a lot, I just wish it was a bit longer… They were such a great couple, so pleeeeeeeease give me more of them!!!

Some of you may know that I love me a good old age gap, and we have it here hehe (she’s 19 and he’s 39). And I know, I know… but they met when she was already 19 so that makes it better. What I love even more (hehe) is a celibate, inexperienced MMC 🧎🏻‍♀️(he’s been celibate at least since college, I’m not sure if it was precisely mentioned, but if it was, I didn’t notice). All in all, long celibacy. Yes, please, thank you.

I’m all for all the kinks London writes in the smut in her books, so no complaints in that department as always. I sometimes wonder if London Snow lives in my brain, because all the kinks are always a win for me lmaoooo 🤣 And I’m serious, ALWAYS.

Loved the characters, loved the vibes. I wish it was longer, because Coach Kav 👀👀👀 oh gosh, I love an older man… Ellie was great too, so I’m in a serious need to get to know better. It’s a Christmas novella with a bit of spice in it, so be prepared for not as much of a plot, but it’s perfect for a cozy afternoon.

Safety and content list below. May include spoilers.

Thank you to the author and The Bow Society 🎀 for sending me this ARC!!! 🫶🏼





content list:
-Dad's former friend
-Age gap (19 and 39...they meet when she's an adult)
-Touch-starved MMC
-Celibate MMC and Virgin FMC
-Somnophilia (with her consent)
-Former Sniper MMC
-Coach x student
-Spanking
-Orphan MMC

safety:
-safe as all London Snow’s books
-no ow/om drama
-no cheating/sharing/3rd act breakup/separation
-celibate MMC/virgin FMC
-age gap

[hope]

it was sooooo good i wish is was longer 😭💔 london snow is becoming one of those authors that never misses for me.

the tropes listed by the author:

Dad's former friend
Age gap (19 and 39...they meet when she's an adult)
Touch-starved MMC
Celibate MMC and Virgin FMC
Somnophilia (with her consent)
Former Sniper MMC
Coach x student
Spanking

LIKE COME ON 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠😩😩😩😩😩😩🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[Soph]

★★★★. Thank you to the author for the ARC!

give me a sexy older man who falls for his woman the minute he sees her and is a virgin any-day. This is a novella so it’s very quick, however we do see cillianellie in the series or at least cillian. He’s the coach for the hockey team.

I do wish this was longer because I feel like her dad disappearing and her mom just vanishing could’ve been a good plot!

For my safety readers, completely safe. Both virgins.

[Kate]

I’ve been waiting for this story. London is a fantastic writer and I love this world. I NEEDED it. Age gap romance that I wish could have been a full length story to really pack the punch but overall I enjoyed it.

[*CJ*]

“A very unhinged Christmas” is the story of Ellie and Cillian.

A very sexy age gap romance with suppressed desires that come to fruition on Christmas Day, leading to lots of lovemaking, and a happy ending.

Enjoyed it

4/5

[A]

✨️ARC Read
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️



📌 Triggers: Orphaned FMC

📌 No Cheating/Sharing

📌 No OWD/OMD

📌 Virgin FMC/Celibate MMC

📌 No Separation/Third-act Breakup

[Paige]

I’ve been waiting for coach Kav’s book since we first met him in the other books. He’s so damn grumpy. But he’s nothing but a softy for his girl.

I do wish this would have been more of a full length book though. Seeing them at school, him being possessive and jealous over any of the college boys talking to her. Them sneaking around a little bit. All these things would have been fun to read about. I feel like it was a missed opportunity for a great story.

One thing I am confused about though is the author states at the end of the book that he is a celibate MMC but during the book he talks about how’s he’s never done anything before. So is he celibate or a virgin? I wish that was clarified more.

100% safe though as always.

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez]

short sweet n steamy !!

I love this author and this romance quickie didn’t disappoint!!

Cold, cut-off hero finds his one and becomes obsessed and protective of her! A little OTT, but a lotta fun

Only complaint: no resolution with heroine’s father unless theres an extended epilogue i missed.

Safe. Dual virgins, they belong only to one another! No cheating or sharing or abuse

[Emmy Wong]

I love a hot coach, especially if it’s in an age gap romance! I love this book series and i was so excited to read about Coach Kavanaugh! She showed up on his doorstep one day, and he’s house whipped from that moment on. This book was extreme grumpy x sunshine, and it was adorable. The grumpy hockey coach is willing to decorate his entire house pink for her. Also I loved the Guardian x ward trope now! Yes he’s twice her age but he’s her home. Both Ellie and Cillian are lonely, and lost but they become each others home. This book was beautiful, with some great spice. I give this a 5/5

[Catherine M.]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This Christmas novella might be short but it packs hot spice and an intense connection with cute moments in between. The forbidden aspect of this relationship had me hooked. I hope we get more of Coach Kav and Ellie in the future.

I would like to thank London Snow and the Bow Society for the opportunity to read and review A Very Unhinged Christmas.

[Katherine M]

Ughhh I love London’s books! This was short, sweet, spicy and the chemistry was sizzling. Is what a Christmas novella should be. This story is about Cillian (Coach Kav) and sweet Ellie. He becomes her guardian and safety net after literally being dropped off at his door. They live together for 8 long months before they finally snap and move past that forbidden boundary. This flowed perfectly and we got a great story line, and off course the spice was spicing. Loved it!

[Maria]

A very Unhinged Christmas ARC Review

3.75⭐️
3.75🌶️

This was a hot and spicy time!

I went into this basically blind so I will say the age gap was a bit too much for my personal liking but I do appreciate the content warnings at the beginning of the book!

Despite that I think the story was very cute and I really loved the main characters.

Cillian was a sweet and possessive main character and I never felt like he came off creepy in any way, which I’ve unfortunately encountered in other age gap romances. But he was super funny and even though it was brief I love his interactions with the team.

Ellie was so amazing. She has been through so much and in her short life and because of that I felt like her and Cillian actually had quite a bit in common which was very reassuring throughout the story.

The spice was spicing!! I knew it was gunna be explosive and I love how they played off on each other.

Overall short and sweet and good for lovers of hockey and the holidays.

[Mishka]

★★★½

This was a fun little Christmas novella with the exact same London Snow formula I've come to love. Cillian is every bit as obsessive as Hayden and Tristan, and once you find out why he became a hockey coach, everything about him clicks. He's lethal everywhere else but completely devoted to Eleanor, and just like the other books, there isn't a second of unnecessary relationship drama. No OW. No OM. No games. Just two people who are all in from the start.

I think reading this immediately after Pucking Unhinged took away some of the magic because I already knew what to expect. The formula still works, but it didn't hit me with the same surprise Tristan did. That said, it was still an enjoyable read, and London Snow continues to do something I rarely see in romance. She writes heroes who are completely gone from page one, heroines who meet them with that same level of commitment, and somehow she keeps me turning the pages anyway. That's not easy to pull off.

[Katie Thayer]

✨ARC Review✨
A Very Unhinged Christmas
By: London Snow

None of that matters. Because the moment I saw her, something inside me latched on. The feeling was silent, certain, primal. This girl is mine. Off-limits, but still mine for now. Mine to protect. Mine to keep safe. Mine to carry inside and take care of her.

“I think it’s pretty clear that everything I do in this life is for you.”

This man, who has protected me in ways no one else ever would, is my home, and I never want to be without him.

This is a quick, low plot high spice novella. Cillian and Ellie have that forbidden element to their relationship that I love! It’s a fun Christmas read.

Tropes:
Christmas Novella
Age Gap
Friend’s Daughter
Forbidden
Guardian x Ward
Virg!n FMC
C*ck Warming
Snowed In

Spice starts at: 34%

Spice: 3/4
Stars: 4/5

Available on Kindle Unlimited December 1st

[Dahlia’s Library]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Coach Kav: Short, Sweet, and Scandalously Addictive

London really said here’s a tiny snack and handed us Coach Kav, and now I’m sitting here starving. My only real complaint? This story is shorter than my attention span on a Monday morning, and I desperately need more of this adorable, chaotic couple.

For such a quick read, it is PACKED with adoration. Coach Kav is out here breathing for Ellie, thinking about Ellie, dreaming about Ellie… and meanwhile pretending he’s totally unaffected. Sir, please. The man is one heavy exhale away from confessing his undying love.

And Ellie? Oh, she’s down bad too. The mutual obsession is so strong it could power the whole campus and its surroundings.

If you’re in the mood for a bite-sized romance with love, tension, and the perfect sprinkle of spice, this is exactly the treat you need.

P.S. Every time Coach Kav yelled at Hayden, I laughed like an idiot. Absolute gold.

[Lila Danisa]

So freaking sweet!!!
90% of the book was Cillian aka Coach Kav being so obsessed and unhinged towards Ellie. 5% of the book was Coach Kav hate(love) relationship with Hayden 🤣 It was so funny how he fixated on Hayden Lockwood 🤣🤣
As someone who have read 2 out of 3 books in this series, I enjoyed Coach Kav's novella because the author has been hinting on him and Ellie since Tristan and Winter's book.
In serious note, this book is so light in plots and so heavy in spiciness. I actually wish the author explain more about Ellie's past, why his father dumped her in Cillian's front door. I think the author will explain more in her upcoming "secret society" series. Can't wait!!!

Thank you to London Snow for the ARC.

[Miasia]

I have to say every book by London Snow is top tier and this one is no difference; even for a novella.

I need me a Cillian, the way he created his whole world to revolve around Ellie was WILD. I really didn’t think that was the origin story but you know what? It fits with London’s MMC and he didn’t disappoint.

Ellie? She didn’t disappoint either, she saw an opening and took it. She knew what she wanted and knew how to make Cillian break and cave to her whims and she took it.

I love me a touch starved age gap and this hit the spot the whole way.

[Colleen]

4.5⭐️

Coach Kav and Ellie 😍😍🥹🥰🥵🥵🥵🔥🥰❤️❤️🥰🥰💖💖💖

Super short, very sweet, very hot!

I would have loved a full length book for them, to see him going full psycho coach and scaring off college/hockey boys away from her, maybe her dad comes back and he fucks him up too and then to see marriage and babies. I loved Kav and Ellie 🥰


-Dual PoV
-Age gap h18, H39
-Celibate inexperienced mmc and V fmc
-obsessed with each other
-no owd/omd
-no third act breakup
-HEA

[ashlee ❤]

Cillian + Ellie

-forbidden romance
-dad’s friend
-age gap
-coach x student
-touch starved/celibate mmc x virgin fmc

this was quick & dirty & exactly what both coach kav, ellie, & all of us deserved! haha

[Danielle Hooke]

If you are looking for a quick holiday novella with a very unhinged MMC with a 20 year age gap…. then this book is for you! this was such a fun, quick read to get inside of Coach’s head and how obsessed he his with Ellie girl. as well as how that became to be. these 2 are really meant to be and their chemistry is off the charts! and we get classic Coach yelling at our fav unhinged Hayden. def recommend adding to your holiday tbr!

[Readiculous 📚🖤👱🏼‍♀️]

A wonderfully OTT, instalove novella. A great palate cleanser and lovely little addition to the Castlebrook series. Go coach Kav! 😅 we get some cute romance, scorching spice and all the holiday feels. Enjoyed it!

Safety:
- No OW/OM
- No cheating
- No separation / no third act break up

[Cristina]

There are very few novellas that actually work for me. Usually I tend to read longer books with an actual plot. This wasn’t it…

[☆maia☆]

in this page, we love an obsessed, unhinged king🫡

[Mari]

2.5 ⭐️

[Lari]

I have a huge weakness for older men. I LOVED this one, it felt like a good mix of Jessa Kane because of the insta-love and how short it was <3

[Leslie]

Loved the Christmas Novella so much. It was super hot and the characters were amazing.

[Elizabeth Neal]

Thoughts:

1. The content warning labels Cillian as celibate, yet it's heavily implied that he's actually a virgin. I'm not sure if, initially, the plan was for him to be celibate and it changed to virgin, but more than once his inexperience is referred to. It's even stated that he doesn't know what he's doing, never touched a girl or woman in that way, etc.

2. I wish there was some closure regarding her dad instead of leaving it unknown.

3. Cillian yelling at Hayden brings me such delight. Wish Callum and Tristan had been mentioned, too.

[Cass]

⭐️ 5/5 Stars 🌶️ 2.5/5 Spice
ARC Review- Thank you London and the Bow Society for the advance copy!

London Snow delivered exactly what the title promises... unhinged, obsessive, heart-squeezing perfection and I devoured every second of it.

This isn’t just a spicy Christmas novella, it’s warm, sweet, cheesy, swoony holiday goodness with a side of deliciously unhinged obsession. It hits every feel from head to toe.

Coach was nothing like I expected, in the best way. I always knew he had that rough, gritty edge, but seeing his upbringing and backstory cracked everything wide open. Suddenly every protective, possessive, slightly deranged decision he makes? It all clicks. And the way he’s instantly drawn to Ellie… I don’t think I’ve ever annotated a prologue more aggressively in my life.

His obsession and protectiveness are off-the-charts addictive. Tracking her in more ways than one (if you know, you know 😏)? Getting a job he “hates” to give her a real college experience, while conveniently becoming the broody hockey coach at Castlebrook U? Becoming an absolute menace every time Hayden Lockwood enters the room? Fully unhinged behavior, and I loved every second.

And Ellie… she is NOT as shy as she looks. Sweet, soft, a little timid with the world but with Coach? She knows exactly what she’s doing. She sees how obsessed he is, and she lives for it. She flirts just enough to make him unravel, and the way she eats up every bit of his intensity? Chef’s kiss. She wants him just as much as he wants her, and heading to that cabin on Christmas Eve, right as the snowstorm rolls in, yeah she knew exactly what would happen. Wrapped up together, no escape. Perfect.

Coach Kav (Cillian) is the grumpy, blue eyed, dark blonde, tough upbringing hero who melts into absolute mush for his “Ellie Girl.” I can't believe Coach was such a softy. His soft side is completely, utterly adorable. He’s the softest grump you’ll ever meet...just don’t tell him that.

And then London hits us with a bike scene for good measure. Not fair. The way Ellie describes how it feels to be on the bike with him...his touch, his hands always on her—it was EVERYTHING.

London truly has a magical gift when it comes to writing spice for virgin FMCs. I don’t know what she puts in these books, but the formula works every time. Whether her books are 80 pages or 300, I’m glued to my seat until I finish. And for her first age-gap romance? She nailed it. Completely.


Why You’ll Love This Book:
• Celibate, obsessed, unhinged MMC
• Sweet, sassy v!rgin FMC
• Touch-starved, celibate hero
• Dad’s best friend
• Possessive & broody hockey coach
• He falls first (and harder)
• 20-year age gap
• Praise (he worships her)
• Spanking
• Voyeurism (cameras… everywhere)
• Tracking (without her knowing)
• Touch her and d!e energy
• Forced proximity
• NO third-act breakup

[Gina Blades]

If you like quick, spicy holiday reads that have obsessed/burn the world down for her MMCs, this is the book for you

4⭐️ 2-2.5🌶️ A VERY UNHINGED CHRISTMAS BY LONDON SNOW. This is Coach Kav’s story (from the Kings of Castlebrook series, which I love). London knows how to write unhinged MMCs, and I’m here for it. 👏🏻👏🏻

Cillian Kavanagh is a former military sniper. Eleanor (Ellie) Montrose is the daughter of his college roommate, and she shows up on his doorstep one day. Determined to take care of her but not cross a line, for 8 months he makes sure she’s got a safe place to live while at college, going so far as to get a job as a hockey coach to be on campus near her. When they return to his cabin for Christmas (her wish) and there’s a blizzard, though, all bets are off. She no longer wants him to keep her at arm’s length. She shows him how much she cares for and respects him—softness he’s not used to. He grew up in foster homes and doesn’t know what family is or how to let someone in. He literally thinks she’s the best thing to ever happen to him (‘She's pure sunshine straight to my veins’). She’s shy but not around him, and he loves that she’s a chatterbox—he wants to hear everything she’s thinking. 🥹 I love these two together - her softness balances out his need to be in control.

❤️ Spicy Christmas novella - 77 pages
❤️ Tension
❤️ He’s obsessed with her—completely devoted
❤️ He finds pink outdoor Christmas lights for her
❤️ He gets her a pink motorcycle 🏍️ helmet
❤️ ‘That’s my good girl’
❤️ Hand necklace 🥵
❤️ 🤚🍑

Favorite quotes:
‘Whatever she wants, I make it happen, and I can honestly say that making her happy is the only real, true joy I've ever felt in my life.’

‘I've spent a lifetime alone, uniformed, hardened, carving out survival because it was the only thing I knew. I wasn't built for softness. I wasn't made to hold something this pure.’

"You deserve this. You deserve softness. You deserve someone who adores you, Cillian. Someone who sees how good you are."

"When did you-Cillian, how? This is... this is beautiful. I've never had a Christmas tree before.”

"I think it's pretty clear that everything I do in this life is for you."

"I love you so much it hurts. And I can say without a doubt that you're the only person I've ever loved.”
"Oh, Cillian, I love you too. I've loved you this entire time."

Read this if you like:
*Hockey romance
*Age gap (he’s 39, she’s 19)
*Sassy, virgin FMC
*Boy obsessed
*Snowed in
*Coach x student
*Forbidden romance
*Former sniper MMC
*Praise
*No third act breakup
*HEA

Content warning: orphan/foster kid MMC, somno (with her consent)