The Naughty or Nice Clause

Village of Yule #1

by Kate Callaghan

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice!

When Lyla’s father retired as CEO of the toy company which has been in their family for generations, she was meant to receive his shares. Instead, she discovers the company is bankrupt and her father has given her shares to Mason Klaus, an investor known in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. Much to Lyla’s frustration, her only option is to run the company with him, despite their evident loathing for one another.

When Mason cancels the annual Christmas party, Lyla throws it anyway – only for the event of the season to result in a terrible fire. With the offices and Lyla’s credibility ruined, Mason offers her a deal: he’ll forget her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for the twelve days of their Christmas holidays.

Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence – because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high.

Can Lyla resist the devilishly handsome Mr Klaus and the enchanting village to win back her company, or will she give into temptation?

Readers! Please note: this is an adult low fantasy romance with mature content and not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novel with a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Fake Dating

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

Kate Callaghan is an Irish author who writes adult fantasy, romantic suspense, and feel-good Christmas romance. She’s the creator of the Hellish Fairytale series, blending dark magic and intrigue, as well as festive romcoms like The Naughty or Nice Clause. Whether she’s spinning tales of dangerous love or cozy holiday magic, you’ll find her in a Dublin café with an iced coffee, plotting her next twist.

Mailing List https://forms.gle/mBcib2vHhBaf5XRe9
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katecallagh...
Tiktok 🍄 tiktok.com/@katecallaghanwriter

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE NAUGHTY OR NICE CLAUSE was really cute! Lyla and Mason absolutely loathe each other at work (he’s her supervisor.) Lyla throws a Christmas party. There’s a fire. Mason agrees to forget her part in said fire if she joins his family for Christmas… and it turns out he lives at the North Pole and is next in line to be Santa Claus. Kind of left that last part out. The beginning of the book took a little while to get going and I wasn’t sure this one was going to hold my interest, but once we good to Yule (the North Pole), I was totally sucked in. I loved the descriptions of the cobblestone streets, the cocoa, the wolves that protect the town, and all the snow. I loved the conflict of how Mason Klaus ran away from Yule because he was next in line to be Santa and wanted to have some control over his own life rather than being forced to follow in the family business. This was a cute Christmas read! 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author and NetGalley for review purposes.

[Charity (Booktrovert Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a fun and interesting twist to the fake dating trope that is set in the holidays. 

What if your partner in the family business asks you to be his finance and he turns out to be the next Mr. Klaus from the North Pole.

Lyla partly owns her family’s toy company with the scrooge Mason Klaus. The company is slowly going under, and Mason just seems like he is making it worse. Such as canceling the company Christmas party that they have every year.

But Lyla was determined to have it anyway and had it at the company. But that didn’t go well unfortunately, there was a massive fire in the kitchen, and it will take a ton of money to fix up. Money that Lyla’s company doesn’t have.

Mason offers to help pay if by one condition, if she goes home with him on the holidays. By home, he means the North Pole or Yule. Also pretending to be his fiancé. But Mason was hiding a secret and running from a past no one knew about. Mason is none other than Santa’s son who is next in line for the Christmassy throne.

There they worked towards convincing the town that they are a real couple and during that Lyla gets to know the town and family as well.

This is a book I wanted to love, this story feels original, and it was a really cute idea for a story. I mean, fake relationship with Mr. Klaus? But unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. The premise of the book sounded really good, and it just felt like something was missing from it all.

I didn’t see the romance between Mason and Lyla. I didn’t see the chemistry between the two. Mason felt so disconnected throughout the whole story that personally didn’t feel convinced they were meant to be together.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book in emojis - 🎁🔔🛷⛸️🌨️🎅🤶🎄👗💍🍓🍰☕🐈

Did I know what the story was about? Yes, a standalone Christmas romance novella, which was the only reason I signed up for the ARC; all my preferences of standalone, romance and novella together. Did I know the genres it covered? Not other than romance. Did I read the blurb? Never did that ever. Which means, like almost always, I had no idea what I was subjecting myself to. But I am glad I took a chance because the story was gripping from the very beginning. It had my full attention.

My first impression after reading a couple of pages was that this story was some sort of a Christmas retelling. I thought Klaus was a modern Santa Clause and since he works for a toy company, I assumed the story was set in the North Pole as the company should be from where the presents were distributed by Santa on Christmas. I realised it much later that it was in Dublin. But Klaus was a native of the North Pole so I wasn't completely wrong. Even the Santa Clause part was somewhat correct.

I loved Mason as I did Lyla. They are opposites but both are correct in their respective approach towards the business they co-own. The book is written from Layla's point of view. One of my favourite scenes including Lyla is when her father tells that she's the one who's stuck with her mother's death while he had moved on way back; before this scene, Lyla keeps repeating how her father keeps remarrying because he couldn't get over the death of her mother and tries to replace her with someone else. That definitely was her biggest misunderstanding, other than her initial views on Mason. I also loved how whatever she called "magic", Mason reasoned as "energy". He is really telling that everything is a science when it clearly is a fantasy, especially to Layla. I also loved how they considered each other's consent, especially Mason. So important in every relationship. There is also an element of mystery regarding why he left his homeland and why he didn't return for a decade.
I also loved the Klaus family dynamics. Everyone is so sweet and understanding, even if things didn't make sense immediately, making every scene heartwarming. The relationship between the siblings is cute. Full marks on that.

I didn't have the faintest idea that the story would include any LGBTQIA+ representation. I have hardly read any Christmas themed stories but out of all that I have, none of them even had a passing LGBTQIA+ character, let alone side characters who are very much important and visible. And a queer and disabled character? Yes!!! They are just regular people who no one bats an eye at. I was surprised when Lyla wasn't surprised that Lou had a "wife" for a spouse. It was a regular relationship, or what some people call, "normal".

All the characters were lovable but if I have to choose between the main characters, it definitely is Mason. The way his actions towards the company are justified towards the end, I felt like he was calm in his vision for the company. The book was unputdownable and I always looked forward to reading more of it. It was fast paced with no unnecessary dialogues and scenes. I would have loved if the there was an additional scene after the last one and the last sentence was probably put at the end after that or removed all together, provided a scene was there. Just me trying to extend the happily ever after. Otherwise, it fits perfectly well.

Romance is my favourite genre (and one I am most critical about) and happily ever afters are what I fall for and this book had them both. Rivals to lovers, fake dating and fake proximity for those who are interested in the tropes. Oh, and the good ol' slow burn romance. And not to forget, the found family.
And yes to the amazing representation: Plus size female MC; LGBTQIA+ side rep - Lyla's male assistant has a husband, Mason's sister has a wife; Disability rep - Mason's sister is a wheelchair user.

Very well written. Definitely recommended. Looking forward to reading other works by the author.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars heavily rounded up**

My favorite aspect of this was definitely the magical Christmas village of Yule. Just picturing that in mind made me more excited for the holiday. I also do tend to enjoy Enemies-to-Lovers, so the set-up was fun for me as well.

Some other things weren't as great, but nevertheless, at the end of the day, if you're looking for just a mindless fun holiday romance, you could certainly do worse.

I'm actually even going to continue with the series, which just had the 3rd-book release.

Full review to come...stay tuned!!!

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐️ Is this a romance? Where?

This review is going to contain some mild spoilers, but I need to rant a little and it’s kind of impossible to do it without talking a bit about the plot. Fair warning issued - here we go.

This is a fantasy book riddled with odd grammatical choices and even odder character traits. Both main characters are unlikable for completely different reasons. The FMC, Lyla, is a complete pushover who believes herself the strongest, most badass person around - only to backtrack and fold instantly when anyone puts even a single ounce of pressure into her or questions any of her choices. She might be decisive, but fails to follow through with her choices at every point in the story. Mason, the MMC, is a narcissistic, entitled guy - the embodiment of white, cis and straight dude - who spends the entirety of the book bouncing between hot and cold with her, only to resent her at every turn for not reading his mind. The number of sexist/condescending comments he makes to Lyla are just laughable. Just to name a few:

- “This is the last stop, and then you can eat as much as you like”. – Spoken like a true father with a toddler - because why would you listen to her when she’s trying to communicate her needs. That’s nice.

- “Don’t fidget” – Barking orders at her when she’s in a stressful, new environment that YOU have thrown her into, because of course.

- “I only bought this dress so I could take it off”. – And in one sentence (plagiarized from Ms. Taylor Swift, might I add), the author changes the words by putting them in a man’s mouth, making clear why women are often scared of taking gifts from men. STOP MAKING “GIFTS” TRANSACTIONAL – if you think women own you shit (that being their time, their energy, their attention, their body, etc.) after buying them something THEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY THEM, NOT GIVE THEM GIFTS. So here, the fact that her wearing that dress made the MMC feel entitled to finishing the night undressing her says SO MUCH. I hate it here.

- “You were wrong about me, but I was right about you. Entitled, selfish, out for no one but herself”. – And this is the sentence that broke me - Mason refuses to take a good look at himself in a mirror, apparently. Throughout the entire book, this man has been pissy, then mildly sweet, then back to cold. He took her from her home to some middle of nowhere “magical wonderland” where she’s unable to scape, forced her to lie to everyone in the village, and to his entire family, under the threat of someone erasing her memories if she’s found to be lying at all. Then she’s forced to interact with pretty much everyone as if she was his fiancé – everyone except him, it feels like. This isn’t slow-burn, it’s just passionless. The fun thing about forced proximity or fake relations in books is where they have to act as a believable couple when they’re around others. Here, he spends his days working and she is mostly left alone with his family. I liked his little brother, Kevin, so much more than I liked Mason at any point in this story. After all this happens, he still calls HER selfish and entitled. I just couldn’t anymore. It’s the lack of self-awareness for me.

The third act conflict was predictable, and it would be laughable if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s:
1. Completely normal business-partner behaviour;
2. She tells herself “I deserve to suffer” (literal quote from the book) over it - which is so fucking dramatic - only for her to admit not even a full page later that “I never even did it, but I thought about it. Mason found out.”- again literal quote. HE KNOWS YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING, AND YOU WERE JUST TAKING STEPS INTO MAKING SURE YOU WERE A GOOD BUSINESS PARTNER TO HIM, AND HE’S STILL MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT ON PURPOSE. I just… I can’t…

I could keep going, but I think I’ve made my point - and I don’t particularly enjoy picking apart someone’s work. So, no, I do not recommend you read this book. I gave it a 1.5 because at least I could finish it… it was hard, though.

1.5/5 ⭐️

*Thank you Net Galley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Bozena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, you got that right, I just read a Christmas story 🎄
And not just any Christmas story, but one of the best I've ever read.

Kate turned the Christmas story into a wonderland story and I love everything about it.

First of all, I have never read a Christmas book that was so unique and exciting.
The story starts off exciting and interesting, but what follows is a fantasy/love story of a completely different kind.

If you are thinking it's just a plain normal sweet and swoony romance, you will be nicely surprised because the book is so much more.

It's an enemies-to-lovers, office (very) slow burn love story, mixed with fantasy wonderland story.
I swear Kate is the new slow burn queen.

I love the characters and their very unique love-hate relationship.
I trembled with fear, laughed and was sad with them, when they were struggling with their traumatic pasts.

I love all these wonderful side characters. I hope they'll have their own books too.

I don't want to and can't reveal more about this book because I don't want to spoil the wonderful experience of discovering the story for yourself.

I can only recommend reading the book. It is definitely a must-read for anyone who likes Christmas books with a beautiful touch of fantasy.

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

INTERESTING WORLD, BUT HARDLY A "ROMANCE" TO REMEMBER

Actual rating: 2.5⭐

There were a few things I liked about this book and more things that I didn't like. But in the end, when it comes down to it, this was an okay book. Just not one I'll remember.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Kevin: While many of the characters didn't really thrill me, Kevin - Mason's younger brother - was a ray of light. He was adorable! So sweet and protective. A cute and funny character.

Magic: What does Santa Claus do at his workshop? Most of us would answer "make toys for children". But not in this world. In this world Santa Claus - and his helpers - deliver something quite different on Christmas Eve. I enjoyed this spin on the familiar story. It was refreshing.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Beauty and the Beast: Let me describe a scene for you. A couple fight, the woman flees out into the night. The ground is covered in snow. She enters a forest and gets turned around. Suddenly, a pack of wolves surround her. Luckily, the man arrives just in time to save her, though he gets injured in the process. Sounds familiar? Yeah, while this sounds like a scene from the Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast, it actually occurs in this book. And I just couldn't take it seriously. It felt... lazy.

Romance: I did not feel the chemistry between Mason and Lyla. I couldn't fathom or feel the attraction between them. The romance didn't lift off the page.

Dialogue: Perhaps one of the reasons why the romance didn't come through was because of the dialogue. It was empty, stilted and emotionally flat.

Ending: The ending was super rushed and left me with an overall feeling of dissatisfaction.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[ana clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Naughty or Nice Clause is a cute, quick and fun read meant for the holidays season. It follows the story of Lyla, a Christmas fanatic who’s the daughter of a retired CEO of a toy company. She was supposed to receive her father’s shares of the company, but to her surprise, he sold it to Mason Klaus—an investor known for being cold, and who hates the holidays.
The protagonists didn't get along well and could barely stand each other for too long, and when Mason canceled the company’s annual Christmas party, Lyla decided to do it anyway and things went more than wrong that night. In order for him to forgive what happened, she agreed with his proposal of spending 12 days with him visiting his family. In a blink of an eye, she found herself transported to Yule, a village that's sort of a magical winter wonderland. And for things to get more complicated, Mason introduced her to everyone as his fiancee.
So, finding herself in a very weird situation, Lyla hoped to take some advantage of it. She hoped this unexpected trip would work out for her to get her company back, and if things worked out really fine to find some dirt on Mason too. Everything felt settled for her plan to work…Except that she wasn't expecting to create feelings for Mr. Klaus.
Though it was a fine read, it wasn't meant to my taste I fear. The story felt kinda rushed and way too fast at some points. Also, the romance (which happens to be the thing I like most in books) is sort of…lacking? They had potential, but I couldn't really feel a real chemistry between them, and their attraction sort of came out of nowhere—which is so sad because, as I’d said, there was potential there. And the ending was way too fast, it left me unsatisfied. Still, I want to add that I really liked all the magical stuff and Kevin (Mason’s younger brother, he’s amazing).

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Naughty or Nice Clause
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/8/22
Author: Kate Callaghan
Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 237
GR: 3.73

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Kate Callaghan and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the magical spin on this magical Santa Clause story with a twist of romance. This follows the enemies to lovers trope and it is done very well, one of my favorite tropes, and I enjoyed the way this one was done. It is endearing how subjective reading is. While some reviews were not positive, I still really enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author. I thought it was a cute, magical Christmas story. The story is narrated in third person, not from a specific person, although the majority of the time, it appears to be through Lyla’s eyes. I thought Lyla and Mason had a cute connection, chemistry through hatred at first, then through passion. Lyla is strong, independent, and sees the world through a traumatic lenses. Mason is your typical Scrooge, strong, and has earned a reputation of cold and cruel. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, creatively built up, and the supporting characters, especially Kevin (Mason’s Brother) were amazing. I hope there are some spin offs from the side characters, or even the backstory on Mason’s family’s business. The author’s writing style was complex, crisp, evolving, passionate, and kept me engaged. I love Christmas and especially Christmas Hallmark Movies and Christmas books and this was no exception. This book releases today and I recommend picking up!

[dessie*₊⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughing, kicking my feet, being merry, etc.
Mason and his humor was a big highlight, along with the setting/vibe (obviously). This actually exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it much more than my first read by this author. The ending was a little abrupt. I would’ve loved an epilogue! 4.25 stars.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating/engagement
- small town romance

Lyla Smurfit has hated Mason Klaus from the moment he took over his half of her family’s failing toy company. Despite his festive name, Klaus is a real Scrooge, and Lyla loses it when she learns he’s cancelled the one thing she’s been looking forward to—the office holiday party.

Lyla decides to throw a secret party as a big ‘screw you’ to Klaus, but things get a little out of hand and a fire breaks out. To make up for the mishap she agrees to spend the holidays with Klaus, acting as a buffer between him and the family who he hasn’t seen in over a decade. Little does Lyla know that Mason Klaus is hiding one big secret—his family is the stuff of legend!

The Naughty or Nice Clause is a cute enemies-to-lovers romance with cozy Hallmark romance movie vibes, and has an interesting twist on the myth of Santa Claus! I think I enjoyed learning about Yule and The Klaus family more than the actual romance tbh.

[palo.santo.and.pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book perfectly captured the magical spirit of Christmas! If you enjoy enemies to lovers, fake dating, found family, and a hint of spice, check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley & Kate Callaghan for the ARC!

[Shauni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and light-hearted book, with merry festive vibes. While I enjoyed the plot, I didn't really feel a connection to the characters. I also felt the conflicts were too easily resolved. I was hoping for some more angst, I guess. Overall, it was a fun book for Christmas.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy.

[maddison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must-read if you're looking for a simple, straightforward Christmas read that strongly resembles every Hallmark movie. It's also ideal for you if you enjoy the Christmas lover and the Grinch getting together. We can't forget the bantering! So perfect, ugh!

From the beginning, the bantering between Lyla Smurfit and Mason Klaus, who run a toy company.  The annual office Christmas party was cancelled by Mason, however Lyla has plans to continue the party behind his back. Before she noticed the light on beneath his office door, she believed she had gotten away with it. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't two partygoers wanting to get close; instead, it was the one and only Mason Klaus, who was sad and intoxicated.

Considering the condition he was in, Lyla finds herself having to take an Uber ride with Mason to his house.  She is awakened the following morning by a furious Mason who informs her that her secret Christmas party had caused a fire to break out in the office.

The next thing you know, Mason must return home, but he does not want to travel alone, so Lyla decides to accompany him. What does she not anticipate is that his home would be the freaking North Pole. 

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

[rosana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would rate this book as a 3,5 stars!! I was really curious about this book because I got back into reading a year ago but never picked out a Christmas book. At first, I was a bit confused with the change of worlds and how it happened so, as you can tell, expect a bit of fantasy through out this book! It didn't bother me at all after understanding and it was really cute to read about all the place's set-up! Magic will travel through out this pages and the love for the christmas days will be bigger than anything else! If you're a Christmas's lover, I would highly suggest this book. I thought the way that they were able to travel from one place to another was so creative and cute since it was also a christmas element. One thing I have to say is that there aren't any specific povs, just 3rd person pov, if you aren't a huge fan of 3rd person, then be aware before starting this book! I would say this was a slow burn kind of book. This book isn't huge, around 200 pages and the couple get together really, really, really late into the book. This one was one of the things that throw me off a bit when I was thinking about the rating. Since it's quite a small book, in my opinion, I felt like the characters getting together was last minute and fast paced, I wouldn't really mind if it had an extra 50 pages, for example, just for us to get things a little bit better explained. If it wasn't for that, I would absolutely give it a 4 star rating. Mason's gift? I loved it, it was so special. And I also loved the characters, to know them better and their thoughts about each other, how they interacted as a family.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book quite a lot, even if it had some things that I wasn't the biggest fan but for a first christmas book? I think it was really good, it got me curious to try a few more and see if I like it as much as this one! I'm saying all of this when I'm not even a Christmas's type of person (ahaha) and I enjoyed it so if you love Christmas, I'm sure this is going to be a favourite for you!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun.
I adore a good enemies to lovers.
Throw in fake dating, forced proximity, small town setting, magic and Christmas?
My heart was giggling all the way through this.
I only took one star off because there is the eventual miscommunication between the two MC's and I hate that shit.
Much love to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for my ARC.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely was not expecting to read a Christmas book in September, but I could not resist when I saw this cover! It just looked so comforting and cozy even in the midst of the 90-degree days we're still experiencing in Texas. Anyway, this was a really cute and fast read, and the perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming fall/winter/holiday season.

When Lyla's father retires to spend his time vacationing with wife number four (or 5? it's hard to keep track...), Lyla expects to inherit his position as CEO of the toy company that's been an integral part of their family for generations. However, it turns out her father has given majority shares of the company to Mason Klaus, as the company is about to go under and needs to be bailed out by a wealthy and calculating investor/businessman. Lyla is forced to co-run the company with Mason, and the two consistently clash over how things should be done. Despite that, due to Lyla's misguided attempt to brighten the spirits of the company employees through a last-minute Christmas party that results in a fire, Lyla and Mason's fates are irrevocably intertwined when he decides Lyla must make reparations for the fire by accompanying him to visit his parents for the holidays. You can maybe make a bit of a guess where they might live..

Even though romance is not my favorite genre, for some reason I am a bit of a sucker for the holiday romances, and it's hard for me to turn down one with an enemies-to-lovers slant. This had a nice dose of that amidst a snowy yet cheery setting. The characters were overall pretty likable, and I especially enjoyed the interactions with Mason's family members. Some of the details about what Mason's family does to spread Christmas cheer were a little vague and confusing to me, but I can't really get into it without giving spoilers. There was one seemingly "spicy" scene that I did skip over, so I can't really attest to the overall spiciness level.

I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan of cozy romances and if you want to get a head start on the holiday season. Thanks so much to Kate Callaghan, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun & magical book! Without a doubt, this is my favorite Christmas book that I have read so far this year! Definitely has a similar vibe as my favorite Christmas movies…Elf & The Santa Clause! Not to mention, the cover is super cute!!!

Mason Klaus was hired by Lyla’s father to help their family toy business from failure. Lyla sees Mason as a threat because he was given the majority shares of the company and is constantly butting heads with him. Mason receives some bad news while Lyla is hosting the company’s holiday party (that Mason canceled) and gets drunk. Against her better judgment, Lyla helps Mason get home…which ends up turning her world upside down! Mason needs someone to bring home and Lyla is the one he chooses!

I absolutely loved this book!. My one small complaint is that I would have loved to see a little more romance in this book..it is a super slow burn. The characters are well developed. I love everything about the setting and I really enjoyed the spin on what happens in Santa’s workshop! Enemies to Lovers Trope is one of my favorites and this does not disappoint! I would love to see where Mason & Lyla’s story continues…

I am rating this book a 4.5 star book but I am rounding up because it definitely has that Hallmark Christmas movie feel to it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Kate Callaghan for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨
This was a sweet, pleasant read-- one you can absolutely cozy up to this holiday season. It'll warm you up instantly!
There's a lot of magic in this one-- in fact this book read like a screenplay in many ways, it's *so* incredibly easy to imagine it streaming on Netflix or playing on the Hallmark channel this Christmas season.

This is unfortunately where my personal disappointment came in-- it felt like a screenplay too. When major actions/dialogue happened, I waited to feel something in return but didn't. The dialogue came up empty. It felt like an actor was missing to emote a particular emotion to get across to the audience how they were feeling. There was a sense of incompletion. There was also some repetitive actions, such as "winking" and "smirking," that caused distraction as well.

I never fully invested in this story, but I wanted to because it's ripe with potential. The magical Dust system, for example, was a lot of fun! The author is clearly very adept in storytelling, but the execution wasn't always there for me.

That said, I must stress again how perfect this would be as a script for a holiday film. So if you're obsessed with Hallmark Christmas tv movies please give this one a chance!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim Loves Reading! · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked "Just like Magic" by Sarah Hogle, you will like this book, romance, fantasy Christmas story. It is not as funny as Hogle's book, but you do get this fun little village with all it's Christmas wonder. This book brings out the kid in you and then add some romance. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it very much, I loved all the characters and really could see this played out in a movie.

Lyla's CEO father has retired from their family toy company and she is now meant to receive his shares of the company. But when the time comes she realizes the company is bankrupt and her shares have been given to an investor Mason Klaus ( lol! last name tells it all). He is also know in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. But as they start to work together, everything seems to go wrong for Lyla and worries she will lose the company to Mason. Mason said he will forgive all that if she spends twelve days with his family for Christmas. She soon discovers there is more to Mason then this man that she butts heads with. Is he really the man she thought he was, and when you open your heart can you put in back together after the magic ends?

Thank you to NetGalley and Callaghanwriter for copy of this book for my honest review.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the Christmas spirit with this book. Super cute and fun, likeable characters and plot. Puts me in the Christmas mood 🌲 🎅 🤶
Thank you to Netgalley for this fun read.

[enjoyingbooksagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice!

If you like lifetime or the hallmark channels you like this book. If your not already this book will get you in the holiday sprit between the romance and the Winter Wonderland feeling. It is a enjoyable fast read with a enemies to lovers romance that I love and I enjoyed that the author named her characters with a sense of humor and that Mr. Klaus was hot. I would recommend reading this soon . Thank you @netgalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this for my review I enjoyed reading it.

[Kalena ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars, not perfect but a decent holiday read

Thank you to CallaghanWriter and Independent Book Publishers Association for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This book definitely had some Christmas spirit, and lots of themes relating to family, but there were some things that just decreased my enjoyment of this book. I'm glad that I read it during this time of year though, because some aspects of the story really did get me into the holiday spirit.

While I know I mentioned that there were some things I didn't like about this book, for the most part I don't have a super positive or negative opinion. It just felt like a book I read, but something I would probably forget in the long-run. I was very interested as the synopsis promises enemies to lovers, a magical Christmas story, and things like that. Which it did deliver on some of those, the overall story felt very slow and it meandered around what I already guessed was going to happen at the end. It took me a while, but towards the end I did end up enjoying myself, I just felt that some parts of the story were so slow and not built up enough that it was hard to connect.

In terms of the romance, almost right away you could see tension between Mason and Lyla, but it felt almost forced. I think that there needed to be more buildup between them before the story progressed, as I just didn't see their connection. I didn't understand why they didn't like each other and why they still held attraction for one another, though I did end up enjoying their romance a bit later on. I just never thought they had enough chemistry for me to get behind them fully.

[TW: sexual harassment mentioned, death of a parent mentioned, alcohol and drunk moments, car accident mentioned, non-consentful kiss, allergic reaction, depiction of grief, attempted murder, blood (brief), animal attack, sexual themes, kidnapping, head injury]

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some aspects of this book were pretty interesting, especially because I wasn't expecting the fantasy part. At first, it was a little jarring because it was such a sudden change but the premise of it was pretty cute. However, the world was hard to believe, even considering the magical elements. There were just some things that didn't seem to work out and I don't think it was explained enough; everything was pretty nonchalant. This spin to the story was still quite interesting though. For the most part, the characters were pretty decent but I wish we got to know more about the side characters, or at least more about Mason and Lyla as a couple. Their relationship seemed pretty nonexistent to me for the entirety of the book and there was some awkward pacing. Even the conflicts between them were resolved very easily and quickly. The ending was a disappointment because there were no stakes and everything was fixed before I could even process what happened. Overall, this was a simple and cute story but I would have liked it more if the ideas and characters were developed more.

[Selena Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the twists that came with it. Decided to give this 4 stars because although we love a realistic ending where the MC doesn’t abandon their life for love, I wouldn’t have minded that happening.

*contains spoilers*

Understandably they had only been together for a little while but living in Yule seemed delightful. I was happy to see Mason open up some as they explored together. Natalie deserved to get her memory eased, she was absolutely terrible. It was wonderful how they were able to convince the counsel to allow a new set up regarding the travel back and forth.
Wish there was more insight into their interactions before the trip, as we just had a few.

Overall this was a cozy read right in time for the holidays. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity all views are my own

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing about me is that I will read holiday romances all year round. They’re some of my absolute favorite stories. So when I saw a Christmas enemies-to-lovers romance with a little touch of fake dating mixed in I knew I had to check it out and I have no regrets.

There were so many things about this book that I adored, but I think the most special aspect for me was the dynamic of the Klaus family. Even though Mason left home a decade ago he is welcomed back with open arms. There really isn’t any animosity, nobody tries to make him feel bad for leaving, and even though they’re all grieving they make sure Lyla feels welcomed. Especially Kevin, he really filled that quintessential little brother role and it was so endearing.

I also liked that Lyla was able to help the family in their grieving process because of her own experience in losing her mom. I think it made her the perfect person to break through Mason’s walls and get him to open up more.

My only complaint is that I could predict the big drama and breakup/reconciliation coming. Other than that this book was warm, cozy, and really sweet.

I read this book as an arc through NetGalley and the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

If you want a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form, look no further, this is the right place. It was a quick read that had me hooked from the first page.

This book was adorable, funny and heartwarming. It wove in the topic of grief and gave it the space it deserves without taking from the overall warmness of the story.

Even though the book is a bit on the shorter side, the romance and characters are developed nicely. I would’ve liked the ending to be slightly longer, or at least an epilogue, though.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Jonathan (Jon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐��.5

𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙤 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙚!

📍 Read if you like:
• Fantasy Romances
• Christmas Parties
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Found Family

I had no idea what to expect when starting this one, other than it being a holiday romance. I didn’t realize it was a fantasy kind of romance but I surprisingly enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

It reminded me of a Christmas Hallmark movie and gave off the holiday spirit. The premise was so interesting!

The banter between the characters was so well done. I even got the grinch vibe from Mason, while Lyla had the Christmas spirit. I’m also a sucker for enemies-to-lovers so I loved the romantic chemistry between the two.

I enjoyed the magical aspect of the story. It’s not something I would typically pick up, but I did find myself enjoying it.

Unfortunately, there were some aspects of the book I didn’t love. First, the dialogue was poorly done - at times it felt awkward between the characters. Also, that ending was super rushed. It sucked because I was enjoying the book and I was dissatisfied with the way it ended.

Overall, it was a surprise holiday romance read with a touch of magic. I enjoyed the characters and the banter, and it gave me Christmas vibes! While some parts didn’t work, I still think the book was worth the read!

Thank you so much NetGalley and the author for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[shelby ✼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

·🎄·🎅·📋·🛷·🦌·💍·
The Naughty Or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan is the epitome of a cozy and merry Christmas romance.

The story follows work enemies and co-CEOs, Lyla Smurfit and Mason Klaus, who respectively own 49% and 51% of Lyla's family's toy company. After Lyla throws a work Christmas party gone wrong, she owes Mason big time for the damages. What better way to make it up to him than to accompany him home for the holidays and (surprise!) play his fake fiancee? Lyla quickly learns that Mason Klaus, his hometown, and his family have some holly jolly secrets. Join Lyla and Mason in a sweetly atmospheric Christmas town as they go from enemy co-CEOs to something more.

The atmosphere of this book was delightfully festive. I was in the holiday spirit from page one till the acknowledgments at the end of the book. I adored Callaghan's take on Santa lore. It was immediately evident that the characters were fleshed out and written considerately. The writing was crisp and easy to follow as well, every time I sat down to read I wanted to binge the whole story! This feels like a story that could be consumed over and over again every Christmas season (like a favorite holiday movie).

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested this from NetGalley for a seasonal read, and because I saw that it was an indie release. As usual, I was not disappointed.

This novel features two characters that can’t stand each other. Mason Klaus, a well dressed, but ill tempered man that overtook Lyla Smurfit’s birthright. He paid for it, but that’s not how she sees it. He sees her as an entitled, ill managed know it all. Until a letter draws him home—a home he hasn’t been to in over ten years, a home he can’t possibly go back to alone. He takes along the least likely guest ever!

This was a cute, cheesy romance. I typically avoid romance, which is why they read as cheesy to me, but as a lover of Christmas, this is typically the time of year I let one or two slip in. This one is well done, and I rather enjoyed it. Believe it or not, this is a double troped romance! Enemies to lovers, as well as pretend dating/fiancées turned lovers.

It delivers on the magic of Christmas and love, and it was an enchanting setting…the North Pole (or Yule)! It is written well, and I would most definitely check out more from the author as I believe they write fantasy normally which is more my flavor. If anything, the typical almost-heartbreak at the end could have gone on a bit longer to really sell it, but I enjoyed it anyway.

I got sucked in, and it hit the feels. Personally a 5/5*.