Silly me didn't read the synopsis beforehand (i knew kate callaghan would be good anyways), and imagine my surprise to find that this was not just a christmas romance, it was a fantasy christmas romance, with santa involved??? Thats crazy and i love it. I definitely enjoyed this idea and the world it takes place in, but i read something in another review that i do agree with, to reword that; i love this world but the romance is not memorable. Especially at the end i felt the romance felt a bit flat. I felt more chemistry when they were enemies than when they were lovers, and i missed that real connection on paper. Its a cute and fun christmassy read regardless!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to love this book but it is so scattered that from the beginning I had to reread passages to try to figure out what I had missed. Seasonally appropriate but really hard to follow.

I thought this book was super cute and had all the holiday feels that I love! I'm excited that this book is the first in a series, because I also love a great series! I also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation, bringing this story to our current times, which was refreshing. Kudos to the author!

This was a perfect sweet festive story. It had everything you could possibly want in a Christmas book. It follows Mason and Lyla. Working together at a toy company when Mason gets word of a death in his family. Mason tricks Lyla into coming home with him for the holiday as his fake fiancé. There’s twists, turns, sweet and spicy and even a bit of magic. It was so fun to be in the world of Yule and get all he feelings of Christmas that you sometimes loose as an adult.

Mason now owns the majority share of Lyla's family's toy company- and she could not be more frustrated by their differing managerial styles. Soon, though, the two end up in the magical village of Yule together, faking an engagement, while Lyla learns about the Clauses, the town, and Mason himself.

The story is lighthearted and silly. There's not much depth, but there are twinkles of Christmas magic. It was a fun read-even in early September-and I most enjoyed the family dynamics.

Overall: 4 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Did I read this book in damn near 80 degree weather? Yes. Did I eat it up and wish for Christmas? Also YES. 🧑‍🎄🎄💚

The rivals --> lovers trope will eat EVERY TIME for me and this was so fun. ALSO fake dating (engagement) is one of my favs also so you know I was gonna have a good time.
This story was actually so cute, funny, and had such an original plot! I loved it. There was definitely some depth missing and there was just some things that left me wanting more, but overall I had a great time. Mason and Lyla had incredible tension, banter, and cuteness. I loved it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, and all thoughts are my own. 🧑‍🎄🎄💚

Lyla inherits a bankrupt toy company and finds out her father gave 51 percent of the shares to Lyla's enemy. they must learn to work together to make the company a success.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters and the plot are very well written and the story was interesting and thought out well. I would definitely recommend this book to my audience and friends.

I received this book on Netgalley, first and foremost! Thank you to Ms. Callaghan for such a lovely opportunity 😊

Secondly, and most importantly: this book was wonderful. I loved the switch of a Klaus being a fuddy-duddy during the Christmas holidays, only to take over a big corporate business and find romance along the way.

Lyla was a strong character I really connected with. I loved how we got to see her own grief mirrored in Mason, and how he slowly opened himself up while he was home. Though I didn't like him at first, he definitely grew on me, and I was rooting for them by the end of the novel. I also really enjoyed, as other reviewers have pointed out, the LGBT+ representation and the disability representation. It was unexpected but wholly sat as a piece of the text, rather than a one-off or "tokenism."

Overall, such a good romance with strong characters and a good plot, one I devoured in a few days. However, I'd be mindful that it does talk about parental death and estranged/strained familial relationships for both characters.

I always enjoy a cute Christmas book to get me into the holiday spirit. The story line was cute but the magical village was a bit far fetched for me. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy read.

Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First love the name and cover is was so Christmassy
I really enjoyed it
Lovely sweet Christmas story with a beautiful setting
I adored the characters.

Oh, what a wintery read! The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan is the first novel in the enticing new Village of Yule series.
As you would expect from a romantic-comedy there are plenty of humorous moments, especially when Lyda meets Mason's family and has to pretend to be his fiancée- no stress, eh?
Also, I loved the descriptions of Yule, as it is truly the village of my dreams. Honestly, as I was in my perfect dreamworld while reading this book. The author creates such a brilliant vision of Yule.
The Naughty or Nice Clause does work well as a standalone, but I'm sure that all readers (just like myself), will look forward to making the return journey to Yule in "Tis The Season For Secrets", which is out in November.

I found this book really difficult to get into and I just didn't connect with any of the characters.

I ended up reading purely to stick it out until the end but I didn't love it.

However, I did enjoy the writing style and would be interested in reading one of this author's other works.

A nice and entertaining mix of fantasy and rom-com, it made me smile and I had fun.
It's well plotted, the world building is well done, and I rooted for the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The is a cute holiday book. Thank you to Netgalley for this ebook to read and review! This is a standalone romance book. The female main character owns part of the toy company with Mason. During a Christmas party there was a fire causing a lot of damage, and damage equals money. Mason strikes a bargain with Lyla to pay for the damages but it includes fake dating... What could go wrong? Mason holds some secrets that Lyla uncovers during this fake holiday romance while visiting his family in the North Pole! Will she keep the secrets and continue with her part of the bargain or will she come clean they are not in a relationship?

I just finished The Naughty and Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t completely fall in love with it like I was hoping to. It had soo much potential, but some parts left me wanting more.

The idea of the book is super cute—a Christmassy, magical romance with a contract involved. But… the execution of the writing? It felt a bit rushed in places, and I didn’t get as attached to the characters as I wanted to. 😬

Our FMC had her moments, but there were times where I couldn’t quite understand her choices, and it made the whole thing feel a little inconsistent. And the love interest? Well… let’s just say I was waiting for more chemistry to spark between them. The banter was cute, but the connection felt like it was missing that extra spark. ✨

That being said, the holiday vibes were definitely on point. If you’re in the mood for a light, festive read, this could still be a fun little book to read. But as a whole, it left me feeling like there could’ve been more depth and development to the story and characters.

This was a fun and light-hearted book, with merry festive vibes. Overall, it was a fun book for Christmas.

This was really cute! I really enjoyed Lyla and Masons banter. It was on point from their first meeting.

I liked the almost magical vibes here- they end up in Yule, which is basically the North Pole. And Mason has some… ties to being Santa. Lyla has to pretend they are engaged to be able to stay. Like, what a fun premise!

The town of Yule was so cute. I could almost picture it. I loved how welcoming his family (and most of the town) was to Lyla. She also as able to help Mason get through the struggles of losing his father and taking up a new position.

I can’t wait to see where we go next with the village of Yule!

Kate Callaghan's The Naughty or Nice Clause is a delightful, whimsical holiday romance that brings magic, humour, and a touch of Christmas spirit to life. Set against the backdrop of the holiday season, the story blends festive charm with fantasy elements, creating a unique Christmas tale that departs from the usual.

The novel follows the protagonist, Lyla Smurfit, who finds herself in a rather unusual situation. Her family’s toy company is on the brink of collapse, and as a last-ditch effort, she is forced to sign a contract that binds her to the company’s mysterious new owner, Mason Klaus. There’s a catch: to save the business, she must travel to the North Pole and marry Mason. What follows is a magical and romantic adventure, as Lyla navigates the strange, wintry world of the North Pole, filled with elves, reindeer, and a very different take on Santa Claus.

Lyla is a relatable heroine, combining practicality with a sense of adventure. Her personal growth throughout the novel, from a sceptical, work-focused woman to someone who embraces the magic around her, is heart warming. Mason Klaus, her love interest, is a brooding, enigmatic character with a softer side that is revealed as the story progresses. The chemistry between the two leads is slow-burn and engaging, and their interactions are a blend of banter, tension, and romance.

At its heart, The Naughty or Nice Clause is a fun holiday romance, but it also touches on deeper themes of trust, personal sacrifice, and family loyalty. Callaghan adds a dash of fairy-tale magic to the usual romantic formula, infusing the novel with a sense of wonder and holiday cheer. The tone is light-hearted and whimsical, with a few moments of emotional depth to balance out the festive fun.

This book was really cute! I really enjoyed the Christmas theme, it was cozy in the lead up to my fave time of year. I did feel like it was missing something but couldn’t quite put my finger on what, I still enjoyed it though