This was unfortunately a miss for me. I couldn’t engage with the characters at all. While reading I wasn’t fully reading the story, I was more less skimming it to see what would happen. It didn’t end up having the Christmas feels and romance that I was hoping for.

this was a perfect little Christmas read and i enjoyed every second of it.

rivals to lovers to forced proximity and some fake dating. all of my favourite tropes. i don't want to say too much because it will literally ruin a major plot point but i will say this:

This is not just a Christmas book, this is an M&S Christmas book. this is a wrapped in festive wrapping paper and tied up in a bow Christmas book. A full British roast with all the trimmings followed by a delicious dessert and topped off with a cheese board of dreams Christmas book.

A sweet holiday story with a fun take on Santa Claus and Christmas traditions. Lyla and Mason were sympathetic main characters and I enjoyed their banter a lot.

Yule sounds like a dream, I loved all the details about the town and folk who live there and would like to go immediately.

The side characters were sweet and interesting even without knowing a ton about them. Just enough people to make things cozy (or a little wicked) while focusing on the story.

I absolutely loved the idea of what the Klaus’ deliver Christmas Eve. Perfection.

I would recommend this book as a light, fluffy Christmas read with a teency bit of angst.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. (That being said, I also bought it as an e-book)

I didn’t really love or hate this one honestly. It was an enjoyable read for the holiday season, but not one I just gushed and kicked my feet over. I was put off by Mason tricking Lyla into the fake relationship and pushing it on her along with how he turned on her at any moment of conflict. I also haaaated the ex girlfriend, why was she able to get away with attempted murder twice? So extreme. Idk it could have been deeper and wittier, but I wouldn’t be opposed to reading the next book. But I also probably wouldn’t seek it out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book for the first half, and then it lost me at the end. I thought the magic was fun and silly, and I liked the Christmas town a lot. There were parts of the book though where Mason just came off as mean, and I didn’t care for that. It made it harder to root for him as a character and them as a couple. Lyla even comments on the emotional whiplash she’s getting from him, and yet it happens all throughout the book over and over. It’s not just grumpiness; it’s lashing out with cruelty, and I didn’t support that. I also didn’t like the last couple chapters. They felt rushed and not believable.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. This book absolutely exceeded my expectations. I thought it might be a little hokey but it was an absolute joy of a read. Perfect for the holiday season. It absolutely put me in the Christmas spirit and made me wish I could fall in love with Santa!

Throughly enjoyed this festive read!!

A fun take on the fake dating trope! A lovely festive read to curl up with a hot chocolate.

When Lyla's dad retired from his toy company he didn't leave the company to Lyla. Instead, he sold the majority of his shares to Lyla's new nemesis, Mason Klaus. After Mason cancels the office Christmas party, Lyla decides to throw one at the office to makeup for Mason's grinchy behavior. But Lyla's plan for a festive Christmas treat for their employees backfires when the building catches fire as a result of a mishap at the party. Mason offers to forgive Lyla's catastrophic decision if she pretend to be his fiancé and spend the next twelve days with him and his family as Mason returns home to deal with his father's death. But when she arrives in Mason's hometown, a beautiful Christmas paradise, Lyla's feeling begin to change about Mason and his family. Will Lyla be able to pull off this stunt and return home with her father's company to keep for herself?

I really loved this book. I loved the Santa Claus angle but with a reality twist. The plot was something original that I haven't read before. I loved the banter between Lyla and Mason. I loved the shenanigans they get caught up in. I loved the atmosphere of a winter wonderland that author Kate Callaghan has created. This was a fun, light, quick read that was perfect for the holiday season. I hope the Village of Yule gets a another book written about it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good Christmas story and this hit the spot during this holiday season. I’m still recommending even after Christmas is over!

The world building was interesting to me! As a romance, I really don't see any of it sticking with me. I was really hoping this story would be better than it was.

"Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice!"
The Naughty or Nice Clause was the perfect Christmas read! I was captivated by the book from the first page and didn't stop turning pages until the very end. The author wrote this really well and all of the characters in this were wonderful. Overall, this was such a cute and fun read that I loved a lot and would recommend to any reader. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this Christmas read in exchange of my honest review of The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan.

Festive fun, a bit of light escapism. I won’t spoil the secret, but I loved the idea of what the gold dust.actually does. Grab a hot chocolate, add plenty of marshmallows, relax and enjoy.

If you're craving a holiday romance that's packed with heart, heat, and a dash of holiday magic, *The Naughty or Nice Clause* by Kate Callaghan is the book you need in your life. From the very first page, this charming, swoon-worthy story will pull you in, and you won’t want to put it down until the last heart-melting moment.

The premise is irresistible: a lawyer, tasked with helping a client navigate a quirky "naughty or nice" contract clause, ends up in a battle of wits and undeniable chemistry with her charming, yet oh-so-infuriating neighbor. Their relationship starts off with a bit of tension and playful bickering, but it doesn't take long for the sparks between them to explode into something much more thrilling. The best part? Both characters are relatable, layered, and incredibly lovable, making you root for their romance with every page.

What really makes this story stand out, though, is the way Callaghan masterfully balances sweet and spicy. The banter between the characters is witty and delightful, and the slow burn of their attraction is deliciously tense. When they finally give in to their feelings, it’s a moment that will leave you breathless, and it only gets better from there.

*The Naughty or Nice Clause* is brimming with holiday cheer, yes, but it’s the swoon-worthy moments—the stolen kisses, the tender glances, and the sweet confessions—that will have your heart doing somersaults. It’s a book that wraps you up like a cozy winter blanket, full of heartwarming moments that will leave you with a big smile on your face and a warm glow in your chest.

If you’re looking for the perfect mix of holiday magic and swoon-worthy romance, *The Naughty or Nice Clause* is a must-read. It’s festive, flirty, and will have you wishing for your own bit of Christmas romance. Kate Callaghan’s storytelling is pure magic, and this book is the kind of holiday treat you’ll savor long after the last page.

After giving out the 'we can't stand each other' vibes initially, I found the sudden attraction and ensuing romance between the protagonists Mason Klaus and Lyla Smurfit rushed and unconvincing.

However, I absolutely fell in love with the Village of Yule, hidden away in the North Pole and the people living in it 🩵🤍❤️💚! It was everything a winter wonderland should be 🎅❄️🎄☃️🤶!

The cover design is cute as well 😍.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers CallaghanWriter/IBPA/BooksGoSocial and the author Kate Callaghan for the e-ARC of the book.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟✨💫

The second time of reading and just as enjoyable.

This is a wonderful Christmas read, with plenty of humour, romance and Fantasy adding to the mix.

The characters are well developed and there is certainly no rush into the romance.

A treat for anytime of the year, but especially for the Christmas holiday.

🇺🇸 I liked the story. When the secret Christmas party ends in a fire and it's your fault. That's what happens to Lyla, who organized the canceled Christmas party behind her business partner's back. The story was exciting, funny and romantic. I thought the setting was great. The characters were very likeable. I liked the dynamic between the characters from the start. Both characters also developed well.
I also liked the writing style. Nice and fluid, even for readers whose first language is not English. The cover looks very nice. It fits the story.
A clear reading recommendation

🇩🇪 Die Geschichte hat mir ganz gut gefallen. Wenn die geheime Weihnachtsfeier in einem Feuer endet und es auch noch deine Schuld ist. So geht es Lyla, welche hinter dem Rücken ihres Geschäftspartners, die abgesagte Weihnachtsfeier organisiert hat. Die Geschichte war spannend, lustig und romantisch. Das Setting fand ich toll. Die Figuren waren sehr sympathisch. Die Dynamik zwischen den Figuren hat mir von Anfang an gefallen. Beide Figuren haben sich auch gut entwickelt.
Den Schreibstil fand ich auch gut. Schön flüssig auch für Leser welche nicht erste Sprache nicht Englisch ist. Das Cover sieht sehr schön aus. Passend zur Geschichte.
Eine klare Leseempfehlung

This was such a cute holiday read! Christmas books usually aren't my jam, but I loved the feel it gives.

Nope, can’t read.

Mason Klaus cancelled the company Christmas party on the day of the party because “it’s expensive”. Undoubtedly, most of the expenses have already been made, and he never tossed in this argument during the budget or planning meetings.

Anyway, I don’t like romantic interests that are smugg and obnoxious. Does are the qualities of the villain of the story.

I just finished the two books in Village of Yule series by Kate Callaghan. These were both so fun! They take place in the real world and The Village of Yule, which is the North Pole. I recommend reading them in order so you know who the side characters are.

🔔 Village of Yule (Interconnected Series)

❄️ Read on @netgalley + Kindle Unlimited

✨Tropes & Themes✨

🎀 Dual POV

❄️ Winter Wonderland

❄️ Forced Proximity

🎀 Hallmark With Spice

❄️ Family Secrets


The first book, The Naughty Or Nice Clause, introduces us to Yule and follows Lyla and Mason. They have an enemies to lovers, workplace, fake fiancé relationship. It’s amazing, I love how their relationship begins and blooms. I also LOVE the Klaus family and am open to relocation if Santa happens to be real and reading this.

If you love feeling like you are reading a Hallmark movie and want to get in the Christmas spirit, I highly recommend this series. I enjoyed the magical elements, the romance, the Village of Yule and especially the HEA of each.

What a funny and great book for this time of year 🎄

I really liked the premise (who wouldn't want to date a hot, sweet and wonderful Santa Claus?), the characters and Yule! But I think something else was missing for me to fall completely in love with the story 🥲

Even so, the writing is still great, the chapters very easy to read, a very Christmassy story set in a secret city, with wonderful characters ✨

I really want to keep reading books by her and especially from this world 🤭
Looking forward to the next one 💕

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the copy for review 🫶🏼