Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5/5

Not quite as magical as the first, but still a cozy holiday read.

In Tis the Season for Secrets, Kate Callaghan brings us back to the charming (and surprisingly complicated) Village of Yule for a story filled with family drama, magical revelations, and a sprinkle of romance. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, this second installment still manages to be a fun and festive escape.

Juliet Frost's journey of self-discovery starts with an old family chest and spirals into uncovering the truth about her parentage, a magical Christmas village, and a steamy reunion with Will Duncan. The premise is delightful, blending a touch of holiday whimsy with deeper themes of identity and belonging. The Klaus family lore and Yule traditions were highlights, offering a sense of wonder and a deeper dive into the world Callaghan is building.

That said, the plot feels a bit rushed at times, especially when it comes to Juliet and Will’s relationship. Their chemistry is sweet, but it lacks the spark and emotional depth that could have elevated the story. Will’s mysterious nature, while intriguing, sometimes feels underexplored, leaving me wishing for more insight into his character and his connection to Juliet.

The first book remains the stronger of the two, with tighter pacing and a more engaging storyline. However, this sequel still delivers enough charm and warmth to make it a worthwhile read. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll likely appreciate the expanded world of Yule and the cozy holiday vibes this one offers.

Would I recommend it? Sure—but it’s not the showstopper the first book was. Still, for fans of holiday magic and lighthearted romance, it’s a pleasant addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first book in this Yule series, The Naughty or Nice Claus.. I was completely captivated by the version of the North Pole and the story of the new Santa Claus finding his love. Tis the Season for Secrets was a good book but not as magical to me as the first. For starters we didn't spend nearly enough time learning more about Yule. And the time spent outside of Yule wasn't the most exciting. I did like our main characters Juliet and Will, but the main stroyline between them felt underdeveloped. Also there was a huge build up to Juliet meeting the mother she never knew and it was surprisingly a non -event. I felt blah about the ending. I do really like this author's writing and of course, I will be back to see more of Yule if she continues the series. I think she will because my guess is Juliet's best friend will start in the next one.

I’m such a mood reader, Christmas is over but I have tons of Christmas books to read. I may or may not try to a Christmas in July challenge to finish and review all these Christmas romances. I’ll fix my reviews eventually! I promise

I enjoyed Will and Juliet’s story, it was a lot of fun and made for a great Christmas read. I totally fell in love with Will and I wanted a happy ending for him.

Family secrets coming to light, second chance romance.... yes please! I knew I was going to love this after loving Callaghan's last one. I flew through this as well and am in love.

3.75 ⭐️

Returning to Yule was so good, so magical 🥹

Once again the author has brought us the magic of Christmas, literally with a touch of magic 🤭 who wouldn't want to land in a magical Secret village at the North Pole?
This book was good, but not great. At the beginning it all seemed too instant love because of the one night stand that, in reality, our Will was already more than hooked on Juliet. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of the instant love trope.

Besides, there were times when I would have liked the plot to have developed more and faster. I felt that in some parts it was too slow.
And I sincerely hope that a third book with Margot and Harvey's story is planned!!!

Other than that, it was a great Christmas book, with all the Christmas vibes I look for in a book like this 🎄
If you like Hallmark movies, but with a bit of spice, you'll definitely like these books 🤭

Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing this copy, in exchange for an honest review 🙏🏼

It’s a Christmas miracle. Juliet finally gets the promotion she’s been working towards which means she gets to be in the genre she prefers and she gets to leave her old terrible boss behind. In addition, her rotchety grandfather had passed so now she just has to deal with her father who is rich but not very loving or supportive.
Surprisingly after her 26th birthday, she receives a chest from her grandmother, who’s already been dead. This box unlocks a mystery of her parentage and background within a magical town of Yule.
With the help of her guardian, whom she may have already had a one-night stand with, she will see if she can understand her history and what that means for her future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a cute holiday romance which wasn’t over-the-top with Christmas as you sometimes got but was enough to feel cozy and appropriate for the season. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is a standalone but if you read the first one you will have more background on some of the characters in this book. I was frustrated by Juliet’s inability to stay! So much could have been prevented if she would have just stayed put. It irks me when characters do stupid stuff over and over again but I understand how it was necessary to progress the story. Overall, I would recommend as it is what it purports to be a cute holiday romance! Also I would love another book about Harvey and Margot.

“‘Tis the Season for Secrets” was a cross between “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Santa Clause” and “Fifty First Dates”. That being said, you can relate to my 5 star rating! Who doesn’t need a little magic and “believing” during the holiday season?

Just when Juliet thinks her life is status quo, Will Duncan (a guardian of the Christmas Village called Yule) enters her life! Will’s job? To protect those on the “outside” from exposing Yule and all its existence. In the meantime he falls for Juliet and once she discovers the families legacy chest delivered to her about her secret past and connection to Yule the adventure unravels.

I loved the character connection and the magic of make believe. This was the perfect book for the Christmas season but honestly any time of year. What could be more magical than a secret Christmas village, a guardian, falling in love and getting the answers to questions you’ve dreamed about your entire life? A clever plot with such realism I couldn’t put it down.

This is the second book in a series but I read it as a stand alone and had no regrets! I want to go back and read lThe Naughty or Nice Clause” now.
Highly recommend this novel! It simply fulfilled my Christmas spirit and I can’t wait to visit “Yule” again soon!

Thanks to @katecallaghan and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I did not love it but I did not hate it either, that is why this is 2.5 /5 book for me. But I read it without knowing it was part of a series, and that did not affect my reading experience, I could easily understand what it was about and what was happening, and that is definitely a plus!

Thank you to CallaghanWriter and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book. Here are my honest thoughts and review.

⭐ 3.5 Stars

This delightful Christmas mystery follows Juliet and Will in a cute, cozy adventure that blends holiday charm with romance and mystery subplots. While it's a companion to The Naughty or Nice Clause, you can easily enjoy this story as a standalone.

I loved the festive holiday setting paired with the intrigue of uncovering family secrets. Juliet discovers layers of hidden truths about her family’s past, and with Will's help, she embarks on a journey to uncover them all. Will plays a pivotal role, both in solving the mystery and in Juliet’s personal growth, making their dynamic central to the story.

This short and fun read is perfect for the holiday season—what better way to end the year than with a heartwarming holiday romance? The book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and events in the best way possible. I especially appreciated how the story explored Juliet’s relationships with side characters, like her best friend, rather than focusing solely on the spicy romance.

That said, the brevity of the book might make Juliet and Will’s relationship feel a bit insta-lovey for some readers. While this didn’t detract from my enjoyment, their romance would have benefited from more time spent on the smaller, everyday moments that build love organically.

The Yule Village setting was magical—I adored being immersed in it so much that I’ll be picking up The Naughty or Nice Clause next to read Maon and Lyla’s story.

If you're looking for a festive read filled with romance, mystery, and holiday cheer, I highly recommend this book!

What a cute story!
Oh how I hate the FMC's family though! Oh man did I wanna give them some just desserts!
I enjoyed this story tho the ending felt rushed. I wanted some loose ends tied up.

First time reading this author. Enjoyable magical adult Christmas story. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Tis The Season For Secrets (Village of Yule # 2) by Kate Callaghan
Publisher: CallaghanWriter
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Published: November 24, 2024

Tis The Season For Secrets is the second book in the Village of Yule series by Kate Callaghan. This book can be read as a standalone romance or as part of the series.

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was wonderful! I loved the characters and thought the romance was swoon worthy!

I highly recommend reading this series! I hope there are more books to come soon!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed seeing the characters progress in this story. The story was well paced and well written. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured it in just a few sittings.

I had hopes that I would like the second one with the synopsis, but this also fell flat for me as the first one which is a bummer because I wanted to really enjoy these two books. This has a one-night stand, forced proximity and holiday romance, All things that I enjoy reading. The writing style in my opinion needs to be improved slightly.

I think I loved this more than the first book on the series. A magical adult Santa Claus story. A perfect holiday read! I loved revisiting Yule and the characters from the first story and cannot wait for the next installment!!!

While i did prefer the fisrt books, this was still a lovely read

this wasn't AS Christmassy as the first book, as its not exactly set in Yule however the parts that were in Yule were Christmassy. it had the same feel as The naughty or nice claus and it was very consistent. i loved returning to Yule and reconnecting with the characters there.

the mystery was well paced and i was very eager to the part where it all came together!

overall a great Christmas book but i preferred the first one.

Juliet is given an old box and discovers a family secret. It is an enjoyable festive story.
Holiday romance for an easy Christmas read.
Juliet is a likeable smart character and has a nice friendship with her best friend.
It has its ups and downs but its what you would want from a romance at this time of year.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

This book has a touch of magic, mystery and a whole lot of Christmas spirit!

I did not expect much from this book at all, seeing that the last couple of Christmas books I've read lately have been a bit formulaic, but this one did NOT disappoint. I looooved the touch of magical realism and that it was something else than just a small town romance set during Christmas.

Juliet is given a box filled with family secrets, and little did she know that after a one-night stand, would she be transported into the magical town of Yule. I just loved the characters and how they interacted with each other and I adored this story.

It was just what I needed for a holiday novel, and this is one of those books where I thought during the entire read that... Daaaang, this would be a PERFECT Christmas movie! I'd binge it just as much as I did with the book.

Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

This book was so good. She gets a magic chest to find out that she was part of a banished family from yule. Highly recommend