Naughty But Nice by Donna Kauffman

This was a cute, short romance and I enjoyed reading it over and afternoon. That's exactly what I love in a Christmas romance when I'm super busy and just want a quick treat. I actually read all three of these over a recent long weekend and had fun binging the Hamilton family stories. This one was my least favorite in the trilogy, but I still enjoyed it! I really liked Melody, but Thomas was a pretty crummy guy from the get-go. I never ended up liking him and since the book was so short, the romance didn't sparkle for me the way that I hoped it would. If I'd had a full-length novel I might have been able to see enough character and relationship development to change my mind, but as it stands it was just too short for me to feel anything. But I did love Melody and all the bakery talk, so that was nice and kept me turning the pages.

Another great read by Donna Kauffman albeit a shorter read. I wasn't as fond of these characters as I was in the previous books but due to her writing they grew on me. Donna has a way of developing characters and even when their character has a few personality quirks, I still wind up rooting for them. If you're looking for a book to put a smile on your face, this one, or any of the others in the series, should do that for you!

Naughty but Nice by Donna Kauffman is the third novella romance in the Hamilton Christmas series. They were originally published in the The Naughty List anthology but have now been published as individual novellas. Each book in the series can be read as standalone stories, but have an overreaching story involving the Hamilton family to tie them together. This final story in the anthology has Lionel Hamilton's nephew from Ireland, Griffin Gallagher, coming to the town of Hamilton to develop it and make it bigger and more profitable. Melody Duncastle is perfectly happy running her small town bakery and has no urge to expand, in fact, she wants her quiet town to be left alone and for him to concentrate his efforts on Hamilton Industries. From their first meeting, early one morning in her bakery, there is chemistry and it heats up quickly. Attraction or not though these two definitely do not see eye to eye on their visions for their small town.

Whenever I read a novella length romance, I come to expect a certain amount of insta-love and this one is no exception. There is an opposites attract feeling, even a bit of an enemy to lovers trope happening. I really liked both Melody and Griffin. They had suffered loss in the past and were a bit closed off because of it, but they were good for each other and I wanted them to get together. I did enjoy this story, although, there wasn't as much of a festive, Christmas feel as the previous two novellas in this series. Having said that, it is a short, cute, romance read with a bit of steam.

Another cute holiday story. Wish I had read thie prior books, as I feel I would have enjoyed this even more. But still a fun holiday read.

Also I LOVE the cover of this book. And I do judge a book by it's cover.

A sassy female MC? Yes please! They are my favorite. And always love a baking book, especially if it is holiday related.

A quick read that will put you in the holiday spirit!

I really enjoyed this novella. The central issue is how people deal with change. Is change always bad? How can you make it good? Are people who resist change always wrong and the people who drive change always right? Melody and Griffin have some very interesting conversations about change, and that pushes this story away from just a cute romance and into real life. I also enjoyed the epilogue because it tied up the HEAs for everyone in this Hamilton series. Fun reading!

I really enjoyed this story and series and look forward to exploring more by this author.
This story is the third in the Hamilton Christmas novellas by Donna Kauffman, Naughty but Nice is a fabulous conclusion to this series. Griffin and Melody are an unlikely couple, yet they are charming wonderful characters who find the path that leads to each other. Happy Reading!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

The third and final book in this series introduces bakery owner, Melody Duncastle, and businessman, Thomas Griffin Gallagher. Griffin has arrived in town to confirm he is the new heir to the Hamilton fortune and he has big plans to reenergize and update the good town of Hamilton. Melody voices her displeasure with his ideas loudly but he is determined to change her mind. He also realizes he has strong romantic feelings for her so he hopes to win her favor in more ways than one.

Of the three stories in this novella series, this was my least favorite one. I disliked Thomas Griffin Gallagher immediately. He was very pushy and had a superior air about him. He does have a backstory that formed the man he had become but I just couldn’t warm to him even after Melody shaved away some of his hard edges. Melody is such a caring individual. She came home to Hamilton to help a sick friend and it totally changed her life. Their first meeting was humorous but I think for two strangers the relationship that was quickly built just didn’t feel right to me, even with a heartwarming moment at the end.

I think as with book two, Lock, Stock, and Jingle Bells, the book was hurt by the novella length. Griffin and Melody are both very strong people with differing points of view and then suddenly they are in love. Where was the conflict? She stood up to him once and then after spending a few hours together, he gets everything he wants. I just wanted more development and some give and take, a little bit of a chase. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but after that, the books went downhill in my opinion. I do believe if the last two stories had been full-length novels it would have allowed for better character development and romantic tension to evolve I would have really enjoyed them.

Melody gave up a stressful career and big city life and hasn't looked back once since she became a baker in a small town. She loves the more relaxed pace of life in her small but charming town so is absolutely horrified when she finds out a developer wants to give the place an upgrade to put it on the map. The last thing she wants is to see an influx of tourists destroy the friendly atmosphere she moved here for so she is determined to work alongside other small business owners to stop the development from going ahead.

Griffin is struggling to deal with the revelation that he had a whole other family that he never new about and the fact that he is the heir to the Hamilton fortune. Unfortunately things aren't all what they appear in Hamilton Industries and unless he manages to turn things around Melody's town is going to be in serious financial trouble. He knows exactly what he needs to do to make things happen and he has a track record of getting it right but first he needs to get Melody and the other locals to accept his plans and help him implement them.

This story is more of an enemies to lovers trope. Melody is determined to stop Griffin from making the changes the town needs but she doesn't understand the motives behind his choices. The attraction between them is instant and since this is a novella the romance moves at a quick pace between them but it was still a fun story and it was nice to see the conclusion to questions about the Hamilton family that were raised in the first book in the series.

Griffin is trying to build a business empire, but sweet and funny baker Melody is a distraction that may make this Christmas his best ever. Donna Kauffman's Naughty but Nice is a cute, romantic holiday read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Fans of Debbie Macomber and Nora Roberts would enjoy this charming read!

An easy and inoffensive read for the festive period. I enjoyed the plot and characters but I did feel like I was missing something.

Enjoyed this book very much. It was a quick easy read. This story is about Griffin and Melody. You need to read it this author doesn't disappoint. I recommend it to others.

Donna Kauffman writes books that are sweet and sexy and always pull me right in. I love holiday romances and Naughty But Nice was perfect.

A sexy novella that seemed to wrap up a series that I haven't read the previous books of (not what I expected)
I liked the dough therapy thing, that's my way to escape stress as well, the rest of the story well a little flat on all aspects of the development.
2,5 stars

Another exceptional book by Donna Kauffman. I haven't ever read a book by her that I didn't like and wouldn't recommend.

Businessman Griffin’s never believed in luck . . . until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there’s a catch: There’s no way he’ll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. This new love could destroy all his dreams—or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible.
This was a really good holiday story that I enjoyed. It felt like it was sprinkled with holiday magic! I liked both main characters and the journey they went through. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This is book 3 in the Hamilton Christmas Novella series and it's another good story that is short and easy to read during the busy holiday season. Melody runs the local small bakery in town where Griffin is determined to bring new tourist and business to help Hamilton Industries. She's afraid he'll change the town that she will no longer fit it. As trust grows in both Melody and Griff the townspeople decide they will be the perfect Christmas romance to keep them entertained over the winter. Good addition to the series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a delightful story set in the town of Hamilton and tells how Griffin Gallagher is going to transform the town into a picturesque village. The developer does not figure on the effect that the lovely Melody Duncastle, owner of Cups and Cakes shop, will have on him and on his plans.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Naughty But Nice by Donna Kauffman, which was previously published in an anthology and is an entry in her Hamilton Christmas series, is a pleasant novella that like many novellas would probably work better as a full-length novel.

Kauffman tries to work around the usual romance novella-problem by having the couple, Griffin and Melody, spend a lot of one-on-one time together but the ensuing insta-love really just boils down to lust with no real sparks between two characters who are not readily likable.

Throwing Christmas in seems like an afterthought. So, if you’re looking for Christmas cheer you might want to look elsewhere.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Naughty but nice is the third novella in the "A Hamilton Christmas" series. It can be read as stand-alone, but I enjoyed it more than I would have if I hadn't read the other 2 novellas. The stories are connected, but not in a way that will make you regret not having read the previous novellas. This one didn't have the Christmas-y feeling the other two had, unfortunately, but it was still good and I can see myself reading it on a cold winter afternoon. Griffin is new to the town since he only recently found out that he is a Hamilton heir and his plan will ruin Melody's idea of what the town should be like. These two might have different opinions, but sparks flew and they couldn't resist each other. Yes, there is some insta-lust, but with this length, I think that it is expected and it didn't bother me. In the end, I liked Naughty But Nice and the series as a whole. I think that you should read the other two books first and then pick this one. They are short, so you wouldn't invest too much time and you will get three Christmas-y stories.