This is a sweet novella Apparently part of a series, but I haven't had the opportunity of reading the earlier novels.
Griffin Gallagher comes to town to, propose a redevelopment of the village, and in dire need of a "real" coffee, happens upon Melody's café and Bakery, but when she is occupied, helps himself to the coffee. When she see him and catches him out, she also brings up his future plans for the village, in a not too happy manner.
That evening they clash at the town meeting, when Griffin reveals part of his plans to build up the village into something all would be proud of. Of course, not all the townsfolk are as excited about the changes he presents to them.

Well of course Griffin and Melody have a great meeting in her Bakery about the town plans, and whilst Griffin steps in to assist Melody in her backlog of baking, they set sparks flying and connect in more ways than one.

A lovely light novel, will be looking to read the earlier ones, and any future that will continue with the story.

Steamy, sweet (there are cupcakes), and short. An intriguing romance between the Irish guy and the American gal. Not much reference to the time of year during which the tale takes place. Fine with me. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. Haven't read the other stories.

Donna Kauffman wrote the 3 part series, A Hamilton Christmas. This year the third novella is revisited and renamed to Naughty But Nice. Griffin Gallagher is a businessman from Ireland who comes to visit the township of Hamilton, North Carolina to help refurbish the business district. HIs goal is to help the citizens add golf courses, hotels, new businesses, and expand what is already within the town. Most people seem enthused about the idea but baker Melody Duncastle would rather keep her bakery just the same. She would like the town to stay just the same.as iit always has been. As many of Ms. Kauffman's love stories progress, Melody and Griffin bicker and battle but fall for each other in the process. It is a delightful story and completes this Christmas series on a very pleasant, funtastic note.
Once again I thank Netgalley and Penguin Random House Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novella.

This was a cute, quick read that was fairly predictable. Sometimes that is exactly what I am looking for especially when the holiday seasons comes around and I want a fluffy read for bedtime. I enjoyed both Griffin and Melody as the main characters and felt that their quick jump from adversaries to lovers was right on par with any of my favorite Hallmark Movies (IMHO, Sliding Door Hallmark Movies are the BEST!!!!, but enemies to friends also works). If you are looking for a frothy read with a light touch, go for it.

Naughty but nice was amazingly written Insta lust to love novella.  I admired the perfectly choosed wording of Mrs. Kaufmann. The plot was on the shorter side, well, it's novella, but still making you invested and giving you more than enough information.  

Griffin' s mysterious parentage is publicly revealed.  He is asked to save the Hamilton industries. He wants to bring them to thier previous  flourishing days and needs the citizens' help by doing small but positive changes to the town.

Melody is baker with all her heart. She doesn't want any of that and fears about the future of their town.

Both characters although with different views were meant to fall in love. I was feeling their connection from the very begining and say they just clicked beautifully together.

I trully loved the story.

Naughty but Nice by Donna KauffmanMelody doesn't want her small town to change. That's why she's so so against Griffin coming to town. He's a developer who wants to help the town grow and he's surprised that some people might be opposed to that process. However, Griffin is determined to win the cupcake baker over.

In this series, this wasn't my least favorite but it was not a great story. Very shallow and not enough time to see why the two fell in love.



Two stars

This comes out October 30

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

This is the third and final book/novella in the Hamilton Christmas series. The story was originally published as part of the Naughty but Nice anthology. It's the third and final holiday novella in the Hamilton Christmas series that are being released individually this season. Each of Ms. Kauffman’s novellas can be read as standalone stories with each featuring a different set of main characters. We do meet up with characters in “Unleashed”(the first novella in the series) “Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells” (the second in the series) for added familiarity for those readers who read all three, which I would highly recommend.

Donna Kauffman has created yet another fun holiday romance with all the small town goodness that makes for a snowy loving holiday romance. The characters are likeable, lovable, funny, full of their own insecurities and in need of romance. This story discovers how we feel about change. The story is touching and heart warming as all of Ms. Kauffman’s books are. This story is obviously fast paced as novella’s usually are. If you are looking forward to a few hours curled up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good holiday story in the midst of the holiday hecticness this is the book for you. The sad part is this the last of the Hamilton Series .

I would like to thank Donna Kauffman, Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Gallagher Family has many branches. Griffin is an International business man in Hamilton to handle the estate of his grandfather, a newly discovered connection. The story is complex but his meeting with Melody is an instant connect that is hot and sexy as hell. I really loved their story

Do you know those movies? The ones where people start out as absolute competitors? Adversaries, even? And then, through whatever plots or twists they end up as lovers, because of course, whatever was separating them was only something small anyways?
That’s this book. Thrown on the fast track.
Approximately 18 hours pass between Griffin and Melody meeting each other, Melody banning Griffin from the only thing possibly saving him – a good cup of coffee – and them not so much falling into each other’s arms, as just sweeping each other off the floor. Don’t ask me how that works, what with gravity and everything… That’s just how it happens.
Throughout the Hamilton Christmas-series, it’s become very clear to me that Donna Kauffman does really well at writing insta-love. Also, that she knows how to write an excellently executed smutty scene. Combine that with the with and humor her characters are always portraying – this was definitely a good read.
And if you’re in the mood for a good amount of fluff, excellent cake, an Irish accent and some updates on the characters from the previous two books in this series? Then you’re in for an absolute treat!

2.5 stars

The third in a trio of holiday novellas that make up the Hamilton Christmas series.

The characters and central plot were interesting. Especially as this book wraps up parts of the story introduced in the first two books.

There is an immediate connection between Melody and Griffin despite being on opposite sides of the proposed development plans for the town.

The stories of their past and how they both ended up in Hamilton were interesting. However the overall plot felt rushed. I understand this is likely due to it being a novella, but I wish the relationship had been explored a little more before jumping into everything so quickly.

I received a free eARC through Netgalley. This novella was originally published as part of an anthology. This is book three of three in the Hamilton series.
Thomas “Griffin” Gallagher, recent heir to the Hamilton Industries fortune, has plans to revitalize the town of Hamilton. Baker Melody Duncastle thinks Hamilton is great the way it is and doesn’t need any changes. She’s not about to let his brogue convince her otherwise. Yet she can’t deny the attraction she has to him. And maybe Griffin isn’t such a bad guy that she envisioned him to be. Overall, I enjoyed seeing Griffin and Melody’s relationship progress and overcoming their past in order to have a future together.
Although this can be read as a standalone, the family mystery from the first two books in the series wraps up in this story.

Pretty good ending to the Hamilton Christmas stand alone series. I enjoyed the couple's energy and chemistry but would have loved this novella to have been a full length novel because it would have served the story a bit better. But a good one and worth a read.

A sweet novella - short and lovely. Liked the characters and the plot and the fact it truly is a stand alone story though it ties into her other two. Will be recommending these for sure.

3.5 - "You have a weakness for accents, do you..?" Stars!

Novella three in the Hamilton Christmas series gives us Thomas Griffin Gallagher and Melody Duncastle’s story. The heir to the Hamilton fortune, has set his sights on regenerating the town named after it, and baker extraordinaire and owner of Cups & Cakes; Melody is less than enthused with his plans…

Why did he feel as if the best thing that happened to him was slipping through his fingers before he even had the chance to figure out how to hold onto it…

As with the previous two novellas I loved the couple in this book, with their initial verbal sparring and instant chemistry it made for great reading as they worked through the fact that they were on opposite sides of the fence in regards to Griff’s plans. But there are deeper reasons for it, and once Melody understands that, it’s full steam ahead into relationshiplandia for them.

"I take care of what’s mine… I always have. And I always will."

I enjoyed The Naughty List as much as its predecessors, I just didn’t find it offered up any of the Christmassyness that Unleashed & Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells did, which is why I rated it a little lower. Donna still offers up a really enjoyable story though, and I loved that the epilogue bought all three couples together.

Griffin and Melody's story. As far as I can tell there are three books in this mini novella series. Not sure of order, which would be helpful, but a quick and easy read non the less. I enjoyed this story for the most part, but Melody's anger was not really explained, and her giving it up so quickly was not really explained either. A few more details, and perhaps more on the diary would also help. I've read the story that was in, but didn't remember a lot of the details. A fair story, but could have been better. Would still recommend at 3.5 stars.

Final novella to solve the mystery of the Hamilton line. Griffin comes to Virginia and meets baker Melody. From NetGalley.

I really loved this story. Both Griffin and Melody had a sad past but they found love and family in each other. Very sweet. Loved how it was kind of a love at first sight kind of story because it was a novella and everything moved pretty quickly. But it was still very sexy and sweet. And it totally had a sigh worthy ending.

This final book on the trilogy ended well. If you like small town, Christmas romance novels (which I do!) then this is your book!

Naughty But Nice is a great romance. I always enjoy this author’s books and this one was no exception. Anticipating this author’s next book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

What a great ending to this holiday series. I loved how they all fit together but were totally separate. Good beginning for the holidays..