Thank you NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for sending this book for review consideration. I appreciate the opportunity to read. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Lyla Smurfit and Mason Klaus have a strained working relationship. From the moment Mason takes over half of Lylas failing family toy company, she despises him. Despite the festive surname, Klaus is a real Scrooge, and Lyla loves everything Christmas! When Lyla learns Mason has canceled the holiday office party, she decides to throw a secret party in defiance, but things get carried away and the kitchen catches fire. To make up for the mishap, Lyla agrees to spend the holidays with Klaus, acting as a buffer between him and his estranged family who he hasn't seen in over a decade. But what Lyla doesn't know is that Mason is hiding a huge secret -- his family is a fairy tale legend!

During the holidays, I enjoy reading a few, sweet, Christmas-y tales. I am a sucker for Hallmark Christmas movies, so finding something that translates into literary form is always a plus, and I don't mind a little spice thrown into the mix. The Naughty or Nice Clause promised to fulfill. I was so excited to read it. This story has some fun tropes: Enemies to lovers, fake dating/engagement, small town romance, and cozy holiday feels. The premise felt delightful.

However, I struggled engaging with the characters out of the gate. Dialog felt stilted and empty. Lyla is overly angry, it started feeling one note. It lent the early parts of the book a darker feel than I was anticipating (or craving) in a Christmas romance. I didn’t feel the characters come together in a satisfying way until 60% into the book. I much more preferred the back half than the first. If it were not an ARC I wanted to work with, I might have put it down partially read and never finished. (though I am glad I did finish.) There were so many fun little details though – like magical dust, protective wolves, an alternate reality/world only accessed by magic. All clever and unique ideas. I wish they were executed better, more fully. Maybe another editing pass is needed to capture all that the story could be to catch the front half of the book up with the back and flesh everything out more fully.

Things were a bit predictable, but that’s a given with a name like Klaus. The fairy tale elements were strong, so I could let that slide. Smurfit as a surname though? What do smurfs have to do with Christmas? This choice baffled and bothered me. I kept seeing her with blue tinged skin, and every time a smurf reference or her surname popped up, I was pulled out of the story.

The pacing is fast. I wish there was more sexual tension between Mason and Lyla so that when they finally GET there…it gives that AHHHH moment that makes enemies to lovers so delectable. But it appears that Mason has always felt this way (though its not shown much or well at all early on) and Lyla seems to change her tune almost overnight. A slower hint at what could be, would have been amazing.

So all that said, there were some things I really enjoyed that helped me see this read as a three star versus a two. The Klaus family is wonderful, and Yule is enchanting. Mrs. Klaus and Kevin stole my heart and any scene they were in, I enjoyed. I prefered the fantasy elements over the actual romance.

My favorite character is Natalie, but sadly, she sees so little page time! I would have loved seeing more of her manipulative and jealousy driven hijinks. More moments of her coming between Lyla and Mason would have been dishy, in the best of ways. We get peeks at this, little hints, wonderful scenes that brought needed conflict to the page. I wanted to see more! I enjoyed discovering the secrets of Yule. The romance improved as Lyla and Mason spent more time together, and we get to see other sides of Mason.

In the end, once I got toward the back half of the story, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read with a unique take on the spirit and magic of Christmas.

If you are looking for a Hallmark book vibes but spicy, this is the book for you. It is a good holiday novel to get you in the mood for Christmas.
Lyla Smurfit (character's real name - not just a cute nickname like I thought at first), and Mason Klaus do not see eye to eye on anything, and Lyla views Mason as the enemy after her father gives him a controlling portion of their company. Lyla catches Mason at a particularly vulnerable time for him, and he ends up taking her back home to his family to get through the season of Christmas with someone by his side. Unfortunately, his hometown is very strict and doesn't allow outsiders, so they need to pretend to be engaged in order for Lyla to not have her memories removed. As they get to know each other, they realize they have more in common than they thought, and start developing real feelings. Add in a supportive family, some catty ex-girlfriend drama, and lost family heirlooms, and this is quintessential Hallmark vibes.
I am only giving it 4 stars because at times it was a little hard to follow the plot, it seemed a little jumpy. Some scenes did not seem to be very continuous as they jumped from one location to another, and other scenes could have been flushed out more. The ending seemed very rushed, and I would have liked to see an epilogue to see how they are making their relationship work. I also wished they would have added more spicy scenes as well, or at least expand more on their flirting between hating and loving each other.

This was not what I expected, which is neither good nor bad. The book is lighthearted and helps you to get into the festive spirit! I really likes the storyline and the twists the author gave to the Santa story. I also enjoyed the banter between the main characters. However, I didn't really feel the romantic connection between them. Most of the romantic scenes seemed to come out of nowhere. Due to this, the ending also felt a bit rushed. I also wasn't the biggest fan of how easily problems were solved. I'm not one for drama, but this was a little flat. It was a really cute story though, with a lot of new elements to it which was quite intriguing.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was not what I expected, which is neither good nor bad. The book is lighthearted and helps you to get into the festive spirit! I really likes the storyline and the twists the author gave to the Santa story. I also enjoyed the banter between the main characters. However, I didn't really feel the romantic connection between them. Most of the romantic scenes seemed to come out of nowhere. Due to this the endig also felt a bit rushed. I also wasn't the biggest fan of how easily problems were solved. I'm not one for drama, but this was a little flat. It was a really cute story though, with a lot of new elements to it which was quite intriguing.

I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in one evening and even stayed up till midnight to finish it it was sooo good.

If you love santa clause 2 the movie, then this book is that but with an enemies to lovers and fake fiancé trope.

I loved Mason and Lyla and their relationship. What I enjoyed in particular with their storyline is how Lyla even though she finds Mason attractive completely hates him and views him as the enemy for a lot of the book. And then there's a similar scene like in beauty and the beast where they bond and I just... gosh I loved it.

The side characters of Mason's family, his mum, his brother kevin and sister Lou were just interesting additions to this already cute story and I loved how the author built Mason's past and history into them as characters too so we get glimpses of what occurred through what they say and their reaction/attitude to Mason. I think this helped to build the story of Mason's past until we get to the point where he reveals all.

The only thing I was confused about was the title as I'm not sure why it's called the Naughty or Nice Clause as this suggests there is a contractual agreement but it doesn't in this book. If it had been Clause written as Klaus it would have made more sense as Mason's surname is Klaus as he is naughty (more cold) then nice (hot) throughout the book and it would have made more sense.

My favourite concept about the book which I have never seen before is the reason why santa exists and what he delivers. I never understood in movies how people don't believe in santa but he's leaving gifts. Kate Callaghan amazingly solves this flaw by showing that santa exists to provide goodwill dust to individuals based on how good they have been throughout the year and I was in awe at the imagination of that.

Overall, absolutely loved this book, such an easy read and an absolute perfect christmas read and if I could give more than 5 stars I would give it more!

Every season I look for a book to help get me in the mood - this year this book did the trick! Although the ending felt a little rushed, I loved the magic, the romance, and all the Christmas details. This would make for a delightful holiday movie sometime with the imaginative details of the North Pole and the development of the characters and their relationship.

Really enjoyed this book! Great Christmas read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was sadly a disappointment for me. I wanted a cosy Christmas romance, but this just didn’t live up to expectations. The protagonist was too much of a pushover, and the love interest was very bland so it was very hard to stay invested in their romance, by the end I really didn't care. The dialogue was also a little trite throughout.

Loved this! Vibes are Hating Games meets the Santa Clause. Perfect holiday read! Not too cheesy, rivals to lovers, found family, Christmas magic, mischievous cats, romance! What more could you possibly want from a holiday read!

Lyla’s toy company was in financial trouble, so Mason Klaus became her co-CEO to turn the company around. The only problem is that they don’t get along.

One day, one weird day, Klaus asks Lyla to go home with him for the holidays. Home for basically the north pole, like in Santa’s home…

Well, this is a magical story in every sense of the word!

At first, it was difficult for me to move from the city part of the story to Klaus’ town. But with time I got involved in it and was able to appreciate what I was reading.

I believe this book would benefit from more length, so the characters would be more evolved and have more depth. Sometimes, I felt like I needed to know more about characters like Mason, to better understand what and why was happening at the moment. Even the end could be extended, and I would have liked it more.

Overall, the characters are interesting, the family is wonderful and the town seems truly magical.

This was such a heart warming wonderful read. The pace was perfect the characters enchanting and Yule is a placeni want to spend forever.

Absolute delight to read. Each page better than the last I didn’t want it to end. I loved being able to start my Christmas season out with this one. It was the perfect thing to set the mood. Romcoms are my comfort right now and this took that one step further.

This was a great modern take on the Santa Claus story, a magical setting for a romantic tale of two office enemies. Loved the found family and the atmospheric setting.

This was a really cute christmas romance! Not much steam, but it really didn't need it. Very much so enemies to lovers. I think my favorite part though was it's take on the North Pole and the things that came with it-I enjoyed seeing it come to life and a different perspective than what we usually think of in regards to Santa's workshop.

Lyla Smurfit runs her father’s toy company with Mason Klaus, a no-nonsense investor whose demeanor puts the Grinch to shame. Lyla is constantly in opposition with Mason’s financial choices and cutbacks, so when Mason cancels their company Christmas party last minute, it’s the last straw for her. Lyla decides to throw the party without his permission, only for it to go horribly wrong and end in a fire. with the building out of commission for several weeks, Mason is willing to forgive Lyla only if she accompanies him on his dreaded return home.

Lyla is then brought to a magical winter wonderland, otherwise known as the North Pole. here, she realizes that Mason is actually part of a very important family in his village. as she becomes acquainted, she is horrified to learn that Mason is introducing her as his “fiancé”, because outsiders other than those to be wed are strictly forbidden. though Lyla knows the consequences are dire if their secret is revealed, she isn’t prepared to “love” this self-absorbed Scrooge. but the North Pole is a magical place, and crazier things have happened…

I had no trouble getting through this book just for the setting alone. there’s truly nothing cozier than losing yourself in a book set in the magical place we dreamed about as kids. it was so fun to be a part of this book’s version of the North Pole, & I loved the unique tweaks Callaghan made to the traditional tales of Christmas.

you get a little bit of everything in this story; fake dating, return of the crazy ex, family tension, the works. i really enjoyed the set of characters overall, but I wasn’t suuuper on-board for the romance between Lyla & Mason. obviously wanted it to happen, but just didn’t get any head-over-heels vibes from them. I also thought the ending was incredibly rushed; which, I guess in hindsight, if it meant more time getting to enjoy the North Pole scenes, it was worth it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

general consensus: came for the Christmas romance, stayed for the North Pole vibes.

thanks to @netgalley & @callaghanwriter for my #advancedreaderscopy!

Sickeningly sweet like a Hallmark Christmas movie (I might've to change genres for a little while or I'm risking becoming the Grinch🤦🏻‍♀️) Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion 🎅

The Naughty or Nice Clause was cute and predictable (not in a bad way), very much a sweet holiday romance. Like a hallmark movie but a book! Thanks to netgalley and the author.

The Naughty or Nice Clause was a cute Christmas read that follows Lyla and Mason business partners at a toy company. When a Christmas party mishap causes a fire at the office Mason offers to forget the whole thing if she will join his family for Christmas. They soon find themselves in Yule a winter wonderland with many surprises.

I loved the likeable characters but wish some of them were more developed and were given a little more background on them. I was a little disappointed that this had a disclaimer that it was 18+ but the spice was lacking and only happened over a short chapter.

All in all I didn't hate the book but felt like it had the potential to be so much more than it was. My rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

The Naughty it Nice Clause- 3⭐️

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice!

When Lyla’s father retired as CEO of the toy company which has been in their family for generations, she was meant to receive his shares. Instead, she discovers the company is bankrupt and her father has given her shares to Mason Klaus, an investor known in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. Much to Lyla’s frustration, her only option is to run the company with him, despite their evident loathing for one another.

When Mason cancels the annual Christmas party, Lyla throws it anyway – only for the event of the season to result in a terrible fire. With the offices and Lyla’s credibility ruined, Mason offers her a deal: he’ll forget her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for the twelve days of their Christmas holidays.

Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence – because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high.

Readers! Please note: this is an adult low fantasy romance with mature content and not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novel with a guaranteed HEA. ',
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✨My Opinion✨
This was a cute Christmas time read. I liked the couple. This was an enemies to lovers, office romance that was VERY slow burn. The spin on Christmas magic was very well explained and thought out. The family dynamics were well established and believable. There was a cat. I know, I know… but thankfully the cat was continually present and even used as a plot device. Thank goodness it wasn’t introduced then forgotten like many other books. The MC’s last name is Smurfit? I’m all about a fun Christmas book… but Smurfit, like Smurf? And only for the single joke about it. That was awful. The other thing that really didn’t impress me was the scene that was directly taken from Beauty and the Beast. I wish there had been a different plot device than that.

I received a ARC copy of The Naught or Nice Cluse by Kate Callaghan through NetGalley in exchange for a honest, unbiased review.

3.5 stars, rounded down.

Not your typical Christmas story but still enjoyable! Very light hearted and a quick read. It was cute and a good book to read in one sitting next to my Christmas tree. Definitely had festive vibes!

The main reason I kept it at 3.5 stars was because I really didn't connect with any of the characters. With that said though, I also didn't dislike any of the main characters which was a plus!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.