Guyyysss... I wanted to love this book SO BAD, but it just did not hit right for me.
This is a fantastical romance and it had all the right ingredients to be amazing, it just was not for me. Lyla runs half of her family toy business and is all about her company and spreading joy to her employees and others. She also loves Christmas. Mason, who runs the other 51% of the company is basically a scrooge and only focused on the money aspect of the company. Mason then tricks Lyla into coming home with him for the Holidays after his father passed away, and his life and home are something Lyla knows nothing about. They travel to his home of Yule which he has not been to in over 10 years and he introduces her as his fiancée. Mason's home town is defiantly more than it seems and is a very fantastical place.

This had ALLL the makings for something I would love ... Grumpy Sunshine, Fake Dating, The North Pole, but it just fell flat for me.
Mason was more of a jerk face than a grumpy character. He was just straight mean to Lyla and then randomly would say some sweet things that were so out of character for him. They were supposed to have this rivals banter and it honestly was just really strange and awkward at times for me. At one point Lyla says "His mood swings are giving me whip lash." GIRL ME TOOOO!!

There also were some plot holes that I saw (and this could just be me missing something, but I was very confused). One moment it was morning and they had an argument, then right after her cat went outside and it was night time and there were wolves attacking. I thought ... wait wasn't it just the morning.

I did love the town of Yule and all of the Christmas vibes, it was amazing. I also loved the world and how all the ins and outs of Christmas worked there.

It did however, defiantly put me in the Christmas Spirit!

A fun and magical story to get you in the spirit of the holidays!

Lyla Smurfit is the CEO of a toy company that’s been in her family for generations. An investor is brought in by her father to help the company get back in its feet, but lyla and mason klaus immediately clash. After he cancels the company Christmas party, Lyla decides to throw the party anyways, which results in a disaster. Mason convinces her to go home with him for the holidays as his fake fiancé to make up for her errors. In this enemies to lovers story, we experience the magic of Yule, grief, and the start of a love story. Throw in a beautiful family connection, A few near death experiences, and a crazy ex, and it had me hooked! I felt like the ending was a little abrupt and had more potential, but overall I loved the story!

Thank you NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

This book left me with mixed feelings. It was enjoyable but there were many times I found myself going back to check what had happened because of multiple continuity errors. For example, during a discussion between the two main characters the MMC says he spoke to the council and explained everything which the FMC responds to. Then, a few pages later, she asks him if he spoke to the council. There are some odd word choices that left me wondering if I knew the meanings of various words and multiple times it seemed like I had missed out on something. I did like it, but it seems like it needs another read through but the author and/or editor.

Being Naughty has never been so nice

Lyla’s dad has retired as CEO of their toy company and she was meant to get all the shares. She finds out the business is bankrupt and her dad has given his shares to an investor, Mason Klaus, known as a cold, callous man in the business world. Mason cancels the annual Christmas party and Lyla sees red! She throws it anyway, leading to a devastating fire. Mason offers her a deal- he’ll forget about her part in the disaster if she comes home with him to his family for twelve days over Christmas. What Lyla doesn’t know is that Mason isn’t your average man and a magical winter wonderland awaits them. Will Lyla resist the handsome Mason to win back her company or will she give into temptation?

Enemies to friends/lovers, lots of drama and resentment, all tied together by the most cheerful and happy time of the year- The Naughty or Nice Clause has it all! I adored feisty and determined Lyla- she’s not afraid to stand up against Mason!

I loved the magical little town where Mason is from and all the revelations about who he really is (no spoilers!). It added a lovely sweet dimension to the story. This book just made me want to go put up all my Xmas decorations and get into the festive spirit!

Special shout-out to Mason’s mum (an absolute sweetheart!) and of course the leading man himself! I was expecting a bit more spice but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of reading this festive tale.

Thanks to Kate, publishers and NetGalley for the arc. Out on the 8th of November!

A new adult book set during Christmas time, count me in! I'm so glad I was given the opportunity by NetGalley to read this book. It is a great mix of whimsy, drama, romance, and a touch of spice. The pacing of the story was good and didn't lag at all. It drew me in so much that I couldn't put it down and finished it in a single night. The characters were written fairly well and I couldn't help but empathize with them. The descriptions of settings were so vivid it wasn't hard to picture them at all; it actually made me feel warm and cozy and made me want to travel to those places. I do feel like I should give a bit of a content warning for themes regarding the death of a parent and strained family relationships. If you've ever imagined yourself being whisked away to a fantastical place by someone you'd never expect, but ending up pleasantly surprised, then "The Naughty Or Nice Clause" by Kate Callaghan is just the ticket.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This post may contain minor spoilers.

This enemies-to-lovers workplace romance is perfect for the holiday season. Lyla works at the toy company that has been in her family for generations. She loves working there, except for the hot guy who now owns half the shares. After a holiday party gone wrong, Lyla agrees to follow Mason back home...except his home is the North Pole.

I flew through this book! The writing pulls you in and leaves you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this for a lazy day by the fireplace or a holiday getaway.

The romance was amazing. Mason was super hot and I loved watching their relationship develop. The scene where he gives her the dress was one of my favorites.

This book is perfect for fans of Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey, Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle, and the Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Enjoy!

“I’ll happily spend the rest of my life fighting with you.”
I absolutely love an enemies to lovers book, mix in a Christmas experience and it’s perfect. The Naughty or Nice Clause was an adorable holiday read.

I didn’t read the synopsis past the first 2 lines so I didn’t know what to expect. Mason Klaus was an investor brought in to fix Lyla Smurfit’s family toy company. However, lyla expected the company to be left to her and not an outsider so they immediately clashed. It wasn’t until Mason convinced Lyla to go home with him for the holidays that their relationship started to change for the better.

Kate Callaghan’s version of the North Pole and Santa Claus was great. She certainly put a twist on all the Christmas legends and myths making a brand new Christmas experience. If you love a sweet holiday romance I strongly recommend this!

Thank you @netgalley and @callaghanwriter for the ARC!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you find out your work nemesis is Santa Claus, and he takes you home to “meet the family” at the North Pole. Call me a child at heart but I was disappointed with Yule (the North Pole) not being would you’d expect… no elves, no toy shop… karma gold dust? I get the non-traditional take but it felt like a weird Hallmark Christmas movie.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this lovely christmassy feelgood book

definitely a book to read at christmas time and for all christmas lovers....

dont want to give to much away with this storyline but its enough to know that if you read it around christmas time it give you a warm glow....

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors christmas offerings from now on

I LOVED this book. I felt like I was in a Hallmark Christmas movie in the BEST way. It has everything you’re looking for in the classic holiday reads- enemies to lovers, a regretful email that threatens to bring everything crashing down, the ex trying to sabotage it all. Gosh I could not get enough, and the twist was perfect! Read it all in one sitting, not a boring moment at any point in the book. The perfect Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit.

One editing note- in Chapter 8 “Kevin has to wait until he is 18 to fulfil the role…” fulfill is spelled with two l’s so I believe this is a misspelling.

Lyla resents that Mason was brought in to co-own and help finances at her family toy company. He’s grumpy, doesn’t have Christmas spirit, and she’d do fine without his help. Through a weird circumstance, she ends up at his home for Christmas and is being introduced as his fiancé. The village is a bit magical (his last name is Klaus so you can guess where this is going) and Mason has to decide his place in his own family business. As they fake an engagement and deal with everyone going on in Mason’s family and village, feelings that they’re faking start to feel more real, but can they last?
I wasn’t expecting this book! It was a fun story. The official summary has a small disclaimer at the end to say there may be a bit of magic, but I hadn’t noticed that before reading so it took me by surprise. I don’t mind a story with some Santa-ish plot but it’s worth knowing going in. It wasn’t the main focus but definitely an unavoidable let of the story. I thought the enemies to lovers trope was done well. I enjoyed the misunderstood Mason.
The thing that dropped this from 4 to 3 ⭐️s for me was the ending. It felt so rushed that I didn’t really believe what was happening. I think I’d feel much different if it’d been given just a few extra chapters. Overall, I still enjoyed this read. As someone who’s watched my fair share of Hallmark Christmas movies, I’ve seen a fair amount of Santa-adjacent love stories but it’s been much less common in Christmas books that I’ve found so this was fun!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tis the season of festive reads and this was a really cute one. Quick and easy read but very enjoyable too. (3 ⭐️)

Mason Klaus took over the company Lyla was supposed to run. Lyla’s father gave his shares, 51%, to Mason instead of her to help her run the company. But his version of running the company involved layoffs and Scrooge-like cancelling of Christmas parties which is not at all how she wants to do it. When she goes behind his back to throw a low budget party and finds him drunk in his office, she starts down a path to help that might be more than she bargains for.

This is a very cute, Hallmark-y read of a Christmas romance. Fun and easy to read, I found it very enjoyable and loved the magical twist. The pacing was good throughout although I felt the very end was somewhat abrupt. An epilogue would have been nice to see a couple years later how things worked out. I did love the note from the author in the beginning and it is true, Christmas is not always a happy time for everyone for various reasons so it’s important to keep that in mind when we think of someone as a “Scrooge.” Overall, I would recommend this book, especially to read during the holiday season!. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a short fun little romance that has a little spice but is basically fit for hallmark. Mason is, of course, the clause, and Lyla the Christmas lover she is loves exploring the mythical land of the north pole. I like that Santa wasn't a traditional Santa. however, the romance felt rushed and their drama over the top. however, it is a fun romance with no surprises and is just a very fun light read that is just meant to get you in the Christmas spirit.

The Naughty of Nice Clause is a cozy, Hallmark-esque holiday romance with an interesting twist on the myth of Santa Claus.

Enemies to lovers is my all time favorite and this did not disappoint in that! I loved the way Yule was described and getting to see Mason and Lyla's journey of love throughout the book. The way the Klaus family welcomed Lyla with open arms was very heartwarming to me. Overall, this is a great holiday book to read during the holiday season!

DNF at 40%. I tried to give this book a try, but it just wasn't for me, so for now, i'm going to dnf it, maybe i'll pick it back up in the future, I don't know yet. I really wanted to love this book, because many of my goodreads friends know I LOVE CHRISTMAS BOOKS, I don't know if it was the writing style, slow paced, or the sci-fi, fantasy genre, but I just couldn't get into the story. The Naughty Or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan is a two star for me. Many people might disagree with me for not finishing it and rating it two stars, but that's totally okay, we are all allowed to have our own opinions. The cover is so beautiful and gave me all the Christmassy vibes, so i'm sad I couldn't love this book more. This was my first book by Kate Callaghan, but i'll definitely give her other books a go in the future, and hopefully have better luck with those. I feel horrible for not finishing this book because i'm a sucker for a Christmas book, but I couldn't fathom myself to read any further for now. Don't let this review stop you from picking up this book, this is just my opinion, you all may have better luck than I did, and I can't wait to hear all of your thoughts.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND CALLAGHAN WRITER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!

Lyla and her family own a toy company that has been in their family for generations. When Lyla's father retires as CEO of the toy company, she was meant to receive his shares of the company, but, Lyla soon discovers the toy company is in bankrupt and her father has give his shares to, Mason Klaus. Mason is an investor in the corporate world and is known as for being cold and callous towards every body. Lyla's frustration gets the best of her, but she knows she has to run the company with Mason despite starting off on the wrong foot. When Mason comes into the toy company, he wants to change everything and doesn't care what Lyla has to say, but how does Lyla feel about that? Lyla absolutely despises Mason, later love blooms in the air.

Lyla wants to throw a Christmas party, but Mason decides to cancel the annual Christmas party, what does Lyla do? She decides to throw the party anyway, but soon things end in a fire. With Lyla's credibility and the toy company offices ruined, Mason offers Lyla a deal; he'll forget about her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for their twelve days of Christmas celebrations. Lyla is taken to a fantastical winter wonderland where she's hoping she can uncover some of the secrets Mason is hiding, and hopefully to get her company back. When Mason introduces Lyla to the secret village, he introduces her as his fiancée, Lyla is horrified, but knows she must go along with it, because aspects of bringing an outsider into this magical village are way too high. Despite their miss footing, Lyla and Mason soon find themselves loathing over one another.

Disclaimer: I received an eBook copy of this book from NetGalley to read and review.

My Friends! Bust out your hot chocolate, light that crackling fire (or flip a switch if you are like me and have a fake fireplace), and snuggle up with your coziest blanket - because if you are like me, you may find yourself power-reading through this book!

Reading like a cross between a Debbie Macomber Christmas story and a hallmark channel movie - dashed in with some SPICE, you are sure to love this book as much as I did.

Layla is a hard-working and fiercely loyal woman to her company and her employees. Wanting nothing more than to see her company flourish and grow after years of mismanagement she finds herself sharing the reins with Mason Klaus - whom she would like nothing more than to shove in front of a bus. Klaus, the human form of the Grinch and Scrooge reincarnate appears to want nothing more than to make her miserable.

After a series of events both comical and eye-rolling Layla finds herself on a journey beyond her wildest imagination that leaves her wondering if maybe Mr. Grinch actually does have a heart - and maybe she can be his Cindy Lou-Who.

I found myself enjoying this book quite a bit, and highly recommend it for a light/fast seasonal read to get you into the Holiday spirit!

Reading this book at the beginning of November was so weird for me since as much as I love Christmas I prefer beginning traditions at the beginning of December. This book felt like a true hallmark movie. Enemies to lovers, Christmas Vibes, CEO vs CEO, Fake marriage. Folklore. Mild mature content. Yet it was better than a Hallmark movie, and it wasn't super cheesy.

Overall, I rated this book 3.5/5.

I enjoyed the plot, the writing style was easy to follow, and both covers were cute. My main issues come from Lyla being unsurprised by things, such as when she enters a winter wonderland and isn't very shocked. It was just overall unrealistic with her character not reacting to all these weird things going on around her. The romance build-up fell flat for me because it happened and I didn't feel immediately excited for the couple. I almost expected a bit more spice from a romance book, but that is just how I feel.

This book needed an epilogue, as stated in the description it is a HEA. But at the end of the book, I wanted to see the couple happy and needed a little more.

Kevin was my fav, I needed more of him.

Some of my favourites quotes “‘If he wants a fiancée, then that’s exactly what I’ll give him. A perfect, doting fiancée...... It’ll drive him crazy.”

“‘If you told me a week ago that I’d be putting bruises on your knees, I wouldn’t have believed it.’”

I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

— workplace rivals
— fake dating/engagement
— small town vibes
— ✨magic✨


i completely flew through this book; such a quick and easy read! definitely give it a shot if you’re in a reading slump because it might get you out of it.

the little bits of magic was so fun, and i kept imagining the town of yule as the town in the movie fred claus which really added to my personal reading experience.

the fake dating trope will always have my heart <3 and this version of the trope was different than others that i’ve read before (due to the ✨magic✨), so that was really fun!

i’ll be checking out more of kate callaghan’s books in the future :)


*thank you to netgalley and kate callaghan for sending my this eARC in exchange for an honest review!*