An easy-breezy, lovely, and charming romance that'll hit shelves just in time for the holidays and make a great gift!

I absolutely loved this book so much as usual I got attached to the characters, this strong just pulled me in and I loved it is it Christmas time yet

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this ebook before release!

The story reminds me of The Hating Game with a Christmas holiday twist.

The story wants me to be transported to Yule and live there. Although the pacing was a bit fast and not a whole lot of back story to the characters, I enjoyed the banter, romance development and grand gesture altogether.

A truly good, comfort read for the holidays!

I adore books with Christmas themes. I frequently chuckled because of the two's charisma and the incredible stress they seemed to be under.
It was a great book to read; it was engrossing, intense, mystical, and utterly unique; I had never encountered novels with this concentration, so it was wonderful to experience it all.

This one features charming characters and is a lovely holiday rom-com.

Enemies turned soulmates in this Christmas themed novel, I enjoyed the character dynamics between the main characters. I also enjoyed the original twist on Christmas legends.

A predictable plot, but heartwarming all the same. A light, loving read before Christmas
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this ebook before release! This was definitely such a lovely little early Christmas present. On to the review!

I liked this book. I didn't love it, I didn't dislike it, I didn't find it "okay", I just liked it. This love story is basically a hallmark movie written as a fantasy. With maybe a little more open door action, but only like a crack. In general, it's a really cute book about two people who work together, hate each other, end up in a situation where they make a deal to visit one person's family... and fall in love. Perhaps extremely summarized, but the concept of the book is a typical romance storyline. Despite its typicalness, the characters and the writing are amazing. I felt like I was in Christmas, the descriptions were really beautiful and I could smell and taste everything in the book. I love food, so it was perfect. The characters are super funny and they feel really real. I smiled a lot and I blushed A LOT. I love flirting as much as I love food, so it was a great combo for me. As much as it did feel like a Hallmark movie, I just loved the energy, but I also love Hallmark movies so that's not a bad thing in the first place. I didn't really have any MAJOR complaints besides how fast the jump was in the book, and I wish it was just LONGER. So, let's dive in deeper.

I wasn't expecting the jump to fantasy, I didn't expected it at all. When it said "Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland" I just didn't expect it to be a basically different world! I suppose if I had finished the blurb and read "magical land," maybe I would have been more prepared? Even with preparation, I think the jump was fast. Too fast. This book definitely needed to be a hundred pages longer with a little longer intro, and then some in the middle/end.

Good thing to note is that I read this book in a whole day. I couldn't put it down. The characters are so lovable and I enjoyed them a lot. When I read the other reviews I could understand their qualms about Lyla and Mason, but I didn't necessarily note them while reading.

Some random things I had in my kindle notes:
- I hate Smurfit as a last name. I'm so sorry for people who have it as a last name, but I just... I dunno I didn't jive with it. I kept calling her Lyla Smurfette. This is a me thing and definitely not on the book though.
- His 1% more share in the business doesn't entitle him to make decisions by himself. I am not a business woman so maybe I don't know the reality of it, but this felt so dramatized and impossible and wrong. Like who the hell does that. Especially cancelling a Christmas party?
- Also, I genuinely don't know how these people could get so wasted at the party. Is that like a normal thing for corporate events? It's also super not fair it gets blamed on her later in the story??? Like no, these people are adults and they should know not to get black out drunk and burn down a building.
- Him flirting with her while drunk was HOT. Absolutely adored that. Wish we got more of the hate/love and a little more office life in the beginning. Like mentioned before, it felt rushed.
- She took a transition into a random magical world without her consent way better than I would. Still feel like this could have been slower or at least have her had more of a reaction. She just kinda went with it?? Like girl, your enemy just kidnapped you into a fantasy land? I'd be SCREAMING.
- The author has to be from Europe... she used cosy instead of cozy. It threw me off, haha.
- SHE WAS READY TO CHANGE HER LIFE IN ONE SECOND FOR THIS GUY SHE BARELY KNEW?? "Yet, despite it all, she would do any of those things if Mason forgave her." Excuse me sis, but calm down. Let's just think about where we were a week ago. Let's think logically about what you'll be doing. Maybe you're not close with your friends, or your dad, but still. Let's sit and think.

My final kindle note was about the ending, but that deserves it's own paragraph. What was this ending? I love the happy ending, but like I'm still confused on what the village does and I wanted to see it in action. I'm disappointed. I feel like it was so rushed and this world is created and revolves around this one day and then doesn't even use it in the story??? More ???? for this please. It's Christmas, I wanna see the magic!! At least add an epilogue with it, PLEASE.

This story was predictable. Like crazy predictable. I knew what was gonna happen every step of the way because it literally was a hallmark movie and a romance book combined. But I loved it. It was sweet, and funny, and I enjoyed the writing style. It felt magical and it was a fun read. I read in a day, I don't usually do that with books I dislike. I love the idea of this village, and the whole strawberry thing was fun too, even if it was such a minor plot point. Same thing with the ring. Obviously I'm avoiding spoilers here, but know that there are some really good scenes in here! My complaints pale in comparison to how much I smiled while reading.

I wish it was a more spicy, but that's just because I'm a spicy fan. I want all the sex scenes. There's really only one in the book and it's not very descriptive IMO. It's pretty basic. It reminds me of someone who wanted to write a sex scene but has only written closed door before. It was good, it was sweet, but I wanted more. I'm not asking for more intense even, I just wanted it longer, more descriptive, more loving and adoring each other's bodies. Like come on, we know Lyla looked HOT in that dress, let's explore it more. But again, I wouldn't mark it as a flaw in the book, it's just my preference.

Overall, this book is cute. I'm gonna recommend it to some people (Jelly Belly, you know who you are, you should read this) and it's gonna be definitely on my list for Christmas recommendations. It was a good book, I'd definitely read Callaghan again.

Rating System:
★ - Avoid at all costs. Don't even look at it.
★★ - I would recommend for people not to read it.
★★★ - It was okay. I might recommend for certain people.
★★★★ - I'd recommend it to most people.
★★★★★ - I'd literally gift this to someone. Must read.

This book skyrocketed my love for Christmas! Kate Callaghan's The Naughty or Nice Clause perfectly straddles the line of passion and hate. I loved Mason and Lyla's story and the development of their relationship. The interesting, modern take on the North Pole and the legend of Santa Claus brings forth a WHOLE new way of imagining Christmas.
The only things I would have loved to see more of was a better description of Lyla. I feel like every couple of chapters I was getting a new piece of what she looks like.
I still don't have a full image in my mind. I would have also liked a less abrupt ending, or maybe an epilogue. I feel slightly unsatisfied with how it concluded even though it was a HEA.
All in all I would definitely recommend this book for the holidays. It was fun and quick to read! Happy (almost)
Holidays!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from CallaghanWriter and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fun holiday rom-com with delightful characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. This review is wholly my own.

Christmas with a fantasy twist? Not as much romance as would be indicated by the synopsis/

The story was just ok, but left me wanting more. There were so many points that I felt could have gone another way and it would have made the story better.

Hallmark meets Hating Game - but just not quite as good as you might expect.

But kudos for all the cozy feels!!!

This is the first book by this author I’ve read and overall enjoyed it. It’s a fun book to read over the holidays and I loved the special little piece we got about Christmas.
I liked the family dynamics but they almost took over the book from the main two characters. There was also a lot of over sharing in the technical side of the story and the ending was so quick.

Not the gift I was expecting.

The premise of this story is very solid and interesting, which is why I wanted to read it. We have two characters that are on different sides of the company table so to speak, we have Lyla who is trying to save her family’s toy company and then Mason, who is doing the dirty work of trying to save the company—making the hard choices to cut programs, no holiday party, no extended time off for the holiday—kind of a Scrooge.. They don’t like each other, butting heads at every turn, fighting for their view to be the right one.

Lyla finds Mason drunk in his office, and after hearing that he doesn’t have his driver, and when the taxi driver says he’s not taking a sleepy drunk guy home, Lyla agrees to ride home with him to get him safely tucked into bed.

And we see the juxtaposition of the two, his home is sterile and cold, prim and proper and all that jazz. While Lyla’s home is more artful, warm, creatively decorated for Christmas.

Then we have the rest of the story that I was expecting, this magical world. Basically, Mason Klaus, his family are the Clauses—but they don’t do actual gifts of coveted dolls and bicycles—and they live in a secret village called Yule. Again, all of this is rather interesting. The Klaus family is modern, as is the village really, and everyone is happy that Mason is back to take his dearly departed father’s place as the new Klaus.

Mason and Lyla’s relationship for a good portion of the book is pretty combative, those rare moments we see Mason softening towards Lyla are obvious to both the reader and Lyla. Her moments of sympathy and understanding towards him are clearly seen. However, in the time frame this story takes place, I never felt it was enough to warrant a romance to blossom. It felt forced at times, and all the tropes are in place to have a furthering of romance and sensuality, but yet it never seemed to be taken advantage of.

To be frank, I would have preferred this to have been developed as a series, and I would have read it. All the elements were there, rich characters, a mystical land, a female rival/villain that could have been used more effectively, and the politics of this land were interesting enough that it could have sustained at least a three-book arc. Not to mention there is a younger brother that I would like to see more of, what’s his story? I wanted to see more of where things were going with him. I mean that sincerely, I wish this were a series and not a standalone romance. The slow burn romance that is given here would have worked much better and been more believable as a series.

I enjoyed the book, didn’t love it, but as stated above, it this were a series, I’d absolutely give it a go.

This is a mild enemies to overs tomance with one toasty intimate scene.
The author does a splended job of world building. I wish the characters had more depth.
Klaus is angsty and Lyla is pretty much a dustmop. I didn't connect or become emotionally invested.
The former scheming girlfriend was annoying and predictable but so easily overcome and ignored.
Maybe if there was more pressure for Klaus to marry.
There was a bried fresh diversity angle and it was an enjoyable read but I've seen this plot so often on chick lit media.

This was a cute holiday rom-com that I would love to see made into a hallmark movie! The relationship was adorable!

What happened if a little elf told you that your greatest enemy will turn out otherwise by Christmas Day? That is what happened to Lyla Smurfit and Mason Klaus when Lyla took a little trip back to Mason’s hometown after a series of events that happened.

The perfect book I needed right this moment and I love every minute of it! Giving off all the right Christmas-y vibe even in September, I am already looking forward to Christmas.

I love the twist in the book that I was not expecting at all — combining magic, Christmas and love — how could anyone resist this?

I also enjoyed the conversations between each character and was glad that I managed to have more than just a glimpse of them.

A lighthearted read, perfect for anyone at any time and with this book, I hereby declare I am looking forward to Christmas!

1.5⭐️ Is this a romance? Where?

This review is going to contain some mild spoilers, but I need to rant a little and it’s kind of impossible to do it without talking a bit about the plot. Fair warning issued - here we go.

This is a fantasy book riddled with odd grammatical choices and even odder character traits. Both main characters are unlikable for completely different reasons. The FMC, Lyla, is a complete pushover who believes herself the strongest, most badass person around - only to backtrack and fold instantly when anyone puts even a single ounce of pressure into her or questions any of her choices. She might be decisive, but fails to follow through with her choices at every point in the story. Mason, the MMC, is a narcissistic, entitled guy - the embodiment of white, cis and straight dude - who spends the entirety of the book bouncing between hot and cold with her, only to resent her at every turn for not reading his mind. The number of sexist/condescending comments he makes to Lyla are just laughable. Just to name a few:

- “This is the last stop, and then you can eat as much as you like”. – Spoken like a true father with a toddler - because why would you listen to her when she’s trying to communicate her needs. That’s nice.

- “Don’t fidget” – Barking orders at her when she’s in a stressful, new environment that YOU have thrown her into, because of course.

- “I only bought this dress so I could take it off”. – And in one sentence (plagiarized from Ms. Taylor Swift, might I add), the author changes the words by putting them in a man’s mouth, making clear why women are often scared of taking gifts from men. STOP MAKING “GIFTS” TRANSACTIONAL – if you think women own you shit (that being their time, their energy, their attention, their body, etc.) after buying them something THEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY THEM, NOT GIVE THEM GIFTS. So here, the fact that her wearing that dress made the MMC feel entitled to finishing the night undressing her says SO MUCH. I hate it here.

- “You were wrong about me, but I was right about you. Entitled, selfish, out for no one but herself”. – And this is the sentence that broke me - Mason refuses to take a good look at himself in a mirror, apparently. Throughout the entire book, this man has been pissy, then mildly sweet, then back to cold. He took her from her home to some middle of nowhere “magical wonderland” where she’s unable to scape, forced her to lie to everyone in the village, and to his entire family, under the threat of someone erasing her memories if she’s found to be lying at all. Then she’s forced to interact with pretty much everyone as if she was his fiancé – everyone except him, it feels like. This isn’t slow-burn, it’s just passionless. The fun thing about forced proximity or fake relations in books is where they have to act as a believable couple when they’re around others. Here, he spends his days working and she is mostly left alone with his family. I liked his little brother, Kevin, so much more than I liked Mason at any point in this story. After all this happens, he still calls HER selfish and entitled. I just couldn’t anymore. It’s the lack of self-awareness for me.

The third act conflict was predictable, and it would be laughable if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s:
1. Completely normal business-partner behaviour;
2. She tells herself “I deserve to suffer” (literal quote from the book) over it - which is so fucking dramatic - only for her to admit not even a full page later that “I never even did it, but I thought about it. Mason found out.”- again literal quote. HE KNOWS YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING, AND YOU WERE JUST TAKING STEPS INTO MAKING SURE YOU WERE A GOOD BUSINESS PARTNER TO HIM, AND HE’S STILL MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT ON PURPOSE. I just… I can’t…

I could keep going, but I think I’ve made my point - and I don’t particularly enjoy picking apart someone’s work. So, no, I do not recommend you read this book. I gave it a 1.5 because at least I could finish it… it was hard, though.

1.5/5 ⭐️

*Thank you Net Galley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

A nice quick cosy weekend read, perfect for the holiday season; refreshing to have a spin on the traditional holiday books.

The main characters just were not likeable and even the holiday setting couldn’t improve my feelings on this one.

To be fair this wasn’t the usual type of book I would read and had it not been an eArc I probably wouldn’t have kept reading it.

It did have potential there with the settings and the author is great with descriptions of the people and places. It’ll be the perfect book for some people but just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and callaghanwriter for this eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This may be the book for you if you like holiday angsty romance similar to a Hallmark holiday movie. While I felt the tension between the two main characters, Lyla and Mason, I didn't feel the love connection. I would like to have seen better character development that would make the characters and their love connection more believable. I did enjoy the different take on Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas, but I would like to have been shown, not told. All in all, it was okay. I enjoyed it but saw many places where things could have been improved to make it great.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This was such a cute and unique Christmas book. It would be perfect for a holiday movie and I have to say that I enjoyed this even more than I expected I would. Lyla is on the outs with her co-CEO Mason. Lyla's family used to fully own the toy company and now Mason seems to be overruling her at every step and his policies and behaviors are very Grinch like. Somehow Lyla and Mason end up together in the ways of many a good 'fake dating' trope romance. Why did Mason leave home ten years ago, never to return...until now. With Lyla as his fiancé? They can't even stand each other so how will they pull this off? Lyla adores Christmas and all its trappings and Mason is so cold he won't even face the window that looks out onto the Christmas ice skating rink across the street. But Mason and his family are more than anything Lyla's wild imagination could ever have believed. I don't want to give much away but this has some great fantasy elements and a ton small town Christmas vibes. There is a thin line between hate and passion and its written fairly believably here. There are a couple of times where Lyla bothered me a bit because something would be blatantly obvious and she would have to do mental gymnastics to to realize what it was. I wish the author could have found a way around some of these little elements. Otherwise this was a joy to read.

I rated this book 3.5 Stars and really wanted to rate it higher. I enjoyed this book so much and wanted more. I didn’t think I was ready for a Christmas book, but this sweetly magical story put me in the mood. It could’ve been better with more in-depth characters, but I loved so many things about it anyway. The explanation of Klaus’ actual job during the Christmas season was a beautiful idea. Loved Lyla and Mason and I hope the author brings us more stories of their world.

Thank you to CallaghanWriter for this ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheNaughtyOrNiceClause #NetGalley