I just didn’t connect with this book. The characters didn’t resonate with me and I felt like their conflicts were too easily resolved.

I downloaded this book a long with a bunch of others before I was able to finish reading it, but I did ended up getting it on my Kindle so I could finish it.
Overall it was a cute Rom-Com that is perfect for Christmas!

Kate Callaghan writes romcoms that I love, so I was so excited for this holiday version. It reads like a cheesy, holiday Hallmark movie, in all the best ways.

I did not like the writing nor the flow. This was not for me and I can admit I might not be the audience.

Not a book I'd usually choose yet was pleasantly surprised, great book and characters. Would recommend

This was so cute!! I wish I had read it a lot sooner, I would have loved to display it on a table in the Barnes and Nobles location I work at!
This was an enemies to lovers, fake dating and Hallmark christmas movie vibe all wrapped into one book, which was exactly what i wanted! Our female main character Lyla is a holly jolly all things holiday loving girly (like myself), and our male main character Klaus is the polar opposite. I loved that this book combined my favorite tropes and mixed in the magical element of a cozy christmas read so flawlessly.

"The Naughty or Nice Clause" by Kate Callaghan offers readers a delightful premise filled with holiday charm and romantic tension. Set against the backdrop of a family-owned toy company and a fantastical winter wonderland, the novel promises a festive escape.

The narrative follows Lyla, who unexpectedly finds herself in a difficult situation when her father's retirement and the company's bankruptcy force her to work alongside Mason Klaus, a cold and unyielding investor. Their initial animosity and apparent differences set the stage for a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, adding an element of romance and tension to the story.

The whimsical setting of the secret village and its magical Christmas holidays adds charm and provides a delightful escape for readers. Kate Callaghan skillfully paints a picturesque winter wonderland, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the enchanting atmosphere and experience the joy of the holiday season.

Super cute and fun read. Adorable Christmas romance that’s perfectly cozy and entertaining. Enemies to lovers, with a Christmas twist. Definitely pick this one up any of time of year. I read it in June and still enjoyed it tons!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and CallaghanWriter, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Christmas RomCom's and fake dating tropes but this just felt off for me. What I did like is the magical aspect of the book. I also liked that I was surprised by the magical village, I didn't see it coming. What I had problems with is that it just felt rushed, especially towards the end. I also just couldn't connect with either of the characters. Their banter was hit or miss for me. Sometimes it felt forced. I could actually see this as a Hallmark Movie.

I did not finish this book. The plot was uninteresting to me, a very typical Christmas RomCom style book. I was hoping for a light hearted holiday read but was not entertained by this one.

Although the story puts an interesting twist on the fake dating cliché and I found the premise very original, the book fell a bit short for my taste.

The main characters -Layla and Mason- seemed very flat to me and their dialogue didn't convey anything at all. The lack of chemistry between them has made me feel disappointed as far as the romantic plot is concerned. However, I found Kevin (Mason's little brother) to be adorable. A fun character and a must protect in every way.

Overall, the feeling I got was that this is a book that does the job and entertains, but it didn't really resonate with me and it's not going to be a story I'll remember for a long time. In addition, the ending seemed too rushed compared to how slowly things happen throughout the book.

Even so, you know that there is nothing written about books and just because I didn't love it, doesn't mean that you won't like it.

I don't usually like the 'fake dating' trope, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were lots of twists and turns which helped to move the story along.
I did feel the book felt a bit forced, the premise was there and the story had a lot of potential but it did fall a bit flat for me. I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but it felt as though it was missing something.

A cute holiday read full of magic and unexpected love. Although a little unrealistic, it was a nice escape from reality during the holiday season.

Exactly what I was looking for while I was in a reading slump. Enemies to Lovers, Small Town Romance, and Forced Proximity, just YUM! The Author delivers magic, mystery, some action, romance, and a bit of spice. this will get you feeling the best holiday feelings any time of year.

I love a good enemies to lovers and fake relationship trope in a book.

This book has a bit of everything. Lyla and Mason have to work together but Lyla is definitely not a fan of Mason. After a mishap she has to go back home with Mason where he introduces her as his fiancee. She must go along with it and soon their fake relationship develops very real feelings for each other.

This was a great Christmas story that will put you in the holiday spirit.

Hmm what did I think about this book ... I absolutely loved it. I obviously made the mistake of reading a Christmas book in May, BUT still didn't change the fact that this book is amazing. Short and sweet. To the point.

Enemies to lovers ... WIN
Christmas with actual magic ... WIN
Found family ... WIN
Slow burn ... WIN

And let me tell you when the spice finally comes ... yup its good!

Save it for Christmas time, but definitely give it a read!

Christmas, magic, romantic chemistry on a slow burn that makes you devour the pages with delight. Will they get together? You'll have to read to find out. Kate's books are never predictable. Anything could happen. Put up your Christmas tree early, make a hot chocolate and settle down in a comfy chair to read this year's best Christmas book. It won't disappoint. It's the magical escape you need in your life right now.

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating/engagement
- small town romance

There's a lot of magic in this one-- in fact this book read like a screenplay in many ways, it's *so* incredibly easy to imagine it streaming on Netflix or playing on the Hallmark channel this Christmas season.

This is unfortunately where my personal disappointment came in-- it felt like a screenplay too

This book was really good. As someone who loves hallmark movies, this book felt like one. Lyla and Mason are really cute. This book really put you into the world. This is a book I would reread around Christmas time to get in the mood for the season. As I read it in April and May, it made me feel like it was December. I love the fake dating trope and I think it works really well for this book. I also found it hilarious that Mason is a scrooge when he is in line to be the next santa claus. I really loved Kate Callaghan's writing style. This book was so good and so cute. I would highly recommend it.

This is the perfect slow burn, holiday romance. Readers will be in the holiday spirit from the page one and you will find yourself invested in the enemies-to-lovers romance. This is a steamy romance with great character development and a fun plot line!