This was just ok, it didn’t really get interesting until she was in the village with klaus. I enjoyed getting to know klaus’’s family and some of the people in the village. I think it could have been a little more interesting if the characters were developed a little better. Overall it was a cute Christmas read

Such a fabulous enemies to lovers festive romance, this was just everything , the banter, the chemistry, it’s just so good. The perfect Christmas story

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review

Thanks NetGalley for this copy!

I was so ready for a cute holiday romcom but this did not deliver for me. The main characters had NO chemistry. The banter just felt mean - except that he happened to be super attracted to her? Wasn’t buying it.

The world was kind of fun and cute, but it did feel really random at first to just be thrown into something fantastical in this modern setting.

The star is for the setting and the cat. The end.

Sweet Christmas romance with an enemies to lovers plot set in the North Pole. I enjoyed the characters but the plot felt rushed at times.

The premise of this sounding amazing and I want to thank NetGalley and Callaghan Writers Publishing for a chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Although the pacing was lacking, I still enjoyed the premise of this book. It was a concept that was a slight spin on what we traditionally see. Overall, I just wanted me than what it gave, and at times I had a hard time seeing past what I wanted it to be. Still a good read, just fell a little short for me.

This was an enjoyable romcom that embodied the magic of Christmas. I very much enjoyed the enemies to lovers scenario between Mason and Lyla. This was an easy read with likable characters. Lyla was snarky and was willing to fight for what she wanted. Mason exuded power. And when the two of them faced off, fireworks were involved! The story was well written and well plotted and would make a great Hallmark movie.

I adored this magical realism romance! Lyla despises Mason Klaus, the man who took over the majority shares of her father’s company. He is cold and unfriendly and appears to hate Christmas. After Lyla makes the choice to have the company Christmas party behind his back, Klaus convinces her to make it up to him by accompanying him back to his hometown after he receives news that his father has died. Turns out, Klaus is from a gorgeous winter village called Yule, hidden away from the world and a literal Christmas wonderland. I love the scene the author sets of this gorgeous magical village and, while I felt that the romance could have been developed more, I loved the feeling that the book evoked during this holiday season.

This story was a great holiday romance! I loved Mason from the start and Lyla finally won me over by about one-third in. With a fake engagement and a perfect holiday setting, this romance read was one I couldn't put down. Kate Callaghan's writing made me feel immersed right into the setting and the story! I have been thinking about this books days after reading it still. Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriters for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

What a fun & entertaining Christmas book.

Mason Klaus was hired by Lyla’s father to help their family toy business from failure. Lyla sees Mason as a threat because he was given the majority shares of the company and is constantly butting heads with him. Mason receives some bad news while Lyla is hosting the company’s holiday party (that Mason canceled) and gets drunk. Against her better judgment, Lyla helps Mason get home…which ends up turning her world upside down! Mason needs someone to bring home and Lyla is the one he chooses!

I absolutely loved this book!. My one small complaint is that I would have loved to see a little more romance in this book..it is a super slow burn. The characters are well developed. I love everything about the setting and storyline overall

Looking for a standalone fantasy holiday romance with grumpy x sunshine trope and some spicy scenes ? Then you can give this one a try!

What I like the most about this book is the unexpected fantasy element in the plot, it’s very unique.
A hidden magical village where Santa Claus reside and works, instead of elves and toys this book offer another theory on how Santa gets the job done for Christmas every year.

I absolutely love the magic, mystery and family love throughout the story.
I also like the bantering and flirting between the main characters – Mason and Lyla, seeing how their relationship started to change as they stay in that secret village with Mason’s family.

There’s only one thing that makes me didn’t fully enjoy the book, the pacing towards the ending is too rushed. It ended too abruptly and left me feeling unsatisfied with it.

Overall, this is a good book despite the abrupt ending. It’s light, quick, enjoyable and entertaining!
I’m looking forward to read more books from this author in the future.

Actual rating: 3.5⭐

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

This book is all about Christmas, toys and a love/hate relationship! Lyla doesn’t like the fact that Mason is in control of her family’s toy company. This should be the perfect set up for a cute Christmas story, for me the character connection misses the mark.
Lyla spends the holidays with Mason’s family, a lot of flirting goes on but the fairytale feels forced!
The storyline was full of fun moments, I felt that the drama at the beginning pulled the characters down and I didn’t engage more until towards the end of the story.
I needed the main characters to have more depth and emotion. I wish that I felt Mason and Lyla’s romance develop as I explored the Christmas theme.

Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you like:
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💋 Fake Dating
🎄 Holiday Romances
⛅️ Grumpy Sunshine Trope
✨ Magic

If you are looking for a cute and cozy hallmark type of Christmas read, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up! It has so many of my favorite tropes so that plus Christmas made this one such a good pick for the holiday season!

I loved how it started out as enemies to lovers and being stuck trying to have a fake dating situation in a magical hometown.. it just gave all the cute and cozy with the tension I love!

Do yourself a favor and snag a copy of this one!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The overall concept of the book was really good, but something was missing. I love the grumpy& sunshine romance with a bit work romance and Christmas magic. The time between when they are in the normal world and when he brings Lyla into his family, was too quick in my opinion. I wish there was a double POV. It could have brought more complexity to the story.

I requested this from NetGalley for a seasonal read, and because I saw that it was an indie release. As usual, I was not disappointed.

This novel features two characters that can’t stand each other. Mason Klaus, a well dressed, but ill tempered man that overtook Lyla Smurfit’s birthright. He paid for it, but that’s not how she sees it. He sees her as an entitled, ill managed know it all. Until a letter draws him home—a home he hasn’t been to in over ten years, a home he can’t possibly go back to alone. He takes along the least likely guest ever!

This was a cute, cheesy romance. I typically avoid romance, which is why they read as cheesy to me, but as a lover of Christmas, this is typically the time of year I let one or two slip in. This one is well done, and I rather enjoyed it. Believe it or not, this is a double troped romance! Enemies to lovers, as well as pretend dating/fiancées turned lovers.

It delivers on the magic of Christmas and love, and it was an enchanting setting…the North Pole (or Yule)! It is written well, and I would most definitely check out more from the author as I believe they write fantasy normally which is more my flavor. If anything, the typical almost-heartbreak at the end could have gone on a bit longer to really sell it, but I enjoyed it anyway.

I got sucked in, and it hit the feels. Personally a 5/5*.

Such a cute PG enemies to lovers holiday read! The story flew by, almost as if it were too short. It was a bit cheesy in the beginning and I had low expectations but I quickly changed my mind. I liked the take on the North Pole and Christmas. Not an angle I've read before. Thanks yo the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing my with an arc in exchange for this honest review.

Sadly, I didn’t like this. The romance felt forced, the dialogue stilted, parts of it even felt unoriginal, such as the scene with the wolves. It did have a few good melts, but sadly these were outweighed by everything else.

This was such a good Christmas romance with a bit of spice. I love enemies to lovers. It's one of my favorite tropes. I didn't read the synopsis so I was surprised about the secret magic village. It was so awesome. It reminded me a little of the Santa Clause movie. Lyla is a feisty lovable character. Mason is a scrooge. Lyla helps remind him of his Christmas spirit. I also really like the side characters, Kevin being one of my favorites. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook arc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this story. It's definitely an enemies to lovers romance. I really enjoyed watching Lyla and Mason fall for each other. Since they really are enemies in the beginning I love that there are a lot of interactions as they get to know each other. We get to watch them fall in love on page. This was a nice addition to my holiday reading.

The Naughty or Nice Clause was so cute! I loved the take on Santa and the North Pole, and really loved learning about the holiday magic and the enemies to lovers story was just perfect. I wanted to savor this one but ended up finishing too quickly because I couldnt wait to see what happened next. Potentially my fave holiday read of the season!

I’ve been trying to read a lot of holiday books this month and this has been my favorite so far by FAR!!!

I loved the characters. I loved that the book didn’t drag, but it also didn’t seemed rushed at all. The grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers actually worked very well in this story in my opinion.

I want to visit Yule and ride through the streets on a sled to get some cake at June’s bakery. I loved the side stories within the plot. There was also the element of found family that was so easy going and beautiful.

The story was inclusive in an un- in your face way which I always prefer. Kate Callaghan’s version of the North Pole seemed so believable to me. There was spice, but it wasn’t all empowering and in your face. This story was just so subtle in all the best ways.

I just really enjoyed this story and would loved to pick it up and revisit the characters again next Christmas season 🎅!