3.5 stars for this enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, male-falls-first, closed proximity, sci-fi/magic Christmas story!

"The Naughty or Nice Clause" by Kate Callaghan is more nice than naughty, but that doesn't mean it's bad. This is a cute, mostly fun, magical (but predictable) Christmas tale where Lyla and Mason, the two people running Lyla's father's toy company, must fake-date in front of his family for twelve days before Christmas... but Mason and his family are not who they seem to be. The premise is pretty zany and fantastical, but I found this to be perfectly acceptable for a holiday read. I'm not a Grinch, after all. Lyla and Mason don't make a lick of sense at first, but slowly over time, Callaghan makes readers believe in them. Their attraction/relationship does seem to come quickly and out of nowhere. It bugged me that Mason is always so quick to anger and brooding. I get that he's supposed to be cold and stoic MMC, but I didn't love it because a lot of his issues felt unnecessary. Lyla and Mason aren't my favorite literary couple, but they are a decent pairing despite my issues. Also, Lyla is described as curvaceous, but as far as I can remember, Callaghan never goes out of her way to call her fat or plus-size, so I don't really count this as a plus-size representation.

I also have to let it be known: I refuse to believe that the man with the bag's name could *ever* be MASON. UGH. (*lol*)

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Callaghan, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy.

This story was so original. I loved the whole premise. Yule is a town that would be a dream to live in. It’s picturesque and magical!

Lyla and Klaus had great conflict in the beginning and it just wasn’t quite believable with how fast they fell in love. I needed a little more push and pull between them to feel like it was real.

My heart broke for Klaus when Lyla’s betrayal was discovered. It made me love him even more, when after all of the hurt she caused him he still stood up for her.

Kevin! I loved him! He was the perfect little brother and made for a fun supporting character.

I gave this 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 because of the originality of the magic and the dreamy town of Yule.

I mean I didn’t expect magic but ok?

This story follows Mason and Lyla, two co-owners of a toy company that despise each other (what a surprise). After a Christmas party gone wrong, Mason asks Lyla to accompany him home to serve as a buffer between him and his family.

Enter jingle bells and magic portals. Even though I was expecting at least one of the characters to have a Christmasy name (Mason Klaus but let me just roll my eyes real quick at Lyla Smurfit) I did not expect him to actually be Santa. He lives at the North Pole in the town of Yule and is managing Christmas along with his family, but now is expected to pick up from his father who passed away.

First off, yay for LGBTQ+ and disability rep. I loved the Klauses and their dynamic, but unfortunately I loved it more than the main couple. One of the things that didn’t click for me was the lack of chemistry between Lyla and Mason. Their dialogue was dry, their banter was lukewarm and their personalities neither crashed nor completed each other.

The description of the town was mesmerizing and it painted a fantastic picture of merry, happy, jolly atmosphere and the way things were done to secure Christmas’ success were fresh and very progressive.

Overall it was a cute and festive read, but I wouldn’t say it’s a romance to remember.

“How could one kiss throw me so off balance?”

Thank you Kate Callaghan and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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 Christas 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 is ruin, Mason offers her a deal: he’ll forget her part in the disaster, but he must join his family for the twelve days of Christmas holidays.

If you love quick and easy reads, with tropes like rivals to lovers and forced proximity, then this is the book for you! I personally wish there would’ve been a little more world and romance building as well as at least an epilogue to see what happens the following year. It was a still a cute Christmas story, but the romance was just sprinkled in. I rated “The Naughty and Nice Clause” 3 ⭐️‘s.

I need a sequel to this or something because I 👏🏻 NEED 👏🏻 MORE!!! This was such a wonderful Christmas story and I didn't want it to end 🎅🏻 I loveeee the Klaus family and all of Yule ✨️ I think Mason and Lyla make such a cute couple but I need more of them. It was giving Hallmark romance vibes (with some spice)...ya know the build up and then as soon as their together or whatever the credits start rolling 😮‍💨 I want to know how things pan out and what her role is in Yule and all of the things!!! I also loved that Lyla owned a toy company 🤖

When Lyla's father retires from his position at the top toy company, Lyla seems to think she will inherit it all. However, he reveals that the company is broke and needing an investor to share management with - who comes in the form of Mason Klaus. Certified Christmas Scrooge, one of Mason's top jobs is cancelling the company wide Christmas party. A lover of the festive season, Lyla pays for a last minute celebration - only for it to end in flames. 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.

While in the beginning, I was a little worried that this would be another 'office romance', I was immediately hooked the second we travelled to Yule. This read was chosen purely for the romantic Christmas HEA I love for this time of year, however I managed to find a beautiful mild Christmas fantasy that all of us have dreamed of.

Perfect for lovers of Christmas romance;
✔️ Rivals to Lovers
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Christmas Grinch
✔️ M Falls First
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Plus size FMC

Mason and Lyla might possibly be one of my favorite Christmas couples. Their extreme opposites gave them a realness that can sometimes be missing from these HEA still novels. All of his 'Grinchiness' was well and truly warranted, and perfectly explained in a fantastic, yet exciting way. I found myself wanting to visit the town of Yule, the world building and descriptions were strong I felt like I had stepped out of my Summer Christmas, into a gorgeous Winter Wonderland. All of the extra characters were well written and blended so well with both of our MC's and we even had disability and LGBTQI+ representations that didn't feel like a social afterthought. This is definitely one to add to your Christmas reading list.

Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and this book definitely help set the mood with a fun and exciting story! Lyla and Mason work as co-CEO's at Lyla's grandfathers toy company - and they LOATHE one another. When a series of events in the office force Lyla to help Mason with a favour - she finds herself transported to the North Pole to help Mason work through some family drama.

I won't go too far into the plot as I don't want to spoil one bit. Some pieces of the plot were expected and others not so much which made this a really pleasant surprise. I loved the magical fantasy aspect of the book tied in with a little bit of romance. This is your classic enemies to lovers and let me tell you - it is a slow burn (in the best way!) I do find that the ending was a bit abrupt - but really, what classic Hallmark Christmas story doesn't end this way.

I was constantly finding myself wanting to continue reading to find out where Lyla and Mason's story was headed and with the book being so well written it was hard not to put down. Definitely a nice, light and easy read and the perfect book to cozy up with by the tree. Overall, I definitely recommend the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and and Kate Callaghan for the ARC copy - what a treat!

If you’re after a fun, slightly silly, Christmas story with a sprinkle of spice and a happy ending this could be the read for you.

Mason Klaus is ruining Lyra’s Christmas. As the new CEO of her father’s company, he has banished Christmas spirit with cost saving measures that have even included cancelling the Christmas party. Lyra stages a rebellion and hosts a secret party at the office once Mason has left. Disaster hits the office when a fire breaks put and Mason is furious.

The feuding pair clearly fancy the pants off each other despite the fact that they appear to have nothing in common. The problem is amplified when Mason takes Lyra back home with him for Christmas. Mason needs her to pretend to be his girlfriend, in return Lyra will get her business back how she wants it.

Somehow, she is magically whisked to a secret Christmas village where it turns out that the Klaus family have got some pretty big festive secrets of their own.

This is a fun escapism that would make a perfect Hallmark style Christmas movie. I wasn’t a hundred per cent convinced by the romance between Lyra and Mason, but the Klaus family are fantastic, so it didn’t really hamper my enjoyment of the book. This is definitely one to snuggle up under a blanket with over the holidays.

Thanks to Netgalley for my gifted digital copy.

The Naughty or Nice Clause was an adorably festive romance all about Christmas. We are first introduced to Lyla- a sweet, naive corporate toymaker. Then we meet Klaus- who is just plain grinchy and mean. After a pretty big blunder on Lyla's watch, she agrees to make amends by accompanying Klaus back home to support him as he reunites with his estranged family in the wake of his father's passing.
Except "home" is a famous little Christmas village and Klaus' father is a pretty well-known legend.
There were a handful of things I didn't love about this story, mainly the relationship between Lyla and Mason (Klaus). He was secretive and volatile- and the romance didn't flow naturally to me. Lyla was also sneaky and dingy sometimes. BUT there were many things I loved! The Klaus family was everything you'd want in a family and more! So warm and inviting. The town was also beautifully described. I want to visit Yule every Christmas season. Callaghan did a wonderful job of painting a holly jolly picture of a modern Santa Legend. It was a unique take on a well-loved character. A perfect read for the holidays.

So gross when someone genuinely mean is supposedly just misunderstood. A lot of red flags in this holly jolly mess.

'The Naughty Or Nice Clause' was a cute, short Christmas romance book with a splash of magic within it. This book is an hate to love romance following Lyla and Mason who are both CEO's of a toy making company but after a fire happens during Lyla's Christmas party, Mason makes Lyla pretend to be his fiancee whilst spending Christmas with his family.
I liked a lot of aspects within this book. I honestly thought this was just a small town, fake dating romance and did not realise that this book has a magical element (Mason's father was literally Santa Clause and Mason was next in line to become Santa). I thought that as a concept it was really fun and reminded me of one of my favourite Christmas movies. I liked the town that Clause was from and I thought that his family was super sweet and so welcoming to Lyla even though she was a stranger to them.
Although this is a romance, there were times where I really was not rooting for the couple. Although I did like Lyla, I feel like whenever she messed up Mason took things too far and just started screaming and shouting at her whenever she made a mistake instead of just talking to her like a normal person. I know this was supposed to be a hate to love romance but I could not stand the way Mason spoke to Lyla whenever he was mad at her, and it really made me not want to root for them to be together.
I thought the ending was super sweet as I always love a happily ever after.
This book was a really fun, sweet Christmas story if you're just looking for something to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Lily and Mason's journey to find their true feelings was amazing. Very cute, less than 200 page read. I am hoping there will be a sequel!

Lyla was supposed to inherit her family’s toy company after her father retired but…a man named Mason Klaus, comes in and gets half the shares in an attempt to save the struggling business. He makes cuts, lays off employees, and even cancels the annual Christmas party. Lyla despises him, and decides to have the party anyway.
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After a fire breaks out during the party Mason makes her a deal. Lyla will accompany Mason to his home for the holidays and he won’t press charges. When they arrive, Lyla is surprised to find herself in a winter wonderland and even more surprised when Mason introduces her as his fiancée.

This was a quick, easy read, and a perfect, cozy romance to jump start the holiday season.

What a cozy Christmas read! While this isn’t the hottest romance, it is a lovely Christmas tale full of magic and wonder; some may even label it Hallmarkian! I would recommend this as a good read for the season, Lyla and Mason’s story is sure to bring on the Christmas spirit. Thank you to NetGalley and Callaghanwriter Paperback for the e-ARC version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable and exactly what I needed. It's the proposal meets the Mrs clause and add in a few favorites, enemies to lovers, one bed, grumpy sunshine. I don't think you could ask for more. Other than I want More...
I highly recommend this Christmasy read.

Thank you #netgalley #theNaughtorNiceClause

thank you to netgalley and kate callaghan for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

this was cute! i read this really quickly and was able to finish it once i got into it. this wasn’t the best romance book i’ve ever read, but it also wasn’t the worst! this was a pretty slow burn, and i was kind of upset about the ending before the last paragraph. the ending did feel a little rushed, but it was a cute little happy ending. overall this was cute and thank you again to netgalley and kate callaghan. overall 3.25/5 ⭐️.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC! I really enjoyed this book. It was cozy, festive, easy read and fast paced. I flew through this book and I was all about it! I highly recommend if you’re looking for a cute, holiday romance!

Lyla was set to inherit the toy company, once her father retired but alas an evil handsome man by the name of Mason Klaus, comes in and gets half the shares. His idea of saving the company is by making cuts and canceling the Christmas party. However, the Christmas party will not be canceled on Lyla’s watch. No way.
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When a fire damages the building after the party Mason cuts her a deal. He will forget her part in the fire if she comes home with him for the holidays. When she arrives at the winter wonderland he introduces her as his fiancé and soon finds herself in a magical, secret world.
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You need to suspend belief with this one and just accept the magic but it’s a fun magical Christmas story.
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Thank you #callaghanwriter and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found the story to be really fast paced for my liing but I did love the main couple and the overall vibes.A pretty good christmas read!!.

A cute and short Christmassy book. I didn't love the main couple and found the book to read weirdly, some scenes felt so long and dragged out and others felt so rushed. The last 4 chapters in particular were just so rushed.