
Member Reviews

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Layla loves Christmas. And as co-owner of a toy company in Dublin how could she not?! So nothing could be worse for her than when epitome of the Grinch himself, Mason, purchases 51% of her families company and she has to become Co-CEO's with him. What is worse than having to work with the Grinch? Having to spend Christmas with him. But when crisis strikes Mason's estranged family, he asks for Layla to accompany him home for the holidays to act as a buffer. Layla truly cannot believe the secrets and Christmas magic his family has up their sleeves.
If you love Christmas this book is for you! I went into it without reading the synopsis and I am SO GLAD that I did. I never would have guessed just how Christmasy this book would turn out to be. It was a great enemies to lovers trope, had a cute cat sidekick and was a full on holiday romance. The only reason I have for knocking the book half a star is that I felt the ending was a little rushed. I definitely could have read a couple more chapters of Layla and Mason!
Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for the digital ARC. I 100% recommend this read!

I'm not sure what was naughty or nice about this book. Characters remained rather annoying the entire book. I don't feel like we ever really got to know them. Honestly Lyla was a saint for putting up with Mason as long as she did, because he was so hot and cold it was driving me crazy personally. I also read many reviews that this was steamy, and I found that far from the truth.
The paragraph/line really sealed the deal that this book was a waste of my time to read. I felt beyond unfulfilled. I hate to ever say bad things about a book, and I would never write such a critical review before, but this was just really not my cup of tea and I found it really disappointing.
The one thing I liked about this book was the town. The idea shared here on who "Santa Claus" is and how that works for Christmas was very unique and I really enjoyed the world building of the book more than the characters.

This book was a cute holiday read for the Christmas season. Personally, I felt that the characters lacked chemistry and that the book was a bit rushed. The concept was cute, having a small town separated from the rest of the world that felt like Christmas year round but I feel like it lacked something. It reminded me of a hallmark movie as it had that vibe. The banter between Mason and Lyla was cute at times but it still fell flat in terms of not really connecting with characters and the switch from enemies to lovers seemed to be a little too fast as they just lacked communication. However, if you enjoy the mix of holiday spirit with magic then this book may be for you although it wasn’t for me. Thank you to Net Galley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually a fan of romance books, but I am obsessed with Christmas stories and I absolutely loved this book!
Christmas + fake dating + enemies to lovers = the perfect combination.
Thank you NetGalley🎄

This was a pleasant enough of a read.
I found this novel to be completely like a Hallmark movie from the Christmas channel.
This reminds me of a different novel which gave me a headache.
The reasons for my wording is because it was missing that spark. It just didn’t do it for me at all.
If you enjoy the Christmas channel type of movies but you actually enjoy the book versions, here you go.

Lyla loves her job but she doesn’t love Mason Klaus. He’s come into the toy company set up be her granddad to make her life hell. For one thing he’s got no Christmas spirit and for another despite his distractingly gorgeous bod he’s a real grouch. Lyla is disappointed that her father who would rather honeymoon than work has made over his shares to Klaus and given him the controlling share. Klaus is the ultimate Scrooge and now he’s cancelled the staff party after making numerous layoffs and shut downs. Lyla thinks it will be a good idea to party anyway but that doesn’t work out so well either.
Just when she’s thinks things couldn’t get any worse, Klaus reveals a weakness and begs her to go home with him to be with his family over Christmas. She thinks she might suddenly have the edge and be able to take back control of her beloved company. She isn’t expecting a magical land of toys and treats and a family who she might grow to love.
I couldn’t resist this premise as I do love a magic moment. I hadn’t read the blurb and so it came as a bit of a shock that this wasn’t going to be the usual fish out of water as it became fish under ice. There’s even a bit of a dark heart at the centre of the secret village but it gets glossed over as it doesn’t really fit the premise of the novel. My main grouch is the use of wolves as a threat to Lyla. We all know they should be coyotes but somehow wolves get the bad publicity. Meh-those coyotes must have a better agent.
Perfect for lovers of Elf, Scrooge, The Santa Clause.
It’s definitely a TV movie in waiting. Maybe one for Hallmark next season but only if the wolves get a fair rep.

A fun well written enemies to lovers book with good dose of Christmas spirit. There is great banter between the two and I really liked the author's concept of North Pole/Yule and Santa/Klaus.
That said this book fell a flat for me - I couldn't connect with either character, feel their chemistry, and the switch from enemies to lovers just didn't seem to work for me.

The Naughty Or Nice Clause is a well written and entertaining book. I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Great start for my holiday reads! 💕
I love Christmas movies.. it brings warm feeling whenever I watch them during holiday season… and I’m glad I started my reading during the holiday with this book.
I have read numerous enemies-to-lovers trope this year I feel like I already hit my limit 😂 but this one sort of gave a great twist in it and I like it. 💕
I also love the family element of it which I think is timely during yuletide season, with all the family get together, making amends and creating more memories together. I love the village! The kid in me was happy. 😀
As to the romance, it is good. Not too much spice but the banter is funny, witty. I love the slow burn part as Lyla and Mason spent time together and Lyla seeing the other side of Mason.
I just felt the ending was rushed, inconclusive? I was expecting better ending, I felt short that the conflict they’re having with the long-distance and work/ family responsibilities were not clearly resolved.
If you’re still up for another office romance, enemies-to-lovers, one-bed trope before the year ends with a sprinkle of Christmas magic, this is worth the read.🎄

I rated this book 4 stars. I have been wanting to read a Christmas book for a while, and this book was perfect. This book gave me Book Lovers (Emily Henry) and The Hating Game (Sally Thorne) vibes, and I absolutely adored those books. The light fantasy in this book was introduced and built up really well. Also, the magical aspect to this novel was absolutely amazing and extremely creative. If you are a fan of Hallmark movies or romantic Christmas movies, this is definitely the book for you! The characters in this novel have so much personality, and it my favorite was definitely Kevin. This book is a VERY slow burn enemies to lovers, and it is only about 250 pages. One thing I disliked about the book was that the ending was fast, and it just seemed a little rushed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Callaghan Writer for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley & CallaghanWriter for an ARC in return for my honest review.
2.5/5 stars!
The Naughty or Nice Clause was a cute holiday read. I like that this had a very different premise than other holiday romances I’ve read. However, this felt lacking in the romance category. I didn’t really feel a lot of chemistry between the characters, and some parts of the story felt overdone or repetitive, while others needed more. I liked the originality, the mix of holiday spirit, magic, & corporate america was fun!
This review will be posted to my goodreads! I will also post about it on my instagram story, @BookedWithLinds

I enjoyed this book. What a nice holiday saga. I enjoyed it so much. I put this author on my fav list.

Lyla is the daughter of a CEO of a toy company, so that means she should receive money, but instead she learns he’s bankrupt. Her shares are now given to Mason, a corporate investor. Much to her frustration she decides to become a thorn in his behind and do things he’s against.
This was a cute romance. Reminded me of a Hallmark movie I’d watch. It was a twist on a Santa story with an enemies to lovers trope. The only reason I didn’t overly love the story was the main character was a bit immature for me. She just lets anyone walk all over her and at times Mason came off super narcissistic. But all in all it was a fun holiday read.

❥No Spoilers❥
Rating- 3.5 ☆ ☆ ☆
♡This was my first holiday book I’ve ever read. I love the premise and the plot of the book. Very unique and creative. I had a good time reading it, I just didn’t love it.
♡Brief Synopsis: Layla absolutely despised her business partner Mr. Klaus! He is arrogant and a total Grinch when it comes to Christmas. When Layla decides to throws the staff a secret Christmas party. She is shocked to see Mason Klaus sitting in his office drunk. After deciding to help him home (even riding in an Uber with no shoes on)!!! Layla tucks him in and heads back home. The next morning at 7AM, Mason knocks on the door to reveal that someone accidentally started a fire at the office and is now has to be repaired. Completely furious with her, he decides she owes him and they she will accompany him back home after receiving news his father has passed. Layla reluctantly agrees, but had no idea she would be transported to a Christmas Village protected my magic!!!! Learning about Mason’s family history and the town of Yule will complicate things between them. Could she fall in love with a man she hates and believes is heartless?
♡Overall- I enjoyed the banter between Layla and Mason. I loved the Christmas vibes we got to experience and exploring the Christmas village. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending, but I did enjoy the story I just wasn’t in love with it. But I would definitely give this book a try if you love, office rivals, and Christmas spirit. I am grateful to NetGalley for receiving a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not mad about the current sexy Santa thing that's going on...
This was a fun holiday read, and it felt like a grown-up version of The Santa Clause (with some key differences, obviously!)

Ok. I absolutely LOVED this book.
It was such a cozy and naught and nice read and definitely 5 stars for me.
I love how attached I was to Klaus and Lyla in the first few pages and their hostility toward one another was so fresh and intense from the start. I feel like most of the time when I'm reading books I skim through the descriptions because it's just the same thing over and over again but I was hanging on to every single word with this one and I loved it.
I immediately messaged Kate with my praises and asked for a longer story because I need MORE of these two. The banter, the build-up to the SPICE, the characters (even the supporting characters were lovable) and the plot were just so cute and cozy. Definitely a great Hallmark-vibed Holiday read!
Definitely read if you love: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, WORKPLACE, fantasy romance and Hallmark movies. Love. Love. Love.
Thank you so much NetGalley & Kate for this eARC!!!!

This was a very cute enemies to lovers fake dating romance novella. I appreciated that it was able to cover so much in a short book. But somehow it was still a very slow burn. I loved the small town setting, and the whole idea behind the plot. This is a great Christmas read to put the reader in the holiday spirit!

I absolutely loved this book! If you love Christmas and hallmark movies you are going to love the story of Lyla and Mason. This romance novel has all the tropes office enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, one bed, slow burn. I couldn't stop reading, read it in a day. I was rooting for them to fall in love, there was magic, a gingerbread competition and nothing like the MMC old childhood friend to spice things up. I was so drawn to keep reading because I wanted to know what Mason was hiding, would he stay or would he go? Can they get past their hate for each other and let the possibility of falling in love a chance? Definitely recommend this book for your next holiday read!

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice and festive read. Personally, I am into more angsty books with pining and just lots of feeling, so this was a bit lacking in that department but it is just a personal preference and not the author's fault. The ending also was a bit rushed. Despite all that, the book gives off perfect Hallmark vibes and I'm sure a lot of holiday readers are gonna love it.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating (engagment), grumpy/sunshine

This one just wasn’t it for me. The grumpy mean guys are never a hit. It’s giving “ he’s mean to u because he likes u.” Vibes.