When I requested this book, I expected a Hallmark-like romance that would put me right in the holiday spirit -- and I was not disappointed!

Lyla and Mason hate each others guts and they are opposites in pretty much everything. Yet Mason pushes the hate aside after a drunken night and asks Lyla to come home with him for the holidays as he needs a buffer between him and his family.
Naturally, this leads to a lot of banter and slow burn romance. I'd say "if only this would end well", but we all know how it's gonna end!

I loved the writing and the setting. It's a fast-paced, comfortable story that's filled with Christmas cheer, pining, and a lot of popular romance tropes. In short, it pretty much had everything I love in a romance book! The slow burn romance went a bit toooooo slow at times for my liking (imagine me mentally shouting at these characters to just fucking kiss already!)

However, I found the characters to be a bit annoying at times. Lyla pretends to be a strong character, but whenever she meets the slightest bit of pressure, she folds in the blink of an eye. I would've liked her to be a bit stronger in that regard. Also Mason should really work on his listening skills. It would save him from a lot of hurt in the future.

All together it was a very entertaining read that I finished in an afternoon -- yes it was that addictive -- but I found the characters to be a bit lacking. That being said, it was everything my Hallmark-movie-loving heart loves and wanted at this time, so I was more than satisfied with this book!

Trope list:
- Enemies to lovers
- Office romance
- One bed
- Miscommunication

I immediately wanted to read this book based on the cute Christmassy cover and intriguing title. Who cares that it's still the beginning of October and Christmas is still several holidays away.

Lyla & Mason are co-workers who find themselves in a fake dating situation of his making when he returns to his home town. Their slow burn continues from the office to a magical winter wonderland setting the Christmas mood.

It was a refreshing spin on Christmas & Santa origin story, and the MCs story gave me Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. The ideal book to snuggle up to the fire place with a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy those Christmas feels.

Would recommend to people who love
- Slow burn
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Fake dating
- Magical winter wonderland
- 3rd person narrative

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

One thing about me is that I will read holiday romances all year round. They’re some of my absolute favorite stories. So when I saw a Christmas enemies-to-lovers romance with a little touch of fake dating mixed in I knew I had to check it out and I have no regrets.

There were so many things about this book that I adored, but I think the most special aspect for me was the dynamic of the Klaus family. Even though Mason left home a decade ago he is welcomed back with open arms. There really isn’t any animosity, nobody tries to make him feel bad for leaving, and even though they’re all grieving they make sure Lyla feels welcomed. Especially Kevin, he really filled that quintessential little brother role and it was so endearing.

I also liked that Lyla was able to help the family in their grieving process because of her own experience in losing her mom. I think it made her the perfect person to break through Mason’s walls and get him to open up more.

My only complaint is that I could predict the big drama and breakup/reconciliation coming. Other than that this book was warm, cozy, and really sweet.

I read this book as an arc through NetGalley and the author 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 Christmas 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 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.
Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high.
Wow totally gripping really enjoyable read totally recommend

This was the perfect Christmas book! It’s sweet, light-hearted, cozy, and definitely got me in the mood for Christmas (in the middle of October, no less). I really liked the premise and the magical/fantasy elements. I loved Yule and the small village vibes - it reminded me of a lot of some of the classic Christmas movies, such as The Santa Clause and The Grinch. However, I felt that the story and the characters were fairly flat and one-dimensional. I liked the main characters, but I felt like there wasn’t very much chemistry between them and the story was pretty predictable. But, overall, I enjoyed this book! It was a cute, fun read. I would definitely recommend it if you like slow burn, rivals to lovers, fake dating, and grumpy/sunshine tropes and if you're a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies!

*Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

I was really excited to read this book, because I love Christmas books. And the end of the 4th chapter to the beginning of the 5th chapter completely did me in. It became a culmination of every single thing I love about Christmas. I had no idea what this book was about other than it was Christmas book and I am so glad I didn’t know anything because it made the surprises all the more exciting. You will not regret reading this book!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First. It has been a long time since I've read anything with a more annoying main character than Lyla, or a bigger asshole than Mason, the other main character. And when you put the two off them together... oof. Let's just say I'm relieved this was a short book.

I absolutely hated how condescending he was to her, and I hated her complete lack of backbone. Lyla talks a big game, but backs down with little argument. He treated her horribly for most of the book, and she just accepts it, which is infuriating.

The "magical" setting was nice, but not nice enough to make this an enjoyable read,

An enemies to lovers holiday romance with a sprinkle of magic.

Lyla is co-CEO of her family company with the grumpy, ruthless Mason Klaus. When he cancels the annual Christmas party Lyla has enough and goes behind his back and hosts an impromptu one in the offices. When she runs into an inebriated Mason in his office and takes him home, he seeks her out the next day and asks her to be his buffer for the holidays back home. Little does she know he is actually from the North Pole, Santa is real, magic is real, and Mason wants her to pretend to be his finacee.

I myself love a holiday romance, and while this had such a good premise, the execution needed some work. The romance was not well established, the characters went from hate to love too fast with not enough build up. The plot and events were very predictable and gimmicky. The magic and the way it worked were not well explained. This book could be really great with more editing.

This enemies to lovers romance checked all the right boxes for a fun holiday read: perfect setting, grinchy male who falls for the holiday loving female, sweet family members, a misunderstanding that almost ruins everything, and a HEA.

Lyla’s family owns a struggling toy company, and her father brings in Mason Klaus to help clean up the finances and set the company back on the right track. After a work party gone wrong, Mason cleans things up and requests Lyla’s help going home for Christmas and facing his family that he hasn’t seen in 10 years. His family just so happens to live in a very magical winter wonderland, and Mason has some choices to make about his future while at home.

I loved the setting and adored Mason’s family. The book felt like a Hallmark movie in book form and was so fun to read! My one critique would be that the ending felt a bit abrupt and I could have used a bit more to finish the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Callaghan Writer, Independent Book Publishers Association for this holiday ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to netgalley for the Arc.

This started strong. Tension, character motivation and stakes were highlighted early, but then, it changed. The change occurred at around chapter 4 when the inciting incident took place. I didn't click as much after that. The inciting incident appeared to be forced and weak, and I didn't understand why it had even happened that way. I assumed out of convenience, My main issue was that it didn't seem natural. Mason's intentions and stakes were not made clear, until later, so why then would he bring someone he apparently despises to his magical homeland to just be a buffer? Had there been insight into understanding his motives, I'd have been more sympathetic.

There were some things I liked about the book: The magical land, the Christmas theme, and the good old enemy to lovers trope...gets me everytime.

Overall, it's a 2.5 star rounded to 3!

When Mason cancels the annual Christmas 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 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.

This book didn’t pull me in like I was hoping. It wrote like a screenplay. It reminded me of your hallmark channel or Netflix Christmas movie. I love reading Christmas books but this one didn’t strike me like others. It’s in your fake dating trope. The story felt rushed to me and which there was more character building. I would give it 3 out of 5.

I love the premise of this book! I love that there’s a fantasy element to it and it includes some of my favorite tropes. However, while reading it, I did struggle with the pacing. It would be 7 in the morning, they do one small thing, then suddenly they’re going to bed for the night. In another scene, Lyla got up to make everyone breakfast and started making pancakes. She goes off to do one thing and suddenly a completely different breakfast has been made and she’s excited to eat, pancakes totally forgotten.
Because the book is so short and we didn’t get anything from Mason’s point of view, I really struggled to believe his feelings for her since he spent basically the entire book mad at Lyla.

Ok sexy and slow burn romance, enemies to lover trope just omg, I love all tropes but this ones is one of my favorite, fake dating even better . Is a good book to cozy up with in christmas , 3rd person point of view . Definitely enjoyable

***I received an ARC, through Netgalley, ahead of the November 8th, 2022 release. All thoughts are my own.***

Content Warnings: Grief, loss of a parent, sexual content, and family estrangement.

This was a cute, and fast, Christmas read. We get rivals to lovers, holiday magic, and returning home.

I wish the story would have been slightly longer so we would have had a little more time to know Lyla and Mason when they first met and disliked one another. The banter, in the beginning, was so much fun and I wish we could have explored that a little longer before they became friendly and more. Another thing I would have loved to see is Mason's POV, from the start he seemed to bounce between dislike/want/irritation with Lyla I would have LOVED to hear some of his inner monologues and know precisely what he was feeling and thinking when interacting with Lyla.

Overall a fun holiday read that although it does discuss grief and loss...still felt rather lighthearted and perfect for the holiday season. I would love to see us revisit some of the characters we were introduced to and see/learn more about where Mason is from.

Oh, the Clauses, who doesn’t love a good Christmas story so close to Christmas. I love this time of year. We meet two people who for all intents and purposes originally do not like each other. Abut when family tragedy arises for Mr. Klaus, Lyla has no choice but to help him.

Watching their relationship grow and blossom is a wonderful experience. I felt like I was reading about a Hallmark movie that I would love to see get made. There were no elves but there was definite magic in the air and in the mountains at the North Pole. The concept of this little hidden village was well done and took it to different levels than what we know as the norm or expected. I really enjoyed hearing about the town and peppermint everything.

This story had romance, friendship, family and even a jealous ex. Which I wouldn’t mind smacking with some peppermint sticks. It was thoroughly enjoyable and perfect for the season. Must read for sure.

Lyla Smurfit is forced to run her family's toy company with an investor, Mason Klaus, who received her father's shares after he retired. Lyla and Mason couldn't be any different. Lyla loves Christmas and everything about the season. Mason, who Lyla calls by his last name Klaus, is a grinch, a scrooge. In his office, he faces away from the window that overlooks the ice skating rink. Lyla and Klaus fight and disagree constantly. Klaus is on a mission to save the company, but is doing so by taking away all the fun. He has cancelled the annual Christmas party! Lyla won't hear of it and decides to throw the party behind his back. During the party, Lyla discovers Klaus in his office. He had received a letter from home and is not handling the news in the letter well. Lyla tries to help Klaus, but ends up getting dragged into a trip home to see his family. Will she change the way she feels about this grinch after seeing him at home with his family during the holiday season?
This is a magical story. The trip that Lyla and Mason take to his home is one filled with magic. It is a sweet story and perfect for a holiday read. There is some romance and humor. I enjoyed the characters and getting to see the world that Mason came from. Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for the opportunity to read this book.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am always a bit skeptical starting what will inevitably be the plot of a hallmark Christmas movie in book form. While yes, this could absolutely be that, I still finished it in a day. This was a fun, fast read that will have you re-thinking everything you thought you knew/believed about Mr Claus… or in this case Klaus. The perfect book to get you in the mood for the merry season.

This… wasn’t really for me. Plenty of sparky banter and an interesting premise, but I couldn’t get into the whole fantasy-land thing and how it all worked. Nor could I really empathise with Mason, perhaps because we don’t get his POV. Giving it 3 stars because it’s not at all badly written, just not my thing.

4.5 stars

If you want a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form, look no further, this is the right place. It was a quick read that had me hooked from the first page.

This book was adorable, funny and heartwarming. It wove in the topic of grief and gave it the space it deserves without taking from the overall warmness of the story.

Even though the book is a bit on the shorter side, the romance and characters are developed nicely. I would’ve liked the ending to be slightly longer, or at least an epilogue, though.

3.75/5

A quick little trip into the Holidays, this book is like watching a Hallmark movie with a cup of cocoa.

A power struggle over her family’s beloved toy
Company keeps Lyla and Klaus at each other’s throats; but a surprise adventure brings them to a magical winter wonderland and forces them to see the best in one another. Like any good winter rom com, there’s an evil ex and a meddling mother, but the two main characters are a bit more rounded than many.

I would have liked for a bit more upfront before jumping so quickly into the trip to Yule and in general just a bit more to the store, but overall the book cheerful, charming and an easy quick read.