Thank you Netgalley, the Publisher, and Kate Callaghan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For someone who loves Christmas and any media that revolves around it, I was really excited to get my hands on this ARC. This book was pretty great. It had some fantasy elements, so expect a little bit of that when you pick up that book. The magical/fantasy element in this book was pretty thoughtful, How they traveled between worlds had a Christmas-y theme and I loved the tiny inclusion even if it's a small detail.

If you're looking for an inst-love story where the characters get together pretty fast, this book isn't for you. The romance is a very slow burn and the characters get together near the very end. However, the wait is pretty worth it.

I give this 4 stars, it was pretty good and I would easily pick it up for a reread.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5035693945

This was an ok read. It started off promising enough with Lyla and Mason's contentious work relationship. However, this did not translate to the steamy attraction I had hoped would develop once they were away from the office.
This had great potential, but the execution didn't work for me.

3.5 There were many typical "Hallmark" style pieces to the story which made it predictable. I enjoyed the twist to the "magic" of the holiday. The premise was good, but it felt like the story was either rushed or fell flat in some places that could have really made this story "more." A fun story for anyone who needs a quick read during the holidays.

3 out of 5 stars

This book was a cute Christmas book! Think Hallmark movie in a book.

One of the reasons I didn’t give more stars was because I felt the ending was rushed. I felt like everything wrapped up too quickly at the end. (I want more details!!)

I would have also liked to see Mason’s character develop more. Somehow I never really connected with his character, despite his backstory. A lot of the dialogue felt flat.

Despite this, I still liked this book! It was cute. I loved the world that Kate created. The magic dust creation was a super fun idea! I would love to visit this North Pole town (but please don’t take my memories!)

To be honest, this book could become a really fun series! I wasn’t quite ready to leave!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the author for giving me an advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

| About |

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice!
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.
Can Lyla resist the devilishly handsome Mr Klaus and the enchanting village to win back her company, or will she give into temptation?


| Thoughts |

Magical. Felt like stepping into a snow globe Christmas village. Enjoyed the beautiful world building, and the quirky family and villagers. It was a fun and fast read. Perfect for the season. I could read about Mason, Lyla and the Christmas village forever.

"I've brought someone home - something else to talk about rather than our loss."

Where do I start with this book? The cover art was excellent, and it most definitely surprised me when I thought about reading a Christmas book in October, usually, I would be sticking to more spooky books around this time. How could I resist though? It looks so cosy and sweet. It has the perfect elements to make up a Christmas novel in my eyes.

I have to admit that I am a bit of a sucker for holiday romances, such as this one, and it's hard for me to turn down one with the enemies-to-lovers trope. In general, it's a really cute book about two people who work together, both hate each other, end up in a situation where they make a deal to visit one person's family... and fall in love. It's the perfect Christmas romance, where two people are brought together by fate and end up falling in love. The descriptions of the town of Yule are breathtaking, encapsulating the very core of what Christmas is to so many of us. The compassion both Lyla and Mason develop for one another as they let down their guard and become vulnerable with one another is heartwarming and shows that in time you can truly get along with the people that aren't the best to get along with. Their romance started off rocky since he just wanted to take her home for Christmas to prove to his family that he is something other than a grinch.

This is a book you can't put down, you need to get to the end to know what happens to these characters you easily fall in love with. The way that each of the characters easily interacts with one another shows the character development and the Christmas spirit in full swing. If you're looking for a good book to read while waiting for the Christmas holidays to roll around, this would definitely be it.

Brilliant book. I loved Mason and Lyra’s conflict. If you want a Christmas book to remind you of the magic of Christmas then this is the one for you. This is romantic Arthur Christmas. It was, funny, sweet, romantic and all wrapped up in a cosy jumper and mug of thick hot chocolate.
Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and Kate Callaghan for that eARC.

Lyla's family legacy was a toy company, but a nemesis is created when her father sells his 51% shares of the company to an investment bank, Mason Klaus. After a Work Christmas Party mishap, which lands Lyla in Mason's debt, she accepts his plea to visit his family with him to serve as a buffer. They travel via magical jingle bell to the enchanted village of Yule (aka the North Pole). After the recent loss of Mason's father, Santa Claus, Mason must determine whether or not he will takeover his family business, while staying with the Klaus' in Yule, allows Lyla to see another side of her grumpy co-worker.

First off, this was my first Christmas novel, and honestly it gave me all the Christmas good feelings. This enemies to lovers story with forced proximity allows for a lot of fun banter and family fun, which humanizes Mason for Lyla. I loved his whole family and this magical town (except Natalie and slightly less Frederick - you will find this out when you read the book!). I feel like this could easily be turned into a fan favorite movie too for the holidays.

My only change would be that the ending felt a little abrupt. I felt like there could've been more to the ending, but would still highly recommend.

- Work place enemies to lovers
- Close proximity
- (Extremely) Small Town
- Christmas Themed
- Slow Burn Romance

2.5⭐️ The idea behind the story is perfect for a Hallmark/Netflix holiday movie; fake dating, peppermint and mistletoe, HEA...I would watch the heck out of it! The translation of the idea into a novel fell flat 😕.

In general, the story felt rushed. One minute you're introduced to two characters who dislike each other and the next they are faking a relationship in a winter wonderland. I can't say that I ever really felt any *magic* or *sparks* between Lyla and Mason.

I did enjoy the author's spin on the magic of Christmas! It totally put me in the holiday spirit!

All my appreciation to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Lyla finds herself swept away to her coworker’s hometown without any notice. Mason needs a buffer from his family and Lyla is it. There is something special about his town and family…he is in line to be THE Klaus and his town is the North Pole.

I LOVE Hallmark Christmas movies and if you take out certain the elements that are not rated PG, this is definitely Hallmark material. Mason starts out grumpy but of course is a cinnamon roll underneath. His family is so awesome and the town sounds darling. The chemistry between Lyla and Mason is could melt the snow.

The end moved a bit fast for me. I felt it wrapped up way to quickly and was awkward. It may have just been me.

Overall, I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ho,ho,ho this book is definitely going on the nice lost. Fan of romance?
Love Christmas?
Well this book is just the tonic that you need. This book is fun, uplifting and jam packed full of Christmas spirit.

Wonderful

An enchanted, Christmas fairytale full of nostalgia and love.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! The author truly captured the essence of Christmas, reminding me of the excitement you felt as a child but the warm, cosy feeling you get as an adult all snuggled up, drinking hot chocolate.

This book had so many magical moments. I really warmed to Layla and Mason and had many a chuckle at the highs and lows of their relationship.

I truly hope this book is made into a film; it could become one of the greatest Christmas classics for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

The naughty or nice clause is workplace rivals-to-lovers story that definitely put me in the Christmas vibe. After Lyla's father sells his company shares to Mason and retires, she finds herself to be butting heads with Mason in the office every day.

During the Christmas party and followed events when Lyla finds Mason slouched and upset because he received a letter from his family. And Mason has no other option than to take Lyla with him to his home for Christmas. Together they find themselves in Yule acting as doting lovers and sipping eggnog while in reality all they want to do is snap each other's necks. But as the Christmas magics sets in and sparks fly…

This books did amazing job creating the magic of Christmas, family and magical season, however it lacked the real romance. Mason sometimes seemed mean and while Lyla thinks she is coming up as independent, she just seems stubborn. The chemistry between them is just on surface and ending seemed rushed. I do wish there was more progress between them romantically and ending wasn't rushed. I loved the Yule town and all the characters and of course Christmas spirit.

I love a good holiday rom-com and that’s what I thought this would be. It has a delightful premise of two characters, totally opposite and clashing at every opportunity, who find love in the end. For Christmas, they both are running a toy factory (how perfect) and its just before the big rush of the Season. To top it off, one of the partner’s name is Mason Klaus (Claus) although he is such a s Scrooge and doesn’t like any reminders of Christmas going so far to cancel the company Christmas party. In contrast, Lyla Smurfit loves EVERY thing Christmas and her place is decorated like Santa’s wonderland. When Klaus gets a letter from home which leaves him devastated, he knows he must return after being gone 10 years and convinces Lyla to go with him to support him. Lyla is nothing but a good-hearted soul and although is resentful of Klaus’s interference in the family company, she agrees to help him out. But then magically, they are transported to Yule, a very foreign place, and Lyla begins to realize that Klaus has not been forthright about his background. As she meets his family, she is surrounded by warmth and love which she has been craving for since her mum died when she was small. But she also sees Klaus in a new light as the magic of this place creates magic between them as well. Could it be love? While Klaus must decide whether to stay, every day Lyla falls more in love with him. I love the magic of Christmas and yes, it was a bit predictable with a name like Klaus that something more was up but I rode with it because it was like a fairytale. Although not the best writing, the descriptions of the town, the gingerbread, the LIST, the special golden dust created in the workshop were delightful. That is until you turn the next page and the author thought it was important to add a gratuitous scene between Lyla and Mason that were graphic in language and thought about them having sex. REALLY? This just took away from that classic Hallmarky would be movie that it could be. Not needed at all. While I liked the HEA ending, it was a let down from the magic and wholesomeness of the story after this addition to the story. Too bad as it had such promise.

Many thanks to #netgalley #thenaughtyorniceclause # katecallaghan for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
I was really excited to go ahead and get in the Christmas spirit with this book.
Mason Klaus has recently taken over at the company Lila's dad use to own and where she works. These two butt heads from the beginning. One night, Lila finds Mason upset in his office after receiving a letter from his family. This contents of the letter change everything and cause Mason and Lila to take a trip that will change both of their lives.
Overall, I really enjoyed the Christmas aspects of the story. Yule gave me all the Hallmark Christmas vibes, and I would love to go there. I also liked some of Callaghan's reinvention of some Christmas tradition and lore.
Unfortunately, for a romance, I thought the romantic story line was lacking. I would have loved to see more development of the relationship between Mason and Lila. It could have been an awesome enemies to lovers trope, but instead it seemed more insta-lovey and surface level attraction.

This book:
-put me in the Christmas spirit
-read like a Hallmark movie
-had good family relationships
-has the fake dating trope

This book didn't:
-have a strong romantic relationship

This book was such a good holiday book. I loved everything about it and definitely made me ready for winter and Christmas. It is really the most wonderful time of the year. I love the stories and the magical of it and even though some people may act like the grinch they may have a side you would never imagine. This give me the hallmark feels and would definitely be okay with it being made into a movie, maybe with earlier romance between klaus (Mason) and lyla. I loved it though and definitely a ready to get onto more Christmas books now it’s never to early.

This is such a sweet and fun Christmas romcom. I really enjoyed it!

I loved Yule, the Christmas village. It was so cute and cozy, really reminiscent of a Christmas movie (think The Santa Clause). There were a couple of unique spins on the Santa Claus story so that it felt more grown up and appropriate for an adult novel rather than a kids' movie.

I really enjoyed the relationship between the main characters, through the silly banter and the ups and downs. And the skating scene!! So much fun.

It has some fun tropes: fake engagement, an enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, one bed and a cute little cat!

This story is just some sweet Christmas fun, and nothing to serious or groundbreaking. If you need a not-so-serious read and are a fan of Christmas, I recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for an eARC of The Naughty Or Nice Clause.

I love that this book gives me a big warm Christmas with a Hallmark hug in book form.

Mason and Lyla have been working together for the last year. After Lyla throws a last-minute surprise Christmas party for their company without Mason's knowledge, the floor is a bit destroyed. To make up for this issue, Mason convinces Lyla to come home with him for the holidays so he has a buffer between him and his family. They end up in a beautiful Christmas town which is a secret just like his family's business.

Lyla absolutely loves Christmas and the traditions the company has for it. Her family has been broken since her mother's death so she really hasn't been able to experience it with family in a long time.

Mason isn't a massive fan of Christmas at least not in Ireland. He has a large family but estranged from them for the last ten years.

The Naughty or Nice Clause has all of my favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, and forced proximity. I just wish the epilogue could have been a little longer and showed us what the following Christmas looked like.

"The Naughty or Nice Clause" is the first book I've read by author Kate Callaghan, and it serves up the popular "enemies to lovers" trope with a twist. Lyla is trying to save her family's toy business after her father ran it into the ground, but her co-owner, Mason, who was brought in to save the day, is the bane of her existence. The two can't seem to get along, but the sparks are still flying. When Lyla's Christmas party almost burns the building down, she agrees to help Mason with a favor as repayment for him paying for the building's renovation. But his shocking request -- to return home with him over the holidays -- only gets stranger when she realizes his father was THE actual Santa Claus and he lives at the North Pole!

I thought this story was very creative and original. Unfortunately, I didn't feel much chemistry between Lyla and Mason so I didn't enjoy the book as much as I was hoping to. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Lyla does not see eye to the man she owned a business with the only problem is that he owns the majority at 51% so she can't break away. Mason Klaus her business partner is described as MrGrinch.

After throwing a disastrous Christmas party, Mason makes her a deal if she'll spend 12 nights of Christmas away with her him he'll let her off on the party. She agrees but doesn't realise where she was agreeing to be taken too. She ends 

We are told they arrived in Yule which is  described being bring a village In the north pole. 
Mason has been away from the village for ten years much to the upset of his father, family and the villagers themselves. Now his has passed away he must go back it literally is now or never.

When Mason and Lyla arrive in Yule it's not long before we meet Natalie, Masons ex fiance who they keep bumping into.


In my opinion the best character in this book is Sam the eldest of the three Chause children. Sara . She got married to a woman and became disabled when a sleigh fell on top of her, that's two minority groups delivered and no great thing is made of it. Which you never seen in the majority of books so that's why I'm pointing it out here..

Stranger still was when the book did a 180° and changed from romcom cozy Christmas hot chocolate to next sexual descriptive language being used that I don't believed need to be there. I did not really enjoy any parts of this novel


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a digital copy  of the novel in exchange for my honest review.