I just had the most enchanting adventure in Yule, and I can't wait to be part of its magic! This story follows Juliet on her quest to uncover her true identity and find her way home, and trust me, it’s a total page-turner!

Though it's the second book set in the whimsical Christmas village of Yule, it stands perfectly on its own.

Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions! This book is overflowing with a mother’s unconditional love, tantalizing family secrets, a breathtaking winter wonderland, and a touch of forbidden romance. With all the heartwarming vibes of a Hallmark movie, but with an extra dash of spice, it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

I read this as an ARC and I really enjoyed it.

I don’t usually love holiday rom coms because I feel like they are just barfing up with Christmas and it’s sometimes unbearable but this was cute and light and really sweet.

I liked the aspect of both daniels being the original families. I thought it was a fun take on the Frosts. I need to go back and read the first book so I can read about Mason and Lyla.

I would also love a spin off of Margot and Harvey. I feel like that one would be really good.

This to me has the perfect amount of open and closed door spice.

It has everything I wanted in a rom com

Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:
✨ one night stand
✨ legacies
✨ Christmas magic
✨ friends to lovers

Grab a cup of hot coco and park yourself in a nice cozy place by the fire, because this book gives those vibes. This is the perfect Christmas bodyguard romance.

Read this book if you enjoy:
One-night stands
Holiday romance
Forced proximity
Forbidden love
Found family

This book was vastly different from the very first book in the series. There was a lot more action and spice for sure. I actually really enjoyed this story line. My only complaint is that I wanted more, more of Yule. I wanted to be there throughout the story. I felt like in this book there were parts sprinkled in which involved Yule but mostly spent in her hometown. Her whole family dynamic was just a tad bit confusing. All in all, this is another good Christmas read to put on your list!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Kate Callaghan and CallaghanWriter | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the eARC of this title. I absolutely loved these first book in this series and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. If you want a quick holiday read look no further. Totally recommend to anyone.

Tis The Season For Secrets just fell flat for me. It was rushed, unenjoyable and I really could not pick up on the plot. It has a lot of potential, but for me this one was just way to rushed and seems like it weas done over the course of a few days to get it out in time for Christmas.

Sorry, it was a hard DNF.

“Tis the Season for Secrets” offers a charming, if somewhat predictable, holiday romance. The storyline features endearing characters and a festive backdrop that captures the spirit of the season. While the plot has its heartwarming moments, it occasionally leans into clichés, making some twists easy to anticipate. The writing is engaging, and the themes of love and forgiveness resonate well. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for those looking for a lighthearted holiday escape, even if it doesn’t break new ground.

It started off as a very magical, cute, cosy experience and then after chapter 2 got so spicy all of a sudden . Innocence was gone (hihi).
With that being said some notes on the actual spicy scenes : personally they felt rushed (it was over with the blink of an eye). It either could have been more detailed or skipped altogether, now it was kinda in the middle (of nothing).
The stairs one was just confusing position wise.

Will:
Even though he wanted to spend time with her because it felt like “ loove at first sight”, as a one night stand he felt a little too clingy. Afterwards as well since I could not really build a connection with him.
Juliet : how many times does one need to be said to not run away ? She was contradicting herself a little bit : feeling guilty for including so many people in her secret but also telling a lot of people about it. Being worried about Will but running away from him three times? Confusing lady.

However the whole book felt like watching a favourite, cosy Christmas movie. I enjoyed the overall story, the magic city of Yule with the cute street and coffee shop names and the devoted love between Juliet’s parents.
Would recommend.


Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book!

I love a good holiday read with all the cozy vibes. Sprinkle in a little mystery and bonus. Well, it started out that way but then the author felt the need to spice it up with salacious sex scenes which totally takes away from the story. I decided that I had enough. I really wanted to find out the character’s story not hear about her one night stand which was graphically described. Too bad, this was not for me. Thank you to NetGalley and #katecallahan for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐️ 2.75 /5
🌶️ 1.5 /3

Aw, I’m a little sad to say this one fell just below my expectations after how much I loved and enjoyed The Naughty or Nice Clause. There’s a few too many storyline/ subplot for one book for my liking and it felt a bit overwhelming at times—then some seemed unfinished and forgotten; for instance, her promotion after it was given so much attention initially and it seemed like it was going to play an important role. While the insta-love and insta-lust elements brought plenty of heat, I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between the main characters. The mystery subplot dragged out a little too long, making it hard to stay fully engaged.

One part I truly loved was getting to see Mason and Lyla again! I found myself enjoying their scenes even more than the main storyline.

I do wish Juliet had been given a bit more justice for how her father, stepmother, and grandpa treated her. That said, this was still a cozy, festive read with lots of heartwarming moments—I just hoped for a little more depth to the characters’ journey.

ɱყ 5 🌟 ωเรɦ ℓเรƭ:
* Stronger chemistry between the main characters. Their dynamic felt flat and repetitive
* Fewer subplots to keep the focus on the main storyline, making it easier to follow and understand what the core plot is.
* A more balanced pacing for the mystery, so it unfolds in a way that keeps the suspense engaging
* Consequences for Juliet’s father and stepmother. They shouldn’t have been able to walk away without any repercussions for their mistreatment of Juliet.

My first Christmas-themed book for 2024 and it was such a good start to the season.
This book is a nice mixture of light spice romance and a magical mystery story.
I hadn't realised this was book 2 in the series, and I would recommend reading the first book beforehand. I was a little bit lost some of the time, but that's on me, not the author.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and learning about the magical town of Yule (it made me think of the movie The Christmas Chronicals), but I did find the spicy scenes within the story slightly random at times. The spicey scenes didn't always flow with the story but the overall romance was so pretty
By the end you a really rooting for the main characters, and that they get everything they are wishing for.
This book has the following tropes: He Falls First, One Night Stand, Magic, Holiday romance, Family Secrets, and an evil stepmother.
This book has low levels of spice - open door, but with limited details 1.5/5 chilies.

Book 2 of the Village of Yule
Will Duncan is a Guardian for the Village of Yule. His job is to ensure that former residents of Yule can make it in the outside world, not matter what it takes. His current client, Juliet Frost is a little different than most. She doesn’t even know the Village of Yule exists, much less that she has a guardian watching over her. The fact that Will is attracted to Juliet is not helping matters, it might even be causing him problems because he can’t be as objective as he needs.
Juliet Frost is an aspiring editor and working herself to the bone trying to earn a promotion to get away from her horrible boss. When talked into going to a party with her best friend, Juliet never dreams that it will result in getting the one thing that will guarantee her promotion, much less lead to the hottest night of her life! Having lived as an outsider from her own family, it felt great to be wanted.
Gaining the promotion and much needed time off, Juliet is surprised when a package arrives from her late grandmother containing an old family chest, full of secrets and a magical bell. This chest turns her quiet tranquil holiday to a zany circus of revelations.
Little does she know but her hot guy will show up again and again and when her father tries to push them together for the holidays, she knows she must discover the secrets of the chest and the background that has always been hidden from her. Will is the person to give her the answers she needs even if it means getting involved and sharing things that could cost him everything.
Well written and a perfect addition to the Village of Yule series.

Firstly, thanks to Net Gallery for this ARC with an exchange of my honestly review.


Rating: ⭐️

I honestly don't like this book at all. It's all very cringey and I don't think I can't pull through the entire book. I was very looking forward because I loved Kate Callaghan's first book. But I think I'm going to have to DNF it at 11%. I hate DNF-ing books but that's how you know how cringey it is for me

The scene in the elevators is too cringey for me. The fact that she just dropped her clutch and manuscript to wrap her arms around Will's neck? What is this? Lmaoo

This is the perfect cozy, cheesy and romantic Christmas book. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me, I’m not a fan of lots of spice as I find it unnecessary and I also didn’t like the magical aspect of the book. I do think most people will enjoy this book if you love spicy books set during Christmas with a bit of magic !
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

3.25 🌟

Just enough to put me in a festive spirit!

I loved the world of Yule in the first book so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second... and I'm bummed to say it was just ok. I don't believe in love at first sight so the main attraction was hard for me to buy into. However, you'll want to run out to get the first book in this series.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Aspiring editor Juliet Frost’s peaceful holiday takes a turn when she uncovers hidden family secrets in an old chest. She learns she's the result of a forbidden love affair and has ties to a magical Christmas village called Yule. Things get even more complicated when Will Duncan, a man from her past, reappears with answers about her lineage—along with secrets of his own.

This is the PERFECT read for holiday/christmas season! It's heartwarming, magical and has a little bit of a cozy vibe going on. This was unlike anything I've read before and in a good way! I just wish it wasn't insta-lovey. This has found family, witty banter and of course secrets! If you're looking for something with romance and light fantasy, this is the book for you!

Anything by Kate Callaghan is a winner in my book. This was cozy and magical and sweet and exactly what you want to read during the holidays! The banter was witty, the town of Yule was charming, everything was perfect! Love love love!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

REVIEW: Tis The Season for Secrets by Kate Callaghan.

Someone please take me to Yule!!

This book was so charming!! What a great little Christmas read. I read this book on @amazonkindle as a stand alone but you better believe I will be grabbing the first book in this series to learn more about some of the characters.

This book was full of Christmas magic, romance and of course secrets. Juliet’s life is turned inside out when she learns the truth about her family after receiving a family chest from her late grandmother. Soon she meets her guardian from Yule, Will, and she is thrown into a whirlwind of sudden romance, a complicated family history, new friendships, and truly finding where she can call home.

I highly recommend this lovely book and would love to know what you thought of it as well.

Thank you @netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjrrN1SQTP/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In this New Adult holiday fantasy, ’Tis the Season for Secrets,
Kate Callaghan weaves a tale that’s more than just festive—it’s an enchanting journey from New York to the magical, snow-clad world of Yule, a hidden North Pole town full of secrets, romance, and holiday cheer.

🎄The Setup: Juliet Frost has worked tirelessly as an assistant at Harley and Rowe Publishing for five years, holding out hope for a long-deserved promotion to editor. She’s isolated within her family, gossiped about and shunned for being the illegitimate Frost. Everything changes when she receives a mysterious chest from her Nana, containing a golden bell charm—a key to her family’s hidden past.

🎅🏼The Romance: Enter Will Duncan, a British guardian from Yule and CEO of Duncan Recruiting, whose job is to help former Yule citizens blend into the outside world. Will knows Juliet’s past better than she does, but it’s his sense of duty—and instant attraction—that brings him to her aid. Their relationship kicks off with a not-so-sweet meet-cute, tangled by secrets and a web of family expectations. As Juliet delves into her parents’ past with Will’s help, she’s torn between family loyalty and her undeniable attraction to the man sent to protect her. Their chemistry burns through the forced proximity trope and blends beautifully with forbidden romance, making every interaction feel thrilling and charged with tension.

🎁The World-Building: Callaghan’s depiction of Yule as a hidden, small magical town brimming with intrigue is richly layered. The story takes us through the charming yet dangerous streets of Yule, where secrets run deep, family drama abounds, and Juliet discovers a found family that could finally give her the acceptance she’s been missing.

❗️Content Warnings: The book does address themes of sexual harassment, toxic family dynamics, and parental abandonment, all handled sensitively through Callaghan’s third-person, dual POV narration, offering a balanced view into Juliet’s and Will’s worlds and their battles.

If you’re looking for a holiday romance that’s packed with heartfelt moments, fantasy, and a dash of suspense, ’Tis the Season for Secrets will keep you enchanted until the very last page. Curl up with a cozy blanket and let Juliet and Will’s magical journey to Yule sweep you away. 🎄✨

Was different to what I thought it was going to be. Juliet is given an old chest that came from her grandmother. In it she starts to find letters and a bell. She keeps on bumping into the mysterious Will. The bell keeps transporting her to this mysterious place called Yule.

This was a great read. Fast paced romance with a touch of whimsy. Completely enjoyable.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for this ARC. I look forward to the next