My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

In Short: Fun, cute holiday read.

General Thoughts: Continuing with my holiday novella/novel kick as of late, I finally knocked this one out. I recently read the first interconnected standalone in this series, so I was curious where the author would go with this one. You can jump in here, though the prior characters do make some cameos.

This was an enjoyable, fun Christmas read with a pretty original idea. I wish certain things had been developed more, but I thought it was a fun read all the same. Curious to see what happens in the next one.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author and Netgalley.

Spice Meter:❤️‍🔥 Spicy but not overly detailed or frequent.

Romantic Tropes
-dual POV
-romance
-magical realism
-holiday/Christmas
-secret identity

You can read more of my reviews on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

This was a ARC
This is a Christmas movie in a book basically. And it’s fun to read. It’s very soft, is very cute.
The end felt a little bit anticlimactic like everything happened so fast.

Readers who enjoy romance, magical realism, and stories about self-discovery, family secrets, and second chances will be enchanted by 'Tis the Season for Secrets, a whimsical and captivating tale of love, identity, and finding one's true place in the world.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kate Callaghan and the publisher for giving me an e-arc to read for a review.

What a way to get you into the Christmas spirit! This is the second book in the Village of Yule series however it can be read as a standalone but be warned, you will meet the characters in book one and they do have a semi recurring role throughout this book.

Juliet and Will had such great chemistry of characters and it’s great to explore even further the laws of Yule whilst watching one of them unfold before your eyes. Juliet is raised in the ‘real world’ and Will is a Guardian of Yule (the hidden North Pole) tasked with revealing Juliet’s family history and ultimately, helping her meet her estranged mum who had to give her up.

This is in some ways quite an emotional book that deals with abandonment, an estranged family dynamic where there’s a lot of lies, betrayal and blackmailing and also the realisation of everything you know comes crashing down.

I think Kate did a great job in seeing these issues through the book and in some ways resolving them to a degree, however I do feel as if there are a lot of questions that were left unanswered at the end of the book, mainly to do with Juliet’s Frost family.

I did however really enjoy the relationship between Juliet and Will, although I did feel he was kind of just chasing her around a lot which got a bit boring. I would have liked to have seen more authority from him considering his job role.

I also really liked the return to Yule, Kate has such a great way of expanding the city and really giving great details of it and adding even more to the Christmas magic!

Overall, this is a good read for this time of year, it’s easy to read, is paced relatively well, has an easy to follow plot and likeable characters! Would recommend!

I loved reading this book! It’s the perfect Christmas read and I recommend it to those looking for a book full of mystery, spice, plot, mixed with holiday spirit.

I really enjoyed this story with Juliet. She is discovering so much about her past and history. I really was invested in how she was processing everything and moving forward. And Will from her past seems to have a lot of answers. This was a great story.

Christmas magic once again, being back in the world with Yule was outstanding!

I loved Jill and Will's story, getting the dual POV was wonderful, because it gave you both sides of what was happening and the struggles internally they were each having. I enjoyed how Jill was strong in holding her own / paving her own way in life, and how she questioned Will's motivation once it all started to happen. I was worried that she would just look over it, but that isn't who her character is. You could also tell that Will was way out of his league, the struggle to do the right thing by Jill and by Yule it helped the story alot.

This story was the perfect mix of spicy, fun, emotions, and holiday magic that you want in a Christmas read.

Spicy, male female, third person dual point of view, contemporary romance with a bit of fantasy. This is the second (standalone) book in the Village of Yule series. I love one night stand and forced proximity tropes! This was a very cozy book with a major holiday vibe. I hope there will be more books in this series.

Hallmark film mixed with a little bit of magic.
I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the first book but together they have been the perfect start to Christmas.
I disliked how the story ended so suddenly, it felt like the drama with her dad was left unfinished.

After Juliet Frost’s 26th birthday, she receives a mysterious chest and very quickly stumbles into closely guarded family secrets. And into the secretive city of Yule, once Will Duncan shows up in her life after a one night stand answering all of her questions.
I just love Kate’s writing style, and all these yuletide stories (pun intended) make for some of the best holiday reads. They’re simple, low stakes, while also full of fun and plot. I highly suggest you read ‘The Naughty or Nice Klaus’ if you haven’t already- they are both standalones but reading both gets you more info in the long run.,
Thanks for the amazing Yule adventure, Kate! Can’t wait for the next one!
thank you to netgalley and kate callaghan for sending me an earc of this book.

A festive read with mystery and intrigue, and forbidden attraction.

When Juliet receives a chest and letters from her deceased grandmother, she doesn't know what to believe? And the fact that she comes from the secret village of Yule, and the handsome man she met at a hotel bar is infact a Guardian sworn to protect its secrets... even harder to believe. That is until an accidental ringing of a bell necklace catapults her straight into it.

Family secrets emerge, and Juliet's presence must be kept a secret, all whilst resisting her attraction to the dashing Will.

I enjoyed this a little more than the first book, but there was still something missing for me.

Juliet has never fit in with her family and longs for one that holds a place for her at the table, instead of just bringing her out to showcase for the holidays. When she meets Will, it turns out he has connections to a place she never knew existed, but one she belongs in. Will he be able to entrust her with his secrets, and can Juliet trust that he will be there for her? These are questions they both face, but more importantly can Will help her uncover her truth? For this book, I found myself wanting more of a complete conclusion, like a present wrapped in a bow: it felt unwrapped, with some questions that still needed answered. However, reading this story felt like watching an early 2000s Christmas movie. The lore that went into this town and its legends was so unique, especially with the 26 year old rule. It was well thought out and a magical read. I am hoping for more of this series.

This return visit to the super cosy and Christmassy village of Yule hasn't let me down. Snuggle down with a hot chocolate and immerse yourself in another fantasy romance with a festive theme, The characters are all likable and being set at Christmas makes it easy to suspend disbelief in order to fully embrace the story. It's what Ms. Callaghan does best, and it shows!

Return to Yule in this follow up to Kate Callaghan's The Naughty or Nice Clause! In 'Tis the Season for Secrets", Juliet Frost is about to learn her connection to the secret Christmas village and why her father was banished from the place years ago, that is, unless Will can intervene in time to protect the secrets of the real life North Pole. When the two find themselves snowed in and eager for a one night stand, everything that follows is understandably complicated.

I love the world of Yule that Callaghan has created in these books. It's a unique take on the Christmas town trope with some real stakes at play in protecting Yule's discovery from the outside world. Julia and Will were delightful main characters and I always enjoy a book that provides a found family to fill in the gap for the real one that is missing (either by circumstance or choice). Will and Juliet's Chemistry is wonderful and their "forbidden love" is definitely put to the test. While I tend to be partial to the "slow burn" as opposed to the "one night stand" trope, (and thus enjoyed book one a little bit more) this still fit the bill as an enjoyable feel good holiday romance. Getting to see Mason and Lyla from book one in their new happy life was simply icing on the cake for me! You can certainly read this as a stand alone, but I highly recommend the full series if you what some heartwarming ,romantic, north pole drama complete with snow, sleighs, reindeer and a nice helping of holiday spice.

Loved being brought back to the village of Yule! Kate has an amazing way of writing that makes you feel like you've been transported into the book. The village of Yule is the perfect setting for a Christmas book and I was so happy to return for a second time.

I will say that I definitely preferred The Naughty or Nice Clause to this one. I was so excited to read this one but I felt like it didn't quite captivate me as much as the other books I've read by the author. I think for me the main characters lacked a bit of chemistry, I don't know, I just struggled to feel the connection between the two of them.

Regardless, I still had a good time reading it and I will forever recommend reading Kate Callaghan's books as I think she's a fantastic author!

Tis The Season For Secrets is book #2 in the Village of Yule series by Kate Callaghan.

This was an enjoyable read following after The Naughty or Nice Clause. The descriptions of Yule make it feel real. This was a good Christmas story to read while staying warm and cozy by a fire.

Thank you to the author, CallaghanWriter, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Tis The Season For Secrets was a much anticipated follow up to The Naughty or Nice Clause (Village of Yule #1) and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the story and watching Juliet's character develop as she learned more about her family's past. The chemistry between Juliet and Will was perfect and I really liked how characters from the first book were brought into the story without taking away from the main plot.

I loved going back to Yule with Mason and Lyla and seeing how their lives have changed and the important roles they play with Juliet's family. This book was another wonderful visit to Yule and I hope Kate Callaghan continues with a third book next year.

This is the perfect holiday romance book with just the right amount of spice and Christmas magic!

Thank you Net Galley and Kate Callaghan for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
4.5 stars

Juliet has never gotten along with her family--and when a handsome stranger enters her life she finally begins to understand the decades of secrets that explain the strife. Will seems to know a lot about her--and when she accidentally transports them to the magical town of Yule, she finally gets those answers, as well.

There were times I was confused or found the story a bit hard to follow, and I wish we'd spent more time in Yule and more time getting details on backstory--it almost felt like two different stories. That being said, the premise was fun, I loved seeing the characters from the first book and getting hints at what the next book may be, and did enjoy it overall!

It's a cute story that'll put you in the holiday spirit ❄️
This story hooked me from the first lines, as the main character is doing everything she can to get promoted and become an editor for the publisher's she's working for. We meet her when she's reading some manuscripts, and that's also how she meets Will - when she's reading a manuscript at a bar. After the night she doesn't think she'll ever see him again, but their paths seem to be intertwined, and they keep bumping into each other. Her head is also preoccupied by trying to figure out a family secret but she has no idea Will has the answers for her!
This book will transport you to beautiful snowy New York, and the Village of Yule where the Christmas spirit is up all year 😁
There are two explicit scenes, and for me it was a bit too spicy, as I'm not a fan of ONS and going that fast to a physical relationship, but this book is well written overall and if themes like that don't bother you (or you'll just skip them ;)) then it's great!

How can a family chest cause so much festive trouble?

Tis the Season of Yule..

One enchanted festive village creates such a good festive read - Juliet alongside the other characters spread the perfect amount of festive cheer, mystery, comedy, sarcasm’ and family moments.

Initially I was a little lost with the characters connections but I shall be reading the first book to gain background knowledge of this.

Thank you to author Kate Callahan and Netgalley for the e-Arc in exchange of an honest review.