This is the second book in the *Village of Yule* series, and I enjoyed it even more than the first. I was hooked from the start! The chemistry between Juliette and Will was fantastic, and Margot, a fun secondary character, added a lot of charm to the story. The Village of Yule itself felt cozy and brimming with holiday spirit. Plus, there’s a hint of mystery that adds an extra layer of intrigue. Overall, this was a delightful holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fun holiday romp and romance. A perfect holiday treat for those looking for a strong female heroine, plenty of spice and a sense of humor. Readers will enjoy the dual settings and the twist on the typical holiday novel.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this story.

While I didn't dislike this book, I also didn't absolutely love it. However if you are just looking for a cute Chritmas story to read this holiday season, this one is a good fit. It's a quick and easy read and I do love the premise, I just felt like there could have been more to it that could have made it much better. I did read the first book in the Village of Yule series and I loved it. I love the magical world the author created. This one just fell a little flat for me.

That being said I would most definitely read more from this series and author if given the chance.

I started this book a while back but I just couldn't get my self to finish so I had to basically dnf. The book unfortunately just wasn't for me and I when I got it, I was really excited but as I started reading it, I personally didn't like the story and how it was written.






Review has already been posted on goodreads.

This book is a cutesy little romance with a touch of winter magic.

The main characters were enjoyable and had enough depth for them to be interesting. The romance did work for me although at times i felt it was a bit rushed, but that might also be due to the insta-love/ one night stand nature of the story. I will say i think they had good chemistry. As for the spice, this felt weirdly incorporated into the plot since at the beginning we get a very rushed scene and then almost the whole rest of the book it is more of a closed door romance. Which is fine, but it felt a little inconsistent to me.

I also liked that there were plenty of other side characters to get interested in besides the main couple. Friends, family, roommates,… it was a pretty nice cast of characters that popped up and were relevant throughout the plot. The writing was charming and made for a fast read.

As for the world building, since this has some very slight magical element with the enchanting town of Yule, i thought it was very easily understandable and fit nicely into the story. Towards the end the politics of Yule take over the plot a little bit but then the ending gets resolved rather quickly. I maybe would have liked some more closure regarding some plot lines that did hold genuine tension.

If you want a little romance set around the holidays that holds some charm and a sprinkle of magic, this is a good pick.

Tis the Season for Secrets is exactly what you expect when you pick it up. If you're looking for a quick and cute read, that you can trust to wrap up in a nice little bow to put you in the Christmas spirit, this is a book you should consider.

The story follows Nick and Juliet on their journey to reconnect Juliet with her home after her family has been banished for generations. While they may not meet under the best circumstances, and there may be some lies involved, the shenanigans the two get up to as they try to resist one another are certainly entertaining. While predominately lighthearted, the story does attempt to explore some more serious themes of complicated family relationships and child abandonment. Due to the book's hallmark-esque nature, these issues are ultimately resolved without much discussion, which could be a positive for some readers and a point of contention for others. Overall this book was a fun time for the holiday season.

Thank you to the team at NetGalley and the author for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review
Julie Frost - family is banned from Yule and she doesn't know why or that Yule even existed. She is the type to protect others at all costs.
Will Duncan - guardian of Yule and sent to watch over Juliet to make sure she received the chest. But he can't stop himself from making himself known to her.

The question is how far will Juliet go to protect the ones she loves when all she has known was unkindness from her family? And how far will Will go to protect Juliet and Yule?

This dual POV story was so sweet and another atypical holiday romance where everything does not always go perfectly but still gives vibes like a Hallmark movie. You can't help but to fall for the characters and get invested into what is happening to them. Kate Callaghan has quickly become an author to watch and read! You do get to see the Layla and the Klau family again from book one but it does not need to be read in series order.

You will like this story if you enjoy:
🎄Forbidden love
🎄Found family
🎄 Secret identity/family secrets
🎄 Small magical Christmas Town

Book Synopsis
Gifted an old family chest, aspiring editor Juliet Frost stumbles upon closely guarded family secrets... and her tranquil holiday season transforms into a whimsical circus of revelations. For starters, how is she supposed to process the fact that she is the outcome of a forbidden love affair - let alone that she has connections to some kind of magical Christmas village called Yule?

To complicate matters, the mysterious Will Duncan, whom she never thought she'd see again after a night of passion, reappears with the answers she seeks about her past. It swiftly becomes clear that he has plenty of secrets of his own. Is their chance meeting fate, or the result of a carefully laid plot? Juliet will have to battle her heart and her head to discover who she is... and where she truly belongs.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #tistheseasonforsecrets
#katecallaghan #romcombooks #romantasy

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5/5

Not quite as magical as the first, but still a cozy holiday read.

In Tis the Season for Secrets, Kate Callaghan brings us back to the charming (and surprisingly complicated) Village of Yule for a story filled with family drama, magical revelations, and a sprinkle of romance. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, this second installment still manages to be a fun and festive escape.

Juliet Frost's journey of self-discovery starts with an old family chest and spirals into uncovering the truth about her parentage, a magical Christmas village, and a steamy reunion with Will Duncan. The premise is delightful, blending a touch of holiday whimsy with deeper themes of identity and belonging. The Klaus family lore and Yule traditions were highlights, offering a sense of wonder and a deeper dive into the world Callaghan is building.

That said, the plot feels a bit rushed at times, especially when it comes to Juliet and Will’s relationship. Their chemistry is sweet, but it lacks the spark and emotional depth that could have elevated the story. Will’s mysterious nature, while intriguing, sometimes feels underexplored, leaving me wishing for more insight into his character and his connection to Juliet.

The first book remains the stronger of the two, with tighter pacing and a more engaging storyline. However, this sequel still delivers enough charm and warmth to make it a worthwhile read. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll likely appreciate the expanded world of Yule and the cozy holiday vibes this one offers.

Would I recommend it? Sure—but it’s not the showstopper the first book was. Still, for fans of holiday magic and lighthearted romance, it’s a pleasant addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first book in this Yule series, The Naughty or Nice Claus.. I was completely captivated by the version of the North Pole and the story of the new Santa Claus finding his love. Tis the Season for Secrets was a good book but not as magical to me as the first. For starters we didn't spend nearly enough time learning more about Yule. And the time spent outside of Yule wasn't the most exciting. I did like our main characters Juliet and Will, but the main stroyline between them felt underdeveloped. Also there was a huge build up to Juliet meeting the mother she never knew and it was surprisingly a non -event. I felt blah about the ending. I do really like this author's writing and of course, I will be back to see more of Yule if she continues the series. I think she will because my guess is Juliet's best friend will start in the next one.

I’m such a mood reader, Christmas is over but I have tons of Christmas books to read. I may or may not try to a Christmas in July challenge to finish and review all these Christmas romances. I’ll fix my reviews eventually! I promise

I enjoyed Will and Juliet’s story, it was a lot of fun and made for a great Christmas read. I totally fell in love with Will and I wanted a happy ending for him.

Family secrets coming to light, second chance romance.... yes please! I knew I was going to love this after loving Callaghan's last one. I flew through this as well and am in love.

3.75 ⭐️

Returning to Yule was so good, so magical 🥹

Once again the author has brought us the magic of Christmas, literally with a touch of magic 🤭 who wouldn't want to land in a magical Secret village at the North Pole?
This book was good, but not great. At the beginning it all seemed too instant love because of the one night stand that, in reality, our Will was already more than hooked on Juliet. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of the instant love trope.

Besides, there were times when I would have liked the plot to have developed more and faster. I felt that in some parts it was too slow.
And I sincerely hope that a third book with Margot and Harvey's story is planned!!!

Other than that, it was a great Christmas book, with all the Christmas vibes I look for in a book like this 🎄
If you like Hallmark movies, but with a bit of spice, you'll definitely like these books 🤭

Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing this copy, in exchange for an honest review 🙏🏼

It’s a Christmas miracle. Juliet finally gets the promotion she’s been working towards which means she gets to be in the genre she prefers and she gets to leave her old terrible boss behind. In addition, her rotchety grandfather had passed so now she just has to deal with her father who is rich but not very loving or supportive.
Surprisingly after her 26th birthday, she receives a chest from her grandmother, who’s already been dead. This box unlocks a mystery of her parentage and background within a magical town of Yule.
With the help of her guardian, whom she may have already had a one-night stand with, she will see if she can understand her history and what that means for her future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a cute holiday romance which wasn’t over-the-top with Christmas as you sometimes got but was enough to feel cozy and appropriate for the season. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is a standalone but if you read the first one you will have more background on some of the characters in this book. I was frustrated by Juliet’s inability to stay! So much could have been prevented if she would have just stayed put. It irks me when characters do stupid stuff over and over again but I understand how it was necessary to progress the story. Overall, I would recommend as it is what it purports to be a cute holiday romance! Also I would love another book about Harvey and Margot.

“‘Tis the Season for Secrets” was a cross between “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Santa Clause” and “Fifty First Dates”. That being said, you can relate to my 5 star rating! Who doesn’t need a little magic and “believing” during the holiday season?

Just when Juliet thinks her life is status quo, Will Duncan (a guardian of the Christmas Village called Yule) enters her life! Will’s job? To protect those on the “outside” from exposing Yule and all its existence. In the meantime he falls for Juliet and once she discovers the families legacy chest delivered to her about her secret past and connection to Yule the adventure unravels.

I loved the character connection and the magic of make believe. This was the perfect book for the Christmas season but honestly any time of year. What could be more magical than a secret Christmas village, a guardian, falling in love and getting the answers to questions you’ve dreamed about your entire life? A clever plot with such realism I couldn’t put it down.

This is the second book in a series but I read it as a stand alone and had no regrets! I want to go back and read lThe Naughty or Nice Clause” now.
Highly recommend this novel! It simply fulfilled my Christmas spirit and I can’t wait to visit “Yule” again soon!

Thanks to @katecallaghan and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I did not love it but I did not hate it either, that is why this is 2.5 /5 book for me. But I read it without knowing it was part of a series, and that did not affect my reading experience, I could easily understand what it was about and what was happening, and that is definitely a plus!

Thank you to CallaghanWriter and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book. Here are my honest thoughts and review.

⭐ 3.5 Stars

This delightful Christmas mystery follows Juliet and Will in a cute, cozy adventure that blends holiday charm with romance and mystery subplots. While it's a companion to The Naughty or Nice Clause, you can easily enjoy this story as a standalone.

I loved the festive holiday setting paired with the intrigue of uncovering family secrets. Juliet discovers layers of hidden truths about her family’s past, and with Will's help, she embarks on a journey to uncover them all. Will plays a pivotal role, both in solving the mystery and in Juliet’s personal growth, making their dynamic central to the story.

This short and fun read is perfect for the holiday season—what better way to end the year than with a heartwarming holiday romance? The book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and events in the best way possible. I especially appreciated how the story explored Juliet’s relationships with side characters, like her best friend, rather than focusing solely on the spicy romance.

That said, the brevity of the book might make Juliet and Will’s relationship feel a bit insta-lovey for some readers. While this didn’t detract from my enjoyment, their romance would have benefited from more time spent on the smaller, everyday moments that build love organically.

The Yule Village setting was magical—I adored being immersed in it so much that I’ll be picking up The Naughty or Nice Clause next to read Maon and Lyla’s story.

If you're looking for a festive read filled with romance, mystery, and holiday cheer, I highly recommend this book!

What a cute story!
Oh how I hate the FMC's family though! Oh man did I wanna give them some just desserts!
I enjoyed this story tho the ending felt rushed. I wanted some loose ends tied up.

First time reading this author. Enjoyable magical adult Christmas story. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Tis The Season For Secrets (Village of Yule # 2) by Kate Callaghan
Publisher: CallaghanWriter
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Published: November 24, 2024

Tis The Season For Secrets is the second book in the Village of Yule series by Kate Callaghan. This book can be read as a standalone romance or as part of the series.

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was wonderful! I loved the characters and thought the romance was swoon worthy!

I highly recommend reading this series! I hope there are more books to come soon!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.