The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan

From Goodreads

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?

Readers! Please note: this is an adult low fantasy romance with mature content and not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novel with a guaranteed HEA

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I quite enjoyed this seasonal read set around Christmas.  Telling the story of Lyla who finds that the future that she was expecting isn't quite going to plan as the family business isn't quite as successful as she had thought it was, it's struggling and what she was set to receive in the way of shares are passed on to Mason Klaus a man who her father thinks will be of use with his financial standing.  It's clear that there is a mutual dislike of each other between the pair and they have to put that to one side as they both need to  work with one another if they are to turn the business around.  How long will they remain feeling this way about one another or will their feelings begin to change as time goes on?

If you like a read that takes you away from your day to day life and allows you to immerse yourself in issues that other people are experiencing, as they come to terms with trying to get along with one another, then this is the read for you.  It has elements of fantasy as it's clear as you read it that it's not just a normal run of the mill romance.  If this sounds like your kind of read then grab yourself a copy, a brew and settle down to join the pair on the journey that they take you on.