This book has a touch of magic, mystery and a whole lot of Christmas spirit!

I did not expect much from this book at all, seeing that the last couple of Christmas books I've read lately have been a bit formulaic, but this one did NOT disappoint. I looooved the touch of magical realism and that it was something else than just a small town romance set during Christmas.

Juliet is given a box filled with family secrets, and little did she know that after a one-night stand, would she be transported into the magical town of Yule. I just loved the characters and how they interacted with each other and I adored this story.

It was just what I needed for a holiday novel, and this is one of those books where I thought during the entire read that... Daaaang, this would be a PERFECT Christmas movie! I'd binge it just as much as I did with the book.

Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

This book was so good. She gets a magic chest to find out that she was part of a banished family from yule. Highly recommend

This was a really good Christmas-feeling story! We travel (back) to the world of Yule, a magical Christmas town shielded from all maps, hidden in the North Pole.

We meet Juliet Frost, a young and eager book editor, looking for her big break to impress her boss. She’s given a chest just after her 26th birthday, and is told by her grandmother she must keep it and its contents a secret. Soon after, she meets Will, a charming stranger who knocks her socks off upon their first night together. When she finally opens the secretive chest, she accidentally transports herself to Yule via a bell necklace and finds herself in the winter wonderland with none other than Will. We then follow them on Juliet’s path to find her mom.

This book was a little all over the place story wise and has some plot holes but it didn’t take away from the festive spirit of the book. This is the second in the Yule series and having not read the first installment, I felt like I followed along just fine. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was not my type of novel as I don’t enjoy whimsical/ fantasy style and should have researched a little more before I requested it. This is not to detract in any way from the the quality of the author’s work.

Great story, well written and well-rounded characters. Looking forward to more books from Kate Callaghan.

✨ I received this book as an ARC for my honest review✨

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Tis the Season for Secrets" is the second book in the Village of Yule series, which blends romance, magical elements, and family drama. You can read it on its own, but it’s probably better to start with the first book since you’ll meet characters from it here. The story follows Juliet, who’s dealing with family drama and discovering some surprising truths about her past, and Will, a Guardian of Yule who helps her uncover those secrets.

It was hard to figure out what the main focus of the story was. The romance felt a bit rushed and didn’t have much depth, with some parts focusing more on the plot twists and magic than on their relationship. The spicy moments were fun, but they felt out of place. I wish we got more communication between Will and Juliet. And Will's constant chasing of Juliet is a little repetitive and boring.

The pacing was good overall, but the ending left me wanting more, especially about the Frost family and Juliet's banishment and her job. A lot of questions were left unanswered for me but maybe they will be answered in the next book?

I will always be down for a Christmasy novel!! I LOVE reading characters with similar dreams and careers to mine, especially when they’re an aspiring editor or publisher! This was the perfect mysterious romance book for the holiday season.

Juliet Frost is an outsider within her own family. The illegitimate daughter of the heir to the Frost fortune, Juliet has never fit in with his father and step-mother, she never knew the mother that abandoned her at her father's doorstep. Then, one day she receives a chest full of letters that explain her birth, a forbidden love story for the ages.
Will Duncan is a guardian of Yule, assigned to banished legacy Juliet Frost. Juliet is the daughter of his beloved mentor, who he will do anything for, even break the rules of Yule. But reuniting the long lost daughter of his mentor is no simple task. Juliet is everything he has dreamed of in a woman and Will doesn't fight the attraction that grows between them.
Will has the answers that Juliet so desperately needs and together they travel to Yule, to disover where Juliet may truly belong.
Tis the Season for Secrets is a sweet Christmas story set in the magical village of Yule.

This was such a fun holiday read! Will and Juliet were such a magnetic couple- I was rooting for them the entire time! I loved the magical fantasy element woven throughout the story; Yule sounds like such a cute place to live. I really enjoyed how the North Pole was made into an idyllic home for our main characters, the author did a fantastic job making that theme fit into her novel without it feeling childish. This novel got all the checkpoints- spice, romance, and a little drama. Highly recommend you pick this one up!

Thank you for this arc in return for honest feedback.

Such a cute and festive read! I thought it was such an interesting a fun story without too much stress (except Juliet continuing to run away....girl had me stressed....what are you doing?!?!?!) I also would have loved a final f you moment with her dad at the end, but I get why it didn't happen and it just ended on a happy note.

I hadn't read the first story and it was completely fine. I could tell when it was being referenced but it didn't feel necessary to have read it. If anything it made me want to read it more.

Overall very cute and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a cute Christmas romcom.

Tis The Season For Secrets is a fun, delightful romantasy - is that what this new genre is called? With the mixture of the Village of Yule and magical reindeer along side sexy Guardians of Yule, I set aside all hope of realism and dove straight into the holiday magic. I wasn't sure I would like what I found but, surprisingly, I loved every page.

Great Holiday Read!
I'll be honest, this was a great holiday read, but it was my mistake for not reading the first book in the series! Even then, I loved the characters and definitely plan on going back to see what I'm missing!

Another adorably festive tale from the secret village of Yule. This is my second Yule book by Kate Callaghan and hopefully won’t be my last (hint, hint). I just loved the dynamic between Will and Juliet and it was a great way to end my run of Christmas reads for the year. More please! 🙏🏻

The Village of Yule series is perfect cozy romance with a dash of magic. I love the village and the people of Yule. So even though this book had some elements that aren't usually for me, I still enjoyed it overall.

As far as the plot is concerned, I was hooked pretty much right away. The mystery of the box given to Juliet was so intriguing. And Juliet's family history with Yule is so messy. It's high drama - forbidden love, betrayals, banishment.

The romance, however, took me a little bit to appreciate in this one. One night stands and insta-love are just not for me. I'm a slow burn girlie all day everyday. And it was a little weird to me how Will was immediately infatuated with Juliet without knowing her at all. But he is very sweet to her, and because of her atrocious family, I can see why she began to trust him so quickly. He was genuinely trying to help her regardless of his feelings for her. So he ended up winning me over and I was definitely rooting for them.

I also really love Juliet's friendship with Margot. Juliet had such crappy family that it was nice to see she had one solid person in her life. I'm hoping the next book is about Margot and Harvey.

Thanks to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

🎄 ARC Review 🎄

Rating: (4) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: (2) 🌶️🌶️

This was a comfy cosy Christmas inspired romance book filled with mystery, light magical tones, love, romance and fun.

If you're someone who likes reading magical winter Christmas stories with romantic tension and written in a dual POV then this is for you. Get a cup of hot chocolate and a fluffy blanket and dive in.

🎄 Christmas Romance
🎄 Bodyguard x Editor
🎄 Fobidden Romance
🎄 One Night Stand
🎄 Secrets
🎄 Forced Proximity
🎄 Dual POV

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for providing this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cutesy, curl up with hot cocoa and a fluffy blanket, type holiday read.

Loved getting to return to Yule again, and thought the story was very cute. I like Juliet, and I loved her friend Margot and hope book 3 is about her!

Dealing with all her work stuff and family trauma, both past and on page, Juliet is such a strong FMC.

For a closed door cutsey romance this was a perfect quick read.

I read this right after reading The Nice or Naughty Clause so some of the characters were familiar. I enjoyed reading a holiday book during December and this one put me in the Christmas spirit. It was a fun, quick read. I would have liked more resolution at the end with Juliet’s Frost family, but maybe there will be a third book in the series where they will address that.

This book!! Wow, it is such a cozy, feel-good read. It’s about Juliet Frost, who’s finally on the verge of landing her dream job when her life is thrown into chaos by a mysterious chest left to her by her late grandmother.

Inside the chest, she finds clues about her family’s hidden past, which eventually lead her to Yule ( which is beautiful & magical Christmas village in the North Pole). Oh, and did I mention there’s Will? He’s her one-night stand who somehow keeps popping up and clearly knows way more about her than he should.

Let’s talk about Yule—because wow. It’s everything you’d want in a Christmas village. Snowy mountains, reindeer, sledding, a snowman-building contest. I could practically feel the chill and hear the bells. Honestly, I’d move there if I could. The whole vibe of the book was magical and nostalgic, like stepping into an adult fairy tale.

Juliet and Will’s romance was… interesting. Their chemistry was undeniable, and some of their moments together were super sweet (and steamy), but it all happened so fast. One minute, they’re strangers; the next, they’re inseparable. I just wanted to see more of the small, quiet moments that make a romance feel real.

As much as I loved the cozy Christmas feelings… ☃️🎄 I just found the family secrets unraveling, the pacing was a little off. Some parts felt rushed, and a few big moments could’ve used more buildup. That said, the themes of belonging and finding your place hit hard, and the supporting characters (especially Juliet’s hilarious roommate Margot!!) added so much charm.

This book is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a snowy night. It’s got magic, mystery, romance, and just enough drama to keep you turning the pages. Perfect for anyone who loves holiday stories with a touch of fantasy and plenty of heart. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book.


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

Tropes:
Holiday Romance
One Night Stand
Winter Wonderland
Bodyguard x Editor
Family Secrets
Forced Proximity

This was such a cute Christmas story! The story was completely heartwarming with just the right amount of spice!

Although Juliet & Will's story seemed insta-love, their connection was genuine

This is a wonderful read for any time of the year but especially for the Christmas break.

Plenty of humour, romance. Christmas cheer and Fantasy adding to the mix.

The characters are well developed and there is certainly no rush into the romance.