ʼTis the season for sweet surprises . . . Businessman Griffin’s never believed in luck . . . until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there’s a catch: There’s no way he’ll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. This new love could destroy all his dreams—or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible . . . Praise for Donna Kauffman and her … .
Praise for Donna Kauffman and her novels
“Kauffman’s stories show that the bravery to reach for a connection is all we need to discover joy; she excels at expressing the struggles and joys of giving in to love.”
–Publishers Weekly on Sandpiper Island
“We all know where there’s Donna Kauffman, there’s a rollicking, sexy read chock-full of charm and sparkle. Kauffman’s characters are adorably human and so very magnetic.”
–USAToday.com
“Kauffman pens a touching romance . . . a quirky community and secondary characters with enough personality to make readers want to come back. A light romance with a touch of heat, a pinch of intensity and a dash of mysterious small-town magic.”
–Kirkus Reviews on Pelican Point
“Sassy, witty, and sexy.”
–Library Journal on Snowflake Bay
“Charming characters, emotion galore, a small town—you’re going to love Donna Kauffman!”
– Lori Foster
Previously published in THE NAUGHTY LIST
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This is the third novella in the trilogy where we meet Griffin, the young man whose secret we started to learn about in book one and got a more in-depth look into during book two. Griffin decides to visit the town where his life started and hopefully while there he can add on to the empire he has been building. Melody is a baker who loves her small town life and doesn’t want anything to change. When Griffin and Melody come together fireworks explode. You see there is an undeniable attraction between them but neither of them wants to give up on their life’s expectations. Follow along and see if the two can come together and be the amazing couple they know they can be or will their stubbornness get in the way? This was a great romantic holiday read with an ending that brought three couples together in family and in friendship.
Naughty but Nice (A Hamilton Christmas Novella) by Donna Kauffman…This third in the Hamilton Christmas novellas by Donna is a cute and sweet ending to this series… Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. Griffin and Melody have their issues and it was enjoyable to touch base with the couples in the first two books…. I enjoyed this and the HEA.
I especially enjoyed Donna Kauffman’s novella, “Naughty But Nice” because I’m hooked on Hamilton and the continuing drama that surrounds this idyllic town and it’s mysterious benefactor. The latest newcomer is an Irish bloke named Griffin who takes a fancy to bakery owner Melody and her scrumptious confections. A delightful holiday read! I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Kensington-Zebra through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
I enjoyed reading Griffin and Melody’s story in Naughty but Nice by Donna Kauffman, novella three in her Hamilton Christmas series. Thomas “Griffin” Gallagher, the recent heir to the Hamilton Industries fortune, has plans to revitalize the town of Hamilton. Baker Melody Duncastle thinks Hamilton is perfect the way it is and does not need any changes. She is not willing to let his brogue convince her otherwise; yet she can’t deny the attraction she has to him. Maybe Griffin isn’t such the bad guy she envisioned him to be. Overall, I enjoyed seeing Griffin and Melody’s relationship progress and overcome their past before they could have a future together. Naughty but Nice was a cute conclusion to the Hamilton Christmas series.
Ms. Kauffman wrote an emotional, and moving story filled with sexual chemistry, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend this book to other.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Another sweet Christmas story from Donna Kauffman.
Thomas Griffin Gallagher is a businessman and heir to the Hamilton family fortune who has big plans to turn the small town of Hamilton into a global entity.
Melody Duncastle is the town baker who wants Hamilton to remain the same and keep all of its small town charm.
Griffin’s Irish brogue is irresistible and, as much as Melody wants to resist his Irish charm, she finds herself falling for the man who has plans to “revitalize” her home town.
Naughty But Nice is a delightful addition to the Hamilton Christmas series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
Naughty but a Nice is the third novella in the A Hamilton Christmas series it was originally published in the Naughty List Anthology but is now being published as part of a Christmas Collection and it can be read as a stand-alone.
Melody Doncastle runs a small town bakery she is happy and wants nothing to do with big ideas from a big developer problem is when Thomas Griffin Gallagher walks into Cups & Cakes there is an instant attraction will the attraction be strong enough to get past the development ideas….
I love Christmas and I love this series of Christmas Novellas, I hadn’t read any books by this author before I picked up the first in A Hamilton Christmas Novella Series but I can assure you I will be looking at her other works. If you live the holiday season do yourself a favour and one click these perfect holiday reads.
Thomas Griffin Gallagher’s life has changed. After finding out he was adopted and that his birth mother was Trudy Hamilton, he decides to travel from Dublin, Ireland to Hamilton to better understand his life and plan out what he is going to do with his new inheritance Hamilton Industries. Upon arriving, Griff stops at Cups & Cakes and is instantly smittened with Melody Duncastle. Too bad she knows who he is and wants nothing to do with him or his plans for their city.
Griff realizes that he needs Melody’s approval if he wants to go ahead with his plans for Hamilton. As these two spend more time together, their feelings start to grow. The only problem is that neither of them can see a way for their relationship to work in the long term. Just when it looks like things are breaking apart, some holiday magic arrives and brings Griff and Melody their happy ending!
I loved both of these characters. Griff was so straight and businesslike and Melody was more off the cuff and fun and together they make a perfect pair. I also really enjoyed Griff’s Irish brogue. 😉 Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable holiday story.
Good story about a man who is all business until he meets a woman who teaches him how to enjoy life a little. Griffin is an Irishman who has come to the US to build a resort that is set to change the character of the small town where it will be located. Not everyone is pleased with his plans, especially bakery owner Melody.
There’s more to Griffin than first apparent. He has concentrated on business and shut off his emotions because of the things he went through growing up. He never felt like he fit in and was bullied and abused by various family members. It was recently revealed that his father was adopted and Griffin has come to Hamilton to get to know his “real” family and learn about his inheritance.
Melody grew up in Hamilton, then left to become a lawyer in Washington DC. She came home to support her best friend who was dying of cancer, found she liked being a baker, and took over the bakery when her friend died. She has done her research on what happens to towns after Griffin’s company “helps” them, and she doesn’t like what she sees.
Griffin and Melody strike sparks off each other from the beginning. There is a definite attraction between them. I loved their first meeting, as Griffin was in search of coffee. She made her displeasure with him and his plans quite obvious there and again at the town council meeting. I liked the way that Griffin went to her shop that evening to talk to her about it and ended up staying to help. Griffin was amazed by the desire he felt to tell her things about his past, things he doesn’t share with anyone. Within a short time the two of them find themselves giving in to their attraction. It was interesting to see the two of them get closer, obviously falling for each other, while agreeing to disagree on the plans for the town. Melody believes that their relationship will last only until Griffin moves on to his next project and wonders how she’ll handle it when he’s gone. Meanwhile, Griffin comes to realize that what he feels for Melody is much deeper than he had ever expected. I loved seeing his big moment at the end, and how his feelings for Melody had changed his views of his family. While the story never had the big conflict that I expected from the opening scenes, it ended up being a pretty sweet romance.
Naughty but Nice is the third holiday novella in the Hamilton Christmas Series. Previously published as part of an anthology it is now being released as a single book. This is the fun little story of Melody Duncastle and Thomas “Griffin” Gallagher. Melody is happy with their quaint little town just the way it is. She has no desire for some big corporate developer to come in and change the entire town. Yet whe Griffin Gallagher, said developer, comes into her bakery she has to fight her undeniable attraction to the man.
I really enjoyed these characters and couldn’t help but hope they could find their way. This story is short, sweet, and a perfect escape during the hectic holiday season. I definitely recommend it.
A perfect Christmas novella to read during the busy holiday season, and who doesn’t like cupcakes. Melody is the owner of Cups and Cupcakes and Griffin has arrived in town to build his empire. Melody and Griffin are on opposing sides but they can not resist the chemistry between them. They both have pasts that they have to deal with before going forward.
A little bit spicy but still sweet. I loved these characters, even though novella length,great development. The ending was wonderful. This is the third book in the Hamilton Collection but can be read as a stand alone. So grab a cup of coffee and cupcake and enjoy the story.
This third in the Hamilton Christmas novellas by Donna Kauffman, Naughty but Nice is a fabulous conclusion to this series. Griffin and Melody are an unlikely couple, yet they are charming wonderful characters who find the path that leads to each other. I really enjoyed this story and series and look forward to exploring more by this author.
This novella by Donna Kauffman is a stand alone but, in my opinion, is better as novella 3 from the Hamilton Christmas series. I can’t quite figure out why this book was my favorite Hamilton novella, but it was! The characters had great qualities. Griffin was so sweet! “I’ve become a firm believer that all things happen for reasons grander then we might know at the time…”. The Christmas season is creeping up on us and I would highly recommend this lovely novella!
This is a Chrismas novella that continues the Hamilton story. It’s the story of Melody and Griffin. Griffin has recently found out about his family connection to the Hamiltons and has come to the US with his panty melting brogue to try to save the business and town. Melody is not having any of it! His interference is not needed as far as she’s concerned and Griffin can just shuffle off to Buffalo or wherever he came from! That is until she looks into his eyes and hears his accent. It may just be a little harder to harbor ill thoughts of him and his plan as her heart melts and her body warms up.
This was a great addition to the series!
I really enjoyed this novella. The central issue is how people deal with change. Is change always bad? How can you make it good? Are people who resist change always wrong and the people who drive change always right? Melody and Griffin have some very interesting conversations about change, and that pushes this story away from just a cute romance and into real life. I also enjoyed the epilogue because it tied up the HEAs for everyone in this Hamilton series. Fun reading!
This was a delightful story of two people looking for totally different things in life and finding each other. It was a nice wrap-up of the Hamilton trilogy, bringing them all together.
In Naughty But Nice, the third re-release that is part of an overall mystery, we finally get to the bottom of all the long-buried secrets. Thomas Griffin Gallagher has a lilting brogue that I can clearly hear in my head – that’s how amazing this story is written. He comes to town to, let’s say to propose a redevelopment. And he means it in the most loving way. Of course, not all the townsfolk are as excited about all the changes as he is to present them and he gets to meet his foil in Melody Duncastle. She gives him a run for his money, and makes him “sing” for his morning coffee, but Thomas gives as good as he gets.
Can’t say too much as I don’t want to give any spoilers but again, a standalone book where we get to visit with characters from the other two books to catch up with them and that’s always fun. Thomas and Melody have to deal with their own pasts before they can be ready to work towards a future with each other. Their path is hard sometimes, but a wonderful story all around! And the ending made me giggle long past The End.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The third and final book in this series introduces bakery owner, Melody Duncastle, and businessman, Thomas Griffin Gallagher. Griffin has arrived in town to confirm he is the new heir to the Hamilton fortune and he has big plans to reenergize and update the good town of Hamilton. Melody voices her displeasure with his ideas loudly but he is determined to change her mind. He also realizes he has strong romantic feelings for her so he hopes to win her favor in more ways than one.
Of the three stories in this novella series, this was my least favorite one. I disliked Thomas Griffin Gallagher immediately. He was very pushy and had a superior air about him. He does have a backstory that formed the man he had become but I just couldn’t warm to him even after Melody shaved away some of his hard edges. Melody is such a caring individual. She came home to Hamilton to help a sick friend and it totally changed her life. Their first meeting was humorous but I think for two strangers the relationship that was quickly built just didn’t feel right to me, even with a heartwarming moment at the end.
I think as with book two, Lock, Stock, and Jingle Bells, the book was hurt by the novella length. Griffin and Melody are both very strong people with differing points of view and then suddenly they are in love. Where was the conflict? She stood up to him once and then after spending a few hours together, he gets everything he wants. I just wanted more development and some give and take, a little bit of a chase. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but after that, the books went downhill in my opinion. I do believe if the last two stories had been full-length novels it would have allowed for better character development and romantic tension to evolve I would have really enjoyed them.
I received a free eARC through Netgalley. This novella was originally published as part of an anthology. This is book three of three in the Hamilton series.
Thomas “Griffin” Gallagher, recent heir to the Hamilton Industries fortune, has plans to revitalize the town of Hamilton. Baker Melody Duncastle thinks Hamilton is great the way it is and doesn’t need any changes. She’s not about to let his brogue convince her otherwise. Yet she can’t deny the attraction she has to him. And maybe Griffin isn’t such a bad guy that she envisioned him to be. Overall, I enjoyed seeing Griffin and Melody’s relationship progress and overcoming their past in order to have a future together.
Although this can be read as a standalone, the family mystery from the first two books in the series wraps up in this story.
I’ll be honest–I just don’t know about this book. It’s a tame story that takes place in small town Hamilton, Virginia, where Melody Duncastle owns a bakery and coffee shop that specializes in intricately decorated cakes and cupcakes. Thomas Griffin Gallagher comes to town from West Cork, Ireland, because he’s heir to the town’s largest employer– Hamilton Industries. Hamilton Industries is struggling, and Griffin (as he’s referred to in the book), is a successful developer who has helped other small towns thrive by developing their brand and unique characteristics. He wants to do the same for Hamilton, but Melody, who grew up in the town, doesn’t want to see it change. At the public hearing, she speaks out against his plans to overhaul the town’s image and built a resort to bring in more tourists.
Based on those circumstances, there should be a LOT of tension between the two of them, since they are both strong people and have opposing views. But I didn’t really feel the depth of tension that should have been there. They are physically attracted to each other from their first meeting (when Griffin comes into Melody’s shop for a coffee), and the author did a great job of showing that. But I was disappointed that Kauffman didn’t develop the conflict between the two of them over the town’s future.
Maybe it’s just me–I like ‘lots of tension and conflict in romance books. I like to be on a roller coaster ride while I read the book. I didn’t feel it with this book.
I felt that the book was written from an omniscient point of view–like I was hovering over them, watching them but not really engaged in their story. I finished the novella wishing and wanting more. Maybe if I had read the other books in this series, it would have been more fulfilling? Perhaps I’ll check them out. She has written quite a few books, and some of them — like the Bachelors of Blueberry Cove–sound interesting. Her book titles are very intriguing! So maybe I’ll check them out since she is a popular writer for many.
Again, this could just be me and my preferences. Others might prefer calm seas when sailing through a romance. I like stormy seas that toss and turn my heart, and make me cheer on the hero and heroine as they discover their true love.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book!
Naughty but Nice was a cute ending to the Hamilton Christmas series. Griffin, a wealthy businessman who had some deeper layers to him, and Melody the local baker. Together they were sweet, but I did find Melody’s whining annoying.