So sadly, this book only kept my interest for the surprising hot moments! I mean- candy canes mean something completely different to me now.
I wanted to love the characters, but things seemed weird and off, and downright immature at times. I can respect the lack of experience and the isolating ideology of Winnie's past, but things just seemed weird after the movie wrapped up.
Not my favorite, but cute enough to get through.

This was a cute spicy romcom that had a surprising amount of depth. I enjoyed the commentary on purity culture. I feel like the book really dragged at the 25% mark & never really picked back up.

Funny, steamy, cheesy and just an overall blast to read in a day. You don't have to read the first book in the Christmas Notch series to enjoy this one!

I was excited to read this after really enjoying the first book in the series. However after reading some reviews that shared about tropes involved in the second part and some other details - I realized unfortunately this one isn’t for me and I won’t be reading/reviewing. Thank you for the opportunity.

I wanted to love this one but the whole porn star film thing was just a lot for me. Especially mixed in with Christmas - just wasn't my vibe.

Though I didn't get to A Merry Little Meet Cute last year, I heard such good things that I leapt at the chance to snag an e-arc of A Holly Jolly Ever After, book #2 in the series. I'm also drawn in by opposites attract, and here for any romance novel that shows someone finding more pleasure in their life.

But I just do not care to read the entirety of a 432-page novel in which a woman who begins to FINALLY have good sex unintentionally gets pregnant, despite using condoms. That plot point is not for me. DNF

The beginning of A Holly Jolly Ever After was hysterical, steamy, and everything I wanted. I laughed out loud so many times and highlighted so many hilarious quotes. I love the "help me find my sexuality" trope. These scenes were so hot! I also loved how Winnie confronted trauma from her oppressively religious upbringing and previous relationship. We love a book that kicks purity culture in the pants!

I didn't love the turn the second half of the book took (the conflict could have been entirely avoided with some simple communication!), but I wanted to find out what happened to the characters. I certainly wasn't expecting Winnie's medical issues (tw for moms who have experienced miscarriages or near-losses pregnancies).

The ending was a bit abrupt--I wish the ending had a little more of Winnie and Kallum's happy ever after. Maybe we'll get to see a bit more of them in the next book, though?

I enjoyed this opportunity to return to Christmas Notch and can't wait to go back for the next book! Julie and Sierra make quite the team.

I loved the first half of this! I loved that Kallum was such a golden retriever with a heart of gold, and I loved Winnie's journey.

All the miscommunication and drama of the second half of the book did get on my nerves by the end and kind of ruined it for me.

Winnie Baker used to be America's Sweetheart, starring in a wholesome family sitcom as a teenager. Now that she's ended her marriage, she's struggling to find work and herself. She's always done the "right" thing, been the good girl, but she's not sure she wants to be that person anymore. Kallum Lieberman is a former boybander from the group INK, and he now lives a quieter life as the owner of a pizza chain in his hometown of Kansas City. When the opportunity arises for the two to star in a spicy adult Chrismas movie, they agree, with a lot of apprehension. Winnie just can't get comfortable filming the more racy scenes, so Kallum offers to tutor her. Can they maintain their strictly professional relationship, or will they find their holly jolly ever after together?

This type of book is not my typical read, but after the hype for A Merry Little Meet Cute (which I couldn't get my hands on through Libby, too many other people wanted it), I wanted to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! The story is adorable, very Hallmark but **spicy**. I love love LOVE Julie Murphy, and now I am a fan of Sierra Simone too. I hope they continue to team up to write more lovely holiday romances <3

I received this arc courtesy of NetGalley, in return for my honest review.

Kallum may not be the INK member everyone falls for, but he's the one before 'the one'. When he lands a role to work with Winnie Baker now his chance to be 'the one' but can Winnie overcome her purity culture and embrace her true self?
Love Christmas Notch and hope to get more of this series!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

What's the opposite of a slow-burn? This book is super spicy and a lot of fun. Great to see the interfaith representation!

4.5 stars. A very merry return to the world of Christmas Notch. This time our costars are Winnie and Kallum. She's a buttoned-up good girl trying to rehab the image her ex-boyfriend has besmirched in the press. He's the former boy band member who owns a popular local pizza chain. Together they're about to make a very NSFW holiday movie in a charming little town. Hijinks ensue.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I really liked the previous installment in this series but this one fell a little flat. You can tell two authors wrote it and not in a good way. The first half of the book is great, it definitely started out as a 5 star for me but around the 60% mark it all went downhill very quickly and for very little apparent reason. It's also incredibly long for also very little reason? Overall it was just fine as a reading experience but frustrating because everything wrong with it seemed to be an easy fix (just cut out the last 150 pages).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this read a lot. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have written another fun romance! I liked how this one featured someone exploring themselves and sexuality later in life, as I feel this is something that happens to more people than we think. My biggest criticism of the novel is the surprise pregnancy. I was wary when I first read it, thinking it could just be used as a plot device to draw the characters apart and then back together. I didn't really appreciate that part of the story, but I did like that the authors did include some nuance to this plot line, but discussing options and exploring the reactions of more than just the main characters. Overall, a recommended read and purchase.

Christmas Notch is the place to be once again! I love this place, the movies they make there, and, of course, the peeps in the movies. Which this time is Kallum, former member of a boy band (and Nolan’s bestie) and Winnie, former virtuous family-friendly star. They are on two different levels (life experience-wise) but it’s so much fun reading their journey together. Sexy, spark-y, and tons of chemistry. Not to mention the humor & fun that’s always comes from Sierra & Julie. A must read & an add on to the re-read list!

Pros: The main characters, Winnie and Kallum were interesting and I appreciated how they each had their own unique backstories. I really liked that Kallum was a bigger guy (it’s still rare to see a fat male romance character) but that his body wasn’t a focal point of the story. Winnie’s purity past was fascinating and I think Simone and Murphy did a great job in showing the effects of religious trauma and how hard it is to unlearn things from your past. Like the previous book in the series, the town of Christmas Notch was adorable and for the most part, the supporting characters were great. I also believed the attraction between Winnie and Kallum and appreciated that the second half of the book focused on how to make a relationship work between two people who are very different.

Cons: Where to begin? The writing was kind of a mess, with characters popping in and out as if we, the reader, were supposed to know their backstories. The first half of this book was GREAT and then the second half went completely off the rails. I didn’t mind the surprise (not so surprising) twist half-way through, it was the other stuff that I didn’t like. The rewrites and different ending for the movie out of nowhere? Winnie’s parents just coming back into her life all of a sudden? Her ex-husband showing up? None of it felt cohesive. And don’t get me started on Winnie’s narcolepsy which is mentioned a few times but has no bearing or significance to the story whatsoever. What was the point?

Another fun, very sexy Hope Channel book!! I loved bring in this world, the small town where they film, and with some returning characters! I hope there's a third!

I always have the absolute best time reading a Sierra Simone or Julie Murphy book and this did not disappoint! It's the perfect story to pick up around the holidays if you're looking for a fun and spicy story!

read if you like:
- Sex Lessons
- Forced Proximity
- Disability rep
- former boyband member
- actors in love
- accidental pregnancy

Pack your bags this holiday season, it's time to head up to Christmas Notch, Vermont.

The holidays are not complete without a book from this dynamic duo. A cast of characters that will melt your heart, leave your heart fluttering, and craving pizza for days.

A romance full of inferno level heat, angst, tension, and a ton of emotional baggage that needs to be addressed before Kallum and Winnie can finally find a happy-ever-after.

There is nothing better than a story that tugs at your heart as characters navigate through their family shenanigans, deal with unrealistic expectations, and unexpected desire that could change lives.

Get ready for a steamy treat this winter season. I can't wait to read more from these amazing authors.

Holy moly, I did not read the synopsis well enough to expect this book! It was a lot hotter and a lot steamier than I was prepared for, but it was excellent! I really, really enjoyed this book, and will be looking for the first book in the series right away. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!