Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, Avon and Harper Voyager/Avon, and NetGalley for an eARC of A Jingle Bell Mingle!

"Sometimes when you were the happiest person in the room, no one bothered to check in and see what might be brewing under the surface. No one thought to anticipate what you might need when you didn't appear to need anything at all."

I am so sad to leave Christmas Notch! This series was so good for spicy but cute Christmas reads. I was interested to see where Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone would take Nolan and Sunny's stories. We knew Nolan was dealing with some serious heartache over the loss of his wife, but I don't remember hearing about Sunny's backstory in the other books. When I finally read about her history, I knew this story was going to be a bit heavier than the other two novels.

I really enjoyed the mystery Sunny and Nolan were working to solve. I thought that was a refreshing plot instead of the two main characters filming a movie. I also thought the premise of finding Nolan a new muse was cute - especially when it was so clearly Sunny from the beginning. It was frustrating but so rom-com. I thought this book was the perfect wrap up for the series and, while I'm sad we won't get any more stories from this crazy boy band/porn star crew I think everyone got their perfect endings.

3.5/5 stars.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you @Netgalley for my #gifted copy of The Jingle Bell Mingle.

The Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy is a festive and heartwarming romance that brings together two very different characters during the holiday season. The book follows Isaac, a famous singer who has turned recluse after his wife’s untimely death, and Sunny, a part-time porn star currently writing a screen play for the holiday channel. They decided to be roommates in Isaac’s mansion in Christmas Notch. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the blend of opposites-attract makes for an enjoyable read. The authors’ collaborative writing creates a seamless balance of humor, heartfelt moments, and steamy encounters, which will appeal to fans of feel-good holiday romances with a little extra spice.

However, while The Jingle Bell Mingle is fun and festive, it occasionally falls into predictable tropes, and the emotional depth of the characters could have been explored further. Some moments feel rushed, especially in terms of character development and conflict resolution, which may leave readers craving a bit more substance beneath the surface. That said, the story delivers exactly what fans of holiday rom-coms are looking for: a light, charming read with a satisfying conclusion. It may not break new ground, but it’s a cozy, enjoyable pick for anyone in the mood for some seasonal cheer.

I loved the first 2 books of The Christmas Notch series so I was super excited to read A Jingle Bell Mingle.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. It was just ok. It was on the slower side and I found myself being bored.

I liked the characters and the humor in the book. And I’m a sucker for books about grief so it wasn’t all bad.

You might like A Jingle Bell Mingle if you like:
❄️ GrumpyXSunshine
❄️Found Family
❄️Spicy Holiday read
❄️Roommates to Lovers
❄️Revisiting Christmas Notch and the characters from the first 2 books

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for a copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle in exchange of an honest review

***Thank you to Avon Books for the eARC via NetGalley***

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, celebrity romance, holiday romance

I have to say I read the first book in this series and was NOT fan, if I ever DNF’d a book it would have been that one. So when I saw this was released, I wanted to give them another try! Let me just say I AM SO GLAD I DID.

I could not put this book down. I absolutely loved Sunny and Isaac’s story. Do not let the cutsie Christmas cover fool you, this was quite spicy 🥵 But it was sprinkled into the story in the BEST WAY.

I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a cute but very spicy Christmas romance.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I am sad to see this series end because it was so good! It is festive and spicy and funny while also telling a full story. Seeing Sunny and Isaac come together after loss in only the way Murphy and Simone can do was lovely. This and the others in the series may need to be a holiday re-read each year since they will definitely get you in the spirit. 4.5 stars.

"Jingle Bell Mingle" is a delightful and spicy Christmas romance that will have you swooning.

This heartwarming story follows Issac, the brooding third member of the boy band INK, who is struggling to find his muse after the tragic loss of his wife. Enter Sunny Palmer, a whirlwind of energy juggling multiple part-time jobs while grappling with the unexpected success of her Christmas miracle script. Their paths collide when Sunny needs help uncovering the truth behind the miracle, and Issac seeks her assistance in reigniting his creative spark.

The chemistry between Issac and Sunny is undeniable, and their journey of self-discovery and healing unfolds amidst a backdrop of festive cheer and heartwarming humor. The authors masterfully weave their blossoming romance with the mystery surrounding the Christmas miracle, creating a captivating and engaging narrative.

What I loved:

The Spicy Romance: The book delivers on the promise of a "spicy" Christmas romance with sizzling chemistry between the protagonists. Not to mention some very steamy scenes! I give it 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The Engaging Plot: The mystery surrounding the Christmas miracle keeps you hooked, and the parallel drawn between their investigation and their own budding romance is a clever touch.
The Nostalgic Feel: The inclusion of characters from previous "Christmas Notch" books adds a delightful layer of familiarity and warmth.
The Binge-Worthy Quality: "Jingle Bell Mingle" is truly addictive, and you'll find yourself racing through the pages to see how it all unfolds.
Overall:

"Jingle Bell Mingle" is a fantastic conclusion to the "Christmas Notch" series. It's a heartwarming and sexy read that will leave you feeling joyful and uplifted. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance and Christmas stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I had a pleasant time reading this story! It was a fun, sad, and spicy story! I think I liked the first one the best still but this one was still a good time! I enjoyed their journeys through their grief and then to each other! I also really enjoyed the crime solving group and cat advice ladies that Isaac had, so funny! Just a fun festive spicy read!

This was not my favorite. It looks festive and at times it is, but it’s more just straight porn. Which can be some people’s jam but I also like a little more story to the plot as well.

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the third book in the A Christmas Notch series. It is about Isaac and Sunny and is told from both of their points of view.

Sunny is a screenwriter who is struggling to write her very first screenplay. Isaac is a former boy band heartthrob and is having trouble writing his first Christmas single. After one night together they live at Isaac's historic mansion with Sunny's hilarious cat.

Isaac is still grieving his past wife's death but starts to have feelings for Sunny. However, he's not sure if he can love again. I thought this would be more Christmassy, but I still enjoyed the book. I loved some of the banter between these characters, and seeing them both grow from things from the past.

The first book in this series (A Merry Little Meet Cute) is my favorite Christmas romance I've ever read. But book 2 and the novella fell a bit short for me. And this 3rd book in the series started out so disjointed and confusing that I'm deciding to DNF. I have other books I would rather spend my time reading.

Another steamy holiday romance from this author duo!! I've really enjoyed getting to know this ag tag group of adult film cast and crew along with the former boy band.

I think the first book was still my favorite, but this couple did show a lot of love and growth. I did get a little frustrated with the pining of it all, but found their interactions pretty genuine!

I think this was the spiciest of all of the books so note that before reading, but I'd recommend for a Hallmark After Dark Christmassy read!

This was a middle of the road read for me.. thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC to review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for my copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy; Sierra Simone in exchange for an honest review. It published September 24, 2024.
I admit, the cover of this book totally grabbed my eye and attention! It’s gorgeous! However, this book wasn’t for me and didn’t hit the notes that I was hoping for. Just a little too much for me, but perhaps for others it’ll be just right!

I enjoyed this book! While the story itself follows a predictable rom-com end, it's fun getting there.
A cute little romance, with a lot of spice, a bit of romance and just a little Christmas.

3.5 stars. I was looking forward to this book because I enjoyed all the other books in the series (including the novellas). However, while this book was my least favorite of them all and I was a bit disappointed. Overall the book held my interest and I did like Sunny and Issac, but I felt like at time it dragged. Thanks to netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

I'm giving this one four stars because it's really very impressive just how much spice AND how much story Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone can fit into one book. There's an actual story to go along with the (many, many, many, many) steamy scenes. Christmas Notch and its eclectic cast of characters are truly loveable even though I found myself wondering, "They did what?! WHERE?!".

There are so many things going on in each of these books and while I love how they all tie in with the characters in the other books in the Christmas Notch series, there were definitely plot points that I enjoyed (ye old threesome) much more than others (any mention of a muse). I could have also done without certain spicy scenes. They were........ a lot.

I've seen some reviews that say these books can be read as stand-alones, but I do think you need to read at least A Merry Little Meet-Cute before you read this one to enjoy the way everything all ties in together.

I also just need to say that I think the covers of these books are genius in the way the sweet cover art contrasts the contents of each book. Overall, a good read but you really need to be prepared for a very, VERY open door romance.

This book is exactly what I expected. If you've read Merry Little Meet cute or Holly Jolly ever after, go ahead and throw this to your TBR. It is t my favorite holiday read but it's reasonably spicy, and a fun quick read-- plus that cover art 😍😍

A holiday book AND it’s spicy? Sign me up! I have always loved Julie Murphy’s writing; I was introduced to it when she was writing YA, and moving up to the adult genre with her as I’ve grown up has been amazing. I also love Sierra Simone’s writing; it’s descriptive and smutty but still feels kind of classy somehow. This is the perfect holiday read and I will definitely recommend it to my audience!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to read this. Isaac and Sunny are a love story for the ages. And the hottest spice at that. I found the storyline to be captivating and motivating me want to find out what is going on with not only our star crossed lovers but also the ghost of Christmas Notch. The parallels between the ghost story and Isaac and Sunny were so well done. Overall I think this might have been my favorite in the series. Both characters were so likable and funny and the storyline held me so well. Job well done.

Oh gosh I love these book! Such a fun premise and A Jingle Bell Mingle was no different. The prologue was a little rushed with a bunch of characters being introduced right away but thats probably my only complaint. The relationship between Sunny and Issac was steamy but also felt very genuine.