I didn't care for this one. It starts in a complete jumble of characters and connections that, unless you've recently read the previous in the series, you wouldn't know.

Set in a small Vermont town during Christmas, this sequel follows the fiery dynamics between Sunny, a multi-talented adult film actress turned screenwriter, and Isaac Kelly, a brooding former band boy living in a historic mansion. Both grapple with creative blocks and share an unforgettable past involving a legendary threesome from two years ago. The story kicks off with Teddy Ray Fletcher’s POV at Bee and Nolan’s wedding, where Sunny and Isaac's flirtation quickly leads to another steamy one-night stand in her dilapidated hotel room. When Isaac invites Sunny to stay at his mansion to escape the room’s dismal conditions, they believe they can coexist without rekindling their past passions. However, living under one roof ignites their undeniable chemistry as they strive to overcome their creative obstacles. With a delightful mix of grumpy and sunshine tropes, this humorous and spicy romance offers plenty of steamy moments and high tension. Perfect as a standalone or a continuation of the series, this book promises a unique holiday read that blends romance with a creative twist! Highly recommended for fans of spicy, humorous storytelling.

I am so sad this is the last of this series. I have been with it since day 1 and it really fed into my budding love of my now favorite genre, contemporary bbw romance, or as I currently like to call, "Thicc Queen Love Smut" - working title.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this book. It's so good. We finally get to explore our lovely Sunny's potential relationship with sad boy Isaac when he offers her a room and the developing feelings between the two super deserving of something more people in our favorite little holiday themed town of Christmas Notch. Their story was fantastic-excellent heat, tension, conflict...the perfect rom com recipe. And the end!! It honestly tied everything up so well and I definitely got misty eyed.

I really hope these authors team up again for another steamy little series. ❤️❤️

These two authors do not disappoint!! I LOVED this! I loved the characters, the plot, the spice was fabulous! It was cozy but spicy in the very best way! I can’t wait for more from these two! 10/10 will recommend for the holiday season!!

Read as an Arc from the publisher (thank you). If you read the others in this series, this is much of the same. Touching holiday story, but with, as the authors say in their acknowledgment, the same “unhinged” components as the first - porn star characters, musician idols, somewhat no standard romantic elements, amusing adult holiday nuances. There are serious personal emotional hurdles that bring it back to realism.

Just finished "Jingle Bell Mingle" by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone - my first book from these authors, and what a delightful holiday surprise it turned out to be.

The story follows Sunny Palmer, a screenwriter battling creative block (and proud owner of the most chaotic cat I've ever encountered in fiction), who finds herself sharing a roof with Isaac Kelly, a former boy band heartthrob trying to compose his first Christmas album. After a one-night stand following their best friends' wedding, they end up as unlikely roommates in his historic mansion, and what follows is pure entertainment.

What really won me over was how the authors balance laugh-out-loud moments with deeper emotional beats. Watching Sunny chase down a local Christmas legend for her Hope Channel screenplay, while Isaac struggles to find his musical inspiration, creates situations that are both hilarious and touching. And don't get me started on Sunny's possibly demonic cat wreaking havoc throughout the mansion - those scenes had me in stitches.

The chemistry between these two opposites feels genuine and develops beautifully. I loved how they strike a deal to help each other overcome their creative blocks, leading to moments that range from absolutely hilarious to surprisingly tender. The way they navigate their growing attraction while dealing with their individual struggles (Sunny with her looming deadline and Isaac with his grief) adds layers to what could have been just another holiday romance.

"A Jingle Bell Mingle" by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone is the third installment in the delightful "Christmas Notch" series. This festive romance follows Sunny and Isaac, two characters whose paths cross again ten years after a memorable one-night stand. As the blurb teases, a lack of available accommodations leads Sunny and her "potentially demonic" cat to become roommates with the now-grumpy Isaac. The book also doesn't shy away from open discussions about sex, bisexuality, and body positivity, offering a refreshing and inclusive perspective

If you're looking for a feel-good holiday read with a touch of spice and a whole lot of heart, "A Jingle Bell Mingle" might be just the ticket.

I highly recommend it!

Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy is a heartwarming and steamy holiday romance novella that blends humor, romance, and holiday cheer. It follows the story of two characters who find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other during a festive holiday party. As sparks fly and the magic of the season takes hold, the novella combines lighthearted fun with sizzling chemistry, offering readers a delightful mix of sweet and spicy moments.

What I loved:
🫶🏼 Issac and Sunny - their banter, their playfulness and their moments of being vulnerable were so enjoyable to read!
🫶🏼festive, fun and flirty! The story didn’t lag and moved along to a beautiful HEA for the series!
🫶🏼the storyline about the postman and the history of their town. It was a hint of nostalgia to balance out the pornstar storyline. A delicious blend!

Would have loved more of:
✨a little more Christmas- I wanted to smell the evergreen!
✨ while I’m ready to dive into the others, and I’m guessing this would be advertised to read as a standalone if you’d want, there were times I was missing the backstory of certain characters. Or maybe better put, I felt there were details of stories missing from this book that I assumed were treasures in the books and novellas from previous in the series. While that is my own fault for missing out on these great books, it felt a little bit like I was the only one in the room not getting the personal joke.

All in all, this a quick, feel-good read perfect for fans of holiday romances with a bit of heat!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this digital ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions of this read!

I wanted to love this one but it was just okay, ditto for the interstitial novella--maybe I'm getting tired of this collaboration or the premise was just running out of steam? It definitely still had some good moments, but I felt like it was getting to the point where the characters saying things like "poopnuggets" or "fucknuggets" or whatever felt like it was trying too hard to be voice-y and instead was starting to come across as more overdone and juvenile and cutesy than funny or good character work. I'm glad to see how the series wrapped up and will still pick up their next book, but in my opinion Christmas Notch peaked with book 2.

i do think this was a decent read although a little too spicy for my normal. This is definitely a NSFW-type of reading.

3.5 ⭐️

I always enjoy reading books from this series. This one had more of a serious feel than the other books in the series, which isn’t a bad thing, but I also wasn’t expecting it. I went into it expecting a lighthearted holiday themed book so I didn’t necessarily love it, but I think I would’ve liked it more if I knew what to expect.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you Avon, Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this one for a while so I was excited when I finally got to start it. Sunny is a little chaotic and has a lot of her plate and needs to finish her screen play. Isaac is still trying to deal with the death of his wife and his record label is tired of waiting for him to write more music. These two have deadlines they need to meet and what a better place to do it that together?

While I liked the story line, it fell a bit flat for me. I think both characters could benefit from therapy instead of a relationship with each other. Overall if you’re looking for an easy Christmas read, this book is for you!

A Jingle Bell Mingle followed its predecessors in this series as a fun, campy rom com filled with spice and sex positivity. I always enjoy my time in Christmas Notch and this was no different. What was a disappointment for me was that there was no tension between Sunny and Isaac. They immediately jumped into a friends with benefits relationship and I wasn’t able to savor the pining and tension I love in a romance.

After the last book in this series was such a miss for me I was a bit scared to pick this one up. But it was so good!! Sunny is just adorable and Isaac was also just so precious.

The text inside the book doesn't match the cover....it's not cute or cozy, but really steamy. For those who like an erotic amount of spice and not being able to really follow all the characters because they didn't know they were reading the third book in a series where you pretty much _have_ to have read the others to keep up...hey, this might just be the book for you!

What a perfect conclusion to the series! I read this one even faster than the previous ones, and loved it just as much! I love the spice, the character development, and overall holiday vibe!

I absolutely loved this return to Christmas Notch! Isaac and Sunny are a perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing as they reckon with grief, what it means to be inspired/be a muse, all with a bonus mystery of the Christmas Mail Miracle. I loved seeing their relationship develop and the ways that their friendship and support of one another encouraged each of them to do their own growing and healing, rather than expecting a relationship to fix everything for them. As with all romance series, I loved the little tidbits we get from the characters of earlier books, starting with Bee and Nolan's wedding, seeing Kallum and Winnie's family dynamic, and Teddy and Stephanie continuing to be a major power couple.

You should read this book if you enjoy a large helping of smut with your Christmas cheer, are a websleuth who can figure anything out with a few google searches and trips to the library, and have a begrudging and loving relationship with a cat who makes your life terrible and wonderful at the same time!

I like when a book pulls me right in from the start. This book did not do that. Maybe because I’ve not read the other two books before this but right away I was confused and it was just a struggle.

How cute is this book! I am sad to see this town and series go. I am hoping they keep some characters coming back. This is a no spoilers review. 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!

The Christmas Notch series really is just so good!! I found myself smiling, laughing, and blushing throughout. It is witty, funny, and everything you want from a Christmas romance. Plus it adds more serious elements dealing with grief and complicated family dynamics too. I am so sad this series has come to an end but cannot wait to read more from both authors in the future.