𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐀 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞
𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲 & 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞
3.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

•𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑐𝑜𝑚
•𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑦
•𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠
•𝐿𝐺𝐵𝑇 𝑟𝑒𝑝

I’m all about my spooky reads throughout the year 24/7, so why not throw in a holiday raunchcom (love this coined phrase, btw) in the mix? 🥵🎄✨☃️

I definitely need to play catch up with the rest of the series (it’s me, hi…I’m the problem) since I was hella confused in the beginning. That didn’t detract from the hilarious moments, steamy encounters, and emotional upheavals experienced throughout the read.

Thank you to for the arc of this one! 💕

I knew I would have my heart torn out when this series got around to Isaac’s story. How can it not when Isaac is a young widow who has holed himself away from everyone since his childhood sweetheart/wife/muse died too young? Sunny has been a bright spot throughout this series. If anyone could urge Isaac back to the land of the living it would be Sunny. I just didn’t expect her to rip my heart out, too.

There are so many things about this book that work for me. The chemistry between Isaac and Sunny is fantastic, but so is their understanding and compassion for each other. I loved watching Mr. Tumnus, Sunny’s cat, go from distrust to wrangling Issac into Sunny’s space over the course of a few days. The mystery of the Christmas Notch angel who helped a mailman out in the 1940s was a fun concept vital for the overall story of Sunny and Isaac working through their grief, but it also seemed to mess with the pacing of this book. Not a lot, but enough that I noticed myself being pulled out of the story a time or two.

While this story can most likely be read as a standalone, I don’t know that it would give you the same feel. Plus, there are a lot of characters popping in and out and that can be confusing if you don’t already know some backstory. Since I have read all of the previous books (this is the last in the series) I was taking great pleasure in seeing all of the familiar faces and feeling the love between this improbable ragtag group of friends. Having the others around once in a while also made it so clear how Isaac could see the real Sunny beneath her confident and bright persona she often used to cover up the turmoil inside.

Isaac was a big dummy for much of this book. He couldn’t even see how selfish he was being with Sunny’s feelings because, in his mind, he was protecting her. To be fair, Sunny was also a dummy at times, but I almost couldn’t blame her when Isaac made it perfectly clear he would never love anyone but his deceased wife. What was Sunny supposed to do with that information when the two of them couldn’t seem to stay away from each other?

Don’t worry, this book isn’t all angst. While I cried a time or two (or three), I also laughed and experienced tears of joy.

Overview: While attending a wedding in a town called Christmas Notch, Sunny matches on a dating app with Isaac, a former one-night-stand and acquaintance who invites her to stay at his mansion while she researches a local legend for a screenplay that she is tasked with developing. In exchange, Sunny makes it her mission to help Isaac find a muse as inspiration for his new album. The only problem? Isaac already has a muse in mind…

Thoughts: I can’t believe I’m reading a Christmas themed book already?! Cute story, and eerily similar in structure as the last book I read (Morbidly Yours) which also featured a character who lost a spouse and entered into a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Since this is the 3rd book in the series, I didn’t quite follow all of the side characters, but I still enjoyed it as a stand alone romance!

Take home message: This is a cute (and spicy) holiday-themed rom-com featuring a widower who is a former boy band member and his roommate, a bubbly adult film star-turned-screenwriter. Tropes include one-night stand, roommates with benefits, and opposites attract.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love every single book in this series, I am so grateful to have gotten an ARC Of this book, I absolutely love the characters !! I am so glad we got to see more of sunny. I love her so much. She is so wild and hilarious. I will never get tired of reading this series.

This fun holiday rom-com blends humor, romance, and mystery. Sunny Palmer, a confident and curvy screenwriter, returns to Christmas Notch, Vermont, seeking inspiration for her sold screenplay. She reconnects with Isaac Kelly, a grieving former boy band star turned reclusive mansion owner. Their unexpected arrangement as roommates turns into a journey of healing and love. The chemistry between Sunny and Isaac is electric, with the story exploring themes of grief, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. With witty dialogue, a lovable cat, and a heartwarming plot, this book is a perfect holiday read filled with warmth, laughter, and spice.

3.75 Stars

The boy banders - porn star/porn adjacent - hallmark style - holiday mashup continues… apparently you really CAN make this ish up. 😂

First off, it can’t be read as a standalone. There is no recap or reintroduction of characters. It jumps right in expecting you to know things from previous books. And even having read them, I would have appreciated a reminder, ‘cause memory is hazy after at least a year.

That aside, it starts off with a bang. Literally. There is no delayed gratification here, so if you’re in it for the holiday naughty list, you’ll love that the story is all in from the beginning. All our favorite characters are back, making appearances, and in the case of Teddy, getting a bit of extra love. And there are plenty of tropes woven together to great effect. Friends with benefits, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity… Sunny and Isaac have a wild ride of both bodies and minds.

There’s also side quests. Some interesting sleuthing into an old local lore which I thought didn’t entirely work. It was interesting at times! But the ways in which they look/discover and exactly what Sunny hoped to gain didn’t entirely track for me. But it’s also a lighthearted holiday romp so maybe it didn’t need to make sense.

Overall, if you go into it just expecting a good time, and not diving too deep, then you’ll come out happy with this steamy and inclusive tale.

I did not realize this was the third(?) book in a series, it works as a stand alone. It has the spice and just so cute at the same time. It deals with some serious issues and is heartfelt and had some laugh out loud moments too. It was an unexpected like for me, this is not my typical read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and I might just have to check out the other books in the series by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone.

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone is the third book in the Christmas Notch Series. I have loved all the other books in this series, and this was no exception. After a couple of hook ups Issac invites Sunny to be his roommate. Sunny and Issac trauma bond. They both have some issues that they are able to work through together. Issac has not been able to write a song since his wife died. Sunny is in town to get inspiration for a screenplay. They make a deal for Sunny to help Issac find a muse and Issac will help her uncover the truth for a local mystery. Issac and the Cat Advisory Thread group was my favorite. I loved how he was able to rely on them and have them help him out.

Starting off my (early) holiday season right with this steamy and whitty rom com. As a part of the series, the book starts out with other characters in previous books but I don’t think it’s necessary to read them all if you want to go into this one blind.

This may seem like your typical easy holiday romance read, but this book had some depth to it. Exploring grief, body positivity and sexual exploration.

Of course, the romance between Sunny and Isaac was spicy and fun, I felt like the chemistry was lacking a bit. I was actually more intrigued by the local legend of the mailman and widower and I think it beefed up the magical Christmas vibe of the whole book.

Overall, not your typical rom com, but a certain type of reader will love this story.

Genre: contemporary holiday romance

Isaac is the third and highly reclusive member of the former boy band INK. 5 years ago, his wife died of pancreatic cancer, and he's been a shell of himself since. But his record label thinks he's played the grief card for too long and is pushing him to write and record. Meanwhile, former p0rn star Sunny accidentally pitched a screenplay to the Hope Channel in an ADHD overcompensation for her boss missing a meeting, and they bought it, so now she owes them some words on a page. Circumstances being what they are in a romance novel, they are living together in the giant castle in Christmas Notch, VT where they are both in search of a muse. A s3x fueled muse experience may be the best course, but Sunny can't be the muse and Isaac still isn't sure how to process his grief.

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are one of my favorite writing duos, because they clearly have so much fun writing together. I've loved every book in this series so far because of the raunchy, joyful tone, and the unabashed delight in the pursuit of pleasure while still addressing more serious issues. In this case, the issue is grief, which they examine from a sensitive angle and with realistic implications for the characters.

If you love main characters who pine for one another while they are actually already banging, this book is for you. While it's not my favorite in the series (because the other two were just so good for me), it hits on real Christmas spirit, sibling communication skills, and deep and abiding friendship. The incendiary heat is balanced by the charm and silliness.

It's probably best to read this series in order because you get the most out of Teddy and Steph's prologue/epilogue journey this way, but the cast from previous books is largely background noise in this one.

I love a feel good holiday book, but this one stopped me short. I don’t care for misplaced and gratuitous strong language or implicit sexual content. So not necessary especially in a holiday themed story. I didn’t finish this book for that reason. Thank you to #netgalley #ajinglebellmingle for the opportunity to read this book.

Unexpected, sexy, and heartfelt. This was my first book in the series, but not my last. I plan to circle back to the previous books. I would guess that it would be even more enjoyable if I had read the others first. So I suggest reading the entire series.

I really liked this book. Sunny and Issac were sweet, and intensely sexy with each other. The overall back story of Sunny and Issac past experiences with each other , their own previous relationships really added a realness to the book. Both of them have loved, and lost and are trying their best. It was sweet to see them find each other to love. The side characters and the side stories were fun, I think I would have loved them more if I had read the full series. I would recommend this book.

Can a book be both absolutely so cute and adorable as well as spicy as hell? If so, this book is it. As the authors very well put it, this is a Christmas raunch-com! This is the final book in the Christmas Notch series, following Teddy Ray Fletcher's "half-feral porn family" (authors' words 🫣🤣). First, I want to say how much I love that Teddy got his happily ever after in this book. He isn't the main character, but you follow parts of his life throughout each book and can't help but root for him. This book follows two characters who become "roommates with benefits" who don't believe love is for them and, of course, end up falling for each other. There is amazing bi rep, multiple Taylor Swift references, and complete adoration/a simp of man. This whole series is incredibly sex/sex worker positive, that they will single handedly break the stigma surrounding these topics one book at a time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books, for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest review.

I'm sorry to see this series end! If only we could visit Christmas Notch with all its festive stories and miracles. Isaac has been wallowing in his grief for so long that he doesn't even come close to seeing the possibility of happiness...of a future. Sunny...well she is on her own course. Living up to her name can be exhausting and loss has marked her as well. A lonely night-a one time only deal-changes the course of their acquaintance and turns into a friendship that both so badly needed. The return of many of our favorite characters from previous stories highlights the holidays as well as one (or two) Happily Ever Afters. Laughter and lots of passion (one handed passion, if you know what I mean) rounds out our final story in Christmas Notch.

I’m still giggling.

I totally have a lady boner for a sad guy.

Isaac Kelly is so very, very sad. I’ve come across people like him who are so determined to be sad about the loss of a loved one, that they stop living. The more they stop living, the sadder they get and so it perpetuates and they can’t find a way to see the sunshine again.

Then along comes Sunshine, because Sunny really is the perfect, capri sun addicted, happy girl to help Isaac to see the light.

One of the things I have loved most about this series (and actually much of Sierra’s other work) is the positive messages about loving your body. Love your curves and your love handles, your muffin tops and your juicy booty.

The sex is steamy hot. Not sure whether or not I like the capri sun addiction, but I would definitely want to mingle with Isaac, or indeed any of those lovely boys of INK.

Great series. Top notch!

It was only suppose to be a one night stand... but now he's asking you to move in and become his muse/roommate??? This is bound to be one jingle bell rock. Sunny Palmer is a part time adult film actress/one time adult film director/makeup artist who has accidentally sold her first screenplay to the Hope Channel.... and after 6 months she needs a new idea. Cue Isaac Kelly, former boy band heart throb turned the saddest boy in the music industry after his wife's death. Isaac is a bit of a recluse and has bought the town's historic mansion... and he has to write new music but he has no inspiration.... except for Sunny. Sunny and Isaac hooked upped a while back by when they attend their best friends' wedding.... one thing leads to the next and they're sharing a hotel room and much more... and then Isaac asks Sunny to move in with him in his giant mansion. It's a huge mansion he won't even notice she's there... yet when they both realize their creativity's blocked they come to a new agreement: Isaac will help Sunny solve a local lore and she'll find him his new muse (since she refuses to be his muse)... yet the more time they spend together under one roof the harder it is to just be "roommates with benefits"... but can Isaac ever love again and can Sunny be with someone who isn't ready to open up his heart yet? This was such a cute and HOT christmas romance read. I adored Sunny and Isaac, they love each other so much and were so supportive of one another. They were so in love with one another from the first moment and everyone around them could tell except them. This series has been such a fun one to read and the spice in it is top notch. I love this series so much and would absolutely recommend it for anyone who is looking for a hot holiday romance!

Release Date: September 24,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Two singles return head up to Vermont after they are down on their luck with careers and lives hoping to spark new ideas for a fresh start. Issac and Sunny meet and really enjoy each other’s company but swear to keep its strictly platonic. As they seem to gain traction with their jobs the more they meet up, can they keep the “friends with benefits” under the friends category? Or does the benefit spark something else inside both of them?

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have returned with the 3rd and final full-length installment in their Christmas Notch series.

While this is technically an interconnected standalone, if you haven’t read the other books and novellas, you will be lost. The book starts with a Teddy Ray Fletcher prologue and lots of character name drops. As someone who has read all 3 books and both novellas, I was able to follow, but if you pick this up as a standalone you will not be able to.

A Jingle Bell Mingle follows Sunny Palmer, Bee’s (FMC from book 1) bestie and Isaac Kelly, widowed and former INK boy band member. Isaac has moved to Christmas Notch, Vermont for a change of scenery from his lonely house in Cali to finish the last album he owes his record label. Sunny is in Christmas Notch to work on a script that she accidentally and impulsively sold to the Hope Channel.

My thoughts
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’ve read the entire series and overall, it has been kind of a disappointment. For some reason, I felt committed to finishing the series even if I wasn’t always enjoying it. I think this is the strongest book in the series and it really provided a lot of closure for all the characters.

I enjoy the one-night stand trope, but I went into this one skeptical when I found out the romance starts with a threesome one-night stand. I wasn’t sure how Murphy and Simone were going to pivot and make a stronger connection with 2/3 of the participating members. But it ended up working out. 2-years later, Isaac and Sunny end up having a 2nd one night stand with just the 2 of them after Bee and Nolan’s wedding. When Isaac discovers the condition of the inn where Sunny is staying, he insists she and her demonic cat, Mr. Tumnus, stay at the mansion with him.

This book had a lot of moving parts; Isaac’s grief, Sunny’s grief, Sunny’s estrangement with her brother, Issac looking for a muse and working on his album, Sunny trying to write her screenplay and find out the truth about the Christmas Notch legend she included. We have Nolan working with his “Cat Advisory Committee” to help with Mr. Tumnus and look into the legend for Bee. We have reappearances from Teddy, Steph, Bee, Winnie, Nolan and Kallum. It is A LOT.

This series is a little bit bonkers with vulgar humor and lots of spice. I still found myself rooting for this quirky group of sex workers and retired boy band members.

I loved the roommate component of this book and watching Isaac fall hard for Sunny and Mr. Tumnus (even if he wasn’t aware). I do really think he could have benefited from some therapy because he has been sitting with his grief alone for so many years. The ending and epilogue tied this series up in a neat little bow!

Highlights
• Found family
• A good intervention
• Reappearances from previous characters
• Mr. Tumnus- he really grew on me

I would rate this book 3.5 stars, but rounding up because I really enjoyed the closure we got for all the characters.

The final book in the Christmas Notch Series and it’s clear Julie and Sierra saved the best for last. This cozy Christmas town and the unhinged hilarious writing of these two is perfect. Definitely a 5 star read and one you’ll want to add to your list. It was hot and spicy 🌶️

A Jingle Bell Mingle is book three of the A Christmas Notch series and is even steamier than the first two books. If you're looking for a Christmas Romance with a lot of sex this of the book for you.

I loved the cameos from our favorite characters throughout A Jingle Bell Mingle and the Christmas Angel mystery that Sunny was writing her script for The Hope Channel. It was fun to see Sunny and Isaac fall in love and struggle with their real feelings for each other. There were so many funny aspects including the Capri Suns! I thought this was a great way to wrap up this fun and different Christmas series!

Thanks to Avon Books for my advanced copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle! It came out yesterday - September 24th