The perfect addition to the Christmas world! Following a heartbroken music star through his grief was a great way to set this book up. I loved the crossover of characters from the first book which helped me feel even more connected. I laughed, I cried and I maybe even cringed a little all while holding onto the Christmas spirit!

This little Christmas romance was one of the better ones I've read. It closely follows Sunny and Isaac. Their connection starts at a mutual friends' wedding. Sunny is in adult movies and Isaac is a previous very popular boy band member struggling through the loss of his young wife. Sunny has sold a story to a popular television movie channel about a mysterious and possibly romantic Christmas story in the small town of Christmas Notch, VT. Upon Sunny and Isaac's hook up, they both (and Sunny's vibrant cat) decide to tackle their problems of writing a new music album (Isaac) and new script of the Christmas story (Sunny) together in Isaac's remote historical mansion in Christmas Notch. They both have agreed to help each other complete their goals. While helping each other in such close quarters their connection to each other continues to grow through conversation, solving a mystery and a some spice. Since the death of his wife a few years ago, Isaac has become a hermit and doesn't enjoy being in public or socializing. He did however develop an unexpected friendship online that helps him with the mystery of Christmas Notch. But maybe Sunny is the ticket he needs to bounce back? Can Isaac find love and connection again? Can Sunny solve this Christmas mystery and submit a screenplay to the Hope Channel?

This book contains some explicit sex scenes, but you knew this if Sierra Simone was involved, right? The female character is also curvy, so shout out to the curvy girls!

I really enjoyed this book. Not only does it have some spice, but it has a great plot and storyline that keeps you reading and wanting more. You want to see where the relationship between Isaac and Sunny goes. You want to solve the Christmas mystery in the small, beautiful and ideal town of Christmas Notch. Will Isaac find his muse and be able to write music again?

A Jingle Bell Mingle, is a steamy, humorous, heartstring-tugging final installment in the Christmas Notch collection.

Readers of A Merry Little Meet Cute already experienced Sunny Palmer, a part-time adult film actress turned accidental Hallmark-esque screenplay writer, and Isaac Kelly, a reclusive former boy band star haunted by his tragic past. With their friends pairing off, both are feeling stuck in emotional and professional ruts. Neither are they prepared to develop feelings for the other after a post-wedding reception threesome. Especially if those feelings require facing their own unresolved trauma and being willing to break the hold of the past.

Christmas Notch, Vermont remains a fantasy world like the Hallmark holiday movies that inspired the idyllic small town setting. It’s all snow-drenched, quaint traditions, festive charm, and holiday magic, but with hot hookups instead of one dry kiss.

The side quest for Sunny to write her screenplay included investigating an old polyamorous relationship legend. Those characters weren’t in the current story, and I wasn’t at all invested, so I skimmed to get back to Sunny and Isaac – the stars of our show.

Sunny and Isaac’s spicy scenes showed their growing connection well. For a series that leans heavily into the erotic side of the holiday novel spectrum, these scenes felt the most emotionally intimate and raw of the series and therefore worked better to sell the happily ever after than previous installments.

In all of the Christmas Notch books I wore out early on the whimsy of it all. But the promise of the premise here was horny Hallmark, and by that standard they truly delivered.

One of the book’s strengths was the exploration of second chances after heartbreak, loss, and trauma. Sunny and Isaac’s journey toward self-acceptance and healing was often overshadowed by side quests and holiday hi-jinks, along with wrapping up all the secondary characters storylines. The narrative felt a little cluttered and detracted from the main character’s love story. I would have preferred axing the secondary story about the threesome couple from the past if there was going to be that much page time devoted to previous couples and characters.

Fans of Murphy and Simone’s previous work will enjoy this wrap up to the Christmas Notch world. However, I wouldn’t recommend newcomers dive into this as a standalone novel. A Jingle Bell Mingle is an enjoyable holiday treat for readers who enjoy their romance extra spicy, unapologetically irreverent, and full of heart and humor.

Can I just say how much I adore this duo? I have been hooked on these authors and their co-written stories ever since they started three book ago. I equally loved this one! They write the most lovable characters, laugh out loud moments, and spicy scenes. I just hope they continue to release stories together!

Raunchy but cute???? Not even sure how that’s possible but this book has somehow accomplished it. This was way spicier than what I usually read/am comfortable with, but I was laughing so hard the rest of the time that I was still able to enjoy it. Plus, the characters were just so sweet (when they weren’t being obscene).

Thank you NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this ARC!

Oh how I love and adore Julie & Sierra's raunchy little Christmas town they've created. While this one in the trio isn't my favorite, I still enjoyed it and the representation it provides for plus size folks. I loved seeing old characters from the previous books, and I absolutely loved every spicy scene.

I wasn't too invested in Sunny or Isaac individually, and I actually felt like there was too much side character shenanigans happening (Teddy, Cat ladies, endless muse dates) for me to really invest myself in them, topped with a million other things going on (Christmas miracle investigation, music career rehab, Teddy, diaper business). I loved the beginning, but found myself rushing through much after that.

What ultimately saved most of the book for me were the scenes were Sunny and Isaac were together and talking/having fun.

"A Very Merry Jingle" by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone is a fun, heartwarming holiday romance. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and their journey is filled with humor and sweet moments. While the plot has some predictable turns, the cozy vibe and festive spirit make it a perfect seasonal read. If you're looking for a charming holiday escape, this book is a delightful choice. Four stars!

This spicy and festive holiday romance by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone delivers humor, heat, and heartfelt moments, making it a delightful addition to any romcom lover’s bookshelf. The story follows Sunny Palmer, a screenwriter battling creative block, and Isaac Kelly, a former boy band heartthrob grappling with grief and the pressure to create one last Christmas album. After a one-night stand at their friends' wedding, the two find themselves unlikely roommates in Isaac’s historic Vermont mansion, sparking a series of hilarious and steamy encounters.

The opposites-attract dynamic between the grumpy Isaac and the sunshiney Sunny is brimming with chemistry, blending laugh-out-loud moments—thanks in part to Sunny's chaos-loving cat—with emotional depth. Their deal to help each other overcome creative hurdles leads to tender and genuine development in their relationship. While tackling personal struggles, the characters explore themes of love, loss, and the power of second chances, all set against a charming Christmas backdrop.

Though predictable in parts, the book’s humor and sizzling romance keep it engaging. Fans of the series will enjoy cameos from previous characters, while newcomers can easily dive into this standalone. Perfect for readers seeking a unique holiday romcom with a balance of spice and sentimentality!

I have loved every single book in this series and this one did not disappoint. Reading this book made with wish that I lived in the fictional town of Christmas Notch. I am so sad that this series is coming to an end but I am so happy to have read this.

2.5 Stars

I’ve wavered between 2 and 3 stars for every book (and both novellas) in the Christmas Notch series, and Jingle Bell Mingle is no exception. While the premise—a quirky screenwriter and a reclusive ex-boybander teaming up to tackle their creative blocks—had potential, the execution left me wanting more.

Sunny and Isaac’s dynamic promised the kind of opposites-attract tension I love, but their chemistry felt uneven. At times, their banter sparkled, but just as often, it relied on over-the-top humor or drawn-out inner monologues that dulled the impact of their connection. The story also leaned heavily on Sunny’s chaotic cat for comedic relief—a gag that wore thin quickly.

As with the other books in the series, the spice is here and well-written, but it felt like a substitute for deeper emotional development. By the time the inevitable holiday magic kicked in, I found myself more indifferent than invested in their happily ever after.

Ultimately, Jingle Bell Mingle has its moments—some laugh-out-loud scenes, a festive atmosphere, and steamy romance—but like the rest of the series, it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. It’s a decent holiday read, but not one I’d revisit.

This one wasn’t for me, lots of spice, but it felt like the characters’ feelings for each other were mostly physical. It was a bit repetitive but did have some humorous parts.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I have read every book in this series, and this was actually one of my favorites in the series. I enjoyed both the dynamic between Sunny and Isaac, as well as the overall charm and humor in the story. This book was sweet and funny, and also very much about finding love after grief - the grief of losing your parents and a former love interest. A lot of romances I read do this thing that drives me crazy, that if one of the MCs has lost a former love interest, they downplay the love aspect - like, “oh, I didn’t love them as much as the new interest.” This book does not do that, and I think it worked and I appreciated it. Both of the main characters were processing their grief, and I think the love story between them happened organically, sweetly, and with a funny twist - I definitely laughed out loud. I think the main reason this did not get 5 stars is it felt a little long - a theme of this year's reading for me. Overall, I recommend this book for fans of holiday romantic comedies, as well as this holiday series from Simone and Murphy.

2.5 stars.

Did not enjoy this one anywhere near as much as any of the previous titles in the series, including the novellas. The language was just a lot more vulgar or maybe it was just used a lot more than in previous books but it was gross. I was kind of annoyed with Isaac for most of the book anyway. The cute little Christmas story within the story was lovely though!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. While the second one fell flat, I was excited by the premise of this one.

I tore through the first half - the characters were fun and sexy and nuanced. My enthusiasm slowed a bit in the second half - it just felt like the authors were trying to do too much, and as a result nothing felt as earned as it should.

I still enjoyed it, but just wanted it to be a bit tighter and focused.

This was cute! I enjoyed reading it.

I will say. I would’ve liked to have seen more depth to the characters. They just seemed a little bland overall. But the humor did make up for it quite a bit.

A Jingle Bell Mingle
Book #3 in the Christmas Notch series

Tropes:
😤☀️Grumpy/Sunshine
🛏️ Roommates to lovers
💕 Broody Heartthrob
🫶 Found Family
🐈 Ornery Cat
📸 Photo Booth spicy scene

Overall Rating 4⭐️
Steam 3🌶️
Narration 4 🎧 (Zachary Webber’s growling voice is the best)

This book opens with Sunny(FMC) and Isaac (MMC) hooking up after the wedding of their friends Bee and Nolan. This isn’t the first time they had hooked up. Two years ago they made it a threesome with Jack Hart.

Issac is still sad and broody due to the death of his young wife five years ago. He has decided to buy the historic mansion in Christmas Notch, VT and try to find a muse. He still owes his record label one more album.

The dilapidated hotel room that Sunny is staying in does not make Issac happy and he tells her that she (and her horrific cat) are moving into the mansion while she is in town serving as producer of the Christmas movie she successfully pitched to the Hope Channel. Of course, the demonic cat absolutely loves Isaac and breaks through his cranky personality.

Sunny is trying to track down the town’s folklore about the Christmas miracle of all the Christmas gifts getting delivered despite a horrific snowstorm. Legend has it that an angel helped the postal worker get everything delivered. Isaac steps in to help Sunny and uses his following online in his true crime podcast group. This group of older ladies are tenacious in tracking down all the details that they need to chase this legend.

Sunny is determined to pull Isaac from his sadness and makes a deal that he has to do holiday related activities. This deal leads them to do so many fun holiday themed adventures around town. Slowly, Isaac is getting pulled into the Christmas spirit and starts to fall for Sunny.

We also find out that Sunny is part of the diaper empire that was left to her by her parents. She is determined to make a life of her own outside of the business because that is not who she is. Her brother is relentless in trying to track her down so she will resign from the board so he can take the company public. She worries that her lifestyle and work in the porn industry will reflect poorly on the company image and is hesitant to do anything. She shares these fears with Isaac and they find another thing they can bond over. Isaac grew up with an extremely influential mother and they trade Nepo baby stories.

This book touches on so many things that people struggle with during the holiday season – grief over losing a loved one, dealing with unrealistic family expectations, and trying to find the spirit to enjoy the holiday even though it is painful.

The spice in this book is exquisite and unique – sex in a photo booth and the fact that Isaac is too impatient to get to Sunny’s sweet spot that he rips her tights for IMMEDIATE access. Isaac makes grumpy very sexy!!

The ending of this series is tied up (no pun intended) so nicely in the epilogue – Teddy Ray even has his happy ending with Steph!!

Enjoy Reading my friends! Peace ☮️ and Love ❤️

We are back with Sunny, Bee’s bestie from Very Little Meet Cute. It’s her time to lead. She finds herself signed on to write a screen play for Hope Entertainment. She’s in Vermont to flush out the story line based on this small town’s the legendary Christmas mystery miracle. Isaac, the most successful of the three INK boy band members, bought the mansion in Christmas Notch and is continuing to morn his late wife in a new location. Sunny and Isaac have a little history… in their attempt to figure out the mystery for Sunny and find a muse for Isaac they’re about to get even closer.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to Christmas Notch after book 1- the spice was spicing and it’s not my genre of choice- buuuut I got this one as an #advancedreaderscopy from @netgalley and @avonbooks and wanted to finish it.

I actually liked this one so much more. The Christmas mystery and the relationship between Sunny and Isaac was so good. I actually regretted not reading 1.5, 2, and 2.5. I love a good series with rich and colorful characters and this series lacked none of that. Each character was so much fun to get to know. If you’re reading. Read in order- the connections will make more sense that way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#2024bookchallenge124of75
#netgalley
#jinglebellmingle

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the newest book in the Christmas Notch series and I’ve honestly had such a good time with this series! They’re centered around the holidays, bring the cheer and the spice (think hallmark with ALL the steam and adult films), the characters have emotional depth, the cast of side characters is the best, and they’re just a fun time!

This one we follow Sunny and Isaac and get all the forced proximity as they become roommates! We get to see a lot of the other couples and characters throughout the series make appearances which was so fun! Another solid addition to the series! I'm truly sad this is the final installment!

I feel like I need to preface this by saying that I LOVE holiday romance books. There's something so cozy about them that makes me just want to curl up in front of a fire...but that may not be the best idea with this one because it was spicy!!
In addition to the (very fun) spice, there were also a lot of sweet moments with a ton of heart. There was so much under the surface of the book about grief, moving forward after loss, and grappling with the guilt that comes along with that, as well as dealing with complicated family dynamics. I think it was so well done and you could feel that a lot of care was taken with those more difficult subjects and ensuring they were given the space they deserved.
However, my one complaint is that there were a lot of side stories that made the book feel quite busy at some points. Despite this, I LOVED Sunny and Isaac, and their dynamic, and I still really enjoyed the book. I also loved going back to the Christmas Notch series one more time! If you are looking for a spicy and sweet holiday read, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Finally, thank you to Avon, Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the third novel in this series, and a trip to Christmas Notch is a holiday must for me. I recommend reading the previous books first, so you get to know all the characters as the books go along.

In this edition, we follow Sunny, as she seeks inspiration for her script for the Hope Channel. She moves to Christmas Notch and
after a one-night stand with Isaac, a former boy band member struggling to move on after the death of his wife, they end up living together. From there, the two find it hard to deny their attraction.

This book is spicy, and I loved every
second of it! I think Sunny and Isaac's love story was my favorite of the series. They
had so much to overcome and were able to work through grief together in such a beautiful way.

I'm so sad to see this series end. I adored Christmas Notch. It was the perfect small town, and it was hilarious with all of the naughty little things sprinkled throughout.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.