I’ve really enjoyed reading The Christmas Notch series over the past few years. These books are funny and sweet and I love the fun twist they put on the stereotypical Christmas story, all while incorporating amazing body positivity.

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the third (and perhaps final?) book in the series and I felt that it was a great conclusion. It focuses on Isaac, the third member of INK, and Sunny, Bee’s best friend and my favorite of the series' supporting characters, as they make a pact to help each other find their creative spark. While this book can stand alone, I do think having read the previous books helps to set the stakes between these characters, as Sunny and Isaac have two of the more emotional storylines in the series.

I really enjoyed this one and think it could be my favorite in the series. I loved how Isaac and Sunny’s courtship was centered around their creative pursuits and the local legend storyline added a fun sense of adventure that had a great emotional payoff. If you aren’t aware, this series is pretty spicy and A Jingle Bell Mingle is no exception so be prepared for that!

The heavy dose of spice did create a bit of tonal whiplash at times, as there are some pretty heavy and emotional conversations around grief and loss in this book. While those conversations were handled with care and were key to the emotional plot of the story, it did feel a bit strange to go from 🌶️ to 😭 so quickly.

I’ll miss spending my December with these characters, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have something else in store for next year. A Jingle Bell Mingle is out now. Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this the third installment of the Christmas Notch series, we get the third member of legendary boy band INK, Isaac's love story. The only problem is Isaac isn't sure about ever loving again after his first love/wife died of cancer a few years ago.

Sunny is a screenwriter who is obligated to write a story about a miracle in Christmas Notch. Knowing Isaac already through friends and through what was supposedly a one night stand, they become fast friends when Sunny needs a place to stay.

I loved the arc of Isaac and Sunny's stories, and it had plenty of swoon and spice to boot. There were times that I was frustrated by Isaac and Sunny's internal monologues and not feeling good enough, but overall I really enjoyed this! This one is my favorite of the series.

I didn’t realize this book was part of a series when I picked it up, and the number of unconventional characters introduced in the first chapter made it hard to connect with any one of them at first. However, once I found my footing in Christmas Notch, I discovered a story full of humor and unexpected depth. The characters had great chemistry and dealt with relatable struggles. Readers seeking something different—well-written, fun, and thoughtful—will enjoy Sunny and Isaac’s story. Far from a traditional rom-com, A Jingle Bell Mingle is smart, quirky, and off the beaten path.

Hold onto your mistletoe, because *A Jingle Bell Mingle* is here to make your holiday fantasies *sizzle* in ways you never imagined! Co-authored by the brilliant Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, this steamy novella is not your average holiday read—it’s the kind of book that will have you fanning yourself and reaching for something cold to drink.

The plot is deceptively sweet at first: two people with opposing views on Christmas find themselves sharing more than just a cup of eggnog at a holiday party. But don’t be fooled by the twinkling lights and cozy setting—*A Jingle Bell Mingle* quickly turns up the heat in ways that are downright *scorching*. The chemistry between the two leads is *instant*, undeniable, and totally electric. The tension between them builds like a slow burn, and when they finally give in? Fireworks. Literal fireworks. And not the kind you’ll find outside your window on New Year’s Eve.

What makes this story so damn irresistible is how effortlessly it blends the sweetness of a holiday romance with the kind of passion that will make you blush. The writing is deliciously seductive, the scenes are steamy and steamy again, and the characters have that perfect balance of naughty and nice. It’s a short, whirlwind ride, but it’s one that will leave you hot under the collar and wishing for more.

If you’re in the mood for a holiday romance that’s *deliciously naughty*, *A Jingle Bell Mingle* is the perfect indulgence. This book will leave you breathless, satisfied, and ready for another round of festive fun. Just be warned: this is not your grandmother’s Christmas story—this is one that’s made for those who like their jingle bells with a side of heat.

My commitment to this series knows absolutely no bounds.

Every addition adds to the world and the lore and I am SAT for the next one. SAT. The booksellers are looking at me weird.

Anyway, this is exactly what you want it to be—a little bit spicy (🌶️ 🌶️), hilarious, and so chock full of holiday hijinks you’ll feel like you’ve been dropped directly into a Hallmark movie.

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the final book in this fun series. We get to revisit our favorite characters and town, Christmas Notch, in the story of Sunny and Isaac. She's a burst of sunshine and he's Mr. Broody. She's got writer's block, as does he. Solution? Live together and help each other get back to writing. In a surprise to no one, except the characters, they fall for each other, despite the lies they tell themselves.

Funny, steamy, and heartfelt, A Jingle Bell Mingle is a cute final novel in this series.

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the final chapter in an incredible series and it wraps up the Christmas Notch story in a bow.

Sunny and Isaac are an incredible couple - both dealing with personal griefs while trying to move forward in their lives, and both trying to unlock the creative juices in their brain to finish their respective Christmas album and screenplay. When Sunny need a new place to stay, Isaac allows her to crash at his mansion where the two proceed to team up to solve a Christmas mystery in Christmas notch.

The steamy scenes between these two are impeccable - once again, this series does not disappoint. We see a return of the gingerbread lotion from book one and some incredibly sexy acts. But what makes Isaac and Sunny such a perfect couple is the way the two of them move forward together in their grief - which is really the back bone of this novel. The story is truly just an exploration of how to move forward with the burden of grief and the authors do such a perfect job of exploring all facets of the most fundamental human emotion after a loss.

I can’t wait to see what this pair creates in their next series but I can honestly say this book along with its series are an incredible Christmas gift to their readers.

The porn family trope with this series is getting a little tired. The authors also blew the reader out of the water with way too many characters right off the bat. Wasn't for me, but I have bookish friends who have enjoyed.

Probably my favourite Christmas read of this year, this was really fun and I loved the goofy and pine-y narration!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you so much for letting me read an advanced copy! I am so excited. This is the third book in the series. I absolutely loved it. It’s the perfect addition to Christmas Mitch stories. I wish that more was coming out. It’s awesome mix of smut and romance with a holiday twist. I can’t wait to binge read the whole series next Christmas. I will def be coming back to these!

DNF @21% - I tried. I really did. This just didn't really work for me. I tried to push myself to at least the 25% mark but I just couldn't do it. I just wasn't clicking with the writing. It was fine for the most part but then a character would refer to his penis as a "disco stick" completely seriously, and I just couldn't do it. That's just the worst example I came across but there were just so many examples of super cringey writing I just couldn't. I did think the b-plot was really interesting, but I just couldn't buy into the romance already. I feel like Sunny was just kind of immature, and she didn't give the impression that she would ever be interested in settling down outside of general sociatal pressures. Isaac completely isn't over his dead wife yet, and yet he is completely obsessed with Sunny already. It just kind of reads like he wants to use her to escape his shit. I genuinely don't think either of these people should be in a relationship, especially with each other. I also feel like this book had some tonal issues, with the deeper/more serious discussions around Isaac's grief being interrupted with cringey shit and LOOOOTS of lust. It just felt so incredibly jarring to me. I don't know, reading some reviews I just don't think this book is the book for me at all.

Absolutely loved this Christmas sexy, spicy book! Perfect for the holidays and it was written so well!!

Dnf'd I loved the first book in this series. Thought it was fantastic. But dnf'd 2 others so think it's just not for me. I love a spicy romance but this must not be the series for me.

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️

this was exactly what I needed for the holiday jolly 😌
I knew that the second book was a fluke. This is the cute Christmas Notch series I remembered & adored from Nolan & Bee’s story🫶

I adored Sunny. She was so cute and lovable to me 🥹 and Isaac and his pining and sad boy were also absolutely adorable!! They both made me laugh out loud a couple of times while reading 🤭

Ugh, this was just adorable all around!! I enjoyed this!

This is a holiday Romcom with plenty of steamy romance and brooding. Sunny and Isaac find themselves as roommates, lovers, and both on deadlines to their respective employers. It has plenty of grumpy sunshine vibes and the typical misunderstood character plots. I enjoyed this romance story. It was a cute, fast read, with lots of steamy scenes. After all, Sunny is an adult film star and Isaac is a Rockstar!

I figured A Jingle Bell Mingle would be my favorite from the Christmas Notch trilogy just from the tropes, but I ended up loving it more because it went into depth touching on topics of grief and loss, and uncovering the town's legendary love story. Being on-set filming movies in the first two books was fun, but I enjoyed the setting being more around town and the mansion that Isaac bought. We still get plenty of the side characters, but this focuses more on the two mains.

Isaac and Sunny have been weighed down with grief over losing his wife and her parents in the past, and they have both been dealing with it in their own ways - Isaac shutting everyone out, and Sunny running from commitment. They are able to both bond over that and help each other see the other side. It was a much more heartfelt relationship development than the first too, though just as steamy.

I liked Teddy, the boss/father-figure to the whole group, narrating the pro/epilogues for the series. It threw me off a bit in book 1, but by this book I really enjoyed his perspective from somewhat on the outside. We were also able to get a full development of his budding relationship, considering they only got 6 chapters and a few mentions.

- You can expect -
Holiday Romcom
Christmas Miracles
Grumpy/Sunshine
One Night Stand to Roommates
Snowed In with Only One Bed
Be My Muse
Second Chances
Grief & Healing
- From the Whole Series -
Found Family
Body Positivity
Queer Rep
VT Mountain Town
Early30s MCs
Dual, 1stP POV

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperVoyager for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

It is the next installment in the Christmas Notch series and it was great to revisit the characters as all the friends from A merry Little Meet Cute and A Holly Jolly Ever After Appear. It is a cute Christmas romance, but as some of the others in the series maybe too steamy for me. Like it felt gratuitous and not really needed in some parts.

Waited to read this until the holiday season but was underwhelmed. It’s definitely got a LOT of sex positive representation since it’s full of porn stars and various forms of sexuality. Read it overnight when I couldn’t sleep. Didn’t care at all about the plot. Skimmed it all. Lots of grief talk between the MCs which took away from the lightness of a holiday read, but did give depth to the characters. I didn’t really understand the push for a muse or why so much of the romance felt at a standstill. But the steam was steamy, even if that’s really all we got from the relationship.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I want to start by saying I have yet to read the other two books in this series but I am not sure I will as this one wasn’t really it for me. While I love a good spicy book, this book felt like all spice and no plot. As a holiday romance, I didn’t get much of a romantic storyline.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this as an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reading of A Jingle Bell Mingle, which is the latest installment in the Christmas Notch series. This installment continues to deliver all the festive cheer, emotional depth, and steamy romance fans have come to love! These books are like the Hallmark holiday movies we all love, but with a tad bit spicy. In this installment we follow Sunny and Isaac in a story with forced proximity and unexpected connections. Sunny, a part-time adult film star and former director, finds herself in a bind after accidentally selling her first screenplay to the wholesome Hope channel. Six months later, and a fast approaching deadline and nothing to show, She returns to Christmas Notch, Vermont, with hopes that the town’s Christmas miracle will help her to finish the screenplay, Isaac, a former bad-boy musician and the latest owner of the town’s historic mansion who is still grieving the loss of his beautiful bride. Isaac has also been stuck in a creative rut, so he decides to try the holiday genre, much to the chagrin of his music label. After a series of amusing events, Isaac ends up inviting Sunny to move in with him, This new roommate situation sets the stage for plenty of sparks and heartfelt moments. Their playful antics and banter help to break their creative dry spell. While this story is fun and flirty, it also brings true heartfelt emotions. This book is true magic in the Christmas spirit.