This book was a hilarious follow up to A Merry little Meet Cute. It follows Kallum Leiberman a character we met in A Merry Little Meet Cute. I found that I preferred the chemistry between Kallum and Winnie and I'd be interested to read the next book by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

Reading the blurb, I was very excited to read this, but unfortunately, this was not something I ultimately enjoyed, and to me, it just did not flow.

Now, this doesn't mean that I still wouldn't recommend it to others to read, especially to those who like steamy romances, it's just that personally it was not my cup of tea.

As expected, this was another racy read from this writing duo. The heat begins almost immediately & it’s not a book that, if read on audio, you want suddenly blaring through your speakers for others to hear!

I didn’t really feel the Christmas vibes with this as much as in Book 1, and likewise I’m just not sure the connection between the love interests felt as developed or as genuine.

An enjoyable enough read, but probably a bit of a forgettable pairing in the world of romance books. I actually really loved the pizza business side story & would have loved so more on this!

Thank you for the ARC of this!!!

This book was cute, funny and steamy! Absolutely adored it, this award actually my first time reading these authors, but they did not disappoint!

This was a rollercoaster of emotions but I am glad I did it :) 4 stars can’t wait to read more by these authors

First half of the book I was enjoying then it just slipped and became disappointing. I was enjoying the blend of steam and humour but overall this just fell short for me.

I enjoyed A holly Jolly Ever After, but I didn't love it.
It was funny and all the elements for a great story were there, it just didn't do it for me.

✨2023 CATCH UP REVIEW✨

📚A Holly Jolly Ever After - Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone📚

Yes I know we’re practically in February, and yes I know this is typically a “holiday read”, but trust me when I say, it is never the wrong time to bring some festivity into our lives…especially the steamy, spicy kind (and I mean SPICY! 🌶️ 🔥🥵) 🙈😍 This one is book two in A Christmas Notch series, however it is written as a standalone so feel free to do with that what you wish 😜

Julie and Sierra have this seamless way of not only writing together and sounding like one voice, but also including so many different tropes within a book, and I am totally here for it. We have workplace romance, opposites attract, and forced proximity with a side of cheeky banter and s3x lessons 🙈 I love the body positivity rep throughout this series and this time highlighting the “Dad bod” was something I loved to see! It did include a trope that I don’t normally like (dm me so I don’t spoil), but the execution was done really well so hats off to the authors 🥰

What you can expect:
🩵 Workplace romance
🧡 “Dad bod” rep
🩵 Diverse sexualities
🧡 Forced proximity

I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read more by these authors over the coming year (and next holiday season!) 🎄

Thank you so much to @netgalley @andimjulie @thesierrasimone and @harpercollinsaustralia for sending me an e-book copy to review 🙏🏻

#lizzieslittlelibrary #ahollyjollyeverafter #juliemurphy #sierrasimone #achristmasnotch #harpercollinsaustralia #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #aussiebookstagrammer #festivereads

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone always write great holiday romcoms and so I knew A Holly Jolly Ever After would be just as good as their previous holiday stories and these two ladies did not disappoint.
In this story we get Winnie Baker, an actress who has just gone through scandal and a messy divorce. A new Christmas movie has Winnie working with former boy band member and Pizza mogul Callum. But this isn't your average Christmas movie. No it is sexy and spicy with opposites attract, forced proximity and somewhat of a workplace romance.
Overall, this was another great holiday story by this fantastic duo. There were so many topics covered in this story that relate to real life matters such as self esteem, trauma, cultural/religious beliefs and more. The wit, banter, chemistry and overall humor in this story made for a great read.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this one!

I liked that it had Winnie overcoming purity culture and that she learns to set boundaries and everything.
Kallum was a big fun loving goof. I liked the dynamic between them. They had some great chemistry.

I probably enjoyed part one more than part two? While it was good, and hard to put down it just didn’t do it for me as much? Maybe because the time skipped a lot and we miss in between moments or something it just didn’t bring the same energy as part one? I’m just spit balling. Lol

I think certain issues were handled really well though and overall I liked this one!

I have to applaud a book when it takes my most hated trope and makes me love it. It's even probably my favourite element of this book. But other than that, I have really mixed feelings. There were parts I enjoyed a lot, but also parts that didn't work for me at all. The pacing felt very chaotic, with very rushed moments and conflicts that were solved all too quickly on the one hand, and moments that slowed the book to a halt on the other. I also felt like the characterization was very off throughout most of the book, both for Winnie and Kallum. Winnie is this woman who's spent her entire life in the grip of Christian purity culture, and I found it quite unbelievable how easily she gets over everything she has to unlearn. I would imagine all of that unlearning would he much more difficult and take a lot more time. We were often being told she wasn't a chill person, but we were being shown quite the opposite, with her moving super easily to go along with pretty much anything. On the other hand we were being told Kallum is super chill and immature, but once again we're being shown pretty much the opposite, because I did think he responded maturely and dependable most of the time. This all felt super inconsistent and confusing to me, making me enjoy the story less. Which is a shame, because I did like the characters and the storyline.

Book: A Holly Jolly Ever After
Authors: Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
Platform: 100% read
Pages: 432

⚠️ Pregnancy and miscarriage, 18+

It’s after Halloween so it’s officially acceptable for me to read holiday themed books!

My first this year is A Holly Jolly Ever After.

And it’s only fitting because Merry Little Meet Cute (book 1 in the Christmas Notch series) was my very first Christmas themed read!

A Holly Jolly Ever After takes you back to Christmas Notch. The beloved cast of characters is back with the addition of a few more!

Except this time, Winnie and Kallum will take centre stage!

For fans of:
🎄Opposites Attract
🎄He Falls First
🎄Found Family
🎄Second Chances

This one is for you.

I also admire that this series also has great queer, body acceptance and disability rep!

Thank you to @harpercollinsaustralia for the gifted copy A Holly Jolly Ever After!

Straight up here are some content warnings, because they caught me off-guard: Toxic, manipulative parents, FMC escaping/shedding religious purist culture upbringing, surprise pregnancy, near-miscarriage. Full disclosure - I've not read the first in the Christmas Notch series of which this is the 2nd, but I damn well will be after this.

I'm not sure what I was expecting of this hot Xmas romance but in my wildest dreams I could not have guessed what was delivered - a touching and thoughtful yet SCORCHINGLY hot book that skated close to erotica and but gave enough plot to land it firmly in the land of spicy romance.

Our FMC Winnie is an ex-Hallmark-style actress who grew up on a family tv show very heavy on Christian values. She did all the right things - always obeyed her parents, married her childhood sweetheart as a virgin, etc etc. Throughout, she's struggled with narcolepsy and hidden it from everyone. Then her world is turned upside-down when her toad of a husband cheats on her and she ends up divorcing him. She gets an offer of a job on a spicy Xmas movie which will require her to film sex scenes and decides she'll do it - she needs to take control of her life and her career.

The MMC is Kallum, an ex-boy band member who now owns a chain of pizza stores. He went viral with a sex tape a previous hookup released, so the movie producers think he'll be perfect for their steamy Santa flick. He's a big burly boy with buckets of confidence and of course sparks fly between the two co-stars as soon as they're on-set. It's not all about the (did I mention extremely hot?) sex though - Winnie's never had a big O and Kallum is very happy to teach her. She's learning how to come out of her shell, put her own pleasure first and also falling for the bearded hunk she's acting with every day in the sweet little Vermont town they're filming in.

This book gave me a lot of feelings associated with an accidental pregnancy plotline, and also blindsided me with a mildly traumatic miscarriage scare. That said, the writing is extremely good and my heart broke for Winnie every time someone disappointed her, or her shitty parents or shittier ex-husband showed up.

This book is what happens when you get two very different authors - Murphy, who writes Disney romances for goodness' sake; and Simone, who gave us PRIEST and AMERICAN PRINCESS!! - and let them just go crazy on the page.

The only criticism I have in the end was the structure - the book is in two parts, and the breakup comes at halfway rather than the third act. AND there's a SECOND breakup, so it was a little left-of-center in terms of the normal romance plot.

Such a lovely book. I loved it from the start. I love the acceptance, the love story, the second characters and the sex positivity this duology brings!

Kallum Lieberman, the self-proclaimed funny one from the former boy band INK, decides to reclaim the spotlight after an old sex tape goes viral. He stars in a sexy Santa biopic alongside Winnie Baker, a former child star seeking a new identity after her perfect life falls apart. As reluctant costars with a decade-old history, Winnie and Kallum navigate the challenges of their on-screen romance, complicated by Kallum's teenage crush resurfacing and Winnie's struggle to fake pleasure for the camera. The novel offers a steamy and humorous exploration of Hollywood, love, and the unexpected journey to a holly jolly ever after that's ready for its close-up.

"A Holly Jolly Ever After" by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone is an exceptional addition to the series, showcasing the authors' remarkable talent in crafting heartwarming romances, and earning a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.

From the very first page, it's evident that Murphy and Simone have mastered the art of storytelling. Their writing and plotting are nothing short of astounding, consistently delivering narratives that captivate readers from start to finish. With each book they release, their literary prowess shines brighter.

The decision to offer dual points of view (POV) in a romance novel is always a welcome touch, providing readers with a 360° view of the love story. It allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and their emotions, making the connection between the reader and the story even more profound. Additionally, the choice to narrate the prologue and epilogue from Teddy's POV adds a unique layer of depth and continuity to the series, just as in previous installments.

The authors' knack for creating realistic romances sets them apart in the genre. In "A Holly Jolly Ever After," the slow pacing of the relationship, without necessarily being a slow burn, is masterfully executed. It allows readers to witness the characters' emotional growth and the development of their love in a way that feels authentic and relatable.

The book's setting in Christmas Notch, Vermort, brings with it the charm of found family, which is a consistent theme throughout the series. The sense of belonging and community in this cozy town is palpable, adding depth to the narrative and making it even more endearing.

As a fan of the series, you can already anticipate more enchanting stories on the horizon, and your enthusiasm for future installments is a testament to the authors' storytelling prowess.

In conclusion, "A Holly Jolly Ever After" is a perfectly crafted romance gem that showcases Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone's ability to weave intricate and heartfelt love stories. With its realistic pacing and richly developed characters, it's a testament to their storytelling mastery, and it easily earns a 5 out of 5 stars.

This book took a turn I didn’t expect. Initially, I didn’t like it. But then I warmed up to it, and once all the smut parts were over, I really enjoyed the story.

Actress Winnie Baker agreed to star in a steamier-than-a-steaming-mug-of-mulled-wine Christmas movie for the first time, when she’d never been sultry in real life. His bad-boy co-star Kallum Lieberman was an ex-boyband member known exclusively for his reputation in the bedroom, thanks to a rogue sex tape. They said opposites attract, and it couldn’t be more true for Winnie and Kallum.

I almost DNF’d the book in the first 30%. The smutness might’ve been a highlight for many readers, but I wasn’t one of them. I found it a bit too fabricated for my liking, and then it hit a particular trope I didn’t like (iykyk).

But then the second 30% got a bit more serious, and the story started shaping into something more readable for me. It finally had more depth I was looking for. Winnie and Kallum started facing ‘real world’ and acting less like rabbits and more like adults.

The last 30% ended up being thoroughly enjoyable, and I flew through it. The heartwarming ending gave me what I was looking for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’ve been feeling very guilty that it is taking me so long to get through books. Life has gotten very busy - my apologies to the publisher.

I loved this!

1. It felt Christmas.
2. The Santa Baby movie concept was so so ridiculous and it cracked me up.
3. A trope I don’t usually like was made palettable for me, quite an achievement!
4. Winner and Kallum were very cute, and I loved the exploration of the impact of purity culture.

The only thing that didn’t suit me were the points of miscommunication. I have a very low tolerance for scenes when the leads argue/pull back when they could just talk it out.

A really great addition to this set between Murphy and Simone, and I eagerly await Isaac’s story (surely with his bodyguard!)

Absolutely adored book 2 in this quirky “Christmas” series.

Winnie and Callum are my kind of characters and the spice level in this one is H.I.G.H!! I loved how it pushes back against purity culture and champions women owning their sexuality. It’s hilariously funny, had some heartfelt moments and I loved it!

Dear Sierra Simone & Julie Murphy,

I enjoyed last year’s A Merry Little Meet Cute so much it made my Best of 2022 list, so I was keen to read the (second) follow up book about Kallum (the “K” in INK, a boy band featuring Isaac, Nolan and Kallum which broke up some years before). Unfortunately, A Holly Jolly Ever After did not have the same charm for me.

In book one, Bee got the role in “Duke the Halls” when wholesome actress Winnie Baker was stuck at “Unfestival”. A Holly Jolly Ever After brings Winnie back, to star in a Hope After Dark movie, “Santa Baby” with Kallum. The Hope Channel has embraced the success of feel good (and at least slightly ridiculous) movies a la the Hallmark Channel but with Cinemaxx steam (well, nearly). Kallum, of the infamous sex tape, has the opportunity to star with his long time crush, the pure Winnie Baker.

Winnie starred in many Hope Channel movies as well as other movies and TV shows produced by a Christian production company. She grew up on a TV show something like “Seventh Heaven” (but without the underage sex scandal). She was extremely sheltered and raised to remain “pure” until marriage; dating was not allowed – courting (which leads to marriage) was. She married her TV co-star, whose family run the production company. It was not happy marriage. Now divorced, after he cheated on her, Winnie has decided to become “new Winnie” and accepts the role in “Santa Baby”.

Winnie has never had an orgasm so simulating one is a challenge and draws less than ideal reactions from the cast and crew, ranging from guffaws to horror.

Kallum is the “chubby one” from INK. He was the clown but not the heart throb. After the unsanctioned release of his sex tape (he later licensed it) he is praised for his “dad bod”. Kallum’s sex tape involved a bridesmaid who almost immediately found her “one” (not Kallum). Since then bridesmaids and other women want a piece of Kallum as some kind of good luck charm to get their own HEA. Kallum is a means to an end and a good time on the way but he’s not, apparently, soulmate material. Kallum has some baggage about all of this, as one would, but it doesn’t really get much attention in the book. While specifically mentioned, he never has a conversation with Winnie about it. It’s magically fixed by being Winnie’s soulmate I guess.

Since INK folded, Kallum has created a career in Kansas as the pizza king with his “Slice Slice Baby” pizza shops. He loves pizza and his business but he’s also happy to do more acting and not averse to a comeback for INK somewhere down the line. Most recently there has been interest from an investor with deep pockets who wants to look at national and international franchising for SSB. Kallum supports (to a large degree, albeit not entirely) his family with his INK/Slice Slice Baby income. He’s a generous person who is happy to be in a position to help his loved ones.

Winnie has narcolepsy. I know that because the book told me so. So far as I can tell, Kallum still does not know because not only was there no explicit conversation about it in the book between the two, it wasn’t even hinted that one had occurred off page. In the end, Winnie’s narcolepsy seemed like a gimmick – which was disappointing.

Kallum has a sex tape and Winnie finds him attractive. Winnie has never had an orgasm and needs to simulate them successfully to give a good performance in “Santa Baby”. I think we all see where this is going.

After some “sex lessons”, Winnie and Kallum date for real and fall in love. But Winnie has been let down by men before. Her parents aren’t talking to her because she divorced her husband – even though he was a cheating jerk and she deserved better and she’s frightened that good-time, fun-loving Kallum is not responsible enough for a relationship. (IDK, surely the fact that he runs 4 successful pizza stores in Kansas ought to be a clue that he can in fact be responsible?) Anyway, the essential conflict of the story was about this and it took time for Winnie to believe in Kallum. I though it was a bit harsh, myself. I appreciated Winnie’s position but I think she didn’t really give Kallum a chance before she let her fears drive her. Still, it all comes right in the end.

Winnie has baggage from her upbringing and does a great job of letting go of the notion of “purity” and of sex outside of marriage being bad, etc. Perhaps this is unfair but I did not enjoy all the talk about purity rings and courting vs dating, religious and controlling parents and Winnie’s lack of autonomy until she was divorced. The narrative obviously rejects Winnie’s upbringing (and so do I, for the record) but it just didn’t feel fun to read about. It didn’t make me laugh like I did in A Merry Little Meet Cute. It felt heavy and glum and all too realistic and all to present-day. It was a bit of a downer for me. The earlier book had mental health themes but was so positive about the representation it was uplifting. Apart from Winnie getting out there wasn’t anything good about the religious stuff for me.

Between the things unsaid or left out and the religious stuff, I found myself less engaged in the read. A Holly Jolly Ever After was easy for me to put down.I did finish it and there were parts I enjoyed quite a bit. But overall, it was a disappointment compared to the high hopes I went in with.

Grade: C

Regards,
Kaetrin

Review: A Holly Jolly Ever After - Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

I was very lucky enough to receive this as an ARC on Netgalley.

This is Book 2 of A Christmas Notch Series.

Kallum Lieberman is the funny one(TM). As the arguably lesser of the three former members of the boy band INK, he enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame and then moved home where he opened a regional pizza chain called Slice, Slice, Baby! He's living his best dad bod life, hooking up with bridesmaids at all his friends' weddings. But after an old one-off sex tape is leaked and quickly goes viral, Kallum decides he's ready to step into the spotlight again, starring in a sexy Santa biopic for the Hope Channel. Winnie Baker did everything right. She married her childhood sweetheart, avoided the downfalls of adolescent stardom, and transitioned into a stable adult acting career. Hell, she even waited until marriage to have sex. But after her perfect life falls apart, Winnie is ready to redefine herself--and what better way than a steamier-than-a-steaming-hot-mug-of-cider Christmas movie? With decade old Hollywood history between them, Winnie and Kallum are both feeling hesitant about their new situation as costars...especially Winnie who can't seem to fake on screen pleasure she's never experienced in real life. She's willing to do the pleasure research--for science and artistic authenticity, of course. And there's no better research partner than her bridesmaid sex tape hall of fame costar, Kallum. But suddenly, Kallum's teenage crush on Winnie is bubbling to the surface and Winnie might be catching feelings herself. They say opposites attract, but is this holly jolly ever after really ready for its close-up?

The story explores themes of second chances, self-discovery, and the magic of the holiday season. It combines steamy romance with heartwarming moments, making it a perfect read for the Christmas season. The chemistry between Winnie and Kallum is palpable, and their journey from costars to something more is both entertaining and touching.

Murphy and Simone's writing is engaging, capturing the spirit of Christmas in a small-town setting. The humour and wit in the dialogue add depth to the characters and their interactions. The pacing keeps the story moving, making it difficult to put down.

"A Holly Jolly Ever After" is a heartwarming and steamy holiday romance that combines humour, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone deliver a story of love, self-discovery, and the joy of finding unexpected connections during the holiday season. If you're looking for a festive and passionate read to get you in the holiday spirit, this book is a delightful choice.

I definitely recommend this book!!

Rating: 4 / 5⭐️’s