A fun read with lots of steam. I enjoyed the story bit it wasn’t without a few problems. The main conflict felt a little weak. However, I loved Winnie’s journey out of purity culture.

This book is the sequel to last year’s a Merry Little Meet Cute! We are back in Christmas Notch, Vermont filming movies for the Hope Channel after dark.

Winnie and Kallum are both people who experienced fame in their teen years and then it didn’t follow them to adulthood. They are back to restart their careers… but they didn’t leave things on such a good note. Kallum was responsible for the downfall of Winnie’s career; even if it was inadvertently caused. They are both hesitant if this is the right move for them, but they are going to try. They have incredible chemistry pretty quickly and it goes from 0 to 1000.

This is probably one of the spiciest books I’ve ever read and I’m not sure I fully enjoyed it. It’s soooo much spice scenes and then random snips of them making the movie. I needed more of a balance and just a little more plot. And then in the last third of the book takes a severe left turn. This series is fun, but I much preferred the first book.

Thank you @avonbooks for my gifted copy and the adorable matching ornament!

Julie Murphy continues to prove why she is one of my favorite writers out there today and this return to Christmas Notch may be even better than the first, for me. I love the originality of these stories. Yes, they rely on your typical romcom tropes and have a safe, predictable ending. But everything else is utterly unique and fun. I also love the less-than-traditional spin on the Christmas romance novel. Keep these books coming!

I really loved Merry Little Meet Cute and the first half of this novel was super entertaining! It was spicy, it was dirty, it was funny - I was having a really great time. And then around the half way point, I was wondering where this was going and how much was left? It really dragged on and could have been shorter. Part two just felt like a completely different book and one I probably should have put down.

I really enjoyed this one and rooted for Winnie and Kallum. Although they’re opposites, I think they both grew throughout the story. Kallum especially matured more, and Winnie was able to be her true self away from the harsh expectations from her childhood.

It was so great to be back in Christmas Notch! I have to say that I have devoured this entire series this week and was so glad that I had the opportunity to listen and read this one.
The character development of both Kallum and Winnie was so great. I enjoyed how both of them had to grow up, learn how to trust, and figure out who their end would be.
That’s being said, as much as I enjoy the Teddy storyline, I really wanted an epilogue with Kallum and Winnie. Unless this is setting up two more stories… and yes, I mean TWO more but Isaac needs one as well as Teddy and Steph!
As always the writing of Julie Murphy and Sierra Simore was brilliant! Highly recommend

I waited a year for more from this little Christmas world, and Sierra and Julie did not disappoint!
This is book 2 in the Christmas Notch Series and follows INK member Kallum and Childhood star Winnie.
After run ins when they were younger and in the height of fame these 2 are now set to star in the newest spicy Christmas movie.

This book had so much goodness in it.
Both these characters had troubles and issues they needed to face and move past,
And together in an they do so. The writing was brilliant. These authors really make you feel like you are in the heart of the story really getting to know these characters.
And the plot was so solid,
A trope i am not fond of in the least bit is even in this book and it was just so wonderfully written that i sat here swooning and rooting these characters on.
Definitely gives all the lovely Christmas hallmark vibes with All the best spice.

Liked the first book in this series but really struggled to get through this one. I am not sure if it was the characters or the premise but I just could not get into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone.

I was a HUGE fan of Julie Murphy's "A Merry Little Meet Cute," and could not wait to read this book. "A Holly Jolly Ever After" put some extra spice into my hot cider with a steamy holiday story and was a perfect ready to stay in and snuggle with! Thanks for making Santa question my place on the naughty or nice list with this read, Julie. Love it! Thank you for the ARC - I can't wait to recommend and share this title with my friends this holiday season.

If you want some spice in your holiday romance this is a good book for you. It takes the holiday story that you would expect and ups the spice level.

Kallum Liebermanis has used his time in the boyband INK to open a regional pizza chain Slice, Slice, Baby. He also has a viral sex tape, a dad bod, and the reputation for being the funny one. Winnie Baker was a child star who married a childhood sweetheart and always did the right thing until her divorce. Now her parents have disowned her and she's hiding out in her friends pool house. These are the stars that the Hope Channel have tapped to star in a sexy Santa movie for the new After Dark Channel. The problem is that Winnie has no idea how to fake it for the movie what she's never experienced in life. Maybe Kallum can help... The connection between the two is instant but they come from different worlds. Can they find a way to trust each other? Will they fit together outside of the filming bubble?

A steamy holiday story that at its heart is a love story and a story of discovering your true self and crafting a life that makes you happy.

4⭐️ 2.5🌶️

“Why sit on Santa’s lap when you can sit on his face”

What can I say besides I hope Julie and Sierra never stop writing together because they have the perfect combination of spice, banter and comedy. The amount of water I had to drink because of how hard I cackled was insane and my body was very thankful of it.

There’s a few tropes in here that normally would throw me off a book so hard but they handled it so well and it made so much sense for the plot. Was it a bit insta lovey? Yeah it was but it wasn’t overwhelming. There was substance to both characters and they had good development. The third act break up I didn’t mind either, I thought it was appropriate given the past purity culture trauma the FMC had to deal with. It makes sense that it’ll take her time to start getting over some of those thoughts she grew up around and I think they gave Win such a good arc. Leave it to Sierra to make purity trauma hot god damn.

I loooooved Kallum. Him and his humor and his dad bod and his unwavering care and love for Win were absolutely amazing.

Giving my sad emo oh a threesome with now one but two porn stars was the highlight of the book ngl 😋😋 I am sooooo excited for his book because he has been through so much and this kind of life experience is where Sierra chines and Julie will make it so much better 🥹

I will never stop asking for Teddy’s book!!!! COMMON GUYS HELP ME OUT HERE!!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A Holly Jolly Ever after is an R rated Christmas story. A naughty Santa, and a former child star newly divorced and career basically over. Tons of laugh out loud moments. A fun read all around

This is the most delightful yet still steamy holiday book of your dreams. I love the former boy band star with the Hollywood actress whose life is falling apart. They have so much chemistry. I love that it’s hallmark type movies that have steam that are at the center of this series. Both main characters deal with their past and I love their development. This is such a fun holiday romance from start to finish.

This is a fun opposites attract romance. Winnie is the star of a string of Hallmark type movies. She married her high school sweetheart, but he leaves as her life falls apart and she’s fired from the movies. Until another movie comes in from a more adult channel. Winnie wants to work but she’s retiring and shy. Her costar will be Kallum L., formerly of the boy band INK who opened a pizza chain and has interesting encounters with women. He’s even made a sex tape. If anyone can help Winnie, Kallum can.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

A Very naughty, ribald, and slightly raunchy read.
I couldn’t warm up to Kallum who wore his sexual prowess as a man Shield and of course had to be the sec tutor for poor unschooled sexually Winnie.
Winnie’s parents and ex could have been thrown off the nearest Vermont mountain as far as I was concerned. I did like Kallum’s parents and sister.
The whole banging the bridesmaids side of Kallum was a real turn off in my opinion.
I thought Winnie could do better and my bet would be on the relationship not wearing well.

This looks really cute and sweet but it is very steamy! This is not normally in my comfort so it wasn't a huge win for me. But thank you for my copy!

This is the second book in The Christmas Notch trilogy. Kallum and Winnie's book had a spicy rom com first half and an emotional/personal growth focused second half (like women's fiction)- slower pacing=more realistic. I wonder if the authors split the book up this way I actually preferred the personal growth of the second half, but the steamy scenes were fun in the first half. The side characters were fantastic, and I especially loved Winnie's best friend and hope we get to see more of her in the next book.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own

This was a fun read! I didn’t love it as much as the first book but I still enjoyed it! I really enjoyed seeing Winnie rehabilitated and come into her own instead of being shamed. I love the sex positivity of this series. I enjoyed seeing the more mature version of Kalimantan. The sex lessons were hot! I’m not a fan of accidental pregnancy but overall this was still a great read!