This book fell short for me, the series grew weaker as it progressed. I found myself to not be invested in the characters who had a lot of trauma and could benefit from therapy instead of the idea that love/sex cures all. It was extra raunchy for no reason. I’m ok leaving Christmas Notch behind for good. The amount of times the phrase friends/roommates "with bennies" was used was cringey. A book with this type of content should be ok using fulling words, often.

This is the third in the series but they can definitely be read as standalones. Which, after reading and really enjoying the first book I was excited to continue the series but this one just didn’t hold the same magic for me. I just had a harder time connecting to Sunny and Issac so this was only an average read for me.

Be forewarned that although this book has an adorable cover it is all caps spicy. Which I don’t mind some spice in my romance but I found the focus to be a little too heavy on the spice instead of their relationship. Although this book did get deep into feelings at times, which was great, it was more their personal matters rather than as a couple.

Read if you love:
🎄 Holiday romance
🤩 Unique characters
☀️ Grumpy/sunshine
🌶️ Lots of open door spice

A perfect, sappy, perfect, sultry, perfect cap on the best holiday romance series in existence (the absurdity/hilarity of the porn company/Halmark-style Christmas movie company combo just takes the cake).
I've loved the world of Christmas Notch from the first, and these two authors writing together are pure magic. My heart aches to leave this little world behind, but Sunny & Isaac's story was the perfect capper. It felt like the authors really trusted the readers with this one (and vice versa) - we built and fell in love with this little world together, so yes all the hot and sexy fun that I expected was there, but also we got to dive a bit deeper on grief and self-love and complicated relationships to both. All three of the books in this series have given an emotionally rounded story, but this one in particular pulled on the heartstring and gently wrapped the whole world together into the love story.
For a moment, it was perfect, and I believed in Christmas again, the way only a pornstar-led-romance can make me feel

For a book that is p0rn adjacent, I would expect a lot more steam. But this book is as steamy as a snowman-and we aren’t talking hot frosty, we are talking a literal rotund stack of frozen snowballs made by children. Perhaps the Lord’s year of 2024 has turned my lady bits and dopamine receptors into ice, thus taking a high amount of heat to get me excited. Or maybe this book is just a little boring.

Sunny is in Christmas Notch, Vermont, which has turned into the p0rn hub of the east coast as there sure are a lot of adult film stars and strippers just hanging around- some work there, some live there it is a sex SCENE in the mountains of Vermont. Back to Sunny...she is in VT for a wedding, but then sticks around to write a screenplay and solve an olden times mystery which really isn’t very compelling or mysterious. Nolan is a sad former boy band widow and has chosen Christmas Notch as a place where he will be a sulky shut in. Sunny and Nolan spend the whole book falling in love and having theoretical sexy times, but they mostly just seem to spoon a lot and make excuses for why they can’t be together.

This was perfectly entertaining, but just sort of meh. It is also for sure not a standalone, bc if you jump in at this book (book 3 of the Christmas series) you will be super confused why all these adult film people are in this rando Vermont town.

Smut- an icy 1.7 stars
Romance- 3.2 stars
Story- 3.8 stars
Involve the p0rn industry in your plot, but make it chaste- neg 5.4 stars

"A Jingle Bell Mingle" was just what we needed this holiday season. Full of the perfect winter holiday setting, an unlikely romance and a lot of spice I couldn't put this book down. The body positivity was also highlighed throughout this story. This book is the perfect fun read to get you into the holiday spirit!

We’re back in Christmas Notch, Virginia, and following Sunny and Isaac’s story which starts out as forced proximity (only one bed!) and leads to them helping each other with their work and falling in love on the way.

I really enjoyed revisiting some old characters and exploring all the different relationships as we build on this one. The found family element, paired with the witty banter, roommates with benefits and spice make this a fun holiday read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

Just as good as the first two! The quality was very well maintained through the series - if you liked the first one, congrats! You get two more of the exact same thing (complimentary). The spice is good, the characters are charming, and the premise of this series is just fun. I had a great time reading and I know exactly who I'll recommend this trilogy to!

First I would like to thank Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What happens when there’s no room at the inn and you and your potentially demonic cat become roommates with your grumpy one-night stand?

What I Love:
- Mr. Tumnus, Sunny's grumpy cat obviously this is my favorite part of this whole book
- Photobooth, it is very important to Sunny and Isaac's relationship and I adore where it ends up
- Muse, after Isaac loses his wife he is looking for a new muse and Sunny decides to help and lets just say she is a bit of a dummy
- Christmas Notch History, I was so excited when the true Christmas Notch story ended and how it fit so perfectly with the entire series
- Characters, I love that all of the characters from the other books in the series make appearances throughout the book

Overall I think this was my favorite of the series cause I am a sucker for a grumpy sunshine romance with a grumpy cat who only likes his people (aka Sunny and Isaac) and they need each other to get our of their respective funk and move on in life. If you are looking for a spicy and silly holiday romance with artistic muses, a great cast of characters and a small town with a unique backstory then run to pick this book up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone for the advanced copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle!

I had so much fun with this book. It's cozy, it's steamy, it's Christmas-y, it's everything. I loved the background of the characters and how they came to know each other. Their relationship was so cute and frustrating all at the same time.

Hmmm. Idk what it is with the series but I cannot get into it or take it seriously. It’s a no for me. I didn’t care for the first book in the series and I didn’t care for this one either.

5⭐️ 3🌶️

Mothers continue to mother SO FREAKING HARD!!!

I can see Sierra so much in sad Issac but then again, she truly can’t stay away from a sad boy. Julie once again had me gasping for air because I couldn’t stop laughing hard af. She’s who I want to be when I grow up 😭

This book was everything. I’m so so damn sad the series is over but I’m glad it went out on such a beautiful end. Seeing Isaac go from the sad person his life made him into to the incredible person I knew he could be from book 1 was.

I cannot wait to my next yearly reread of the entire series 🥹

i'm a fan of this series and the leads, and this one was also quite moving as well as funny and steamy

Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, Avon and Harper Voyager/Avon, and NetGalley for an eARC of A Jingle Bell Mingle!

"Sometimes when you were the happiest person in the room, no one bothered to check in and see what might be brewing under the surface. No one thought to anticipate what you might need when you didn't appear to need anything at all."

I am so sad to leave Christmas Notch! This series was so good for spicy but cute Christmas reads. I was interested to see where Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone would take Nolan and Sunny's stories. We knew Nolan was dealing with some serious heartache over the loss of his wife, but I don't remember hearing about Sunny's backstory in the other books. When I finally read about her history, I knew this story was going to be a bit heavier than the other two novels.

I really enjoyed the mystery Sunny and Nolan were working to solve. I thought that was a refreshing plot instead of the two main characters filming a movie. I also thought the premise of finding Nolan a new muse was cute - especially when it was so clearly Sunny from the beginning. It was frustrating but so rom-com. I thought this book was the perfect wrap up for the series and, while I'm sad we won't get any more stories from this crazy boy band/porn star crew I think everyone got their perfect endings.

3.5/5 stars.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you @Netgalley for my #gifted copy of The Jingle Bell Mingle.

The Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy is a festive and heartwarming romance that brings together two very different characters during the holiday season. The book follows Isaac, a famous singer who has turned recluse after his wife’s untimely death, and Sunny, a part-time porn star currently writing a screen play for the holiday channel. They decided to be roommates in Isaac’s mansion in Christmas Notch. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the blend of opposites-attract makes for an enjoyable read. The authors’ collaborative writing creates a seamless balance of humor, heartfelt moments, and steamy encounters, which will appeal to fans of feel-good holiday romances with a little extra spice.

However, while The Jingle Bell Mingle is fun and festive, it occasionally falls into predictable tropes, and the emotional depth of the characters could have been explored further. Some moments feel rushed, especially in terms of character development and conflict resolution, which may leave readers craving a bit more substance beneath the surface. That said, the story delivers exactly what fans of holiday rom-coms are looking for: a light, charming read with a satisfying conclusion. It may not break new ground, but it’s a cozy, enjoyable pick for anyone in the mood for some seasonal cheer.

I loved the first 2 books of The Christmas Notch series so I was super excited to read A Jingle Bell Mingle.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. It was just ok. It was on the slower side and I found myself being bored.

I liked the characters and the humor in the book. And I’m a sucker for books about grief so it wasn’t all bad.

You might like A Jingle Bell Mingle if you like:
❄️ GrumpyXSunshine
❄️Found Family
❄️Spicy Holiday read
❄️Roommates to Lovers
❄️Revisiting Christmas Notch and the characters from the first 2 books

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for a copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle in exchange of an honest review

***Thank you to Avon Books for the eARC via NetGalley***

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, celebrity romance, holiday romance

I have to say I read the first book in this series and was NOT fan, if I ever DNF’d a book it would have been that one. So when I saw this was released, I wanted to give them another try! Let me just say I AM SO GLAD I DID.

I could not put this book down. I absolutely loved Sunny and Isaac’s story. Do not let the cutsie Christmas cover fool you, this was quite spicy 🥵 But it was sprinkled into the story in the BEST WAY.

I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a cute but very spicy Christmas romance.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I am sad to see this series end because it was so good! It is festive and spicy and funny while also telling a full story. Seeing Sunny and Isaac come together after loss in only the way Murphy and Simone can do was lovely. This and the others in the series may need to be a holiday re-read each year since they will definitely get you in the spirit. 4.5 stars.

"Jingle Bell Mingle" is a delightful and spicy Christmas romance that will have you swooning.

This heartwarming story follows Issac, the brooding third member of the boy band INK, who is struggling to find his muse after the tragic loss of his wife. Enter Sunny Palmer, a whirlwind of energy juggling multiple part-time jobs while grappling with the unexpected success of her Christmas miracle script. Their paths collide when Sunny needs help uncovering the truth behind the miracle, and Issac seeks her assistance in reigniting his creative spark.

The chemistry between Issac and Sunny is undeniable, and their journey of self-discovery and healing unfolds amidst a backdrop of festive cheer and heartwarming humor. The authors masterfully weave their blossoming romance with the mystery surrounding the Christmas miracle, creating a captivating and engaging narrative.

What I loved:

The Spicy Romance: The book delivers on the promise of a "spicy" Christmas romance with sizzling chemistry between the protagonists. Not to mention some very steamy scenes! I give it 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The Engaging Plot: The mystery surrounding the Christmas miracle keeps you hooked, and the parallel drawn between their investigation and their own budding romance is a clever touch.
The Nostalgic Feel: The inclusion of characters from previous "Christmas Notch" books adds a delightful layer of familiarity and warmth.
The Binge-Worthy Quality: "Jingle Bell Mingle" is truly addictive, and you'll find yourself racing through the pages to see how it all unfolds.
Overall:

"Jingle Bell Mingle" is a fantastic conclusion to the "Christmas Notch" series. It's a heartwarming and sexy read that will leave you feeling joyful and uplifted. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance and Christmas stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I had a pleasant time reading this story! It was a fun, sad, and spicy story! I think I liked the first one the best still but this one was still a good time! I enjoyed their journeys through their grief and then to each other! I also really enjoyed the crime solving group and cat advice ladies that Isaac had, so funny! Just a fun festive spicy read!

This was not my favorite. It looks festive and at times it is, but it’s more just straight porn. Which can be some people’s jam but I also like a little more story to the plot as well.