Ah I am loving these Christmas books from these two! I hope we get one every year lol. This one brought a smile to my face many times. Loved the characters too. Definitely enjoyable and worth reading.

I LOVE these books. Every story is so refreshing. The perfect Christmas tale. This one is no different. I was so happy to receive this arc. I’ll read anything these ladies write. I loved the tropes and the plot. The characters were everything.

This was an amazing book and I look forward to more from Murphy and Simone! Such a good mix of romance and world-building.

I rated this book 4 ½ stars.
I believe it only lost half a point specifically because it had two major plots and both weren't hard to follow but felt like they were briefly abandoned and then brought back into the story.
I really did love the characters and the storyline. I loved the idea of Sunny chasing after a story in Christmas Notch, was so unique and yet SO insightful and inspiring to see from a fictional character. Isaac was a handful of emotions and I loved every second of his character development and just his genuine personality.
The PHOTOBOOTH SCENE 🙂‍↕️
Other things to note:
I WOULD'VE LOVED A THREESOME PROLOGUE SCENE.
NEEDED MORE SPICE / OR MORE EMOTION.
SUNNY'S CAT STOLE THE SHOW.
Would definitely recommend for anyone who wants a holiday spicy story.
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins for this e-arc!

A Jingle Bell Mingle opens with the marriage of Bee, divorcee and Hope Channel star marrying Kallum, the man of her dreams and co-star, in a wedding with an ice skating reception. Sunny, adult film star and assistant to producer Teddy, the brains behind the whole Hope Channel / AVN crossover, is looking to hook up, and is secretly delighted when “Todd” the local who swiped right on her, turns out to be sad and mopey widowed former boy band member Isaac, who she had a fantastic threesome with in recent history.

Their second one-night stand in Sunny’s seedy motel room is just as outstanding, and when Isaac sees how terrible Sunny’s flophouse is by light of day, he invites her back to his mansion to stay while he is supposed to be working on his next album and she writes the screenplay that she’s pitched to the Hope Channel. Sunny’s script is based on a maybe true local ghost story, and tracking down the truth behind the mystery becomes a thing Isaac and Sunny do together; in return, she tries to find him a muse so he can make his music. It turns out they are great at being roommates with benefits even though all they know how to cook are eggs: they are deeply compatible, close friends, have amazing chemistry, and share similar kinks.

His introvert nature is drawn out by her social skills. Sunny’s own losses (deceased parents) and legacy (she’s the heir to a diaper fortune and her brother, embarrassed by her sex work, wants her off the board) balance against Isaac’s (he lost the love of his life to pancreatic cancer and believes that he is irreparably broken and incapable of ever loving anyone again, and his creative mojo died alongside Brooklyn). They both want and fear a more than roommates with benefits situation.

The Christmas Notch setting, with its charming place names, perfectly timed snowfall, and beautiful scenery, is topped only by a side trip to an assisted living center in, where Sunny and Isaac get stranded during a blizzard while on a fact-finding mission. Recurring characters are consistent and require little reintroduction. This next book in the series advances the trajectory of tough as nails agent Steph with porn daddy Teddy (omg, his outfits – Hawaiian shirts and joggers, cargo sweatpants and bowling shirts).

This delightfully absurd seasonal series just keeps getting better. Everything is over the top, but Murphy and Simone know just when to pull back, and they balance humor, smut, affection, feminism, consent and agency without going completely off the rails. The writing is deeply emotional, screamingly funny, satirically wry, tender and spicy and passionate by turns. It’s clever and smart, full of allusions and pop culture references and callbacks to the previous books in the series. When Sunny stands up to her brother to advocate for her rightful place in the board, I wanted to cheer. I appreciated the plus-size figure and Jewish representation, as well. Plot points are neated wrapped up, as this is the final book in the trilogy.

The sex flirts with hardcore but doesn’t completely go there. I do understand why it’s just too much for some people, and maybe you have to be in right mindset to give this series a try, as it’s not for the faint of heart. Put this raunchy rom-com on your supersekrit Secret Santa wish list.

I received a free advance readers review copy of#TheJingleBellMingle via #NetGalley courtesy of #HarperCollins. This review will post on HLBB on 11/7/2024.

Other titles in the series:

A Merry Little Meet Cute (Christmas Notch #1)

A Holly Jolly Ever After (Christmas Notch #2)

It's not Christmas anymore without a smut-com from Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy! I love the annual visits to Christmas Notch and all the hilarity, happiness, and SPICE that ensues. This series always gets me feeling wintery-festive and delivers lots of hearts and laughs. A Jingle Bell Mingle is yet another clever, fun, and sexy Christmas fa-la-la romp, with a dash of mystery. It's fast and funny, and OH SO SPICY.

It was so great to be back in Christmas Notch, the wholesome and idyllic home of the "after dark" version of Hallmark. Here we have the story of Sunny, sexy, confident, and curvy screenwriter who is back in Christmas Notch, and Issac, former boy band star, now hermitted and all kinds of sad. They end up being unexpected roomies, and like all the stories in this book, what starts out outlandish and hilarious ends up having a whole lot of depth as Isaac and Sunny find a really powerful connection, an intense love, and some healing and hope in each other. The chemistry is delicious, and of course, the spicy be spicing. And like always, the writing is sharp, witty, emotionally dynamic, and beautifully penned. Not to mention- there's a scene-stealing cat.

I love this world- it’s fun, it’s sexy, its crazy, and I do love these characters, and I love starting Christmas each year with a smutty, sensational, and salacious visit to Christmas Notch.

“Just two people living with grief, but we didn’t have to carry it alone again”

This book was smutty…. Like smmmuuutttyyyy. But the sweet Christmas detective case and the friends to lovers plot was heart warming and very entertaining.

Such a great addition to the series. I love the vibes and story and it was perfect to get me in the mood for the holiday season. I hope these authors continue writing together in the future!

I love Christmas Notch and never want to leave. I was so excited to read Sunny's story, and Teddy and Steph's HEA was the icing on the cake! You won't want to miss this series finale.

I love the roommance trope, and with Julie and Sierra you know it's going to be a steamy one. Both Isaac and Sunny are working through grief and are creatively blocked, but it's no surprise when they decide to hook up to "get it out of their system".

Overall, it doesn't matter what I say about this book because anyone who has read the Christmas Notch books is already in love with Julie and Sierra as a writing duo and is going to have this on their TBR. You won't be disappointed!

I saw so many good reviews about this book so my hopes were really high. I’m not sure if I’m be coming a prude, but I couldn’t get past the insanely detailed, cringy sex scenes. I DNF’d this a little over halfway.

I loved this book, the third in the Christmas Notch series. I really enjoyed Isaac's story and his romance with sweet adult film star, Sunny. Isaac has been mourning his wife since her untimely death a few years ago and has not let anyone get close to him. Sunny needs a place to stay while writing a screenplay for the Hope Channel's newest Christmas movie. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes and it really works here!
Both Sunny and I have a soft spot for sad boyz so you can probably guess what happens next. But Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone treat their characters with respect and care. This book was a great ending for all of these fictional people that I've gotten to know and care about!

I adored this Christmas themed rom-com! It’s a fun, lighthearted read that gave Hallmark movie vibes, but funnier and spicier. Sunny and Isaac were great; I enjoyed seeing them both grow together and individually throughout the book. Definitely a great holiday read!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wowza. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Set in Christmas Notch, Vermont former pop star Isaac brings his friend Sunny to stay with him as his music muse while she writes a screenplay. What starts off as friends with some benefits turns into something much stronger. Put up the mistletoe and enjoy this romcom for the season.

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Fun! I hadn’t read the others in the series but felt like a holiday book, and the cover is so cute! Enjoyed the chemistry (and spice) between Isaac and Sunny.

I am not sure what was different about this book, but I really struggled to get into it. I really liked the first book, the second was okay, and this one just didn't grab me.

This duo is perfection! Their writing style seamlessly blends sexy with sweet! I loved every moment with these characters and I enjoyed the banter so much! It had me screaming and giggling throughout! A must read Holiday romance!!!

Such a cute read! Feels like it is perfect for this time of year! Was so happy to be able to read it!

I had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The premise was fun, with plenty of humor and a good dose of spice in the romance. However, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. Sunny and Isaac’s journey as creative opposites had some entertaining moments, and their banter was amusing, but something in the emotional depth felt missing for me. It was an enjoyable read overall, just not one that left a lasting impression.

Thank you so much to Avon for the complimentary!

I had been saving this book until closer to the holiday season but I just couldn't wait any longer! A Jingle Bell Mingle is the last book in the Christmas Notch series and focuses on the last remaining boyband member of INK - Isaac Kelly. I had absolutely adored the first book in this series, the second one was read so I was a little nervous going into this one. But turns out I had nothing to fear because this one was so much fun!

The chemistry between Isaac and Sunny was so strong! We learn this early on in which Simone did not let us down in that department. She wasn't looking for anything serious because her time in Christmas Notch was temporary and he was afraid of making the next step after becoming a young widow. Sunny ends up staying with Isaac in his mansion where she attempts to work on her screenplay and he attempts to write new music. And if you're a fan of romance books, you know what happens with forced proximity *smirk*. Isaac very quickly became protective of Sunny and you could feel how much he just wanted to be with her even through her resistance. Sunny had a lot of stuff happening with her family's business and I was happy to see that she worked through her relationship with her brother. I wanted to shake both of them when they just couldn't admit their feelings for one another.

I understand the inclusion of the mystery that Sunny is trying to solve to help with her screenplay but I didn't fully think it was necessary to have. It seemed like a filler? I also thought it was kind of odd that the And perhaps I just am being selfish and I just wanted more of the folks of the prior books or just more of Isaac & Sunny.

Overall I really enjoyed this one! If you are looking for a holiday series to read this upcoming season, I suggest giving this one a try. This can be read as a standalone but to really connect with all the characters I suggest reading the others. All have been fabulous on audio as well!

4.5

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone team up in A Jingle Bell Mingle to deliver a holiday romance with a perfect mix of sweetness, spice, and heartwarming cheer. The story blends Murphy’s lovable, relatable characters with Simone’s bold, swoon-worthy romance style, resulting in a festive tale that’s as heartfelt as it is entertaining.

This book is packed with holiday spirit and features two protagonists who discover love amidst the twinkling lights and seasonal festivities. The authors explore themes of self-acceptance and vulnerability, adding depth to the romance. The chemistry between the characters sparkles, making every interaction a joy to read.

A Jingle Bell Mingle is an ideal holiday read for anyone craving a charming and slightly steamy story, blending humor, warmth, and romance in a way that will leave readers happily enchanted.