This series has been a delight, and I'm sorry to see it come to an end. I hope that Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy team up again in the future, because they really have created something special with Christmas Notch. Sunny and Isaac's story wasn't my favorite of the series, but I loved how it so nicely wrapped up a happy ending for everyone. I wish Christmas Notch was a real place!

Is it weird that I'm a little sad that our time in Christmas Notch is done? Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone finished strong in their final act where Isaac and Sunny leave it all on the table. Falling in love with these characters was easy since we've gotten to meet them in the first two books, and our love affair continued with Teddy. (Fun fact, I went back and read the first two epilogues and there is quite a bit of fun foreshadowing, such as Sunny filling the foyer with diapers at Kallum and Winnie's baby shower!)
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and thank you Julie and Sierra for taking us on this fantastically fun (and steamy) journey.

Christmas Notch has carved its way into my brain, and I routinely think about its cast of characters. The moment I met Jules, I knew she was going to be my favorite—and this book delivered! I loved every moment in her brain because it reflected something I see in myself daily. To see plus-sized FMCs embracing themselves and their sexuality is just inspiring and it becomes a must-read for me. And Jules and Isaac together! It was perfection in the best way. She pushed him, and vice versa, and it was love! His grief and loss fueled so much throughout this story, and I loved seeing how Jules respected that in building their own relationship. And this story was hot! It had me smiling more than ever when reading romance books. Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy are a writing duo that I truly admire. I am in love with their spunky yet relatable characters and how relationships are formed beyond society's boundaries of what should and shouldn’t be. Their writing style together is impeccable, and I wish there were more and more stories to fall into!

Thank you to Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy, Avon Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A Jingle Bell Mingle is a heartwarming holiday romance filled with quirky charm, a touch of humor, and the magic of second chances. Sunny Palmer, a creatively stuck makeup artist and screenwriter, finds herself back in Christmas Notch, Vermont, sharing a mansion with Isaac Kelly, a former boy band star turned brooding recluse. With both struggling to rediscover their creative sparks, the unlikely duo strikes a deal: Sunny helps Isaac find his muse for his holiday album, while he assists her in unraveling the town’s local Christmas lore.

The chemistry between Sunny and Isaac is undeniable, and their banter is sure to keep readers smiling. If you’re looking for a romantic escape into a snow-covered Vermont town where love and creativity bloom against all odds, A Jingle Bell Mingle is the perfect holiday read.

This was a cup of hot coco on a cold winter night—hot and cozy!! I’m obsessed, to put it lightly. A must read and the perfect stocking stuffer for any bookish friend.

I LOVE this writing partnership. I laughed and cried and laughed while I cried. This series is the BEST! I could not put it down and can't wait to see more. Isaac and Sunny are the best, but the absolute star of the book was the Dark Lord, Mr. Tumnus. I love him. Can't say enough good about this book. Read it!!!

This book was fun. This one has so much great banter and hilarious moments in it. I loved the relationship between Sunny and Isaac. It was cute and super spicy. I did feel like this book was a little longer than needed, but I overall enjoyed it.

This series is so fantastic. I love reading the stories that Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy bring to life together. I especially recommend bingeing this entire series when you're in the mood for something that's both festive AND spicy. I also just wanted to add that I really, really appreciate how Julie and Sierra write such beautifully feminist stories.

As for this book, I've been DYINGGGG for Sunny's story and this absolutely did not disappoint. 10/10 would recommend.

This book is for you if you love:
-Former boyband member
-Grumpy v sunshine
-Segggggs worker
-Roommates to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Queer rep
-Unhinged cat

I’m going to miss Christmas Notch so much but Isaac and Sunny were the best way to finish out the series! The banter, the spice, their stories, the lessons all fell together so perfectly. These two are by far my favorite of the Christmas Notch couples. 10/10 recommend.

Christmas Notch is always a fun place to go back to. Isaac & Sunny (not to mention Mr. Tumnus) were such a blast. Fun banter, smoking hot times between the two, and lots of feels. Isaac, the sad reclusive boy band star, still grieving his wife and trying to find it in him to make a new album. Sunny, the high energy adult actress, trying to write a screenplay while dealing with her own issues. There for each other, along with some other characters, wraps up to a book you can’t put down and a series that you can’t get enough of!

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy is the third book in their A Christmas Notch series and gives us a roommates to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, small-town romance. This one was fun, charming and touching to read. Isaac and Sunny are both dealing with their own issues and share a one-night stand and somehow, Sunny ends up moving in with Isaac. Sunny and Isaac both seem to be fighting blocks to their creative sides and could possibly help each other. I enjoyed their friendship, seeing their attraction, and somehow helping each other out. Their journey was not easy and had to learn to open up, and yet you could see they were meant to be. They were steamy together and I loved it. This holiday book was fun, sweet and a bit emotional. I loved going back into this world and seeing old characters and loving the new.

Happy reading!

I am so sad this series has come to an end. This last book was perfect! I loved the Christmas miracle story. Sunny and Isaac are hot 🥵!!! I laughed, cried and swooned through the last Christmas Notch romp. Thanks Avon books for the early copy!

Ahhhhh what a wonderful way to wrap up the holidays in Christmas Notch. I have loved this entire series. Loved catching up with all the characters from all the books!!

🎄✨Book Review: A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone✨🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is everything I didn’t know I needed in a holiday romance—grumpy ex-boyband star, a carefree screenwriter, and a sizzling mix of creative frustration and undeniable chemistry 💥.

Sunny Palmer is in Christmas Notch to write a screenplay based on a local Christmas legend, but she’s completely blocked. Enter Isaac Kelly, still mourning the loss of his wife and struggling to finish his final album without his muse🎼.When Sunny needs a place to crash after a run-in at their friends’ wedding, Isaac invites her to stay with him, and their plan to help each other through their creative slumps quickly heats up.

Sunny is all about living in the moment, finding joy in the little things, and dodging any form of commitment. Meanwhile, Isaac is the brooding one, haunted by his past and searching for a muse. But with every failed date to find his muse that Sunny sets him up on, they end up back in each other’s arms, and the tension just keeps building. The photo booth scene alone—wow. 🥵

The emotional layers are as intense as the romance, from Isaac’s grief to Sunny’s commitment issues. Despite the spice, it’s also a touching exploration of healing and finding love again when you least expect it.

If you’re craving a holiday romance with plenty of steam, heart, and a bit of mystery, A Jingle Bell Mingle is an absolute must-read!

It's still a bit early for Christmas romances, but this was a fun and adorable one, and a great way to start the holiday reading season. I've not read the previous books in this series and was a bit confused at the beginning of the book, but once I got the (rather large) cast of characters sorted out, I had no problems following the story and now would love to go back and read the other books.

Isaac, a former boy-band star who's lost his muse, and Sunny, a former adult film star and current aspiring screenwriter had a bit of a rocky start, but turned out to be exactly right for each other. Isaac's strong sad boy vibes crash hard on Sunny's optimistic, joyful, but commitment phobic approach to life, but the sparks between them were so strong, they practically leaped off the pages. They both had sad backstories, with Isaac still lost in grief over the death of his wife and muse, and Sunny having lost both of her parents as a teen, then becoming estranged from her older brother. Because of this, there was an undertone of sadness through most of the story, but at the same time, there was fun, joy, hope and a true new beginning for both of them.

In addition, I loved the bi rep and the unapologetic and unabashed sexuality of all of the characters. To that, add Mr. Tumnus, both a demon cat and an expert matchmaker, with a knack of showing up at just the right moment, and you have all the ingredients needed for a fun holiday romance. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

A fabulous edition to the wonderful Christmas Notch series! I love the books in this series so much. They are fun, they are funny, they bring all the Christmas cheer! And man-o-man, they are spicy! Sierra Simone is my go to for spice but then you add in the comedy of Julie Murphy you have a winner combo with another hit!

While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading all the books in the series. Not only are they great books but all the books reference things that happened in previous books.

In this book we find ourselves following Sonny and Isaac. It’s giving roommates, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, found family and overcoming grief. I really enjoyed this book! The banter is great and so is the story. I was entertained from start to finish. I could be biased though because after 3 books and 2 novellas I am fully invested in these characters and the town of Christmas Notch.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sierra Simone & Julie Murphy for the ARC!

This was a sweet way to wrap up the Christmas Notch books. I liked Isaac and Sunny and they felt realistic to me, but I did think the spark that captivated me so much with the other two books wasn't quite as present here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

HOW DARE THIS SERIES BE OVER ALREADY 🥹 I loved all three of these books and plan to read the novellas, too. Any book in this series will bring you SPICE!!, a plus-sized MC, humor, and the adorable small town of Christmas Notch.

A Jingle Bell Mingle in particular also has:
🎄 roommates/forced proximity
❄️ an adorable cat
🎄 coping with grief
❄️ bi rep
🎄 broody/grumpy x sunshine

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, Sierra Simone, and Julie Murphy for a free copy of A Jingle Bell Mingle in exchange for an honest review!!



For 2024, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ a lot of spice
🌶️🌶️🌶️ some spice
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance / nonfiction

3.5⭐️’s. I received this as an ARC via NetGalley. My first Christmas Notch book in the series, and this convinced me to read the series this holiday season. A feel good holiday romance, with grief, and friends first love, was just what I needed.

I'm so sad this series is at an end 😭. I've loved spending time in Christmas Notch with this merry band of delightful misfits. Thanks to @avonbooks and @harpervoyager for the ebook of A Jingle Bell Mingle.

✔️ One Night Stand
✔️ They're Roommates
✔️ Hurt/Comfort
✔️ Dating a Celebrity
✔️ Small Town

Aside from loving the small town setting I adored all the different worlds colliding (ex boy band members + adult industry + wholesome tv movies cast/crew + true crime chat threads). It was like Found Family dialed up to the max and I loved every second.

I adored Sunny and Isaac together and loved how hard it was for them to stay away from each other. Their chemistry sizzled in every moment but especially when they were trying not to touch each other and failing miserably.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕