These authors just know how to write! The banter is laugh out loud good , the spice is on point and the character development is heartwarming. This series adds the spice to the “sugar and spice Hallmark Christmas “ vibes .

I did not finish this book because I didn’t realize the main character owns a pornography production studio… Thank you, however, for the consideration.

The perfect way to tie up the series! This pulled at my heart strings so much as I related to the grief experience in the story so much, especially from Sunny. Watching her and Isaac work through past trauma on the way to being together was a joy. I'll miss Christmas Notch!

A Jingle Bell Mingle was a super sexy, super touching (ha, see what I did there) raunch-com, and the perfect way to wrap up the Christmas Notch series. We've been edged by Sunny and Isaac ever since they had an off-page threesome with another pornstar (It's what Isaac's dead wife would have wanted, okay?), and I was excited to see them pick up where they left off, even with a two-year gap.

Yes, this book does start with an early bang, and I do appreciate it not only because I love an early sex scene, but also because I love when couples don't necessarily need a lot of build-up before sex, but they have ways to go before they can actually be in a functional relationship— It feels very contemporary.

So Sunny moves in temporarily to work on her holiday movie script, and gets it in her head that the only way for Isaac to regain his creative muse is.... dates. With other people. What follows is a hilarious sequence of dates including a hot mechanic, hot librarians, and a hot catty pornstar from That threesome (Isaac and Sunny are both bisexual). Obviously they're all disasters.

Also, I LOVE Sunny; she's bubbly and quite fearless, but she also has some very real insecurities where Isaac is concerned, particularly when it comes to the emotional aspect of their relationship. She also has ADHD and you see these moments of hyperfixation throughout the book, my favorite being the mystery of the mailman, WWII soldier, and his wife, and whatever they were up to back in the day.......

As for Isaac, if you're a fan of a sadboi hero, he's your man. Isaac is.... tragic, to say the least but like, in a hot way because who doesn't love a hot tragic widower? He was also celibate for two years, between the first time him and Sunny hooked up and the present which, again, HOT.

Here's where it gets less hot but packs an emotional punch: Isaac isn't over the passing of his first wife. At all. And at first, it's sweet and sometimes even funny how dramatic and overwrought he gets at times. Then you see the extent of his unhealthy coping mechanisms, namely shutting everyone out to grieve alone, and making Sunny feel reduced to a body rather than someone he can have an emotional connection with. I really appreciate how this book deconstructs that thing romance heroes are prone to doing, where they're convinced they only have one great love of their life, and they're gone now so he can never love again. A lot of romance novels have that development off-page or kind of brush over it so it can get to the happily-ever-after, but not here. Isaac is forced to confront this not only with Sunny, but also his boyband friends/former Christmas Notch heroes.

The sex:

Isaac and Sunny are down-and-ready, anytime, anywhere kind of couple, so obviously they're a fan of a quickie (see: their first time on-page), and public sex because they just can't wait (which is how Sunny ends up shoving fistfuls of cash into a photo booth while Isaac has a hand up her skirt and rips her tights). Isaac does have a bit of a STERN edge but I'd say it's less bossy and more dirty and desperate, plus loads of dirty talk.

I also like how Sunny is never super hung-up on her body as a plus-sized woman, but there's still that moment of genuine awe when Isaac picks her up and drops her on the counter of a public bathroom (another one of their more public encounters lol), and that felt so relatable to me.

Also, we do get the rare contemporary romance butt stuff, and it does go both ways :D ft. the return of the gingerbread-scented lotion (iykyk).

Overall:

What I love about the Christmas Notch books is that they're genuinely funny (not all romances billed as romcoms are, in my opinion), and they're sexy, sex-positive, AND body positive in a way I rarely see in traditionally published romance novels. A Jingle Bell Mingle was no different and I'd strongly recommend it to any romcom fan.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Publication Date: September 24th

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my early copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts are my own!

I really love this series and I think this may be my favorite book so far. Not only was this book HOT, and we will get back to that but I think this book showed a good representation of grief and that it is okay to move on after the death of someone you truly love and care about.

Back to the not sad, this book was such a good time. The chemistry between the characters, the funny side characters, the hilarious/smutty/sweet plot. Literally this book is such a cozy/spicy winter romance and I love it.

I think the plot of this series and the found family of corn stars is top tier. I have enjoyed reading these books so much. Also if you love spice in your books, these books have some of the best along with a good/fun plot.

I can’t wait to see who the next book will be about!

Sad Boy Isaac has met his muse in Porn Star turned Screenwriter Sunny. The antics of Isaac were highly enjoyable, as he attempted to win over a cat that is reminiscent of his sleep paralysis demons and it's owner. The plot was fun. The authors added interesting side stories that made this book feel unique and engaging. There is large cast of characters at the start, but it does even out as you progress into the book. I would not reccommend reading this book if you have not read the others in the series. The humor in this book is top notch! Five Capri Suns--- I mean stars!

I had such a fun time reading A Jingle Bell Mingle! This story follows Issac Kelly and Sunny Palmer, who had a one night stand a couple years back and then reunite via a dating app. They are both at a stuck point in their careers - with Issac trying to write an album but having lost his muse (his late wife) and Sunny selling a screenplay to the Hope Channel and exploring this for the first time. After seeing the run down place Sunny was staying at, Issac invites her to stay at his mansion and they both agree to help each other out.

This story was definitely steamy, but also touches on grief, family troubles and how to move on and it was really beautifully done. The spice didn't take away from the overall plot, which I appreciated. I absolutely love how the main characters grew together and you can see their relationship blossom.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and it was the perfect amount of sweet and spice. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

Issac is a former boy band member who is still getting over the death of his wife. But, after a one night stand, he can't get Sierra out of his head. When he realizes she needs a place to stay, he offers to let her move into one of the rooms at his place. Can they help each other out, or are they just too different?

Thoughts 💭
I don't think this book was for me. I didn't realize it was the third book in a series, so I was a little lost through the first few chapters. I went in expecting a Hallmark type Christmas situation, but this instead was a little wild, crazy, and too intense for me. The characters and premise were unique and interesting, and I think for the right audience, this would be a good read. It just didn't hold my interest. Check this out if you like more unconventional and spicy Christmas stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A very spicy holiday read! I really like Issac and Sunny and felt like they had good chemistry! I haven’t read the first two books so took me a minute to figure out all the characters. All the muse searching dates seemed a little repetitive at times, but I did enjoy the cat support group messages and the sub plot of the holiday mystery.

A Jingle Bell Mingle brings a satisfying conclusion to the Christmas Notch series, written by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. 4

Sunny Palmer and Isaac Kelly have a history of a one night stand two years ago. When the dating app "hooks" them back up, they decide to have one last/final one hurrah. That is, until Isaac learns Sunny is staying at the broken down inn while trying to write a screenplay. Isaac being Isaac, he begs and wins his case for Sunny to stay with him. He's adamant there won't be feelings or any flirtiness going on while they are staying together. He's still mourning the loss of his wife while trying to come up with lyrics to his last album. But can anyone ignore the magic of Christmas Notch?

While I felt "Jingle Bell Mingle" was a tad bit more emotional than the others in this series, I still enjoyed reading and found both Isaac and Sunny to be my favorites! Sunny's backstory, only this writing duo would make her linked to a diaper empire, was heartfelt and brought the right out the right amount of passion and background regarding who she was. Isaac had me laughing because I knew IMMEDIATELY how he felt and yes, was screaming at him towards the end to get his head out of the clouds and come clean. It was fantastic, overall, to see the beloved group of characters come together for one last hurrah and now, I'm wanting there to be a REAL CHRISTMAS NOTCH.

In the third installment of the Christmas Notch series, Isaac Kelly, the self-isolated INK frontman, locks himself away in his Christmas Notch mansion to work on the final album of his contract. Meanwhile, makeup artist/adult film star/one time director Sunny Palmer is back to try her hand at script writing for the Hope Channel. The two become roommates, dabbling both in friends with benefits and supporting each other’s career obligations. When casual sex turns into something more, Isaac and Sunny must work together to heal from past trauma and to find new light.

While not my favorite of the series (that honor goes to A Holly Jolly Ever After - Kallum and Winnie 4eva!), this book is sexy and sweet. It fits in perfectly with the other Christmas Notch gems. A fun and not-too-Christmasy read for the winter season!

A great edition to this series! Amazing representation, like always. Characters that make you LOL for real as you read while also relating to their story on a personal level. Julie and Sierra make an amazing duo and I hope they continue to write books together.

Although this is the 3rd and final book in the Christmas Notch trilogy by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, this was my first foray out of Simone's intensely weighty and angsty worlds featuring clergy and politicians, and my first exposure to the writing talents of Julie Murphy.

What a ride! The illustrated cozy Christmas cover belies this story of widowed former boy band member Isaac (grumpy) and Sunny, the adult film star (sunshine) turned screenwriter for the wholesome Hope Channel's newest Christmas movie. Both are struggling to find inspiration for their respective creative endeavors, but they find it in each other. This is not just humor, it's a story of feeling worthy and finding oneself after trauma and grief.

A roach motel room, a sprawling mansion, and everywhere in between are the stage for the development of Sunny and Isaac's evolution from roommates to lovers.

Their brief shared hookup history and unforgettable chemistry combined with the mutual need to heal inform the larger storyline. This forced proximity raunch-com was poignant, passionate, and the heartwarming.

Sweet, swoony and incredibly steamy, A Jingle Bell Mingle was an enjoyable read. I laughed out loud, but also cried. Clutched my pearls but also pumped my fist in the air. Shook my head at the antics of the colorful cast of characters but also vowed to go back and read Books 1 and 2 to get more of the same.

I definitely recommend reading the first two books in the trilogy as well. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC.

This was a very cute, VERY steamy finale to the Christmas Notch trilogy. Sunny and Isaac had great chemistry, the setting was cozy, and the side characters added levity to a sometimes heavy main plot. This isn't a lighthearted holiday book (I cried multiple times), but it has plenty of light moments that lift up the heavier parts. I did think the dialogue was uneven in places, and things worked out a little *too* well sometimes, but overall I really liked this book and I'm sad the series is over now.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for the eARC!

I previously read the first book in this series and loved it! I was so excited to read this and it did not disappoint. I absolutely love Sunny and I am so glad that she gets her second chance romance. I also love the concept of an adult star turned hallmark movie writer.

Holiday romance with extra spice! This book is a perfect mix of cozy holiday vibes and some seriously hot chemistry. The characters are diverse and their relationships feel real, touching on topics like acceptance and love in all its forms. Grab this one when you want a fun, festive read with a little extra heat.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the opportunity to read A Jingle Bell Mingle - a fun Christmas romance.

In true Julie Murphy (and Sierra Simone) fashion, A Jingle Bell Mingle does a good job weaving together humor, romance, and holiday cheer while also exploring grief and other life struggles that come with relationships and careers. Sunny and Isaac's chemistry is undeniable, and their interactions are both heartwarming and intense.

However, despite the book being a companion to the others in the series rather than part of a series, the first two really should be read first. The large cast of characters and ongoing subplots might feel overwhelming if you’re new to the series. Normally, books that are part of a companion series can be read in any order, so this was a little off-putting at first, but I tried not to let it take away from my opinion of the story itself.

Overall, though, A Jingle Bell Mingle is a fun, unconventional Christmas romance that fans of Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, and this series will love.

This series has been a lot of fun. I wasn’t sure how combining those holiday movies with porn stars would go but I enjoyed all of them.
I’m sad to see them go.

Quick holiday read to get you into the christmas season feelings....Sunny and Issac had great chemistry. If you're looking for a fun holiday read I would recommend checking this one out!