Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone for an ARC of A Jingle Bell Mingle. I really enjoyed this and it’s a series that keeps on giving. The story hasn’t gotten repetitive and I love the story line of each of the couples! One part had me going oh? Ohhh 😂 I loved watching all the characters grow in each book and giving Teddy the time he deserves. I can’t wait to see where this series can go next?

Sunny Palmer has returned to Christmas Notch for inspiration and Christmas festivities for her new screenplay that she didn’t mean to sell but sold. Isaac Kelly, former INK band member, and certified sad boy is in the Christmas Notch’s historic mansion needing to finish out his final album. As expected, Isaac finds himself in Sunny’s motel room the next morning and invites her to stay with him while she works on her screenplay. I mean it’s just him in a huge mansion! He decides to help her with her screenplay and she’ll help him finish his album. What could go wrong? Buckle up and get ready for a wild, sexy, Christmas ride!

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publishers for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure how something could be themed, so holiday heavy and yet not bring me any holiday cheer at all.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but there was too much sex and not enough Santa. 🤣
Overall, the story was fine, and the relationship was pretty cute, but for a holiday book, I didn't get enough holiday vibes.

2SLGBTQIA+ Holiday Steamy Romance following a first-time screenplay writer who winds up staying with a former boy bander in his Vermont home as they help each other with their blocked creatively.

4/5 stars: This is the final entry in the Murphy & Simone's Christmas Notch series is a 2SLGBTQIA+ Holiday Romance that follows a part-time adult film actress/one-time adult film director/makeup artist turned screenplay writer who makes a handshake deal with a former boy band heartthrob, who's still getting over his wife's death, that they'll help each other spark their blocked creatively all the while living together at Christmas in his historic mansion in Vermont. Written in dual POV, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and a whole lot of raunchy humor, Murphy & Simone's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Additionally, their secondary cast members are well crafted and uniquely voiced. It's a joy to catch up with everyone in Christmas Notch, Vermont. I loved seeing Sunny and Isaac's journey to a loving each other. They're tough and complicated people and hurt each other along the way but in the end they find their HEA. And I have to say I love that Teddy, everyone's lovable porn dad, open's and closes the book in his POV and finds love too. And Sunny's cat Mr Tumnus is the absolute best and hilarious as all get out. Murphy & Simone's OPS scenes are deliciously steamy and the banter is so good it will have you swooning. While there are plenty of heartfelt and humorous moments, Murphy & Simone does takes on some very tough and sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. This is written as a stand-alone but you'll SO want to pick up the other books in the series: A Merry Little Meet Cute (Bee and Nolan) and A Holly Jolly Ever After (Winnie and Kallum) to get the complete backstory.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is BY FAR my favorite read of the entire series!

Wow. I loved Sunny and Isaac; I loved that fate just kept bringing them together; that Isaac just agrees to let her move into his mansion with Mr. Tumnus and his quirks; and most of all I love that they're solid friends first.

The entire storyline kept me interested. Isaac's grief, inability to write music, overall readiness to give up on life meanwhile Sunny is dealing with secret family drama, inability to write a screenplay that's coming up due and loneliness at the Christmas time.

Sunny's screenplay, based off a "true Christmas Notch story" is actually a mystery and the duo work together to figure out what actually happened, all while hitting bumps along the way.

There is also a second storyline occurring - Teddy and Steph - who have been a long time coming for their happy ending.

As much as the first books got under my skin for stupid reasons, I'm truly saddened to see the story end. But they knocked it out of the park with this one.

This series is just fun. Smutty delicious fun. I need to go back and read book two but it’s delightful to read this duo.

I was kindly provided by the ARC of this book by NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers in exchange of an honest review, thank you ✨

4.5⭐️

This was just…. So perfect for me 🥹❤️‍🩹
The story of Sunny and Isaac is definitely one that’ll live forever in my heart.
As someone who lost her significant other very fast very soon, I completely understood Isaac and his fear of live again and actually live again, I was crying with his inner monologues about Brooklyn and Sunny and his fears and his guilt because those fears were mine too, and I felt that guilt too, and like him, I had to be brave and started living again because I know that’s what my love would wanted for me 🤍

And Sunny, oh god I just LOVEEEE HER!!! I loved Bee in her book and I loved her here too, but Sunny, it’s just my spirit animal 🛐 I love how she was so energized and so spontaneous and adventurous and so confident, but also was so beautiful and emotional to see that vulnerable side of her, how she managed grief and how she felts that she deserved to be sad and unhappy too, how she wanted not to be always happy Sunny who makes others happy, that she needed to be the one some take care of I read of being the one taking care of others, and Isaac was that for her even when they didn’t know it 🤍

This books definitely became one of my favorites, and seeing that everyone had their HEA was just chef kiss 🙊🙂‍↔️

P. D. I NEED a book or a novel about hot librarians 👀 iykyk

Adult film actress Sunny Palmer and former boy band star Isaac Kelly have been side characters of the previous two Christmas Notch books. After their best friends’ wedding leads to them waking up together in a freezing motel room with questionable wiring and a broken shower, Isaac takes a chance and asks Sunny (and her demonic cat) to stay with him at his home. My biggest complaint about this book is that there are A LOT of side characters from the previous two books, so if you haven't read both of those AND REMEMBER THEM, this book will be a struggle. Other than that, the plot is enjoyable and the second=chance romance with forced proximity works well as tropes to develop Sunny and Isaac's romance. This book is spicy! Lots and lots of open door scenes, though the smut is more vanilla than in the books Sierra Simone writes on her own.

Final verdict: if you've read and enjoyed the first two books, you'll enjoy this third and final Christmas Notch books. If you haven't, either skip this or start at the beginning of the series. For me it was a two-star read, but I suspect fans of the series and its many side characters would rate this around 4 stars, so I'm raising my rating to 3-stars.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley.

Our time in Christmas Notch has come to an end, and what a wild ride it has been!

This brings us Isaac and Sunny’s story, who have both been interesting side characters along the way. Both are in town to try to find inspiration for their creative projects, and when Sunny’s motel room becomes uninhabitable, she and her cat move in with Isaac.

I’ve really been looking forward to Isaac’s story, the broken sad boy character is like catnip to me. I loved how Sunny was his total opposite, a testament to her name. The forced proximity works its magic on them and I think this might have been the spiciest book of the series.

It was funny, it was outrageous, it was entertaining. I loved the first book for its uniqueness, then the second book kind of fell apart for me so I was really glad when this one redeemed the series. I definitely recommend it if you enjoyed the first one!

This is the third book in the Christmas Notch series that I've read, and unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. I think for me, it was more smut than plot and I love a good plotline in general. I'm not discounting the rich storytelling in the familiar quirky small town at Christmas, but it was just more about the spice than anything else. You do get those post-HEA updates on Nolan+Bee and Kallum+Winnie via cute, quick pop-in scenes. But, it really is Sunny and Isaac's time to shine.

CW: Death of a spouse, Death of parents/ Grief

The third Christmas Notch book did not disappoint. Finally we get to see the third INK band member loved up.

Sunny Palmer is staying in Christmas Notch to finish her screenplay for the Hope Channel. She has a Christmas mystery to solve, but hasn't really written a screenplay before. Isaac Kelly is the heartbroken last member of INK and he's lost without his departed muse, but due to write and record one last album.

Sunny and Isaac seem like a perfect team, but each has reservations about what they might mean to each other. Between Isaac's charming relationship with Sunny's cat and the historical exploration of a decades old Christmas miracle, A Jingle Bell Mingle checks all the boxes while also delivering some incredibly steamy scenes.

Sad to see the Christmas Notch series ending, but so excited for what's next.

Ok this may have been my favorite of the series! It had banter, it had the cutest inner monologues, it had the spiciest of spice without distracting from the plot. Normally, books with the loss of a significant other leave me feeling meh but this was written so well. I loved that they developed a friendship more so then moving right into a relationship. I didn't love the POVs from Teddy hidden within Sunny and Issacs story, I almost wish he got his own novella and instead let this book just be about them. But either way, I have loved all the characters from Christmas Notch and I'm sad it's coming to a close. But this story was worth the wait!

I will say, you definitely want to read the books that come before this one first. I've seen some reviews of people to started off with this one and you'll definitely be confused or spoil the other books for yourself! They are quick fun reads so you can't go wrong starting this series! They are great palate cleansers or if you need help getting out of a book slump. And who doesn't love a HOT Christmas story....

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the third book (plus a few novellas) in the Christmas Notch holiday series by co-writers Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. I had read an ARC of the first in the series and LOVED it so I decided to grab this one when I saw it was available. I figured that I would be safe having read part of the series but honestly, I had such a hard time keeping all the characters straight. I would absolutely recommend reading the books in order so that you have a better chance of following along and getting in on all the inside jokes.

Sunny is a part time adult film actress who accidentally pitches a holiday script to the Hope Channel. Unfortunately, she hasn't written it yet. She decides to spend some time in Christmas Notch to gain inspiration. Isaac is the former lead boy band singer from the group, INK. Ever since he became a widower, he's secluded himself. He purchases an abandoned mansion in Christmas Notch hoping finish his contract to write a final Christmas album for the record label. Sunny and Isaac have a prior one night stand history and neither have stopped thinking about each other for two years. Isaac invites Sunny to move into the mansion where they can help each other write by day and be friends with benefits by night. Soon, it's hard to tell what the difference is between dating and just being roommates with benefits.

I kind of struggled with this book and I'm not quite sure why. I was just bored. Having not read the second book, I felt like I was confused on what was happening a lot of the time. I never really warmed up to Sunny or Isaac. Toward the end, I found myself skimming and scanning. If you enjoyed the first two then you may have a different opinion. I really loved the first but as of right now, I have no desire to go back and read the second. I will say that I found Isaac's online friend group so endearing. The messages back and forth from them were my favorite part.

Tropes: widower, second chance, I can never love again, adult film heroine, found family, difficult childhood, friends to lovers, holiday, stranded in a blizzard

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Harper Voyager, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #AvonHarperVoyager #AJingleBellMingle

Polar opposites Sunny and Isaac find themselves in a romantic small town Inn in Vermont, both recovering from various personal and professional losses and lack of inspiration. Will they find love this holiday season?

I love the Christmas Notch books - nothing like a good knockoff Hallmark with some porn actors thrown in! Sunny lives up to her name as the happy-go-lucky portion of the sunny-grump relationship between her and Isaac. The relationship was already partially built going in so not as much as in the other books (and by not as much I mean they’re hooking up within the first couple of chapters). This is the last book of the series and it was a great way to wrap things up. I only wish Isaac was a *touch* less melodramatic at the end, though it was a good plot point. If you enjoy funny banter, a great cast of characters, making fun of picture-perfect Christmas towns, and some steamy open-door action, definitely pick it up!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced reader copy!

*If you love spicy stories with a dash of plot and a LOT of pop culture references* - this book is for you!
*If you prefer a light fluffy Christmas story without spice starting on chapter two* - you might want to skip this one!

This story revolves around Sunny, struggling to write a screenplay, and Isaac, stuck with his own case of writers block. I have not read the two other books in this series so I was not aware of the characters going into it, and I thought it was going to be a light Christmas story. There was a Christmas story, sure, it made a cute B-plot, but it was not the primary focus.

Overall, not my favorite, but not bad.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Well folks… it’s the end of an era. The last to hoorah in Christmas Notch.

I knew Sad Boy Isaac & Sunny were going to be my favorites the moment he stepped on to page in book one. I definitely think Sierra & Julie hit it out of the park with saving this emotional gut punch of a story for the end! This was the PERFECT cap to the Christmas Notch series. All the ends are tied up in a bow INCLUDING Teddy Ray Fletchers story! The only thing that this book leaves me wanting is a sapphic hot librarian story (iykyk… ladies… we need it).

The story starts at the wedding of Bee & Nolan (the main characters from book one) which is VERY on brand for this family of ex-boy band members, adult film actors, and former child actors. Yes… you read that right.

Isaac Kelly lost his wife and one true love five years ago. He has been inundated with suffocating grief to the point that he doesn’t leave his house. His record label is hounding him to finish his last contracted solo album. His only issue… he lost his muse. In an effort to disconnect from the hustle & bustle of Calofornia, he purchases the infamous Christmas Notch mansion to live out his hermit dreams.

Sunny Palmer is a part-time adult film actress/one-time adult film director/makeup artist that accidentally sold a screen play to Hope Channel. She finds herself in Christmas Notch to gather inspiration about a scandalous town legend.

After their friends wedding leads to Sunny & Isaac waking up next to each other in a questionable hotel room, he takes a chance and asks Sunny to stay at his house while she’s in town. When the two of them realize their shared creative rut, they make a deal. Isaac will help her discover the truth behind the local mystery, and she will find Isaac a new muse.

What could possibly go wrong?

These authors know how to write fun books! This is a steamy, I mean STEAMY lil romp. I expected it but took things to another level. Very endearing in moments too. If you are looking for a spicy escape for around the holidays, this is perfect!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon for allowing me to read this early!

This is probably my favorite book in this series which makes me so sad that it is the last! This book felt more real and fun compared to the other two (and novellas). The characters had realistic problems and were able to have great story arcs. Not to mention the spice was particularly great in this book as compared to the others. I’m hoping we can see more from the Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone duo soon!

Isaac, is former boy band star grieving the loss of his wife, can’t shake his thoughts about Sierra after a spontaneous one-night stand. When she finds herself in need of a place to stay, he offers her a room, and they begin to explore a connection that’s as unexpected as it is intense.
Going in, I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, so I was a bit disoriented at first. I anticipated a light-hearted holiday read, but this story turned out to be a whirlwind of emotional depth and dramatic twists. Sunny and Isaac are far from ordinary. Sunny struggles with family rifts and personal loss, while Isaac wrestles with the challenge of opening his heart again. It’s a Christmas story with a lot of emotional layers and complexity. With a large cast of characters and multiple plotlines, it was a tad overwhelming for me, especially as a newcomer to the series. Either way, Sunny and Isaac’s chemistry was great, and their story kept me intrigued. If you're up for an unconventional, spicy holiday read, this one’s worth a look.

A big thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the earc!

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 .